The simulated dream had crumbled then, leaving me gasping for air as I awoke immediately after.
Several questions had popped up in my mind at that moment.
After all, I had initially thought the Simulation Gu would simulate the entire life of Michizane in one go, somehow compressing all of that into my brief period of sleep with its Dream Path abilities.
However, I had abruptly woken up with no warning to speak of aside from that ominous cliffhanger provided by the narration.
Furthermore, after I had woken up from that dream, I found the Simulation Gu’s snake-like body withered and sickly as it had inexplicably entered a weakened state!
This was a natural consequence of using its power, I eventually figured out.
Not only did it have limited capabilities when it came to realism, it also entered a kind of slumber after each time it was used.
I concluded this after I repeatedly tried using it again for the next week to no avail.
No matter how much Primeval Essence I gave it, the Simulation Gu simply refused to budge, but I could see it gradually recover day-by-day, meaning that it could probably be used again eventually.
This weakened state was also not from hunger as I now rarely dreamed despite spending most of my time sleeping.
It appeared that my theory about the Simulation Gu’s feeding requirements had been accurate, fortunately enough.
I would have struggled to feed it otherwise with me being a baby and all.
Despite this glaring weakness, my impression of the Simulation Gu remained overwhelmingly positive.
After all, my gains from it were beyond anything I’d expect from a Rank 1!
Although the simulated dream itself had questionable realism, displayed only the major events, and gave me the role of a disembodied observer, it actually ended up fully giving me Michizane’s memories after the dream had concluded.
This not only included all of his internal monologues that I had yearned for in the simulation, but also the memories of events that had not been shown previously.
Interestingly enough though, I didn’t gain any of his leftover feelings and attachments from the memories.
Regardless if it was his family or his Yakan companion, I still saw them as nothing more than mere characters in a dream despite having Michizane’s memories.
The memories I had inherited were sectioned off from the rest of my mind.
The distinction between him and me was noticeable and that was great since I was a bit worried that I might gradually lose myself in the future if I used the Simulation Gu too often…
In addition, I suspected that the dream also directly added his Attainments to mine.
This was easily the most shocking gain of them all!
For Gu Masters, one’s understanding and familiarity with a Path mattered greatly.
This wasn’t really theoretical knowledge as it was more akin to muscle memory and habitual instinct developed from repetition.
To better visualize this, one only needed to look at the difference between an economics professor and a successful businessman.
The former might have more theoretical knowledge about the intricate workings of finance, but the latter simply had more hands-on experience and could better utilize it in actual practice.
The term used to measure this familiarity was known as Attainment, and just like with cultivation, it too had ‘realms’ to classify one’s level of advancement.
Considering I have yet to develop any supernatural intuition in regards to Gu, my Attainment was most likely still at the Ordinary level, not yet a quasi-Master.
That being said, ‘Ordinary’ was a broad term as my familiarity with the Blood, Food, and Refinement Paths had all improved dramatically!
Refinement Path was slightly better as although Michizane had yet to refine any Gu Worms belonging to that Path, just the act of refining Gu alone was enough to count as experience, even if it was relatively minor.
The real treasure was the Blood Path Attainment as it was obviously the Path Michizane had accrued the most experience in.
Countless insights filled my mind whenever I so much as thought about the subject.
The numerous refinement attempts that had been briefly mentioned and glossed over in the simulated dream’s narration flashed within my mind.
He really did try to brute force it most of the time and it surely ended in failure due to that.
Yet even when Michizane was at his most methodical, the frankly massive risk of failure remained insurmountable.
No wonder he didn’t have any trouble hurting himself when it really mattered.
With this Blood Path Attainment, as well as the Refinement Path Attainment on top of that, I was sure I could come up with reasonable alternatives to Michizane’s rather unique refinement methods.
For example, while I didn’t have any special black chamber pots or mystical Yokai to help me, I was confident I could devise a similar mechanism to refine the Cursed Blood Gu with what I had here in the modern era as long as I gathered enough poisonous and venomous creatures.
…Unfortunately, this was still not enough for me to do what I wanted when the time finally came.
I was helpless to the whims of fate as Shina gazed at me with unbearable melancholy, her tears having long dried up at this point as she simply smiled at me without saying a word.
Quietly, she handed me over to the man opposite to her as Byakuya received my tiny body.
A month has already passed since Zouken had appraised my Magic Circuits.
…As agreed upon back in that encounter, my mother was to be sacrificed to the worm pit in place of me.
It couldn’t be helped.
I didn’t know what I was thinking.
…Really, putting an end to Zouken’s reign of terror as a mere month-old baby?
Wasn’t that too outlandish?
Even an ant had better chances of defeating a lion!
The refinement methods I managed to derive from Michizane’s memories could not be done when I remained an immobile child.
This was the simple truth, the unforgiving reality as unlike in the simulated dream, my only option was to endure.
“You don’t need to worry about the war, Shina.” Byakuya spoke up in order to reassure his wife as he held me in his arms, tired and resigned.
“I’ve already arranged for him to be taken to Finland for education by then.
He won’t have to be involved in it.”
“That’s g-good,” Shina’s breathing hitched as she considered the situation before casting her worry to him.
“But what about you?”
Byakuya shook his head and revealed helplessly, “Unfortunately, I don’t have any excuses, not as long as I remain the official Family Head.”
The two were talking about the Holy Grail War that was to come, the same one that took place in Fate/Zero and would happen in about 5 years, give or take.
…But I don’t think I’ll want to leave.
In fact, I might run away in that time just to stay here in Fuyuki City for the Holy Grail War.
Others might see the Grail War as dangerous and chaotic, but in it, I saw only an opportunity.
An opportunity to decisively eradicate Zouken Matou from the face of this world!
“Is that so?” Shina muttered quietly as she nodded before she walked closer and hugged the two of us.
After planting a kiss on Byakuya’s lips, she looked down at me and gave her very last smile.
“G-Grow up big and strong, okay, Shinji?” Shina smiled as she held my head, feeling my warmth as small tears began to build up once more…
She wiped them away immediately and turned back to address the crooked old man whose silent presence felt suffocating even in this relatively large room, “I’m ready, Zouken-sama.”
Zouken chuckled in response.
“I doubt you are, but I sure do like the spirit.” He said in a carefree tone, a mocking smirk adorning his elderly features.
He directed it at Byakuya as the old man continued, “You know, I didn’t think you’d be so willing to partake in all of this, hahaha.
Don’t you have at least the slightest bit of dignity?
A man should fight for their love!”
Gritting his teeth, Byakuya could only mutter his response, “All is fair for the family’s prosperity…”
“Damn right, you are!” Zouken grinned, knowing full well that the family’s prosperity in that sentence only denoted his own.
“Let’s not waste any more time, then.” He said as he gestured for Shina to follow him.
The pair quickly vanished to the hallway outside as Byakuya let out a breath.
His legs gave in despite his clear attempt to remain standing as he broke down, tears dropping down from his eyes like the water from rainfall.
“W-What am I supposed to do now!?” He shouted in outrage and asked the world as he gazed at his impassive son, who shed not a single tear of his own.
Instead of crying, my expression remained blank.
I had already cried plenty of times once I realized the absurdity of this situation and my inability to prevent it, but eventually, I lost even my tears, shortly followed by my voice as I did not deign to make a sound when Shina was taken away.
‘Forget about saving Sakura, damn it.’ I thought with bitterness and cold stoicism as I began to devise a new plan of action.
I could not prevent Shina’s death as a baby, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t prevent Sakura’s defilement as a child.
By then, I would have the means to do more than simply cry, and the guilt would be overwhelming should I let the plot play out as fate intended.
There will be no saving Sakura in this second life.
Instead, I was going to prevent her trauma from happening in the first place.
The Grail War was my opportunity to do this as summoning a Servant capable of eradicating the Matou was my only hope.
This was my conviction!
Sorry for the short delay, I fell asleep and forgot to set the timer for the chapter’s release.
Anyway, as usual,