Chapter 287

Finally managing to coax the agitated Saber-chan out of the room, Shinji closed the door and sat down in front of the huge gaming screen occupying an entire wall.

"Can you not mess with my Servant for fun? It's very annoying! You said all that on purpose knowing Saber could hear, didn't you?"

Young Gilgamesh chuckled. "Haha, sorry, sorry. I just couldn't resist teasing her a bit. But overall, aren't you the same? Suggesting a solution you know she can't stick to for that long is quite the prank itself, isn't it?"

"Huh? What nonsense are you spouting?"

Shinji clicked his tongue and sighed, his expression turning somewhat nostalgic. "That's not it. You misunderstood, Gil. Personally, I have a pretty high regard for those who never give up, like manga protagonists, no matter what happens."

"Oh?"

Young Gilgamesh looked genuinely surprised, not expecting Shinji to say something like that. From his expression, it was clear Shinji wasn't lying.

"Don't look at me like that," Shinji shrugged, picking up the game controller. While focusing on his racing game against Gilgamesh, he continued, "Maybe it's because I'm a guy, but I genuinely admire those protagonist-like characters who charge ahead recklessly, like Emiya and Saber-chan."

"That's surprising. I thought you were helping that big brother (Shirou) out of a sense of duty or interest."

"I do act out of interest in most things, but not this."

"The essence, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess it's the essence of being a man." Shinji nodded, his gameplay uninterrupted. "Most guys love those idiot protagonists who charge ahead recklessly, right?"

"No, that's not the essence I meant." Young Gilgamesh shook his head, his crimson eyes staring intently at Shinji's profile. "I meant the deep essence written in your outsider soul..."

Hearing this, Shinji sighed. "You people love speaking in riddles. Can't you just be straightforward?"

"Eh? Is it really that hard to understand?" Young Gilgamesh put on an innocent face, then shrugged. "But I think you, big brother, understand what I mean."

"Sorry, I don't get it."

"Don't lie, big brother."

Nearby, Gilgamesh silently controlled his in-game car, listening to their conversation without showing any reaction or saying a word.

Until Shinji asked Gilgamesh a rather odd question...

"Gilgamesh, as the king who led humanity to sever ties with the gods, how do humans prove they are human? Or rather, how do humans find proof of their humanity?"

After a game round ended, Gilgamesh frowned at Shinji's question and scolded him.

"What nonsense, Shinji? As a king's subject, do you need the king to tell you your identity?! Such trivial thoughts are pointless! My subjects are all true humans with flesh and blood!"

Gilgamesh's stern rebuke left Shinji momentarily stunned. After a few seconds, he burst into laughter.

"Pfft, hahaha...!" Shinji clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he started tearing up. "Haha... You... you really have a way with words, Gilgamesh. Even though it sounds ridiculous and a bit infuriating..."

Shinji wiped away his laughter tears and returned to his usual relaxed demeanor.

"...It did lift my spirits a bit. Thanks, Gilgamesh."

Hearing this, Gilgamesh smiled slightly. "Guiding subjects is the king's duty. Correcting mistakes, providing direction when lost..."

"Hey, are you interested in a beach episode?"

"A fanservice one? I don't mind."

Seeing Shinji chatting with young Gilgamesh about beach episodes, Gilgamesh couldn't hold back and roared, "Listen to me, damn it!"

"Sorry, what was that?" Shinji turned to the furious Gilgamesh, raising his hands. "I have no interest in your kingly ideals. I've never acknowledged being your subject. You should stop trying to make everyone your subject."

"Indeed, forcing it won't work," young Gilgamesh added.

"Shut up! What the king says goes!"

Seeing Gilgamesh revert to his usual self, Shinji turned to young Gilgamesh and asked, "Hey, what happened in this guy's upbringing? Is it family issues making him rebellious?"

"I wouldn't know," young Gilgamesh shrugged. Then, leaning closer to Shinji, he whispered, "To be honest, I find him hard to deal with. Always shouting 'mongrel' and losing his temper is quite unbecoming of a king."

"Shut up, mongrel!"

"See? There he goes again," young Gilgamesh shook his head, exasperated.

"Die, you fake!"

"I'm real too, just from a parallel world," young Gilgamesh sighed. "Anyway, my world was destroyed by your wish."

"That was the Grail, not me."

"You made the Grail wish for it."

"No, it wasn't me. Blame the Grail, not me. Also, are you really the Gilgamesh from that world? If so, why are you so indifferent to it?"

"Big brother, even though I'm different, I don't like being called 'Golden Brat.' Also, as you know, that world was doomed. There was no way to save it."

"So, just stand by?"

Shinji interjected, but young Gilgamesh remained silent.

"But it seems you took on the task. So, let me see what you've got. It sounds more interesting than that world's end."

Shinji didn't respond, just sighed.

Saving the world and humanity together is tough. Saving one means sacrificing the other. Let the world remain; humanity suffers. Save humanity alone; Gaia fights back. Gaia won't allow its destruction while humans survive.

"There's no solution now. Maybe it'll take a long time to find a way to defy the world's rules."

Young Gilgamesh smiled, "No problem, I have time."

"That's right! That's a true king's subject! If the world's rules are inevitable, find a way to defy them! Like how I led humanity to defy the gods!"

Ignoring Gilgamesh, Shinji asked young Gilgamesh about the beach episode. "What do you think? Real beach or indoor water park? Which is better?"

Young Gilgamesh pondered, "Hmm, both have their perks. The beach is more natural, but indoor parks are cooler in summer. Tough choice."

"Listen to me, damn it!"

Gilgamesh roared furiously.

...

Afternoon.

After a night-long gaming session, Shinji decided to take a rare afternoon nap after lunch.

But...

Two minutes into his nap, Rin barged in, waking him up. Groggy, Shinji looked at Rin, who seemed out of breath from running.

"What is it? Did the sky fall? If it did, hide in the basement."

"The sky didn't fall! Get up, Shinji! The Mage's Association just announced big news!"

"I told you, I'm not interested in the Mage's Association. As long as they don't bother me, they can do whatever. Goodnight..."

"Goodnight, my foot! Get up!"

Rin yanked the blanket off Shinji and said something that left him dumbfounded.

"You... The Mage's Association declared you the Sixth Magician!"

It took nearly half a minute for Shinji to react.

"What?"

...

After washing his face with cold water, Shinji went to the living room. Seeing Rin sitting on the sofa, legs shaking, he spoke up.

"Alright, Rin, I'm awake. What did you say? What did the Mage's Association do? What did they say about me?"

"I said, they announced the Sixth Magician, and it's you!"

"Great, I'm still not fully awake. I'll wash my face again."

As Shinji turned to leave, Rin lost her patience and yelled, "Stay here!"

Shinji retorted, "I may have studied various magic, even True Magic, but I can't use any! I don't even have magic circuits! Are they idiots?!"

"A new, never-before-seen possibility. That's their description of the Sixth Magic. And the one named Magician is you."

Hearing this, Shinji covered his face, "Fits perfectly! Damn it!"