"Where am I? Why am I here?"
Shirou slowly raised an arm to his forehead, eyes half-open as he stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above him. His voice was hoarse, words slipping out without much thought.
He was still not fully awake.
Then the memories came back.
"So... I got completely drunk and was carried back, huh?" he muttered. "Those guys really didn't hold back. Absolute beasts."
He complained out loud, but there was a smile on his face as he sat up.
A real one.
How long had it been since he'd felt like this?
Since Miyu had been taken away by Julian, the house had been empty. Quiet. Too quiet. Shirou had lived alone ever since.
Loneliness was hard for anyone. And for Shirou, who was never meant for solitude, it weighed even heavier.
If things had followed the original flow of his destiny-if he had continued without attachments-he would have become Red Archer and reached a bitter end.
If he had chosen Saber.
Or Rin Tohsaka.
Or Sakura Matou.
Any of those paths would have changed that future.
And that was why he liked this place.
The lively atmosphere. The noise. The presence of people.
The Familia felt alive.
That was also why the other him-Emiya, the one before-had chosen the Loki Familia in the first place.
It felt more like a family.
Sitting on the bed, Shirou let the sunlight spill across his body through the open window. The room itself was simple, almost bare, but clean.
He glanced around once more and let out a small chuckle.
"Looks like I'll have to decorate this place myself," he said. "But before that... equipment comes first."
Last night hadn't just been drinking and noise.
While half-conscious, he had still picked up plenty of useful information from the senior members.
The first was funding.
Any newcomer could receive an initial allowance of up to 100,000 Valis. The purpose was simple-purchase equipment, improve survival odds, and increase leveling efficiency.
Under normal circumstances, that amount was more than enough for a beginner.
In special cases, one could even borrow additional Valis from the Familia.
But borrowed money had to be repaid.
A Familia raised companions who fought together.
Not freeloaders who only took benefits.
The second benefit was training.
Combat techniques, team coordination, practical Dungeon experience.
But this part wasn't necessary for him.
Shirou wasn't a blank slate.
The third was information.
Knowledge and data.
The Loki Familia possessed a massive underground library, filled with books, maps, records, and research materials accumulated over years of Dungeon exploration.
Shirou planned to make full use of it later.
One step at a time.
After a quick cleanup, he left his room and went to the main hall. There, he received his starting funds-100,000 Valis-from the senior member in charge of finances.
It sounded like a lot.
But in reality, it wasn't.
At the "Hostess of Fertility," the pub the original protagonist frequented, a single meal could easily cost over a thousand Valis.
A hundred thousand was barely enough to cover a month of food.
Still, it was enough.
For Shirou, it was more than enough.
He didn't need to buy high-end weapons.
Projection Magic made that unnecessary.
Weapons were usually the biggest expense for adventurers, especially quality ones. For him, that cost could be ignored.
He also didn't plan to wear heavy armor.
A leather jacket would be sufficient.
Even if he upgraded later, it would be light armor that didn't restrict movement.
Mobility mattered more.
Still, there was one thing he couldn't ignore.
A backup weapon.
The Dungeon was full of dangers.
Among them, anomalies were the most infamous.
No one knew when they might appear.
If he ran out of magic at the wrong moment, he could lose his projected weapons.
If that happened on the way back...
A spare blade could mean the difference between walking out and dying inside.
So a backup was necessary.
He followed the recommendation of a senior Familia member and arrived at a shop commonly used by Loki Familia adventurers.
Once he mentioned the Familia's name, things moved quickly.
There was no haggling.
No unnecessary talk.
In the end, his purchases were simple.
A leather jacket.
A dagger for backup.
A backpack.
That was all.
Afterward, he used the remaining funds to buy several practical potions.
Nothing fancy.
Just reliable supplies.
With that, his preparations were complete.
As for decorating his room?
That could wait.
Once he had money.
With his shopping finished, Shirou took some time to explore the nearby area.
Orario was enormous.
It wasn't a city that could be understood in a single day.
By the time evening arrived, he returned to Twilight Manor.
"How was it?" a voice called out. "Orario's beautiful, isn't it?"
Loki was lounging in the courtyard, clearly trying-and failing-to cool off. She waved energetically when she spotted him.
"Yes," Shirou replied. "It has a beauty you don't really find elsewhere."
He hadn't seen other cities in this world.
But compared to Fuyuki City, the difference was obvious.
A modern city and a city of gods.
The atmosphere alone was different.
"Right?" Loki laughed. "In this world, Orario really is the most beautiful."
She gave his shoulder a casual pat.
"Your equipment's ready, right? When are you planning to head into the Dungeon?"
The gods' Familias each followed different paths, depending on their patrons' desires.
Some focused on medicine.
Some on alcohol.
Some even ran brothels.
The Loki Familia's path was clear.
Dungeon exploration.
"I'll wait two more days," Shirou said. "I'm planning to spend that time in the underground library. I want to read up on Dungeon information first."
He paused.
"Knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory."
"I see." Loki nodded, clearly pleased. "Good. It's better when you have your own plan."
She waved him off.
"Go eat. Don't waste time."
Shirou smiled and headed back inside.
As he walked, a thought surfaced.
"...Loki-sama kind of reminds me of Fujimura-sensei."
The comparison startled him.
He shook his head quickly.
No point overthinking it.
He dropped his backpack in his room and went straight to the cafeteria.
After all.
No matter the world.
Eating came first.
...
Two days later, Shirou left Twilight Manor early in the morning.
All preparations were complete.
He was heading to the Dungeon.
Alone.
He had declined the offers from senior members who wanted to accompany him. Some had suggested guiding him for his first run.
But Shirou wasn't a pure rookie.
The Holy Grail War had shaped him.
Even if his body was still that of a mortal, his combat experience wasn't something a true Level 1 could match.
After sparring with several seniors, he had earned the right to go solo.
With the main force currently on an expedition, his strength stood out even more within the Familia.
That was without activating his Reality Marble.
Walking through the quiet streets, Shirou enjoyed the rare silence.
It didn't last.
The closer he got to Babel Tower, the busier it became.
Adventurers.
Supporters.
All of them fully equipped.
Shirou didn't need supporters.
He could fill that role himself.
When he reached Babel Tower, the area was already packed.
Groups of three to five adventurers gathered together, clearly waiting for teammates.
Some looked relaxed.
Others were tense.
But every single one of them was armed.
No one underestimated the Dungeon.
Inside the labyrinth, hesitation meant death.
"Hmph."
Shirou exhaled softly and moved through the crowd.
At the Dungeon entrance, the structure yawned open like a massive well.
Using an artificially constructed elevator-like device, he descended along with many others.
Down.
And further down.
After navigating the spiral staircase, he reached the first floor.
Standing at the entrance, Shirou glanced around briefly.
Then he reached into his backpack and pulled out a headband.
He tied it around his head.
With the red leather jacket, the feeling was familiar.
Like stepping back into the Holy Grail War.
"Projection Start."
The sensation returned instantly.
Comfortable.
Natural.
Kanshou and Bakuya formed in his hands, solid and real.
Shirou tightened his grip.
"Now," he said quietly, "it's time for battle."
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter