Chapter 24. As Expected of a Twisted "Ally of Justice"!
For most members of the Loki Familia, today was just a normal day off after the "server reset." But for Shirou Emiya, hiding in the underground warehouse and facing the "greatest crisis of his life," today was destined to be a survival game titled If Stealth Fails, You Die.
Despite being the child of a certain famous "Magus Killer," Shirou's proficiency in stealth was far inferior to Kiritsugu Emiya's.
.
.
.
Underground Warehouse, Hidden Room.
"Amu... so good..."
The silver-haired dragon girl, Wiene, was sitting on the bed, holding a special rice ball larger than her face (filled with high-grade magic beast meat floss and mayonnaise) in both hands, her cheeks puffed out as she ate.
The dragon wings on her back fluttered slightly with her joy, creating small gusts of breeze. That defenseless, adorable appearance was the ultimate interpretation of the concept of "Moe," enough to deal critical damage to any carbon-based lifeform.
"Eat slowly, there's plenty more."
Shirou sat on a nearby wooden crate, holding a cup of hot milk, his eyes as gentle as a worried old father.
No... it should be an "old mother" instead.
"E-Emiya-sama!"
Lili was pacing frantically back and forth nearby, her agitation nearly grinding a hole through the floor. Figurative steam was rising from her head.
"How can you be so leisurely! It's already morning! How are we going to keep her hidden? Even with Lord Loki's tacit approval, if Lady Riveria or Captain Finn finds out..."
Lili swallowed hard, the face of the Elven royalty—usually gentle and dignified but scarier than a demon king when angry—surfacing in her mind.
That was absolutely an Inherent Bounded Field known as "Lecture Hell."
"We'll be killed... we'll definitely be killed by that mental attack called 'Sound Logic'!"
"Calm down, Lili..."
Shirou took a sip of milk, attempting to soothe his supporter's fragile nerves.
"The most dangerous place is the safest place. Besides, I've applied 'Presence Concealment' magecraft to that invisibility cloak. As long as Wiene doesn't run around, theoretically, we should be able to hold out for a while... probably..."
Before he could finish his sentence.
Knock, knock, knock.
A rhythmic, steady, and forceful series of knocks abruptly cut through Shirou's flag-raising.
The air in the room froze instantly, as if time had been paused.
Wiene was so startled her rice ball fell; she instinctively dove under the covers, leaving only a pair of terrified golden eyes visible—the classic "ostrich with its head in the sand" mode. Lili turned directly into a stone statue, her face deathly pale as if she were already seeing "Game Over" subtitles.
"Emiya, are you awake?"
The voice coming from outside was the very one from Lili's nightmares. Cold, noble, and unquestionable. It was the oppressive aura of a top-tier adventurer.
Riveria Ljos Alf. The Vice-Captain of the Loki Familia, the strongest mage in Orario, and the true "Matriarch" who held the power of life and death within the Familia.
"...I'm awake." Shirou set down his cup, gave Lili a look that said "stay steady," and stood up. "Is something the matter so early, Master Riveria?"
"I want to talk to you about the issue of 'Magical Energy Supply'." The voice outside remained calm, yet it felt like the silence before a storm.
"By the way, a large pot of stew and half a bag of flour went missing from the kitchen last night. The head chef is crying about a rat problem. I wanted to ask if you know anything about it."
"Uh..." A cold sweat broke out on Shirou's forehead.
As expected of a woman with [Clairvoyance (Though not as a skill)], she knew exactly how much flour was missing.
This wasn't a matron; she was a human surveillance monitor!
"Well... it's a bit inconvenient right now..."
"Inconvenient? Or is it something you can't let me see?"
Click. The door lock let out a crisp sound. It wasn't opened with a key, but physically bypassed by some precise, high-level unlocking magic. This practiced hand made one suspect if this noble royalty had a side job as a thief.
The door slowly pushed open. Riveria stood at the entrance, her emerald hair draped over her shoulders, her jade-like eyes flashing with the light of all-seeing wisdom. In this moment, a black aura of "room inspection" seemed to burn behind her.
"Let me guess." Riveria stepped into the room, her gaze sweeping past Lili—who looked ready to die on the spot—and finally settling on the bulging mound under the blankets behind Shirou.
"The 'souvenir' you brought back last night... shouldn't be just magic stones, right?"
As an Elf, her sensitivity to presence far exceeded humans. Even with the invisibility cloak and magecraft masking it, that scent of an "outlier" from the depths of the Dungeon had not escaped her nose. This was likely a legendary "racial trait."
"Come out." Riveria raised her staff, the tip glowing with a dangerous light. "Or should I use 'Winn-fimbul-vetr' to give it a physical cool-down?"
"Wait! Riveria!"
Shirou suddenly spread his arms, blocking the bed. The magic circuits on his body lit up instantly, and [Structural Reinforcement] was ready to fire. In this moment, he showed the resolve of someone facing a Final Boss.
"Don't attack. She... is not an enemy."
"Emiya?" Riveria frowned, looking at her student who was usually obedient but was now taking a combat stance. "Are you going to draw your sword against me for something hidden under a blanket? That's a behavior reserved for a rebellious phase."
The atmosphere plummeted to freezing point. The air was filled with sparks of clashing magical energy; the BGM seemed to have switched to an intense battle track.
Just then.
"No... Don't bully Shirou!"
The covers were suddenly flung back. The little dragon girl jumped off the bed. Though her body was trembling, she spread her hands and stood in front of Shirou.
Those golden vertical pupils were filled with tears, yet carried a certain sense of finality. This was likely the classic "Awakening to protect a precious person" trope.
"I... I'm not afraid of you! You meanie!"
"..."
Riveria froze. Her raised staff hung motionless in the air. Her eyes, usually filled with wisdom and calm, were now slightly wide with extreme shock. One could say her "poker face" had completely collapsed.
Dragon wings. A dragon tail. And the iconic red jewel on the forehead.
"A Vouivre...?" Riveria muttered to herself. Then, an even greater shock hit her, as if her entire worldview was being restructured.
"You can... talk?"
-
-
-
Half an hour later. Twilight Manor, Top Floor Meeting Room.
This was an "Emergency Trial" that only core cadres of the Familia could attend. Or rather, it was a "Joint Inquiry" targeting Shirou Emiya.
At the end of the long table, Captain Finn sat with his hands crossed under his chin, his wise thumb twitching slightly.
According to a certain myth... Finn's name and decisions are the activation conditions for "Golden Wisdom." But in Danmachi... it was likely just a habit.
On the left were a solemn Riveria and the honest-looking but sharp-eyed Dwarf heavy warrior, Gareth.
On the right was the primary Goddess, Loki, sitting with her legs crossed and an expression of someone watching a good show. As a deity of the Chaotic Neutral alignment, her face looked like she was witnessing the arrival of top-tier entertainment.
In the center of the long table stood Shirou Emiya, straight-backed. Beside him was Wiene, the dragon girl, clutching his sleeve and trembling. The image looked exactly like the world-famous painting "The Hero Brings the Demon King's Daughter Back to the Village for Trial." However, given Shirou's personality... it wasn't surprising he would do this.
After all, in that other world, he had also brought a certain indescribable [Kouhai] home.
"I see..."
Finn spoke slowly, breaking the suffocating silence. "A monster that can talk, has emotions, and even has a name... a 'Xenos'?"
His gaze fell on Wiene. There was no killing intent, only the investigative curiosity of a scientist discovering an alien.
"Emiya, do you know what this means?" Finn's voice was light, but carried the weight of a thousand tons.
"In Orario, monsters are absolute 'Evil.' This is common sense carved into the bones of all lower-world races for thousands of years; it is an unshakeable setting. You brought her back and even intend to take her in... this isn't just a violation of rules, you are challenging the very version rules of this world."
"If the Guild or other Familias find out..." Gareth added in a deep voice, "The Loki Familia will be viewed as 'Traitors to Humanity.' The reputation we've built over the years will reset to zero instantly, or even turn negative."
"I know."
Shirou nodded, showing no sign of backing down. "But I can't leave her alone."
"Your reason?" Finn asked. "Merely out of sympathy? Or because she looks human? Hey, Emiya... a person can't, or at least shouldn't..."
"..." Shirou's lip twitched. Captain Finn, please don't make hardcore jokes at a time like this.
"Because she was calling for help."
Shirou looked up, meeting Finn's eyes directly. Within those amber eyes burned a flame known as "Conviction." It was the unique gaze belonging to an "Ally of Justice," so steadfast it was hard to look at.
"That day in the Great Tree Labyrinth, she was crying. She was shouting 'Save me'.
If I turn my sword against a sentient life that can cry, laugh, and call for help just because she is a 'monster'..."
Shirou clenched his fist, his voice powerful and carrying an inherent echo effect.
"Then I am no longer 'Shirou Emiya'.
My sword exists to protect. Not to slaughter innocent lives.
Even if that life is a 'monster' in the eyes of the world."
The words rang out with authority. It was a standard "Shonen Protagonist" speech, and even the BGM seemed to become "hype" at that moment.
Silence fell over the meeting room again.
Riveria looked at Shirou, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. This youth who usually smiled gently and busied himself in the kitchen was now displaying a moving, "Hero-like" stubbornness. This stubbornness was almost clumsily endearing.
"What a... fool." Riveria sighed, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. It seemed her "affection meter" had ticked up another notch.
"Hahahaha!" Loki, who had been silent, suddenly burst into laughter, slapping the table. "How about it, Finn? I told you this kid was an interesting freak! He dares to challenge a room full of Level 6s for the sake of a monster! He's got guts! This is the spirit my Familia should have!"
"Loki, you knew all along, didn't you?" Finn looked helplessly at his Goddess. This deity truly had her "Chaos" attributes maxed out.
"Well, I happened to run into them last night when I went to the kitchen for a snack." Loki shrugged, selling out her teammates without a hint of guilt. "I thought it was pretty interesting, so I let him keep her. Besides... this little guy's stew is really delicious, and Wiene is quite cute. Look at these little wings—how moe!"
As she spoke, Loki made a funny face at Wiene, making the dragon girl shrink further behind Shirou, as if she were looking at a strange old man.
"Sigh..." Finn rubbed his temples. Since the Goddess had said so, what could he, the Captain, say? This was a case of "the fish rots from the head down."
He hopped down from his chair and walked up to Wiene. Wiene closed her eyes in fear, waiting for judgment to descend.
However, the expected attack didn't come. Finn reached out and gently poked the jewel on Wiene's forehead.
"Does it hurt?" Finn asked.
"N-no..." Wiene opened her eyes cautiously.
"Do you get hungry?"
"Mhm... my tummy is hungry."
"Do you want to live?"
"Yes! I want to be with Shirou... and everyone!"
Finn stared into her eyes for a long time. Those golden pupils were crystal clear, without any of the ferocity or murkiness of a monster. It was a textbook case of "pure and flawless."
"Phew..." Finn let out a long breath, a smile appearing on his face—the one that earned the trust of countless members.
"Then there's no helping it." He turned back to the other cadres.
"Since she possesses a 'heart,' she cannot be handled simply as a monster. Besides... Emiya is right.
If we turn a blind eye even to a voice calling for help, then our Loki Familia can't really call ourselves the 'strongest.' We aren't third-rate villains who only bully the weak."
"Finn?" Gareth was somewhat surprised.
"I agree to let her stay." Riveria stood up as well, her staff tapping the floor lightly.
"I am very interested in this unknown life form. And... I find it hard to raise a hand against such a small child. After all, I do have a maternal side."
"Since Mama Riveria has agreed, I have no objections either," Gareth laughed heartily.
"Really?!" Shirou was in disbelief. He had expected a tough battle, even preparing to defect with Wiene for a "Run for Your Life" scenario. He didn't expect to clear the stage so quickly.
"Don't celebrate too early, Emiya." Finn's expression turned serious. "There are conditions for her staying.
First, she must never leave Twilight Manor. If the outside world finds out, we will have no choice but to 'process' her. That is the bottom line.
Second, you are responsible for supervising her. If she shows any signs of aggression or losing control... you must personally sever that karma. That is called responsibility.
Third..."
Finn paused, a sharp light flashing in his wise eyes.
"Regarding information on the 'Xenos,' you must tell me everything you know. Behind this... there is surely some secret mission we aren't aware of."
"No problem!" Shirou nodded vigorously. "I swear on the name of 'Senji Muramasa'! I won't let everyone down!
That's great, Wiene!" Shirou knelt down and hugged the dragon girl. "Everyone has accepted you! Mission accomplished!"
"R-really?" Although Wiene didn't quite understand what was happening, seeing Shirou happy made her smile too. "That's great! Shirou!"
Watching the two hug, the atmosphere in the room finally softened, as if pink bubbles were filling the air.
"By the way..." Riveria suddenly remembered something and looked at Shirou, her gaze turning a bit dangerous.
"You mentioned earlier that you applied magecraft to the invisibility cloak? A magecraft that could partially block even my perception? When did you learn such a high-level technique?"
"Ah, that's..." Shirou broke into a cold sweat.
"And another thing." Finn narrowed his eyes. "When you drew your sword against Riveria just now, that explosion of presence... didn't seem like something a Level 2 should have. Emiya, do you have some 'cheats' you haven't told us about?"
"Well..." Shirou felt like he had triggered some serious interrogation side-quest.
"As punishment," Loki interjected with a wicked grin, revealing her true intent. "You will handle tonight's celebration feast (for Wiene joining) all by yourself! I want that 'Fried Shrimp Tempura' from last time! One hundred of them! Short one, and I'll throw you into the Dungeon to feed the dragons!"
"One hundred?! Do you want to work me to death at the stove?!"
-
-
-
Twilight Manor Backyard.
"Um... I'm Ais."
The blonde Sword Princess squatted on the grass, looking somewhat stiffly at Wiene, who was hiding behind a tree. After the meeting, Ais was the first to run over to see this "new member."
Though she had an instinctive hatred for monsters (because of the Black Dragon), after hearing the story of how Shirou stood up to the cadres to protect this child, a strange sense of... curiosity? Or perhaps a desire to experience this "special CG" arose in her heart.
"H-hello..." Wiene poked half her head out, looking timidly at this "Big Sister" who carried a sharp sword-aura.
"For you." Ais pulled out a... fried potato puff from her pocket. It was her favorite snack and her highest etiquette for showing goodwill. In Ais's worldview, there was nothing a fried potato puff couldn't solve—if there was, then use two.
"They're good," Ais promoted seriously.
Wiene sniffed the air, her eyes lighting up. "Smells good!"
She carefully reached out a claw, took the potato puff, and took a bite.
"Delicious!"
"Mhm." Ais nodded with satisfaction and couldn't help reaching out her hand, wanting to pat Wiene's head. But halfway there, she stopped. She was the Sword Princess who killed monsters. Her hands were stained with monster blood.
Could such hands... touch her? Would it trigger some bad plotline?
Just as Ais was hesitating, Wiene proactively leaned in and rubbed her head against Ais's palm. The cool sensation of scales was unexpectedly soft. It was like petting a large lizard.
"Big sister... is a good person," Wiene said with a smile, handing out a "good person card."
Ais's body stiffened. In that moment, a corner of the ice in her heart seemed to melt.
"...Call me Ais." She clumsily stroked the dragon girl's silver hair, her voice incredibly soft.
On the distant corridor, Shirou Emiya leaned against a pillar, watching this scene with a gratified smile on his lips.
"Seems like I don't have to worry about them getting along."
"Hmph, don't get careless." Finn stood beside him at some unknown point.
"Ais's past is very heavy. Her accepting Wiene is a miracle. But because of that... if Wiene loses control later, the hurt Ais feels will be the greatest. It's a double-edged sword."
"I won't let that happen." Shirou looked at his palm. "I will become stronger. Strong enough to protect this 'daily life.' That is the meaning of my Unlimited Blade Works."
"I hope so." Finn looked at the sky, his eyes deep.
"The wind in Orario... is changing. I have a feeling something big is coming."
-
-
Meanwhile. Dungeon, 20th Floor.
Deep inside a hidden cave, countless eyes sparkling in the dark watched the skeleton man standing in the center.
"Fels, can that human who took Wiene... really be trusted?" a Siren asked, her voice melodious yet full of worry.
"I don't know." Fels shook his head, the ghost-fire in his sockets flickering. "But he did what we could not. He made the strongest human Familia accept an outlier. This is a miraculous development."
"Let's gamble," the massive black ox—Asterius—let out a low roar. "For the future of our kin...."
"The poachers of the Ikelos Familia have been getting bolder lately," an Arachne said coldly. "They seem to be looking for the entrance to our 'Hidden Village.' Those guys are more like monsters than actual monsters."
"Then prepare for battle." Fels raised his skeletal staff, taking a cool casting pose. "For survival. And to wait for that... 'Fool' who can break the boundary between humans and monsters."
Read ahead (40 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting