Seeing Shinji taking bite after bite of the golden apple, Rin, who had just caught up with him, felt a surge of anger.
"I mean, how can you just eat something given by the enemy?! What if..."
"Enemy? Whose enemy?"
Shinji interrupted Rin casually, tossing the apple core aside.
The golden apple from myth only provided about ten years' worth of life force and nutrients, which slightly disappointed Shinji. Perhaps it was related to his incomplete soul.
Replenishing life force, or lifespan, would have to wait until his soul was complete and he could continue cultivating. As long as he could keep cultivating, his life force and lifespan would gradually increase.
"Listen..."
Shinji interrupted Rin again, this time with a more serious tone, addressing everyone present.
"That's enough, Tohsaka. I'm not interested in things that don't interest me. I changed and sped up the Holy Grail War out of curiosity and dismantled the Grail system for the same reason.
"Of course, there were personal motives involved (like the old man), but overall, it was my will. Now that the Holy Grail War is over and the Matou family's Command Seal system is gone, their history ends with me. What you all decide to do next, whether you want to be enemies or keep fighting, has nothing to do with me.
"I'll help my friends, but only if they truly need it. And that's only because they aren't proper magi. Incidentally, none of you—neither Emiya nor you, Bazett—qualify as true magi."
"Wait, don't interrupt me. Both you and Bazett, even though you're skilled and capable, are still far from the inhumane side of being magi."
Listening to Shinji, Red Archer felt a bit annoyed but still nodded internally. As magi, they lacked decisiveness, cold-bloodedness, and selfishness.
Rin frowned. "So, if we were those inhumane magi you're talking about, would you be our enemy?"
"Don't be ridiculous. As long as you don't harm my interests, I won't bother with you." Shinji waved dismissively, then added, "But if you threaten me or those I care about, I won't hesitate. To me, most inhumane magi aren't really people."
Rin, hearing Shinji's personal view on magi for the first time, was taken aback but quickly replied,
"Do you realize saying things like that will bring you a lot of trouble?"
"That's why you're not qualified as a magus," Shinji said, looking at the worried Bazett. "Bazett, you're the same. Worrying about others at times like these doesn't make you a true magus. It's touching, but a real magus wouldn't act like this."
Rin instantly retorted, "No! Magi aren't all cold-hearted like that..."
"That's just your own belief. I admit, years ago, I hated and despised magi and magic. But when I realized it's just the reality of this world, I stopped caring. You know, Tohsaka, my assessment was purely factual, with no personal feelings."
"You!"
Rin clenched her fists, struggling to find a rebuttal.
Shirou stepped in, "Shinji, not all magi are cold-hearted. Some just focus on their own research at home..."
"In the world of magi, there's one rule: no leaks of the mystery. Shirou, you don't even understand what that means."
"He's just a clueless kid. Of course, he wouldn't understand." Red Archer seized the chance to mock his past self. "Simply put, it means magi can do whatever they want as long as they don't expose the mystery. It's a privilege and a form of protection."
"You're twisting the meaning! It can't be that!" Shirou immediately retorted, then turned to Rin. "Tohsaka, you surely..."
He stopped, noticing Rin's grim expression—clenching her fists, biting her lip, her face in shadows.
"Tohsaka, you..."
Shirou hoped for reassurance but realized the truth from her silence.
"Then there are magi who see the world's nature, understand humanity's impending tragedy, and seek to save it. Like the Einzberns, the Matou family, or… Kiritsugu Emiya."
"What?!" Shirou and Saber reacted simultaneously.
Rin folded her arms, huffing. "You forgot one."
"The speed at which you change your mind..." Shinji's mouth twitched, not wanting to criticize how her family only cared about reaching the Root. Reluctantly, he added Tohsaka Tokiomi's name.
Interestingly, Shinji didn't comment on these people, but before anyone could ask, Red Archer snorted.
"Worrywarts!"
Seeing Shirou fuming, Shinji felt Archer was provoking him on purpose.
As the argument escalated, Saber interrupted.
"Shinji, you said you could rebuild the Holy Grail system. I want you to do it!"
Shinji was baffled. Saber knew the Holy Grail War was a scam yet wanted to participate again?
"It's just a trick to make you kill each other."
"I know! But…" Saber's voice wavered, "There's still a chance to fulfill my wish!"
"Hmm..." Shinji thought briefly, then smiled. "Sure! But to grant your wish, the Third Magic won't work. Only the Second Magic can. Get me the Second Magician's magic circuits to study."
In a dim stone hut in England, Zeltrech choked, realizing the boy might have known he was watching. Smiling, Zeltrech found the boy interesting.
"Second Magician, got it! I'll find a way!" Saber nodded decisively, planning to research the Second Magician and act.
Rin's eye twitched. "Saber, he was joking! It's his sense of humor!"
"Was he?" Saber's gaze pierced Shinji. "Is that true, Matou Shinji?"
Hearing the cold tone, Shinji gestured for Bazett and Rider to stay back. "No, I meant it. To change the past, only the Second Magic can create a Holy Grail system capable of that. The Third Magic won't work."
He explained the complexities, saying only a Grail with the Second Magic could create a parallel world where Saber's wish could be granted.
"How… can this be…" Saber clenched her fists, falling into despair.
Red Archer paused, reflecting on Shinji's words, sensing a deeper message.
Feeling an observing gaze vanish, Shinji continued, "I don't recommend it. It might hasten this world's destruction."
"Huh?!"