As night fell, Shin lay in bed and, as usual, opened the task world selection interface.
Originally, according to Shin's plan, tonight was supposed to be another trip to the One Punch Man task world—after all, the other worlds were still in the state of "main quest generation in progress."
But when Zuke glanced at the task world list, he noticed a subtle change in the selection interface.
[Respected Zuke, please select the task world you wish to enter:
Dragon Ball (Main Quest Generation in Progress); JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (Main Quest Generation in Progress); Fate/Stay Night (Time Not Adjusted)]
[Respected Zuke, your special task worlds are:
Wasteful Days of High School Girls; One Punch Man (Today's Refresh Count: 0)]
[Respected Zuke, your remaining play count for today is...]
[Transitioning to Zuke]
The special task worlds weren't particularly noteworthy. Aside from One Punch Man, the other slot, after refreshing, was still occupied by a mundane slice-of-life world. Though it had cute girls, Zuke didn't see any reason to dive into such a world just for them.
His attention was fixed on the main task worlds—JoJo's Bizarre Adventure remained unchanged, but the last one, the Type-Moon world, had transformed.
Its name had changed to Fate/Stay Night—the work centered around the Fifth Holy Grail War. This aligned with Zuke's expectations.
What left Zuke speechless, however, was that while JoJo's world had entered the "main quest generation" phase earlier than the Type-Moon world, it was the latter that had completed its generation first.
Could there be some issue with JoJo's Part 6 that's delaying the main quest?
Despite his doubts, since JoJo's world hadn't generated its main quest yet, Zuke could only turn his attention to the Fate/Stay Night task world.
"Although the title is still Fate/Stay Night, the story is probably nothing like the original."
Zuke pondered. Based on his experience with the JoJo world, these task worlds would continue to evolve based on his previous influences. In other words, his actions in the Fate/Zero world would carry over, completely altering the original plot.
Emiya Kiritsugu had died early, meaning he likely never adopted Shirou Emiya, nor implanted Avalon within him. That boy, Shirou Emiya, would probably just be an ordinary teenager with no connection to the world of magecraft or the Holy Grail War.
Kotomine Kirei's death also meant the Fifth Holy Grail War would lack its original overseer. Who would take that role this time was anyone's guess.
Beyond that, the Matou family had been destroyed, while the Tohsaka family, under his influence, had gained further support from the Mage's Association. They should be doing well—at the very least, Rin Tohsaka probably wouldn't end up as the penniless young lady she was in the original story, thanks to Kirei's meddling.
Moreover, Aoi Tohsaka's fate had also diverged from the original. Though she had suffered from the blow of Tokiomi Tohsaka's death, Zuke had quickly pulled her out of her despair. Thus, Aoi wouldn't fall gravely ill and pass away as in the original, ensuring Rin wouldn't grow up alone.
"Looking at it this way, I've actually done quite a bit of good."
Zuke mused to himself—though he had killed many during the events of Fate/Zero, he had also saved quite a few.
"I wonder who'll summon me this time. Most likely Sakura..."
Since Zuke retained his previous identity in task worlds, he would likely be summoned as a Servant this time. As for his Master, he naturally assumed it would be Matou Sakura. After all, he had left her a feather as a "catalyst"—barring any surprises, she should become his Master.
Thinking of the girl he had saved, who had walked a path entirely different from the original, Zuke chuckled softly and selected Fate/Stay Night.
Compared to the One Punch Man world, Fate/Stay Night was far more enticing right now.
---
"Let thy body rest under my command, thy fate entwined with my blade."
A light, feminine voice echoed through the dimly lit room as magical energy stirred a faint breeze in the confined space.
"If thou wouldst heed the call of the Holy Grail, abide by this will and reason, then answer."
As the incantation was recited line by line, the magic circle etched into the room began to glow. The summoning array, drawn in blood and mercury, shimmered brilliantly under the dim light.
"...Here is my oath. I am the one who shall achieve all virtues of this world, the one who shall lay bare all evils of this world."
Finally, the voice rose passionately, brimming with excitement.
"Thou, clad in the Three Great Words, come forth from the ring of restraint, guardian of the scales!"
As the final words faded, the summoning circle erupted in a blinding radiance. From the light, a figure gradually materialized.
It was Zuke—upon entering the task world, he had heard the chant summoning a Servant and noted it was a girl's voice. He had naturally assumed his summoner would be Matou Sakura. But when he opened his eyes and saw the figure before him, he froze.
"Waver...?"
Indeed, the person standing before him was none other than Waver Velvet, the man he had spared last time.
Or rather, he should now be called Lord El-Melloi II—his black hair had grown long, his face leaner and more resolute, his gaze sharper and fiercer than before.
Waver wore a slightly exasperated expression. When he saw Zuke, his face twisted into a complicated mix of emotions.
"I really didn't expect this to work... Now Matou is going to be furious."
As he spoke, Waver glanced at another figure standing before the summoning circle—Zuke followed his gaze and finally saw his true Master.
It was a girl dressed in a deep blue formal suit, wearing a hat, her long golden hair cascading down. She seemed delighted at having summoned Zuke, a satisfied smile on her face.
Zuke recognized this girl from certain works—though of course, the girl herself was unaware of this. With a proud tone, she introduced herself to him:
"Thank you for answering my summons, Mr. Zuke. I am Reines El-Melloi Archisorte—your Master in this Holy Grail War!"
To be continued…