This was the filthiest corner of the glittering Labyrinth City—the base of the Soma Familia.
The air was thick with sour, moldy alcohol and a nauseating stench of rot.
"Th-this is today's payment…"
Lili knelt on a stained floor, trembling as she raised a heavy coin pouch above her head. Inside was the 30,000 valis Shirou had given her—more money than she'd ever held in her life.
"Oh?"
The man lounging on a broken sofa didn't take it right away.
His hair was long and dry as dead grass. His eye sockets were sunken, and his gaze carried a sick, fervent intensity.
Zanis Lustra.
Captain of the Soma Familia—and the warden of this human hell.
He took the pouch, opened it, and glanced inside. Surprise flashed through his muddy eyes—then immediately curdled into greed.
"Thirty thousand valis… Liliruca, you actually managed to get this much?"
Zanis licked cracked lips.
"Looks like that newbie named Shirou Emiya really pampers you."
"T-this should cover my quota for the past few months, right?" Lili raised her head, a trace of hope in her eyes. "Please… give me some 'Divine Wine'… no—even letting me rest a few days would be enough…"
"Rest?"
Zanis sneered, then kicked her hard in the shoulder.
"Ugh!"
Lili's frail body rolled several times before slamming into a corner.
"Don't make me laugh! If that fat sheep is this loaded, why haven't you stolen his magic sword?!"
Zanis stood, toying with a glass vial filled with a purple liquid. Under the dim light, it glowed with an eerie luster.
That was Soma's Divine Wine.
One sip delivered pleasure beyond life and death—then chained you to the bottle with absolute enslavement. Everyone in Soma Familia was a slave to it.
"That red short sword… the black market's offering fifty million valis."
Zanis crouched in front of Lili, shaking the vial slightly.
"Listen carefully, Liliruca. Tomorrow is the Monster Festival—the most chaotic day of the year. In that confusion, you will steal the sword and hand it to me."
"If you succeed, this Divine Wine is yours. I'll erase your debt. I'll give you freedom."
Lili stared at the bottle, her body trembling on instinct—craving carved into her bones, and fear welded to it.
"But if you try anything funny…"
Zanis's eyes turned vicious.
"I'll sell you to the Pleasure Quarter. You'll beg to live—and won't be allowed to die."
Lili lowered her head. Her nails dug into her palms until skin split.
On one side stood Lord Emiya, who fed her warm food and treated her with respect.
On the other was a chance to crawl out of hell—and taste "bliss."
After a long silence, her hoarse voice crawled out of the darkness.
"…Yes. I understand."
…
The Next Morning
The Monster Festival (Monsterphilia) opened.
All of Orario felt like it had erupted into a boil. Streets were dressed in decorations; children ran with balloons; beastfolk and demi-humans wore festival finery.
As a grand celebration hosted by the Ganesha Familia, dungeon monsters were brought to the surface and displayed in a massive arena—"tamed" for gods and mortals to watch.
"Lord Emiya! Over here, over here!"
In the plaza before Babel Tower, Lili waved with all her strength, that huge backpack on her shoulders.
Her smile was still bright—yet deep in her eyes, a faint shadow hid.
"Morning, Lili."
Shirou walked up. Today he wasn't wearing light armor—just casual clothes. But the deep-red short sword, [Otherworld · Kanshou], still hung at his waist, eye-catching as ever.
"We're not going into the Dungeon today?" Lili asked, her gaze drifting toward the blade.
"Mm." Shirou nodded. "Loki gave everyone the day off. Told me to enjoy the festival."
He held two skewers of grilled meat and handed one to her.
"Here—just bought them. Looks like firebird meat. Pretty good."
Lili accepted it, her hand twitching.
Again. Always like this.
That unguarded kindness made her guilt sprout and spread like weeds.
"…Idiot," she cursed in her head, then bit down hard on the meat. "Thank you, Lord Emiya!"
"By the way," Shirou said, "want to go see the arena? I heard they've got giant monsters performing."
"Y-yes!" Lili nodded quickly, her heartbeat accelerating.
The arena was crowded—perfect for a pickpocket's work.
…
Meanwhile — The Top of Babel Tower
Before a giant floor-to-ceiling window, Freya held a glass of red wine and gazed down at the ant-like crowds.
Her eyes pierced through layers of distance and obstruction, locking precisely onto the red-haired boy.
"So you've finally arrived…"
A beautiful smile curved her lips.
Behind her stood a boar-man titan over two meters tall—built like an iron tower.
Ottar.
Orario's sole Level 7. Captain of Freya Familia. The "Mighty."
"Ottar," Freya asked softly, "is it arranged?"
"Yes, Goddess." Ottar's voice rumbled like thunder. "The Ganesha Familia's chains have been tampered with. At your command, the monsters will break free."
"Good."
Freya swirled her wine, eyes glittering with a childlike mixture of innocence and cruelty.
She wanted to see it.
To see what kind of radiance the soul named Shirou Emiya would unleash when cornered.
Would he run like everyone else?
Or would he draw his blade like a hero?
"Then," Freya snapped her fingers lightly, "let the banquet begin."
"Test him. Force him… make him bloom."
…
Central Plaza — Outside the Arena
Shirou and Lili were squeezed into the crowd, watching a huge cage where a three-meter-tall Silverback roared and pounded the bars.
"It's huge…" Lili shrank back, frightened.
"It's been tamed," Shirou reassured her—yet his brow furrowed.
Mind's Eye (True) screamed a warning.
Stronger than ever before.
It felt like countless malicious eyes had fixed on him.
Click.
A crisp metallic snap—almost swallowed by the cheering.
Then—
"ROOOOAR—!!"
The Silverback went berserk, ripping the collar at its neck apart. Its bloodshot eyes locked onto the crowd—
No.
Locked onto Shirou Emiya.
And it wasn't alone.
Horn rabbits, orcs, hellhounds—every cage around them burst open in the same instant.
"W-what's happening?!"
"The monsters are out—run!!"
"Where's Ganesha Familia—someone help!"
The joyful plaza turned into hell.
People screamed and scattered. Stampedes. Shoving. Chaos.
"Lili! Stay with me!"
Shirou grabbed her before the rushing crowd knocked her down, pulling her into his arms to shield her.
"L-Lord Emiya…" Lili shook with fear as she watched the rampaging monsters.
This is the chaos Zanis meant…
This is my chance.
If she stole his sword from behind and melted into the crowd—
Her hand crept toward his waist.
But—
"ROAR!"
The Silverback didn't attack random civilians.
It launched like a cannonball, leaping high over the crowd and crashing straight toward Shirou's position.
The target was unmistakable.
"Tch. Coming for me?"
Shirou's eyes sharpened. He didn't have time to care about the movement at his belt—he shoved Lili away hard.
"Run! Hide somewhere safe!"
"Huh?!"
Lili stumbled back and fell onto the ground.
The next second—
BOOOOM—!!
The Silverback's fist smashed into where Shirou had been standing. The earth cracked; shards of stone exploded outward.
Through the dust, Shirou slid out—alive.
He didn't run.
Because behind him were children and elderly who hadn't escaped in time.
"If you want to fight that badly…"
He inhaled. His magic circuits ignited in an instant.
"Steel is my body!"
Green light washed over him. His skin took on a metallic sheen.
He drew the deep-red short sword and stepped in front of everyone.
"Then come on, you mongrels."
From where she sat, dazed and shaking, Lili's outstretched hand froze in midair.
She'd seen it.
In a moment of lethal crisis, his first instinct was to push her away—to let her live.
"Why…"
Tears burst from Lili's eyes.
"Why are you so kind…? If you're like this… how am I supposed to betray you, you idiot…!"
-------
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