Shinji Matou at Your Service

Shinji had known about Carina's feelings for a long time. It was a love that consumed her, like a moth drawn to a flame.

If Shinji hadn't saved her, she would have died. Yet, even in the face of death, she clung to her love for Maio, using her last bit of strength to leave a message through the twin bond—"Help Maio." The second half of the original story begins with this event.

How would someone like her react once she learned the truth about Maio's downfall? Would she be grateful to Shinji? No way.

Even Waver felt that Shinji's actions against Maio were excessive. Whether it was to avenge Carina, win her over, eliminate future threats, or simply because he didn't like Maio, it was still too much.

Carina, the person involved, didn't mind, and neither her sister Regina nor the Silver Princess said anything. So, why did an outsider like Shinji interfere?

Shinji just chuckled at this.

"Since you asked so sincerely, I'll generously answer you. To prevent the world—cough, cough, I mean, the tension was getting too high, so I thought I'd lighten the mood a bit. My actions against Maio had nothing to do with Carina; there was another reason."

"Another reason?"

Waver asked, puzzled. The attempted murder case was already solved, so what else could there be?

"Let me show you something," Shinji said, pulling two items out of his pocket.

One was something like a cigarette, emitting a distinctive herbal scent.

"This is a scented drug I found on Maio."

The other was a transparent bottle containing a viscous liquid.

"This is stomach acid extracted from Touko's body. What do you think would happen if I lit the scented drug and opened the bottle?"

Waver shook his head, but he had a certain suspicion in his mind.

Shinji lit the scented drug with a cigarette, then casually opened the bottle, exposing the liquid to the air.

Soon, something green began to emerge from the liquid, quickly absorbing it and growing larger, the intertwined mass resembling plant roots. The roots soon spread out of the bottle, creeping toward the hand holding it, as if trying to take root in the flesh.

Shinji unleashed the Fire of the Sun, burning the roots to ashes.

"Touko not only drank a memory-impairing potion but also ingested the seeds of this thing. When triggered by the corresponding scented drug, the seeds would take root and grow inside her, spreading to vital organs like the heart."

Waver was speechless. Being smart, he quickly figured out Maio's plan—to use this to coerce Touko into undergoing multiple surgeries for the ultimate beauty.

Recalling the end of the incident, when Maio searched his pockets in despair and found nothing, Waver realized he had underestimated the stuttering youth. Maio's greed had driven him to the extreme, refusing to repent even at the end.

"Waver, you know me. If someone comes after me, I might not care much. But if they go after my family or friends, I won't hesitate to be ruthless. Maio's actions crossed my bottom line. Even if Touko could understand Maio's feelings and didn't want to pursue it, I wouldn't let him off—he wanted to pursue the ultimate beauty, so I stripped him of his ability to do so, ensuring he'd never achieve it!"

Touko had noticed something was wrong with the potion when she drank it, but she chose to ignore it. After all, she had spare bodies—if this one was ruined, she'd just switch to another. Moreover, her body was connected to the sealed monster's, ready to unleash it upon death to devour her enemies.

In the original timeline, Touko's final move was a big one—a tit-for-tat, leaving no debts unpaid.

But as Shinji said, even if she wouldn't die, the pain of death wouldn't change. So he made preparations in advance, stealing the scented drug from Maio and helping Touko detoxify.

After confirming everything, with evidence in hand, Shinji secretly sneaked into Maio's cell, inflicting some hidden injuries and sprinkling the wounds with the Origin Bullet powder.

Maio, being a magus, could easily heal minor wounds. But when he tried to heal himself, Kiritsugu's origin kicked in, causing his magic circuits to go haywire and ending his life as a magus.

"This was my revenge. I initially intended to keep it under wraps, but since you've figured it out, I don't mind. You can tell Maio and Carina the truth, but make sure to let them know that I spared them this time because of you. Next time, I won't be so merciful. Whether you believe it or not, if I want them dead, it's as easy as taking something from my pocket—even if Valualet decides to stand up for them, it won't matter! War? I'm not afraid!"

His resolute words and firm attitude made Shinji's determination clear.

He had kept a low profile so far due to the secrecy of the Holy Grail War and the safety of his family. But once the Holy Grail War began and the Servants descended, he would have no more reservations. In Fate/Grand Order, three Servants were enough to destroy the Clock Tower without high-level combatants; one Valualeta wouldn't be a threat.

"..."

Waver knew Shinji was serious. He had known ever since that time ten years ago when Shinji had openly berated Kayneth in front of him. Most of the time, Shinji was easygoing, but once he set his mind on something, especially if it touched his bottom line, he would see it through to the end.

"What about Lord Valualeta? Was making sure Maio got hurt while in her custody part of your revenge too?"

"Of course."

After the Isela incident, Lord Valualeta brought the Silver Princess, the two maids, and Maio back to the Creation Department for further processing. However, before the Clock Tower could issue a decision, Maio was incapacitated. Maio's family, which held a significant position in the Department of Lore, quickly filed an inquiry with Lord Valualeta's office.

"Why?"

"Because of Touko's sealing designation."

Before Lord Valualeta left, Touko had asked her how she felt about her sealing designation.

Without hesitation, the old woman replied:

"I think it's quite appropriate. Among modern magus, you're one of the most suitable for a sealing designation. When others asked for my opinion, I wholeheartedly recommended you. They should preserve Touko Aozaki and her magic circuits in the depths of the Spiritual Tomb of Albion."

A straightforward response, leaving no room for argument.

This was Valualeta.

Her warm words and graceful smile at social gatherings were genuine.

But deep down, she was the ideal magus. She believed that if it would advance magecraft, she wouldn't hesitate to have her students sealed, without a second thought. The ideal magus.

Perhaps this is the way of life that truly befits one of the Twelve Lords.