Shinji Matou at Your Service

"Hey, Shinji, how did you get here?"

Arcueid tilted her head, legs swinging, her face full of curiosity.

Shinji innocently touched his nose.

"That's what I want to know too."

Millennium Castle Brunestud is a product of Marble Phantasm, originating from Crimson Moon. After Crimson Moon was killed by Zelretch, it fell into disrepair but was restored to its original state after Arcueid's birth. This place exists both within and beyond the present world, a secret realm higher than a temple, a Great Temple. Generally, no one can enter without Arcueid's permission.

"I woke up and found myself lying in the hall. I was hoping to get the answer from you."

"I see, let me take a look."

Arcueid tilted her head from left to right, her eyes turning from red to gold again. She had very peculiar eyes, usually red, but they turned gold when she activated her Mystic Eyes.

Arcueid possessed Mystic Eyes, known as the Mystic Eyes of Enchantment. They weren't the low-level artificial mystic eyes inscribed with enchantment magecraft, but high-level natural mystic eyes with powers to bind, brainwash, and manipulate memories, interfering with the mind. Unlike most mystic eyes, they didn't require direct eye contact but needed the other person to look at her a few times. Because of this, Shinji was affected when looking at her. If not for his mastery of the Third Magic related to the soul, giving him unparalleled resistance to mental interference, he might have fallen under Arcueid's control.

However, this time, Shinji did not resist and was not affected by the Mystic Eyes because Arcueid was not manipulating his memories, but the world's memories or records. This was also one of her abilities as a natural being, Gaia's true daughter. This ability allowed her to track Roa down in each reincarnation, killing him shortly after his rebirth, because he could not hide from her. An ancient vampire would have many ways to hide otherwise.

After about three minutes, the gold in Arcueid's eyes gradually faded, and she looked up, letting out a pitiful whimper.

"Ouch, my head hurts. All kinds of voices mixed. Didn't you feel uncomfortable using magic?"

"No."

Shinji shook his head. Every voice was an important bond. How could he feel uncomfortable?

"You monster."

"You're the last person I want to be called that by. I finally understand why I had a headache. The information from the world exceeded my brain's capacity. You, who can freely interfere with the world, are the real monster."

"Am I?"

"You are!"

"Then... we're both monsters!"

Arcueid clapped her hands, concluding.

"Hehe, that's not so bad."

"Fine, you win. In a way, you're right."

Naturally, Arcueid, a candidate for U.O., and Shinji, who wielded double-digit Noble Phantasms and delved into the Third Magic, were far from ordinary and deserved the title of monsters.

"Do you know why I ended up here out of nowhere?"

"Yes."

Arcueid nodded. "It's because of the planet, also known as Gaia, that you were sent here."

"Huh? Gaia?"

Shinji was stunned. While he had considered reasons such as Zelretch playing tricks, he never thought it would be the planet's will itself. If not for Gaia's true daughter Arcueid confirming it, Shinji wouldn't have thought in that direction.

After a good while, he finally reacted and asked.

"Why did Gaia send me here? To have you kill me?"

"No, it's to follow you. That's why I was awakened."

Arcueid awkwardly scratched her cheek. Shinji put his hand on his forehead, ready to say something, but the princess had already apologized.

"Um, I was groggy from sleep. Sorry."

"Forget it."

Shinji sighed helplessly. The situation had already happened, so there was no point in dwelling on it. Moreover, it wasn't entirely Arcueid's fault. She was sleeping soundly, only to be woken up by an alarm and find a stranger with an unpleasant aura before her. Understandably, she attacked without checking the alarm's message.

"So, why did Gaia want you to follow me? The incomplete Third Magic shouldn't warrant such attention from her." — Considering Gaia's top creations were predominantly female, Shinji chose the female pronoun "her," fitting the term "Mother Earth."

"It's not the magic; it's the 'eye' on the moon. She wants me to go with you."

"Ah, I see."

Hearing this, Shinji understood.

Indeed, Mooncell deserves Gaia's attention, with a priority higher than magic. In a parallel world, specifically in the Fate/Extra storyline, Arcueid also entered Mooncell, likely due to Gaia's directive.

Though Shinji understood, he had his concerns. What if he and Arcueid, or rather Gaia behind her, disagreed? Then—

"Arcueid, I have an important question. You must answer honestly."

"Ask away."

"Did Gaia give you specific instructions on what to do?"

"No, when you go, she'll send me with you."

"And then?"

"That's it, just follow you."

"..."

Shinji stared at Arcueid.

"..."

Arcueid also stared at Shinji, blinking her eyes.

The two had a staring contest.

In the end, Shinji gave in, knowing that Arcueid wouldn't lie.

"So, what is this? Surveillance?"

"I don't know either. How about we go now and see? Maybe I'll know what to do once we're there."

"I refused."

Shinji mercilessly rejected Arcueid's proposal, causing her to pout again.

"Why?"

"Two reasons. First, it's very dangerous there, and we're both injured because of your mistake."

"Ugh... I already apologized. Shinji, you're so petty—what's the second reason?"

"I have something to do."

"What is it? Can I help?"

"Sure, first send me to the nearest city, as fast as possible. I... hey, hey, what are you doing?"

Before he finished speaking, Shinji found himself being carried by Arcueid.

"Sending you out."

Arcueid said this while sprinting with Shinji at a speed of 100 meters per second!

"Slow down, slow down, let me cast a protection spell first!"

"You said to be quick!"

"Ahhhh, fukou da—!"

It seems Shinji's upcoming life will be full of disasters, in every sense.