Chapter 6: Determination

Chapter 6: Determination

Shinji was well aware of his father and uncle's uneasiness. When he made up his mind to kill Zouken, he knew that both Byakuya and Kariya would look at him differently afterward. It would be difficult to maintain a pure relationship between elders and juniors.

The soul and body influence each other, and Shinji's memories affect the soul of the time traveler, making it impossible for him to face them with the attitude of a stranger. He would see the uneasiness in their eyes and feel a mixture of sighs and guilt.

Justeaze coughed lightly and urged Shinji to continue doing so.

Gathering his thoughts, Shinji said, "I made the contract with Caster, and I will bear the cost. It doesn't require my father, uncle, or the Matou family to directly pay anything."

"Not directly, but indirectly?" Kariya's brow furrowed, not relaxed, in response to Shinji's words. Instead, it grew even more tense.

Kariya had been away from Fuyuki City for many years and had no contact with the family. His brother Byakuya asked him to receive mail. Over ten days ago, a letter arrived in the mailbox without a signature, only a phone number, and a sentence:

"Aoi's daughter, Sakura Tohsaka, is about to become an adopted daughter of the Matou family."

Kariya, who had always been the backup plan for Sakura's happiness, became anxious. He immediately dialed the number in the anonymous letter and, following the instructions of the woman's voice on the phone, went through several twists and turns to arrive at an abandoned building.

There, he met a woman who answered his call, Caster, and his nephew, Shinji Matou.

There, he learned of their plan to kill Zouken when he moved against Sakura.

Although he didn't want to scare Sakura, Kariya agreed to cooperate to secure Sakura's future. That day, he found a way to handle other people in the family and ensured that Shinji would be in the best condition to take action.

From that moment on, Kariya knew that Shinji was not ordinary and not a puppet of Caster. Moreover, since Zouken's death, it has always been Shinji speaking, with Caster saying no more than ten sentences, and only in response to direct questions when Shinji was resting.

Facing Kariya's question, Shinji nodded calmly. "Even though Uncle has given up on the path of magecraft, he still received several years of magecraftl training. He should know how many resources are needed to cultivate a qualified magi. The resources needed for me and Sakura to become a magi should be provided by the Matou family."

Byakuya looked at Shinji in surprise. Wasn't he, like himself, lacking in magecraft aptitude?

"Sakura! I can understand, but why her?" Kariya's expression changed and his voice was filled with impatience. He had come back for Sakura, and she was the untouchable thorn in his side.

Shinji's smile widened. "Thank you, Uncle. I won't let you down."

Kariya sighed again and his anger dissipated further. "I may not fully agree with all of this, but I can't deny that you've shown determination and resourcefulness. Just promises me one thing, Shinji— protects Sakura at all costs. Don't let her suffer like I did."

Shinji's eyes gleamed with determination. "I promise, Uncle. I will protect Sakura with everything I have."

In these words, the tension in the room decreased slightly. Three of them, bound by their shared connection to Sakura, now face a future filled with uncertainty. However, they were prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead and united in their resolve to protect and guide Sakura on her chosen path.

"I would be happy to agree," Byakuya replied on behalf of his younger brother.

"As Father said, this is Tohsaka Tokiomi's idea, and it is also a common idea among traditional magus," Shinji's face showed a heaviness that didn't match his age. "Sakura entering the Matou family doesn't mean Tohsaka Tokiomi will remain indifferent. The inheritance of Crest takes a long time, regardless of whether it is now. If Sakura does not grow in magecraft, what will Tohsaka Tokiomi do? Will he take Sakura back? To put it bluntly, Uncle alone won't be able to protect Sakura, and the result will only be Sakura being taken away by Tohsaka Tokiomi."

Upon hearing this, Kariya unconsciously clenched his fists and nails digging into his flesh without his awareness.

Shinji continued without pausing, "The next course of action was foreseeable. To avoid wasting his daughter's talent, Tohsaka Tokiomi is likely to send Sakura to another lineage, perhaps a decent one, or even a worse place in the Matou family. However, such lineages rarely have familial bonds. After all, magus lack morals and are creatures driven more by reason than emotions."

"I won't let Tokiomi take Sakura away. I won't let Sakura go to such a place..." Kariya's eyes became bloodshot.

"But you can't protect Sakura," Shinji revealed the cold reality in a calm tone. "Let me put it this way, the entire Matou family can't stop Tohsaka Tokiomi alone. Even if you run away, you may not be able to escape the reach of the Tohsaka family."

Kariya fell silent; he knew that everything Shinji said was true and he also knew why Shinji spoke this way.

"Tell me, what do I need to do to protect Sakura? How can I keep Sakura from being tainted by magecraft?"

Shinji shook his head and said, "It's impossible to keep Sakura from being tainted by magecraft. Being born into such a family determines her fate, and it is also a prerequisite for Sakura to remain in the Matou family. However, studying magecraft and growing healthily is not contradictory. Magecraft is like mathematics or English; studying it alone is not bad. The key to this is Sakura's learning environment. Uncle, do you think she should study and live under your watchful eye? Or..."

"Stop," Kariya interrupted Shinji once again. "Just do as you said! Sakura will study magecraft and you will learn with her. That's what you wanted to hear, right?"

Shinji smiled.

"I just hope you can uphold the honor of the Matou family."