Chapter 86. Projection of the Ancient Holy Sword!
In front of the gates of the Ratatoskr settlement.
The smoke from the aftermath of the battle had not yet dissipated, but the air was already thick with a festive atmosphere known as "survival." Just ten minutes ago, these villagers had treated Argo like a rat crossing the street, wishing they could drown him in spit. But now, looking at the wreckage of the black-armored knights and the four "mighty men and women" standing atop a mountain of corpses (though most were actually just knocked unconscious), the villagers' gazes underwent an instant 180-degree turn.
"A hero! A real hero!" "
That red-haired brother is so cool! Can I get an autograph? Just sign it on my hoe!"
"That sister dressed so coolly (referring to Olna) is so strong! I want to have her babies!"
"That blacksmith (referring to Crozzo) has such a fierce look, feels like he'd eat children..."
Faced with this sudden enthusiasm, Argo was clearly basking in it. He stood on a wooden crate temporarily repaired by Shirou, striking an extremely flashy pose, while the electrified wooden sword in his hand was still crackling.
"Hmph hmph hmph! Now you know how powerful I am! I am Argo, the man destined to save the world! And these..." He waved his hand grandly, pointing to the group of formidable teammates behind him. "Are all followers who were conquered by my 'Dominating Aura' (actually it was the aroma of the food)!"
"Hey, Redhead." Olna shouldered her giant axe—which was larger than she was—and poked Shirou's waist with her elbow (nearly puncturing his kidney).
"Can I punch him? Just once?"
"Be patient, Miss Olna," Shirou Emiya sighed helplessly, currently bandaging a minor injury Crozzo sustained from a "furnace explosion" (Magic Sword overload). "Though he's an idiot, he is the nominal leader. Give him some face."
"Tch, how annoying." Olna curled her lip, but she obediently put down her axe. After all, tonight's meal ticket was still in Shirou's hands.
"However, Emiya." Crozzo looked at the shattered prototype magic sword in his hand. His eyes held no disappointment; instead, they flickered with fanatical light. "That feeling just now... the path the mana took through the metal, that 'moment of detonation'... I think I understand what you meant by 'guidance'."
"I've... caught it."
"Is that so? Good." Shirou showed a gratified smile. The craftsmen of this era, though primitive in technology, possessed a dedication to their "Path" that was not inferior to the Divine Smiths of the future.
Just as everyone was enjoying the joy of victory...
Shoo—!
An extremely subtle sound of something cutting through the air, almost blending with the wind, suddenly came from the distant forest.
"Hm?" Shirou's [Mind's Eye (True)] reacted instantly. It wasn't killing intent. But this mana fluctuation... was strong.
"Watch out!" Shirou subconsciously tried to push Argo off his high perch.
But before he could act, a green arrow of light arrived first, accurately striking the wooden crate right at Argo's... feet. BOOM!
The crate exploded. Argo, who was busy posing, let out a miserable scream and fell face-first into the dirt.
"Who?! Who dares ambush this Great Hero?!" Argo scrambled up from the ground, face covered in mud, roaring in fury.
"Stupid brother."
A cold, melodious, yet deeply helpless voice drifted down from the treetops.
Everyone looked up. On an ancient tree next to the settlement stood a girl in a green cloak. She had long, silver-white hair, and her pointed ears revealed her race—a Half-Elf. She held a delicate longbow, and her emerald-like eyes were coldly looking down at Argo.
"Fi... Wishe?!" The moment Argo saw the girl, his arrogant fire vanished instantly, replaced by the fear of a mouse seeing a cat. "Y-Y-You... why are you here?!"
"Why am I here?" The girl—Wishe—leapt lightly from the treetops, landing silently. She walked up to Argo and, without a word, grabbed him by the ear.
"Ow ow ow! It's coming off! My ear is coming off!"
"If I hadn't come, you idiot would probably have died in some gutter by now, wouldn't you?" Wishe said with exasperation. "To actually provoke the 'Black King's' army? Do you have a death wish?"
"I-I won, didn't I!" Argo pointed at the knights on the ground. "Look! I knocked them all down!"
"Was it you who knocked them down?" Wishe let go of his ear and looked past Argo at the trio behind him. Her gaze lingered on Olna and Crozzo for a moment before fixing on Shirou Emiya.
In that instant, Shirou felt a scrutinizing gaze. That look... was so familiar. It was exactly like the future Lyu Lion.
"Red hair... twin blades..." Wishe murmured softly, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes. "The mana flow in his body is very strange. Doesn't seem like someone from this era."
Another one with sharp intuition, Shirou sighed inwardly. The perception of the Elven race was truly on a "cheating" level.
"Nice to meet you, beautiful lady," Shirou stepped forward, putting on his standard "diplomatic smile." "I am Shirou Emiya, a passing... chef and blacksmith."
"A chef?" Wishe raised an eyebrow. "A chef who can defeat black-armored knights with that strange magecraft? Has the entry requirement for chefs become so high these days?"
"Driven by the hardships of life, I just learned a bit of self-defense," Shirou shrugged.
"I am Wishe." The girl put away her longbow and nodded slightly to Shirou. Though her tone remained cold, her manners were impeccable. "My stupid brother has caused you trouble."
"Brother?!" Olna and Crozzo exclaimed simultaneously. "This clown actually has such a beautiful sister?! This must be a genetic mutation!"
"Adopted sister! Adopted sister!" Argo explained while rubbing his ear. "We're childhood friends who grew up together!"
"Shut up. Say one more word and I'll sew your tongue shut." Wishe glanced at him coldly, and Argo went silent instantly.
"Anyway..." Wishe looked at Shirou. "This place isn't safe for long. Although the Black King's vanguard was defeated, he himself is at the nearby 'Black Iron City.' If we don't leave quickly, we'll be in trouble when the main force arrives."
"Black Iron City?" Shirou caught the keyword. "Is that the necessary path to the Royal Capital?"
"Correct." Wishe pulled a parchment map from her cloak. "And... as far as I know, Princess Ariadne, who was snatched away, is currently being held in the Labyrinth beneath the Capital. The Black King intends to use her as a sacrifice for... that thing... during the 'Night of the Lunar Eclipse' in three days."
"That thing?" Shirou frowned. In this mythological age, anything referred to as "that thing" was usually nothing good.
"[The Minotaur]." Wishe's voice became heavy. "Not an ordinary monster. That is... one of the first 'Calamities' born from the Dungeon. It is said to possess an immortal body and guards the gate leading to the depths of the Great Hole."
The Minotaur... Shirou and Argo exchanged a look. This was not only the fated enemy from the original story but also a hurdle Shirou had to overcome.
"It seems our goals are aligned." Shirou clenched his fist. "In that case, Miss Wishe, are you willing to join us? We need a guide, and we need... an excellent magic archer like you."
"Join you?" Wishe looked at this strange team. A clown, a berserker, a mad blacksmith, and an unfathomable cook. No matter how you looked at it, this was a "suicide squad."
But... looking at Argo's hopeful eyes. Looking at Shirou's eyes, which were as clear as if they held no impurities.
"...Fine," Wishe sighed. "I can't just watch my stupid brother go to his death." "But let's get this straight: if we encounter an irresistible force, I will prioritize escaping with him."
"No problem," Shirou smiled. Once you're on the pirate ship—strike that—once you're in the party, there's no way of running away.
"Then, everyone assemble!" Argo jumped out again, high-spirited. "Argo Heroic Faction, fifth member—the [Magic Fairy] Wishe, reporting for duty! Our journey is the stars and the sea!"
"It's a journey to our deaths," Wishe corrected heartlessly.
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After leaving the settlement, the team headed toward the northern mountains. As night fell, Shirou found a sheltered clearing and announced they were camping.
"Finally, the most exciting part!" Olna threw her giant axe and sat directly on the ground, banging her bowl. "Food! Food! Food! I want to eat meat! I want that kind of meat that glows!"
"I'm hungry too..." Crozzo put down the anvil he was carrying (this guy had actually been carrying it the whole time), looking exhausted. "After a fight and half a day of walking, my mana is nearly depleted."
"Brother Emiya! Show us your divine skill!" Argo drooled. "Wishe, you have to try this! The food Brother Emiya makes is simply... it's..."
"It's what?" Wishe looked skeptical. "Is it really that good? Isn't it just ordinary wilderness cooking?"
As an elf, Wishe's eating habits leaned toward light flavors; she usually had no interest in the greasy food of humans.
"Hmph, you wouldn't understand." Shirou tied on his apron, his gaze becoming sharp instantly. "Since we have more people and it's to celebrate a new member joining... tonight, let's make that."
He pulled out all the ingredients he had collected over the past few days from his Unlimited Blade Works warehouse (actually his spatial storage pouch). Wild boar meat, spices, unknown tuber plants (similar to potatoes and carrots), and precious flour bought in the settlement.
"Trace — On."
Shirou projected a massive deep iron pot. Then, fire. Not ordinary fire, but [Mana Fire]—compressed mana that was extremely hot and stable.
"Chopping onions, sautéing, stewing the meat..." Shirou's movements were like flowing water, filled with a strange sense of rhythm. That focused expression was even more charming than when he was in battle.
"It smells so good..." Wishe's nose twitched. It was a scent she had never smelled before. Spicy, rich, yet possessing a comforting warmth. Her stomach, which wasn't even hungry, actually let out an ungraceful growl.
"What... is this?" Wishe couldn't help but lean in.
"This?" Shirou answered with a smile while stirring the thick, golden-yellow sauce in the pot. "This is the miracle dish that can make all races shake hands and make peace."
"[Emiya Special: The King's Way Curry Rice]."
Curry? Everyone looked at each other. In this era, the concept of such a dish did not yet exist.
"Alright, let's eat!" Shirou poured the steaming curry over freshly steamed white rice (though it was a grain similar to rice) and distributed it to everyone.
Olna was the first to grab a plate, taking a huge bite without even looking.
"Mmm!!!" The Amazon girl's eyes widened instantly. In the next second, the background behind her seemed to turn into an erupting volcano. "It's spicy! But... so good! This taste... it feels like winning a war in my mouth! Too exciting!"
Crozzo took a bite and closed his eyes. "Is this... fusion?" he murmured to himself. "Spiciness and sweetness, the heaviness of the meat and the freshness of the vegetables... it's like perfectly smithing different metals together. This is... the true 'Magic Sword'!" (No, it's just curry.)
Argo was already eating so much he couldn't speak, only making "huff-puff" sounds while his eyes and nose ran simultaneously. "Mom... I see it... that's the taste of heaven..."
Finally, it was Wishe's turn. She looked at the yellow mush on the plate with some hesitation. Elven reservedness made it hard for her to accept food that looked so "crude." However, the reactions of those around her and that unavoidable aroma...
"Just... one bite." Wishe carefully took a small spoonful and put it in her mouth.
Boom!
It was as if her taste buds were struck by lightning. The spicy stimulation instantly awakened all her senses, followed by the rich meat aroma and the sweetness of the vegetables. That warm feeling slid down her throat into her stomach and spread throughout her body. On this cold wilderness night, this mouthful of hot food was simply salvation.
"This..." Wishe's cheeks instantly turned deep red. She wanted to remain elegant, but the spoon in her hand uncontrollably reached for the plate again. "I-It's delicious..."
"Another bowl!" "Me too!" "Give me some more!"
Looking at this group of teammates devouring the food, Shirou showed a satisfied smile. As expected. Whether it's the mythological age or the modern era. Whether it's humans or elves. Before good food, all beings are equal.
"Curry... is truly a great civilization." Shirou served himself a bowl and sat by the campfire, enjoying this moment of peace.
After the meal, everyone gathered around the fire to discuss their next plan.
"So, we have to go through Black Iron City to enter the Capital?" Wishe drew a map on the ground with a twig. "That's an almost impossible task. The Black King's main army is stationed in Black Iron City, at least a thousand heavy knights. And there are mage units as well."
"Forcing our way in definitely won't work," Shirou shook his head. "There are only five of us. Though Olna and Crozzo are strong, two fists can't fight four hands."
"Then what? Infiltration?" Argo proposed. "I can dress up as... a vegetable delivery man?"
"With that face, you'd probably be arrested before you even reached the gate," Wishe retorted heartlessly.
"Actually..." Shirou looked at the dancing flames, a sudden idea coming to mind. "We don't need to force our way in, and we don't need to sneak."
"What do you mean?" Everyone looked at him.
"Eld, the Black King... I heard he's a very conceited man?" Shirou asked.
"Correct," Wishe nodded. "He calls himself a hegemon with the caliber of a king; he loves collecting strong people and... rare treasures."
"Then it's easy." Shirou pulled a sword from his chest. It was one he had casually forged at the blacksmith shop earlier, but during the dinner time just now, he had secretly added a little "flavoring"—an extremely ornate (even slightly gaudy) sword emitting a faint golden light—the [Pseudo: The Golden Sword of Assured Victory (Caliburn)].
"We'll use this... as a stepping stone." A cunning smile played on the corners of Shirou's mouth. "Since he likes treasures, we'll give him a 'great gift'."
"You mean... pretend to offer a treasure and then take the chance to assassinate him?" Olna's eyes lit up. "I like this! Simple and brutal!"
"No, not assassination," Shirou shook his head. "It's a 'trade'. We use this sword to exchange for a pass to the Royal Capital. Of course... if he doesn't agree, this sword will turn into a... bomb."
[Broken Phantasm] — Preset Version. With just a thought from Shirou, this seemingly ornate Holy Sword would explode instantly, with enough power to flip half the castle.
"So devious..." Crozzo looked at the sword and couldn't help but shiver. "Emiya, are you really an Ally of Justice?"
"Sometimes, for justice, a little bit of means is necessary," Shirou shrugged. Kiritsugu had taught him: the means aren't important; the result is what matters.
"Then, the plan is set." Argo stood up, drawing his lightning wooden sword. "Target: Black Iron City!" "Operation Code: [Troy's... Curry Horse]!"
"What a terrible name!" everyone complained in unison.
Late at night. After everyone had gone to sleep, Shirou alone was responsible for the watch.
"Not asleep yet?" Wishe's voice came from the tree. She wasn't sleeping either, sitting on a branch like a sentry.
"Just thinking." Shirou looked up at her. "Miss Wishe, why... are you following Argo? Clearly he's so weak and so stupid."
"..." Wishe was silent for a moment. She looked at Argo, who was still drooling in his sleep, and her gaze softened.
"Because... he's a 'fool'," Wishe said softly. "In this era where smart people are all looking out for themselves and calculating against each other... only that fool would shout about wanting to become a hero and then charge recklessly toward those impossible-to-defeat monsters."
"Though it's stupid... that 'stupidity' is the rarest light in this world."
Wishe looked at Shirou. "You're the same. Clearly you have such strong power, yet you're willing to be here cooking for us and playing this 'Hero Game' with us."
"Shirou Emiya... you are also an irredeemable fool."
"Is that so?" Shirou smiled. "Maybe."
"However..." He looked at the Holy Sword projection in his hand.
"If one doesn't act like a fool... how can one create... a 'miracle' that even the gods cannot foresee?"
Under the moonlight, their gazes met. Though crossing race and time, at this moment, their souls produced a strange resonance. It was a tacit understanding belonging to "Guardians."
"Get some sleep," Wishe turned away. "I'll take the second half of the watch. Tomorrow's battle... will be difficult."
"Yeah, goodnight." Shirou closed his eyes. But he did not relax his guard completely. Because [Mind's Eye] told him... in the distant darkness, a pair of eyes was watching them.
It wasn't the Black King. It was a deeper, more ancient... [Abyss] gaze.
The adventure of the mythological age had only just begun. The real "show" was yet to come.
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