"I'll tell you—my name is 'Not a Eggplant,' got it?!" Ebina shouted with a wicked grin.
During this time, the other girls in the class silently took out their phones as well...
In the FGO system, Merlin's compatibility had unknowingly risen from 10% to 30%.
In fact, the classmates all loved this game. As soon as class ended, they would pull out their phones. Some top science students even took out paper and pens to write formulas, comparing class times and breaks to calculate the most efficient way to use their stamina.
Even the girls no longer discussed TV drama celebrities. Instead, they talked about which character in the game was the most handsome, discussed the love triangle between Old Man Gil, Guinevere, and Lancelot, and said things like how they would absolutely buy Tristan if he ever got a CD.
If someone pulled a limited character with a single summon in class, they would spend the entire day being praised as a normie Emperor of Luck, while earning the lifelong hostility of some clan members.
When noon came, Shirou carried his lunchbox out of the classroom as usual to eat outside. The moment he opened the game, he saw more than a dozen requests suddenly appear on his friend list. Puzzled, he said, "Where did all these people come from?"
"Shirou-senpai... don't you realize how popular you actually are?" Mash asked disdainfully from beside him, biting into bread while mooching off his lunch.
"That can't be right... I'm not being modest, but there probably aren't many Male High School Students as boring and uninteresting as me in this world." Shirou shook his head with a smile, clearly not believing her.
"Honestly! Shirou-senpai is always so stubborn about strange things. Hikigaya Shirou from the Kyudo Club is just as famous as Hayama from the soccer club, Yukino-senpai, the icy beauty from the international class, and Yukino Yukinoshita, the perfect Japanese lady." Mash corrected him.
"As far as I know, the most famous person in school is the kind and gentle Pink-haired transfer student who recommends FGO to everyone, patiently teaches them how to play, tells them they're a good person, then turns around and leaves. You've broken countless hearts. Your sins run deep, don't they?" Shirou said with an unconcerned smile.
"Did I do something wrong? If they're willing to play FGO and contribute to saving Chaldea, then they're good people, right? Why would anyone get hurt?" Mash blinked in confusion.
Ah, I forgot that this girl lacked common sense in certain areas. Better put it another way.
Shirou smiled and asked, "Then when you tell them that as long as they play this game, you'll always be with them, don't you feel embarrassed?"
"Ugh... I wasn't lying, and I only said that to save Chaldea!" Mash's face flushed red as she stuffed the last meatball from her lunchbox into her mouth and mumbled.
"I see, but Male High School Students these days have very vivid imaginations, so they'll misunderstand easily. I'd still advise you to recommend the game in a different way." Shirou clapped his hands, packed up his empty lunchbox, and stood.
"Shirou-senpai, where are you going?" Mash asked curiously.
"Mm, I'm heading to the clubroom upstairs for a bit. Yukino should be there now. Let's meet up at the Kyudo Club after school." As he spoke, Shirou headed upstairs.
As agreed, he was going to meet Yukino and discuss how they should deal with those unwelcome visitors from another world. As for Da Vinci's suggestion to recruit more companions, he still felt uneasy about it. He could not figure out whether dragging other people in without permission was truly a good thing or a bad one.
But one person's strength was limited. Just him and Mash alone could never deal with all the red dots on that map.
After going upstairs and around the corner, he soon arrived at the door of an unused classroom. The sign was covered in strange, colorful stickers. This was where the Service Club was located.
Shirou knocked on the door and pushed it open. Sure enough, he saw the black-haired girl brewing tea inside. A neatly packed lunchbox sat on the table, and beside it sat a girl with a bun hairstyle.
"Yahallo~! Shirou." Yuihama greeted him with a grin.
"Yo." Shirou walked into the clubroom.
"Here." After pouring Yuihama a cup of tea, Yukino walked over, poured another cup, and handed it to the Youth.
"Thanks." Shirou accepted the tea. Steam rose from the hot cup, and a faint fragrance lingered in the air.
"Last night, I gave it careful thought. Besides decisive combat strength, what we urgently need now is proper tactics. If we understand our opponents well enough, we can make preparations in advance. In short, I'll find a way to consult experts, analyze the possible Monsters, and organize information on their skills." Yukino said.
"Got it. Leave the searches outside to Mash and me. If we encounter a powerful enemy and need assistance, I'll summon you." Shirou nodded.
"Eh? Tactics? Searches?" The bun-haired girl tilted her head in confusion as she looked at the boy and girl. There had clearly been no strange English technical terms in this conversation, so why was she still completely lost?
The Hrunting Fires
Shirou's proposal reached a consensus with Yukino Yukinoshita. Lacking stamina, Yukino was indeed not suited for long-distance traveling.
The athletic Youth would search for Monsters, while she remained behind the scenes. When necessary, she would answer his summons and provide support, using her strengths at the most critical moments. It was the most reasonable arrangement.
Still, the experience of suddenly being sucked into a curtain of light was far from pleasant. Remembering what had happened yesterday, Yukino sighed. "It can only be this way. But we should at least distinguish the timing. No..."
Halfway through speaking, the girl thought of something. She raised her head, her gaze turning serious as she stared directly at Shirou. "Forget what I just said. Listen carefully! If you encounter danger, summon me immediately to help! Do not take risks under any circumstances, understood?"
Originally, Shirou had planned to handle the Monsters himself as long as things did not become completely hopeless. But Yukino had seen through that thought. Under her piercing stare, he could only agree. "I understand. I'll be counting on you then."
"Ehh?" Yuihama swayed her head as she looked at the two in astonishment. Had she been excluded?
"Mm, good. Although a two-star meat shield like you is not much use, if you get injured, Mash and I will face far greater risks in future battles. Please take care of yourself. At the very least, do your job as support properly." Yukino said with a light smile.
Whenever this person smiled while speaking, her words always carried a hint of mockery. Though she was beautiful, at least.
"Wait! Wait! Yukino? Shirou? What are you two talking about? Why can't I understand any of it?" Yuihama ran over and asked.
"Yuihama..." Yukino did not know how to explain it for a moment. The girl who pursued absolute justice refused to lie, carrying out what she believed was right to the end and speaking bluntly to everyone. That was why others often failed to understand her.
She did not want to lie to her friend, but she also worried about dragging Yuihama into danger. She was caught in a dilemma.
"We were talking about stuff in the game." Shirou stepped in and said.
"The game? So the injuries and everything were game-related? I see." Yuihama sighed in relief and smiled.
"Mm, it's a very unreasonable game. Like how Monsters that can casually smash through walls somehow count as Assassin class and things like that." Shirou changed the subject.
"Hm..." Yuihama walked over and stared at Yukino, who could not lie. She still felt that something was suspicious.
"Then why didn't you invite me to play too?! I thought Yukino was studying, so I held myself back all night and didn't invite you to play FGO!" Yuihama hugged the black-haired girl and complained unhappily.
"I know. I'll play with you when I have time later." Yukino said helplessly.
"Ehehe, that's more like it." Yuihama was finally satisfied and broke into a happy smile.
And so, they proceeded according to plan. Yukino would remain behind the scenes, organizing information and formulating tactics. Meanwhile, Shirou and Mash would conduct mobile patrols, searching for other spaces and defeating the Monsters inside.
After school that afternoon, Shirou and Mash headed outside together.
"Shirou-senpai, it's in the abandoned building ahead." Using the map function Chaldea had specially provided, Mash headed toward the marked location. This time, the target was only a small red dot, not a dangerous foe like the last one.
Once they made sure no one was nearby, Shirou and Mash ran into the abandoned building. Judging from its layout, it had probably once been an old-style shopping mall. The moment they entered, they reached a spacious central area. There was no ceiling here; looking up, they could see the roof three or four floors above. This place had likely been used for holding events.
There were staircases on both sides, and the railings along every floor's corridors gave a clear view of this area. It seemed perfectly suited for an ambush.
"Shirou-senpai, prepare for battle!" Mash said as she transformed into a shield maiden.
Shirou also opened his phone. After entering this area, the icons on his screen had indeed changed. He tapped into the FGO system and swiftly opened the interface. Only two characters remained highlighted.
The gold-bordered Merlin still indicated that his compatibility was insufficient, but the bar representing compatibility had increased quite a bit. Was it really related to his level of mastery?
Shirou guessed as he pressed the bronze-bordered brown-haired man. A flash of brilliant light burst from the screen. The Servant's Spiritual Dress, armor, and white cloak equipped themselves onto the Youth.
The moment the boy and girl stepped into the central area, Black Shadows emerged from the railings above, the staircases, and the darkness behind them.
"Gyaaah!!" Their vicious eyes gleamed as green-skinned Monsters wielding wooden clubs charged out with shrill cries.
"Shirou-senpai, they're Goblins! They're weak, but there are many of them, so please be careful! I recommend maintaining distance!" Mash said as she raised her shield and charged forward.
"Don't worry, Mash. I'm fairly confident in close combat!" Shirou swung the holy sword Ascalon and slashed at a green Goblin, knocking it to the ground with the blade's sharp edge.
Another Goblin leaped down from above and pounced straight toward Shirou's head.
"Trace on!" A longsword appeared instantly. His left hand swung upward, sending the Goblin flying, then his right hand slashed horizontally. It turned into black smoke and vanished into ashes.
"Dual-wielding still feels more natural." Shirou lightly flicked his blades and smiled.
Through battle, the combat experience buried deep within his memories gradually awakened. His body, trained every day without fail, could keep up with the Servant's abilities. Against enemies like these, he did not even need his Magic Eye.
Goblins were not difficult enemies to deal with. With Mash and Shirou working together, they quickly eliminated the Monsters.
"Gyaaaaaah!!!" The last Goblin let out an enraged howl before collapsing to the ground.
Yet strangely, the tension around him had not faded. It felt as though the danger had not passed.
"Something's wrong, senpai! The other space's reaction hasn't disappeared! Ah!" Mash pulled out her phone, took one look, and cried out.
A huge red dot appeared on the phone's detection screen. Its danger level even exceeded the mutated Chimera from last time.
A tremendous crash came from above the stairs of the abandoned building. In the area outside the center, cracks spread across the ceiling with a grating sound. With a roar, the ceiling shattered, massive rocks raining down as a huge monster jumped from above.
The monster was blood-red from head to toe. Its body had the texture of a stone lion statue, but its head was covered in root-like branches that obscured its eyes. It had a huge mouth filled with strangely neat, white teeth. Its tail resembled a long lizard's tail, also covered in roots like those on its head.
"Senpai, it's a Soul Eater. Judging by that color, it looks like another enhanced mutant."
"You don't have to tell me that. I can see it myself." Shirou retorted as he projected a bow and arrows, taking aim at the Soul Eater.
The mutant Soul Eater's red body was as ominous as spilled blood. Looking at such a monster made the surrounding air seem thick and sticky. Even the air he breathed seemed to carry the smell of blood.
A crimson afterimage flashed past. The monster instantly appeared before the Youth, moving so quickly there was no warning at all. Its raised beastly paw was about to come crashing down the next moment.
"Hah!" Mash rushed over, light flashing from the center of her massive cross-shaped shield.
The Shield of Determination, the symbol of the Knights of the Round Table, had elevated her conviction to protect into a Noble Phantasm. As long as she stood here, she would never allow an enemy to attack her other companions.
The monster's beastly paw slammed into Mash's shield, blocking the deadly blow for Shirou.
"Thanks, Mash!" Shirou quickly retreated to widen the distance.
This monster's speed was far beyond expectations. Although it looked somewhat smaller than the pitch-black Chimera from last time, this red Soul Eater was at least three times faster.
Amber gemstone colors flickered in Shirou's eyes as he analyzed the Soul Eater through his Magic Eye.
"Evasion state?" Shirou once again used his projected bow to fire several arrows at the Soul Eater, but the monster became a series of afterimages and easily dodged them.
"Why does this evasion state never end? No choice then!" Shirou silently recited the incantation for Projection Magecraft.
"Hrunting!"
This was the demonic sword from the English epic Beowulf, possessing the trait of tracking an enemy once it smelled blood.
The black demonic sword was altered in Shirou's hand, contracting into a slender arrow.
He straightened his arm, drew the bowstring, aimed at the Soul Eater, and fired!
A streak of black light became a fleeting shadow, piercing through the air and streaking through the cold wind. It locked onto its target as red light flashed at its black arrowhead.
The Soul Eater turned into an afterimage again, slipping past the arrow's path.
Red glowing patterns appeared across Hrunting's black shaft. At that very moment, it changed direction and stabbed directly into the crimson afterimage.
A pained, startled howl immediately rang through the other space.
(No, but I might just send you to the principal's office with a one-way ticket! Let's keep Yukinoshita safely in her clubroom.)
There'll be another chapter tonight. I'll see if posting at night gets more popularity. If I start offering bounties next month, will anyone respond? Something like an extra chapter for every 200 recommendations.
The Schoolgirl's Phone Jumped Out
Inside the abandoned shopping mall enveloped by the other space, the red afterimage stiffened after being struck. An arrow had sunk into the Soul Eater's rough back, blood flowing from the wound. Yet against its red body, it was impossible to tell whether it was blood or sweat.
"Roaaargh!" Feeling the pain in its body, the monster released a long shriek. The sound wave spread outward like a shockwave, and the space inside the building trembled from its howl.
The crimson monster shook its body. Its long lizard tail suddenly lifted and swept violently across its back, knocking the arrow lodged in its body away.
The monster turned toward the Youth who had injured it and screeched viciously. Still as ferocious as ever, it charged forward with thundering steps.
"Too shallow..." Shirou clicked his tongue and retreated.
Mash stepped forward with her shield, blocking the Soul Eater as it tried to pounce on Shirou.
"Shirou-senpai, this should be a specially modified and enhanced monster. Like that pitch-black Chimera last time, it was an attack-focused type. Every hit it landed on my shield had the power of a critical strike from an ordinary Chimera. But this opponent is Lancer class, focused on speed. Archer is disadvantaged against it, so arrows will have a hard time working."
"Then why have all these Monsters been given classes?! And who says using a bow means I have to be Archer class? If I became a Servant, I should definitely be Saber class! My ultimate move is Unlimited Blade Works too, even though I can't use it now because my Saint Graph is different." Shirou snapped, but could only retreat as he tossed aside his projected bow.
Even if he could rely on Saint George's exceptional defense, draw Ascalon, rush in, parry its attacks, and share Mash's burden, it would mean nothing if he could not hit the enemy.
Because his compatibility was insufficient, he could not even unleash a Noble Phantasm. He could only use normal attacks, but now he could not even land those. What was he supposed to do?
"I'll hold it off first! Senpai, quickly summon a Servant as Support!" Mash urged.
"I want to, but Yukino's account won't refresh no matter what! What is wrong with this Support refresh system?! I'm filing a complaint!" Shirou cursed.
Shirou kept tapping refresh on his phone, but Yuki-nyan never appeared in the Saber class slot. After refreshing twice, he could no longer refresh it.
"Afterward, I'll help you curse out Da Vinci and those awful developers. For now, summon another Support! Find a Saber class Servant skilled at fighting agile Monsters!" Mash shouted.
"I know! Found one!" Shirou remembered the group member he had farmed with last night and tapped the most familiar name: Sabre Don't Run Wild!
A pillar of light rose from the phone, and a brown-haired girl jumped out, landing lightly on the ground.
Shirou took one look and confirmed that she was indeed someone he knew. And seeing what she was wearing, he felt as though the tense atmosphere of battle had been completely swept away.
"Hey! Yuihama, are you doing cosplay somewhere?" Shirou greeted her.
"Ah! Yahallo! Shirou!... No, wait! Why did I suddenly appear here?! And this isn't cosplay!" Yuihama cried.
The girl was wearing a high school uniform from some unknown school, complete with a red ribbon and a red pleated skirt that carried a somewhat Miko-like style. Her usual bun hairstyle had been let down, and she now looked like a fashionable gal with fox ears and a fox tail.
With her dyed and permed hair, faintly flirtatious aura, and cheerful smile, she looked exactly like the high school girls often wandering around Shinjuku these days.
Only the katana hanging at her waist proved that she truly was a Pseudo-Servant.
"What exactly is going on? Shirou, aren't you the one cosplaying as Teacher Qiao? Amakusa Shirou Tokisada might suit you better." Yuihama walked over as she asked, reaching out to knock on the Youth's armor with loud clangs.
Before you continue