Chapter 193

"No, it's nothing. It's just that you would have righteously refused to make Apple Pie in the past, so why did you suddenly agree today?"

Seeing Shirou's puzzled look, Exusiai said.

"... Sigh, it was just a whim. Since Exusiai has said so, then let's just forget about it!"

After hearing Exusiai's words, Shirou paused for a moment before speaking with a regretful expression.

"Eh? No way! Shirou, make me some Apple Pie to soothe my wounded heart!"

Upon hearing Shirou's words, Exusiai felt as if she had suddenly plummeted from the peak of happiness to the bottom of the valley.

We'll talk about it later.

Seeing Exusiai's appearance, Shirou finally avenged himself for the head-rubbing incident.

Meanwhile, Texas, in the driver's seat, frowned slightly and glanced at Shirou and Exusiai arguing through the rearview mirror.

As usual, Penguin Logistics has returned to its original routine.

But... she felt like something was off.

184 Memory

After experiencing the Penguin Logistics party more thoroughly...

Shirou realized that he seemed only interested in the Lungmen cuisine on the table; he really had no interest in the music, drinks, or anything else.

However, this cheerful atmosphere is quite nice; Shirou thinks the others probably enjoy it too.

Probably?

Recalling how drunk and unconscious the group was last night, Shirou was quite worried that they might wake up tomorrow with headaches so bad they wouldn't be able to work.

His worries were unnecessary; the next day, the group was fully recovered and went straight to work.

After watching the group leave, Shirou finally had some free time.

However, he doesn't plan to go out today. There are some things he cares about and needs some time to study.

I was in the ward for the past few days and didn't have anything to study. Yesterday, I came back and immediately lay down and fell asleep.

Taking advantage of the time and spare moments he had, Shirou planned to thoroughly investigate the Chixiao that he had Projection, as well as the changes in himself.

After taking out the Chixiao and his old diaries from the room, Shirou headed straight for the training grounds under Penguin Logistics.

Although you can do research in your dorm room, it still feels a bit restrictive.

Besides, he hadn't had a proper chance to stretch his limbs for two days, so he just did it all at once.

"Is it still Chixiao first, as expected?"

Shirou took out the Chixiao, which was wrapped in a strip of cloth and was carrying on his back, and began to examine its appearance.

The scabbard was borrowed by Chen; it was red in color. If Shirou hadn't been able to sense the magical aura emanating from it, he might have mistaken it for Chen's Chixiao just by looking at it.

I don't know why Chen just casually put on a red scabbard; if it were black, she wouldn't have confused it.

However, none of that mattered. Clearing his mind of all unnecessary thoughts, Shirou stretched out his Chixiao briefly before drawing the Crimson Blade from its sheath.

Shirou infused it with magic and began to swing it.

As this was the first Originium weapon to be Projection, Shirou treated it with considerable caution.

First, he can now Originium Arts through the Chixiao, simply by activating the Originium within it with magic.

However, during previous tests, no matter how he injected or adjusted the magic, he couldn't make any sound. Shirou guessed that it was because it was Projection of himself that it could be used in this way.

Simply put, it cannot be reproduced at present.

The feeling of Originium Arts is quite peculiar, but Shirou doesn't use it as a regular attack method.

Furthermore, a very peculiar chemical reaction occurs between magic and Originium, resulting in a synergistic effect where 1+1 is greater than 2.

However, this is a weapon that is extremely dependent on magic power.

For Shirou, unless it's a specific occasion, he probably wouldn't use this sword as a regular attack method. With the same amount of magical energy, Projection Noble Phantasms would be better and more convenient.

Moreover, the Originium contained in his Chixiao are the kind that are consumed one by one and cannot be replenished. Once they are used up, it will just be an empty sword with the shell of Chixiao.

Hmm... definitely a consumable item.

Shirou was not discouraged by this, after all, this was his way of fighting.

Using the Projection Noble Phantasms with the Imaginary Break technique essentially treats it as a consumable item.

"Take it with you when you go to the Knights of the Round Table; it should be more useful than the standard-issue sword."

After considering that he still had two weeks of internship at the Knights of the Round Table, Shirou decided to use it as is.

He wasn't the type of person who would collect things in particular. Although there were quite a few Projection on his desk in the dormitory, they were all left behind to test the results of his special training.

The chances of Projection another Chixiao are extremely slim, and besides, it's a massive mana-consuming creature that Shirou can't afford to support.

If he hadn't felt there would be danger in removing it directly, Shirou would have removed it long ago, since he knew the sword's user.

Shirou felt a little uneasy about having something from someone he knew.

After completing the research phase on the Chixiao, Shirou began conducting physical fitness tests.

As he had predicted in the past two days, there was a significant improvement.

This also means that Shirou can use Archer's combat style more skillfully.

If the old Shirou was very close to Magus in his actions, then now he is a complete and utter Magus.

Strictly speaking, it might be closer to Servant?

After thinking about the Servant he knew, Shirou quickly dismissed the idea.

It is unacceptable to become arrogant as soon as you have a little bit of strength.

However, the overall increase in strength is still a good thing for Shirou.

If he were to deal with those people now, he could probably resolve the whole incident much more cleanly and efficiently.

However... power gained for no reason is bound to have side effects.

Take yesterday's incident in the car, for example. In his memory, there was nothing related to Apple Pie.

However, the others said that he used to always find ways to refuse Exusiai's requests for Apple Pie.

He had no recollection of this at all.

This means that he has lost a small portion of his memory.

If only a small piece is missing, it's hard to notice.

What Shirou had always feared had come to pass.

What symptoms might someone who doesn't belong here experience if they start to be ostracized?

Will the body gradually weaken until death?

Will it still transform into magical energy and fade away like Servant?

Or will he forget his past memories and eventually become a resident of this place completely?

Neither of them is a good option for him.

Fortunately, he had been preparing for this all along.

Wiping away the sweat from his vigorous exercise, Shirou took out a water bottle and his diary, which he had been keeping a record of, from his backpack.

"Let me see..."

After drinking most of a bottle of water to replenish his fluids, Shirou began to peruse the book.

He could recall most of the things, but he had forgotten some minor details.

I don't know if it was just forgotten or if it was simply forgotten.

After all, they were all trivial matters, such as the teasing from the Penguin Logistics team, teaching the children at Fuyuki Store, and some daily interactions at the Knights of the Round Table...

Looking at the words above, Shirou could probably sense his feelings at that time.

I'll have to figure out a way to make a savory meat pie and Croissant for Exusiai and Croissant later.

As for the four memories, Shirou recorded them in another book, but there was no rush for him to do so.

After reading for a long time, Shirou closed the diary and rubbed his temples.

He didn't even think about whether he had forgotten anything important, since the only record he had was in his diary. Even if he had forgotten other things, he wouldn't be able to recall them from other sources.

Instead of agonizing over it, it's better to let things take their natural course.

In this respect, he is quite open-minded.

Who told him to forget?

As long as it doesn't affect my daily life, it's fine.

The most important thing now is to find out why I lost my memory.

Shirou himself probably already has two guesses about this, since the events all happened at the same point in time, it's hard not to connect them.

First and foremost, it was the impact of the Holy Shroud on him, which brought him closer to Archer while also causing him to lose some of his memories.

Another possibility is that it's related to Originium.

After all, at that moment, he felt as if many voices, old and young, men and women, appeared in his mind.

After that, he saw several fragments of memories.

Even now, Shirou can still vividly recall the last moments of those infected who were killed.

How should I put it... it's kind of like the scene you see after coming into contact with the Black Mud of the Holy Grail?

However, what we see through Originium is mostly related to the infected.

As for the Black Mud of the Holy Grail... let's not even mention it.

"What a hassle..."

Remembering the terrible things that happened, Shirou felt completely unwell.

If he really had to say, he would prefer that all of this was caused by Originium, since he could find a way to avoid contact with Originium, but he couldn't do anything about the Holy Shroud.

Even if you don't carry it with you, it will suddenly appear on your body when you're not paying attention.

All he can do now is try to avoid it first, and then deal with it after finding the real cause.

With that thought in mind, Shirou began packing his things, preparing to leave.

He has spent about three to four hours here. It is now close to noon, and he plans to go to the store to check on things between noon and afternoon.

Since interning at the Knights of the Round Table, Shirou has hardly ever been there. He basically gets information about the situation through his mobile phone, communicating with Ansuo and A-Xing.

The only time I went there, everyone was out enjoying the spring scenery.

It was because of that incident that Shirou used the blocking agent that was kept in the store.

Shirou hadn't forgotten about this. He brought two vials of the blocking agent with him before leaving yesterday, so that he could return them when he went over today.

It's mainly for emergency use, similar to a first-aid kit.

Shirou is quite concerned about this kind of thing.

Having everything prepared ensures that you can quickly resolve any issues that arise, preventing the worst-case scenario from occurring.

Carrying his belongings, Shirou walked towards the Slums, a journey he hadn't done in a long time.

The neighborhood is still the same neighborhood, and the surrounding shops haven't changed much either.

If there's any change... it's that business seems to be better at the stores?

Shirou was somewhat surprised to see so many people inside the store.

After all, business here has never been very good. It's mainly just to give the kids something to do; making money is secondary.

At most, we'll just ask everyone to have some more food.

Pushing open the store door, Shirou turned left and went straight into the kitchen.

Ansuo and some of the children were busy, so Shirou didn't disturb them.

"Ah! It's Shirou!"