"Phew..."
Letting out a long breath, Shirou stood atop the rooftop, bow still raised. He slowly loosened his grip.
That was close.
From the moment the monster appeared, he had already nocked an arrow. His aim never wavered. At any moment, he could have taken its life.
But Riveria stopped him.
"That child needs experience. With us here, she won't be seriously injured. Let her handle it herself."
"We can't protect her forever. She has to grow."
Convinced, Shirou didn't interfere. He only watched.
"That really was dangerous just now. I almost stepped in."
Touching his still-pounding chest, Shirou turned toward Riveria and complained lightly.
Then he noticed something.
She was sweating too.
Cold sweat.
...Wait. You were even more nervous than me?
Sensing his gaze, Riveria spoke quietly, a little embarrassed.
"I didn't expect that monster to react to magic."
That was the real reason.
When she stopped Shirou earlier, Tiona and Tione were suppressing the monster head-on. Lefiya only needed to stay back and chant.
But that monster reacted to magic.
It directly targeted Lefiya.
Unlike Shirou-who already knew Lefiya would survive with only minor injuries-Riveria had no such certainty.
For a moment, she truly feared that Lefiya might die because of her decision.
That fear had shaken her.
"It's fine. I understand."
Shirou nodded.
"That monster really was tricky."
Seeing his calm acceptance, Riveria finally relaxed a little.
"...Don't tell anyone."
She lowered her voice.
"I won't."
Shirou smiled faintly.
"This stays between us."
"...Mm."
After that, neither of them spoke for a moment.
Then-
Bang!
Another explosion echoed.
Two more Faceless Serpents emerged in the plaza below.
"There are more?"
Riveria's expression changed. She was about to step forward herself-
A golden blur cut through the air.
Ais landed in the plaza.
"Ais!"
Tiona and the others shouted instinctively.
"I'll handle it!"
As Ais charged, the front halves of the two Faceless Serpents rose up.
Then-
They split open.
"...That's not a snake."
"It's a flower!"
Their heads bloomed like petals.
What appeared were enormous mouths lined with jagged teeth.
"Ooooo-!"
Facing the monsters' shrill cries, Ais surged forward.
Wind roared.
She struck with full power.
And then-
Crack.
The borrowed longsword shattered.
Fragments flew.
...Damn it.
I'm definitely getting scolded for this.
That thought crossed Ais's mind as she looked at the broken weapon in her hand.
"Everyone, get out of there!"
Shirou's voice rang out from above.
"...Looks like I'll have to do it myself."
Shirou drew his bow once more.
This time, the arrow was no ordinary projectile.
It was a Noble Phantasm.
Gáe Bolg.
Watching Ais and the others retreat cleanly, Shirou pulled the bowstring taut.
"Broken Phantasm."
The arrow flew.
A crimson streak tore through the air.
Then-
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted.
Heat and storm winds surged outward.
Looking at the slowly rising mushroom cloud, Shirou sighed softly.
"Today's Orario is as peacefully nuclear as ever."
"Ptooey-ptooey-ptooey!"
Loki scrambled up from the ground, waving dust away furiously.
Mist still swirled around her.
She had heard countless times how terrifying Shirou's Broken Phantasm was, but this was the first time she had witnessed it up close.
Even though she had been blown off her feet by the shockwave-
She was deeply satisfied.
"Are you alright, Loki?"
Hearing Riveria's voice, Loki immediately complained.
"Riveria! Why didn't you protect me?!"
"I couldn't," Riveria replied calmly. "That child was still in the plaza. Shirou asked me to get her out first."
Seeing the frightened girl standing safely beside Riveria, Loki's expression instantly softened.
"...You're right."
"That child comes first."
"Loki!"
Before they could continue, Tiona and the others-who had also dodged in time-ran over.
Guild staff followed close behind.
After handing the girl to the Guild, Riveria turned back to the group.
"Are you all okay?"
"We're fine. Shirou warned us, so we evacuated immediately."
Relieved, Riveria looked at Lefiya.
Her expression turned serious.
"I watched your fight."
"You did very well."
"You've grown a lot, Lefiya."
"T-thank you, Riveria-sama..."
Receiving direct praise, Lefiya instantly became shy again.
"Oh, right," Loki suddenly said. "Ais hasn't dealt with the monsters that escaped yet, has she?"
Ais stiffened.
She glanced at her empty hands.
"...I don't have a weapon."
"Leave it to me."
Shirou spoke calmly as he approached.
"This kind of cleanup suits me better."
He estimated that Bell was about to finish his part anyway.
"I'll take care of the rest."
"Then we'll leave it to you!"
"Go!"
Shirou nodded to Ais.
Then he leapt.
Landing on a high rooftop, he activated his Clairvoyance and scanned the area.
Targets acquired.
Nock.
Draw.
Release.
Smooth. Clean. Efficient.
Two arrows cut through the sky.
With two sharp sounds-and two dying wails-the remaining monsters were erased.
Only arrows embedded in the ground and a pair of magic stones remained.
In total, nine monsters had escaped from the Ganesha Familia's containment.
Ais had eliminated six.
Shirou took out two more.
The final one-
Lured away by Bell.
It fled into the dense maze of Daedalus Street.
With buildings packed tightly together, firing an arrow there would risk leveling half the block.
That would only create more trouble.
"...I'll still go take a look."
Shirou sighed.
"Bell's probably finishing it already, but I should at least show up."
He sprinted across the rooftops.
And then-
He saw it.
A slender boy charging forward.
Fearless.
Desperate.
Brilliant.
The moment of victory.
Bell Cranel.
A dazzling sight.
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter