Chapter 2

"Run! Don't look back!"]

You run frantically. Behind you, a heatwave appears again. You can't help but look back. What you see is a figure in a sea of fire. Countless insects land on him, biting his body until it is riddled with holes, but he does not retreat. He cannot make a sound due to the pain, but you can tell from his lip movements that the two words he said are:

Run!]

"Wuu! Big brother!"

Sakura cried. No one could understand her feelings right now. Her father didn't want her, her new grandfather wanted to harm her, and at this moment, this big brother she had only met once was willing to give his life for her. How could she not be moved?

She wanted to run back and die with the big brother, but she knew that only by running back and calling her father could she possibly save him!

Thus, Sakura ran with all her might!

And at this moment, in the rented room:

"Yes! Run! Run well!"

Lin Ye became excited. He was really afraid that Sakura would be like those brainless women in soap operas who run back crying and screaming to die with him. Wouldn't his death be completely worthless then!

Seeing Sakura run, Lin Ye looked at the options below excitedly.

[You see that Sakura has run far away, so you choose:

One: Fight it out; buy time for Sakura to escape.

Two: Retreat using the remaining fuel.]

Looking at the two options, Lin Ye decisively chose one.

"Damn! I'm playing a game, and I'm going to let an old bug bully me? If I run, I'd have no face left! Choose one!"

[You see the old bug wants to give up on you and chase Sakura, so you decisively rush in front of the old bug. Your flamethrower burns the old bug's insect descendants to a crisp, but the enraged old bug shows no mercy!]

[Thus, the sea of insects appears.]

"Big brother! Big brother will definitely be okay!"

Sakura clenched her little fists nervously. She felt an unprecedented level of care from Lin Ye. Although she didn't know why this big brother helped her, in Sakura's little heart, she had completely come to regard Lin Ye as her closest person.

[You return home. Tohsaka Tokiomi is shocked to see you like this. Hearing your words, Tohsaka Tokiomi decides to go with you. However, when you arrive at the gate of the Matou estate, you can no longer find a trace of Lin Ye. All that remains is a torn sleeve.]

"Big brother! Wuu!!"

Although Sakura was still young, how could she not know what this meant? Her big brother, the person who saved her when she needed it most, was gone just like that.

[You silently keep Lin Ye's sleeve. Seeing the situation at the Matou estate, Tohsaka Tokiomi does not send you to the Matou family again.

Afterword: You become an ordinary person. Your father dies in the Fourth Holy Grail War. You and your sister are cared for by your father's disciple, Kotomine Kirei.

During this time, Matou Zouken tries to strike at you again, but is blocked by a golden light. Your sister inherits the Tohsaka family's magic circuits, while you can only become a third-rate magus, but you still study magic hard, wanting to avenge Lin Ye.

Ten years later, your sister suddenly returns to tell you that the Holy Grail War has completely ended. You also learn that Matou Zouken died in this Holy Grail War. Having lost your goal, you live the life of an ordinary person after your sister goes to study at the Clock Tower.

Sixty years later, you quietly close your eyes forever on a lounge chair. When your sister returns, she discovers you have passed away, and she also finds that until your death, you were still tightly clutching a torn piece of a sleeve.]

"Big brother, Sakura is so useless; in the end, I didn't even avenge you..." Sakura felt incredibly self-reproachful in her heart. Although Matou Zouken died in the end, because he didn't die by her hand, she always felt something was missing.

[First simulation ended. Your fate was successfully changed. This evaluation is: E. Simulation memory being instilled... Simulation complete. Please choose one reward from the following.]

One: Magic Constitution—Void: The magus attribute possessed by Tohsaka Sakura. The owner can become a lurker in the dimensional gap. Can manipulate the imaginary space that shouldn't exist but is suspected to exist. The interior of the space is unaffected by time and space (requires self-development).

Two: Familiar-Insect: The familiar possessed by Matou Zouken. Magi can use it for attacks, reconnaissance, manipulation, surveillance... (Insects need to be cultivated by yourself).

Three: Magic Circuits + Crest (Imaginary): The owner automatically gains a large number of perfectly compatible magic circuits and a magic crest, plus E-rank magical energy.]

"There are rewards?"

Looking at the three options, Sakura temporarily stopped crying and focused her gaze on them.

"If I have these abilities, can I avoid going to the Matou family? I could even avenge big brother!"

Thinking of this, Sakura became excited. Because she only received an E evaluation this time, she didn't have anything great, but these were already enough to satisfy her.

"But, which one should I choose..."

Sakura looked at the three options. First, the first one could be excluded. Although it looked like the best option, the problem was that Sakura already had this naturally; she just hadn't developed it because she lacked magical energy.

The second one...

"Hmph! Nasty bugs! Sakura won't learn this kind of magic!"

Insect magic was too disgusting, and the Tohsaka family's jewel magic was even stronger than insect magic, though it was a bit expensive...

"I'll choose the third one. Magic circuits and a magic crest. With this, maybe Father won't have to send me away!"

Sakura was now completely determined not to go to the Matou family. Now, with magic circuits, she could learn her own family's magic; why learn from outsiders? E-rank magical energy! It might not be much in the eyes of Heroic Spirits, but in the modern era, E-rank energy was already a major force among magi. Not to mention, she was only six years old.

Thinking of this, Sakura directly chose the third option. Meanwhile, in the rented room:

[First simulation ended. You successfully changed Matou Sakura's fate. Because you died, failed to kill the enemy, failed to form a deep bond with the target, and had a low survival day count... this evaluation is: E.

Simulation complete. You can obtain the following rewards.

One: Magic Constitution—Void...

Two: Familiar-Insect...

Three: Magic Circuits-Introductory: E-rank magical energy...

Extra Achievement: None]

"Yes! Success!"

Lin Ye jumped up instantly. Succeeding on the first simulation—he was truly a genius! But this score, why is it only E!

Regardless, it counted as taking the first step toward success, and he got three rewards right off the bat!

"System, accept rewards!"

[Yes, Master.]