Causality—it's a rather nuanced term.
In Buddhism, "causality" is a common term. However, even without delving into the Buddhist explanation, just from the literal meaning of cause and effect, it's a word imbued with philosophical significance.
It's a concept frequently seen in... cultivation novels.
Shinji, in the midst of it all, had a vague feeling that he had somehow gotten entangled in something akin to causality. Although the details were hazy and unclear, there was indeed a faint connection between him and that world.
At the last moment, the Holy Grail, following the choice of that world, also chose him as the hope of that world.
Even though it froze all possibilities of that world, it somehow bypassed him.
What does this mean? Of course, if it were just that, it wouldn't be a big issue. After all, the Holy Grail chose me, but I didn't accept nor agree to any of its conditions, thus not forming any causality.
Even if left alone, it wouldn't affect me in the slightest, unlike in those cultivation novels where something like Dao Heart is involved. It wouldn't have any impact.
However...
There was another causality already formed before that!
Looking at the spirit base he had swindled from Gaia in the system space, Shinji felt a bit regretful and weary. Why did he greedily take such a thing?
Did Rider really need it?
She was fine as she was; enhancing her power was pointless.
Hey, Gaia, can I return it to you now?
Can I just say I don't want it anymore? Can you pretend the previous agreement never happened? Let's just consider that nothing happened between us, alright?
After returning it, let's consider that you never asked for my help, and I never asked for any conditions from you. Can we just have a clean break?
Just like someone refunding the tea money after you drink it, is it not okay for me to get it for free?
Gaia, please say something!
This kind of causality involving a whole world is something I really don't want to be involved in at all!
As Shinji casually sprinkled cumin and seasonings, Rin felt something was off. After wiping her mouth with a napkin, she suspiciously asked again.
"Shinji Matou, why do I feel like you're hiding something from me?"
Hearing this, Shinji rolled his eyes, "Isn't that obvious? Men hide many things from women. Have you ever seen a man who doesn't hide anything from a woman?"
What Shinji said was true. It's rare to find a man in this world who has no secrets from a woman. Try secretly checking a man's phone browser history.
All big secrets!
"What kind of ridiculous theory is that..."
Rin twitched the corner of her eye, feeling inexplicably irritated and jealous.
This man had shared so many secrets with her in the past few days that she thought he might have suddenly changed.
But hearing this, it seemed like he still had countless shocking secrets he hadn't told her! Who could tolerate that?
"Sorry, but I can't stand men having secrets. Not at all! Tell me everything you're hiding right now!"
"Alright, come to my room tonight, and I'll tell you everything. But be prepared; it might take all night."
"Tonight?"
Rin was stunned, but then her face turned red, and she instantly reached out with her greasy hands towards Shinji's neck!
With a sound forced from her throat, she called him a scoundrel, pervert, and jerk, nearly choking Shinji as she tightly gripped his neck.
This girl was indeed different from Rider and Sakura when it came to such things; she didn't hold back at all.
She even used reinforcement magic!
"Calm... calm down, there's a guest... here!"
Only then did Rin forcibly suppress her urge to strangle him, released her grip, sat back down, crossed her arms, turned her face away, and snorted without saying another word.
As the head of the Tohsaka family, she could find any man she wanted. This scumbag wasn't worth it! Don't get angry, it's not worth it!
"Well, it sure is lively here."
The voice of the young Gilgamesh rang out, accompanied by Julian Ainsworth, who had settled in this world for two days, living just two buildings away from the hero.
Young Gilgamesh had come to this world because Shinji had casually asked him, "Do you want to come?" when picking up Rin.
As for Julian, it was purely incidental. The situation was urgent, and everyone was standing together. Shinji didn't care who was who and brought everyone along.
After all, the effect of that wish was terrifying. Wasting even a breath of time would turn everyone except him and Young Gilgamesh into mummies!
Its effect was somewhat similar to Darius's world-destroying act in the original work, except Darius destroyed the world, rendering time meaningless.
The Holy Grail froze the world's time and possibilities completely. Only Gilgamesh, revered as the "Father" by Kinoko Nasu, and Shinji, "highly regarded" by the Holy Grail, could move.
Everyone else felt that the world had changed after Miyu made her wish, without realizing anything was wrong.
At this moment, seeing his good friend Julian arriving, the hero's eyes softened a bit. He stood up to greet him, calling softly,
"Julian..."
"Tch!"
Julian, still in his Suiqun High uniform, hands in his pockets, clicked his tongue unhappily upon seeing the hero.
Despite his tsundere... kingly demeanor, Shinji believed that one day Julian would be won over by the hero's gentleness and persistence.
"What is this? Is this what a commoner's gathering looks like? It's quite shabby."
The loli-dressed Beatrice... voiced by Rie Kugimiya, made her appearance.
Remembering her openly obsessive behavior in the original work, Shinji, a self-proclaimed Kugimiya fanatic, felt his condition was stable and not worsening.
"Thank you for your hospitality. Please accept this."
Angelica, who charmed both men and women, stepped forward, handing over the ingredients she brought to Shirou, insisting he take them, with few words.
"Uh... actually, you didn't need to bring anything."
"Just a small token."
Facing Shirou, Angelica's expression remained cold, but for some reason, she spoke a bit more than usual.
Looking at Angelica and Beatrice, Shinji was puzzled. They hadn't brought them back initially, so how did Julian revive these two?
Did he make their consciousness into some sort of card and carry it with him?
But that didn't seem right either. Even if their consciousness or spirit was preserved, what about the necessary vessels—blank dolls?
Could Julian make them himself?
Uh... he probably could!
The Ainsworth family was peculiar, resembling a combination of Einzbern and Makiri, with some doll-making skills similar to that old woman, Aozaki Touko.
Though compared to Aozaki Touko, Ainsworth's doll-making skills seemed somewhat lacking.
Returning to his thoughts, Shinji watched Beatrice pretending not to care, even showing disdain, while actually wanting to join Miyu and Illya. He marveled at the power of voice actors.
The voice acting was perfect, indeed. After all, voice actors are voice actors.
However, judging by the subtle satisfaction hidden in Beatrice's expression, she had probably confessed to Julian again.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have that satisfied look.
Angelica, though still emotionless, occasionally approached the hero, delivering a series of moves that made him helplessly succumb.
And Julian, despite his cold exterior, Shinji believed it wouldn't be long before he reverted to the Julian who bickered with the hero.
Watching the scene in the yard, Shinji looked up after a moment of silence, gazing at the star-filled summer night, and couldn't help but softly exclaim.
"It really is a perfect ending..."
"Yes, in a way, it truly is."
Young Gilgamesh, who had come closer at some point, chimed in with a smile.
Watching him sitting with his legs crossed, shaking a wine glass, Shinji didn't care but continued grilling his lamb skewers, casually reminding him.
"Be careful, remember there's a schoolteacher here. If she sees an elementary schooler drinking..."
Before Shinji could finish, Taiga's loud voice echoed.
"Whose kid is this?! Put down the wine! I know little boys are curious about alcohol, but... it's too early! Wait until you're twenty to drink!"
Seeing Taiga snatch the wine glass and continue lecturing, Young Gilgamesh forced a smile, then looked at Shinji with a bitter smile.
"Next time, tell me sooner..."
At this point, Taiga downed the wine in one gulp, her eyes lighting up as she genuinely praised it.
"Not bad! I've never had such good wine before!"
"Yes, yes..."
Young Gilgamesh nodded helplessly in agreement, then sighed, "Indeed, it's considered the best wine in this world."
Taiga laughed heartily, "The best? Haha, don't joke with me. Although I haven't had much wine, none I've tried can compare to this. But calling it the best in the world is too much. Don't think I haven't seen the world!"
Young Gilgamesh showed some exasperation, silently sweating, but didn't argue further.
Shinji, sipping his cola, nodded in agreement, "That's right. What are kids doing drinking wine? Hand over all the hidden wine."
"Big brother, that's taking advantage of the situation."
Just after saying this, Young Gilgamesh noticed something. He saw the cola can in Shinji's hand and was about to say something but was stopped by Shinji in a low voice.
"Shut up!"
"I see, I understand."
Young Gilgamesh nodded, then grabbed a can of cola, opened it, smiled at Shinji, and clinked the can with his.
Both knew the cans were filled with wine instead of cola but didn't expose it.
"What a cheap container," Young Gilgamesh remarked.
"The content is what matters," Shinji smiled.
"True, cheers."
Watching this scene, Rin pointed at Shinji without thinking and exposed him.
"Teacher Fujimura, Shinji secretly poured wine into the cola can."
"What?!"
Uh...
Because it's not nighttime yet, can it be considered morning?
I woke up a bit late in the morning; the 5 o'clock alarm didn't wake me up...