"Ones… tens… hundreds… thousands… ten-thousands… hundred-millions?!"
Shirou Emiya's hands trembled.
Not just from the aftereffects of mana exhaustion—no, this was something far more terrifying.
In front of him was a fresh delivery from the Guild, a neatly stamped document titled:
"Compensation Notice Regarding Terrain Damage on Floors 18 and 24."
The number printed at the bottom looked like pi—endless, nauseating, and aggressively unfriendly to human sanity.
He read the line items one by one, his vision graying out.
"Damage to vegetation on Floor 18 — 3,000,000 valis."
"Demolition of primary passage within the Floor 24 'Food Storage' corridor — 50,000,000 valis."
"Collapse at Floor 18 entrance due to 'unknown cause' (aether light cannon) requiring re-excavation — 200,000,000 valis."
"And the total is…"
Shirou's soul left his body.
This wasn't a bill.
This was a slavery contract with better handwriting.
Even if he projected swords day and night and sold them like cheap cookware, he'd still be paying it off in the next century.
"Ah, what a splendid set of achievements, Mister Emiya."
A half-elf girl in a Guild uniform approached, glasses glinting with ominous kindness.
Eina Tulle.
His assigned advisor.
Her smile was gentle in the way a guillotine was gentle—clean, efficient, and not at all negotiable.
"Although the Guild has determined this operation was an emergency response against the remnants of Evilus, and therefore qualifies as 'self-defense' and 'urgent hazard mitigation,'" Eina said, adjusting her glasses as a sharp light flashed across the lenses, "we can waive most of the fines."
Shirou nearly wept with relief—
"However!"
The single word struck like divine punishment.
"The 'excessive destruction' portion still requires a symbolic penalty." Eina's expression remained sweet. "Because you—how should I put this politely—redrew the map. Our cartographers are currently fainting in the Guild hall. Some of them are crying."
"I'M SORRY!" Shirou dropped to his knees in a practiced, professional-level prostration. "I was wrong! Next time I'll— I mean—next time I will absolutely be more careful!"
Eina sighed like someone who'd adopted a stray cat that kept bringing home live bombs.
"…Fine. Captain Finn already covered the advance payment. He said it counts as a strategic investment."
"CAPTAIN FINN IS A SAINT!" Shirou sprang back to life instantly.
Truly, the first law of surviving in another world was simple:
Find a reliable sponsor and cling to them with both arms.
"Hahahaha! I can't— I can't breathe! The look on that kid's face must've been priceless!"
Loki rolled on the sofa laughing so hard she teared up.
"But seriously—two hundred million valis for the destruction of an entire man-made dungeon core and a brand-new Level 4 monster of a recruit? That's an absolute steal!"
"Loki." Riveria planted a sheet of parchment directly onto Loki's face with dead-eyed patience. "Stop laughing and start working. Emiya has been waiting outside for a while. He forced a level-up in battle—if his Falna isn't properly updated, his condition will remain unstable."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it~!" Loki peeled the paper off, still snickering. "Let him in. I really want to see what the status sheet of a kid who broke common sense looks like."
Moments later, Shirou entered.
He removed his shirt, revealing a well-built back crisscrossed with old scars and newer bruises—proof of survival, proof of pain, proof he'd dragged himself through hell and kept walking.
Centered between his shoulder blades, the Loki Familia emblem radiated heat like a brand.
"Alright," Loki said, biting her finger with theatrical flair. A single drop of divine blood fell.
Light erupted.
Sacred letters flowed across Shirou's back like liquid, rearranging, updating, rewriting his existence.
Minutes passed.
Then Loki stared at the transcribed parchment—and for the first time, her normally half-lidded eyes opened fully.
Her crimson slit pupils widened.
"W-Wait… what the hell is this…?"
Even her voice shook.
"Cheating has limits, you know?! This isn't a Level 4—this is a monster wearing Level 4 skin!"
Name: Shirou EmiyaLevel: 4Alias: Senji Muramasa
Parameters:
Strength: I (90)
Endurance: I (150) (boosted by Unbroken Smith)
Dexterity: I (80)
Agility: I (70)
Magic: I (200) (expanded through extreme depletion and recovery)
Those were only the surface numbers.
The truly terrifying part was below—his Magic and Skills.
Unlimited Blade Works — Fully Unlocked
New effects: reduced cost and increased power for Broken Phantasm
Permanent Projection unlocked (can produce tangible, physical weapons)
Body of Steel
New effect: Conceptual Defense
High resistance to curses, mental interference, and instant-death type effects
??? (new slot, unclear—text blurred)
Note: Residual "starlight" detected. Possible precursor to awakening of the Third Magic.
Mind's Eye (True) → Mind's Eye (Extreme)
Effect: not only sees weaknesses in the present, but can "read" causal threads up to three seconds into the future
Clairvoyance — Responsive Type
Effect: vision range extended to 5 kilometers
Includes night vision, mana perception, and penetration-style sight
Unbroken Smith
Effect: when taking lethal damage, forcibly preserves 1 HP (cooldown: 24 hours)
Mana regeneration increases as injuries worsen
God Slayer (Pseudo) (new)
Source: defeating creatures with divine-class power (Amphisbaena / Corrupted Spirit)
Effect: bonus damage against targets possessing divinity
Riveria leaned in, took one look, and nearly dropped her staff.
"This status…" she murmured in disbelief. "A built-in 'cannot-die' effect? Three-second future prediction? Anti-divinity bonus damage?"
She stared at Shirou like he was a walking disaster report.
"This child… is he planning to solo the Black Dragon?"
"Hmph." Loki puffed her chest, delighted in the worst way. "That's the guy I picked. With that status sheet—and with Haruhime's Level Boost—Emiya can actually wrestle with Ottar for real now, can't he?"
Then Loki's grin sharpened.
"Put your shirt back on, monster-boy. Also—Haruhime is waiting outside. And the way she looks…"
Loki waggled her brows.
"…she might be about to repay you with her body."
"PLEASE DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT!" Shirou snatched his shirt and bolted.
In some situations, a Level 7 monster was simpler.
A fox girl with absolute gratitude and a pure heart?
That was the true nightmare difficulty.
"Shirou-dono!"
The moment he stepped out, a small figure darted toward him—
Then stopped short precisely one meter away and dropped into a flawless, textbook prostration.
Haruhime.
She was wearing a maid outfit Shirou had somehow ended up acquiring for her.
(Do not ask why it was a maid outfit. The answer was, apparently, "Aiz suggested it.")
Her golden fox ears were flattened with tension, but her tail betrayed her completely—wagging like it was trying to achieve liftoff.
"G-Good morning, Shirou-dono!"
"Haruhime, please get up," Shirou said quickly, rushing to help. "You don't have to bow like that inside the Familia."
"No!" Haruhime looked up, eyes watery, voice trembling with sincerity. "This is necessary! If not for you, I would still be trapped in that darkness… You are my savior. My light. My everything!"
Shirou's brain tried to reboot.
"That's… a lot of responsibility—"
Haruhime inhaled, cheeks turning pink.
"So… please allow me… to serve you!"
"…Serve?"
In Shirou's mind, a dangerous montage tried to start.
He shut it down immediately.
"Yes! Laundry, cooking, cleaning, and—" she whispered the last part so softly it was almost inaudible, "—warming your bed… I can do anything!"
Haruhime clenched her small fists like she was bracing for battle.
"I'm not clever, and I'm not strong like Lady Aiz, but… I'll work hard!"
"The bed part is not necessary," Shirou said, wiping sweat. "And cooking is… already my job."
Haruhime panicked, ears drooping.
"Th-then—then what can I do?! I— I— I can— can I brush your fur?!" she blurted, before realizing what she'd said.
She froze.
"…You don't have fur."
A snort of laughter came from nearby.
Shirou turned his head.
Around the corner, a small group was shamelessly spying:
Aiz, Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya.
"I told you!" Tiona whispered, chewing snacks like she was watching a festival. "She's totally a loyal-dog character!"
"Loyal fox," Tione corrected, serious as a judge.
Lefiya bit a handkerchief with visible jealousy. "Whatever she is, Emiya's harem just got bigger again… how irritating."
Shirou ignored them and crouched, gently patting Haruhime's head.
The ears twitched.
The patting was… extremely effective.
"Haruhime," he said softly, "you don't need to be anyone's servant. You're a member of Loki Familia. You're our companion. Companions don't 'serve' each other."
Haruhime's eyes trembled.
"…But I want to repay you."
"If you really want to repay me," Shirou pointed down the corridor toward the kitchen, "come help prep ingredients."
He smiled.
"Tonight… we're throwing a huge victory feast."
"A victory feast?!" Haruhime's eyes lit up like fireworks. "Y-Yes! I'll wash vegetables! I'm really fast at washing vegetables!"
And she sprinted away with the joy of someone who had been handed a purpose and a knife-safe task.
Shirou watched her go, smiling despite himself.
For people who loved living—
The kitchen really was the best home.
Aiz stepped up beside him naturally, as if she'd always belonged there.
"I'll help too."
"You can cook?"
Aiz stared straight ahead, utterly serious.
"I can… steal food. No. Taste-test."
"…Alright," Shirou surrendered, amused. "A taste-tester is an important role."
The dining hall became a battlefield of food again.
But this time, it wasn't just Loki Familia.
Astrea Familia was present—Alise and the others.
Hermes Familia appeared too—Asfi included.
Even Hephaestus Familia sent Tsubaki.
It was a victory banquet for those who had survived the "Great Strife" and dragged Orario back into tomorrow.
"CHEERS—!!"
Cups clinked loud enough to shake the ceiling.
"Whoa—what kind of meat is this?! It's so tender!"
"Floor 37 mammoth meat! Emiya grilled it with Unlimited Blade Works, the heat control is perfect!"
"This soup—there's mana in it! One sip and it feels like my MP refilled!"
Shirou stood in an open kitchen, wielding a spatula like a sword.
"Trace—Cooking!"
"Seasoning—Perfect!"
At his side, Haruhime hustled with plates, flustered but happy.
Aiz stood with absolute solemnity, sampling every dish… and quietly hiding the best pieces like a dragon hoarding treasure.
Lili stood near the entrance collecting "entry fees" from non-family guests with a sweet smile and the soul of an accountant.
Finn leaned near the window with a drink, watching the chaos with faint warmth.
"This is lively," he said.
"It is," Riveria replied, gaze shifting toward Shirou—who was surrounded by laughter and noise like a campfire surrounded by travelers. "Though temporary."
Finn's eyes deepened.
"He didn't just change things. He's… hope."
"A breaker of stagnation."
A booming voice shattered the moment.
"CAPTAIN! Stop acting profound and come eat! If you're late, Tiona's gonna steal everything!"
Finn laughed and shook his head.
"I'm coming."
A thoroughly drunk Alise climbed onto the table, holding a bottle like it was a microphone.
"Everyone, listen up! To thank Shirou Emiya for saving us—" she said, waving dramatically, "—in every possible sense— I propose we give him the title of Lifetime Honorary Captain!"
"WOOO!""APPROVED!""SECONDed!""And marry me too!" shouted some unidentified Amazon, very drunk and very unhelpful.
"H-Hey, don't just say things like that!" Shirou dropped his spatula in panic. This was public execution, not celebration.
Then Ryuu approached.
Tonight, she wasn't in the Hostess uniform.
She wore a pale green dress that made the room go slightly quieter around her—not because she demanded attention, but because she didn't have to.
Her cheeks were tinged with a gentle flush.
"Shirou," she said softly.
"Thank you."
Shirou scratched his cheek, embarrassed. "It was mutual help."
"No." Ryuu shook her head. Her eyes were calm, warm—alive.
"That day… if not for you, I might not be here."
Then she leaned close and whispered, voice light like wind:
"As repayment… I'll tell you a secret."
"A secret?"
Ryuu smiled—mischief, the rare kind.
"Syr… has been watching you."
Shirou froze.
Then, slowly—very slowly—he looked toward the distant glow above Babel.
The top floors still shone with steady light.
Somewhere up there, was a goddess named Freya.
And the sensation that crawled up Shirou's spine wasn't fear.
It was the instinctive chill of prey realizing a predator had taken interest.
Aiz noticed immediately and stepped closer, holding a skewer of dumplings she hadn't finished.
"What's wrong, Shirou?"
"N-nothing," he said quickly, forcing the unease down. He looked at Aiz, then at the room full of laughter and living warmth.
Whatever storms waited ahead—
This moment was real.
"Aiz," Shirou said suddenly.
"Hm?"
"If one day… I have to challenge the 'peak.'"
The Black Dragon.
Or the goddess who smiled like a blade.
"…Will you stand with me?"
Aiz stared at him.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"Yes."
She lifted the skewer and fed him a dumpling with the same seriousness she used to draw her sword.
"Wherever you go. Heaven or hell."
"I am your sword."
"And your… shield."
Shirou bit down, smiling bright.
"Then… I'm counting on you, Sword Princess."
When the banquet finally collapsed into a sea of sleeping bodies, Shirou slipped out onto the balcony alone.
Night wind brushed his face.
Orario's lights glittered like a promise that refused to die.
"Level 4…" he murmured, staring at his palm.
Power pulsed under his skin. Unlimited Blade Works was fully unlocked. He finally had the foundation to stand in this city without being swallowed.
But—
It still wasn't enough.
Deep within Knossos, the spirit wasn't truly dead.
Freya's "love" still hung overhead like a guillotine made of velvet.
And beyond all of it…
The final calamity: the Black Dragon.
"The road's still long."
Shirou reached into his pocket and took out a fragment—something like Orion's arrow—and then a short sword Ryuu had given him.
He placed them together.
"Trace…"
He wasn't projecting.
Not yet.
He was designing.
A blade that could sever the fate woven by gods.
A blade that could protect everyone.
A blade worthy of the name—
The Sword of the End.
Under the moon, the red-haired hero made a vow to the sleeping city:
"Wait for me, Orario."
"I'll cut this sorrowful cycle…"
"…clean through."
....
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