Another team from Wing Bind arrived to take care of the aftermath. They were from Patchworks whose duty was to collect and preserve Dragons' corpses.
While they did their job, Ninny grabbed Shirou and pulled him into a secluded alley away from people. She pinned him against the wall, sandwiching his head between her arms to stop him from fleeing, something he didn't even consider at all.
What a familiar situation. The difference was that now he didn't feel flustered or embarrassed. The other party wasn't Tohsaka Rin, after all.
"Ninny, you're too rough-."
"What was that?"
Ignoring Noel's advice, Ninny asked Shirou with her serious expression. She glared at the Japanese boy in suspicion, not knowing what he could do. Her eyes stared at him, waiting for his answer.
"My magecraft." Shirou answered with a wry smile. He raised both of his hands up, surrendering his fate to her.
"That was magic? Without a witch kit?" Noel chimed in.
She was skeptical of Shirou's claim. It didn't look anything like what a normal magecraft should look like.
"Wait, you mean he can use magic like us but without a witch kit?" Ninny looked at him in shock. "That's cheating!"
Shirou just scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. He didn't know how to answer this one.
Technically, he used reiryoku to create his weapon and use Reishi in the atmosphere to keep them materialized. He was basically a battery for the Noble Phantasm to be able to exist and perform their abilities.
But that would be a lengthy explanation, and he didn't want to explain every little detail of how his powers worked.
So he settled for a vague answer that sounded right enough to work.
"I just have my own method of using magic." He explained simply, which wasn't wrong at all.
According to Rin, his projection was a bit unique because it involved creating a blueprint for the weapon and then supplying the energy needed for it. That process alone could be called 'magecraft' which apparently translates to 'magic' in this world.
But for Shirou, that was something he had done since childhood. To him, it wasn't anything special.
His powers were only limited by what he could imagine and project.
So it didn't feel special or anything, even though others might find it amazing.
"I use my body as a catalyst so I can use a spell directly. I can't use any other spell other than that." He added.
Ninny let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Her suspicion of Shirou's identity was cleared and replaced with interest instead.
"Oh, that makes sense." Ninny said, nodding to herself. "Then what was that bow?"
Noel let out a sigh and walked closer, tapping Ninny's shoulder to let Shirou go. The latter begrudgingly lowered her arms and released Shirou, but she kept an eye on him just in case he did something funny.
"Um, well..." He began to explain, not sure what to say. "I call it Projection."
"Projection?" Noel asked curiously. She was intrigued.
"Yes. It is a technique that allows me to replicate an item by analyzing its structure and then constructing a replica based on the information I gained. My magic." He ended with an uncertain voice, not sure if his answer was good enough or not.
"That sounds amazing." Ninny commented, looking at him in admiration.
'Amazing, huh?'
Shirou couldn't agree. To him, his magecraft was nothing special, just a tool.
But he supposed it might sound cool to others who had never seen something like this before.
"So, can you replicate anything with this Projection?" Ninny asked eagerly like a little girl finding a new toy.
"Well, mostly. I have limitations and requirements."
"Ninny, we have to report back now." Noel interrupted them and put her phone into her pocket, "Billy Banx called for us. We should return to the Wing Bind now. And I think they need Kurosaki for questioning as well."
Questioning? Well, that wasn't unexpected.
He did use an unknown magic, or magecraft as he called it, to defeat a dragon. Of course, someone would be suspicious about it. Especially when it wasn't done with the same methods as theirs.
After all, his abilities weren't normal in their standard.
And that meant trouble.
Considering what had happened to his life so far, Shirou had a hunch this wouldn't end well.
'I just want to look around before my flight to Glastonbury...'
Sighing, he followed the two Witches to the Wing Bind headquarters.
He could already see his trip turning for the bad.
***
Noel and Ninny were sitting on one couch, while Shirou was on another opposite to them.
Both parties were sitting in a small meeting room where the two girls, which was unusual because they usually reported to the receptionist, got their completion badge, then exchange them with Pay and Achievement.
Today, however, they had to report directly to their superior Billy Banx.
It seemed their report was important enough for a private hearing. Or rather, their report about Shirou was important.
Either way, it was clear he was the one they were interested in. He knew it as well. It was hard not to notice how they stared at him when he was being led here.
It made Shirou feel uncomfortable and he wondered what the higher-ups were thinking.
He had to wait a little before the door opened.
"Yohoho, sorry for the wait. I have to clean up some boxes from other sections earlier."
A middle-aged man with a mustache wearing all green clothing including a hat entered the room; a checker-patterned mantle tied on his waist. His face was kind but there was something off with his smile and expression.
The man named Billy Banx Jr. closed the door behind him before walking to his seat and sitting down. His eyes then looked at Shirou.
"So you are the one Noel and Ninny mentioned. What is your name, boy?" Billy asked.
"Kurosaki Shirou." He answered simply, trying not to give away more information than necessary.
"And you're from Japan? Let me guess..." Billy Banx paused for a second as he stared at him, as if studying his features. "Kurosaki, Kurosaki... I have never heard of you. But you must come from a prestigious lineage, right? You're a pureblood Wizard, I presume."
Billy continued his question and it seemed the man had a habit of asking questions with a smile. He was the kind of man who enjoyed making others feel uncomfortable with his questions and he was enjoying this interrogation.
Somehow, he felt like Urahara in the way he moved. Something was hidden beneath that smile and stupid action. It was just that he didn't have a paper fan to hide his smile like Urahara did.
"Pureblood Wizard?" Shirou asked, confused.
"You know, the family of Wizards and Witches. They often had some technique they hid for themselves. Not mixing the blood with others."
Once again, Shirou had to explain the story he told Noel and Ninny before. The man listened before beaming into a big smile, as if he found something funny and interesting. It was a creepy smile that didn't fit the man at all.
"Oh, so you're a wizard who learned from your dad. I understand." Billy said cheerfully.
"...?"
"So, are you interested in joining Wing Bind?" Billy Banx asked.
"Huh?" Shirou looked confused, but he immediately answered with a firm rejection. "Sorry, I don't intend to stay in England longer. I will have to leave soon."
He had to return to Karakura Town after he finished his business.
Focusing only on his goal was important, but he had his responsibilities. Even though he had a lot of money to live his life comfortably, Shirou couldn't do it because of the sense of responsibility in his heart.
There was still danger looming around at home so he couldn't stay away for long.
"Really? What a shame. We really could use your help, you know." Billy said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Yes, my apologies. I am grateful to your invitation, though." He replied politely and respectfully.
Shirou didn't want to offend anyone by rejecting them directly like this. He was already causing them enough trouble by appearing here and killing that dragon.
Billy let out a small laugh and then shook his head. "Well, I guess that's it. Ninny, don't fall for him."
The man winked and the blonde Witch screamed at her leader in embarrassment, telling him that she wasn't going to fall in love with him.
Billy left with the final word.
"Have fun on your trip, Kurosaki. It's good to have you here."