Chapter 79: Demon Wolf White Dog Stronghold
From dozens of kilometers away, the roar of a wild beast echoed.
A massive azure wolf was sprinting toward them with terrifying speed. Its powerful limbs pounded the ground, each stride covering more than 100 meters—far faster than any creature on land.
Its paws bore claws sharp enough to dig craters into the earth with ease. Riding atop the beast was a headless knight clad in black armor. The giant wolf's howl resounded across all of Shinjuku.
Even the howl alone sent chills down one's spine—filled with rage, hatred, and savagery, as though it wished to tear and destroy everything in its path.
The monster's gaze locked onto Gudako and began charging directly at her. Originally, this beast had only been guarding its territory and driving out intruders—but now it bore the expression of a vengeful Avenger, as though desperate to tear the human in front of it into shreds.
Shinjuku Archer, the one escorting Gudako—a man in his fifties dressed in flamboyant clothing and carrying a white coffin on his back—had an aura suspicious enough to be mistaken for a villain.
Even with Gudako's full support, facing this kind of monster was beyond him. He was barely holding on.
Even as a Heroic Spirit, a single misstep could result in him being crushed and bitten to pieces by the giant wolf. He was reaching his limit in trying to protect Gudako.
"Master, get ready to escape. Can you drive by yourself? Even if you can't, you'll have to. I'll leave it to Da Vinci to teach you on the spot. Just run! We'll regroup at Shinjuku Station!" the middle-aged man shouted.
"Gudako-senpai! Shirou-senpai and a Servant are on their way here!" Mash reported urgently.
VROOOMMMM—!
The roar of a motorcycle echoed. Smoke grenades exploded, obstructing the wolf's vision. A sharp-eyed girl riding a boy like a whirlwind arrived at high speed.
The motorcycle tires screeched, leaving deep skid marks on the ground. After drifting to a halt, Artoria brought the bike to a smooth stop beside Gudako.
"Shirou-senpai! And Miss Artoria!" Gudako called out in delight.
"Yo, Gudako." Shirou quickly surveyed the situation.
That monstrous thing is a Rider-class? And who's that shady-looking uncle over there…?
"Hmph, so you're Chaldea's Master. You've gotten separated from your companions and are still alive—impressive. Get on! With our current strength, we can't beat that thing!" Artoria said coldly.
"Time to run!" Shirou immediately got off the bike, reached out, and scooped Gudako into a bridal carry, placing her between himself and Artoria.
"Eh?! Ehhh?!" Gudako yelped in surprise, stunned by the sudden princess carry.
"We'll talk later! We're moving now!" Artoria shouted, starting up the motorcycle. She accelerated instantly, surpassing even the speed of the charging giant wolf, darting around a corner and disappearing down a side road, widening the distance between them and the headless knight.
"Wahhhh!!!" Gudako screamed, squeezed between the two on the motorcycle. Even though the ground was flat, the ride felt like they were being blown into the air by the wind.
"Don't talk! You'll bite your tongue!" Shirou said, firmly covering her mouth.
"Hahaha, well… once I hold this thing back, I'll figure out a way to escape too," said the mustached middle-aged man left behind, laughing—a little sorrowfully.
"We're safe now. We'll walk the rest of the way. Let's head to my base first," Artoria said, pulling up beside a building.
"Got it. Let's get off, Gudako," Shirou said, helping her down.
"Ugh… Shirou-senpai, I still feel like I'm flying," Gudako muttered, visibly shaken.
"You were in good hands—she's a great driver.
What's scarier is someone who's bad with machines pretending to be a highway assassin, or someone who drives slowly but can't go straight. That's the real nightmare," Shirou consoled her.
Artoria led the two inside.
Even after riding at full speed, her hair wasn't even slightly out of place. She still looked cool and elegant as ever.
"Woof!"
Up ahead, a pure white dog sat calmly. It appeared to be a Samoyed, with gentle black eyes and an adorably tame expression.
"Aww! What a cute pupper!" Gudako's spirits returned instantly as she ran up cheerfully.
"That's a stray dog. Hey! Don't get too close. If you get bitten, don't blame me," Artoria warned.
"Good boy, good boy~" The white dog happily accepted Gudako's petting while glancing at Artoria and wagging its tail.
"Oh, this dog's so docile. I'm surprised it's so healthy in a place like this. Must be well taken care of by its owner," Shirou said, smiling at Artoria.
"Ugh…" Artoria seemed to blush slightly. Walking up, she lifted Gudako by the collar. "How long do you plan to play around here? Let's go."
"Woof woof," the white dog looked up at her hopefully, wagging its tail.
"There's no dog food right now, give it up," Artoria replied coldly.
"Whine…" the white dog whimpered pitifully.
Artoria hesitated, then turned to Shirou and Gudako.
"Shirou, Gudako—do either of you have anything to eat?"
"Let me see… onion and chocolate." Gudako pulled out two items from her pocket.
"Are you trying to kill it?! You idiot! Why are you carrying onions?!" Artoria snapped.
"Well, I was in a hurry when I left… Um… Want some ham from another world?" Shirou checked himself and pulled out half a ham.
He had been cooking when Da Vinci summoned him, and must've stuffed it in his pocket then.
"Woof!" The white dog, smelling the aroma, ran over and wagged its tail at Shirou eagerly.
Shirou unwrapped the ham, tore it into pieces, and fed it to the dog.
The dog ate with delight. Apparently, even after being transported to another world, the ham hadn't spoiled.
"Woof woof." After finishing, the white dog sniffed Shirou and affectionately rubbed against his legs, wagging its tail even more energetically.
"Aww, you like that, huh?" Shirou said, scratching the dog's chin.
The white dog squinted happily under Shirou's touch, looking very content and even more attached to him.
"Let's go, Shirou, Gudako," Artoria called. "Since it's eaten, it shouldn't be loitering outside anymore. Come, Cavall the Second!"
"Cavall II? That's a great name. The original Cavall hunted the Demon Boar King alongside the Knights of the Round Table," Shirou said.
"Woof!" The white dog barked happily, tongue hanging out.
"Um… Wait, the name's already decided?" Gudako asked, surprised.
"Cavall II is Cavall II. Period," Artoria Alter declared confidently.
As a king, she claimed the right of first naming.
"When did you start raising it?" Shirou stood and asked the blonde girl as they walked.
"I'm not raising it. It just wouldn't stop following me, and I got so annoyed I gave it some scraps," Artoria said with a tsundere twist, turning her head away.
"I see…" Shirou and Gudako exchanged amused glances and quietly giggled as they followed after her.