"Uwahahaha!"
Xuanzang squeezed into the pile of children.
"Watch my Rulai Palm!"
Quickly forming a rice ball.
"Wow, Big sister is amazing!"
The children exclaimed in awe.
"Haha, that's satisfying, Lord Arash!"
Touta and Arash drank heartily the rice wine Shirou brewed.
"You're not bad either, Brother Touta."
Arash downed a liter in one go, "I can eat an entire rice ball in one bite."
"Just average, compared to Lord Shirou I'm far inferior."
Touta said, "The first time I saw Lord Shirou, I thought he was someone who didn't know how to enjoy food."
"I never imagined Lord Shirou was the one who pursued cuisine to the extreme; I truly feel ashamed."
"Is that so?"
Arash bragged, "Not to hide it from you, the first time I met Shirou, that guy almost robbed someone for food."
"Really?"
Touta couldn't picture him fighting over food.
"Of course."
Arash laughed, "Don't you know where the red-haired Ghost came from?"
"I see."
Touta nodded as if he could picture it, "The name Red-Haired Ghost is well-deserved!"
"..."
"Completely just drunk talk, huh."
Hundred Faces Hassan remarked from the side, "They only dare boast when the other isn't around. But the flavor really is delicious! It's just ordinary rice, yet it shines? Could it be using some Noble Phantasm?"
"Like that rice bag's Anti-Banquet Noble Phantasm?"
Needless to say, Hundred Faces Hassan was almost drunk too.
The feast had been going on for quite a while.
After Shirou finished delivering food to Saber, he returned to the western village.
Things were pretty much entering the closing stage here.
They didn't make a fuss, but instead patrolled around the western village.
Clear out nearby monsters; edible ones keep in the village storehouse, inedible ones throw far away so they don't attract more monsters.
After finishing all that, the village had already become quiet.
Fujimaru Ritsuka had left the western village with Mash and the Cursed-Arm Hassan for the eastern village the day before yesterday.
Arash said that there were simply too few people in the mountain who could fight.
After discussion between Cursed-Arm Hassan and Fujimaru Ritsuka, they decided to leave Arash here to look after the villagers of the western village, while they went to the Azlar Temple to seek the help of the first Hassan and check on Bedivere's situation.
Hearing that, Shirou couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Fujimaru Ritsuka really has grown a lot.
Not only braver, but constantly improving himself.
Or rather, wanting to shoulder the heavy responsibility of saving humanity's order, this level of growth is to be expected.
Speaking of Shirou himself.
The fight with Lancelot made him realize his martial arts were still insufficient.
The system is versatile for sure, but no matter how versatile, his skills capped at A.
In some sense, A-level standing is already top-tier in this world.
Saying it's enough might indeed be true.
But for Shirou, who possesses the hosting system, A is really just his starting line.
Moreover, to go further, A alone won't do.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Under the cold night sky.
Swordlight flashed.
"..."
"What is this?"
Just awakened, Arash keenly heard the distant movement and had a guess.
He stood up and in less than two minutes arrived at the source of the slicing sounds.
In the lonely night, a youth practiced under the moonlight, sweat flying.
It reminded Arash of the first time he met Shirou.
There was the travel-worn look of someone rushing on the road, and the vibrant vigor of a young man.
At that time he once thought Shirou was full of hope for life.
And indeed he was.
Wherever he appeared he brought hope.
At least Arash thought so.
This youth had saved the mountain folk countless times.
Not an Heroic Spirit, yet acting with hero-like deeds.
A human who achieved extraordinary things.
That was Arash's view of Shirou.
A mortal hero, a partner of justice.
Though Shirou himself denied it.
Yet Arash could see the boy was charging steadily in this direction.
And unwavering.
When the latter finished one round of practice and noticed Arash's presence, he immediately stopped his movements:
"Sorry, Arash. Did I disturb your rest?"
"Not at all."
Regarding the boy's apology, Arash smiled and said, "It's just that as a Servant summoned to this age, you seem to have become a little lax."
"Truly," He self-reflected:
"Because of a moment's indulgence, I ended up shirking all the work onto you… I've become immature."
"One time won't hurt, right?"
Shirou stored his sword in his Origin Boundary, "Besides, I just did something you often do."
"Spare me!"
Arash rubbed his face with his index finger, slightly troubled, "You seem to have mythologized me too much."
"I'm not that remarkable, finishing everything by myself."
He looked at the bright moon and the ring surrounding the sky, "Many things in the village are done by the villagers themselves. What we, or Servants, can do is ultimately limited."
"We don't belong to this era; someday we will leave. Before that, the only thing we can do is reclaim the future that belongs to the people of this era… that's all."
After speaking, Arash withdrew his gaze, "Shirou. I can see your heart is resolute, but you'll also be bound by temporary confusion."
"Sometimes what needs strengthening isn't only power, but one's inner heart."
"You must often be puzzled why you came here, or that you came at such an inopportune time. But I believe everything that happens also has its reason for existing."
He pointed toward villagers who, after last night's revelry, were now sleeping on the ground, and at Xuanzang, asleep, or not, piled among the children.
"What I saw when I was summoned to this world was the land burning: from the Crusaders' ravages, to the Lion King leading the Round Table Knights to suppress the Crusaders and rule the Holy Land, half a year has passed."
"During this time, countless people die every day, either purified by the Lion King or falling beneath the Round Table Knights' blades, or lying dead in the wild."
"Everyone's nerves are taut; life is full of suffering."
"Therefore, last night's day for them is no less than a beautiful memory that can only remain in memory."
"Such a memory can probably only be compared to the first candy or snack you got as a child… though I've long forgotten when I first ate candy."
Arash laughed at his own words as he spoke.
"And this matter, thanks to your skills (cooking) and Brother Touta's Noble Phantasm."
"So…"
Arash's words suddenly cut off, smiling wryly, "Looks like last night's banquet was quite the attraction; even though we cleared a wave, the next wave has already appeared so soon."
He took out his bow, looking at Shirou, "The last hunt you utterly defeated me; are you interested in matching me again this time?"
Shirou withdrew his thoughts, projected a bow, and said easily, "Let me make this clear, I won't go easy on you."
"Shooting contest?"
Touta popped up from who knows where, full of interest, "Both being Archers, may I also join?"
"No problem, right, Shirou?"
Arash asked with a smile, "You're the only human here."
"Of course," Shirou smiled slightly, "Or rather, you are the challengers."
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