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Shirou leaned against the wall, standing still, his eyes staring straight ahead, but his mind was busy digesting everything he had just heard. In his hand, he tightly gripped the green uniform he had brought, the fabric feeling slightly rough against his fingers. His breathing was steady, but his chest felt heavy.
Ryuu, who was standing not far from him, finally spoke. "What do you think Alfia and Zald should have done back then?"
Shirou turned his head, looking at Ryuu's face, which still held the same seriousness as before. He paused for a moment, pondering his answer.
"If they truly wanted to sacrifice themselves for the next generation," Shirou finally spoke in a firm tone, "they didn't need to join Evilus and attack Orario. They could have directly challenged the top-class adventurers in a fair duel."
Ryuu listened carefully before nodding slowly. "You might be right... But if they hadn't chosen that method, all the hidden members of Evilus wouldn't have come out of the shadows."
Shirou looked at her with a questioning gaze. "What do you mean?"
Ryuu took a deep breath, her eyes looking at the floor as if recalling a past filled with blood and battles. "Before the Great Feud seven years ago, Orario was in a very dark period. After the destruction of the Zeus and Hera Familia by the One-Eyed Black Dragon, criminals ran rampant. Evilus hid in the shadows, committing crimes in every corner of the city, unstoppable."
Shirou realized this was something he had never considered before. He knew about the history of the destruction of the two great Familias, but he had never imagined what Orario was like afterward.
"So you're saying... by triggering this war, they also dragged all the members of Evilus out of hiding?" Shirou concluded in a soft voice.
Ryuu nodded. "Yes. Thanks to Zald and Alfia, we managed to eliminate most of the Evilus in one big battle. If they had remained hidden, who knows how many more years they would have continued to spread terror in Orario. After that war, Orario entered a period of peace."
Shirou fell silent. He couldn't deny that the end result was indeed better for Orario. However, the method they used still left him uneasy. So much had been sacrificed—the lives of adventurers, the lives of civilians—none of it could be taken lightly.
He clenched his fist tighter, trying to understand if there was another way besides that great war. But he still hadn't found the answer.
Ryuu noticed Shirou's serious expression, his hands clenched on the uniform he was holding. His brown eyes were slightly downcast, but there was a glimmer of determination in them. Seeing that reaction, a faint smile formed on Ryuu's lips.
"Why do you look so tense?" she asked in a slightly probing tone, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
Shirou let out a slow sigh before looking at her with a determined gaze. "I'm just thinking... I don't want something like that to happen again."
Ryuu raised her eyebrows, slightly surprised by the certainty in Shirou's voice.
"I won't let a tragedy like that repeat," Shirou continued, his voice steady. "If there's a way to save everyone, I'll find it and do it. I won't let anyone have to choose between sacrificing themselves or destroying others for a greater goal."
Ryuu's eyes softened as she heard that. She remained silent for a moment, letting Shirou's words resonate in her mind.
This is why I trust him... Ryuu thought. Those eyes, filled with unwavering conviction. No doubt, no hesitation—just pure determination to pursue the justice he believes in.
She could see it clearly—the same light, even brighter, that she had once seen in Alise and her friends. A spirit that wouldn't be extinguished even if the world seemed to oppose it.
With a small smile, Ryuu finally said, "You're really stubborn, Shirou."
Shirou returned Ryuu's small smile. "Maybe. But if it can make this world a better place, I don't mind."
Shirou noticed Ryuu's expression finally softening a bit. The faint smile on the elf's face made him feel relieved. Throughout their conversation, he could sense how much burden still weighed on Ryuu's heart, but at least now he could see a glimmer of warmth returning to her eyes.
"I'm glad to see you smile again," Shirou said honestly, the corners of his lips lifting in a small smile.
Ryuu, who hadn't expected such a comment, quickly averted her gaze, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. "Don't tease me like that," she said in a slightly annoyed tone, though she wasn't really angry.
She then cleared her throat, trying to change the subject. "Anyway, you should take a shower. Syr must have been waiting for a while."
Shirou nodded, aware that he was still quite messy after the earlier training. His body was still sticky with sweat, and although potions and healing magic had removed his wounds, some discomfort remained. "You're right. I'll clean up first."
Without saying much, Ryuu walked to her closet, opened the door, and pulled out a clean towel. With a casual motion, she handed it to Shirou. "Use this. But don't use it for anything weird," she said, trying to sound stern, though her tone was more playful.
Shirou blinked, then looked at the towel for a moment before smiling slightly. "Don't worry, I won't do anything weird," he said, then raised his hand.
A blue light flickered briefly, and suddenly, a clean white towel appeared in his hand, looking no different from a regular towel.
"I'll use my own," he continued, showing the result of his projection.
Ryuu looked at the towel with a slightly raised eyebrow, then let out a small sigh. "You really can project anything, huh?"
Shirou chuckled softly. "As long as I know the structure, it's no problem."
Shirou walked to the bathroom with relaxed steps. The towel hung around his neck, while the green uniform given by Syr was clutched in his hand. However, as he was about to reach the door, a voice called him from behind.
"Shirou."
Ryuu's tone sounded as if she had just remembered something important. Shirou stopped and turned. "What is it?" he asked with a slightly raised eyebrow.
Ryuu looked at him for a moment, as if composing her thoughts before finally asking, "I know you deliberately took my attack earlier... was it so Syr wouldn't notice your true strength?"
Shirou didn't answer immediately. He observed Ryuu's expression, then nodded slowly. "Yes."
The elf continued to look at him, then spoke in a more serious tone. "But why? Why don't you just tell her? Just Syr. Wouldn't it be fine if she knew you're much stronger?"
The question made Shirou pause. His eyes narrowed slightly as if considering his answer. After a moment, he finally said, "I don't like drawing attention to myself."
Ryuu heard that answer and nodded in understanding. "I see," she said softly.
Shirou let out a quiet sigh. That was indeed his main reason, but there was a deeper reason as well.
Especially in this world, where gods and goddesses can pay attention to anyone they find interesting. I can't predict how they would react if they knew too much about me.
And besides...
Shirou glanced at Ryuu before adding, "Besides... Syr has her own secrets, too, doesn't she?"
Ryuu blinked, slightly surprised by that statement. Shirou continued calmly, "Maybe I'll reveal my secrets to her... if she reveals hers, too."
Ryuu pondered for a moment, then sighed. "Yeah, I also feel like she's really mysterious."
The elf crossed her arms and continued, "She doesn't stay in the dorm with us waitresses. Even Anya, who once tried to follow her, couldn't find out where she lives."
Shirou heard that and thought to himself.
Ryuu might not have realized it yet... but Syr isn't an ordinary girl. She's a goddess.
If his guess was correct, then it was likely that after finishing work at the Hostess of Fertility, Syr returned to a place not inhabited by ordinary people—the headquarters of her Familia.
But the real question was... what kind of goddess is she?
Shirou was still lost in thought, considering various possibilities about Syr's identity, when Ryuu's soft but firm voice broke his reverie.
"Then, why me?"
Shirou turned to her, slightly confused by her question.
"I'm not a member of your Familia. So, why did you entrust your true strength to me?"
Ryuu stared at him intently, her eyes filled with genuine curiosity. Over the past few days, she had tried to guess the reason herself. Perhaps Shirou felt guilty for pretending to be weak in front of Ryuu, like during their first training session. If that was the case, then it made sense—Shirou didn't want to waste Ryuu's time by hiding his true abilities.
However, the answer she received wasn't what she expected.
"Because you believe in me, Ryuu."
"...What?"
Ryuu's eyes widened slightly, not expecting such an honest answer from Shirou.
Shirou smiled slightly before continuing, "You supported my dream of becoming an ally of justice, even when you thought I was still weak."
Those words brought Ryuu back to a memory from some time ago, when they were sitting together in front of the fountain in the middle of the city. At that time, Shirou had spoken about his desire to protect everyone, about his seemingly impossible dream in this harsh world.
And I... I wanted to train him so he could survive longer in Orario. I wanted to see him succeed in achieving his dream, unlike me, who failed.
But in the end, all of that was just her own assumption. Shirou was far stronger than she had imagined.
"And not just that," Shirou continued, his voice softer this time. "You also told me about your past. About your pain and loss. At the very least, I wanted to repay your trust by revealing part of my secret."
Ryuu felt something warm in her heart. She hadn't expected Shirou to think so deeply that he truly valued their relationship. However, one word caught her attention.
"...Part?"
The elf narrowed her eyes, her expression turning serious again. "Wait, you mean only part? I've told you everything, but you're still hiding something?"
Shirou smirked slightly, his expression a bit mischievous. "If I told you everything at once, you might be shocked to death."
Ryuu let out a long sigh, shaking her head with a mix of frustration and amusement. "You're really... such a pain."
Shirou just turned away before finally stepping into the bathroom, leaving Ryuu alone with her thoughts.
Ryuu stared at the bathroom door that Shirou had just closed, then let out a slow sigh.
"What else is he hiding?" she muttered to herself, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
Thoughts about Shirou and his mysteries began swirling in her head. Magecraft—a form of magic that even she had never seen before. A world different from the magic she knew, something that might not even originate from Orario. If that was true, could Shirou be from a secret community of magi? If so, how big was the secret he was still hiding?
The more she thought about these possibilities, the more her head began to ache.
"Haaah...!"
Ryuu finally gave up, rubbing her forehead with one hand and then shaking her head.
"Never mind, sooner or later, I'll figure out his secrets."
She promised herself that as long as she stayed by Shirou's side, little by little, she would uncover everything the young man was still hiding.
Reluctantly, she walked to the closet and put the towel she had taken out for Shirou back. However, her gaze suddenly fell on something in the corner of the shelf.
A white handkerchief, neatly folded, that had just been stored.
Ryuu frowned, then carefully picked up the handkerchief.
"It's a shame this only lasts three days..." she whispered as she examined the fabric under the sunlight streaming into the room.
She remembered that this handkerchief was one of Shirou's projections. An object he had created from nothing, just to give to her. However, like all his projections, this item would disappear after a limited time.
Suddenly, a strange feeling tickled her heart.
Ryuu stared at the white handkerchief intently, as if searching for something hidden within it. "What secrets are you hiding, huh?" she muttered softly.
Behind her curiosity, she knew she wouldn't find anything just by examining it with her eyes. But for some reason, there was something that made her unable to simply ignore this object.
Slowly, she sat on the edge of her bed, still holding the handkerchief in her hand. Then, almost unconsciously, she rubbed it against her cheek.
The fabric was soft. Warm.
She took a deep breath, trying to find a familiar scent. But there was nothing except a faint smell of cloth.
"...I'm really going too far, aren't I?" Ryuu smiled slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed with herself.
But even though she found no answers from the handkerchief, she realized one thing—Shirou was an intriguing puzzle to solve.
Ryuu walked back to the closet, her fingers carefully folding the white handkerchief before tucking it among her clothes. Even though she knew it was just a projection and would disappear in three days, still... it was still a gift from Shirou.
For some reason, she didn't want to simply throw it away.
However, just as she was about to close the closet, the sound of the bathroom door opening was heard.
Click.
Ryuu turned, her eyes catching Shirou's figure as he stepped out. The young man looked refreshed, his hair still slightly wet, and the green uniform of the Hostess of Fertility now fit perfectly on his body. Shirou dried his hair with the towel hanging around his neck, then glanced around the room.
"Hmm? You're still here?" he asked with a bit of surprise.
Ryuu's heart skipped a beat.
Without thinking, she quickly hid the handkerchief in the closet with a bit of panic, then swiftly closed the door. Shirou mustn't find out what she has just done.
"I was just... waiting for you to finish showering," she answered quickly, trying to sound as calm as possible.
Shirou looked at her for a moment, his expression as if he wanted to ask something, but in the end, he just shrugged, not thinking too much about Ryuu's reason.
"Well then, let's go. It seems Syr has been waiting," he said, starting to walk toward the door. As he did, he dissipated the towel hanging around his neck back into prana.
Ryuu took a deep breath, trying to calm her still slightly racing heart. She herself didn't understand why she felt like this, as if she had just done something embarrassing. She sighed, then followed Shirou, walking beside him.
However, before they left, Shirou suddenly spoke again.
"By the way..." he said while glancing at Ryuu, "how did Syr know we were going to train today?"
Ryuu, who was almost reaching the doorknob, answered without turning.
"I told her last night."
She then opened the door, letting the outside air into the room.
"But honestly, I didn't expect her to actually come today."
Shirou frowned for a moment and then sighed.
"Huh... I guess I'll have to get used to her incredible instincts."
Ryuu just smiled faintly, then stepped out with Shirou.
Shirou and Ryuu left the dorm, descending a few small steps to the neatly arranged courtyard. The midday air was warm, the leaves rustling softly in the breeze. Under a large, shady tree in the middle of the courtyard, Syr was already waiting for them.
She sat casually on a cream-colored picnic blanket, with various foods laid out in front of her—bread, cheese, fresh fruits, and some cups of tea. Her face looked pouty, her cheeks slightly puffed like a child who was upset.
"You took so long," she complained, her arms crossed.
Shirou could only smile slightly at the girl's expression, while Ryuu sighed before sitting down in front of Syr. Shirou followed, sitting beside her.
"Our conversation took longer than I expected," Ryuu answered calmly.
Syr looked at her with curious eyes, but instead of asking further, she just narrowed her eyes for a moment before changing the subject.
"Hmm... alright, then I won't ask. But, Ryuu, I put your wooden sword near the tree."
She pointed to the large tree trunk behind her, where a pair of wooden swords were leaning.
Ryuu turned and nodded, lightly tapping her forehead with her hand. "Ah, thank you. I forgot to bring it back to the room after showering."
However, not long after, Syr spoke again, her eyes showing a hint of confusion.
"But... why are there two?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "I thought your Alvs Lumina was only one."
Ryuu immediately tensed. Cold sweat ran down her temples. She hadn't expected Syr to notice that, and now she had to come up with a plausible explanation.
But before she could formulate an answer, Shirou had already responded casually.
"The other one is just an imitation," he said without hesitation. "So it's not as strong as the real one."
Ryuu turned to Shirou, slightly stunned. That answer... was true, but not entirely. It was a clever half-truth. Shirou clearly didn't want to reveal his Magecraft to Syr, but at the same time, he wasn't lying.
So this is how Shirou talks... Ryuu thought, realizing how skillful the young man was at hiding things without outright lying.
Syr seemed to accept the answer without suspicion. She nodded innocently before asking again.
"So, did Ryuu ask you to make it? To teach you her sword techniques?"
Shirou nodded. "Yes, I needed a similar sword to adapt to Ryuu's sword techniques."
Ryuu was increasingly realizing how easily Shirou could make others believe his words. If Syr could be fooled so easily, then...
Have I also been tricked by him without realizing it?
That thought made her slightly annoyed. Without thinking, her elbow moved on its own and nudged Shirou's arm quite hard.
"Ouch!" Shirou rubbed his arm, a confused expression on his face. "Why did you elbow me all of a sudden?"
Syr, who saw their interaction, chuckled softly, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Seems like your teacher wasn't satisfied with today's training, Shirou." She smiled mischievously. "Be ready to train harder next time."
Shirou could only sigh while Ryuu pretended not to hear.