When the Noble Phantasm detonated, its A+-level destructive power was fully unleashed.
At the center of the blast, Lancelot's face was twisted and deformed by the shockwave.
'Are you kidding me, that's how a Noble Phantasm is supposed to be used?'
Needless to say, the Enforcement Knights were annihilated.
The refugees stared in dumbfounded silence at the scene.
And at the boy who had fallen from the sky.
The moment the woman saw Shirou, her eyes lit up and her emotions surged, but she didn't step forward.
Because she knew this was their reunion moment… and had nothing to do with an outsider like her.
"No way?"
Da Vinci, stunned, propped her chin and thought, "Could it be that this great genius of mine actually has the power to make wishes come true?"
"And besides…", She fixed her gaze on the Emperor's steed beside Shirou.
Unable to look away, not even a little.
"What a strange Noble Phantasm, this omnipotent genius can't even figure it out!"
"Hi there—"
"...we meet again."
Shirou first smiled and greeted Da Vinci and the woman.
Then, to the stunned Romani, "Don't you recognize me, Dr. Romani?"
["Emiya!"]
Olga Marie cried out excitedly, then suddenly froze.
She awkwardly drew herself in and meticulously smoothed her clothes.
"Emiya-senpai!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka snapped back to her senses and shouted, "It's Emiya-senpai, alive, Mash!"
"That's right, that's right!"
Mash nodded vigorously, "I'm so glad Emiya-senpai is still alive!"
"...", Shirou was speechless, "What do you mean? You act like I was dead or something."
"No."
Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled reassuringly, "No way, I never thought Emiya-senpai had been killed by the Lion King."
"That's right."
Mash nodded along, "I didn't think so either."
Two cute girls like that were adorable, but Shirou only wanted to sigh, "Not very convincing."
["Ahem! Ahem!"]
After two light clears of the throat, Olga Marie gracefully and naturally greeted Shirou, ["Long time no see, Emiya."]
"Yeah, long time no see."
Shirou nodded and observed her face, "Looks like you're all right."
["W-well, of course."]
Those words made Olga Marie recall what had happened on the rooftop, her face warming a bit, ["After I came back, Da Vinci made me a body. Although I can't use magecraft and the performance isn't as good as a real body, it isn't bad."]
Seeing Shirou, Olga Marie showed a deeply relieved smile, ["At least it's not bad now. If only there weren't the responsibility of saving humanity, that would be even nicer."]
"Bearing humanity's burden really is hard," Shirou sighed and shifted his gaze to Fujimaru Ritsuka.
On her pretty, gentle face, once full of the naiveté of first meeting, the childishness had long since faded.
Her hairstyle hadn't changed.
Mash also looked a bit more capable.
He smiled and said, "You've worked hard."
"No."
Fujimaru Ritsuka shook her head, smiling, "We met many companions along the way, lots of memorable moments. Most importantly…"
She stepped forward and took Shirou's hand, "Finally I met you, Senpai…"
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Shirou.
"Um, um…"
Romani said in a weak voice, ["Although it might be inappropriate… but… we should hurry, there are still pursuers behind us."]
"Pursuers?"
Shirou glanced back and said regretfully, "They already retreated."
A very wise judgment.
Only he remained.
Even Lancelot, famed as the strongest of the Round Table Knights, wouldn't have much chance against Shirou and the others who knew his strength.
As Shirou put away the Emperor's steed under Da Vinci's disappointed, longing gaze, he scanned the refugees and asked, "What are you going to do next?"
["Go to East Village."]
Romani answered, ["There are mountain elders and mountain people there who also resist the Lion King. We plan to see if we can get their help."]
["Now Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others are considered rebels, with a bounty by the Round Table Knights. They have to hide for a while."]
Saying that made Romani puzzled, Shirou didn't seem to have been listed as a rebel.
'Is it because of the Holy Selection... or some other reason?'
"Indeed a good choice."
Shirou thought, "High probability of success."
"Fou~"
Fou jumped onto his shoulder.
Mash asked, "Emiya-senpai, how did you escape the Holy Capital?"
She hadn't forgotten that Shirou had disappeared with Gawain earlier.
"Uh… how should I put this," Shirou scratched his head.
"I didn't exactly escape, I was blasted out of the Holy Capital by the Lion King's holy spear."
"Blasted by the Lion King's holy spear?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash both jumped, worried, "Then are you okay, Senpai?"
"Of course I'm fine."
Shirou said, "If I weren't, I couldn't be here to find you."
"As for more specific details, let's talk while we walk. Don't waste time."
———
The mountain terrain was intricate and the roads rough, mostly uneven paths that wound and curved.
Sometimes they rose, sometimes they dipped.
Crossing ridge after ridge was the norm.
If it were just Shirou and the others, moving a bit faster, they might reach in about half a day.
With the refugees it was different.
There were elderly, weak, sick, wounded, not to mention pregnant women.
In such conditions it was hard to speed up.
So after half a day they hadn't covered much ground.
"So, Emiya-senpai defeated one of the Round Table Knights, the Sun Knight Gawain, and then was blasted out of the Holy Capital by the Lion King's holy spear?", Mash exclaimed.
Gawain's strength among the Round Table Knights was not to be underestimated, and he also had Arthur's bestowed "Eternal" protection.
Under the sun his power would triple.
In that situation Shirou still managed to defeat him, and survived a shot from the Lion King.
Quite the record.
At least far stronger than them, who would be helpless facing just one Round Table Knight.
"Just luck," He didn't mention beating Tristan and Mordred or taking a hit from Rhongomyniad.
Shirou said casually, "At the crucial moment, Sir Gawain's knightly spirit kicked in. In short, he woke up… that's why I beat him."
"You're too modest, Mr. Shirou," After a long silence, Bedivere spoke admiringly, "Gawain, as one of the oldest Knights of the Round serving the King, would never deliberately hold back concerning His Majesty."
"You certainly must have earned his respect by your strength."
"You flatter me."
Shirou joked, "Lord Lucius."
Bedivere wasn't embarrassed, but expressed his apology, "I truly am sorry I couldn't trust you at that time."
"Human feelings, understandable."
Shirou's gaze shone, "Then I'll ask you again, Sir Bedivere. Are you prepared?"
"Of course."
Bedivere didn't hesitate, hugging his shining silver arm and saying firmly, "This replacement arm's end... is the irrefutable proof of my sin. This time, I will surely save our King!"
Especially after seeing that miraculous light again.
Recalling that, Bedivere said earnestly, "Mr. Shirou, there's one thing I need to ask you again, since you were still in the Holy Capital then."
"Mm, is it about the Promised Sword of Victory?"
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