NOVEL NEXT Chapter 69: Chapter 69
The sketch of Syr looking and preparing herself in the mirror has been completed please check it out at https://www.patreon.com/Rayish
Shirou sat under the shade of a tree, a water bottle in hand, but his thoughts drifted far from the training session. Why do I need to hide my strength? He wondered, gazing at Ryuu sitting not far away.
The answer was simple. The gods of this world might appear playful and whimsical, but they were not beings to be underestimated. While they sealed away their divine power, Arcanum, to live in this world, who could guarantee they wouldn't misuse it? What would happen if a god secretly wielded their divine powers for their own agenda?
Shirou thought of names like Hephaestus or Goibniu, gods of forging. If they learned I could project Noble Phantasms or replicate weapons forged by their Familias, what would happen? Trouble, no doubt. They might see him as a threat—or worse, force him to create weapons for them.
But even beyond that, his mind wandered to Unlimited Blade Works, the Reality Marble at the core of his being. If that secret leaked, what would I do if the gods became as obsessed as the magi from my original world? He shuddered at the thought. I might become nothing more than an experiment or a plaything. Just imagining it sent chills down his spine.
He looked again at Ryuu, who was sipping water from her bottle. I trust Ryuu wouldn't spread my secret. She's not that kind of person. But if I make an exception for one person, it could open the door for others. And if that happens, everything could fall apart.
Still, Ryuu's words from earlier echoed in his mind. She sincerely wanted to support him in becoming a Seigi no Mikata. Shirou took a deep breath, trying to calm his anxieties. Maybe I can give her a little trust. But only after I understand her reasons.
"Ryuu," Shirou called softly, his tone calm but serious, catching the Elf's attention.
Ryuu turned, her clear blue eyes filled with curiosity. "What is it, Shirou?" she asked.
Shirou gripped his water bottle tightly, as if drawing courage from its simple form. "I want to know—why do you think you can't be a defender of justice anymore? You're young, strong, experienced. What made you give up?"
Ryuu froze at the question. She fell silent, her gaze losing focus as if she were looking deep within herself. Shirou watched her quietly, giving her the space to reflect.
Kiritsugu gave up too, Shirou thought, recalling his late adoptive father. He gave up when his body grew weak, when sickness ate away at him. But Ryuu isn't like that. She still has time, strength, and opportunity. So why?
At last, Ryuu placed her bottle on her lap and took a deep breath before answering. "It's because…" Her voice faltered, trailing off. Her eyes lowered, heavy with doubt and old wounds.
Shirou cut through the tension with a light-hearted tone. "Ryuu," he said, offering a small smile, "do you remember that game we played back then? The one at the fountain?"
Ryuu looked at Shirou, her eyebrows raising slightly. "Of course," she said, recalling the memory. "The game of asking each other questions and sharing secrets, right?"
Shirou nodded, his lips curling into a faint grin. "Exactly. You were the last to ask me something. Now, think of this as my turn to ask you."
Ryuu sighed softly, but a faint smile touched her lips. "Shirou, you're cheating. Using that as an excuse to make me answer your question."
Shrugging casually, Shirou replied with playful sarcasm. "Cheating? Not at all. It's my turn to ask, fair and square."
Ryuu shook her head slowly, her smile growing slightly warmer. "Fine," she said, giving in to the little game. "What do you want to know?"
Shirou took a deep breath and looked at her seriously. "You said earlier that you don't think you can be a defender of justice anymore. Why? What made you feel that way?"
Ryuu fell silent again, her gaze fixed on the water bottle in her hands. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet. "Because I've abandoned my sense of justice. I'm tainted. I… no longer deserve to uphold something so pure."
Shirou was startled but remained silent, giving her the space to continue.
"Justice, to me," Ryuu said softly, her tone pensive, "is doing good without expecting a reward. Justice is upholding those values always… and destroying evil wherever it appears."
Shirou nodded slowly, agreeing with her definition of justice. "Isn't that what you've always done? Defended those values?"
Ryuu shook her head firmly, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "I've stained my justice. I let vengeance consume me… and I slaughtered the entire Rudra Familia to avenge my friends."
Her head lowered further, her entire body radiating regret.
Shirou watched her with deep empathy. "Ryuu," he said, his tone gentle but firm, "a defender of justice isn't a machine. You're a person—or rather, an Elf—with feelings. Vengeance is natural. You lost your friends in a cruel way. That revenge… it's understandable."
Ryuu shook her head slowly, tears welling in her eyes. "But… even my goddess, Astraea, told me to abandon that justice. She knew what I would do and begged me not to. But I did it anyway. I don't deserve to carry that burden anymore."
Shirou fell silent. Ryuu's words carried a weight he couldn't deny—a profound, lingering pain. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but he knew this wasn't the time to offer easy solutions. Ryuu needed to be heard.
In the quiet that followed, Shirou decided to wait, giving her the space to share more if she wished.
After a long pause, Ryuu took a deep breath and continued, her voice soft but heavy with emotion. "The Rudra Familia… they were cunning. They set a trap for us in the Dungeon. Astraea Familia wasn't easily fooled, and we detected the ambush early."
Her face tensed, and a bitter smile crossed her lips. "We avoided the trap, but… they tampered with the Dungeon in a way we never expected. It triggered the appearance of a legendary monster—Juggernaut."
Shirou, sitting across from Ryuu, remained silent, listening intently.
"Juggernaut…" Ryuu's voice trembled as she uttered the name. "It's no ordinary monster. Its form is skeletal, with sharp spikes jutting out, its eyes glowing red like torches in the dark. It's the Dungeon's executioner, created to destroy anyone who disrupts the Dungeon's balance. It's fast, deadly, and merciless."
Shirou nodded faintly, imagining the horror Ryuu described. He didn't interrupt, only offering his quiet attention.
With her eyes glistening, Ryuu spoke in a near whisper, "We tried to fight… Alise, Kaguya, Lyra, and the others… they all knew there was no way out. So they held the line, sacrificing themselves… for me."
Her fists clenched, her body trembling with suppressed rage. "I... I was the only one who survived. They all screamed at me to run. I had no other choice, but the guilt... every step I took felt like a betrayal of their sacrifice."
Shirou remained silent, giving Ryuu the space to let out her emotions.
With eyes filled with pain and hatred, Ryuu continued, "The members of Rudra Familia who set the trap? They ran away when Juggernaut appeared! They left us to die while they fled to safety. I couldn't accept that... I swore I would avenge them. I would pay back the blood of my friends with their blood."
Ryuu lowered her head, tears starting to stream down her cheeks. "After that, I returned to the Astraea Familia base... alone. Everything was in ruins. I begged Lady Astraea to leave Orario. I knew I would seek revenge, and I didn't want her to be caught in my decision. I... I didn't want to taint her justice with my darkness."
Her tears now flowed freely as she recalled her final moments with Lady Astraea. "And that was when she... she told me to abandon my justice. Those were her last words to me before she left. She knew I wouldn't stop, and she wanted me to do it without dragging the name of justice down with me."
Shirou let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of Ryuu's emotions. He didn't say anything, allowing her to release all the pain she carried. He understood that beneath those deep scars, Ryuu still harbored a light she had buried away, and his role was to help her uncover it again.
Having listened carefully to Ryuu's story, Shirou quietly projected a handkerchief into his pocket. With a gentle motion, he offered it to her. "Here, use this," he said kindly.
Ryuu took the handkerchief without a word and began wiping away her tears and the traces of her sobs. Her delicate movements reflected her effort to regain her composure.
After a moment of silence, Shirou spoke. "Ryuu, has Lady Astraea ever returned to Orario? Have you heard any news about her?"
Ryuu shook her head slowly, her eyes still slightly red. "No, I haven't heard anything. Maybe... maybe she doesn't want anything to do with me anymore. Maybe she gave up on me after I abandoned justice, as she asked."
Shirou frowned. "That's impossible," he said firmly, though his tone remained gentle. He looked at Ryuu seriously. "Have you ever thought that maybe she asked you to abandon justice not because she gave up on you, but to protect you?"
Ryuu looked at him in confusion, her brows furrowing. "Protect me? What do you mean, Shirou?"
Shirou took a deep breath before explaining. "If Lady Astraea asked you to let go of your ideals, it might have been because she knew you couldn't survive if you held onto such a heavy burden. She might have wanted you to avenge your friends without being weighed down by that guilt and pain. It could have been her way of ensuring you stayed alive."
Ryuu fell silent, her eyes widening slightly. Shirou's words lit a small spark of hope in her heart, but doubt still lingered. "But... if that's true, then why hasn't she returned to Orario? Why hasn't she sought me out?"
Shirou gave her a small, understanding smile. "Maybe she has her own reasons. Maybe there's something she has to take care of out there. Or... maybe she's giving you time, a chance for your wounded heart to heal."
Ryuu didn't respond, her mind spinning with Shirou's words—a mixture of hope and confusion swirling within her.
Then Shirou lifted his head, a new idea sparking in his eyes. "Ryuu, how about we make a bet?"
Ryuu tilted her head slightly, puzzled. "A bet? About what?"
Shirou smiled, revealing his little plan. "Earlier, I fell during training, right? If I can make you fall during our next session, then we'll leave Orario together... to find Lady Astraea."
Ryuu was momentarily stunned, but a small smile gradually spread across her face. She could see Shirou's sincerity in his offer. "That's an interesting bet, Shirou. But you know it won't be easy, right? I'm not someone who's easily brought down," she said, remembering her own resilience on the battlefield.
In her heart, Ryuu thought, After what I saw earlier, it might take Shirou a long time to make me fall. Or... maybe he has a secret trick he hasn't shown yet.
With eyes full of determination, Ryuu finally nodded. "Alright, Shirou. I accept your bet."
Shirou stood tall, gripping the blunt sword he had projected earlier. With a confident smile, he looked at Ryuu, who was still seated. "Ryuu," he called firmly, his voice steady. "How about we start now? I'm ready."
Ryuu frowned, surprised at the drastic change in Shirou's demeanor. Just moments ago, he seemed exhausted and on the verge of giving up, but now his aura was entirely different. Slowly, she rose to her feet and lifted her wooden sword. "Interesting," she said, her gaze fixed on Shirou. "Then show me all your tricks, Shirou."
As he raised his sword, Shirou focused his thoughts. It's time to show Ryuu a glimpse of my true power. If it can save her heart, then I have to do it, he resolved.
But with a playful tone, Shirou added, "My true power will only activate if you promise not to ask too many questions during our fight."
Ryuu smirked at the challenge, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Alright, if that's what you want. I'll start without talking much." She stepped forward into an attacking stance, initially using strength equivalent to a level 1 adventurer to test Shirou.
Ryuu's first strike came quickly, but Shirou easily deflected it. His blunt sword moved as if it already knew the direction of her attack.
Ryuu paused briefly, her eyes scrutinizing the change in Shirou. He's different... his movements, his posture. He's not the same as before. Gradually, she increased her strength—from level 1 to level 2, and even approaching level 3. Yet each time, Shirou managed to block her strikes with astonishing calmness. Even under a barrage of attacks, Shirou moved efficiently, as if unburdened.
"This doesn't make sense..." Ryuu murmured under her breath, half in disbelief. "Shirou, you've only been in Orario for a few months. How can you be this strong?"
Shirou didn't answer, only giving her a faint smile. That calm expression made Ryuu's blood boil. She wanted to ask, wanted to know why Shirou had been hiding his abilities all this time. But she remembered Shirou's earlier words—that his power would only activate if there were no questions. That only made her more frustrated, especially seeing the relaxed grin on Shirou's face.
"Shirou..." Ryuu said coldly, tightening her grip on her wooden sword. "Don't think I'll let you toy with me forever."
Fueled by her irritation, Ryuu's wooden sword began moving faster, slashing from the left, right, above, and below. Her movements were like an unpredictable wind, forming a relentless pattern of attacks. Yet Shirou stood his ground, his blunt sword moving with exceptional precision, blocking every strike without faltering.
Ryuu growled in frustration. How is this possible? I'm giving it everything I've got, but he hasn't even moved from his spot. Seeing an opening, Ryuu leaped behind Shirou in a flash and aimed a thrust at his back. But without turning, Shirou swung his sword backward, perfectly deflecting her attack.
Ryuu's eyes widened. Did he read my movement? Can he see the future? No... it's something more than that.
Frustration mixed with anger as Ryuu gritted her teeth. If my techniques can't defeat him, I'll rely on sheer power. She decided to gamble on one last strike. Abandoning all techniques, she opted for a full-frontal assault using the raw power of her level 4 status.
Ryuu planted her feet firmly on the ground, her eyes sharply analyzing Shirou, who remained calm. "This time, Shirou... you're going down!" With speed befitting her alias, Gale, Ryuu shot forward like the wind, her wooden sword aimed directly at Shirou.
Shirou, whose stats had all been maxed at SSS since level 1, read Ryuu's movements perfectly. With a light but effective motion, Shirou deflected Ryuu's frontal attack, creating a loud clash that echoed across the field. The force of the parry caused Ryuu to lose her balance and stumble forward.
Before Ryuu could hit the ground, Shirou swiftly caught her. Half-embracing her, he prevented her from falling any further.
"Ryuu, be careful," Shirou said softly, his tone gentle yet filled with concern. "You're pushing yourself too hard."
Ryuu's body stiffened—this was the first time a man had been so close to her. Normally, Ryuu kept her distance from everyone except those she deeply trusted, like Syr and the late Alise. But oddly enough, Shirou's embrace didn't feel threatening; instead, it felt... safe. Her heart raced, and she quickly turned her face away, hiding the blush rising to her cheeks.
Ryuu quickly stood up, pulling herself free from Shirou's grasp. Brushing the dust off her clothes awkwardly, she said, "I concede."
Shirou gave a small smile, tilting his head. "You did well, Ryuu. You just need a little more practice."
Still hiding her embarrassment, Ryuu grumbled quietly, "You make me feel like a beginner. You're really annoying, Shirou." She let out a small huff, then averted her gaze to conceal the faint smile forming on her face. He's stronger than I thought... and gentler than I expected.
Ryuu looked at Shirou with an intensity that was hard to ignore. Her sky-blue eyes sparkled with curiosity and a hint of accusation. "So, Shirou," she began in a flat but piercing tone, "have you always been this strong? Even when I saw you pretending to be weak after being shoved by that drunk adventurer when you first arrived in Orario?"
Scratching the back of his head, Shirou let out a sheepish laugh. "Hehe, I wasn't pretending to be weak. You know, Ryuu, my power only shows up if you don't ask too many questions."
Ryuu narrowed her eyes, her expression making it clear she wasn't going to accept such a vague answer again. "Shirou," she said firmly, "you used your turn earlier to ask about my secret. Now it's my turn. So, tell me the truth."
Shirou hesitated for a moment, his face showing a flicker of doubt. But he knew he couldn't keep lying to Ryuu. Taking a deep breath, he finally nodded. "Alright," he said. "I'll be honest. When I first came to Orario, I was weak. I didn't have a Falna, and... well, I was nowhere near the level of adventurers like you."
Ryuu listened intently, her expression softening slightly though suspicion still lingered in her gaze. Shirou continued, "But after I joined the Loki Familia, everything changed. I grew rapidly... maybe too rapidly. And now I'm already level 4."
Ryuu's eyes widened in shock at Shirou's admission. "Level 4?!" she exclaimed. "In just a few months? You're joking, right?"
Shirou raised his hands defensively, trying to calm her. "I'm serious. But it's not that extraordinary, is it? I mean, Bell also reached level 3 in just a few months."
Ryuu scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Bell Cranel leveled up to 2 after fighting a Minotaur, and to 3 after the War Game against Apollo Familia. Everyone knows because they witnessed it. But you? You're silent, unnoticed, and suddenly you're level 4. That... that's infuriating!"
Shirou gave a faint smile, looking a bit guilty. "I didn't mean to hide it, Ryuu. I just... didn't want to cause a fuss."
Ryuu shook her head, then looked at Shirou with a gaze that was softer, though tinged with residual frustration. "You're full of secrets, Shirou. But I'm starting to understand why you chose not to reveal them. You really are... unique."
Shirou gave a wry grin. "Unique in a good way, right?"
Ryuu rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile on her lips. "We'll see."
Ryuu then scrutinized Shirou with suspicion, her brow furrowed as her curiosity grew. "Shirou, can you see the future? How else could you have blocked all my attacks so effortlessly?"
Shirou chuckled softly, trying to ease Ryuu's concerns. "I can't see the future," he said with a shrug, "but..."
Ryuu cut him off, pressing him for a clearer answer. "But what? Don't leave your answer hanging like that!"
Holding back his grin, Shirou seemed to relish the moment. "But," he continued in a calm tone, "you already used your turn to ask about my big secret earlier. Now it's my turn to ask you."
Ryuu's expression shifted immediately, her eyes narrowing. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" she said, her irritation starting to show. "Fine, ask anything. I'll answer without dodging."
Pretending to think, Shirou placed a finger on his chin, dragging out the tension. "Hmmm..." he murmured, deliberately prolonging the moment. Finally, he turned to Ryuu with a mischievous smile. "When are we going to find Lady Astraea? I did manage to beat you just now."
Ryuu's face turned bright red, and she froze as if doused in cold water. "Eh... that... wait a second!" she stammered. "That's not fair! You've been hiding your strength from me all this time!"
Shirou chuckled, clearly enjoying Ryuu's reaction. "But still, I won, didn't I?" he said with a teasing tone.
Ryuu let out a long sigh, clearly feeling cornered but unable to deny Shirou's point. "I... I need to prepare myself before meeting Lady Astraea," she said softly, trying to shift the focus.
This time, Shirou's smile was warmer, and his tone grew more serious. "That's okay, Ryuu. I'll wait patiently until you're ready. This is your journey, and I'm just here to support you."
Ryuu looked at Shirou with a mixture of gratitude and lingering embarrassment. "Thank you, Shirou," she said quietly. "You always confuse me... but somehow, I feel like I can trust you."