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Entering highschool is the equivalent of unlocking the second level in the RPG known as life
You attain new equipment, new enemies, and new bosses. In compensation the second level includes various challenges that can make the game vastly more difficult than the beginner stage, new status were of course added
[Depression], [Horny], and [Existensial Doubt] are three of them. Not only are you now in a state of emotional instabiity, your libido become really uncontrollable with the surge of hormones in your healthy male body
It really suck
On the first three month, I quickly decide things werent't going to work out for me if I continue leeching off Rin's ass. She's rich and bountiful in term of financial asset, but I would rather she spend it on Sakura and herself
At one point, I considered working a job at Taiga's place like Shirou, if only so I can earn money
He seem to welcome my company if to make fun of my ugly bastard scheme a year ago, and I am tempted solely because the pay at his place is good
But that is before I met Issei
"I cannot believe you manage to live in the same house at them" One morning the guy decided to sit across from me at lunch "Those two sisters seem like taboo"
"Ísh that so?" I nabbed on my homemade sandwich "You have a problem with women or something?"
The boy's eyes narrowed. He huffed, as though offended
"My problem lies with them. Gender does not matter for the wicked"
"Uh huh, and you sure they're evil? This coming from the guy who live with them for two years, the two's not that bad"
"I...it's just a feeling, but you should stay away from them"
The boy hesitate, before bowing to me
"Apologies if I offend you. My name is Ryuudou Issei, Shirou's classmate"
"And I'm Shinji Matou. Also his classmate"
"Oh. I never saw you"
"That's okay" I never made it a point of making myself noticeable anyway. Unlike Shinji, I neither crave for fame nor attention "You were making a point about Rin and Sakura. I don't think I'm the best person to talk about it"
From an outsider's point of view what Issei did would seem a tad sexist. However, I know the problem with him
This guy lives in a temple in Ryoudou mountain. He works as a monk there. In case you didn't know, Ryoudou is where all the magical leyline are concentrated, meaning he has a very sensitive detection to lingering Mana after having familiarized himself with it for years
My hypothesis? The guy's getting worked up over Rin and Sakura, who are canonically both Mana tank, because he is unnderved by their presence
"Sorry for ruining your lunch. Have a great day" I finish the last of my meal and was about to get up. Issei quickly stopped me by grabbing my arm
"I heard you were looking for a job from Shirou" He spoke evenly "At the moment one of our old member has just left the temple. Would you care to work in his place as a cleaner to the place?"
"Really, dude? Shit, I would be glad" I blinked "How much is my salary?"
"You can have a permanent stay at the temple as long as you do your daily task. There's also free food and a local sauna nearby" He cast his gaze downward "However, no one is willing to travel the distancd there"
So no money. That is be a problem I'll leave to future!Shinji. Adult is when you start to worry about financial situation, and right now I'm just a highschool student
I'll escape my responsibility for as long as I can, thank you very much!
"You got yourself a deal, glasses man"
___________
"I'm going to move out from this house"
You can hear a pin drop in the ensuing silence
I sat on one side of the table, while the two girls have their mouth open gaping at me after the announcement
"But why?" Rin eventually stutter out "You just drop that on us so suddenly. Is there something with this mansion you are dissatisfied with?"
"I don't think he is upset with you, Rin" Sakura leaned over and consoled her sister "I believe Shinji has his own reasons for doing this"
Looking at the two having a moment, I couldn't help but smile
Yeah, despite how the ugly bastard scheme that time goes, the result show it can't be denied to have worked. The two sisters went back to being proper siblings after the stunt with my disguise
Until this day Rin still hadn't figured my master plan.
Though she did treat me a little bit nicer after the whole ordeal, it must have been my imagination born from an unhealthy amount of paranoia connecting unrelated dots that led me to believe she might have suspected me
Doesn't matter though. Seeing Rin and Sakura smile is worth a thousand punch from Shirou
Oh, but now they're discussing me in front of me again. Classic girl's talk. The way they both turn to me in a synchronized fashion is just like sisters
"Shinji, please tell us why you'd like to move out"
"I just think it'd be neat" I shrugged "Look, I really don't want to be a burden to you guys. I'm a highschooler now. Gotta start taking care of myself"
"You're still too young for that stuff"
Damn you, Rin. You want to be my sugar mommy or something?
I'll let you know I'm a parasitic leecher. I'll latch on your skin and suck you dry off your money at the first sign of kindness, so don't pull that concerned look on me.
"I'm serious" She raise an eyebrow "So see it like this, a brother living with his non-blood related sister whose blood-related sister is a pseudo noble. Other people will start seeing me as the useless person who leech off you"
"Which you are"
"Which I am" I admitted "But it would influence you as well. The loss of your guardian Kirei means there would be no one left of your family to take care of the estare business. I don't want to be another thing you have to worry about-- Just a social burden to be taken care of"
"That's bullshit" I have never seen her this mad before. Not since that day has her face had so much a frown on them "Who care what people think about you or me? You and Sakura's been staying with me for years. I can't let you go...it'd be lonely without your antic"
"Huh? Care to repeat that last part?"
"The hell I can" Rin's face turned an interesting shade of tomato as she turned away "Sakura. Get it to his thick skull"
"Nii-san. You and Rin's been the best sibling I can ask for" Sakura injected in her stead, her voice gentle "Both Rin and I don't mind you staying here, really. If you're so bothered, you can find a way to pay her back later"
"No, it's actually not the only reason I'm leaving"
I crossed my arm. Internally, I brace myself
"I want to restore the Matou house"
That is really when all hell broke loose
I flipped out the chair from beside me and used it to shield against Rin's reinforced punch. The wood shattered, but my hand was fine save for the splinter embedded in them
However, in that time Sakura already closed the distance between seats and put a knife to my neck
An understandable reaction
"Explain, nii-san"
"Did you know, before the Matou arrive in Japan they are known as Makiri, and before that, they are known as Zolgen?"
I replied impassively
"I read about them in history book. As one of the oldest house, they are incomparably powerful to their Magus brethren, at least until the Worm came crawling in with his disgusting creation that eats away at the soul and corrupt the system"
Reading through the books before Fuyuki migration, it is clear the Magecraft used by them is wholly different from the rotting Crest Worm in his basement
It finally dawned on me that the family from which the Matou comes from hold boundless possibility. It does not only revolve around worms-- it is a concept from which the worms are derived-- an infinitely larger concept that encompasse endless potential for growth
And Zouken Matou, in his arrogance, discard that potential in place of immortality
"So you're going to leave this place mainly because you want to follow his footstep?" There was a dangerous tint in Sakura's voice that made me scowl
"I don't intend to make the same mistake as the old fuck Zouken" I reply "Do believe me, I'd rather kill myself than become that monster"
Sakura hesitantly put the knife down, causing me to finally be able to breathe
"What I want is for the family to be once again recognized. I want to rebuild it up from the ground to once again matched the old family, a legacy that rival the Tohsaka's and Einzbern's. Do you know why? It's so I can spit on Zouken's legacy and all that he had built"
"You really hate that man, huh?"
"We never mention it to you, but Sakura and I don't have the best impression of the guy as a parent" I close my eyes "And as you probably figure it out later, I only mourn for him if so we can have your sympathy and provide us with a place to stay"
A noticeable flinch. I used the chance and closed in
"Rin, surely you understand my decision?"
In a sense, this should appeal the most to her, considering the circumstances surrounding us. Just the fact that she is not refusing is enough
The girl's eyes softened
"...I do" She turned her back to me "As a fellow Magus heir, it is our blood sworn duty to strengthen the bloodline. You can't afford to stay in the same house of another family, as it would be a disgrace"
My only answer is a nod
"Well, you may go" She hesitated after exchanging glances with Sakura "Do remember to write us letters. At least thrice a week to keep up communication"
"Rin, we go to the same school"
"That won't change my mind"
My only response is to sigh and go upstair to pack my things
____________
Interlude: Rin Tohsaka
"Tch. And to think I waste time trying to convince him" I clicked my tongue as dinner continued on with Sakura. With the absence of a certain blue-haired leecher, it became somewhat calmer
"Are you that embarrassed to show Shinji you care about him?"
"Yes!" The word left my mouth before I notice it "I don't want him acting all smug about it!...Besides, it's not befitting my position as a Magus..."
Father always said to care is a sign of weakness. A magus must present a strong front and an even stronger back, so people would not take advantage of you
In the Moonlit world, a single slip up means death. There is no room for mistake like love or sympathy
"Sure, I believe you" The way she phrase it sounds like she is doubting me. I do not understand. I am being entirely honest about my emotion here
I took a deep breath to calm myself
"And what about you? You look like you're ready to murder your own brother the moment he said he wants to restore the Matou house"
"It is a...reactive decision" Sakura turned away with pursed lips "Grandpa Zouken have a way of possessing people with his Crest Worm. I was worried he was under his influence"
An uncomfortable silence ensue. I don't know what to say. No, rather I don't know if I have the right to say anything at all
Only Shinji remember what she had went through in that house, and out of respect I never ask them about it.
It was a bitter reminder, that while I mile about in my own research, both of them have experience sufering in that household. I felt slighted, and no small amount of guilt for not doing something about it
Without that kidnapping incident, perhaps the relationship wouldn't even be mend. Which is why I allow Shinji to leave
That guy is an eyesore, a leecher, an unashamed idiot, but he cares to take action, no matter how retarded and utterly moronic said action is. For all that irritating trait, every action was done with purpose
"Do you believe Shinji really want to restore his family to its former glory?"
"Honestly, I don't doubt it. He had shown no small amount of interest in Magecraft dring our stay together" My sister look around, as though wary of something "I should not tell you this, however..."
"Tell me what? Is there something he's hiding from me"
"It's not exactly a flattering thing, but Shinji was born with atrophied Magic Circuit"
My eyes widened
A Magus without circuit is like a fish without water. For all their knowledge, without the ability to effectively utilize Mana, all that theoretical skill is going to waste. Shinji is a cripple in that regard
Why is it that guy decide to do something so out of reach? He can't even experiement, and without a foundation to base his research on, only failure awaits at every path
"We should have stopped him" I whirled to her "You knew it and decide not to discourage that guy? He's going to be devastated!"
"Rin. Believe me when I say I am the one who know him best" She said evenly "Shinji probably has some stupid plan in store. I can't say he will be smart about it, but he clearly had a plan"
She repeated the word 'plan' two times, as though trying to convince herself of an impossibility
"...Alright, I trust you"
It's not like I had another choice
Shinji's gone now. He's not my problem anymore. However, Sakura turned to me with a curious glint in her eyes
"Hey, Rin. Aside from Magecraft. what other way can a Magus gain prestige to their family?"
Why is she suddenly changing the subject?
"Building up your name through accumulation of wealth" I replied "Many billionaires have strong connection with the Moonlit world due to having friends in high place"
Mark Zuckerberg once paid a large sum of money to have his body be crafted into a higher form of intelligence. The alchemist who operated on him decided to turn the man into a lizard with enhanced cognitive function
Jeff Bezos is another
However, no one in the Clock Tower speaks of Jeff Bezos
"I don't think Shinji have the business instinct to build an empire of cash, so you can forget about that" I wave my hand in dismissal
"But what about building a strong bloodline?"
Hm? "What did you just say?"
Sakura have her finger cupped to her chin
"Magus incorporate arranged marriage in accordance with their Magecraft compatibility. It is an old theory that close breeding between powerful individuals have a higher chance of producing powerful offspring"
"Right...so what you're saying is..." I laughed "In order to restore the bloodline, Shinji must find himself some powerful female Magus who is willing to be his wife?"
"It certainly is plausible..."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
I can't. My side is hurting too much!
That's like a dung beetle trying to mate with a swan. Not only is it impossible, it is also stupid as hell!
Sakura rolled her eyes. After laughter has subsided, we continue dinner in silence
___________
I left the day after. Having packed all my luggage, I made my way to the Temple of Ryuudou. As it is Sunday, there is plenty of free time to travel there
The path up the mountain is paved with stone slab which help me navigate through the lush forest. As I walk, I recalled the game window, if for lack of anything else to kill time
Total points: 390
That's the remaining 150 after my battle with Zouken, plus the additional 50 upon meeting Shirou, 40 points after reuniting Rin and Sakura, and 150 points from having Kirei killed
Overall, I would say this is the most point I've gotten yet.
Do you want to sell [Ugly Bastard Disguise] at 50% its original cost?
Y / N
After the whole incident, there should be no need for this thing anymore
Pressing the confirmed button, I now have 30 points added in, pushing the total past the 400 points limit. A realm I have not stepped into before
"Alright, let's see what kind of skill I can buy at this point"
Since 200 is enough to buy Servant skill at their most basic level, I can't help but think how much this would strengthen me if I were to buy one of them
I opened the window
Charisma (E)
Circuit Connection (C) --300 points
Golden Rule (D) --350 points
Eternal Arms Mastery (D) -- 400 points
Mana Burst (D) -- 400 points
Divinity (E) -- 500 points
Past this point, it appears you are no longer restricted to class skill. You can straight up learn a Servant's personal ability at a lower rank, which can be devastating with the right combination
But what is the right combination?
Right now, my skill all gather into a build befitting an all-rounder. Some of them geared toward close and ranged offense, while other increase my defense. My innate skill also allow me to lie by my teeth, which belongs to the utility category. What should I focus on?
After a while, I made my decision
-300 points
You have purchased Circuit Connection (C)
I open the skill detail
Circuit Connection (C): The ability to locate your Mana pathway and converge them into a single network. Allow the user to convert their circuit into a pseudo Thaumaturgical Foundation and in turn cast Magecraft above their level
At current rank, overriding of Mana limit can reach 170%
It sounds like Nine Lives Blade Works with extra step and a chance to fuck yourself up
The skill doesn't even help me increase my Mana. It essentially overclock my circuit and accelerate the Mana production rate to 1.7 times the normal speed, allowing me to dish out more attacks per second. That or a single concentrated attack that can reach destructive potential above my capability
When Shirou use this he slice Berserker into nine pieces. The bastard has a mental shutdown moments later. Even later he manage to trace Excalibur at the cost of his own soul
Imagine what I could accomplish with it as a person with fully opened circuit
"Wait, let's not be hasty" I shake my head "Shinji you goddamn bastard, think. You don't need to use it the same way Shirou does. Find you own solution"
After a while of thinking, I gave up.
Since there's no chance I'm going to use something this unsafe in a normal battle, I might as well abandon it
I continue on my trip to the temple. Eventually I arrive at a large compound.
A large temple gate stood beside me in its crimson aged glory. Walls of old marble surrond the complex, forming a protective enclosure in the midst of the surrounding greenery
"Oi, Issei, you there?"
From behind one of the door the boy ran up to me. Issei is clad in a monk uniform. His glass is still there, which is the one distinguishing thing about him as his hair is styled differently
"Shinji. You came early" I notice one of his hand holding a broom "Are you really here to work?"
"Yeah. Figure I should stop living off my friend's money" I averted my gaze
"Wait a minute. I'll inform the monks to arrange a room for you" He went back inside, returning a minute later "They give the all clear. Go in"
As I crossed the courtyard a breeze brushed past me. Inside the temple I was greeted with a strange coolness that being about a pleasant sensation. The air is saturated with Mana that I could almost perceive, indicating of the place where Leylines crossed.
My room is a humble place: A three by three space with a table, chair, and a bed. There is a window, but it only stare out a blank wall as the room is located on the very back of the temple
It took a few minutes for me to settle down, considering my luggage wasn't that much. Merely some clothes, necessities, and the Magecraft books I received as a reward for completing quest
At the moment, there are two of them
Matou Magecraft, for when I killed Zouken
Tohsaka Magecraft, earned after the whole Rin/Sakura odeal
I raise the first one up
"Let's see what kind of secret you hide"
_____________
Afternoon came as I flipped to the two hundredth and fifty third page
Overall, I have finished the first chapter, and now have a small grasp of the Makiri's thaumaturgical principle
Fun fact: Did you know Zouken is actually Russian?
Yeah, me neither. It's the sort of trivia you only get after spending hours on the wiki like a loser, which is ironic considering it's exactly what a certain someone just did as they wrote this very paragraph...
The Magecraft of the Matou works around the concept of "absorbing" or, from another perspective, "to bind something to one's self". The generic consensus to this is included in the narrowly defined 'Crest familiar' which could pass down the host's previous property in an almost genetic manner
According to Zouken's note, worm proves to be the most efficient as they have simple neural network enabled for easy manipulation. After all, the subject's sentience is proportional to the amount of theoretical calculation needed to bind them to self
How will I be able to push that thing to the next level?
To bind is to take. By asserting one's will over a weaker subject you gain control of them
But a binding can be stronger if it goes both way, just like two layers of tape is usually stronger than one. If the subject is willing, the connection can be improved tremendously
Zouken prefer mindless slaves that obey his command as they are the simplest to make. Meanwhile, I have perfected the art of negotiation to the point of them reaching ridiculous level. I'm sure I can bind myself to everything just fine
But where do I get myself a living entity to connect myself to?
Most animals are fragile by Magus standard. Bears can eat shit in front of a fully trained Magus, while the likes of hippos can easily be dismantled with a few spell from Enforcers. Hell, I'm sure any human who use Reinforcement can easily match wild animals
A new quest has been created
It is a responsibility to preserve. It is a duty to improve. The burden of traditions long forgotten now weigh on you as you tread the lone path of enlightenment
--Perfect the Matou family's old Magecraft
Reward:
+200 points
"In the end there's nothing I can work on" I grumbled "Why is Magecraft so complicated? Oh, wait...forget I said that. Course it's going to be"
An idea popped into my head. Maybe I was thinking about this wrong
Instead of prioritizing the family's specialty, I can find out my own and work from there. By incorporating two together I can make something different from Zouken.
Something worse no doubt, but it can be a start
'Does the system let me know my Origin and Element?'
I open the window
Unlocking Origin and Element for 50 points?
Y / N
Pressing yes, there was a flash of blue light coming through. When I open my eyes after the blinding light, my status window is there with the updated info
Shinji Matou
Element: [Absorption]
Origin: [Parasite]
I was expecting something greater like [Darkness] or [Godslayer] to be my secret ability. Seeing that lackluster title, I can't help but be dosappoingted
Why can't the system give me cheat skill because I'm an Isekai protagonist? Hey, this is unfair. These skills are fucking pathetic, I say
The System grant attributes based on user's personality and karmic scale
Oh
I'm just going to disregard the fact that I just insulted myself and focus on something else
What does the "Parasite" origin mean? I leech off the Tohsaka's money for years, but that is only because Sakura and I have nowhere else to go. It's something most children go through
Unless the parasitic part does not only mean my living style, but about me as an individual?
At this, I did the one thing Shinji Matou would never do
I began thinking
"Maybe I can make a few change after all"
I began getting to work. Mentally recalling all my skill, I rearrange the combination between them until I found the one I'm looking for
Using [Circuit Conversion], I created several Mana pathways stretching from my spine to my back shoulder. Sparks of Od ran through my body, temporarily lighting the room in blue light
As they reached my limit and formed a circuit-like quality, I activated [Circuit Connection], forcefully binding them together into a coherent network
A surge of power flashed through me in red hot pulses. It was as though someone had inserted a rod of liquid metal into my spine.
I suppress that with [Pain Resistance] and reach out with my senses
The Ryuudou Temple is full of leylines, rich and bountiful in natural Mana. Each and everyone of them is enough to establish a single thaumaturgical ritual on a big scale. I could see why the Tohsaka see this as the perfect place for the Holy Grail War
I grasp at the pathway. It was a powerful feeling, akin to being overwhelmed by the depth of the sea, but I pulled through. The leylines reacted to my senses and responded back. All at once, Mana rushed in and flooded my surrounding
You have successfully establish a Workshop
The Mana push and pull, but you control their movement. In here you are their Master, the Magus who use the World's knowledge to his end
- Mana regeneration rate increased
- Duration on [Circuit Conversion] increased
Now teeming with natural energy. I open the first page of the book
The first thing to do is to experiment
________________
The experimental subject of a Magus can range from anything microscopic, to a human, to even the fossil of a dinosaur. In my case, I have to do with the crows in the temple's backyard
The avian bastard's considered somwhat of a mystical creature considering their sensitivity to Mana. Because of numerous leylines presence, most of them gathered here from the city
Which mean I can kidnap a few of them everyday and not have anybody noticed
In the morning, I take the shift along with Issei cleaning the temple courtyard. In the evening, I take walks along the forest to catch the crows to be used as my experiment
The first thing I did was to tame the bird. I hid them under my bed and fed them everyday until they grew used to my presence. Then the experiment with them begin
At first, I conduct numerous test on them; From injecting them with Mana to using skill from the system on the bird, but they turned out to be failures, either dying or become mentally unstable
They only show result when one day I let them drink my blood
A bind is to give and take. By giving them what is mine, I present the contract. By forcing them to drink it, the condition are accepted, and the bird became a part of me
(technically this also works with my semen, but it's a very gross process)
Next, I separate the nerves from my body, which can be painful as hell, and graft them unto the animal, completing the process of subjugating them to my will.
Due to [Circuit Connection], I can control circuits outside my body, mostly because the network as a whole is connected. It seems the nerves can easily latch on any living creatures it came into contact with because it's my origin
This lead to many interesting possibility, such as remote controlling the crows and sharing the same nerve with it
Due to a specific action being taken, a mutation has occured
[Circuit Connection] ---> [Parasitic Nerve]
-- You can freely remove and connect your circuit to any living being, assimilating them into a part of yourself in the process
So I had my first familiar, a crow. Now I just need to find a suitable name
"I shall name you Uzumaki Sakura"
The crow pecked me in the eye
"Itachi it is then"
_____________
"Recently, there have been a case of stray animals being kidnapped on the street. Just three days ago, citizens from Kanshu report a severe decrease in crow activity around the area. For safety reason please keep your pets indoor at all time, especially if they are of avian features"
"In other news, there has been a gas leak---"
Shirou switch the channel
"Man, it really is dangerous huh?"
Taiga spoke beside him
"I mean, can you imagine some guy running around kidnapping birds at night? I wonder why he's doing that for"
Shirou shook his head
There is only one person who would be dumb enough to do such things, and he can't be bothered to know if it really is them or for whatever reason they do it
He don't think his brain can hold up comprehending Shinji
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