Chapter 190

After visiting Shirou, I still need to go back and interrogate the remaining people.

An ordinary person would probably have collapsed from exhaustion long ago, but for Chen, it was just a little tiring.

The reason she was rubbing her brow was mainly because what Shirou had just said was somewhat contrary to her understanding of common sense.

Whether it's the ability called Projection, or the opponent Projection Chixiao and unleashing a sword strike...

"Wait! Shirou, how did you learn to draw your sword?"

Sitting up straight, Chen suddenly asked.

It's worth noting that when she was working with Shirou while concealing her identity, she didn't bring Chixiao with her.

After Shirou began her internship at the Knights of the Round Table, she used Chixiao almost zero times.

With Shirou around, there's really no need for her to use Chixiao to fight.

So these days, apart from skincare, she's hardly used Chixiao anymore, no wonder she made a mistake just now!

It wasn't because she mistook someone else for her! She just wasn't used to it and didn't recognize them!

"That? As I just mentioned, I need to first understand, or rather analyze, the weapon itself, and then Projection it. In this process, I can obtain some information about how the user uses the weapon."

As Shirou spoke, Chen's expression gradually darkened, but Shirou, oblivious to Chen's change in demeanor, continued:

"Although I can gain some knowledge about how to use it, it's only about 50% or 60%. If I want to use it proficiently, I'll have to practice a lot more to get as close as possible to the original owner's skills."

"Fifty to sixty percent..."

Upon hearing Shirou's words, Chen thought about the marks left at the scene due to the sword being drawn.

She felt that Shirou was lying to her; he was practically on par with her, yet he said it was fifty or sixty percent?

"Um?"

Only after Chen spoke did Shirou notice that something was off about Chen's expression.

Then he realized that the other party was the person in question, and that he was the one who stole the other party's weapons and skills, and then he told the other party how much he had learned.

"Guh, Chen, calm down."

Thinking of this, Shirou swallowed hard and tried to persuade Chen, fearing that Chen would lose his temper and become irrational.

Other places are fine, but this is a hospital; it's not appropriate to be roughhousing here.

He doesn't know if he can afford to compensate for the damage to those specialized equipment, but he certainly can't.

He currently has no plans to look for other jobs.

"Don't worry, I'm very calm. Although I wasn't there when you used your sword draw, I just watched it, and it was just as good as mine! How could you say it was only 50 or 60%?"

To reassure Shirou, Chen crossed his arms and gave him a friendly smile.

If the other person hadn't been constantly tapping their index finger on their arm, Shirou might have actually believed it.

Even that kind smile seemed sinister in Shirou's eyes.

"Well... there are other factors involved, like this."

Faced with this situation, Shirou hurriedly offered an explanation, then used the Reinforcement Magic with the pen he had just used to alter his medical report.

Then, taking the standard-issue sword that he had just Projection, he swung it directly at the blade.

A sharp, metallic clang rang out.

He then handed the pen to Chen and let him take a look.

"It's made of plastic, but it's completely fine after being hit by a sword?"

Seeing this illogical scene before him, Chen completely forgot about what had just happened.

Although she was still a little bothered that the Chixiao Technique, which she had learned for many years, had been learned by the other party, Shirou had only shown how to draw his sword so far, and she could still tolerate it until he reached the Jueying.

She studied for so long to reach the Jueying! If someone skipped directly to this level, she really couldn't stand it!

Then he turned his attention to the pen in his hand.

"Phew... that pen was borrowed, I hope I don't break it."

After confirming that Chen's attention had been diverted, Shirou, who had escaped unscathed, breathed a sigh of relief and casually reminded Chen.

"Ah? I understand."

After being reminded by Shirou, Chen, who was originally going to try to break it by hand, stopped and instead used a light tapping motion to confirm.

Seeing that Chen seemed to be completely focused on the pen and the standard-issue sword Projection onto him, Shirou stepped aside to greet the others who had been watching for a long time.

"Have you finished talking?"

Seeing Shirou approaching, Hoshiguma rested her head on her hand and asked with a smile.

"They must be done talking, right? I was worried she might suddenly draw her sword..."

After observing that Chen had already drawn his standard-issue sword and was studying the details of both, Shirou said.

"Old Chen really values the Chixiao sword. If you weren't still wearing your hospital clothes, she'd probably be planning to let you fight her with Chixiao right now."

Hoshiguma offered a brief explanation.

You have to understand that Chixiao is very important to Chen, so she wasn't too surprised by what just happened.

If there's anything surprising, it's probably that Old Chen actually mistook his own Chixiao.

Luckily, I managed to record a short clip on my phone, which I can use later as a joke to tease Old Chen.

However, this also suggests that the Chixiao in Shirou's hand is no different from Old Chen's own, since even Old Chen himself made a mistake.

"I can roughly understand how she feels. I just didn't notice when I was speaking."

Upon hearing Hoshiguma's words, Shirou said he could understand.

The main reason for the situation just now was that he kept rubbing salt into Chen's wounds.

If he had paid just a little more attention when he spoke, Chen's emotions wouldn't have been so volatile.

"It's alright, that rice noodle roll dragon won't collapse over something like this. In fact, seeing it make a fool of itself actually cheered me up quite a bit! It's a pity I didn't get a picture!"

Swire was standing to the side, had almost fully recovered. Apart from her eyes being slightly red and swollen, she was basically the same as usual.

"I won't send you the photos, Missy, okay?"

Noticing that Swire was almost an explicit suggestion for her to send to the other party, Hoshiguma decisively chose to refuse.

It wasn't that she was stingy, but that this would only embolden Swire.

This puts her in a difficult position as the mediator, and Old Chen will definitely find out where the photos came from and demand that she delete them.

These are rare embarrassing photos of Old Chen! We should wait until she's saved them in various places before making a fuss!

182 Black Pattern

Two days of hospitalization should have been incredibly boring, but Shirou seemed to know quite a few people, so much so that the door to the Rhodes Island office's ward had been left slightly open for the past two days.

There aren't many people. Besides the people from Penguin Logistics, there are also people from Fuyuki Store, mainly here to help the office with some miscellaneous tasks.

This was the original agreement between the two sides: Rhodes Island would provide them with treatment, and in return, they would come to clean every day.

At first, the news of Shirou's hospitalization did not spread, but after the children saw it, almost everyone knew about it the next day.

Shirou is absolutely certain it's A-Xing's fault; he just can't control his mouth.

Fortunately, the people who came to visit only checked on him briefly to make sure he was Shirou before leaving. Shirou would have felt bad if he had caused trouble for others because of his own actions.

In addition, Shirou himself is a very busy person, and he directly took over some of the miscellaneous tasks at the Rhodes Island office.

Besides helping to repair and maintain some small machines, Shirou mainly helped with the office's three meals a day.

As the Rhodes Island office that provides low-cost or even free treatment for infected individuals, it often receives items from patients or their families.

Fruits, meat, vegetables... and other ingredients are all available.

The children should have helped with this, but Shirou was too idle and spent the whole day in bed either reading or spacing out.

The broken phone was replaced the next day. Swire got it from somewhere, and it was even faster than the previous one, with more features.

It felt like it was very expensive. At first, Shirou was going to refuse, but Swire said it was one he had replaced, so Shirou accepted it.

There were indeed signs of use. Swire knew Shirou could detect it, so she told the truth.

It wasn't unbearable for Shirou; a phone was enough for him.

Aside from books and his phone, Shirou had almost nothing to do, which is why he took over some of the office's tasks.

The food expenses at the Rhodes Island office have increased significantly in the past few days, as the operators have been given a bunch of ingredients by Shirou to handle.

Not only the staff, but also some patients.

Shirou accepted it all, treating it as rehabilitation.

Who told Penguin Logistics and a few people from the Knights of the Round Table to specifically instruct him not to wander around outside?

He could understand that the others were worried about him, but just staying there obediently was too boring.

After two days, Shirou's body was indeed no different from usual, or rather, he felt more at ease when moving.

He can now perform some actions that would normally require Reinforcement Magic, relying solely on his own physical abilities.

Furthermore, you don't need to specifically strengthen your eyesight to achieve similar results to those that require strengthening.

"Hmm... could it be a replacement?"

The unusual physical symptoms I'm experiencing now all occurred after the Holy Shroud changed.

That outfit was similar to the Holy Grail War that used Class Card, except that it lacked a headscarf and the sleeves were on different hands.

When Shirou Emiya used the Class Card, he was gradually transformed into the Emiya, which is why he was able to gain powerful combat abilities in a short period of time.

However, that approach is not without its drawbacks. First of all, it is very harmful to the body, as it requires constant self-reproach to achieve this.

"I haven't felt anything wrong so far. It's more like it's resonating with the remaining magic in the Holy Shroud than being replaced?"

After moving around a bit, Shirou still didn't feel anything strange, so he was more inclined to believe that his current situation was more like a magical resonance with Archer, which was bringing him closer to Archer.

This is not without precedent. In a certain memory fragment Shirou Emiya was able to use Unlimited Blade Works after fighting Archer.

However, he still can't quite get it right now; he still can't grasp that feeling.

"I personally feel that there is nothing wrong with me, and the instrument examination shows that I am healthy. It's just that this black line... I don't know where it came from."

Using his phone as a mirror, Shirou sat on the hospital bed and looked at the area from his left elbow to his shoulder, where there were black lines.

The only uncertainty this time is this thing.

There wasn't anything particularly special about it, and it even seemed to be getting shorter and fainter over time.

When using Projection Magic, it emits a dark red light, which for a moment reminded Shirou of the Black Mud of the Holy Grail.

Fortunately, it only looks similar; there is no magical aura on it.

"Anyway, things should return to normal soon, so let's just leave it for now."

After looking at it for a while, Shirou decided to simply pretend it didn't exist.

As long as the condition is improving and not worsening, it's not a big deal!

It's a bit more secluded here, so apart from the medical staff who helped with the examination, only he himself knew about it.

To avoid spending more than a few days in the hospital, and since there were no other complications, Shirou didn't mention it to anyone else.

A short-sleeved top can cover it up perfectly.

After tidying up his clothes, Shirou got out of bed and tidied up the things on the bed as well.

It's 5 a. m. now. Since nothing much has happened these past two days, Shirou woke up quite early.

And the important thing is! He'll be discharged soon!

After being cooped up for two days, Shirou was finally able to step out of the Rhodes Island office!

Although the people here are all quite nice, spending so much time in a hospital makes him feel like something's not quite right.

"Huh? Shirou, you're awake?"

Pulling back the curtain of the hospital bed, Shirou saw Minmin bustling about beside him.

One person, one cup of coffee a night, successfully made Minmin seem like she was on the verge of sudden death.