Chapter 18. Emiya's Unfathomable Potential!
On the spacious training grounds of the "Twilight Manor."
"Hah!"
With a sharp cry, a golden afterimage thrust forward like a bolt of lightning. The wooden practice sword in Ais Wallenstein's hand let out a sharp whistle as it tore through the air, pointing directly at Shirou Emiya's throat.
For this strike, she had suppressed her level, using only the strength equivalent to a Level 2. But even so, for an adventurer who had just entered Level 2, this was a finishing blow.
However—
"Trace—On."
Shirou did not retreat, nor did he use a sword to parry. His eyes were locked onto the tip of the blade as [Mind's Eye (True)] and [Clairvoyance] activated simultaneously in his mind.
In that instant, the flow of the world seemed to slow down. He didn't just see the trajectory of the sword; he "felt" the changes in the airflow.
Step aside, slight crouch, raise hand.
Clack!
A crisp sound rang out. Tiona, watching from the sidelines, felt her jaw nearly hit the floor.
Shirou Emiya had actually caught Ais's wooden sword barehanded using his left hand, which was reinforced with mana!
"Wha..." Ais's eyes, usually as calm as a still lake, were now filled with shock. Even if it was a wooden sword and she was suppressing her power, that was still Level 2 speed!
"Caught it."
A smile played on the corner of Shirou's lips. The boost brought by having SSS (1200+) in all attributes was comprehensive. His dynamic vision, reaction speed, and muscular explosiveness had completely transcended the scope of Level 1 and even stood superior to ordinary Level 2s.
"It's not over yet!"
Ais's gaze sharpened instantly. As the Sword Princess, her competitive spirit had been ignited. With a flick of her wrist, she used a clever surge of force to shake off Shirou's hand. The wooden sword transformed into countless afterimages, descending upon him like a violent storm.
"Come on!"
Shirou stopped holding back. He made a grasping motion with his right hand, and the twin blades Kanshou and Bakuya manifested out of thin air.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang—!
Dense sounds of clashing echoed across the training ground. Two figures—one red, one gold—intertwined so fast they became a blur.
"You've... you've got to be kidding me, right?" Tiona held her head, watching the scene in disbelief.
"Is that guy Emiya really still just Level 2? He's actually keeping up with Ais's rhythm?!"
Even though Ais was holding back, being able to follow the "Sword Princess's" combo was a miracle in itself.
"Is this the power of 'breaking the limits'?"
On the second-floor balcony, Finn watched the sparring match below, his thumb twitching slightly.
"It's not just the high stats. His combat awareness... that's an instinct that can only be forged through countless life-and-death battles. This kid is a natural-born warrior."
Thud!
After one final clash, the two retreated at the same time.
"Hah... hah..." Shirou gasped for air, his back soaked in sweat. Although he had blocked the attacks, the drain on his physical and mental energy was immense.
In contrast, Ais was only slightly out of breath, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"You... have become stronger." Ais looked at Shirou, an unusual light shining in her eyes. That rate of growth made her feel startled, but it also made her... excited.
"I'm still far from it." Shirou gave a bitter smile as he dismissed his twin blades.
"In a real deathmatch, I'd probably be dead by the third move."
"No." Ais shook her head. She walked up to Shirou and said earnestly, "If we were at the same level... I might lose."
Silence fell over the grounds. To make the proud "Sword Princess" admit she might lose at the same level was the highest possible praise for Shirou Emiya.
-
-
-
After finishing his morning practice and taking a shower, Shirou changed into casual clothes and walked out of the Twilight Manor.
He didn't plan on entering the Dungeon today. The continuous high-intensity battles and the incident yesterday had made him decide to give himself a half-day break. He also needed to go to the market to buy ingredients for dinner, as he had promised Loki he'd make "Sukiyaki."
On Orario's North Main Street—a gathering place for civilians and new gods—the atmosphere was bustling and full of life.
"Ah! It's the person selling potato puffs!" "Mama, I want that one!"
Shirou carried his grocery basket, enjoying a rare moment of leisure. Just as he passed a dim alleyway:
Gurgle...
An incredibly loud and somber stomach growl suddenly rang out.
Shirou stopped and turned to look. In the corner of the alley sat a very... down-and-out girl. She wore a somewhat tattered white dress with a striking blue ribbon tied around her chest (a ribbon that was valiantly supporting an incredible weight). Her black twin-tails trailed on the ground, and her entire being radiated an aura of "I'm so hungry, I'm so miserable."
Hestia. A goddess who had recently descended to the lower world, had been kicked out by Hephaestus due to her lazy nature, and was currently wandering the streets.
"Uuu... I'm so hungry..." Hestia hugged her knees, watching the people pass by with teary eyes. "Someone give me a potato puff... Am I, a dignified goddess, going to starve to death in the lower world?"
"Um..."
A gentle voice spoke above her. "If you don't mind, would you like to eat this?"
Hestia looked up sharply. Met with her eyes was a youth with short red hair and a warm smile. In his hand, he held a steaming, freshly bought potato puff.
In that instant, in Hestia's eyes, this youth seemed to be radiating holy light.
"Is... is it for me?" Hestia swallowed her saliva, asking in disbelief.
"Yes. I just bought it, it's untouched." Shirou knelt and handed over the paper bag. With his "mother-like" personality overflowing, he couldn't bear to see someone (especially a girl) go hungry.
"Waaaaah! Thank you! You're such a good person!"
Hestia didn't hold back. She snatched the potato puff and began devouring it wolfishly. "Delicious! So delicious! This is the best thing this goddess has eaten in days, uuuu..."
Watching the girl eat without any regard for her image, Shirou smiled helplessly and took a bottle of milk from his basket.
"Eat slowly, don't choke."
Gulp, gulp... hah!
Hestia finished the milk in one go, finally feeling revived. She wiped her mouth, stood up, and put her hands on her hips, trying to strike a pose of divine majesty (though the blue ribbon only made her look cute).
"Ahem! Since I have accepted your offering, this goddess will make an exception and hear your wish! Boy, what is your name?"
"Shirou Emiya."
"Emiya... Shirou?"
Hestia blinked, her blue eyes widening.
"Eh?! You're that rumored... super rookie from the Loki Familia?! The Shirou Emiya who can manifest magic swords without chanting?!"
"Uh... that would be me." Shirou felt a bit embarrassed; it seemed his fame in Orario was spreading faster than he thought.
"It really is you..." Hestia circled Shirou twice, her gaze becoming intensely heated, as if she were looking at a peerless jade.
"Even though it's annoying that you're in that Loki woman's Familia... the color of this soul is so clean it makes me want to claim it for my own!"
She suddenly grabbed Shirou's hand, her gaze sincere and longing. "Hey, boy! Won't you consider switching? Leave that flat-chested Loki and join my 'Hestia Familia'! Even though I'm the only god right now, and I don't have a house or any money... I'll treat you very well!"
"..." Shirou's mouth twitched. No house, no money, no people... wasn't she just asking him to go on a poverty relief mission?
"Apologies, Hestia-sama." Shirou politely withdrew his hand. "I'm very satisfied with my current Familia, and I owe Loki-sama a debt of gratitude."
"Uu... I guess it won't work?" Hestia slumped instantly, her twin-tails drooping. "I finally find someone who looks good and gives me food..."
"Although I can't join your Familia, if Hestia-sama has nowhere to eat..."
Shirou sighed and took a freshly made bento box from his basket (it was originally a spare lunch for Lili).
"Take this too. As for a place to stay... I heard that the abandoned church is a bit dilapidated, but it should be livable."
"A bento?!" Hestia's eyes lit up again. She took the box and opened it to see exquisite tamagoyaki, octopus sausages, and rice balls.
"Heavens... this is practically a work of art!" Hestia was moved to tears. "Shirou Emiya! I've decided! From today on, you are Hestia's best friend! If anyone dares to bully you in the future, I'll... I'll go bite them!"
"...Well, thank you for that."
Just as the two were "chatting happily":
"Hey! You over there, you little pipsqueak! What do you think you're doing to my child?!"
A piercing roar came from the other end of the street. Loki was rushing over aggressively, followed by Ais and Lili (who were also out shopping).
"Lo-Loki?!" Hestia jumped, instinctively hiding the bento behind her back. "Who are you calling a pipsqueak! You washboard-chest woman!"
"Ha?! Who are you calling washboard?!" The veins on Loki's forehead bulged as she charged up and went forehead-to-forehead with Hestia.
"Trying to poach my members when I'm not looking, eh? You penniless brat-god!"
"What's wrong with poaching! A boy as good as Shirou-kun is wasted on a lecherous goddess like you!" Hestia countered without backing down. "Besides, his cooking is so good! It should belong to all of Orario!"
"He is our Familia's exclusive chef! You want a bite? Not a chance!"
The two goddesses began arguing like children in the middle of the street, drawing stares from passersby.
Ais walked up to Shirou and watched the scene, tilting her head.
"Hestia-sama... is very energetic."
"Yeah." Shirou sighed, rubbing his forehead as he looked at his incomplete shopping list.
"It looks like today's lunch is going to be delayed again."
Lili, meanwhile, was staring intently at the bento box in Hestia's hands, a protective glint in her eyes.
"That... was the spare lunch Emiya-sama made for Lili..."
On the noisy streets of Orario, Shirou Emiya confirmed one thing once again: compared to the monsters in the Dungeon, dealing with these gods and girls with their varied personalities seemed to be the greatest challenge of all.
But... looking at Loki, who was turning red in the face arguing with Hestia to defend him, and Ais and Lili standing silently by his side:
"It's not so bad."
Shirou gave a faint smile.