Chapter 294

After Lunch

After lunch, Shinji and Ruby were nowhere to be found. Archer, knowing they were up to some new "squid monster" project, wanted to warn Rin and the others but decided against it. If he did, he might end up being turned into some strange creature by Shinji and that unscrupulous wand. Although it might be exciting, it was better not to risk it.

"By the way, Sakura, what has Shinji been working on at home lately? He wouldn't just be doing nothing, right?" Rin asked, enjoying the shade of the pavilion. Shinji had never stopped tinkering with things since he was a child, and Rin doubted he had changed.

"Let me think..." Sakura tapped her chin and looked up in thought. "I found some physics books and papers in my brother's room. It seems he's been studying..."

Two minutes later, Rin's eyes twitched, and she stared at Sakura in shock for half a minute before reacting, barely containing her horror.

"Why is he researching that kind of stuff? Is it just a sudden interest, or is he seriously preparing to destroy the world? That guy is way too dangerous!"

Archer silently nodded in agreement. If it were anyone else researching nuclear fusion, it wouldn't be a big deal. But if Shinji was researching it, that was a problem. Knowing him, if he was studying it, he would definitely make some breakthroughs, and that was terrifying.

At that moment, Shinji's voice echoed.

"Everyone! The waves are picking up! If you want to surf, now's the time!"

...

On the beach, Shinji and Ruby were huddled far away, secretly tinkering with something.

"I've adjusted the barrier around the squid monster, so the corresponding weapon is up to you, Ruby."

"Leave it to Ruby-chan! Let's see, maxed out against magic, Noble Phantasms' power gets diverted to another dimension, causing no actual damage, and the only weapon that can hurt it is... a water gun? Quite the creative idea, Shinji-san."

"Heh heh!" Shinji chuckled. "One surprise like this morning is enough. Repeating the same script twice would bore people, so a more conventional swimsuit battle against the squid monster is perfect for the afternoon!"

Ruby laughed mischievously.

"Hehehe~ The squid monster retreats under water gun attacks, and we get to enjoy the heroic figures of the girls in swimsuits. Not bad, Shinji-san! I'm looking forward to it!"

"Let's get started!"

"OK!"

...

So, in the afternoon, a giant squid monster appeared on the beach, giving all the Servants a hard time.

Magic attacks were ineffective!

Noble Phantasms couldn't cause damage!

Touching the tentacles drained their mana!

The squid monster's slime also corroded clothing!

Just as everyone despaired over the sudden appearance of the squid monster, Ruby, as the director... no, the champion of justice, suddenly discovered its weakness!

Using water guns could harm it!

Ruby quickly distributed weapons to the brave girls present.

At that moment, Ruby vowed to protect this peaceful beach at all costs!

The battle began!

In the distance, under a parasol, young Gilgamesh watched the girls battling the squid monster with water guns and sighed, shaking his head.

"Not much of a script."

"Then why are you watching?"

Shinji, holding a video camera, looked at Gilgamesh, then turned to Archer and Lancer, who were smartly pretending not to notice, and said.

"Why not follow their example and not watch?"

"Hahaha..." Gilgamesh laughed, avoiding the topic, and then looked back at the girls, united under Ruby's command against the squid monster. "But it looks like it will end well. At sunset, the girls will band together to defeat the monster. I don't mind such an ending."

Hearing this, Shinji smirked secretly.

A perfect ending? No way.

Sensing something, Gilgamesh's expression turned awkward as he looked at Shinji. "Big brother, your tastes are quite peculiar..."

Shinji rolled his eyes. "What do you know? This is reality. You don't just defeat the boss and get a happy ending. Defeat one monster, and a stronger one appears. That's reality."

"Hiding your perverse tastes behind grand statements?"

About an hour later...

On the sunset beach, the girls, whose swimsuits were corroded in places by the squid monster's slime, supported each other, standing before the defeated squid monster.

Victory! It was undoubtedly the girls' victory! After giving it their all, they finally achieved a decisive victory, protecting the beach's peace. Naturally, their friendships grew through the shared battle.

Saber, Rider, and Bazett, having fought side by side, eased their tensions.

Luvia and Rin also found some mutual respect after supporting each other in the fierce battle.

"It's finally over..."

Covered in grime, Rin smiled wryly and collapsed onto the sand, exhausted.

"I really want to take a hot bath now." Sakura stretched, looking equally worn out from the exertion.

"The sea... is indeed a terrifying place."

Saber looked at the now calm sea and then back at the others with a smile. "But if we work together, we can overcome it."

Rin, staring blankly at Saber, couldn't understand why Saber hadn't realized this was all Shinji's doing.

Didn't she notice the men didn't intervene at all?

It was clearly Shinji's twisted idea, wasn't it?

"Ah—!"

Luvia's scream snapped Rin out of her thoughts. She turned to see a squid monster even larger than the last one. With a sigh, she gave up resisting.

"Everyone! It seems like the husband of the last monster! Get ready!"

Ruby shouted, but it had little effect since everyone was nearly exhausted.

Sure enough, within a few minutes, all the girls were defeated.

As the scene approached R-rated territory, Shinji drew a curtain to shield the male Servants.

These men were innocent! He would bear the burden of witnessing this unsightly scene alone!

With a sense of righteousness, Shinji continued filming, capturing every moment of the girls' last-ditch effort against the evil tentacle monster!

Struggling to the last, exhausted and unable to resist, wasn't this a reflection of a sad life?

He had to record this scene perfectly and watch it from time to time to remind himself!

...

Due to the intense afternoon, after a bath and dinner, the girls returned to their rooms to sleep.

At this crucial moment, Rider called Shinji out for a spar, leading him to a secluded nighttime reef.

Seeing Rider remove her sun protection to reveal a tight swimsuit, Shinji felt a sense of déjà vu.

Suddenly, he remembered a scene from a doujin manga where Shirou was the protagonist.

For some reason, recalling the manga's content, Shinji felt like he was witnessing a netorare scenario.

Although not knowing who was being stolen, it felt oddly stimulating!

"Master, my mana... is depleted."

Seeing Rider's weak yet sly expression, Shinji, as her Master, felt responsible for replenishing her mana.

...

"Wait... the barrier..."

"Don't you think it's more thrilling without one?"

Hearing this, Rider paused, then angrily cursed Shinji as a pervert—in her mind.

Because her voice-producing organs were occupied.

...

At midnight, a replenished Rider returned to her room happily. However, upon turning on the light, she saw Sakura, smiling with eyes closed, waiting for her.

Her heart sank, knowing she was in trouble.

"Sakura, calm down. I... I can help you..."

Seeing Sakura's dominant stance, walking towards her step by step, Rider panicked. She sometimes had rebellious thoughts but never dared to defy Sakura!

"Help me?" Sakura sneered. "How?"

"I think... I think Master won't change, so... so it's better to... lower your expectations..."

"No."

Sakura shook her head firmly, her eyes serious. "I believe someday my brother will evolve from a scum to a human! And then..."

Seeing Sakura suddenly pause, lost in fantasy, Rider remained silent, secretly thinking.

So do you like your brother or despise him? What does 'evolving from scum to human' mean?

I, Rider, guarantee that even if pigs fly, Master will never change from scum to human!

So stop dreaming, Sakura!

Wake up! There will never be a fairy tale with a prince and princess between you and that scumbag!

He will always be a scum!

"Are you ready for your punishment, Rider?"

Seeing Sakura, with a rope in hand, stepping out of her fantasy, Rider realized she had forgotten her situation!

Watching Sakura approach, Rider swallowed hard, her mind racing to find a way out.

Suddenly, an idea struck Rider: "Sakura, Saber... seems to have exhausted her mana too! Her room is right next to Master's!"

"Huh?" Sakura snapped out of it.

"Since we can't get mana from Master the usual way, I think Master might..."

"No! Impossible! Saber-chan is a child! My brother wouldn't be that monstrous!"

He's even more monstrous than you think!

Rider thought, then adjusted her glasses and calmly said: "But Saber can revert to her original form."

Sakura: !!

...

In Saber's room.

Seeing the weakened Saber, Shinji was conflicted. Should he or shouldn't he?

"I'm fine, Master."

Despite her weakness, Saber was considerate, "I'm just a bit drained. I didn't expect danger at the beach, so I didn't bring mana-restoring lollipops. But I didn't expect..."

Seeing the concern on Saber's face, Shinji cursed himself as scum, deliberately forgetting he had a box of lollipops in his system storage.

"Ultimately... because of the incomplete contract, I've never received mana from Master." Saber looked away, "Unlike Rider, who has a complete contract with Master..."

Huh?

Shinji was stunned. Was Saber jealous? But Rider could only replenish mana through special means, Saber! She couldn't receive mana either!

"Don't misunderstand, Shinji. I have no other intention. Mana distribution should be up to you. If you think Rider is more useful, it's reasonable to give her more mana!"

"Saber..." Shinji's expression turned subtle, "Are you complaining that I'm... playing favorites?"

"No! I said it's up to you! I never said otherwise!"

"Alright, alright, I get it." Shinji awkwardly cut Saber off, feeling helpless. Saber's inner drama was rich, thinking he was unfair.

That sort of thing... can't be fair!

"I'm not a magus, you know that..."

"I know, Shinji. Even though you have a way to replenish mana, if you don't want to tell me, it's okay. Everyone has secrets."

Shinji: ...

Recalling Rider's mana overflow after being alone with Shinji, Saber felt uncomfortable.

Though she didn't know what happened, this Master was biased! She was his properly summoned Servant!

"I won't mind, Master."

Shinji: ...

You call this not minding?

Those cold eyes say otherwise!

"Ahem, I understand."

Shinji cleared his throat, then said seriously: "Anyway, revert to your original form first. I'll... take responsibility!"

"No need to force yourself, Shinji!"

Saber said this, but her body returned to its normal state after draining the last of her mana.

"Usually, a Servant with a faulty contract can get mana from their Master through magical circuit transplants (harmonious mode), but I don't have magical circuits."

"Any other methods?" Saber asked.

"Yes."

Shinji nodded, suppressing his guilt with a sense of Masterly duty.

This is a Master's duty! Nothing else!

Just responsibility!

"Close your eyes." Shinji said.

"Oh."

Saber obediently closed her eyes, then felt something soft touch her lips and Shinji's breath on her face!

"Shin..."