Marvel's master of cosmic magic-Chapter 612

"Mr. Maple... are you really okay?"

Shirou let out a long breath as Rowan Mercer descended back into the yard. Only now did his legs start to feel weak.

Before he could ask anything else, the front gate slammed open.

A boy and a girl rushed inside.

"Rin? What are you doing here?"

Shirou stared at the girl in disbelief.

Rin Tohsaka. Same grade. Vice president of the student council. Smart, capable, and completely out of place in his backyard at midnight.

"I sensed another Servant," the armored girl said sharply.

Her eyes locked onto the white-haired man in red standing behind Rin.

Without hesitation, she swung her invisible blade.

The white-haired man instantly formed twin short blades in his hands and blocked.

Steel rang.

"Wait—stop!" Shirou shouted, throwing himself between them.

"Can someone please tell me what’s going on?!"

Rin pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Of course it had to be you, Emiya."

She looked him up and down.

"Alright. Deep breath. You’re completely outside this world, so I’ll keep it simple."

"Good evening, Emiya."

"Uh... good evening, Tohsaka."

Rowan waved a hand.

The cracked ground, broken walls, and shattered roof silently rewound, restoring themselves to their original state.

Rin and Archer both froze.

High-grade restoration magecraft.

Instant.

Silent.

No incantation.

No circle.

Rin slowly turned toward Rowan.

"And... who is he?"

Shirou hesitated.

"He’s... Mr. Maple. My maple tree. He turned into a person."

Rin placed a hand on Shirou’s forehead.

"No fever."

Then she stared at Rowan again.

"...You’re serious."

Shirou nodded.

Rin briefly explained what had happened earlier that night.

She had been investigating disappearances at school.

She found a hidden bounded field that drained life and consumed souls.

That investigation drew Lancer’s attack.

While Archer fought Lancer, Shirou accidentally witnessed everything.

Lancer pierced Shirou’s heart.

Shirou somehow survived long enough for Rin to heal him with a gem.

When she realized Lancer might return to finish the job, she rushed here.

Shirou, in turn, explained everything that had happened in the yard.

The tree.

Rowan.

Lancer’s defeat.

Saber’s summoning.

By the time he finished, Rin was staring blankly.

"So... your tree beat Lancer."

Shirou nodded.

Rin needed several seconds to process that sentence.

Lancer was one of the most dangerous frontline Servant classes.

And he lost... to a maple tree.

Reality felt optional tonight.

"Let’s talk inside," Rowan said calmly. "Standing in the yard is uncomfortable."

They moved into the living room.

"I’ll make tea," Shirou said.

Rowan snapped his fingers.

Four cups appeared, steaming.

Rin’s eye twitched.

That wasn’t magecraft.

That was cheating.

Rin took a sip, then set her cup down.

"Alright. I’ll explain the basics."

She laid out the Holy Grail War, Masters, Servants, Command Seals, and the rules.

When she finished, she looked directly at Shirou.

"You’re the seventh Master."

Shirou rubbed his face.

"I don’t want this."

Everyone looked at him.

"I barely know magecraft. And killing people for a wish-granting cup doesn’t feel right."

Rin sighed.

"You don’t have to kill Masters. Defeating Servants works too. It’s just harder."

"And even if you defeat a Servant," she added, "as long as the Master still has Command Seals, they can summon another one."

Shirou’s eyes lit up.

"So if I use all three Command Seals, I can give up being a Master?"

Rin paused.

"...Yes. That would sever your contract."

Rowan, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke.

"In that case..."

He set his teacup down.

"Why don’t I become the Master instead?"

Silence filled the room.