After the turmoil on the eighteenth floor finally settled, the Loki Familia's expedition team didn't linger.
They had originally planned to rest for another day, but the abnormal ambush by the War Shadows made Captain Finn wary. Out of caution, he chose to return to the surface ahead of schedule.
The journey back was smoother than expected.
With Finn and Riveria—both Level 6—leading the way, and heavy hitters like Ais and Bete (Level 5) clearing threats, even Minotaurs and Hellhounds in the upper floors posed no real danger.
Shirou Emiya was placed in the center of the formation—the safest position.
"Hey, hey, Shirou!"
Tiona, the tanned Amazon girl, seemed intensely interested in him. She hovered around him the entire way, eyes sparkling. "That move just now was so cool! The power wasn't as huge as Ais's magic, but the sword went whoosh—and then stab—monster dead! How did you do that?!"
"That wasn't a magic trick."
Ais suddenly spoke from the other side.
The blond Sword Princess kept her eyes forward, but her ears were subtly angled toward the conversation—clearly listening.
"That was… construction," Ais said softly, hitting the core immediately. "Using magic to construct the weapon's shape, and its hardness. I don't understand the principle, but before it breaks… it's real steel."
Shirou glanced at her, genuinely surprised.
So sharp…
No wonder she pursued the sword to its extreme—her intuition was frightening.
"More or less," Shirou nodded, trying to explain in the simplest terms he could. "Where I'm from, it's called Projection Magecraft. Basically, I use magic to analyze weapons I've seen… and then 'draw' them into reality."
"You can draw a weapon and it can cut people? That's amazing!" Tiona's eyes lit up. "Can you make a giant sword too? Like my 'big twin blades'?"
"As long as the structure isn't too complex, in theory, yes." Shirou smiled wryly. "But right now my magic—uh, my stamina—still isn't enough. Those two short blades earlier were already my limit."
That was the truth.
The aftereffects of crossing worlds still hadn't faded. Even though this body carried the experience of Archer, his circuits were still stiff, still unfamiliar. That single projection earlier had almost drained everything he had.
"Tch. All flash."
Bete, walking up front, didn't even turn around as he mocked him. "A weapon's half of a warrior. Those disposable knockoffs of yours? Against real high-class monsters, they'll shatter the moment they touch."
Shirou didn't argue. He only smiled calmly.
Knockoffs, huh…
In that Holy Grail War, it was precisely those so-called "knockoffs" that had defeated the oldest Hero King.
But there was no point saying that here.
…
After half a day of travel, the party finally emerged from the Dungeon.
When the first ray of sunlight broke through the clouds and fell across Shirou's face, he instinctively narrowed his eyes.
In front of him rose a tower so immense it stole the breath from his lungs—
Babel.
It pierced the sky, as if linking heaven and earth. Around it sprawled a bustling circular city, white stone buildings layered one after another. The streets roared with life—humans, elves, beast-people, dwarves—countless races mingling in a vivid fantasy that could only exist in another world.
Orario.
The center of the world.
And now, the place this outsider would call home.
"Welcome to Orario, Emiya."
Finn stopped, smiling at him. "We haven't been together long, but I can tell you're someone with admirable qualities. So—have you decided? About joining the Loki Familia?"
"Yeah… if you don't mind taking in a newcomer," Shirou said, nodding.
In a world he didn't understand, joining one of Orario's strongest factions was the best possible opening.
And more than that—watching this loud, chaotic, yet tightly bonded group… he didn't dislike the atmosphere.
"That's great!" Tiona cheered and slapped Shirou on the back. "We're comrades now! I'll watch your back!"
Ais turned her head slightly. In her golden eyes, a faint glimmer—almost imperceptible—passed through.
"Then we go back to base first," Riveria said, tapping her staff lightly against the ground. "If Loki finds out we brought back a 'surprise'… she'll probably be very happy."
…
The Loki Familia's headquarters—The Twilight Manor—sat along the northwest street of Orario, an enormous estate crowned with many spires, imposing and regal.
The moment they stepped into the main hall, a red blur shot down the stairs.
"AIS-TAAAAAAN~~~~!!"
With a shout drenched in shameless obsession, a goddess with short red hair and a modest figure lunged at Ais like a starving beast.
"I missed you so much! Are you hurt? Did any creepy uncle bully you? Let the greatest goddess of the Loki Familia check your body—!"
Thunk.
Ais, expressionless, stepped aside, extended a leg, and tripped her.
The motion was smooth and effortless—clearly practiced countless times.
The goddess named Loki hit the carpet face-first in a spectacularly undignified sprawl. Then she popped back up like nothing happened, wearing an unmistakably lewd grin.
"Oho! Ais-tan is still so cold… and I love it!"
Shirou's mouth twitched as he watched.
So this is… a god?
Compared to the lofty Heroic Spirits he'd seen in the Holy Grail War, this goddess was… almost painfully down-to-earth.
"Ahem. Loki."
Riveria coughed, resigned. "We have a guest. Please mind your behavior."
"A guest?"
Loki finally pulled her face away from Ais's leg, half-lidding her perpetually sleepy eyes as she scanned the group—until her gaze locked onto Shirou.
In that instant, Shirou felt like a venomous snake had fixed him in its sights.
Under those red eyes, it seemed as if no secret could remain hidden.
"Oh? New face."
Loki's playful expression faded. She walked up to Shirou and circled him once. "No blessing scent, but the soul's unexpectedly tough… and there's this iron-rust smell that's hard to hate."
She leaned in, sniffing lightly, lips splitting into an exaggerated grin. "Finn, is this your haul? A human… you picked up from the Dungeon?"
"His name is Shirou Emiya." Finn introduced him with a gentle smile. "On the eighteenth floor, he saved Lefiya and killed a War Shadow using a method we've never seen. I believe he has the potential to become an outstanding adventurer."
"A method we've never seen?"
Loki arched a brow and looked to Ais.
Ais nodded. "He can make swords appear from nothing. He's strong."
Praise from the Sword Princess carried weight.
"Heh. Interesting."
Loki grinned and patted Shirou's shoulder. "If my Finn and Ais say so, I don't see a reason to refuse. Kid—are you mentally prepared? Joining my familia means you'll devote body and soul to me, you know?"
"Body and soul is a bit much… but I'll do my best," Shirou answered evenly.
"HAHAHA! That's a fun answer! Better than the idiots who drop to their knees the moment they see a god!"
Loki whirled around, laughing. "Come on! Since you're joining, let's carve your Blessing right now. I want to see what kind of secret you've got tucked inside that body of yours!"
…
Twilight Manor—Loki's room.
Following instructions, Shirou removed his shirt and lay facedown across a wide sofa.
Only the two of them were inside.
"Relax. Don't tense your muscles, or the needle won't go in," Loki said casually.
Somehow, she produced a needle from nowhere and pricked her finger. A single drop of divine blood—radiating sacred pressure—fell onto Shirou's back.
Humm—
Heat flared across his spine, as if something inside him had been set alight.
Something hidden within his body—like a vessel—had its lock forced open by divine power.
Loki sat on Shirou's back, fingers moving with practiced ease as she traced the sacred letters rising across his skin, reading them as they formed.
At first, her expression was casual.
A newcomer's status was usually blank.
But as the words sharpened—
Loki's narrowed eyes snapped wide open.
Blood-red, vertical pupils.
"Oi, oi… you're kidding me."
She stared at the imprint on the parchment, her face shifting from shock, to wild delight, and finally to a deep, amused fascination.
[Name]: Shirou Emiya
[Race]: Human
[Familia]: Loki Familia
[Level]: 1
[Basic Abilities]:
Strength: I (0)
Endurance: I (0)
Dexterity: I (0)
Agility: I (0)
Magic: I (0)
All of it was normal—zeros across the board, the true starting point of a beginner.
What made Loki's breath hitch were the sections below.
Normally, a rookie couldn't possibly have Magic or Skills from the start. Those were earned through feats—through greatness.
But Shirou's back was carved with dense text that made even a goddess's skin prickle.
[Magic]:
"Projection Magecraft (Trace On)"
No chant.
Constructs and recreates recognized armaments.
Even divine-forged armaments can be copied, though their constructed rank will drop.
[Skills]:
"Clairvoyance"
Extremely superior vision. Captures high-speed movement and predicts enemy trajectories.
Even in despair, can see the path to survival.
"Mind's Eye (True)"
Insight cultivated through training and discipline.
Even at a disadvantage, remains calm, grasps self and enemy, and finds victory.
"Chantless magic… and two rare skills?" Loki's finger traced the line slowly, almost reverently. "And this magic description… it can even copy divine-forged armaments? What kind of joke is this? That's practically blasphemy against the gods."
She said "blasphemy," but the excitement in her eyes was impossible to hide.
They'd picked up treasure.
No—
They'd picked up a trump card.
"Kid."
Loki patted his back, signaling he could get up, and shoved the parchment into his hand. Her tone turned uncharacteristically serious.
"Looks like I won't get to slack off anymore."
Shirou pulled his shirt back on and looked down at the status sheet. The words were both familiar and unfamiliar, and he froze for a beat.
So this is… this world's 'system'…?
"Listen, Emiya."
Loki leaned in close. The face that usually wore a clown's grin now carried the authority of a patron goddess. "I don't know what you've been through. But if you're my child now, then live with your chest held high."
"Even if your power is a 'fake'—if it can kill monsters, then it's the real thing."
Then she snapped back to her shameless self and shouted toward the door—
"Finn! Riveria! Get in here! Our familia just got a ridiculous monster rookie! We're throwing a party tonight! Bring out all the booze!!"
Out in the hallway, Ais heard the words "monster rookie." Her fingers lightly brushed the hilt at her waist, and a flicker of expectation surfaced in her eyes.
The real adventure…
had only just begun.
-------
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