Shirou, Burdened with Sin

"I haven't heard anything about your companion. I only know that a prince from the Eastern Kingdom, who possesses unparalleled charm, has come here to hold a martial arts contest to choose a husband, vowing to marry the strongest warrior."

The Holy Knight Roland even fought with many people over this, but the prince escaped."Sita, a girl with long red hair in twin tails and holding a precious bow, shook her head.

"Ah... so that's how it is. I was wondering why this situation felt so familiar." Shirou covered his face. He finally remembered what was going on. This must be a world mixed with various Charlemagne Legend.

His current predicament is likely derived from a classic scene in the poem "Roland Furioso" by the 16th-century Italian poet. Due to the limitations of his time, the author could not reflect on the world, but the poet's romantic nature led him to abandon the comparison with real history and directly portray Charlemagne as a cosmic Great Emperor who wished the entire earth would revolve around him.

Charlemagne, as the spokesperson for Christianity, led one-third of the world's power in a religious conflict with the other third of the Arabian Empire, a conflict more important than life itself.

Meanwhile, Princess from the last great Eastern nation, possessing unparalleled charm, arrived and captivated the warriors of both sides. In their struggle for her, the warriors turned the lands of Eurasia and Africa upside down, while they themselves fled on horseback.

The Princess kept getting into trouble as she ran away, only to be rescued by one brave warrior after another, and then she had to run away again.

Roland went through many hardships and traveled all over Europe in his search for and rescue of the Princess, leaving behind legends in various countries.

The last Princess, however, turned to the embrace of the Islam soldiers. Roland was so enraged that he vomited blood, drew his sword and went on a rampage, destroying everything in his path. He then ran naked back to Europe, causing chaos wherever he went.

This leads to the story of Astolfo riding Hippogriff to the maddening moon to retrieve Roland's rationality.

In this world where gender roles are reversed and male-female perspectives are upside down, he seems to be the Princess of that Eastern Country. And this Princess, it seems, ultimately met a tragic end, dying alongside her lover.

Shirou's expression changed repeatedly. Even if he knew he had the unpleasant "Women's Body," this was still ridiculous.

"Let's put that aside for now and talk about your purpose," Shirou said, looking at Sita. After all, she wouldn't have saved him for no reason.

"Well, let's get to the point. Charlemagne could send cavalry to chase us at any time. His paladins are very troublesome. One of them has eyes that can see a thousand miles away, and he also has Phantasmal Beast Hippogriff that can fly hundreds of kilometers in an instant. We must leave as soon as possible." Sita looked directly at Shirou and said.

At this very moment, inside Charlemagne's palace, the pink-haired, braided knight-like beauty Astolfo emerged from the kitchen, carrying a plate full of pastries in one hand. She tiptoed down the corridor, twirling like a ballerina, humming a cheerful tune as she walked towards the VIP rooms on the other side.

She was considering how to find out Shirou's ideal type of woman. If it was the cute type, then she might have a good chance of competing with him.

We returned to the woods.

Sita spoke up, "Shirou! I came here to rescue you at the request of your countrymen. I will take you to see her now."

"Who are my fellow countrymen? Speaking of which, which country do I belong to in this world? As a representative of Eastern Country? It can't be Japan." Shirou said, completely bewildered.

"... Have you lost your memory? I heard you were in a terrible state when you were running away, and you even fell into the water in front of Charlemagne's palace? What a pitiful child. Anyway, come with me. If you see that master, I believe you might remember something." The girl looked at Shirou pitifully, took his hand, and comforted him.

"Wait, who is that master?" Shirou asked, puzzled.

"Please believe me! Come with me. I am a sister from your friendly nation, I will not harm you," Sita said sincerely to the boy. She knew that a boy traveling alone would hesitate if a strange woman suddenly offered to go with him. After all, he wouldn't know if she was a bad person or whether he should go with her.

"No, I believe you." Shirou looked at the girl and smiled, readily agreeing. After Sita had indeed helped him, and didn't seem like a bad person at all. Although he had trusted Astolfo before, who had taken him to the palace and then abandoned him, almost dragging him into the hell of arranged marriages.

However, this cannot be a reason for him to doubt the person who helped him, especially since the other party was a woman. In his previous life, Kiritsugu had taught him to always be a gentleman to women.

"Shirou ..." Sita saw the boy's friendly smile, like that of a boy next door, and there was no wariness in his eyes. She never expected that the boy would trust her like that. She felt a warm current flowing through her heart and was very moved.

'Shirou really is as charming as the rumors say.'

It's like finding a wife in later generations; it's different from finding a girlfriend. When you're having fun, of course you like someone who's pretty, outgoing, and can play and have fun with you. But if you still have that kind of fun after marriage, you're often not so happy.

When it comes to finding a partner, most people still hope to find a virtuous wife and loving mother. The kind who is too open, too individualistic, and too playful might just cheat on you one day on a whim.

Shirou, with his perfect wifely and motherly qualities, is an impeccable partner in this world.

Sita blushed, her mind wandering. Then she remembered the woman waiting for her at home and shook her head, thinking, "No! No! I'm already a married woman! I absolutely cannot be unfaithful. But... to seduce a married woman like that, Shirou, is truly a sinful man..."

However, Shirou didn't do it on purpose. Through their conversation, she realized that he was actually a good person, and she understood that Shirou was a truly worthwhile friend.

"Don't worry! Thank you for your trust, Shirou! Even if it costs me my life, I will help you!" Sita looked at Shirou with deep emotion and vowed, "No matter what, since you are a prince from that friendly Eastern Country, then we are brothers. I, Sita, will definitely protect you!"

"Hey you two, stop right there! What are you doing here!"

Shirou looked up and saw a small group of four women on horseback appearing in front of him. They were dressed as Arabs, wearing armor and carrying military-style swords.

Sita stepped forward, blocking Shirou's path, and called out, "Sisters ahead, we mean no harm. We're just passing through, please let us pass."

"Hahaha! Sita, the red-haired, twin-tailed warrior from Taxila in India! I've heard your legends. As sisters who also believe in Allah, we don't want to harm you now that you're leaving, but please leave the prince from the Eastern kingdom behind!"

Ancient India was divided into five kingdoms, constantly experiencing invasion and being invaded, unification and division. The ethnic groups were extremely diverse, with different states using different languages and religious beliefs. In fact, before being ruled by the British, India had never been unified, but rather consisted of numerous small kingdoms.

When Britain was no longer able to maintain its colony and returned the territory, the Indian subcontinent, the jewel in the crown of the British Queen, was divided into India and Pakistan. India was predominantly inhabited by Hinduism, while Pakistan was predominantly inhabited by Islam. Later, Bangladesh was also separated from Pakistan, as was Sri Lanka, which is also located on the Indian subcontinent.

These countries are interconnected, with each country having elements of the other. Their citizens are related by blood, yet they also harbor mutual animosity, leading to constant friction.

Interestingly, despite sharing the same origins, India's image in China is consistently more negative than positive, while it enjoys a deep brotherly friendship with Pakistan.

Pakistan was the first country to recognize China's status as the legitimate nation. During the Wenchuan earthquake, Pakistan donated all of its military reserves, including tents, to China. Furthermore, when Chinese leaders visited Pakistan, the entire Pakistan population was given a holiday.

Pakistan is now also playing an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative, working together to achieve common prosperity.

In later generations, with enemies surrounding China, those neighboring countries were either opportunistic fence-sitters seeking only to gain an advantage or ungrateful wretches who could never be won over. Even those countries of the same race and origin were unreliable. Having a staunch ally who stood by you was truly a rare and precious thing.

Because of various terrorist attacks in later generations, many people have deep misunderstandings about Muslims. However, as long as they think of their brothers in Pakistan, they will understand that those terrorists are just a malignant tumor, and even within the Muslims community, they are an unforgivable malignant tumor.

Sita was located in Taxila, a city in what is now Pakistan. The Tang Dynasty Master Xuanzang stayed there for a period of time, as recorded in the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, which describes it as a city of stone carvings, with numerous temples and pagodas, and thriving agriculture.

Because the rulers of the earlier Kushan dynasty and later the Mauryan dynasty under Ashoka both believed in Buddhism and vigorously promoted it, the area was a center for Buddhist studies and exchange among monks for a long time.

According to legend, Taxila was founded by Bharata, Rama's brother. It was conquered by Alexander the Great, Iskandar, King of Conquerors, and then ruled by the Kushan Empire established by the Yuezhi.

First came the indigenous religious culture of the Indian subcontinent, then it incorporated the Greek culture brought by Alexander, and later the Han Culture that spread from the East. As can be seen from the remaining relics, the Buddhist sculptures here integrate artistic features from both the East and the West.

However, by the 8th century, when the Arabian Empire was at its peak, the region had been occupied by Islam, and Buddhism gradually declined in the Middle East, eventually leaving only some relics.

Facing the four-man squad from the Arabian Empire, Sita nocked his bow, walked in front of Shirou, moved his sword to a position where it would be easy to draw, and stared straight ahead with an expression that showed he would never back down.

Judging from their aura, it's clear they aren't ordinary soldiers; each possesses the abilities of a lower-ranking Servant. The one leading them, in particular, seems to be of officer rank based on her attire, indicating she already has the strength of a mid-ranking Servant.

"It seems there's no way to negotiate. Let's do it! Sita is the warrior who rescued the prince from Charlemagne. Subdue her and tie her up! Be careful not to hurt the prince," the leading female warrior ordered her subordinates.

"Yes, sir!" the soldiers replied in unison.

The four men rode forward, then dismounted, drew their swords, and surrounded Sita and Shirou.

When she drew the crescent-shaped sword with its strange patterns, Shirou's eyes lit up.

He instantly realized that it was a genuine Damascus sabers forged using the orthodox methods that had been lost in later generations, and it was one of the finest examples.

This is a precious weapon, much like the superior horse lance used only by high-ranking generals in the Tang Dynasty army. It takes skilled craftsmen three years to make a horse lance, and the success rate is only 40%. Military families are proud to own a family heirloom horse lance.

Both have their advantages. Damascus sabers are lightweight and flexible, while the longer the lance, the greater its advantage. However, few people can use them well. Unless one has trained diligently from a young age and possesses exceptional physical talent, it is impossible to use them effectively on the battlefield. Historically, Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong were both masters of the lance. With the lance in hand, they were like Guan Yu Zhang Fei, charging into battle against thousands of enemies.

"Sita, can you hold off three people?" Shirou whispered behind the girl.

Sita nodded Sita, then rushed forward and shouted, "Leave it to me! Shirou, stay behind me!"

"Hehe, even if you're a famous warrior, you can't possibly fight all four of us at the same time," the female warrior leader said with a light laugh.

"How will you know if you don't try?" Sita fired three arrows in quick succession.

Sita's archery skills were superb; his arrows flew swiftly, like a gust of wind, their white tail feathers transforming into straight white lines.

The three soldiers in front changed their expressions and dared not be careless in using their swords to block the arrows. They were forced to jump and roll on the ground to dodge the arrows.

"Excellent archery! Truly living up to your reputation! But how many more shots can you fire?" The female warrior leader clapped and praised calmly from behind. She acknowledged Sita's strength, but it was all within her calculations; she understood the rules of battlefield combat better than anyone else here.

"Hmph, bring it on!" Sita nocked another arrow and aimed it at the enemy.

The female warrior leader also joined the battle, forming a simple but effective battle formation with her three subordinates, pressing forward in unison.

Sita dared not easily shoot the arrow she had nocked, for as soon as her hand was empty, the others would be slashed at her with their swords.

However, the four of them had to be on high alert to deal with the arrows that Sita had not yet fired. No one expected that the young and seemingly weak boy Shirou would have any fighting skills.

Just as the soldiers were all focused on guarding against Sita,

At that moment, Shirou rushed forward, grabbed a female warrior's hand, snatched her sword, and bent his knee to strike her in the back of the knee. Taking advantage of the female warrior's weak leg, he swept his leg up and tripped her to the ground.

Shirou mustered all his strength and rushed towards the female warrior leader behind him at top speed.

"That's enough!" the boy shouted.

The next moment, Shirou's Damascus sabers was already pressed against the female warrior's throat. If it were just one centimeter closer, the sharp blade would easily slice through her throat.

The female warrior leader was stunned for a moment before realizing she had lost.

"It seems the battle is over," Sita said, looking at the two remaining soldiers.

Led by the female warrior leader, the three also laid down their weapons, threw their precious swords on the ground, and raised their hands in surrender.

Chapter 317 The Sinful Shirou

Shirou looked closely at the female warrior leader and realized that she was actually only in her early twenties. However, her different worldview and battlefield experience gave her a kind of competence and maturity that was different from women of later generations.

Shirou said softly to her, "You've already lost. If you promise to pretend you didn't see us and leave this place, I'll let you go."

Hearing Shirou's words, the female warrior leader didn't feel humiliated. Instead, her eyes shone with admiration as she looked at Shirou, and she exclaimed with a smile, "Prince, you are not only kind and gentle, but you also possess great strength. I can't help but fall for you!"

"Um... that..." Shirou stammered, unsure how to respond. Was this typical domineering CEO phrasing reversed?

"Prince... no, Shirou, please allow me to call you that. As an Arab warrior, just like Sinbad bravely faced challenges and adventures throughout his life, I will not give up either. Only a man like you is worthy of being a warrior of our race. A handsome man deserves a hero, and our race has an unparalleled warrior. We will welcome you to the Arabian Empire," said the female warrior leader.

As someone capable of becoming a general, her judgment was naturally excellent, and she had long understood that the prince had taken a liking to her precious sword. The female warrior leader thought for a moment, gritted her teeth, took out her sword, handed it to the boy, and said.

"Since you like this knife so much, then I'll give it to you!"

"Huh! Really!" Shirou exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the treasured sword.

"Hiss..." The three female soldiers around gasped, their faces filled with shock. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief, as if the sun had risen in the west.

'This is a reward specially given by the leader of the Arabian Empire to generals who have made great contributions; it can also be seen as a symbol of a capable warrior. The leader herself always carries her knife with her, and she wipes it clean before going to bed.'

'You just give it away like that now?'

One of them couldn't help but say, "Boss, this is the precious sword you received for your great service!"

"Even if you've been single for 26 years and are desperate for a man, you don't need to make such a huge sacrifice, do you?" another person said.

"Enough with the chit-chat! You're all single, what do you know! Just one more great achievement and everything will be fine." The female warrior leader yelled at her subordinates, her face flushed, then turned to Shirou with a smile and said, "Here, this sword is yours, Prince."

"Eh? Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Shirou looked at the exquisite Damascus sabers, crafted using a lost ancient method. As one of the world's three most famous swords, he really wanted to collect it and study it carefully. However, upon hearing that it was a valuable military reward, he felt embarrassed to accept it.

"Take it, you dignified woman. Once I've said I'd give it to you, I can't take it back. Besides, you've defeated me, so you're a warrior worthy of this sword," the female warrior leader said softly to Shirou.

"Thank you, I'll keep it safe." Shirou couldn't stand it any longer, so he took the sword, touched the patterns on it, and gave the four of them a genuinely happy smile. He had thought the foreign female warrior would be scary and impossible to communicate with, but she turned out to be surprisingly kind.

"..."

The four people opposite were stunned for a moment.

"?" Shirou looked at the four girls who had suddenly fallen silent, puzzled. What was wrong with these young ladies? Was it some kind of custom unique to ancient people?

"Sigh..." Sita, who had witnessed the whole thing, sighed helplessly. The others were clearly already caught up in it. She thought to herself that she hadn't been wrong after all; Shirou was indeed a deeply sinful man.

After a while, the female warrior leader, who had finally come to her senses, coughed and said, "As expected... we should stay and escort you. Even if you don't go to our territory, it's fine. With our escort, you'll have no trouble along the way."

"Yes...yes." The female warriors under her command nodded in agreement.

"Enough with the nonsense. Since you've lost, then leave," Sita interrupted coldly.

"Hahaha, leave two horses for our prince!" the female leader ordered with a loud laugh.

"Sita, we entrust the prince to your care. Prince, we look forward to our next meeting." The female leader led her soldiers in a salute to Shirou.

"Hahaha!" The female leader and her subordinate rode away on a horse, laughing loudly.

"Tch, she clearly lost to a man, yet she talks so much," Sita said, annoyed.

"Why does this sound a bit discriminatory? Hmm? Something feels off," Shirou said from the side, clearly still struggling to adapt to this world where perspectives have been turned upside down.

"Why didn't you say that when you accepted the sword?" Sita coldly exposed Shirou's little scheme, chuckled sarcastically, and shook her head, saying, "Hmph, men..."

"Um... Sita? Do you have a problem with me?" Shirou asked suspiciously.

"No! I am a married woman! Do you hear me clearly? I am a married woman!" Sita said loudly, as if reminding him of something.

"Yeah, I know." Shirou nodded blankly. 'Why did you say it twice?'

Unbeknownst to Shirou, through word of mouth among these warriors, the prince of the Eastern kingdom was not only charismatic but also possessed extraordinary abilities, having defeated the warriors of the Arabian Empire at a young age and kindly letting them go. These rumors spread throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The powerful warrior, who was originally indifferent to women who were all looks and no talent, couldn't help but become curious upon hearing this news. More and more women began to show interest in him.

But that's a story for another time.

Now, having fought side by side on the battlefield, the two have developed a bond of camaraderie, no longer just strangers meeting for the first time with a sense of distance between them.

The red-haired twin-tailed girl Sita, and Shirou exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.

Then Sita told Shirou everything she knew.

"I met that master in Peshawar. Although she was a non-Buddhist, she was indeed a learned scholar and highly respected in my homeland, India. She came here saying she was looking for a prince from her own country, and because she came from a friendly, brotherly nation, I escorted her here."

"Peshawar? That should be a city in Pakistan, right?" Shirou didn't expect to hear that name here. In his past life, he had been there as a peacekeeping volunteer.