Chapter 48. [The Bow of Inevitable Destruction], My Great Hero Emiya is [Solo Leveling]?
When the giant wyvern, accompanied by the lingering glow of the sunset, slowly descended onto the plaza in front of Babel, the entire city seethed with excitement. Although this expedition hadn't been grandly publicized, news of the "Hermes Familia and Loki Familia joint operation" had grown wings and flown through every street and alleyway.
"They're back! They're back!"
"That red-haired lad... has he gotten stronger again?"
"I heard they went to subjugate a legendary giant monster? Is that for real?"
Amidst the noisy discussions, Shirou Emiya was supported on his left and right by Ais and Lili (actually, he was being carried) as he stepped down from the dragon's back.
"Phew... finally landed." Shirou smiled bitterly and moved his stiff neck. Although his body was tattered and torn, the feeling of solid ground beneath his feet still made him breathe a sigh of relief.
"Welcome back, Emiya." Finn, who had been waiting for a long time, led the remaining members of the Familia to greet them. The Pallum captain's gaze swept over the group, finally resting on Shirou's right hand, which was wrapped in bandages and still faintly emitting golden light particles.
"It seems... it was a very intense battle." Finn's thumb twitched slightly, clearly sensing some residual "Divine Authority."
"Yeah, you could say that," Shirou shrugged. "I did something a bit... out of line."
"Out of line? You call 'Deicide' out of line?" Beside him, Hermes jumped off the dragon's back and spread his hands exaggeratedly. "This guy literally leveled the ruins! Leveled them in a physical sense! If I hadn't run fast, I'd be having tea with Hades in the underworld right now!"
"Deicide..." Finn's pupils contracted sharply, followed by a meaningful smile. "As expected of 'Senji Muramasa.' It seems our Familia's newcomer has completely strayed from the realm of 'common sense'."
"Alright, alright, save the catching up for later." Riveria walked over. Though her tone was stern, her eyes held concern.
"Medical team! Bring the stretcher! This guy's right-hand magic circuits are a scrambled mess; we must perform mana redirection immediately!"
"Eh? A stretcher? No need for that..." Just as Shirou was about to refuse, he was pressed down onto the stretcher by the combined efforts of Ais and Lili.
"Rejected," Ais said expressionlessly. "You are a seriously injured person. Resistance is forbidden."
"Emiya-sama, please have some self-awareness as a 'patient'!" As Lili spoke, she skillfully directed the medical team.
"Carry him steadily! If the 'Future Captain' (Hestia's terminology) gets broken, the Goddess-sama will throw a fit!"
"Who is the Future Captain?!" Amidst Shirou's cries (his protests were ineffective), the hero who had just saved the world was carried back to Twilight Manor wrapped up like a zongzi.
-
-
-
Two days later. Twilight Manor, Special Care Ward.
This was originally Riveria's private alchemy room, now temporarily converted into Shirou's exclusive ward. The reason given was: "The barrier here is the strongest, preventing someone from sneaking out in the middle of the night to forge iron."
"Ah—open wide."
"Um... Ais, I can already use my own hands." Shirou leaned against the headboard, looking helplessly at the golden-haired girl sitting by the bed.
"No." Ais stubbornly held up a spoon filled with warm, blown-on apple puree. "Riveria said your right hand cannot move."
"I still have my left hand!"
"The left hand is for holding."
"Huh?" Shirou froze for a second, only then realizing his left hand was being tightly gripped by one of Ais's hands, as if he would disappear if she let go.
Looking at the girl's serious gaze, which carried a hint of lingering fear, Shirou's heart softened instantly. The battle at the Elsos Ruins, though they won in the end, that near-death state had clearly left a significant psychological shadow on Ais.
"Alright." Shirou sighed and obediently opened his mouth. "Ah—"
"Tastes good." Ais showed a satisfied smile, and it felt as if small pink flowers were floating around her.
Knock, knock.
A knock on the door broke this heart-pounding world of two. Finn pushed the door open and entered, holding a document in his hand.
"Am I interrupting your treatment time?" Finn teased, then pulled over a chair to sit down. "Although I'd like to let you rest for a few more days, there are things that must be handled now."
"About the 'Knossos' (Man-made Labyrinth)?" Shirou's expression turned serious.
"Exactly." Finn nodded, his expression becoming grave. "Although you solved Antares and eliminated the external threat, the undercurrents within Orario haven't stopped. Based on the clues we found at the Amethyst Pavilion and the information provided by Miss Haruhime..."
"There is more than one entrance to the Man-made Labyrinth."
"More than one?" Shirou frowned.
"Yes. Besides the entrance on the 18th floor that you discovered, in certain corners of the city—even within the headquarters of certain Familias—there may exist hidden doors leading to that demon's den." Finn pointed to several red circles on a map. "Evilus is still active. And... they seem to be planning a revenge operation called the 'Great Feud' (Great War)."
"The Great War..." This term reminded Shirou of the tragic war in the original story. The annihilation of the Astraea Familia, Ryuu's descent into darkness, and the sacrifice of countless adventurers.
"We cannot sit and wait for death." Finn closed the document. "I have already contacted the Ganesha Familia and Hephaestus Familia to prepare a 'Joint Subjugation Team.' Once the location of the core entrance is confirmed, we will launch a general offensive immediately."
"Emiya, your task is simple." Finn looked at Shirou. "Heal your wounds. And then... sharpen your 'sword.' We need your strength."
"Understood." Shirou clenched his fist (even though his right hand was still bandaged). "Next time... I'll clean out those rats hiding in the gutters, down to the last one."
"Very good." Finn stood up satisfied. "By the way, there's one more thing."
He pulled a fragment out of his pocket that emitted a faint moonlight. It was—a fragment of [The Arrow of Orion].
"Hermes asked me to hand this to you," Finn said. "He said that although the divine artifact is destroyed, the Goddess's blessing remains on it. Perhaps... it can become a material for you to forge a new weapon."
Shirou took the fragment. The cold touch carried a hint of familiar warmth. It was as if he could still hear the Goddess whispering in his ear: "The moon tonight is truly beautiful."
"Thank you." Shirou gripped the fragment tightly. "I will... put it to good use."
-
-
-
Late at night. The ward had finally quieted down. Ais had been forcibly dragged away by Riveria to sleep (on the grounds that dark circles would affect the image of the Sword Princess), and Lili and Haruhime had also returned to their rooms to rest.
Shirou lay alone in bed, looking at the moon outside the window.
"The Moon Goddess... huh." He held up the fragment in his hand, examining it under the moonlight. Although the story had ended, the traces left behind would not disappear. The [Artemis's Blessing] on his back, the [Divine Fragment] in his hand, and... the heavy vow in his heart.
"Honestly... isn't my 'affinity' (karma) a bit too heavy?" Shirou gave a bitter smile and prepared to turn off the light and sleep.
Just then.
Rustle...
An extremely subtle sound came from outside the window. An ordinary person would have absolutely thought it was the sound of the wind. But for Shirou, who possessed [Mind's Eye (True)], that sound was as clear as someone striking a gong next to his ear.
"Who is it?"
Someone was there. And they were a master. There was no killing intent, and their presence concealment was near perfect.
"Since you're here, come in," Shirou said calmly without getting up.
"Even though this is the third floor, for 'Gale,' it shouldn't be much of a challenge, right?"
The window was gently pushed open. A green figure drifted in like a falling leaf, landing soundlessly.
A hood, a mask, and that signature green ranger outfit. Ryuu Lion. Former Lv. 4 adventurer, current pub waitress, and... the "Masked Vigilante" currently wanted by the Guild.
"I was discovered, then." Ryuu took off her mask, revealing that cool and beautiful elven face. Her face held a hint of exhaustion, but those sky-blue eyes were still as sharp as knives.
"Your alertness... is even higher than before." Ryuu walked to the bedside but did not sit, maintaining an alert posture ready to retreat at any time.
"I've been through a lot, after all." Shirou pointed to his bandage-wrapped right hand. "But you, Miss Ryuu. Breaking into a boy's hospital room so late... if Syr found out, there would be big trouble, you know."
"...Don't mention that name." Ryuu's body stiffened for a moment, as if recalling some terrifying memory (like Syr's dark cooking or her "blackened" smile). "I just... came to see you."
"To see me?"
"Yes." Ryuu's gaze swept over Shirou's injuries, a flash of complex emotion in her eyes. "I heard... that to save that Goddess, you used a forbidden power? You even nearly destroyed your own magic circuits?"
"News travels fast." Shirou felt helpless. "Something like that. But for a 'Happy End,' this price is worth it."
"Happy End..." Ryuu repeated the words, a self-deprecating curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. "In this world, does such a thing really exist?"
In her voice was hidden a deep sorrow. It was the sorrow of a survivor who had lost all her companions and lived until now carrying the burden of hatred alone.
"It exists." Shirou looked at Ryuu, his gaze firm. "As long as you don't give up... as long as you can still swing a sword."
"..." Ryuu went silent for a long time. Then, she pulled a long object wrapped in cloth from her cloak and placed it on Shirou's nightstand.
"This is?"
"For you." Ryuu turned her face away. "Last time... you helped me fix my dagger. This is in return."
Shirou opened the package. Inside was a piece of [Fairy Wood] emitting a deep green light. This was a rare material found only in the depths of the Elven Royal Forest, a top-tier material for making magic staves or bows.
"This is too precious..."
"Take it." Ryuu interrupted Shirou's refusal. "In your current physical condition, you won't be able to engage in high-intensity melee for a short while. This wood... I hope it helps you make a bow that suits you."
She looked at Shirou, a hint of expectation in her eyes. "Your archery... is very strong. If you have a good weapon, perhaps... you can shoot through the things hiding in the shadows."
Shirou froze for a second. He looked at the wood, then at Ryuu. He understood. This wasn't just a gift in return. This was... a request. Or rather, a plea for help.
"Miss Ryuu." Shirou's fingers lightly tapped the wood. "Are you... in some kind of trouble?"
Ryuu's body trembled slightly. She turned around, her back to Shirou, not wanting him to see her expression.
"...No, it's nothing." She pulled up her hood and put her mask back on. "It's just that lately... the wind direction in Orario has changed. Certain 'wraiths' seem to be starting to stir."
Wraiths. Evilus. And... the shadow of the culprit who caused the annihilation of the Astraea Familia—The Juggernaut.
"Shirou Emiya." Ryuu walked to the window, her voice becoming ethereal.
"If one day... I become a vengeful ghost who only knows how to kill.
If I lose my way on the path of justice..."
She looked back, giving Shirou a deep look.
"At that time... please use your sword to stop me."
With that, she leaped out and disappeared into the night. All that remained was a cool night breeze and the faintly glowing Fairy Wood.
"A vengeful ghost, huh..."
Shirou picked up the piece of wood, feeling the pure mana contained within. He could feel the struggle in Ryuu's heart. That elf who seemed so strong was actually on the verge of being crushed by the nightmares of the past.
"Foolish girl."
Shirou placed the wood together with the [Goddess Fragment]. A confident smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"I am 'Infinity,' after all. Whether it's a vengeful ghost or some desperate fate...
I'll cut through it all and show you.
Since you gave me the materials, I'll give you back... the best 'future' possible."
Under the moonlight, the red-haired boy closed his eyes. But in his mind, a new plan—a new weapon (Noble Phantasm)—was slowly taking shape.
It was a fusion of the [Moon Goddess's Divine Authority] and the [Elven Blessing], born to pierce through the darkness—The Bow of Inevitable Destruction.
And in the near future, when "Gale" encountered her greatest crisis, this bow would become her only salvation.
Read ahead (40 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting