Turning back the clock one hour...
At the Matou residence, Shinji had just finished dinner. After tutoring his sister, who wasn't doing too well in her studies, he comforted her with some kind words before heading out with Rider.
He had to get his hands on a job card that was distorting the ley lines, even if he couldn't use it himself.
In the world of Illya the Magic Girl, only a few people besides those involved in the Holy Grail War in Miyu's world could use the cards for limited expansions and fantasy summons. Those few included Illya and Kuro, who were wand contractors, and Miyu, who was both a wand contractor and the Holy Grail from another world.
Though the specific conditions for using the job cards were unknown, it was clear not everyone could use them.
Midnight at Homurahara Academy.
Tonight, Rider, who hadn't received any tasks from her Master, followed Shinji to the school grounds.
Seeing the empty field, Rider wondered if this perverted Master was planning something outrageous, like an outdoor match. She silently cursed Shinji, but as a mere servant, she had no choice but to comply. Preparing for an imminent battle, Rider's fighting spirit rose, determined to give her all even if it meant inevitable defeat.
Slap!
Rider flinched as Shinji smacked her bottom, inwardly cursing him for such inappropriate behavior.
"What are you daydreaming about?" Shinji asked with a strange expression, then looked toward the center of the field. "Can you see it?"
"What?"
"It seems we need a special method to see it…" Shinji sighed and called out, "Ruby, please."
"OK! Leave it to me, Magical Ruby!"
As the strange, talking creature with white feathers and a golden pentagram emerged from Shinji's pocket, Rider was utterly confused.
Why does my Master always have such weird things?
"I smell a scent of arousal~ Hehehe~" said the odd magic wand, hovering around Rider.
In a flash, Rider grabbed Ruby and started pulling on its wings.
"Ouch, ouch! Don't get mad just because I hit a nerve!"
"Master, is this strange creature the enemy? Don't worry, leave it to me," Rider said coldly, determined to deal with the annoying wand.
"No, the enemy is yourself. Ruby, can you do it?"
"Yes! Piece of cake!"
Escaping Rider's grasp, Ruby flew to the center of the field, with Shinji and Rider following.
Circling the center, Ruby concluded, "As Shinji-san said, there is a distortion here. I can detect multiple spaces."
"Please handle it. After this small task, I'll give you your freedom and the information you want."
"Okay! This is an offer I can't refuse!"
Ruby floated before Shinji and Rider, her body glowing golden.
"Adding imaginary numbers to the fifth measurement variable."
"Preparing to reverse, confirming the existence of multiple spaces."
"Center coordinates fixed, creating a reflection path within a two-meter radius."
"Reversing part of the boundary corridor."
As Ruby's staff emitted a blinding golden light, both Shinji and Rider felt their vision distort, seeing double images of the real world.
A two-meter diameter pentagram glowed brightly beneath them, making Rider even more alert.
Although unsure of Shinji's plan, Rider knew it could be dangerous. Her duty as a servant was to receive mana from her Master and protect him.
As Rider remained vigilant, the teleportation completed, and Shinji and Rider found themselves in the mirror world.
This place looked like the real world but was subtly different. Rider felt her Master had many secrets.
"Mission complete! Coordinates stable, space transfer complete!" Ruby saluted with her white feathers.
Seeing the ominous black mist forming not far away, Shinji glanced at the confused Rider and said, "Don't just stand there. If you can't even handle this, I'll cut your mana supply in half."
What?!
Rider panicked internally. Though she didn't know the enemy, she couldn't afford a pay cut. Failure was not an option!
Determined to give her all, Rider summoned her twin nails and prepared for battle.
With a low growl, the enemy appeared!
Seeing the figure emerging from the mist, Rider was shocked—it looked just like her! So "the enemy is yourself" meant this?
However, she quickly realized the difference. The enemy had no rationality, only aggression.
Hmph, just a fake. Leave it to me!
...
Holding Rider's job card after the battle, Shinji had a general understanding of the combat abilities of these blackened servants.
Despite their blackened attributes and similar base stats to real servants, they lacked rationality and strategy, making them inferior.
This explained how Illya could defeat Blackened Saber with just the Archer job card in the original story.
Ignoring Rider, who was quietly proud, Shinji pocketed the job card and looked at Ruby.
"The task is done. Please send us back, Ruby."
"Sure, but you must keep your word!"
"Rest assured, Matou Shinji is known for keeping his promises and being helpful!"
...
Back in the real world, Shinji still ignored Rider and whispered with Ruby.
About three minutes later…
"Oh~ So one is a girl older than Rin but looks like a loli, and the other is a competent, slightly emotionless girl who lacks common sense. Ah, it's so hard to choose~"
"By the way, the first girl has a very strong and fierce bodyguard (Berserker) at home."
"Hmph! As someone who upholds love and peace, Ruby-chan isn't afraid of such things!"
"So, who do you choose?"
"Of course, the girl who needs my help with common sense! Common sense is essential for getting along in the world! Ruby-chan can't leave a girl like that to struggle. I'll take on the responsibility of teaching her common sense!"
"Are you drooling or crying?"
"Hehehe, as a fellow man of interest, Shinji-san would make the same choice! An emotionless, clueless girl~ Lalala~"
"I think you misunderstand me. I'm actually a gentleman who wouldn't instill weird knowledge into an ignorant girl!"
Seeing Shinji's righteous expression, even the artificial spirit Ruby was at a loss for words.
"I keep my promises. You're free, Ruby."
"Woohoo~" Ruby cheered shamelessly, then asked, "Shinji-san, I sense you have a hidden kindness towards the girl I'm going to meet. Why is that?"
"Hmm…"
Shinji thought silently, recalling a figure bowing deeply to him. Smiling, he turned away.
"If I had to say, it's because my friend asked me for a favor for the first time."
Though Ruby didn't fully understand, she could tell Shinji wasn't lying and waved her white feathers at him.
"Bye-bye, Shinji-san~ I'll send you photos regularly~"
...
After the shameless wand left, Shinji planned to head straight home. However, feeling the grudge emanating from Rider, he couldn't help but smile.
"Rider, want to visit our classroom?"
Huh? The classroom?
Innocent Rider didn't quite get it but followed her Master without haste.
Does this Master really…
Whoa! This Master really knows how to have fun!
Just as Rider followed Shinji, trying to comprehend his meaning and secretly condemning him as a scumbag, a golden spear suddenly shot toward Shinji!
Clang! Bang!
In a split second, Shinji pulled Rider aside and summoned an ownerless weapon he had found in another world, using all his strength to deflect the B-class Noble Phantasm shot by Gilgamesh!
Rider, witnessing this, was stunned. How could her Master summon golden Noble Phantasms out of nowhere? They looked just like Gilgamesh's!
Is he really unrelated to Gilgamesh? Could he be a secret illegitimate child or something?
The resemblance is uncanny!