Chapter 14: The Unlikable Old Man

   

Chapter 14: The Unlikable Old Man

The moment Shinji laid eyes on the pair in front of him, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Due to the weakening of mystery in this timeline, Lord Aozaki wasn’t a true Magician, but his status in Japan’s magical community remained untouchable—one of the top echelon.

What he was just as famous for, however, was his inflexible obsession with traditional magecraft.

The story of how he cast out his own gifted heir, Aozaki Touko, over a disagreement in ideology was practically folklore at this point—every magus in Japan knew it.

Still, compared to the grumpy fossil with a face full of wrinkles, Shinji’s interest leaned more toward the red-haired girl standing behind him.

Because let’s be honest—cute girls were always easier on the eyes.

And this one wasn’t just any girl. She was Aozaki Aoko, one of the Four Main Heroines of the Nasuverse.

Yet she looked nothing like the lively, reckless “human missile launcher” that Shinji remembered. The Aoko standing quietly beside her grandfather had a refined aura—graceful, dignified, every inch the well-bred young lady.

Probably a result of having the old man still alive and grooming her personally.

She seemed to notice Shinji’s gaze.

With a soft, composed smile, Aoko narrowed her eyes and gave him the kind of look that could pass for charming—if not slightly teasing.

Shinji responded in kind with a polite smile of his own and raised his glass slightly in greeting.

“Nice to mee—”

Before he could even finish his sentence, Lord Aozaki stepped sideways, neatly inserting himself between his granddaughter and Shinji—like he was shielding her from something toxic.

“……”

Shinji’s brow twitched slightly. He didn’t say a word. Just quietly took a sip of his drink to maintain his composure.

The old man didn’t even glance at him—completely disregarding his existence as he turned his attention to Zouken.

“Lord Matou. It’s been some time.”

“Lord Aozaki. Still in good health, I see?”

“Naturally,” Lord Aozaki replied, stone-faced. “Those disgraceful whelps who dare sully the path of magecraft haven’t dropped dead yet. There’s no way I’ll let them outlive me.”

Shinji paused mid-drink, slowly setting down his glass. He looked up at the old man with narrowed eyes.

Was that a jab at him?

Lord Aozaki turned to look at him for the first time—gazing down like Shinji was a failed experiment in need of disposal.

“So you’re Shinji Matou, Lord Matou’s grandson? You certainly look promising.”

“Thank you, Lord Aozaki. That’s very kind of you.”

Shinji’s tone was perfectly polite—borderline formal, even. But he wasn’t stupid.

There was a subtle edge in Lord Aozaki’s words. Not the kind of praise a respected elder gives to an accomplished junior, but more like a veiled critique… as if Shinji were under a microscope.

“Of course, that wasn’t praise,” the old man continued bluntly. “You’re one of the most innately talented young magi I’ve seen in years. That thesis you published in the Clock Tower’s journal—on suggestion-based magecraft? Your insight into the origin of magic was truly astonishing.”

“You flatter me,” Shinji replied with an awkward smile, unsure whether it was sarcasm or not.

Because frankly, that paper had more filler than a seasonal anime. Sure, the core ideas and experimental framework had been his, but the actual write-up? That had been all Lord El-Melloi II.

Between the two of them, they made a perfect academic chimera: Shinji had the talent and practical results, while Waver had the theory and the prose.

Everyone in the Clock Tower knew it. Whether outsiders like Lord Aozaki were aware, though… that was harder to say.

Still, the old man didn’t seem particularly concerned about how the paper had been written.

Instead, he looked at Shinji the way a veteran professor might regard a promising student who refused to study.

“Your aptitude for suggestion, boundary fields, and illusion magic is far beyond what common magi can ever hope to reach. Truly extraordinary. However—”

Lord Aozaki paused for a moment before speaking with grave earnestness, his voice full of seniority and conviction.

“You’ve strayed from the path. You’re wasting your talent on frivolous things. If you don’t want your gifts to rot away, then devote yourself to true magecraft. That’s the only way you’ll reach your full potential.”

“True magecraft…?”

Shinji hadn't expected this of all things. That was what this geezer came to lecture him about?

Lord Aozaki swept his hand in a wide gesture, his voice firm.

“Only through the pursuit of magecraft can your abilities be recognized. That is the only path to becoming a top-class magus.”

‘Does he even know what my ideals are? Why is he so convinced I have to go full-on academic magus?’

Shinji didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh at the old man’s presumptions.

No matter how you look at it, he—Shinji Matou—wasn’t cut out for the academic track of magecraft. Even if he’d been born in a version of the Nasuverse where mystery was still thriving, he’d never be the type to bury himself in books chasing theory.

He was much more suited to the likes of Emiya Kiritsugu or Bazett Fraga McRemitz—practical, combat-oriented magecraft was more his speed.

“Lord Aozaki, you’re a towering figure in the magecraft world. I’m just a fledgling with little experience, and I’m sure someone like you wouldn’t deceive me.”

Though he inwardly scoffed, Shinji kept his tone respectful. Family reputation mattered, after all.

“But… is it really impossible for a magus focused on practical applications to reach the top of our world?”

“Practical?” Lord Aozaki scoffed, shaking his head immediately. “Practical means sharing. But mystery—mystery is something private, something only family can inherit! You’re a magus. You shouldn’t think that way!”

'Okay, I take it back. This guy isn’t just old-fashioned—he belongs in a museum.'

Shinji seriously considered smacking himself.

Trying to reason with a fossil like this? What was he thinking?

Even the conservative fossils in the Clock Tower had started to realize the whole “family-only transmission of magecraft” was outdated. These days, even old-timers were seeking apprentices to pass down their paths. But this guy?

This guy was still stuck in the previous patch notes.

Unfortunately, Lord Aozaki hadn’t noticed—or perhaps was ignoring—Shinji’s growing impatience. With a face full of regret, he pressed on, his tone almost paternal.

“Shinji Matou… I truly admire your talent. You’re still young. You still have time to correct your course. If you devote yourself fully to magecraft now, with your gifts, you could go even further than your grandfather… maybe even reach the Root…”

'What would even be the point? It’s not like anyone’s actually reached it.'

Shinji resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He forced his lips into something that might pass for a smile.

This old man hadn’t become a Magician himself. Honestly, Shinji doubted anyone ever would again—not in the declining mystery of this world.

And even if he was interested in the Root, he’d probably prefer to hop on a train to Misaki Town and cuddle up to Shiki. That’d get him closer to the Root than any amount of solo research ever could.

Well, assuming Shiki had awakened her Mystic Eyes in this version of reality… which, considering the state of mystery, was questionable at best.

Either way, from Shinji’s perspective, there was no point wasting his short life chasing a finish line that probably didn’t exist.

He’d rather do what he loved.

No amount of lectures from self-important fossils—no matter how prestigious—was going to change that.

“Um… Lord Aozaki,”

Shinji finally cut in, unable to bear the endless sermon any longer.

“I don’t believe the Root is everything to a magus.”

Even though he’d softened his tone as much as possible, the expression on Lord Aozaki’s face instantly darkened.

To a man like Lord Aozaki, the Root was everything. A magus who didn’t seek it? A heretic. Nothing more, nothing less.

He cast a disapproving glance at Zouken, who was standing silently beside Shinji.

“Lord Matou, perhaps it’s time you considered having another grandson. Investing the Matou family’s resources into someone with no future returns seems… unwise.”

Now that was the high-EQ version of what he actually meant.

If Shinji had to translate that into plain language, it would be:

“Why haven’t you disowned this ungrateful brat yet?”

But Zouken just chuckled, leaning on his cane.

“Well, Shinji isn’t inheriting the Matou family magecraft, so let him do whatever he wants~”

For the grandfather who doted on his grandson more than anything, there was nothing more important than supporting him.

Disown Shinji? Yeah, right. That wasn’t even on the table.

Only someone as stuck in the past as Lord Aozaki could throw away a brilliant heir just because of some idealistic nonsense.

Truly, the differences in their approaches to family and magecraft couldn’t be more drastic.

Lord Aozaki tried once or twice more to convince Zouken, but seeing that the old worm was playing dumb with every response, he could only sigh and give up.

“Farewell, then.”

The whole time, Aoko hadn't said a single word. But now, seeing her grandfather turn to leave, she gave the Matou pair a small bow before following after him.

Shinji swore he saw it—just as she turned, Aoko flashed him a very subtle thumbs-up.

He blinked.

“The Root isn’t everything.”

A mocking voice cut in from behind him.

Shinji turned quickly. A woman with bright orange-red hair tied in a side ponytail and round glasses was grinning at him, eyes glinting with amusement.

She strode over with casual steps and stood beside him, arms crossed.

“Looks like Matou’s little prodigy is feeling real confident today.”

“We just have different philosophies, Touko-san.”

Shinji shrugged, nonchalant.

The woman raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

“Oh? You know who I am?”

“Of course,” Shinji replied with a smile. “You were my idol when I was studying abroad. Senpai.”

Touko let out a carefree laugh, waving a hand.

“Flatterer. Compared to the guy who allegedly slept with every woman in the Clock Tower, I’m a minor celebrity at best.”

“Pfffft—!”

Shinji nearly choked, spraying a mouthful of wine.

“That’s the rumor going around?!”

He swore, the next time he went back to the Clock Tower, a few people were going to have to be reminded—forcefully—to keep his name out of their mouths.

Touko shrugged playfully.

“Who knows? But hey, I’m just happy you managed to piss off that old fossil. That alone makes you my new favorite. If you ever need something, come find me. I’ll even give you a discount.”

With that, she handed him a business card and walked off like nothing had happened.

Zouken, stroking his chin as he watched her retreating back, let out a thoughtful hum.

“They’re sisters, but their personalities couldn’t be more different.”

“The younger one's so obedient, and the elder’s a complete rebel. No wonder the old man chose the little sister and ditched the big one.”

But Shinji, thinking back to that subtle thumbs-up Aoko gave him, shook his head with a small smile.

“Well… the truth might not be that simple.”

Zouken’s ears perked up at the subtle tone in his grandson’s voice.

“Did my cute grandson discover something~?”

Shinji didn’t answer. He simply tucked Touko’s business card into his pocket with a casual smile.

“Ohhh? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her?”

“Yup.”

Shinji nodded without hesitation.

But before Zouken could start teasing, Shinji added:

“Cursed tools, enchanted props, illusion gear— Touko Aozaki workshop has some of the best craft in the business. I’ve been trying to get in touch with her for months now to help design props for one of my films.”

“Oh, I thought you were finally interested in girls.”

Zouken slumped, groaning as he tapped his back with his cane.

“When am I ever going to get great-grandkids? You were all fire and passion back in England, now you’re acting all shy after coming home!”

Shinji puffed a strand of hair away from his forehead with an exasperated sigh. He turned to head for the food table, clearly done with this conversation—

Only to hear Lord Aozaki’s voice again, not far away, slightly raised and filled with disdain.

“How odd. I don’t recall this being a place where stray dogs come begging for scraps.”

Shinji froze mid-step.

Lord Aozaki was glaring directly at Touko.