Chapter 410

Weak……

His shadow just mentioned weakness—could it be that Shajin subconsciously feels he shouldn't be weak?

But weakness is also part of human nature; in Hayakawa Aki's view, only a Shajin who is weak, understands fear and terror, is a real, vivid Shajin. Once a person lacks weakness and fear, it's like a car without brakes—sooner or later there will be a day when the car is destroyed and the person dies.

——

"How could a weak person take risks?" Shajin retorted.

"Not bad, you like taking risks… yet you stubbornly refuse to let go of certain unnecessary things. Even in this beautiful dream, you only dare to try 'death' on yourself."

"Those attendants could have become your trump card, serving a greater purpose. The family's blemishes are as numerous as you wish; only a few small sacrifices… exchanged for 【opal】, and it would have been easily resolved."

"The shadow feigned regret, pursing his lips: 'Too bad, you're not as good as him. Even if you had done it, you wouldn't have ended up like this… Why didn't you do that? It shouldn't be out of professional ethics, right?'"

"The techniques you mentioned are efficient, but I'm not unable—I just disdain them, understand?" Shajin coldly stared at him, "If the game isn't fair, what fun is there?"

"【'Fair'】… huh, seems like your opponent has been fair to you. The situation is clearly against you, yet you still handle it with ease—what exactly did the Fool's words enlighten you about?"

Shajin: 'She gave me an answer capable of overturning everything.'

——

Harry Potter.

"He won openly and squarely…… truly impressive."

In the Gryffindor common room, the fireplace crackled. Hermione curled up in an armchair, pulling her wool blanket tighter while sighing emotively.

"He never abandoned kindness and his bottom line, but I initially thought he was the worst among everyone in Pinokangni…" Hermione's voice grew softer, shame almost written on her face.

Ron was stuffing a third chocolate frog into his mouth, somewhat muffled as he comforted: 'It's fine, I initially also thought he was the worst, uh… no, I initially thought he and Xingqiri were the worst. Judging by that, my judgment isn't too bad—though I misjudged Shajin, at least that guy Xingqiri is beyond reproach—he's definitely a supervillain on TV.'

Ron paused, swallowed the chocolate in his mouth, then continued: 'It's no wonder 【Diamond】 took a liking to him—fate dealt him only bad hands, never treating him fairly, yet he himself is the most steadfast in fairness. As for character…… Mr. Shajin is beyond reproach.'

"【Diamond】's judgment should have nothing to do with character." Harry pushed up his glasses, "That Opal seems to be someone who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals; his position in the Strategic Investment Department is even higher than Shajin's."

"Because personal morals affect work…… he and Topaz are probably just a minority among the Ten Stone Hearts, right?"

——

"Huh, overturn everything?" the shadow snorted, "You mean—make everything on the table disappear?"

Shajin let out a long sigh: '…This is cheating.'

He continued searching for an exit in the maze, walking and walking, when a golden amulet appeared at his feet.

Shajin's pupils suddenly constricted, his breath instantly becoming a bit quicker.

"The shadow smiled meaningfully: 'Your expression right now is really hard to describe. The amulet your mother left you is made of pure gold—why have you never considered selling it? Obviously, that would let you and your sister live a normal life for a while. Looking back, that would have been the better choice.'

"Mother only left us two pieces of jewelry: a necklace and an amulet. There won't be a third."

"You've always said that—but actually you regret it, don't you? Not having sold them?"

Shajin glared at him disgustedly: 'Don't just talk for the sake of talking.'

"Ha… I get it. You must remember what your sister said back then: you are a child blessed by the mother goddess, you can lead the clan to happiness, so you must protect yourself…… those words still ring in your ears, right? You're a good child, you will never forget."

"So you also surely won't forget how miserable her final moment was, how the shrill laughter behind you pierced the heart… you just fled without looking back, doing as she said."

"Tsk tsk… a lifetime of regret."

——

Fate.

"Wuwuwu stop saying it, stop saying it!"

"He really loves his family more than himself! You shadow, stop stabbing him!"

Illya in the room had cried to the point of almost melting; she had originally come happily to visit the Emiya household, but happened to catch the screen playing footage about Shajin, and then she cried for a full half hour……

"Hey, little girl, you alright?" Lancer lightly poked the motionless Illya slumped on the table.

Rin Tohsaka, seeing this, also sighed helplessly: 'Guess she still needs some time to recover… sigh… Shajin is just too miserable—how has he managed to endure all these years?'

"Just toughing it out. Still, his mental fortitude has been honed to excellence—he can hear such remarks without changing expression, making him quite suited to be a Master." Acher gave a small smile, glancing meaningfully at the twin-tailed girl beside him, "Compared to someone who constantly throws tantrums like a young lady—cough, cough, cough…"

"Acher, what are you fake-coughing for?! What did you just mean? Do you think I can't hear you?!" Rin Tohsaka's teeth grit with a "creak creak" as she angrily yanked Lancer's sleeve, pulling him closer, "Lancer, say something fair! If we're talking about being a Master, who's better—me or that Shajin?!"

The girl's mighty aura startled Lancer almost into choking on a sip of beer; he quickly spoke to soothe: 'Hey hey, little girl, don't compare yourself here—Shajin doesn't even have a Magic Circuit, how could he possibly be a Master?'

"Hmph!" Rin Tohsaka crossed her arms, deliberately raising her voice a bit, "Well… Lancer, if given a choice, would you rather be my Servant or Shajin's?"

"Uh, ah this……"

Lancer instantly sweated bullets: 'Of—of course it's being yours, little girl……'

"You hesitated, Lancer! You deep down really still think Shajin is more suited to be a Master than me, right?!" Rin Tohsaka angrily slammed the table, making the beer on it shake.

"Little girl, you're mistaken! There's absolutely nothing like that!"

——

"Enough already… don't you have anything else to talk about?"

"The shadow couldn't help but laugh: 'This is the second time you've interrupted me. You're really easy to read. I finally understand your thoughts… huh, truly crazy.'"

"Finally, I will overturn this beautiful dream, create the grandest death—this is indeed your claim, consistent from start to finish, never changed." The shadow spoke at length, "From that star core, to the Zhigengniao losing its voice, two murder cases, negotiations with Xingqiri, to the Fool's hint—only these two unchanging words could pique your interest……"

"And now, you do indeed have it in your hand…… but whose 【death】 is it exactly?"