Fate x Danmachi: The Sword Prince (eng)

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Ryuu walked to her room, leaving Shirou patiently waiting outside. Her mind was still swirling with the events from earlier, especially the moment she had offered Shirou to use her bath first, only for him to casually decline, saying, "I didn't even sweat during practice."

Once inside her room, Ryuu shut the door behind her and sighed. As she removed her clothes and placed them in the pile of laundry, she muttered softly, "Such a show-off. Since when did he become like that?" Yet, a small smile crept onto her face. Her gaze fell on the handkerchief Shirou had handed her earlier when she'd been crying. She picked it up slowly, her expression softening as she looked at the small piece of cloth. Maybe he felt uncomfortable using my bath. Saying he didn't sweat was probably just to avoid making me feel awkward, she thought before carefully setting the handkerchief near her laundry.

Ryuu then entered the bathroom. Warm water cascaded over her, washing away her fatigue and the emotions that had briefly overwhelmed her. Yet, her thoughts kept returning to the training session they had just finished. She replayed how Shirou had initially pretended to be a clumsy, weak fighter, mimicking the movements of an inexperienced adventurer perfectly.

"He completely tricked me," Ryuu murmured as she splashed water on her face, unable to suppress a faint smile mixed with a touch of irritation. But that smile gradually faded as a question crept into her mind. What made him change his mind?

Ryuu searched for an answer within herself. Was Shirou moved by her sincere desire to support his dream of becoming a protector of justice? Or was it because he wanted to help her reunite with Lady Astraea, even if that meant revealing a part of the strength he had kept hidden?

After her bath, Ryuu dried herself off and donned her signature green uniform as a waitress at the Hostess of Fertility. Standing in front of the mirror, she looked at her neat, clean reflection. In the stillness of her room, a newfound resolve blossomed within her. Whatever Shirou's reasons, I know everything he does comes from his good intentions. That's just who he is.

Feeling calmer, Ryuu smiled faintly at her reflection. "I'll keep supporting him, just like he's always supported me," she whispered before stepping out to meet Shirou, who was still waiting outside.

Shirou sat leaning against a large tree, his eyes closed as though enjoying the gentle breeze. His face was peaceful, with no trace of exhaustion despite their recent training.

Ryuu stood a short distance away, observing him with a slight smile. No one would guess that behind such a calm face lies extraordinary strength, she thought.

Her gaze shifted to Shirou's red hair, which shimmered in the midday sun. Memories of Alise suddenly surfaced in her mind. Alise's hair had also been red, though darker than Shirou's.

Ryuu closed her eyes briefly, comparing the two in her thoughts. There were similarities, but the differences were more pronounced. To Ryuu, Alise was like the sun—radiant and bright. With her optimistic smile and uplifting words, Alise inspired everyone, igniting a fire of justice and encouraging others to rise alongside her.

Shirou, on the other hand, was the opposite. If Alise was the passionate, blazing sun, Shirou was the tranquil, luminous full moon. He didn't seek attention, but his presence brought comfort. He quietly helped others without being asked, always humble and avoiding praise for his deeds.

Ryuu chuckled softly, her eyes returning to Shirou. Two different lights, yet both capable of earning my admiration. Alise was the sun that guided me in the past, while Shirou... he's like the moon illuminating my path through the darkness.

With a heart filled with gratitude and admiration, Ryuu slowly approached, realizing how much Shirou had unknowingly become a crucial part of her healing process.

As she walked closer to Shirou, still leaning under the tree with his eyes closed, a whimsical thought crossed her mind—what if Alise and Shirou could meet? Two contrasting personalities, yet perhaps they would complement each other, she mused with a small smile. But the thought quickly derailed into imagining the two of them conspiring to tease her.

Memories of Alise filled Ryuu's mind once more. Alise's relentless optimism often left her Familia members exasperated. Her habit of praising herself with phrases like, "Aren't I beautiful, cute, and dazzling?" while puffing out her chest was simultaneously annoying and endearing. Shirou isn't like that, but he has his own way of getting under my skin, Ryuu thought, crossing her arms.

She recalled how Shirou had hidden his strength all this time, making himself seem like a novice adventurer in need of training. "I really looked ridiculous earlier," she murmured. Shirou had even left his explanation hanging, leaving her curiosity unsatisfied.

A mischievous idea popped into Ryuu's head. With a sly smile, she grabbed a water bottle with some leftover liquid and poured a bit into her palm. Without warning, she flicked the water onto Shirou's serene face.

Shirou's eyes flew open in surprise, but, as always, he didn't show any anger. Instead, he blinked a few times before saying, "Ryuu... what was that for?"

Ryuu smirked and replied with satisfaction, "Consider it payback for all the times you've annoyed me."

Noticing Ryuu's neatly dressed green uniform, Shirou realized something. "Are you ready for work again?" he asked, wiping the remaining water from his face.

Ryuu nodded softly. "Yes, it's time to get back to the Hostess of Fertility. What about you? Want to come along or keep relaxing here?"

Shirou gave a faint smile as he stood up. "If you're inviting me, how could I refuse?"

Ryuu chuckled lightly at his response. "Alright, let's go before Mama Mia starts shouting for us."

The two walked side by side, leaving the small training field behind and heading toward the Hostess of Fertility, their spirits noticeably lighter.

As they walked, Ryuu glanced at Shirou out of the corner of her eye, her expression hinting at a brewing strategy. After a few moments of silence, she spoke up, "Now it's my turn to ask about your secret, Shirou. And this time, don't leave your answer hanging."

Shirou, strolling casually beside her, turned slightly with a faint smile. "In that case, I want a straight answer too. When are we going to see Lady Astraea?" he asked, his tone half-teasing.

Ryuu fell silent for a moment, clearly unsure of how to respond. Then, a sly idea popped into her mind. Remembering how Syr often got what she wanted from Shirou with a pleading tone, Ryuu decided to try the same trick.

Clasping her hands in front of her chest, she put on a look that begged for understanding and said softly, "I just need a little time to prepare myself emotionally before meeting Lady Astraea. Please, Shirou. Give me some time."

As expected, Shirou could only sigh, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Alright," he said in a resigned tone. "If that's what you want, I'll wait. Now it's your turn to ask."

Ryuu hid her grin. Internally, she realized how easy it was to ask Shirou for anything and why Syr often took advantage of his soft-heartedness. However, she didn't want to waste this chance to learn more about the red-haired man.

She paused, weighing her question carefully. Asking about Shirou's skills seemed too sensitive—most adventurers considered such information private. Instead, she chose another topic. "Alright, Shirou," she said seriously. "Tell me about the Feat that earned you Level 4. I'm curious."

Shirou glanced ahead, noting they were close to the Hostess of Fertility. "It's a long story," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe we can talk about it another time."

Ryuu wasn't having it. "It's fine if you keep it short," she pressed. "I won't mind."

Shirou chuckled softly, realizing she wouldn't let him off so easily. In a slightly teasing tone, he replied, "Looks like I'm cornered here. Alright then, I'll try to summarize it later—after we finish work at the Hostess of Fertility. Deal?"

Ryuu considered this, then nodded. "Alright, I'll be waiting for your story," she said with a small, satisfied smile, pleased she'd secured his promise.

When Ryuu and Shirou entered the Hostess of Fertility, the restaurant was still fairly quiet. The midday rush had yet to begin. Syr, standing near the counter, greeted them with a warm smile. "Welcome," she said kindly, her gaze shifting to Shirou. "Shirou, are you heading upstairs to change into your uniform?"

Shirou nodded politely. "Yes, excuse me for a moment," he replied before heading upstairs to his room.

Once Shirou was out of sight, Syr turned to Ryuu with a curious expression. "Ryuu," she called, her tone lightly teasing. "You came here with Shirou? What's going on?"

Ryuu hesitated but decided to be honest. "I was training Shirou this morning," she said briefly, avoiding further details.

Syr nodded slowly, her expression suggesting she was piecing things together in her mind. "So, the training's done? How did it go? Did Shirou... learn a lot from you?" she asked, hopeful for some positive news.

Ryuu snorted lightly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Learn a lot? Not at all. He couldn't be taught," she replied her tone a mix of frustration and resignation.

Syr furrowed her brow, not fully understanding what Ryuu meant. However, she couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Shirou. Poor guy, Syr thought to herself. He's not talented with magic, can't learn anything from Grimoires, and now even his physical skills... She sighed quietly, masking her sympathy.

As Syr mulled over her thoughts, the sound of footsteps came from the stairs. Shirou appeared, now dressed in his green uniform, his face beaming with readiness to work. But he was immediately met with contrasting gazes from the two women.

Ryuu eyed him with a half-annoyed expression, still recalling how he had deceived her earlier. Meanwhile, Syr looked at Shirou with pity, her eyes full of sympathy for the perceived challenges he had faced.

Shirou paused, sensing something odd. "Why are you both looking at me like that?" he asked, puzzled by their reactions.

Ryuu simply huffed, arms still crossed. "It's nothing. Let's get to work," she said, brushing past him and heading to the kitchen to start cleaning up.

Syr, with a slightly forced gentle smile, patted Shirou on the shoulder. "Keep your spirits up, Shirou. If you need help, don't hesitate to call me."

Shirou looked at both women suspiciously but ultimately decided not to think too much about it. "Alright," he said with a small sigh before following Ryuu into the kitchen to start work.

In the kitchen, Shirou busied himself as usual, deftly chopping ingredients under Mama Mia's watchful eye. However, today felt slightly different. Syr, who had grown increasingly skilled at cooking thanks to Shirou's guidance, joined him in the kitchen. Yet something was odd—Syr seemed more attentive than usual, almost doting on Shirou.

"Shirou, do you want some tea? I can make it for you," Syr suddenly asked in a soft tone.

Shirou furrowed his brow, slightly puzzled by Syr's behavior. "Oh, no need, Syr. I'm fine," he replied with a small smile.

Ignoring his refusal, Syr went ahead and prepared the tea anyway. Handing him the cup, she gave him a sweet smile. "If you need a break, don't hesitate to let me know," she said.

Meanwhile, out in the dining area, Ryuu appeared lost in thought. Her gaze occasionally drifted toward the kitchen, observing Shirou from a distance. What other secrets is he hiding from me? she wondered, inadvertently ignoring a customer trying to place an order.

"Hey, Elf lady, when's our order coming?" one of the customers complained, snapping Ryuu out of her daze.

Realizing her lapse, Ryuu's face reddened slightly in embarrassment. "Ah, sorry. I'll get it ready right away," she said in her usual cool tone, quickly refocusing on her work. Still, her thoughts lingered, trying to unravel Shirou and the secrets he kept.

Time passed, and night fell. The restaurant began to empty out. Mama Mia let out a satisfied sigh as she surveyed the now nearly deserted dining room. One exception remained: Loki, the goddess of Shirou's Familia, was seated in the corner, grinning as she enjoyed a special fruit liquor from the Hostess of Fertility.

"Ah, this liquor is the best! One more round, Mama Mia!" Loki called out, laughing.

Mama Mia, growing irritated, warned her. "That's enough, Loki. We're closing."

Loki waved dismissively. "Aw, how about just one more? It's a goddess's request, you know!"

Mama Mia wasn't having it. Turning toward the kitchen, she shouted, "Hey, Shirou! Get this crazy goddess out of here and take her back to your headquarters. I don't want her sleeping here!"

Shirou, in the middle of washing the last few dishes, turned around looking slightly weary but compliant. "Got it, Mama Mia."

Syr and Ryuu watched Shirou, their expressions contrasting. Syr looked concerned, while Ryuu smirked faintly, amused to see Shirou struggling with Loki.

Shirou emerged from the kitchen and approached Loki, who was slightly drunk but still able to stand. "Loki, let's go home. It's late, and we can't bother them any longer."

Loki grinned at him. "Oh, Shirou! You're my best servant! Fine, escort me home."

With patience, Shirou helped Loki to her feet and supported her as they left the restaurant. Syr and Ryuu observed from inside.

"He's really patient, isn't he?" Syr remarked with a small smile.

Ryuu nodded slowly. "That's one of the things that makes him different," she murmured, almost to herself. But then, she remembered something.

Ryuu suddenly recalled Shirou's promise to tell her about his level-up Feat. Irritated, she quickly rushed after them.

As Shirou carefully guided a drunken Loki out of the Hostess of Fertility, the sound of hurried footsteps stopped him in his tracks. Ryuu, with an annoyed expression, appeared beside him.

"Shirou!" she called out. "Don't think you can get away from the story you promised me earlier."

Shirou glanced at her briefly, still supporting a swaying Loki. His expression remained calm, though tinged with resignation. "I'm not avoiding it, Ryuu. The situation just doesn't allow for it."

Loki, in her intoxicated state, looked at Ryuu with bleary eyes and mumbled, "Hey, pretty elf. Did I forget to pay? Is that why you're chasing us?"

Ryuu sighed, ignoring Loki's irrelevant question. Instead, she moved closer to Shirou and whispered, "Just give me a brief summary. At least tell me about the Feat that earned you Level 2."

Shirou turned slightly, replying softly amidst Loki's ramblings. "It's more complicated than you think, Ryuu. It could cause problems."

Ryuu narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What kind of problems?" she pressed in a low tone, not wanting Loki to overhear.

Feeling ignored, Loki suddenly blurted out an unexpected accusation. "Shirou... you playboy! Are you flirting with all the women in my Familia? Aiz, Riveria, Lefiya... who else? Even Finn might be charmed by you!"

Shirou let out a long sigh, his eyes fixed ahead. "Ignore her nonsense," he told Ryuu flatly.

Ryuu, however, wasn't about to let the topic go. Though she briefly wondered if there was any truth to Loki's drunken words, she quickly returned to the matter at hand. "Forget that. Stop changing the subject. Tell me about the Feat that helped you level up," she demanded firmly.

Seeing no way to avoid it, Shirou finally relented. In a low voice, he said, "Fine… It wasn't just a level-up to Level 2, Ryuu. I jumped straight to Level 3."

Ryuu's eyes widened in shock. "What? That's impossible! No adventurer in history has ever gained two levels at once! It's unheard of!"

Before Shirou could explain further, Loki suddenly vomited. Shirou swiftly bent down to steady the goddess, one hand supporting her shoulders while the other reached for tissues to clean up the mess.

"Sorry, Ryuu," Shirou said seriously while helping Loki settle down. "We'll continue this conversation another time."

Ryuu looked at Shirou, her emotions conflicted. She knew the current situation wasn't ideal for pushing further, but her curiosity burned even brighter. "Fine," she muttered, finally backing off. Still, her mind reeled from Shirou's words. Jumping two levels at once? How is that even possible?

As she watched Shirou escort Loki away, Ryuu let out a long sigh. "I know I won't be able to sleep tonight," she whispered to herself before turning to head back to her quarters.

After walking a good distance while supporting a heavily intoxicated Loki, Shirou finally reached Twilight Manor. In the spacious and cozy living room, Riveria sat elegantly, a book in one hand and a warm cup of tea in the other. Hearing the door open, she looked up and gave a faint smile.

"Thank you for bringing Loki back, Shirou," she said softly.

Shirou smiled slightly, adjusting Loki's position over his shoulder. "It's no trouble. This isn't the first time I've had to do this."

Riveria nodded knowingly and stood up. "Let's take her to her room. She won't remember any of this in the morning."

Together, they carried Loki upstairs to her private room. Loki, still semi-conscious, mumbled incoherently, prompting another sigh from Shirou. Once they managed to lay the goddess down on her bed, Riveria turned and let out a long breath.

"Such a bad habit," she said, crossing her arms. "After her meeting with Hermes and Dionysus earlier, Loki just went from one tavern to another, drinking. I'm surprised she could even walk before you found her."

Raising an eyebrow, Shirou was intrigued. "A meeting? What were they discussing?"

Riveria glanced at Shirou briefly before answering. "Hermes brought some important news. He said there might be another entrance to the Dungeon in Daedalus Street. Loki Familia has been tasked with investigating it tomorrow morning."

Shirou nodded, processing the information. "In that case, it seems our Magecraft training will have to be postponed again," he said with a hint of regret.

Riveria, who had already anticipated this, sighed deeply. "I was really looking forward to learning more about the Bounded Field you promised to teach. But I understand—the Familia's duties come first. We can resume the training after the investigation is done."

Shirou gave a small, apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about that. But once the investigation is over, I promise we'll pick up where we left off."

Riveria nodded, this time with a faint smile on her lips. "Alright. I'll hold you to that promise, Shirou."

They left Loki's now-quiet room, closing the door carefully to avoid waking the goddess. Shirou decided to return to his quarters, while Riveria went back to the living room to finish her book. Both of them, however, mentally prepared themselves for the challenges awaiting them the next day.