After Shirou created a mushroom cloud and forced the pursuers to stop tailing them, Texas continued driving forward for quite a while before finally stopping.
Technically, they could have just let Shirou climb back in while the car was moving but considering the sunroof had already let in plenty of sand thanks to Exusiai earlier, it did not make much difference anymore.
Still, since Shirou had a rope tied to his leg it would not be easy for him to climb back in through the sunroof. Stopping the car was the safest option. It also gave everyone a chance to clean up the sand covering their faces and tidy the interior a bit.
"Shirou, what did you just do?! That explosion was insanely loud!"
Sora asked while wiping her face with a damp towel.
Earlier, when she asked Exusiai and Croissant what happened, their explanations were… vague at best.
Something about Shirou pulling out a weird sword and shooting it and then it exploded.
That description was way too abstract for her to understand!
From her perspective, all she saw was Shirou climbing onto the roof, Texas driving, Exusiai and Croissant watching through the sunroof and the only thing she could do was hand over a rope.
Then—BOOM.
A massive explosion.
The whole thing took barely over a minute.
After that, Exusiai and Croissant returned with strange expressions and simply said, "It's handled."
Of course she was curious!
Even Texas seemed interested and though she did not say anything, the subtle movement of her ears and tail gave her away.
"It is nothing… I just fired a shot to warn them."
Shirou replied casually while dusting sand off his Penguin Logistics jacket.
"One shot? Was it an arrow or a sword? Be clear! What kind of archer creates that kind of explosion?! Praise Laterano, that was a mushroom cloud!"
Exusiai could not hold back and jumped in to complain. Even as a Sankta, she had rarely seen something like that and Shirou just casually pulled it off?!
"Hey, Exusiai, I just realized something. Every time you complain about Shirou, he ends up doing exactly what you said in some ridiculous way. How about you complain about him becoming rich next? Then we can all get rich with him!"
Croissant suddenly had an idea.
If Exusiai complained about Shirou becoming rich and it came true then they would not have to work so hard anymore!
"You are overthinking it. Is your brain filled with bread?"
Shirou chopped Croissant lightly on the head.
He never expected this bread-loving merchant to try getting rich through superstition.
Maybe they should just throw this walking bakery away…
"That move just now… was that your strongest attack?"
Texas asked, piecing things together from her teammates' descriptions and the mushroom cloud she saw in the rearview mirror.
She had not expected Shirou to possess something like that.
With power like that, he could easily become someone influential anywhere.
And yet… he was here working at Penguin Logistics and taking care of them?
It felt surreal.
For a brief moment, Texas even wondered if Shirou had ulterior motives but quickly dismissed the thought.
If he really did, he could have just hidden his strength entirely.
"…Strongest? I guess you could say that."
Shirou thought about it for a moment.
The spiral sword was definitely a powerful area attack, but Noble Phantasms all had their own specialties. It was not easy to compare them directly. Each had its own ideal use.
"…'I guess'…? Shirou, you would be super popular in Laterano. Creating mushroom clouds by hand, that is basically every Sankta's dream."
Exusiai twitched slightly.
She genuinely envied Shirou's long-range explosive attacks.
If she could do that too, heavily armored enemies would be nothing but trash in front of her.
Just imagining it felt amazing.
But well… it was just imagination.
"Let's get moving. We've lost quite a bit of time."
Texas checked the map and spoke.
They had deviated slightly from their original route, not too much but stopping had cost them time.
Hearing that, everyone quickly packed up and got back into the vehicle.
"…I feel like my presence in this team is getting thinner and thinner."
Exusiai slumped into the passenger seat, looking oddly peaceful.
"Do not say that, Exusiai… you still shine in your own way!"
Croissant patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"…Croissant, just eat your bread."
Even Shirou could not bear to watch this "heartwarming" scene. He stuffed a piece of bread Sora had handed him straight into Croissant's mouth.
Croissant chewed.
Yep. A croissant.
"Shirou, can you create anything with your ability?"
Texas asked from the driver's seat. Last time, they only got a brief explanation and now it seemed there was much more to it.
"I can not create everything, mostly swords, bows and arrows. Other things depend on what they are."
Shirou thought for a moment before answering.
"Wow… that is super convenient! You are basically a walking armory! Does that mean I will not need to bring weapons anymore?"
Croissant swallowed the bread and voiced her idea.
Her hammer and shield were the heaviest items in the vehicle, if she did not have to carry them, things would be much easier!
"That would consume too much. Forget the hammer, but projecting a shield costs more than creating several swords."
Shirou crushed her hopes immediately, explaining the energy cost.
Swords were the cheapest to project.
Bows and arrows came next.
Shields and similar items? Way too expensive.
Unless absolutely necessary, he would not use them.
"I see… so it's called 'Projection'? That name really fits."
As Shirou explained, everyone gained a better understanding of his abilities.
And for the first time, they heard its proper name.
It was not that Shirou had been hiding it, it was just too complicated to explain.
Projection, mana, Noble Phantasms…
None of those concepts really existed here.
So he could only describe things using terms people in this world could understand.