"Let's deal with the monster in front of us first! You must have received the Servant's memories and related knowledge by now, right? If we let it keep rampaging, who knew how many people would suffer."
"Is that so... I understand." Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the monster wreaking havoc and could only nod.
"But once this is over, you must give me an explanation. You said, 'I've been busy practicing for the national tournament lately, so I can't spare time for club activities.' Yet here you are, doing who knows what with a girl in a skintight outfit?" Yukino looked at Shirou with a chilling smile.
"Ahaha, actually, I was planning to show up at the club tomorrow." Shirou laughed, finding the girl's smile rather terrifying.
"Is that so? Then I'll be waiting for your explanation." The icy smile remained on Yukino's lips.
Yukino Yukinoshita had always been more mature and rational than ordinary high school students. Although there were things she was bad at and she had a childish side, at times like this, she chose to uphold her own "absolute justice."
The instant the Servant possessed her, she received the Servant's past combat experience and learned about this place from her, understanding why the monster had appeared.
The girl usually enjoyed reading, so she was naturally very familiar with Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the well-known tragic hero.
As a legendary general, he won many crucial victories and united the country, which had been divided between east and west. His achievements made his brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo, wary of him. Forced to flee, he ultimately took his own life. After that, Minamoto no Yoritomo swiftly unified the country, established the Kamakura Shogunate, and became its true ruler.
Precisely because she understood his history, she felt even more pity and sympathy for this heroic spirit girl who represented the tragic hero's younger days. She seemed to feel a certain resonance with her as well.
They both held complicated feelings toward their sibling. They were both geniuses, with sides that others could not understand.
Perhaps because of that, Yukino Yukinoshita's compatibility with Ushiwakamaru, the Servant possessing her, reached as high as 80%. She could bring out the Servant's true strength better than Shirou could.
In turn, she seemed to have been more deeply affected by the Servant. Like Ushiwakamaru, she had forgotten what fear was. She merely coldly appraised the Chimera and drew the katana at her waist.
Shirou shouted at the pink-haired girl. "Mash, we've got a new partner! What exactly should we do now?"
"Shirou-senpai! To defeat a Chimera of this strength, we have to rely on a Noble Phantasm!" Mash, who was holding back the Chimera, turned around and immediately looked disappointed. She complained loudly, "Why is it Rider class again?! We're at an attribute disadvantage!"
"Huh? Did I mess it up again? With the Holy Grail, shouldn't everyone be strong? Then what do we do now?" Shirou asked in confusion. In his previous life's world, every Servant had been quite strong. Class disadvantages were not this obvious either.
"I don't know! Shirou-senpai, you idiot! I was looking forward to you summoning a powerful, reliable partner! But you were completely seduced by the uniform! That's why you picked a young lady dressed so revealingly, right?! What can we do now? We can only tough it out!" Mash shouted angrily, deeply dissatisfied with the Youth.
"..." Shirou could not understand why his junior had suddenly gotten angry too.
"More importantly! When did you add Yukino-senpai as a friend, Shirou-senpai?" Mash asked with a frown.
She could hardly believe it. Only one day had passed—less than twenty-four hours, in fact! Shirou-senpai, whom she trusted, had used the account she gave him to pull proof of being lucky, then used her account to add another girl as a friend! What else had happened that she did not know about?
It was like the shock of a certain pharaoh, who still pined for his dream lover after death, only to discover upon meeting her that she had become round as a ball. The world seemed to be changing too fast for her to accept. Where had that serious goody-two-shoes gone? Had one day of gaming led him astray?
Mash turned the inexplicable irritation and frustration in her heart into strength, raising her shield and smashing it hard into the Chimera's lion nose. She struck its weak point directly, making the monster let out a miserable cry.
At that moment, Yukino Yukinoshita stepped forward. "If I had the demonic sword 'Hagoromo' in my hands, I could definitely cut down a monster of this level with my Noble Phantasm. That is what the Servant inside me told me."
While Mash was fighting the monster, Yukino had been observing the pitch-black Chimera, searching for a solution. Then the Servant within her spoke in her heart and told her how to win.
"Won't your current weapon work, Yukino-senpai?" Mash raised her shield to block the Chimera's pounce and shouted.
"Mm. It seems that because the summoning was incomplete, this sword is merely a slightly sharper imitation." As she spoke, Yukino raised her blade and rushed forward. Using footwork as nimble as a swallow's, she dodged the Chimera's claws and slashed at its snake tail. Yet she only cut away the snake's scales. Just as she had said, the sword in her hand only had the shape of the real thing.
"This is a problem of insufficient compatibility! But there's no way to raise it all at once right now." Mash lifted her shield to cover Yukino, ramming into the Chimera's swinging claw. Another dull boom rang out, like a hammer striking something heavy.
"Mash, hold on a little longer! I'll figure out the Noble Phantasm!" Hearing Yukino's words, Shirou's eyes lit up. He shouted at the girl.
All things in the world contained the principles of mutual generation and restraint. Flames that burned everything and brought destruction could be extinguished by cool water. Venom that could kill a fierce beast would be eaten by a mongoose immune to poison.
And there were Noble Phantasms specifically meant to slay demons and exorcise monsters, such as the demonic sword Yukino had mentioned, stained with the blood of countless fiends.
"The demonic sword 'Hagoromo,' right? Let me confirm it!" Light appeared in Shirou's eyes. Through them, the Youth understood his own condition more clearly.
Because he was possessed by a Servant, Shirou's current state was close to that of a Pseudo-Servant like Lord El-Melloi II, who had gained incomplete power from Zhuge Liang. Though he seemed to have been heavily suppressed and weakened in this world, he could still fight with the magical energy supplied by the Holy Grail.
Previously, because this was a new world without magical energy, he could not even use Reinforcement Magic without special means.
In his previous life, he had continuously used reinforcement on his eyes. At the moment of his death, he broke through and developed the "Mystic Eyes of Analysis." Using those Mystic Eyes as channels to transmit magical energy, he had solved the nuclear power plant core meltdown. The Reinforcement Magic he used on the bow earlier had also been completed through his Mystic Eyes.
As independent Magic Circuits, Mystic Eyes could generate magical energy and activate spells on their own. They could even consume life force. Compared with ordinary Magic Circuits, they perhaps resembled the movement of celestial bodies more closely. Miraculously, they could still be used even after coming to this world without mystery.
The Mystic Eyes of Analysis simply allowed him to remotely see through and deconstruct objects, like a 3D scan and modeling diagram, obtaining data on the target.
They could only analyze and understand an "observed target's" basic structure and the process of its formation. Unlike other famous Mystic Eyes, they possessed no great power, but under certain circumstances, they were unexpectedly useful.
Now that he had sufficient magical energy, the Youth could accomplish things that had previously been difficult. For the first time since being reborn into this world, Shirou used the magecraft he excelled at most.
Shirou's Mystic Eyes shone with gemstone-like amber light. His gaze observed the demonic sword in Yukino's hand, while his consciousness connected through the Servant inside him to the source hidden behind the Holy Grail.
With the aid of the Mystic Eyes of Analysis, Shirou's understanding of Noble Phantasms rose to another level. To some extent, this was no longer ordinary magecraft, but a more exceptional "miracle" closer to True Magic.
"Projection Start—Traceon!"
The Demonic Sword Hagoromo Is Complete
Information about that Noble Phantasm surged into Shirou's mind. His Mystic Eyes, glowing with amber gem-like light, seemed to connect space and time, allowing him to witness scene after scene from the Noble Phantasm's birth onward.
He saw an ancient master smith refining and polishing a sword blank, sharpening one side. When the edges of its tip were ground into a curve suitable for chopping, the demonic sword emitted the first cold gleam of its arrival in the world.
Then he saw a traditional Japanese-style room. An ominous Black Shadow loomed behind a sickly woman with long dark-purple hair. The woman suddenly opened her eyes, drew her sword, and spun around to slash at the Black Shadow. It let out a scream and vanished.
She was a tall, voluptuous, imposing female general. Even illness could not diminish her majesty in the slightest.
The woman seemed to sense something and suddenly looked back. Her eyes actually pierced through time and space to meet Shirou's gaze. Perhaps it was an illusion, but for that instant, Shirou seemed to see "motherly love" in her eyes.
As he froze in astonishment, the scene before him shifted again. A katana was enshrined within the shrine of Hachiman Daibosatsu. At night, moonlight streamed through the window and shone upon the blade. A hissing sound came from within the sheath.
In the next scene, a girl riding a black steed held this katana high as she charged through the battlefield, continuously cutting off enemy heads and creating legend after legend.
In the end, following its owner's death, it was collected by the Minamoto clan. After the Minamoto clan's defeat, it changed hands several times before eventually being placed in a museum, where it remained sealed away until now...
Shirou's mind returned from its journey through time and space. His Mystic Eyes flickered with gemstone-like light as the Noble Phantasm gradually took shape within his Inner World.
"The demonic sword 'Hagoromo,' originally named Hizamaru, was one of the Minamoto clan's treasured weapons, forged during the Heian period."
"Because Raikou used it to slay Tsuchigumo, a monster that spread disease, it came to be called 'Kumokiri.'"
"Because it was stained with too much demon blood and howled like a snake at night, it was also called 'Ho-maru.'"
"When it came into Yoshitsune's possession, it was named 'Hagoromo'!"
Powerful magical energy converged into a single stream and poured from Shirou's arm and palm. It became particles of light and circuit-like rays, condensing into a katana. Within the blade, it continued changing, as if reenacting the forging process it had experienced in different ways—the polishing and wiping by every owner, the sparks raised by collisions with demon bodies and enemy weapons on the battlefield.
Finally, the demonic sword emitted a snake-like hiss that thirsted for blood, and a cold gleam flashed across its slender blade.
The demonic sword "Hagoromo" appeared whole in Shirou's hand. Though it was a projected replica, it was indistinguishable from the real thing to the naked eye. With the enhancement of his Mystic Eyes, Shirou's Projection Magecraft had reached another stage. The difference from the original could now be ignored.
"Yukino! Catch!" Shirou shouted and threw Hagoromo toward the girl.
The black-haired girl, possessed by a Servant, had been influenced by her Servant. She knew many military tactics and martial skills, and she had lost her fear as well, displaying the heroic bearing of a youthful genius general. Her eyes remained fixed on the Chimera. Without even raising her head, she extended a hand and steadily caught Hagoromo by its hilt.
Yukino raised Hagoromo. Her slender, fair fingers stroked the blade as though caressing a lover. She flicked it lightly with her finger, producing a clear ring. With a satisfied smile, she said, "This is exactly the feeling I needed. Shirou, I like it."
"Oh! Can you cut it now?" Shirou asked with a light laugh.
"There is still twenty percent missing from the Noble Phantasm's charge. I need some time to prepare." Yukino Yukinoshita stared at the hybrid monster.
A Servant's Noble Phantasm was a manifestation of the achievements and experiences praised during their lifetime, or armaments celebrated in their legends. Noble Phantasms were activated by calling out their True Names and pouring in magical energy.
Most Noble Phantasms required a certain amount of time to activate. Some needed incantations, while others needed to be charged with immense magical energy.
According to the rules of the FGO system, the Conceptual Material equipped by her Ushiwakamaru was Fearsome King of Mages, a Conceptual Material item of the Second Magic. It had already completed eighty percent of the charge needed to activate the Servant's Noble Phantasm.
"I'll handle this!" The great shield Mash raised emitted white light, which settled upon Yukino. The skill she used was "Wall of White Chalk."
As the central part of the Round Table where King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table sat during meetings, it symbolized Camelot. It possessed all kinds of miraculous abilities: the blessing of the strongest defense, and the blessing that allowed a Noble Phantasm to rapidly gather magical energy and complete its charge.
"That's enough. I can win now!" Yukino Yukinoshita flicked Hagoromo's blade with her fingertip, producing a clear chime. Her voice was resolute.
"Is that so? Then I'll take you over there!" Shirou summoned Bayard, the magical horse of Saint George, who had descended alongside him as a Rider, and charged at the mutated Chimera, whose shoulders stood over three meters high.
Yukino Yukinoshita stood with both feet braced against Shirou's back, her left hand pressed on his shoulder and her right hand holding aloft Hagoromo, the demonic sword that had slain countless monsters.
"Mash! Fall back!"
When they reached the Chimera, Shirou directly drew Ascalon. Riding the white horse, he rammed straight into the Chimera, drawing the monster's attention.
Yukino leaped high from the horse's back, the fur-wrapped sheath that looked like a raccoon dog's tail swaying behind her.
Swift and powerful, she instantly landed atop the Chimera's back. Her body traced a beautiful curve as she spun in the air like a dolphin leaping from water.
"Hah! Dan-no-ura—HASSO-TOBI!!!"
The blade light flashed into several long arcs with the force of lightning!
"Roaargh!" The pitch-black Chimera let out a wail and crashed to the ground. Half its body had been severed, exposing pinkish-red muscle. Blood sprayed into the sky like an erupting volcano. Its torn wings hung from one half of its body, while its claws had been habitually cut clean off. At last, it turned into black fluorescence beneath the setting sun and disappeared.
"Shirou-senpai! Yukino-senpai! That's great, we did it!" Mash put away her shield and returned to her school uniform. She ran over happily and high-fived Shirou.
"Yeah! Good thing you were here, Mash!" Shirou raised his hand in response, praising his junior.
At that moment, the black-haired girl sheathed her sword and walked toward them with one hand raised.
"Yukino too, thanks to your powerful support!" Shirou smiled, walked up to her, and raised his hand.
Yukino disdainfully avoided Shirou. Her hand passed by his as she walked toward Mash.
Mash giggled and raised her hand, intending to high-five Yukino in celebration, but Yukino directly grabbed her wrist and squeezed it tightly, as though arresting her.
Perhaps because the battle had ended, the Servant's influence over the girl's mind had weakened. She had returned to being the aloof, perfect honor student she usually was.
"You're Mash, the first-year student who transferred here before, aren't you? Can you explain exactly what this is about?" Yukino locked her gaze on Mash, carrying thirty percent anger and seventy percent suspicion, clearly intending to settle accounts afterward.
"Um... Yukino." Shirou stepped forward to interrupt, but hesitated.
"Be quiet first! I have something important to ask!" Yukino glared at Shirou. This time, it was seventy percent anger and thirty percent suspicion.
Turning back, Yukino sternly questioned the pink-haired girl. "Mash, you recommended this game to people all over the school. Did you know from the beginning that monsters like this would appear, so you were looking for people to fight them?"
"I'm sorry! Senpai, what I did was truly rude, but this is also something important that concerns everyone. Please let me explain properly." Mash lowered her head and bowed. She could not refute Yukino's words.
Although she had prepared herself from the start, it was true that she had taken advantage of Shirou-senpai's kindness and integrity to drag him into this without asking.
"Hey... Yukino, there's actually something else important." Shirou walked over and reminded her quietly.
"What?" Yukino turned back impatiently.
"Well... Yukino, how long are you planning to keep looking so embarrassingly heart-pounding?" Shirou covered his eyes with one hand and handed the girl the jacket he had picked up.
At the moment, the black-haired girl wore gorgeous-looking black brocade and blue-and-gold leather armor made of small plates. Only the shoulder guards on either side offered protection, while the front and back that most needed protection were completely exposed.
In fact, aside from that strange armor, she seemed to be wearing only red swim briefs. Her navel and back were exposed, and even her upper body was only half-covered.
"Pervert! Don't look!" Only then did Yukino Yukinoshita remember what she was wearing. One hand blurred into an afterimage as she snatched Shirou's jacket and covered herself.
This time, the girl could not laugh. Blushing furiously, she glared at Shirou. The meaning of Why didn't you tell me sooner?! was unmistakable.
"Well, it actually suits you quite well. You look like a valiant samurai girl—beautiful and cool..." Shirou turned his head away under her glare and tried to find words to comfort her.
For example, she could not only kill with her eyes, but directly cut someone down with her sword too...
Mm, it really felt like she would cut him, so he would not say that out loud.
The outfit had been pleasant enough to look at in the game, but seeing it in reality was truly embarrassing. Especially when it was on Yukino, who usually carried herself like a proud, aloof ice-cold beauty. It was simply unfair.
The Price of Servant Possession
Ushiwakamaru was like a cat. At times, she was hard to figure out. She liked jumping around on rooftops, and just as a cat might suddenly carry a dead bird or mouse to someone close to it, she would deliver her enemies' heads to someone she liked.
And Yukino Yukinoshita loved cats most of all. Once she learned that Ushiwakamaru was truly an adorable little girl, she sympathized with both her tragic fate and her somewhat airheaded personality.
Before she knew it, she had fully ascended Ushiwakamaru, fed her Holy Grails, and raised her to level 90. Her affection for the Servant went without saying. But even if she liked her, that did not mean she wanted to wear such an embarrassing outfit. Thinking about how she had focused on battle without any awareness earlier...
She had jumped, ridden a horse, and even spun three hundred and sixty degrees in midair...
The girl's expression still maintained a somewhat cold calm, but inside, she was nearly collapsing. With her immense pride, she always demanded that she do everything properly. Never before had she been so flustered. And it had to happen in front of this person...
"Since Yukino is so embarrassed, Mash, hurry up and help her change back," Shirou said to Mash.
"Shirou-senpai, summoning a Servant from the FGO system to possess someone usually comes with conditions. As the price for borrowing their power, you must fulfill one wish of the Servant before she will leave the body. But please rest assured, Yukino-senpai. We are actually in a state of alternate space right now, so ordinary people cannot see us in Servant possession form," Mash explained.
"Really?... Other people really can't see?" Yukino clutched Mash's clothes. Tears she could no longer hide had already appeared at the corners of her eyes as she asked urgently.
The girl's face was flushed from embarrassment and agitation. Her delicate appearance, combined with the outfit, carried a faint charm. She possessed a pitiable beauty, half-hidden and half-revealed, while the samurai girl outfit gave her an indescribably bewitching allure.
"...!" Mash and Shirou both felt their hearts skip a beat, as though they had been struck by Charm Magic.
I never thought Yukino, who usually looks like such a cold beauty, could make an expression like that... This destructive power is practically an Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm, Shirou thought.
I feel like I can understand why Shirou-senpai summoned Yukino-senpai after all. She's so cute, so beautiful... Even my heart is racing. Gudako-senpai, what am I supposed to do? Mash thought, holding her flushed cheeks in both hands.
At that moment, footsteps sounded outside. Someone happened to pass by and was startled upon seeing the destroyed wall.
"Wha—!? Was there an earthquake?" the passerby cried out in shock, but did not look toward Shirou and Yukino.
"..." Mash, who had already changed back, hurriedly ran farther inside and hid in a corner that could not be seen from outside.
Before you continue