Morning sunlight filtered through white curtains and spilled across a pristine hospital bed.
"Mm…"
Shirou Emiya let out a soft groan and slowly opened his eyes. An unfamiliar ceiling filled his vision. The air carried the faint sting of disinfectant—and… the comforting aroma of clear broth?
"Lord Emiya! You're awake?!"
A delighted voice rang out beside him. Shirou turned his head and saw Lili sitting at the bedside, a damp towel still in her hand—she'd clearly been watching over him the whole time.
She'd changed out of her ragged supporter's hoodie and into a trainee uniform from Loki Familia. It was a little oversized, but freshly washed. And for the first time, there was actual color in her gaunt face.
"Lili…?"
Shirou tried to sit up, but his left arm was still wrapped in thick plaster.
"How long was I out?"
"Two whole days!"
Lili hurried to support him, her eyes already reddening again.
"Lady Riveria said you overexerted your mana too badly, and on top of that your left arm was a comminuted fracture… If that 'steel magic' hadn't protected your channels, this arm might've been ruined…"
Her voice turned shaky, guilty.
"I'm sorry… it's all because of Lili…"
"Dummy."
Shirou lifted his uninjured right hand and, out of habit, ruffled her head.
"Didn't we agree? We're partners. If a partner gets hurt, you just take care of them. No apologies."
"Mm…!"
Lili sniffed hard and nodded vigorously.
"Yes! Lili will take care of you! For life!"
Right as the moment turned warm—almost like an old married couple—
Click.
The door opened.
"Sorry to intrude."
A cool, quiet presence stepped in.
Ais Wallenstein entered carrying a thermos container. Her long golden hair fell loosely over her shoulders. When she saw Shirou awake, her usually calm golden eyes visibly brightened.
"Ais?" Shirou blinked, surprised.
"Riveria made soup," Ais said, walking to the bed and setting the container down. Her movements were slightly stiff, but her gaze was earnest. "She said it's good for bones."
"Thank you," Shirou said, reaching for it—then realizing one-handed eating wasn't exactly smooth.
"I'll do it."
Ais didn't hesitate. She opened the lid, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it… and brought it straight to Shirou's mouth.
"… …"
The air in the room instantly froze.
Lili's eyes went wide. She looked like a cat that had just had its tail stepped on—fur standing on end.
This is… feeding play?! And it's Sword Princess Ais?!
"Uh… Ais, I can do it myself—" Shirou tried, thoroughly embarrassed.
"Open your mouth."
Ais was unexpectedly stubborn. She stared right at him.
"You're injured."
In her simple logic: injured person = needs to be fed. That was all there was to it.
Under that clear, unwavering gaze, Shirou surrendered.
"…Ah."
He opened his mouth and drank the spoonful.
It was delicious. Warm. Exactly the right temperature.
"Tastes great," Shirou said honestly.
"Mm." Ais's lips curved by a fraction—so small it was almost imaginary. She looked satisfied, and scooped up another spoonful.
"W-wait!"
Lili finally snapped. She lunged in and snatched the bowl.
"This kind of rough work can't possibly be done by Lady Ais! I'm Lord Emiya's supporter—taking care of him is my duty!"
"I can do it too." Ais didn't let go, staring calmly at Lili. "I'm his sword instructor."
"Supporters are closer!"
"Teachers are more important."
Watching the two girls lock eyes over who gets to feed him, Shirou sighed helplessly—then couldn't stop a small smile.
It was noisy.
But… it felt good.
…
Just as the "feeding war" was about to escalate, a savior—no, a new problem—arrived.
"Yo! Heard our big hero's awake?"
Loki shoved the door open, smashing the tension to pieces. She held a few sheets of parchment and wore her usual sly grin.
"Lady Loki!"
Lili and Ais immediately stopped and bowed to their goddess.
"Yeah yeah, you're good~" Loki waved it off and leaned over the bed to inspect Shirou.
"Tch, not only did you take down a Silverback, you even casually charmed two girls? Emiya, your 'achievements' sure are colorful."
"Don't tease me, Loki," Shirou said with a bitter smile. "I can't even move."
"It was worth it."
Loki's expression turned serious as she handed him the parchments.
"Look. This is your 'result.'"
Shirou took it.
It was his updated status sheet.
[Name] Shirou Emiya — [Level] Lv.1
[Abilities]
Strength: SSS (1100)
Endurance: SSS (1200)
Dexterity: SSS (1050)
Agility: SS (990)
Magic: SSS (1250)
[Magic]
"Unlimited Blade Works (Partial Manifestation)"
"Reinforcement (Body of Steel)"
[Skills]
New: "Clairvoyance: Hawk (C)" — Greatly boosts dynamic vision and long-range sight
New: "Unyielding Blacksmith" — When near death, greatly increases defense and mana recovery speed
"…This…"
Shirou stared at the absurd numbers—especially the wall of glaring SSS—and went blank.
"I'm still Lv.1?"
"Yep. Still Lv.1."
Loki clicked her tongue, looking at him like he was a monster.
"You solo-killed a strengthened Silverback with Lv.2 potential. That absolutely counts as a 'feat.' By the rules, you already meet every requirement to rank up to Lv.2."
"However—" Loki's tone shifted. "I didn't level you up."
"Why?" Ais asked, genuinely confused.
"Because it'd be a waste!"
Loki jabbed a finger at the sheet, excited.
"Normally, S-rank (900–999) is the limit. Even you and Ottar didn't hit all-SSS at Lv.1. But you—you broke past the limit."
"That means your 'vessel' still has more room to expand. If we level you now, sure—you'll get stronger immediately. But we lose the chance to keep stacking 'extreme values' while you're still Lv.1."
"Emiya." Loki leaned in, eyes sharp. "Don't just level up. Become the strongest Lv.1 in Orario's history. Push every stat to the absolute peak of SSS—then rank up. Your starting line will be higher than anyone else's."
Shirou clenched his right fist, feeling the difference—his level unchanged, but his foundation vastly heavier and more solid.
Strength 1100. Endurance 1200…
At this point, even without Body of Steel, he could probably tank ordinary monster hits.
"I understand." Shirou nodded. "Then I'll do as you say, Loki."
"Heh. That's the spirit."
Loki grinned—then turned to the tense little girl standing to the side.
"Alright. Next—about this kid."
Lili's whole body stiffened.
Soma Familia was a blade hanging over her head. Even if she hid under Loki Familia's roof, her blessing still belonged to Soma. If Soma ordered her back, she would have to return.
"Relax."
Loki flashed a grin that somehow felt reassuring.
"Soma Familia's been handled."
"…Huh?" Lili froze.
"Last night, someone went to 'pay them a visit.'" Loki's tone turned meaningfully playful.
"That captain—Zanis—got every bone in his body broken and was dumped like trash outside Soma's wine cellar. Heard Soma got scared stiff and immediately dissolved that so-called 'divine wine management group.'"
"I took the chance to drop by and—spent a little money (as in: not a single valis)—to make Soma cancel your contract."
Loki pulled out a fresh parchment and waved it in front of Lili.
"You're free now. And if you want? Loki Familia's door is always open."
"… …"
Lili stared blankly at the parchment.
Free?
That hell that had crushed her for years—ended just like that?
"Someone paid them a visit?" Shirou caught the key detail immediately. "That's not something just anyone can do to Soma Familia."
He looked up.
"Who?"
"Who knows?" Loki shrugged, but her eyes slid—just slightly—toward the window and the top of Babel.
"Maybe some 'passing powerhouse' who hates low-class tricks. Like… a certain boar-man who only listens to his goddess' orders?"
Shirou understood instantly.
Ottar. Freya Familia.
So the Goddess of Beauty had been watching.
And to keep her "interesting soul" from getting bogged down in filth, she'd casually taken out the trash for him.
"Lili."
Shirou turned to the still-dazed girl, voice gentle.
"Will you join us? As Shirou Emiya's exclusive supporter."
Lili snapped back to herself.
She looked at Shirou's amber eyes… at Ais, who remained expressionless but didn't object… at Loki's mischievous grin.
Tears spilled again.
But this time—happy tears.
"…Yes!"
Lili nodded so hard it looked like she'd topple over, then broke into the brightest smile of her life.
"Lili wants to! Lili will follow Lord Emiya forever!"
"Welcome." Ais spoke—rare enough on its own. Her tone was still flat, but she extended her hand.
"Mm!" Lili clasped it.
The hospital room filled with bright, buoyant warmth.
…
Late night, Twilight Manor.
After the celebration for Lili joining, Shirou lay alone in bed.
"The strongest Lv.1…"
He stared at his hands. He hadn't ranked up, but the all-SSS base was real. If he faced the Silverback again, he probably wouldn't need to gamble his life to win.
"But it's still not enough."
He closed his eyes, and his mind replayed what he'd seen on the 18th Floor—the black Goliath, and the deeper unknown horrors beyond.
If he wanted to live his justice in this world… if he wanted to protect these new people he'd gained…
He had to become stronger.
"Not just my body… but my 'swords.'"
His gaze shifted to [Otherworld · Kanshou] resting at the bedside.
One sword was limited.
But what about infinite swords?
"Unlimited Blade Works…"
For now, he could only manifest a few dozen blades externally. He was still far from that true inner landscape—an endless crimson wasteland bristling with countless weapons.
But—
"If my starting line is higher than anyone's… then I'll go farther than anyone's ever gone."
Shirou clenched his fist.
In his amber eyes, something burned—an ideal that refused to die.
"Whether it's the end of the Dungeon… or the summit of the gods."
"I'll see it all."
And the red-haired hero closed his eyes, drifting into steady sleep—ready to meet Orario's new tomorrow.
-------
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