Who could have guessed that analyzing the hair of an alien specimen was a bad idea? As Rin put it eloquently,
"A monkey will taste everything he sees."
Getting compared to a monkey is like setting the bar at its lowest and failing to reach it. The worst part is that Sakura and Kyu both agree with her.
At least this accident taught me the limits of my structural analysis. I can't analyze objects of unearthly origin, such as those made by Type-Moon.
"Emiya-kun, I am so jealous of you," Rin complains.
"...?" I raise an eyebrow in question.
Sakura is practicing her new magecraft on the other side. She is making familiars with Imaginary Numbers. It's a two-dimensional creature that looks like it was cut from a piece of paper. While they are not of much use on the battlefield. They can be used for scouting, communication, and they can also transport items through Imaginary Number Space.
"I have Tohsakas' decades of research behind me, I have aptitude for all five basic elements, and I have been learning magecraft longer than either of you. But here you are using a magecraft considered useless by magi in a way that makes me question the world. There is also your growing Reality Marble. Then look at her," She points at Sakura.
"I could have understood if it were Matou's family magic. But no. You taught her your own brand of bullshit, and she made her own brand of bullshit. Now I feel like a normal person looking at a wizard. While I am happy for you guys, can you make sure that this week goes normally?" she pleads with a haunted look.
I can understand why. Having a Reality Marble is a very big deal, and adding tracing to the equation makes a common magus doubt their life choice. When an Imaginary number gets into the mix, it feels like cheating. But I know most of her frustration comes from the cost of Gem Magecraft. I have been giving her the gems I get from Common gacha.
"There, there," I pat her back, "I am sure you are better than us."
Sakura joins me to comfort her, "Sempai, don't worry, it's not wrong to cry. I am sure you will get better than us one day."
While Sakura is smiling softly, her malice isn't hidden a bit. Talk about holding a grudge. They still haven't reconciled.
"If you are that worried about Shirou's magecraft, you can marry him so that your family might be able to inherit it," Kyu gives her own opinion.
Rin actually considers the idea for a moment, then shakes her head and takes a deep breath. Then she tells her, "I have already taken a lot from Sakura. I won't compete with her on this."
We couldn't help but gape at her. While all of us knew nobody thought she would admit her crush openly.
"You guys can always share," Kyu advised.
"Please don't make it harder than it has to. I just want her to be happy," she looks downcast.
"I am happy, Nee-san," Sakura calls her sister.
[Ding~ Quest Complete]
Main Quest:
-> Help Sakura and Rin Reconcile.
[Rewards:
exp +10000,
90% off voucher for System Mall,
2 SSR-tokens, points +5000,
Advanced healing magecraft knowledge.]
So, all it took for them to reconcile was for Rin to admit she won't compete for me.
I don't understand women.
"System, accept the rewards," I thought.
[Accepting:
Accumulated XP->345k+10k->355k
Level: 42[355k/800k]
Points: 33,525+5,000->38,525
Adding To Spirit Origin: Advanced healing magecraft knowledge.... Complete.
Storing in inventory: 2SSR-tokens, 90% off voucher]
Finally, Healing Magecraft has been acquired.
"Now, Emiya-kun, you will repay me for the headache you have caused me," Rin threatens, as she recovers.
"I am sorry," I apologize.
"You have a lot of prana, so you are going to infuse them in gems for me," she orders.
"I don't think that's a good Idea," my prana likes to explode when I use gem as a battery.
Rin doesn't know that neither give me time to explain. So, I infuse my mana in a gem. Now my control is good enough that it doesn't explode immediately. It does so when Rin tries to use it.
"Looks like when God opened a path for you, he closed others," Rin retorts, visibly brightening at my failure. I forgot her family has ties to the church.
After Rin leaves, Sakura, in a happy mood, decides to seduce me.
It was a long and rough night for Sakura. I thoroughly tested healing magecraft on her. After stuffing her with my mana, I asked Kyu to use her magic to plug Sakura so she could absorb the mana slowly.
At breakfast, Fuji-nee notices Sakura's belly and teases her, "Sakura-chan, looks like you have gained weight. You are getting fat."
Sakura and I blush at her tone, both knowing the reason.
"So, Shirou, what do you like most in a girl?" Tiga asks, trying to start a mess.
"I like a girl for her personality," I give her an answer that can stop her.
"Tell me, is there any particular girl you like?" she continues to egg me on. While Sakura and Rin chuckle at my misery.
"I like a girl like you. You are not getting any younger, er Fuji-nee, and you have no boyfriend. So why don't you become my girlfriend?" I know her weakness pretty well, and it shuts her down.
The rest of the day passed by without any problems, but in the evening, we found two unexpected visitors.
---------------
Sakura and I were at home while the calling bell rang. Opening the front door, I found Arcueid with an elderly man. The man has white hair, wearing a black coat. He feels otherworldly, like I am looking at multiple persons while one person at the same time.
Arcueid introduces us, "Shirou, meet my gramps, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg!"
"Young Emiya, I heard you have invited Arcueid to dinner. Don't mind if I tag in," the second magician tells me.
"Of course, please come in. Sakura, we have guests." I let them inside while Sakura prepares some snacks for them.
While they were munching on the snacks. Sakura and I start to make dinner. This time it's a mix of Eastern and Western cuisine. To make the food faster, I reinforce myself and everything in the kitchen while using Analysis on the ingredients during the process to make it as good as possible.
Halfway through the cooking, Arcueid enters the kitchen while Zelretch talks with Kyu. She seems to have smelled the fragrance of the food and wanted to see what we were making. Sakura is already captivated by her beauty and cheerful personality. I let her have a little taste of the food. But warn her against eating too much, as the dinner will be ready soon.
Before dinner, Tiga and Rin arrive. Tiga was surprised to see two foreigners, while Rin plastered a fake smile that promised me violence for breaking my promise not to cause any earth-shattering problems for her.
Soon we brought all the dishes to the table.
For eastern cuisine, we have Yakitori, Gyudon, Karaage, Seared salmon, Tonkatsu with Miso soup, Steamed rice, and Green salad on the side.
For Western, we made Pasta with meatballs, Garlic Butter Steak with roasted sweet potatoes on the side.
While eating, Fuji-nee asked their reason for the visit.
"Kiritsugu was once under my employment. While passing by the city, we decided to visit him. But it looks like he passed away," Zelretch replied to her question calmly.
I ask them to stay at the house instead of checking in at a hotel. Everyone accepts.
Well, Rin is panicking, but that's besides the point.
After eating her fill, Taiga leaves. Though I am sure hypnosis is somewhere involved.
"So, Mr. Schweinorg, while I am happy to have you as our guest, can you tell us the real reason for your visit?" I ask him.
"I was curious how you managed to wake up Arcueid. Normally, I don't interfere with worldly matters. But imagine my surprise when Arcueid came to the Clock Tower to find me. Usually I don't respond, but since it's my most favorite (troublesome) granddaughter, I appeared. Guess my surprise when she said she had made a friend, and his name is Shirou Emiya," he lets me know.
"She then mentions that you had invited her to dinner. And she needs to know your address to attend. How can I ignore a dinner hosted by Shirou Emiya? So we booked the ticket for the next day and here we are," he adds.
"But why plane though?" Sakura asks the question that's on our mind.
"Of course, to enjoy the scenery."
As we talk, Rin's nerve calms down, and she also joins us.
Zelretch has a vast amount of knowledge, which he shares. While Arcueid's pure and innocent nature makes the conversation lively.
I also managed to learn a little bit about the previous holy grail war. He also told me what happened to Irisviel and her daughter, Illyasviel.
It turned out he was keeping an eye on all the descendants related to the Holy Grail War as he had a hand in creating it.
Irisviel was the previous lesser grail, a vessel for the holy grail to descend. But she died during the war without completing her job. Illyasviel is the new lesser grail. To make sure she can do her job properly, her body was heavily modified to accommodate a large number of magic circuits. As a result, she might not live longer after the war. She is currently in Germany. Although he warns me against rescuing her right now, as all the Einzbern have a kill switch in them, trying to rescue her might get her killed. So, I should increase my strength first.
I also learned that he was the progenitor of Jeweled Magecraft. He had given the blueprint of his Jeweled Sword to Rin's ancestor, Nagato Tohsaka. If she manages to rebuild it, he will take her as his apprentice. She can ask me for help.
Then he lets us know that the Grail war this time will start earlier, so we should prepare accordingly. And he returns in a kileadoscpoic portal, leaving behind Arcueid.
According to her, Zelretch left her so she could learn about the modern world, and I might help her with her goal to kill Roa. I am flattered to learn that.
It was quite late when we finished our talk, so I offered for Rin to stay here. But she was too uneasy around Arcueid to sleep here.
Arcueid declared that, as her friend, I should call her Arc.
After cleaning the table and washing the dishes, I made a bed for her in one of the guest rooms. Sakura gave some of her sleeping clothes to Arc, so she could sleep better, and we went to sleep ourselves.
Now free, I take a look at the completed quests and the new quests,
[Ding~ Quest Complete]
Side Quest:
->Find what happened to Irisviel von Einzbern and her daughter.
[reward:
25,000XP,
Lucid Link: {The user possesses the ability to enter a shared lucid dream state with one or more individuals, allowing all participants to consciously interact and collaborate within the dream. This shared experience can promote bonding, creativity, and problem-solving in a surreal environment. The user must have the other party's location to use this} ]
It's a handy reward. I just need to find Illyasviel's location to communicate with her in the dream.
"System, accept the reward."
[Accepting:
Accumulated XP->355k+25k->380k
Level: 42[380k/800k]
Adding To Spirit Origin: Lucid Link.... Complete.
]
[Ding~ You got new Quests]
Main Quest:
->Save Illyasviel von Einzbern (must heal her body). {rewards: 2M XP, Mana Output Increased By 100%, 100,000 points, 5SSR tickets}
->Help Rin Tohsaka Rebuild the Jeweled Sword Zelretch. {rewards: 1M XP, 50,000points, 3SSR tickets, Skill: Gatekeeper]
->Help Arcueid Defeat Michael Roa Valdamjong. {rewards: 500k XP, 30,000 points, Skill: Mindscape Weaver}]
Hint:
[Gatekeeper]: The Gatekeeper can create temporary portals to other worlds, but only if they have previously established a connection in that world. This connection acts like a key, allowing them to open a portal for a limited duration. The Gatekeeper can also invite others to step through the portal.
[Mindscape Weaver]: The Mindscape Weaver can manipulate the physical characteristics of the world around them by projecting their thoughts and emotions into reality. For the living world, the limit of this ability depends on the world's favourability.
Taking into account the rewards of the quests, I can definitely say that they will be harder.
"Sempai, I know Arcueid-san is pretty, but that doesn't mean you can ignore me," Sakura complains beside me.
"So how do you want me to compensate?" I ask her.
"You must fill me with love like you did last night."
Sakura is getting insatiable every day. I create a soundproofed boundary around us and fulfill her request. At the same time, Kyu brings out a camera from somewhere.
==================================================================
[Spirit Origin:
Name: Shirou Emiya
Title: The Gamer
Level: 42[380k/800k]
Class: Foreigner
Alignment: Neutral ・ Evil
HP: 49k [regen 4900 per min]
MP: 19k
SP: 8.2k [regen 4100 per min]
ATK: 5.4k
Points: 38,525
Familiar: Kyu Sugardust
Params:
STR: C
END: A+
VIT: A+
AGI: D
MP: EX
LUK: D
NP: ??]
[Skills:
[Gamers Mind-EX]
[Gamers Body-EX]
[Sword of Void-EX]
[Type ORT-EX]
[One Radiant Thing-EX]
[Imaginary Number Magecraft-A++]
[Seven Deadly Sins-A++]
[Perpetual Puberty-A+++]
[Kama Sutra-EX]
[Observe-EX]
[Pain Tolerance-EX]
[Avalon-EX]
[Reality Marble:???-E~EX]
[Anti-Evil (passive)]
[Archery-A]
[Cooking-A+]
[Technician-C]
[Magecraft-B]
[Eye of Mind-C]
[Anti Divinity-E]
[Phantom Flame]
[Modern Rune]
[High-speed incantation-A]
[Territory Creation(A)]
[Healing Magecraft]
[Lucid Link]
Spells:
[Tracing]
[Reinforcement]
[Refresh]
[Flash Air]
[Clone Jutsu]
[Voidblast]
[Fireball]
[Eternal Blaze]
[The Goal Of Life Is Death]
]
[Quests]:
World Quest:
->9 months and 22 days left
Main Quest:
->Save Illyasviel von Einzbern (must heal her body). {rewards: 2M XP, Mana Output Increased By 100%, 100,000 points, 5SSR tickets}
->Help Rin Tohsaka Rebuild the Jeweled Sword Zelretch. {rewards: 1M XP, 50,000points, 3SSR tickets, Skill: Gatekeeper]
->Help Arcueid Defeat Michael Roa Valdamjong. {rewards: 500k XP, 30,000 points, Skill: Mindscape Weaver}]
Character Quest:
->Increase your physical fitness
->Increase your magical fitness
->Increase your knowledge of the world and beings living there {knowledge about powerful beings yields better results}
->Learn/Improve skills
->Learn more about people you already have a relationship with {friends and foes, both are counted}
Side Quests:
->Unlock Immunity to Mystic Eye Of Death Perception
->Upgrade Skill: Type ORT
->Find what happened during the Fourth Holy Grail War. {reward: 25,000XP, ???}
-> Find Tohsaka Tokomi's killer. {rewards: 10,000XP, 1000 points}
->Unlock Excalibur Morgan True Name release.