Shinji Matou At Your Service

Chapter 24: Justeaze’s Confusion

The artificial humans of the Einzbern family possess a calamity-level beauty, despite their efforts to dress as casually as possible (relative to ceremonial attire, such as the Heavenly Robe of Feathers or the ladies in the Fate/Grand Order). However, regardless of what they wear, such beauties are destined to attract attention wherever they go.

When these beauties walk alongside equally extraordinary and otherworldly beautiful young men or women, their combined charisma becomes exponentially stronger.

Throughout their journey, they are treated no differently than celebrities walking on the streets. Regardless of gender, people of all ages turn their heads and pay attention to them. If it were not for the youth's intimidating aura and piercing gaze, exuding an aura that keeps others at a distance, someone would likely have approached them for conversation or autographs.

Benefiting from this situation, Justeaze could freely observe the two without worrying about being discovered.

Before parting ways with Scáthach, she reminded Justeaze that skilled experts had a very keen perception and could easily sense the gaze of someone secretly observing them. Therefore, caution must be exercised during observation. Unless the target is conspicuous, it is best not to stare directly at them, let alone show hostility. Saber is among those who are particularly conspicuous.

The arrangements made by the Einzbern family are thoughtful. There is a dedicated car waiting as soon as they leave the airport lounge, directly taking them to Fuyuki City. Following Shinji's advice, Justeaze has prepared vehicles in advance using suggestive magecraft, allowing her to track the targets in sections and at different levels.

Although spiritual bodies can ignore many physical limitations, she cannot ignore distance. Justeaze is not a Servant, and cannot run as quickly as a car. Therefore, modern tools are the best choice.

Shinji is not a traditional magus like Kenneth or Tokiomi Tohsaka, and he does not adhere to magecraft above all else. Justeaze is an artificial human and does not possess the pride of a magus. In a sense, this pair resembles a partnership between the contracted Saber and Kiritsugu Emiya.

When Justeaze returned to Fuyuki City, the sun began to set, and the night approached.

She got out of the car at the station square, and a few dozen meters away was the group with Saber, who seemed like a commander inspecting the battlefield and observing every detail around.

On her side, a woman dressed in pure white looked at everything with a curious and naturally radiant smile–a brightness that Justeaze had never possessed.

"Isn't it a bit too relaxed? I... res... viel?" Irisviel's syllables were more numerous than Saber's, making it more difficult for Justeaze to identify, but after hearing Saber call her name multiple times, Justeaze could roughly determine the pronunciation.

From their first meeting, Justeaze felt completely unable to understand this "little sister," this "junior."

From Irisviel, Justeaze saw many reflections of herself, such as staying within the Einzbern castle before being "activated," isolated from the outside world, and therefore fascinating everything in the outside world. Due to the artificial humans' lack of complex human emotions, they could be described as inexperienced or naturally innocent.

However, Justeaze could not understand whether Irisviel's emotions were too intense. In her impression, whether it was the other artificial humans in the family or the previous head of the family, Acht, they were all cold and machine-like, even when their personalities were influenced by their Servants. None of them displayed emotions as intense as Irisviel.

She would find joy and laugh out loud over small things little by little.

Perhaps, influenced by Irisviel, Justeaze's emotional fluctuations became more apparent.

"I think she is prepared for what's to come."

Unlike Justeaze, Shinji could understand Irisviel's feelings.

"She knows that soon she will become the 'Lesser Grail,' and her personality will disappear. That's why she emphasizes the present. While her body can still move, she wants to explore and see more of the world. While her personality is still intact, she wants to experience things she has never done before, so that when her personality disappears, she won't have any regrets."

"Lady Justeaze, you wanted to witness the birth of the 'Greater Grail' and didn't want to leave any regrets, so you preserved your personality. Miss Irisviel is the same, but she doesn't have your ability, so she chose this path."

"Is... that so?" With Shinji's voice echoing in her ears, Justeaze's eyes fixed on the aimless wandering of Saber and Irisviel, a black and white duo. She seemed to grasp something, yet at the same time, it felt like she grasped nothing.

Saber and Irisviel walked along the streets, occasionally stopping to smile and gaze at the shining windows illuminated by the sunset, or curiously observe the displays in shop windows. However, they only looked and never entered any of the stores.

"Is this enough?" Justeaze seemed to ask Shinji, or perhaps herself, or even Irisviel, who was destined not to hear.

"I... cannot answer your question, nor can they do so. The only one who can provide an answer is yourself."

Shinji's voice shifted from hesitation to determination, as if he had made a certain decision.

"Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern, you should follow your thoughts and seek your answers. As for the Holy Grail War, my teacher and I will handle it."

"Is that okay?" Justeaze's body trembled.

"There's no such thing as 'okay.' Didn't you want to save humanity? How can you save humanity if you don't even understand human hearts?"

Shinji laughed, though Justeaze couldn't see it, she was certain that this smile was just as pure as Irisviel's.

"Thank you, Shinji," Justeaze's voice was soft, but it was the first time Shinji felt a sense of peace in his heart.

"No need to thank me. I'll be waiting for your return."

Shinji pushed open the window of the room, watching the lingering light of the setting sun swallowed by the horizon.