After dinner.
After greeting Ais, who had just left, Shirou was quickly pulled inside by Loki.
"I heard, Shirou, that you really stood out on this expedition!"
"I was just doing my best."
Sitting on the chair in front of Loki, taking off his shirt, Shirou stared at the door in front of him and began to talk with her.
"So, stealing the hearts of all the girls in our Familia was also part of you doing your best?"
Feeling her finger press sharply into his back, Shirou flinched and said helplessly, "That was an accident!"
After hearing his response, Loki didn't answer right away but began to manipulate the falna on Shirou's back.
Silence settled in the room.
"As expected of you, your growth rate is truly remarkable."
Loki couldn't help but click her tongue as she looked over Shirou's newly updated status values.
As soon as Loki started speaking, Shirou's initial nervousness faded instantly.
Noticing something strange about his demeanor, Loki slapped him hard on the back.
"You don't think I'm the type to get angry just because someone likes someone else, do you?" Loki asked, and when she saw the look of genuine approval on Shirou's face, her irritation flared.
"I care about these kids, but if they truly love someone, I won't stop them. If you really love someone, you can't abandon them!"
"Don't worry, I still don't have any plans to start a family."
After putting his shirt back on, Shirou felt his mood ease completely.
He had been worried Loki would pester him about this matter, but she was surprisingly magnanimous, proving that she was, in fact, a relatively reliable goddess.
"No plans to start a family yet?"
Seeing that Shirou wasn't interested in Ais or Lefiya, Loki's thoughts brightened.
"Since you're so popular with girls, Shirou, you should definitely trick a few more into joining our Familia. After all, your harem is my harem too!"
Alright, I take back what I said. This woman really is an idiot!
Seeing Shirou's look of disgust, Loki couldn't help but laugh and quickly handed him the sheet with his updated stats.
---
[Name]: Shirou Emiya
[Level]: LV.3
[Basic Abilities]:
Strength: SS1067
Endurance: S985
Dexterity: SS1032
Agility: S963
Magic: SSS1199
[Development Ability]:
• Blacksmith: H
[Magic]:
[Unlimited Blade Works]
· Projection Magic
· Reality Marble
· Structural Analysis
· Chant: (Omitted!)
[]
[]
[Skills]:
• Anima Ignis
• Clairvoyance
• Eye of the Mind
---
Other than his basic stats, no new skills or spells appeared.
However, after this expedition, all of his basic abilities were approaching their limits.
His magic, from frequent use of spells, had already reached the SSS limit. His strength and dexterity, honed through constant use of the bow and close combat while dodging enemy attacks, had both reached SS, nearing their limits as well.
Even the attributes he rarely used—endurance and agility—had already reached S.
He estimated that within a week, all of his stats would hit their maximum.
"I remember you already surpassed your great feats, Shirou. Doesn't that mean you'll reach Level 4 soon? If that's the case, Level 5 isn't far away!" Loki's heart lit up at the thought.
She knew it wouldn't be long before her Familia had a truly formidable figure standing at the peak of Orario. Remembering the two Level 8 members of Zeus' Familia and the Level 9 member of Hera's, Loki felt Shirou was quickly closing in on that height.
When that happened, her Loki Familia would become the strongest in Orario.
Hehe!
By then, we'll definitely be able to attract even more beautiful girls to our ranks.
Shirou left Loki's sanctuary and found Ais and Lefiya waiting outside.
"Why are you two here? Lefiya, are you getting your stats updated?"
"Actually, I came here with Ais."
Lefiya quickly explained to Shirou.
She hadn't wanted to come this early, but when Ais asked her at the dinner table if she wanted to, she decided to go along.
"Really? Then hurry on in!"
Shirou had seen Lefiya standing nearby when he arrived. He had been about to greet her when Loki suddenly called him in.
"Go ahead."
"Yes."
Watching Lefiya dash toward the sanctuary, Shirou and Ais walked away together, their presence too eye-catching.
Seeing Ais's troubled expression, as her older brother figure, it was natural for him to share her burden.
So Shirou asked, "What's wrong? Are you still upset about that boy getting away?"
"No, I'm just deciding whether to level up or keep going."
Ais handed him the paper.
---
[Name]: Ais Wallenstein
[Level]: LV.5
[Stats]:
Strength: B785
Endurance: B747
Dexterity: S925
Agility: S922
Magic: S987
[Development Abilities]:
• Hunter: G
• Abnormal Resistance: G
• Swordsman: I
[Magic]:
• Ariel
[Skills]:
• Avenger
---
Looking over Ais's stats, Shirou was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected that training method to work so well for her.
According to his memory, Ais's strength and endurance should both be at D at this point, while her dexterity, agility, and magic should all be at A.
But now, two were at B and three at S — she was already ready to level up.
Sensing Shirou's perplexed gaze, Ais said calmly, "The method you taught me is excellent. I've seen significant improvements in all my stats."
"That's why I'm confused. Should I level up now or keep pushing my basic abilities further?"
So that's it!
Shirou suddenly realized. Wasn't this the same approach he used? That is, maxing out his basic stats before leveling up.
That way, he would gradually become far stronger than adventurers of the same rank.
After all, each level up was built upon one's previous stats.
But most people didn't do this, either due to a lack of potential or patience to push every attribute to its limit. So they leveled up once their basic stats could no longer increase.
Ais's reasoning came from her recent rapid improvements.
Seeing her troubled look, Shirou reached out, patted her head, and asked with a smile:
"Ais, is your goal close at hand?"
"No, it's still far away."
"Then, is there any opponent you could instantly defeat just by leveling up?"
"No, there isn't."
"Then why rush?"
"Right. Even at Level 6, I'd still be far from my goal. It's better to build it up little by little."
"I see."
Looking at Ais, whose expression had calmed again, Shirou smiled warmly and said, "That's good."
Feeling the gentle touch of his palm on her hair, Shirou was just about to say something when a surprised shout suddenly came from inside the sanctuary.
"Lefiya reached Level 4!"
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."