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Chapter 18 - Chapter 18

*Next day, Monday, morning, school.*

Sitting at desk, slowly nodding off, dozing couple minutes then wake and keep listening—standard morning school scene. But for me now it's cover; I'm alert, focused! While pretending to doze, actually switching to two clones short dashing in Intangibility and concealed approaching Rin Tohsaka's house.

Checked— in Intangibility one clone sees other, but with concealment active, no. Since Archer goes to Rin—detection abilities possible—so overinsuring. Healthy paranoia, paranoiac's health guarantee! Yes, came early today, waited at window overlooking main entrance to confirm Rin comes to school.

Speaking of Rin and school. Recall plot start around her clashing with Lancer? Spearman in school, draw, then Shirou Emiya jumps in, stabbed in heart, true Japanese MC trope lies unconscious minutes but won't die. Rin arrives to save.

But real life, not anime—our Japanese MC trope could end there. No, won't save him—but leave one clone in school tree, one at Rin's house, and... fine, one at Shirou's house too—if plotline changes, need to know! If canon goes to abyss, my knowledge worthless! Rush change plans, toss future framework/actions. Don't want that honestly; unknown scares in way.

Though, wanting one clone in Rin's house quietly rifling books, can drop clone at her house... only 2 now, so send second to school—for more control. Damn, time not on my side—what if canon starts today-tomorrow, only 2 clones?! Ideal 100 everywhere I want, not enough!

Calm down! Deep breaths, released. Priority: 1 clone into Rin's house, other at school—Sakura's brother gets Servant too, hang at school setting trap? Vague memory, many school fights. School definitely needs 1; spot Servant—canon breathing down neck, time grease skis and bail city.

Yeah coward, but better camp 20 km out in forest on ritual edge. Survive worst case, than accidental collateral like second-string characters.

No illusions— no Plot armor, not stronger than normal human; given mess ahead, easy accidental scythe from afar while chilling home puppeting clone. Possible? Pff, easy! Forget Servants mass-draining city pop for energy/boost.

Actually, should've bailed to forest hideout already. But timeline bugs... wait 2 weeks war not hard, 3 easy; survive on water/bars. Or send clone for food, risky. But if paranoia-bail now? Nothing for month?

Mmm, what tell school? Lightning hit—do I even care?! Fuck school! Thinking inertia—I hadn't even thought why come school! Sure alibi etc., but why? One more missing in city—who cares?! Especially pre-apocalypse, won't matter!

Hm, true, body parents notified of disappearance—not super attached... other hand, considered Grail-draining all Japan pop. Asshole? Probably, but future with normal worlds barely linked. Explaining to body parents no college/wanderlust—nope. Would vanish anyway, no goodbye, maybe note "found calling, follow heart." Thought they drop everything/search, likely die. Wavered inside, decided—fate then.

From acting/save ass, khm, ensure safety meant. Only discipline/understanding not stupidly expose weird behavior stopped. Break, yes—calmly exit school, home, pack, forest. Clones steal needs—tent, water, bag, rations. Far from people, deep forest—train stolen Rin Magic calm.

Speaking of, while strategic life-planning, ignored lesson/pretend sleep, got clones to Rin's house. One closest tall tree, surveyed yard/house with Enhanced perception. Hm, yeah—tons Magic wards circling house/yard, weird moving lines.

Some spots missing something. Protection damaged past war? Expired—doubt Rin at 15-16? great mage—max maintains/patches. Without Magic sight, easy trip alarms, but seeing—cakewalk; crawl/jump/run some spots—no unreal stuff.

Idea: Intangibility maybe bypass all, doubt—family ritual founders, 4 wars—Magic! Alarm tuned for sneaky like me.

Watched couple minutes—no traps; worst lose one clone, alert Rin intruder. But during lesson when "wake" me—no. Fine, leave clones masked nearest shadows; lesson soon end, time for plan—emm, name? Forest house? Leshy? Whatever.

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Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan

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