Please Play FGO With Me

She wielded it with ease, displaying its greatest power.

Shirou activated his Mystic Eyes and saw a white-haired warrior with horns, a female Oni, possessing the girl.

The girl, having finished a round, put away her bow and looked provocatively at the boy. "According to our rules, the loser has to grant the winner one wish, right?"

The girl's name was Nakiri Erina, the eldest daughter of the Nakiri International Group. As the foremost group in the culinary world, they practically controlled half of Japan's culinary industry. However, since there was no Mystery in this world, illegal drugging and hallucinogenic dishes didn't exist. Therefore, while the Nakiri group remained a giant in the food industry, they hadn't founded Totsuki Academy.

Nakiri Erina had merely participated in the entrance exam for International High School as a junior high graduate with a highly sensitive tongue and taste buds that were among the best in the world.

She enjoyed reading manga and saw a story about a female protagonist who traveled to various places to eat ramen, conquering the hearts of different types of people in a youthful romance and food adventure. This sparked her interest in ramen, a commoner's food.

So, she invited her friend Hikigaya Komachi, whom she met during a school tour, to go eat ramen with her. They searched for several restaurants nearby, but with her discerning taste and sharp eye, she found fault with most of them—either they were cutting corners or their skills were lacking. Finally, they found an old shop that had been passed down for decades.

The third-generation ramen master was nearing his forties, in the prime of his life with ample experience and undiminished energy. Upon hearing they were examinees, he put his heart into making them the ultimate rich broth ramen.

Both girls ate to their hearts' content, and the afternoon's exam proceeded smoothly.

However, because the exam was mentally taxing, their stomachs began to rumble again in the afternoon. Komachi then took out a box of onigiri and shared it with her friend.

"What is this!" Nakiri Erina, extremely picky about food, exclaimed after taking a bite of the onigiri.

"Huh? It's just a normal onigiri?" Komachi blinked in confusion.

"No! I'm asking who the master chef is who made this onigiri!"

"Ahaha, Erina-chan, you're exaggerating. My brother made this for me as a snack," Komachi said with a laugh.

"Can I have another one?"

"Of course! Erina-chan, you also took me to eat such delicious ramen. If you like it so much, Komachi would be happy to have you over at the Higashiya family for a casual meal," Komachi said with a smile, confident that anyone who tasted her brother's cooking would absolutely love it.

It was exquisite, so exquisite that it perfectly brought out the best qualities of every ingredient, while also neutralizing any off-flavors the ingredients might have had.

With her sensitive taste buds, she discerned every step of the onigiri's creation. The rice, seasoning, and fillings were all common, everyday ingredients. But under the hands of the culinary artist, each step was executed with perfect precision, considering the time of consumption and adding the appropriate amount of salt, sugar, and vinegar. This was no ordinary onigiri; it was a heartfelt creation by a culinary master whose skill had reached the pinnacle of human achievement.

Nakiri Erina looked at Komachi, who was unaware of her good fortune, and thought of the chef behind it all. Only one thought arose in her mind.

"Komachi! Where is your brother this Saturday?" the blonde girl asked.

"Eh? Are you really coming?" Komachi said in surprise. Her friend was not only beautiful but also incredibly wealthy. Honestly, she felt that her somewhat reckless and unrefined brother wasn't good enough for her.

Komachi felt she was being very selfless. If it were up to her own score, it had already reached its maximum and couldn't go any higher.

"I want to challenge him! As a chef!!!" Nakiri Erina declared, filled with fighting spirit. As a genius, she would never admit that for a moment she felt this onigiri was even better than the French haute cuisine she had made!

This had to be a delusion, so she wanted to challenge that man herself to prove that she was the strongest, most talented culinary artist!

Komachi, still basking in the sense of accomplishment from completing a major life mission, nodded with a smile. "Oh, really? You want to challenge my brother? Sure. Anything is fine, even if you want to marry him, you're welcome anytime..."

"Eh? A challenge?" Komachi snapped back to attention, her eyes widening.

Chapter 63: The Cook and the Warrior Girl

At the archery range on the green lawn, the blonde girl wearing a baseball cap held her bow in one hand and raised the other, pointing at the boy on the adjacent lane.

Nakiri Erina said haughtily, "If I win, you'll have a top-level culinary duel with me!"

"Huh? So you want me to cook with you?" Shirou asked, slightly puzzled. If it was such a small, easy favor, he could have just said so directly. His new friend, Komachi's friend, was quite a shy girl.

She came over with such imposing energy; he thought she was here for an assassination. Although, he supposed he was Archer now.

"No! It's about winning and losing! Winning and losing!" Erina's face flushed with anger, and she corrected him in a high-pitched voice. She, the great Erina, had personally come to challenge him, and he was still being so indecisive. What was wrong with this man!

"No, whether it's archery or cooking, I don't think I can lose," Shirou said, raising his bow. Like the girl, he didn't use a sight, relying more on his intuition and eyesight.

Swish, swish!

All six arrows hit the bullseye, neatly arranged in six points forming a small circle.

Throughout history and across all lands, there have been countless individuals of extraordinary ability.

Martial arts, eyesight, magecraft, weapon forging... whichever skill it may be, when honed to a certain level, it can transform the ordinary into the miraculous.

Clairvoyance EX can see the past, present, and future.

Agitation EX is akin to brainwashing, hypnosis, and mental control.

Presence Concealment EX allows one to assimilate with the world itself. Its rank only becomes A+ at the moment of attack (Shadow Lantern, from Fate/strange fake).

So, when humans hone the skill of archery to its extreme, what kind of effect would it produce?

Ancient records of divine archers, if true, describe them as almost miraculous beings, pushing the limits of human eyesight.

For example, Yang Youji, the protagonist of the idiom "shooting an arrow from a hundred paces," could strike an enemy's head in the midst of a battle with just one arrow, earning him the nickname 'Yang Yijian' (Yang One Arrow).

And "shooting an arrow from a hundred paces," according to ancient calculations, a pace was actually walking twice with each foot, taking one step. A step with the left foot and a step with the right foot would be at least one meter.

This means he had to be able to see the marked leaf on the poplar tree from a distance of at least 100 meters, and hit it perfectly every time.

Later, he even reached the realm of "non-shooting archery," where he didn't need to nock an arrow; just drawing the bowstring and releasing it would cause the white apes on the mountain to fall.

Perhaps in some world, there exists a being who, after letting go of their obsessions, continuously hones their mind and will, practicing in a certain place until they reach the divine realm of Archery EX.

Of course, Shirou is still far from that level, and the girl is also the same. Divine Possession is a summoning method where a divine spirit possesses a similar human body, at the cost of weakening its own abilities.

The Heroic Spirit Possession system is also similar, a weakened version of a Servant's attachment. Before the compatibility reaches 100%, the Servant will be restricted in various ways, even in a world where the rules have been changed due to the invasion of Blackened Heroic Spirits.

Let me see how much of the Heroic Spirit's strength you possess.

"If we're going to compete, that's fine," Shirou said, looking at the arrogant, blonde young lady. "But if you lose, you have to explain what exactly is going on with the Heroic Spirit inside you."

"Heh, so you're not an ordinary person either?" Erina said with a smile.

As a genius, she naturally received some favor from the heavens. Therefore, even if her body displayed phenomena beyond the ordinary, she didn't find it strange at all.

The Heroic Spirit within her was something she summoned on a whim with a single ticket while watching a romance manga and playing FGO.

The manga she was watching was historical, set during the Genpei War period, telling the love story of Kiso Yoshinaka, known as the Xiang Yu of Japan, and his beloved concubine, Tomoe Gozen.

Kiso Yoshinaka, also known as Minamoto no Yoshitsune, was born into the Minamoto clan. Before the age of thirty, he achieved an undefeated record in countless battles and saved the Emperor Emeritus of Japan, earning him the title General of the Morning Sun. He commanded the strongest military force in the land, temporarily overshadowing his cousins Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune.

However, due to his arrogance and the betrayal of his followers, he suffered a single defeat at the age of thirty, leading to the loss of his castle and forcing him to flee.

Yoshinaka broke through with his personal guards. When he managed to escape the city, only five people remained by his side.

One of them was his childhood sweetheart and beloved concubine, Tomoe Gozen.

"Let's go back together, back to our old home," Tomoe Gozen said to her husband, hoping they could return to the countryside village where they grew up and live a peaceful and tranquil life.

She only fought on the battlefield alongside her husband and brothers because the man she loved wished for her to do so. By nature, she was a woman who simply wanted her family to live safely and peacefully.

But that was no longer possible. Yoshinaka looked at her, covered in blood from her fighting, and couldn't bear to let his childhood sweetheart die by his side. He said to her, "A man being with a woman on his deathbed will be ridiculed. Do you want me to die without any dignity?"

"Then! Let me fight for you one last time!" Thus, Tomoe Gozen suppressed her grief, mounted her horse, and during the breakout, she casually captured an enemy general who was pursuing them, severed his head with a single stroke, and then galloped away.

After that, there were many rumors about Tomoe Gozen's whereabouts, but no one ever saw her again...

Erina was so moved by the story in the manga that she shed tears. Then, as she pressed the summon button, the Heroic Spirit of the white-haired warrior maiden appeared.

With a faint hint of melancholy, she arrived in this world, resisted the temptations of another girl who was very good at playing games, and answered the summons of Erina, who was excellent at cooking, preparing to undergo bridal training by her side.

Although she was skilled at beheading enemies in life, she wasn't very good at cooking. If she had the chance to meet Kiso Yoshinaka again as a Heroic Spirit, she hoped they could live a peaceful and leisurely life together then.

Therefore, Nakiri Erina and the Heroic Spirit Tomoe Gozen formed a complementary relationship. Erina allowed Tomoe Gozen to possess her and learn to cook, and since Nakiri Erina now wanted to challenge her lifelong rival, Tomoe Gozen would naturally provide her strength to her Master.

When Erina arrived at the Kyudo competition venue with Komachi, she saw the young man's archery posture from the recurve bow competition. He stood straight and strong, the connection between man and bow harmonious and natural. With a light breeze, he unleashed an arrow that flashed like a shooting star. The transition between stillness and motion was simply like art, pleasing to the eye.

This was a posture that only appeared when a person dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to something. She had only seen a similar state when her most admired chef was cooking – the same purity, power, beauty, and perfection.

Erina refused to admit that she was captivated, watching him there, a sense of admiration involuntarily arising in her heart.

When she learned that the boy would also participate in a compound bow friendly match, and that anyone could sign up for it, she immediately ran to the shop in the large tent, took out her credit card, and bought the most powerful bow in the store.

As long as it was a bow, Tomoe Gozen could use it and lend her strength. She wanted to challenge this boy and then have him compete with her in cooking. She absolutely could not miss this opportunity.

Chapter 64: The Strongest Archery Duel

Since it was mostly a promotional event, the rules for the friendly match were simple: six shots per round, continuously shooting. After completing six rounds, participants would withdraw. Those who missed the target had to give up their spot and rejoin the queue. Finally, the top three with the highest scores would be determined as the champions, runners-up, and third place, with an on-site award ceremony.

The previous contestants who missed the target had already left, and new contestants were taking their place. The second round of shooting was about to begin.

Tomoe Gozen was the daughter of a local powerful family and grew up with Kiso Yoshinaka from a young age. Two of the four great generals under Kiso were her brothers. She learned martial arts by their side from a young age.

Having participated in various battles with the army from a very young age, she had mastered the secrets of battlefield combat, excelling in archery and horsemanship.

Although Erina was a complete novice, with the assistance of the Heroic Spirit possessing her, she gained archery experience.

Magic powered her arm and back muscles, putting them in their optimal state.

The girl wearing a baseball cap had a flash of red light in her eyes.

The bowstring twanged, and the arrow flew like a meteor, striking the target with a heavy thud.

Six shots, six hits, all bullseyes.

Shirou, not to be outdone, drew his bow and shot his arrows with the same crispness, as if replicating the previous round. After six shots, they formed a uniform small circle in the center of the target, exactly like before.

When the scorer removed the arrows, they discovered that there were still only six holes, and they hadn't expanded by even a millimeter.

The two seemed to be in a stalemate. The formidable "heavy artillery girl" and the calm, steady young man immediately attracted a crowd of spectators and contestants.

After each archery round, people would excitedly cheer for the young man and woman, even letting out fan-like screams.

The two competing had clearly become the biggest stars on the entire field.

For insiders, the skill of these two young people was terrifyingly impressive. Their archery styles were completely different, yet they achieved the same astonishing results. It was like a perfect textbook, causing them to observe almost greedily, wanting to extract nourishment from it to further improve their own techniques.

For the onlookers, it was a spectacular competition. The exhilaration that erupted with each arrow shot, the beauty of the bowstring being released, excited them immensely.

Some discerning observers with active imaginations saw it as an exciting scene akin to an Asura realm. The blonde girl clearly had feelings for the boy, and behind the boy, there was a group of girls watching him intently.

The blonde girl's gaze towards the boy clearly held a demand, as if saying, 'If I win, you'll come home and marry me!'

And the boy's response seemed to be, 'I have greater ambitions to pursue and don't want to be bound by marriage so early.'

'If the gender of the male (or female) were reversed, this theme would make for an amazing doujinshi.'

A yuri enthusiast who drew male characters and a fujoshi brushed past each other, both excitedly taking out notebooks and continuously writing and drawing, recording the surging inspiration, occasionally emitting strange laughter.

As the competition reached the fifth round, Erina couldn't help but feel anxious.

'What is this! Is there really someone in this world more talented than me? I've already reached that level of understanding in cooking, so why can they be so strong in archery too?'

This was not the girl's forte. Borrowed power was like a rootless duckweed; when there was water, it could float very high, but once the water level dropped during a drought, it would also sink.

The boy opposite her, however, was like a straight bamboo, upright and unyielding. He might sway in the wind and rain, but he would not break, always maintaining a straight, upward posture.

After 36 arrows, the six rounds of competition concluded.

Shirou won first place with a score of 360 points from 36 arrows. The target had six perfect bullseyes, while the target Erina hit was riddled with holes from her shots. She made a mistake and missed one ring, placing second with 359 points.

The white-haired Heroic Spirit inside him communicated with the young girl via mental link, apologizing.

"I'm so sorry, Erina. While I'm great at throwing enemies into the air and shooting them down, I just couldn't beat him in a competition like this, aiming at a fixed target."

"There's no need to apologize; the mistake in shooting was my own," Erina thought, taking off her hat and shaking her long hair. She admitted it was her own fault.

"No, Erina, you did wonderfully. The opponent was not only skilled with archery but also possessed eyes that were truly enviable."

"I knew I shouldn't have challenged him with archery in the first place," Erina regretted, biting her finger.

After the competition ended, Shirou and Erina were invited onto the podium as the first and second place winners.

"Congratulations, that was a truly spectacular duel. Please come and participate in our competitions again in the future." The presenter handed Shirou, the first-place winner, a silver trophy shaped like a bow and arrow. The second and third place winners received certificates.

"Thank you for the praise," Shirou accepted the trophy and replied.

"Nakiri contestant, congratulations. You're the only woman among the top ten, which is remarkable, truly a heroine."

"Hmph, it's only natural for me to achieve this much. Even though I lost," Erina said proudly.

"No, you were already amazing," Shirou reassured her. Even with the Heroic Spirit's help, it was still an impressive feat.

"Speaking of which, are you two a couple?" the middle-aged presenter couldn't help but ask curiously.

"No! Of course not! Why would I be mistaken for being with a guy like him!" Erina's face flushed red as she vehemently denied it. While she had briefly admired him, thinking about a relationship with marriage in mind was far too early for her, as she wasn't even a high school student yet!

"I see, I see, so that's how it is. Keep at it, young man," the middle-aged presenter said with a knowing smile, like an experienced elder, patting Shirou's shoulder encouragingly.

The audience below also smiled kindly, shouting, "Keep at it! Don't miss out on such a cute girl!"

"Based on my experience, you'll win if you just put in a little more effort. Go for it!" the soldier who placed third smiled and gave Shirou a thumbs-up.

"No, you've all misunderstood," Shirou tried to explain.