"The Holy Grail War has reclaimed eight Command Spells, of which two have been granted to new potential candidates."
Justeaze spoke indifferently.
Shinji realized what had happened—it must have been Kotomine. Losing his Servant and the remaining two Command Spells, he was considered by the Grail system to still have the potential to complete the Holy Grail War, thus being granted the stigmata again.
"Fine, 18 will suffice... wait..."
Shinji suddenly came to a realization and frowned at the emotionless Justeaze. Based on his interactions with Justeaze in this and the previous world, he knew she wouldn't answer such questions.
"Do you really have no personality left?"
Justeaze remained indifferent.
Feeling something was off, Shinji thought for a moment and then turned Justeaze over.
Slap!
The purpose of Shinji's slap was not out of any malicious intent but to carefully observe Justeaze's reaction.
Hmm... no change in facial expression, but this wasn't conclusive. He needed to try again.
Thinking this, Shinji raised his hand once more.
Slap! Slap!
Still no reaction, but this wasn't enough to be sure.
Looking at his palm, Shinji felt he might be overthinking it but also believed that concluding with just a few slaps was too hasty.
He needed to investigate further because whether Justeaze had any personality left was crucial.
...
Confirming that Justeaze indeed had no personality left, only programming, Shinji felt a bit disheartened and sighed at the result.
It would have been better if she had a personality and consciousness. With a personality, he could have used the remnants of the Grail War and the magical circuits embedded in the land veins to perform an incomplete version of the Third Magic and bring her out.
Of course, this wasn't for any perverse reason. Shinji genuinely believed that having an elder at home was a treasure, and bringing her home would undoubtedly help a young man like him who had little experience and understanding of the world.
She could help him understand the darker sides of human nature and deepen his knowledge of fields he had yet to explore!
Moreover, she was an acquaintance and admirer of his grandfather when he was young!
Though his grandfather was gone, he still had to treat her with respect. Given any chance, he had to invite her home and honor her like an ancestor!
Even during rest, he couldn't neglect this ancestor!
Yes, that was the plan!
"Enough, back to business."
Shinji shook his head helplessly, then got back to his task, deciding in his mind to find the young lady who had lost her job due to the Hyatt Hotel explosion and guide her.
Since she was currently despondent over losing her job and direction in life, as someone who had always enjoyed helping those in need, he couldn't just stand by.
He would talk to her, discuss future directions, rekindle her hopes, and help her regain confidence in facing life!
She would surely be moved, her voice hoarse, praising him as a master.
...
Now with only the original three Command Spells left, Shinji looked at the almost fully restored spiritual core in his hand, feeling a sense of relief.
Watching Justeaze, who got up slowly, still expressionless, Shinji smiled lightly. "Maybe it's because of your inherent program's desire for the Holy Grail's descent that you explained my question earlier, but if you truly desire the Holy Grail's descent, you can help me with a small favor.
I know you have a connection with this Lesser Grail. If possible, can you guide her here when there are only three... no, four Servants left? Of course, if you can't, I'll bring her here myself.
Remember, the complete Holy Grail descent requires this step. If you have any expectations of me, please help. If your expectations of me are the same as those of the other Masters, then there's no need. I can handle it myself."
Justeaze remained indifferent, and Shinji, used to this, waved his hand and disappeared from the special space with the repaired spiritual core.
Unbeknownst to Shinji, just after his spiritual form dissipated, Justeaze's expression showed a fleeting hint of confusion, which vanished quickly.
...
In reality, seeing his Master open his eyes, Zayd quickly stepped forward to express his loyalty.
"My Master, during your intrusion into the Holy Grail system, there was no surveillance."
"You just couldn't sense it," Shinji chuckled softly, then looked up at the rocky ceiling. "Though there are no Masters or the Church involved, there are always a few peeping individuals. But don't worry, they won't take action. Even if they wanted to, they might kill me easily, but I can equally disrupt the world, causing the entire magecraft community a headache on how to handle it!"
Although he didn't understand completely, Zayd felt his Master was indeed powerful! To be spied on by such beings must be on the level of Magi, yet his Master showed no fear!
"Yes, my Master! By the way, Lancer's spiritual core..."
"Oh, it's here." Shinji remembered, opening his right hand to reveal the brilliantly glowing Lancer's spiritual core.
Seeing his "colleague," Zayd couldn't help but feel that this Lancer was truly fortunate.
To have such a wise and heroic Master, to be saved by such an unparalleled Master, what luck!
Following his Master, even a pig-like Servant could win in the end! Just like him, though he wasn't a pig.
Knowing it wasn't yet time for Lancer to appear, Shinji put the spiritual core back into his system space and waved his hand. "Alright, continue monitoring that silver-haired woman. She's the most crucial element in this Holy Grail War, for others and for us."
"Understood!"
Zayd retreated and headed straight to the new base found by Emiya Kiritsugu yesterday—the future Emiya residence.
The location was told to Zayd by Shinji before Irisviel moved in. Zayd was no longer surprised by his Master's foresight, having grown numb to it.
To Zayd, no matter how incredible something seemed, for his Master, it was just a given!
...
In the hotel, embracing the unemployed woman after a fierce battle, Shinji waited for her to recover a bit before engaging in another round. Meanwhile, he pictured Tohsaka Tokiomi's current state.
He must be... devastated, right?
Thinking he could gain two Command Spells to restore his original three, only to find the priest dead after a bath and change of clothes upon reaching the church!
Who could bear that?
A double loss, perfectly describing Tohsaka Tokiomi's situation!
Every jar and bottle in his basement must have met their demise!
Elegance? Composure? Unperturbed demeanor? Calm under pressure? Everything under control?
No, it should be collapse, regret, and impotent rage.
Shinji had no interest in Tohsaka's ultimate fate, nor did the fate of magi excite him.
The unemployed woman beside him, now somewhat recovered and ready for another bout, was far more interesting.
He couldn't abandon the more mundane pleasures.
Yes, truly mundane!
...
As Shinji helped the woman who lost her job after the Hyatt Hotel explosion regain her strength and enthusiasm for life, Tohsaka Tokiomi, realizing he was likely doomed with only one Command Spell left, reached out to Irisviel and her group with a cooperation proposal.
Knowing he could never face his wife and daughter again, whether he won or lost, Tokiomi went to Zenjou before dusk to say goodbye and settle some matters.
Kotomine Kirei, sitting in the driver's seat without getting out, knew why his teacher's expression was so grim and also knew he couldn't laugh in his presence. Not getting out, he laughed inside the car.
After considering, Irisviel agreed to the cooperation request for Kiritsugu's sake and decided to meet in the evening.
Irisviel could sense her husband's concerns and knew his greatest enemy wasn't Tohsaka Tokiomi but Kotomine Kirei, controlled by Tokiomi from the start, who had lost his Servant!
She had to help her husband with this!
...
In the quiet night, after sending the lady off, Shinji opened the window and, rare for him, lit a cigarette, something he hadn't touched since the moment he was transported to another world by a truck in his previous life.
Smokers know that the first inhalation causes a dizziness akin to intoxication due to the foreign substance invading the body.
Eventually, feeling lightheaded, Shinji extinguished the cigarette. After so many years, he had forgotten about smoking.
Getting his body used to it again would take time, with little meaning or necessity.
"Ah, so boring... And Uncle Kariya, can you get through this? It's up to you, but don't do anything rash in the heat of the moment, or you'll never grow and protect what you truly want to protect..."
...
At the Matou residence, Kotomine Kirei had investigated Yanako's detailed (forged) profile. Sitting on the sofa, Yanako thought about the conversation with the priest today.
"Miss Kotobuki Yanako, I know you had some romantic entanglements with Tohsaka Tokiomi in the past and still hate him. So, would you like to talk? Maybe... it could help release some of that resentment."