Shinji Matou at Your Service

Touko asked again, "Aren't you curious? About what my Teacher and I discussed?"

Shinji replied, "I am curious, but I don't need to eavesdrop because you'll tell me."

"Why would I tell you?"

"Because of our relationship."

"What kind of relationship do we have?"

Perhaps it was because she looked so alluring when she said this with a mix of coldness and coquettishness, or perhaps it was due to the beautiful and romantic lakeside night scene that made one's heart flutter. Shinji suddenly had a rush of blood to his head and reached out to embrace Touko, whispering in her ear.

"This kind of relationship."

The moment her body was enveloped, Touko stiffened, clearly startled by Shinji's bold action. But she quickly relaxed again, lowering her head and feigning confusion as she asked:

"What kind of relationship is this?"

"Whatever kind of relationship you say it is," Shinji said, half-jokingly.

"Then... siblings?"

Touko tentatively suggested.

"Are there siblings like us?"

Shinji retorted.

"Why not? In magus families, this sort of thing isn't uncommon."

As Touko said, magi value bloodlines more than anyone else, and many families still maintain the tradition of intermarriage.

"Hmm..."

Shinji was taken aback and instinctively replied, "But we're not blood-related."

"Idiot!"

Hearing this answer, Touko pinched Shinji's waist in annoyance.

Shinji finally realized that having no blood relation meant there were no restrictions or constraints. To use the most popular phrase from his previous life on the internet—having a blood relation, isn't that even better-Yuki Suou?

Ah, he was an idiot.

Seeing Shinji's face full of silly smiles, Touko sighed helplessly.

She didn't know if this little rascal was smart or stupid.

If you say he's stupid, he always manages to inadvertently stir a woman's heart. Count the girls around him, and you can't even use one hand to count them all.

If you say he's smart, he can't even understand such simple hints and sometimes makes such basic mistakes.

But perhaps it's precisely because of this that so many girls like him, remain unchanged for so many years. Even she had unknowingly lost her heart to him.

Touko raised her head, silently gazing at him before her, the scene of their first meeting once again flashing through her mind.

That day, he had tempted her with the Rune system she couldn't refuse, making her sign the agreement. She had angrily called it a contract of enslavement. Looking back now, it was a contract of enslavement in every sense.

She had wanted to let go, and over the past few years, she had visited several reclusive immortals. Among them, one immortal's words resonated with her the most.

How to let go? What if you don't let go? As long as there are no regrets, the path to immortality is ultimately one's own to walk.

If you can't let go, then don't. There's nothing wrong with that. I, Aozaki Touko, have been obsessed all my life. One more obsession won't hurt. I'll walk my path.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Shinji's concerned voice sounded in her ear.

Touko shook her head and reached out to wrap her arms around his neck.

"From now on, I'll need to be this close to see your face."

"I told you before, I'd soon surpass you. How you used to look at me is how you have to look at me now."

Saying this, Shinji's face couldn't hide his pride.

The Matou family's genes were indeed excellent, but they had one major flaw—height. Family members were generally not tall. The old worm had shriveled up, so it's unknown how he was in his youth. Kariya Matou was 173cm, and Byakuya Matou was 1cm taller than Kariya. In Shinji's original timeline, his data at 17 years old was 167cm. If he had just started puberty, that was fine, and there was hope to reach his father's or uncle's height. But if it was late in his development, it would be terrible, and even surpassing 170cm would be questionable. Although this height wasn't considered short in Japan, on a global scale... sigh.

Sorry to say, Shinji was a mundane person. He didn't have the open-mindedness to consider the body just a vessel. He didn't ask to be stunningly handsome or shockingly tall, but at least to score 70 points.

So, after the situation in the Matou family stabilized, he began to prepare for his growth and development. A glass of milk in the morning and evening to supplement calcium, and daily exercise and training geared towards benefiting height. Isn't it often said that engaging in sports like volleyball and basketball helps increase height for young people?

Shinji also utilized this principle.

Although Justeaze had ensured he wouldn't be short when helping to build his body, he couldn't truly be at ease until he saw results day by day.

His unremitting efforts finally paid off. At 16, his height had already exceeded 167cm, and recently, he had broken through 174cm, becoming the tallest in the family. How could he not be happy? How could he not be proud?

Seeing Shinji's nose almost reaching the sky with pride, Touko felt both amused and helpless.

"It's not good for a man to hold such grudges."

"No, no, this isn't holding a grudge. It's that I remember everything you say."

"You remember everything?"

"Of course. I even remember you saying that when I grow taller than you, you'd let me... hehe..."

"And you say you remember everything. Hmph, I never said such a thing."

Touko suddenly let go of her hands, turned her body, and left Shinji's embrace.

"You said it."

Shinji, who had entered the Third Magic realm, couldn't possibly have a problem with memory. If he remembered, he remembered; if he didn't, he didn't.

Touko's face showed a mischievous smile: "Is that so? Think carefully. What I said was we'd talk about it when you grew taller than me. The rest is all your imagination."

"..."

Thinking about it, it was true. Those words, in the context of that time, meant this, but Touko had never personally promised anything. Realizing this, Shinji suddenly felt dejected.

"You shouldn't trick me like this."

"This is a lesson for you. You're good in every way, but that face of yours that attracts women is worrying. Not every girl is as kind-hearted and devoted to you as Fujino and the others. The more beautiful a woman is, often the more dangerous she is."

"Then you must be the most dangerous."

"I don't know if you're complimenting me or mocking me."

"Complimenting, of course, it's a compliment. I'd fight anyone who dared to mock you."

"Alright, stop pretending. I have enough self-awareness. In terms of beauty, I can't compare to the giant god you projected, nor to the Golden Princess and Silver Princess."

"..."

Seeing Shinji not responding, but instead showing a thoughtful expression, Touko couldn't help but hit him hard.

"What? You start losing your soul at the mention of the Golden Princess and Silver Princess?"

Shinji shook his head: "No, I just thought of something. You just said the more beautiful a woman is, often the more dangerous she is. So what do you think of the Golden Princess?"

"What do you mean?"

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go to your room."

Touko hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "Alright. Katou, please be on guard."

"As you command. I hope Master and Master Shinji have a wonderful night."

Katou's words were still monotone, but the meaning behind them made Touko's ears burn.

"Who told you that's what it means?"

"Detection shows Master's heartbeat accelerating, body temperature rising, inferring—"

"Shut up!"

Touko was embarrassed and angry. She turned her head to see Shinji hiding to the side, secretly laughing, and couldn't help but hit him hard several times.

"Still laughing? I'll make you laugh. I'll make you laugh..."

"I was wrong. Don't be angry."

Shinji surrendered, while secretly giving a thumbs-up.

Well done. It wasn't in vain that I lent you such a precious cloak.