Authors note: Alright, chapter three, this is not dead, I like the idea too much for that. The war doesn't start this chapter and probably won't start next either, need to do all the proper prep work and such for the changes to the timeline that Shinji's presence, and the lack of Spartacus, will bring.

Hope everyone likes the chapter, and if you like my writing and want to help support me I have a Ko-fi. Link is on my profile page.

Ps: I've made a bit of AI art, as I cannot draw worth shit, of what I imagine Shinji looks like in this setting somewhat. The link to that art page is on my profile page too.

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Shinji opened his eyes to find the ceiling of his room greeting him with a surprising amount of light coming in through the window.

"Is it, the morning? Did I take a nap or-" Shinji began to say before his mind woke up in full in a mere second as a single thought went through his mind.

Servant. He needed to summon his servant! He figured he'd take a nap to prepare, and now it was the morning!

"Shit, fuck, dammit," Shinji swore as he got off his bed and stormed down his stairs, fully prepared to at least make the best of having another entire day to prepare. He needed to call the clock tower contact he had and see if his delivery was going to make it, he needed to-

"Yo, morning Boss. Have a good sleep?"

Shinji stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned his head to the new voice, looking to the living room area and the couch where a barrel chest beast of a man sat as casually as one could. His shirt was open, and his sunglasses covered his eyes, but not his grin.

Then it came back to him. The previous evenings summoning, the sense of dread, the telling of history and then . . . . . when did he go to bed?

"Why was I-" Shinji began to say, before shaking his head and deciding it did not matter. For whatever reason, Kintoki had not decided to kill him, meaning he had a servant, and a chance at surviving this grail war. "Never mind."

"Alright," Kintoki said simply as he sat on the couch. "So, what is the plan boss?"

Shinji froze for just a second as he stepped into the kitchen, then moved to the fridge and opened it, taking out a jug of juice. "That, is the problem," Shinji said slowly as he poured himself a glass and then gestured to it. Kintoki nodded, and Shinji took out and poured another glass as she spoke. "The war does not officially start for a just under a week still, so if we try to do anything aside from gather information it could be . . . looked down upon."

"Ah, so Ruler will get in the way," Kintoki said with a nod as Shinji walked over and handed him a glass with a strange expression. "The grail makes sure we Servants know enough to get by, and it has told me about this war and how it is structured," He then explained as he took a drink and smiled. "Tangy. Golden."

"Well, I don't think Ruler would unless we, endanger the . . . . Those not in the war," Shinji said, feeling bile rise in his own throat for a moment at his inability to say the word he wanted. If he did the things he once had, he would be targeted by the wars overseer, by Ruler. He shook his head before taking a drink of his juice, a bit surprised as his vison was only slightly shaky, and not truly hungover. "Either way, we have time, and there are a couple things that we need to do to prepare."

"Figure out where our enemy is hidden?" Kintoki suggested.

It was a solid suggestion, and as a historic hunter of monsters it made sense to hear, but Shinji shook his head. "We know where Yggdmilenia is located roughly, the town of Trifas. As for our . . . allies, they are located in the town of Sighisoara, Though I have not met them."

"Why not?"

"Zelretch told me in a letter to not trust the one who is acting as our sides organizer," Shinji stated as he got up and walked back into the kitchen, pulling out a loaf of bread and began to prepare himself some toast.

"Ah, and he's someone to trust then?"

"In this case, yeah," Shinji said as he looked at the bread in his hand. Emiya's servant hadn't been able to turn spiritual and needed to eat to keep up her mana, and had apparently eaten with him, Sakrua, and even Rin on occasion throughout the war. Was that how he had won? By feeding his servant real food?

By treating them as more than just a tool, like he had treated Rider and even Sakura?

"Hey, uh . . . do you want some?"

"What?"

"Some toast, or eggs, breakfast I mean," Shinji said, feeling very awkward all of a sudden. "I know servants don't need to eat, but –"

"Sure," Kintoki said as he got up from the couch, his large form moving much more fluidly than Shinji had expected he could. "I'll help cook, got any fish around?"

"Uh, not breakfast ones, no,"

"No problem," Kintoki said as he began rummaging through the cupboards and pulling out a number of dry goods with a smile. "I can make some truly golden pancakes while you tell me what needs to be done!"

"Was hoping you forgot about that," Shinji muttered with a sigh. "Officially we need to meet that priest, but I'm leaving that for now. I've been waiting on a call so I was thinking of calling them."

"What for?"

"I have some supplies coming," Shinji said simply, feeling no need to explain in full unless he had to. "If I don't get the supplies before the war starts I'll have difficulty being anything but a battery for you."

"That would be safer for you, boss."

"It would," Shinji said as his eyes glanced at a knife on the counter, thoughts rushing through his head before he shook them from the front of his mind. "But I can't just sit back and watch. Not again."

"Alight, but why-" Kintoki began to say, only to stop and look at Shinji's pants.

A second later a buzzing came from his pocket, and he slipped the phone out and switched it on. "Yes?"

"This is Shinji Matou, correct?"

"Correct."

"Good, this is Agent Malum Malus, I have your delivery in the town of Brasov, I can't get any further into Romania, otherwise I'll get caught by the Yggdmilenia Family. When can you be here for pickup?"

"I can . . . be there later today," Shinji decided instantly. Where will I meet you?"

"Call me at this number when you arrive and I will direct you. See you soon, Mister Matou."

Shinji said nothing as he turned off his phone. And looked to see Kintoki looking at him with a smile. "What?"

"Road trip."

"Brasov is only about one hundred and twenty kilometers away. It won't even take two hours to get there."

"Still a road trip," Kintoki said with childish glee. "Once we're fed we head out then?"

"We?"

"I'm coming with of course,"

Shinji looked at Kintoki and sighed, recognizing that there was no way he was going to convince him otherwise. "I suppose you want to stay physical?"

"It would be best for both our mana,"

"Alright,"

"And I'll drive,"

Shinji felt a shiver cross his body but ignored it. "Alright."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Never, again," Shinji gasped out as he leaned against a wall in the town of Brasov. Behind him sat his motorcycle alongside its side car with Kintoki, who was now wearing full riding leathers that made him sot of look like some kind of gang member, sitting atop it with a smile.

"What's wrong boss, we made it in record time, first place, Gold medal, what's the problem?"

"You can be, summoned as a Rider Class servant, can't you?" Shinji asked as he wiped his forehead of sweat. It wasn't cold or hot out but the sheer speed that they went at made his horrendous life thus far flash before his eyes and made his heart feel like it was going to pound out of his chest.

"Yeah, so?"

"'It shows," Shinji said as he managed to stand fully up and fix his jacket before pulling his phone out. "One moment . . . . . ."

"Shinji Matou?"

"I'm here. Where do we meet?"

"There is a Bar called the Cougars den that is near the edge of the warehouse district. I'll meet you at the Bar to bring you to your delivery."

"And the Bar is, where?"

"East side, thirty fourth street, ask directions discretely if you need to."

"Understood, see you soon," Shinji said as he turned his phone off and pocketed it. "C'mon, we need to head to a bar to meet my contact," Shinji said as he climbed into the sidecar.

"Got it boss," Kintoki said as he began driving down the street at a calm speed thankfully. "What are we picking up anyway?"

"Well," Shinji began before shifting his thoughts to Telepathic communication. "Guns, ammunition, explosives and a variety of other such similar tools."

"A Magus like you not fighting with magic?" Kintoki asked in surprise.

"The magic I have chosen to specialize in is not great for combat on its own, but is more of a supplement to it. The idea of . . . uses magic on another, the mere thought of . . . . gives me flashbacks."

Kintoki nodded in understanding. "Got it, I won't press further as long as you don't endanger civilians."

"I won't,"

"Good. Oh, that the place?"

Shinji looked ahead as Kintoki slowed the bike. Ahead of them was a quaint looking bar with a couple cars parked outside. A number of people were hanging around the front door, and the sounds of merrymaking could be easily heard from within. The other thing that Shinji noticed was that the people standing outside all seemed to be of a certain groups. Older women, and younger men. "Yes, seems like the name was literal."

"As long as my teacher isn't around that's fine by me, Kintoki said with a smile as he parked the bike. "Hey, boss, do you see that guy?"

Shinji looked across the street to see a man in a long coat looking wearily side to side. He was obviously unnerved by something, but was most noticeable was the fact that the man was holding an Azoth dagger in one hand under his coat. "A Master?"

"I don't think so, he seems a bit to harried,"

"Cover me from sight by shifting your position," Shinji commanded. As soon as he did so Shinji got to work, placing a finger on Kintoki's back as he let his Prana flow. With a few quick motions he cast the spell, a thin shadowy film covering kintoki's body before disappearing.

"What was that?"

"Obfuscation spell," Shinji said simply. "It should mask your magic signal, and make it harder for anyone to notice you unless you talk to them,"

". . .you want to go in and see who he's actually after?" Kintoki asked with a smirk.

"If they are not a master, but have that dagger they are still a Magus, so they ae likely going after another magic, perhaps one of the masters. I want to see what they are capable of."

"Golden, time for a drink then!"

Shinji let out a sigh as he walked around the bike and toward the bar, Kintoki following behind him. The people at the front doorway barely gave either of them a glance as they entered.

"Hehe, you look like you fit in fine here boss," Kintoki said as the pair of them entered the bar and looked around.

Shinji looked down at his clothes, dark pants, a simple white shirt and dark vest. He supposed he did look classy to some, but what mattered was that his clothes were reinforced with a number of his spells. "Looks do not matter," Shinji said as he looked to see a couple spots near the end of the bar and began walking toward it.

"What would you like?" The barkeep asked as he walked over to their end.

"Just beer for me, whatever you would suggest," Shinji said as Kintoki smiled.

"Strongest you got for me that's gold in color. Don't worry, I can take it.

"A'ight, one moment," the barkeep said with a smile as he moved away.

"Hey boss, look at that corner,"

Shinji carefully took a glance to the back corner of the bar, shadowed a bit, but that did not hide the ones there. One was a woman, tall with an attractive and curvy body and the face of one who knew it. She seemed to be seducing a young man who was very nearly on her lap, while to her left was another woman. Average size, long hair, a soft innocent face and in a wheelchair, who looked utterly mortified by what was going on in front of her. Both of them were wearing white uniforms with an amount of details on them that seemed out of place in the bar. Yet no other patrons seemed to take notice.

"Magus's, Yggdmillenia by the uniforms I think," Shinji said as he carefully pulled out a pair of gloves and slipped them onto his hands. "They're a bit far from their territory."

"After that other Magus perhaps?"

"Or the other way around," Shinji said as the door to the bar opened, and the unknown magus from outside stepped in. "Looks like we will get to see soon."

"Here's your drink!" The barkeep suddenly said as he stepped up and place their drinks down in rather large mugs. "You folks from out of town?"

"Just passing through, figured a nice drink would help take off the edge," Shinji answered with a shrug as he took a sip, finding the taste a bit odd, but not wholly unpleasant.

Meanwhile Kintoki downed half his mug in one go and looked absolutely fine.

"That so? lot of people coming through lately, I wonder if something is happening somewhere if-" the barkeep was cut off as suddenly the unknown magus reached the center of the bar and dropped a small canister to the ground, it spilling liquid onto the ground that then spread out and formed a glowing circle around him that then spread to cover the whole bar.

"Alright, no one move or you get a head full of bullets!"

"Bullets?" Kintoki asked in confusion as almost everyone in the bar looked terrified.

"That circle of his is likely creating illusions of some form," Shinji said quietly.

"As long as no one moves, you get to live, because I only have issue with two people here!" the man continued as he turned and took a couple steps toward the two Yggdmillenia women, who were glaring at him with serious gazes that also seemed a bit worried.

"They seem surprised," Kintoki noted as the man seemed to talk to the two women in a low tone. The waving of his fingers making it clear he was using a spell to not be heard.

"We're in Romania, they probably thought they would be perfectly safe in what they thought was their territory," Shinji said with a shake of his head. "To think I was once so foolish, gods how dumb can any of us Mages be?"

"You, are going to kill them?" Kintoki asked nervously as he eyed the altercation in front of them.

"No, just one person," Shinji said as he put some money on the counter. "Go incorporeal and head outside; I'll deal with this,"

Kintoki nodded in understanding as he did so, and a second later Shinji slid silently off his chair and reached to his pocket, pulled out his pistol, and slipped an enchanted bead from his other pocket. With a quick hum he flicked the bead onto the floor, it rolling across until it touched the man's magic circle. And as it did, both the bead and the circle cracked.

"-I will show you and all of you Yggdmillenia fools that you shouldn't have-"

Making the man's voice carry as his spell was broken.

"Hey, dumbass," Shinji called as he raised his pistol towards the frantic screaming man, who then of course, not realizing his spell had broken, turned to face him in confusion. "Shut up."

The Sharp Staccato of three gunshots rang out in the bar brining complete silence as the unknown magus simply stood there for a moment before dropping to his knees, the three bullet holes in his chest tinting his clothing red before he fell to his side with a heavy thump.

Silence reigned as Shinji let out a sigh as he holstered his pistol and turned toward the door. "Money's on the counter."

Nothing happened as Shinji walked out of the bar, hoping that that would be the end of it, only to feel the effects of s spell snake around him. It wasn't a strong one, and felt sort of like something trying slow him down, so he humored it and slowed his pace as he walked.

"Hey, young gunslinger there,"

Shinji turned to see the very mature seductress standing behind him, hands on her hips as she stood at a slight angle to accentuate her body. "Yes?"

"You've got some skill, though we could have taken them easily,"

"Yes, I'm sure you could have," Shinji said as he held back an aggravated sigh. The woman was acting so arrogant. It made his historic actions and way he acted feel even worse somehow. "Is there something else you need from me?"

"Maybe there is, how about you stick around and we can get to know one another better. I may have some work for you as well."

"Not interested," Shinji said as he turned away from the woman. "I'm simply traveling through, and I'm not looking for work."

"Of course you are," the woman said as she walked around to Shinji's front. "After all, a Magus entering our territory with so little fear, you are obviously not with those clock tower fools."

"And if I was?" Shinji asked, not being surprised that another Magus had noticed his destruction of the others spell. Magi were nothing if not perceptive.

"Impossible, no Clock tower mage would dare tread so close to our territory, and as soon as they saw us they would run with their tail between their legs like little mice, so, about that work."

"I'm not interested,"

"Fine, maybe I'll just report you as carrying weapons in our country then?"

Shinji looked at the woman, particularly her smirk, and watched her smirk disappear as his own lips twisted into a horrid smirk of his own. "And maybe you will simply let me go as I got you out of that situation where that whole bar including yourselves were held hostage? Maybe I'd even keep your negligence a secret from your own group, and the clock tower as well? I'm sure both would love to hear how you got caught so off guard by a low rank magus like that, right?"

His words seemed to strike a chord as she took a step back. "You wouldn't dare?"

"Maybe I will. Hard to say what a man might do when backed into a corner."

"Why you insolent, I should curse you to-"

"Celenike," Came a woman voice as Shinji looked back to see the wheelchair bound girl wheel out of the bar. "I've numbed their minds and called a cleaning crew."

"Good, then help me deal with this-

"He helped us deal with that one, surely we could let him go on his way? We have more important things to deal with, no?"

"Fiore!" the woman, apparently named Celenike, turned to the wheel chaired woman in shock. "How can you even-"

"We have a delivery to make, and we are already behind due to this detour of yours."

Celenike looked conflicted for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Fine, get out of here, and the next time we see you in our territory, you are dead, understand?"

"I get it, you won't see me again unless our lives are at risk by the other," Shinji said as he walked off and waved behind him.

"Pretty dangerous there boss,"

"It was worth it," Shinji said under his breath as he walked down the street.

"Was it?" Shinji looked to see a man barely visible ahead of him, far ahead only slightly visible peeking out from behind a building. As he approached he could see the man was dressed like a worker, but was also wearing a hood and shroud over his face.

"Malum Malus?" Shinji asked knowingly.

"Yes, follow me," Malum said as he waved and lead the way between the buildings. "Awfully ballsy to get seen by those Yggdmillenia assholes like you did."

"You didn't plan it?" Shinji asked calmly.

"No, this towns not under their reach officially, I was not expecting them to be there, if I did, I would not have decided to meet you here."

"Understood, do you have everything I asked for?"

"I do, and it wasn't easy to get, or bring here," Malum said as the two of them turned around a corner to see a small delivery truck parked between two warehouses. And as they stepped up, Kintoki appeared to its side, making Malum Tense.

"Relax, he's my Servant."

Malum slowly looked to Shinji, then to Kintoki and back to Shinji before relaxing. "With your servant looking that impressive, why do you need all this?"

"I'm not leaving anything to chance," Shinji said as he stopped and looked at the trucks rear doorway. "May I see it all?'

"Of course," Malum said as he opened up the back of the truck and flicked a switch. Lights in the truck lit up revealing that both the right and left walls were covered in weapon racks, while the center of the truck was filled with armored crates. Without even waiting for the ramp to be slid out Shinji climbed in and began looking over the racks and opening the boxes, making sure everything was what he hoped.

And Kintoki was right behind him, stepping in and marveling at the weaponry before him.

"Damn, I don't know a lot about firearms, but these would have been golden to have against Oni and Youkai."

"Yeah, I bet they would," Shinji said as he picked one of the larger rifles off its rack and held it in his hand. It felt cold against his skin. Dark and uncaring, unalive. Utterly unlike magic, that even the most vile of which felt alive and like it had a feel to it. These were nothing but tools, and tools could not be considered evil unless used for it. "There seems to be a good amount more here than what I wanted," Shinji then said toward Malum as he put the rifle back on its rack.

"There is," Malum admitted with a nod as he took a key out of a pocket and tossed it to Shinji, who caught it easily. "The Clock tower was not expecting the Kaleidoscope to front an entrant into this war himself, especially not a long lost Scion of the Makiri family. They told me to get everything you wanted and more, so I did."

"I see," Shinji said as he looked at the key, a strange, but intriguing thought moving into his mind. "The clock tower is keeping my existence a secret, right?"

"Correct."

"Then, can you do one last thing for me?" Shinji asked as he dropped out of the truck and poked its switch, causing the door to start closing up.

"Need more equipment for halfway through the war or something?" Malum asked. "It'll be difficult to-"

"No. all I need you to do is have the clock tower stop keeping my existence a secret. In fact, make it common knowledge, so much so, that even Yggdmilenia hears the rumors that there still exists a Matou who is out for their blood. I want them to know that I live, just not what I look like, or anything else. Just that I live and am coming for them."

Malum looked at Shinji, eyes widening over a few seconds. "I understand, I don't think it will be a problem to start such a rumor, but it may take a bit before it reaches them you realize, even if we make it easy too."

"That is fine," Shinji said with a smirk as he held up the key," So, the whole truck is mine?"

"You won't be able to get all that anywhere without it. Take it and do what you wish with it," Malum said with a wave as he turned to leave. "Good luck you hear,"

Shinji did not answer as he walked around the truck and climbed into the driver seat, Kintoki appearing beside him a second later. "So, that everything you need to be golden?"

"This is a start," Shinji said as he started the truck and began driving it down the roads. "I'll need to enchant most of the ammunition, prepare the rest of the tools, scout out the areas the war may take place in, and we still need to meet the one heading our side."

"Even if you do not want to?"

"Yeah. I've got lots to do still do before this war begins."

Kintoki smiled. "Well, we better get to work!"

"You have a way to help?" Shinji asked in surprise. He didn't expect a Berserker class have many ways to prepare for a war after all.

Kintoki rolled down the window of the truck and let his arm hang out at a horizontal angle as he began whistling. And a minute later, an owl somehow caught up with the truck and landed daintily on his arm as he smiled. "I have a few friends who might be able to help us."