"Fimbulvetr—!!"
With that Nordically dramatic chant—high-spec just from the sound alone—three waves of arctic blizzards swept through the rock corridor like dragons exhaling frost.
Crack-crack-crack…
The berserk Xenos, who had been stumbling toward the exit like zombies after losing control, were frozen in an instant—turned into lifelike ice sculptures.
No immediate risk to life (probably), but as a forcibly-applied AOE crowd-control "mass immobilize", it was the perfect tool for stabilizing the field.
"…Hah… saved…"
Shirou Emiya finally let his guard drop.
The Otherworld Kanshou in his hand dissolved into motes of light, and his whole body went slack—like someone had pulled out every bone in him.
Not only was his mana (MP) completely empty—his HP was flashing red, too.
His vision blurred. A low buzzing filled his ears like a system warning.
"Emiya!"
A golden lightning bolt crossed dozens of meters in a heartbeat.
Before Shirou's head could have a very intimate relationship with solid rock, a pair of slender but strong arms caught him.
Soft.
A faint lavender scent.
And that warm, reassuring body temperature.
"…Ais…"
Shirou forced his eyes open and saw a face right in front of his—usually blank, now clearly anxious.
"Idiot."
Ais muttered it under her breath, but the tone was almost… sulky. (Even if she absolutely had no awareness of that fact.)
"Didn't I tell you… not to run off?"
"Sorry. I got a little lost…"
Shirou smiled weakly.
"But your timing… was like a hero arriving exactly on cue."
"Hero…?"
Ais's gaze flickered—then settled into something firm.
She lowered him gently and let him rest with his head on her lap.
Lap pillow achieved.
"Rest. From here on…"
"…leave it to me."
Ais stood, drew the Despair Sword, and stepped into the lingering afterwind of the blizzard.
Golden hair danced in the cold air. Golden eyes locked onto the struggling berserk Xenos ahead.
"Wait… Ais…"
Shirou tried to reach for her—couldn't move.
"Don't… don't kill them…"
"…Hm?"
Ais looked back, genuinely puzzled.
Monsters rampage → you kill them. That's the normal rule.
"They're… victims."
Shirou forced the words out.
"And… they're Wiene's… companions."
At the name Wiene, Ais's pupils tightened.
She remembered the small girl with silver wings who smiled and called her "big sister."
If these monsters were like that…
"I understand."
Ais nodded.
Her sword flipped in her grip—blade turned to the flat.
"No killing."
"Just… put them to sleep."
Physical anesthesia. The most direct medical specialty.
"All units, listen!"
Riveria's voice boomed through amplification magic.
"These monsters appear to be in an abnormal state! Prioritize suppression and restraint! Avoid lethal attacks!"
"I repeat—capture alive whenever possible!"
"Eh? Not killing?"
Tiona arrived late, swinging her massive twin blades, completely confused.
"But they look super dangerous!"
"Idiot, Tiona—listen to Riveria-sama!"
Tione smacked the back of her sister's head.
"And look at that red-haired newbie—this is obviously a plot quest situation!"
"Got it! So it's 'knock out and take home'!"
Bete spat, annoyed.
"Tch. What a pain. Hey, you useless rookie—don't die. I'm still waiting for dinner."
And just like that—
under Riveria's command, and thanks to Shirou's absurd face-value prestige effect, Loki Familia's elites initiated a special operation:
Monster Capture Master: Limited-Time Event.
Even with berserk buffs, the Xenos weren't enough against Orario's strongest Familia.
Especially Ais, with Ariel active—she was a golden cyclone.
She moved through the horde, and every strike with the sword's flat hit the back of the neck with terrifying precision and efficiency.
"So this is… Level 6…"
Shirou watched that dancing figure on the battlefield—
and his consciousness finally sank into darkness.
"…I'm counting on you…"
A Dream… or the Afterlife (probably not)
Shirou felt himself floating in a warm ocean.
Around him were countless shimmering sword-shadows—his inner landscape.
The wasteland of Unlimited Blade Works.
But it wasn't the same as before.
Not only rusted steel and turning gears.
At the far end of the wasteland stood a gigantic tree.
Beneath it sat a silver-haired girl, smiling at him.
On the other side of the tree, a black minotaur sharpened an axe—like he was waiting for Shirou to come over and fight.
"…When did my Reality Marble turn into a 'monster theme park'?"
A familiar voice answered.
Red coat. White hair.
That face that looked punchable even in a dream.
Heroic Spirit EMIYA (Archer).
"That's because…"
"…your heart got softer, didn't it?"
"Don't joke."
Shirou stared at his back.
"I just… did what I wanted to do."
"Is that so?"
Archer shrugged.
"For 'justice,' you're even saving monsters…"
"You're hopeless."
"But…"
He turned, and the corner of his mouth lifted—barely.
"This time…"
"…might not be so bad."
The scene shattered.
Wake-up
"…Ugh…"
The familiar smell of disinfectant.
A familiar ceiling.
And…
a familiar sense of being crushed.
Shirou opened his eyes slowly and realized his chest felt heavy—like someone had dropped a boulder on him.
He looked down.
"Fuu… fuu…"
A silver-haired little dragon girl—Wiene—was sprawled on top of him, fast asleep.
A puddle of drool had formed. Her wings lay limp over the blanket.
She looked like a kitten that had completely forgotten where she was.
At the bedside, Lili was peeling an apple.
When she saw Shirou wake up, her hand jerked—snap—the apple peel broke.
"Emiya-sama! You're awake!"
Lili sprang up, voice so loud she nearly woke Wiene.
"You slept for three full days! Lili thought you were going to become a vegetable!"
"Three… days?"
Shirou rubbed his temple.
His body was stiff, but his stamina and mana were restored—
and even felt… stronger than before?
Maybe getting beaten up really does make you stronger.
(That is not how biology works, but sure.)
"How did things end up?"
Shirou carefully moved Wiene aside with the delicacy of defusing a bomb and sat up.
"The Xenos? Ikelos Familia?"
"Please don't worry."
Lili handed him the apple.
"When Loki Familia's main force arrived, it was chaotic for a while, but under Riveria-sama's command, nothing 'irreversible' happened."
"Most berserk monsters were knocked out, and Mister Fels used teleport items to extract them during the confusion."
"Externally, it was reported as 'the monsters escaped.'"
"As for Ikelos Familia…"
Lili's expression turned satisfyingly grim.
"Dix got away."
"But their hideout was sealed by the Guild."
"And because he attacked Loki Familia members—meaning you—Captain Finn pressured the Guild and issued a city-wide wanted order."
"…I see."
Shirou finally exhaled, biting into the apple.
He regretted not finishing Dix personally, but at least the Hidden Village crisis was temporarily defused.
"However, Emiya-sama…"
Lili lowered her voice, suddenly serious.
"Captain Finn said that once you woke up, you must go to the top-floor conference room immediately."
"Everyone… is waiting."
"A trial?"
Shirou gave a wry smile.
The incident was huge—and it involved the entrance to the artificial labyrinth.
"No."
Lili shook her head, eyes glittering with mischief.
"I think…"
"…it's a commendation ceremony."
Twilight Manor, Top-Floor Conference Room
When Shirou pushed open the heavy oak door—
dozens of eyes snapped toward him.
Not just the executives.
Even veteran elites were present.
The atmosphere was serious, but not suffocating.
"Oh? Our 'Sleeping Beauty' finally woke up?"
From the head seat, Loki broke the silence first—still holding a liquor jug, still wearing that unreadable smile.
"Sorry for worrying everyone."
Shirou scratched his head and walked to the end of the long table.
"Sit."
Finn pointed to an empty seat beside him—
a seat usually reserved for vice-captains or high-ranking officers.
For a newcomer of less than a month to sit there…
said everything.
Shirou didn't overthink it. He sat down openly.
"Regarding this incident…"
Finn folded his hands, thumbs twitching slightly.
"The process was reckless—frankly, a mess."
"But the result…"
"We must acknowledge it."
"Shirou Emiya—at Level 2—uncovered Ikelos Familia's scheme, destroyed their base on Floor 24, and successfully engaged the wanted criminal Dix Perdix, whose strength is comparable to Level 5."
"And he protected the civilians of Floor 18—"
(Finn paused, as if choosing his words carefully.)
"—and… certain 'special victims.'"
Finn's gaze landed on Shirou for a brief, meaningful moment.
A silent understanding about the Xenos.
The room murmured.
They'd heard rumors.
But hearing the captain confirm "Lv.2 vs Lv.5" out loud still shattered common sense.
"This guy isn't a newbie—he's a god playing on a smurf account!"
Tiona blurted out.
"Not only that."
Riveria took over, lifting a black metal fragment from the table.
It was debris from Shirou's projected Pseudo Spiral Sword after detonation.
"Based on the site investigation, the blast power…"
"…reached the level of Level 5 magic."
"Emiya—your 'self-detonating magic sword' is effective, but the backlash is far too severe."
Her look carried a hint of scolding, but more… worry.
"Your left arm's bones were set."
"But your magic circuits were seriously damaged."
"If not for the mermaid blood—Merry's blood—you may never have been able to use projection again."
"…Sorry."
Shirou accepted it honestly.
Back then his brain had only one word in it:
NUKE.
"All right, all right—lecture time's over."
Loki waved her hand.
"He's alive, that's what matters."
"And besides…"
"This time, we profit big."
She pulled out an antique keyring that radiated a creepy, ominous presence—loot recovered from Ikelos Familia's base.
"…That's—"
Shirou's eyes sharpened.
"Yep. The key to that rumored Artificial Labyrinth—Knossos."
Loki's eyes flashed cold.
"Thanks to you crippling Dix's group, we were able to follow the trail and dig this up."
"With this, Loki Familia holds the initiative."
"We'll finally purge those sewer rats completely."
So that was it.
He fought for his life—
but the biggest strategic prize went to the Familia.
Shirou didn't mind.
He wasn't ready to explore Knossos anyway.
"So, Emiya."
Finn looked at him.
"As the MVP of this operation—what reward do you want?"
"Reward…?"
Shirou blinked.
Honestly, surviving felt like the reward.
"A real first-class weapon, maybe?"
From the corner, Tsubaki of Hephaistos Familia had somehow appeared—clearly invited.
"I'll forge it for you myself, if you bring materials."
"Or Riveria can tutor you privately," Loki offered with a wicked grin.
"Nope!"
Shirou waved frantically.
"I've had enough tutoring!"
He thought for a moment, scanning the room—
until his gaze settled on the blonde girl in the corner, head lowered, silent.
Ais Wallenstein.
Since he woke up, she hadn't said a word.
"If possible…"
Shirou said carefully.
"I'd like Miss Ais to keep teaching me swordsmanship."
"And… could we build a small kitchen in the Twilight Manor backyard?"
"A private one."
The room went silent for one second.
Then everyone burst into friendly laughter.
"Still the kitchen?! How much do you love cooking?!"
"Sword lessons? That's just a date excuse!"
"Approved! Approved!"
In the laughter, Ais lifted her head.
Those golden eyes reflected Shirou's embarrassed smile.
"…Mm."
She nodded lightly.
Her voice was quiet, but unmistakably clear.
"I'll teach you."
"Until…"
"…you're stronger than me."
Swordsmanship "devotion" route unlocked.
After the Meeting
Shirou went alone to the backyard, still not fully recovered, just wanting air.
He looked up at the massive artificial moon and felt a strange distance.
Almost a month in this world.
Near-death, new power, new companions.
He was no longer a lost transmigrator—
but an adventurer who truly belonged.
"What are you thinking about?"
A shadow appeared behind him without sound.
Ryuu Lion, still in her green cloak, wearing a faintly worried expression.
"Ryuu?"
Shirou blinked.
"How did you get in?"
"Climbed the wall."
Ryuu answered with perfect confidence.
(Yes. That's Ryuu.)
"I heard you were badly injured. Almost died."
"So I came to see."
She handed him a small cloth bundle.
"A special bento from The Hostess of Fertility."
"It's not made by Syr."
(She emphasized that very strongly.)
"But it should taste fine."
"Thanks."
Shirou took it, warmth spreading through his chest.
His social reputation here was… surprisingly good.
"Emiya."
Ryuu's gaze turned complicated.
"You've touched it now, haven't you?"
"This city's… dark side."
Shirou nodded.
"Xenos. Knossos. And contradictions that can't coexist."
"What will you do?"
Ryuu asked quietly.
"Keep being a 'hero of justice'…"
"Even if that means standing against the world's common sense?"
"I don't know."
Shirou looked down at the bento, then at the warmly lit Twilight Manor in the distance.
"But I know one thing."
He lifted his head.
Amber eyes—steady, unwavering.
"If common sense is wrong, then I'll break it."
"If the world can't accept kind souls…"
"Then…"
"I'll change the world."
"That's what Senji Muramasa should do, isn't it?"
Ryuu froze.
For a moment, she saw her younger self in him—
no…
something even brighter.
More immovable.
"…You hopeless idiot."
Ryuu lowered her head, lips curving into a breathtaking smile.
"But…"
"I don't dislike idiots like you."
"If one day you need help…"
She turned away and waved, vanishing into the dark.
"The wind of the Gale…"
"…will always blow for you."
....
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