Shirou Emiya Stands on Terra Chapter 29

"Hmm? I remember it was a few housewives chatting over there. I overheard it unintentionally."

Shirou Emiya, who was still thinking about what vegetables to buy, snapped back to reality and pointed to a nearby vegetable vendor.

"…Housewives?"

Swire doubted if her ears had misheard.

She had just heard the words "housewives," right?

"Yes, they were talking quite loudly at the time. I happened to hear it while I was picking out vegetables."

After thinking for a moment, Shirou felt the need to clarify that he wasn't eavesdropping, but rather they were too loud, which was why he heard them.

"Wait, let me process this."

Rubbing her small brain, Swire was first shocked by this source of information, then confused, and finally felt like it was not a big deal.

Information obtained from such civilian conversations was the most authentic. It was just that with housewives… the information would probably need a lot of filtering.

"Then I'll head over first. Call me if anything comes up."

Seeing Swire lost in thought, Shirou said this and went to pick out vegetables.

Given that only Sora from Penguin Logistics ate a lot of vegetables, Shirou just picked what Sora liked. As for the other three who liked bread, pastries, and Pocky, as long as they had meat prepared, they would be very happy.

It was fine for Lupo to eat meat, and it seemed reasonable for Dolypod to eat meat too, but was it really okay for that Sarkaz to eat meat?

"No, no, Sora is also a Lupo, but she really loves vegetables, so you can't judge habits based on race."

Shaking his head, Shirou tossed away the impolite thoughts in his mind, quickly paid, and left. It took less than a few minutes.

Swire, standing nearby, watched Shirou smoothly go in to pick vegetables, negotiate prices, and pay, and she was completely filled with question marks.

Why was Shirou different from her imagination of Penguin Logistics, and why was his life so down-to-earth?

"How are you so familiar with this?"

Seeing Shirou walking over with a large bag of vegetables, Swire asked.

"Familiar? What's familiar?"

Shirou, not quite understanding Swire's meaning, wore a questioning expression.

"It's nothing. Do you usually come here to buy things?"

Realizing she had been a bit out of line, Swire changed her question.

"Usually, I go to the nearby supermarket. Exusiai and the others said it's not very safe here, and told me not to come alone."

"Usually go to the supermarket… don't come alone…"

Shirou's combat power in the eyes of Penguin Logistics was considered low. Coupled with the smooth grocery shopping process just now, Swire sensed something was amiss.

Had she overestimated Shirou?

Based on the current information, Shirou's combat strength within Penguin Logistics didn't seem to be highly regarded. Even approaching the slum area alone was considered dangerous, and the incident at the Dagou Mall seemed to have been resolved with minimal damage only because the Knights of the Round Table intervened.

This meant Shirou might just be a reckless ordinary person?

And she had overestimated Shirou's combat power, bringing him to a dangerous place?

Seeing Swire seemingly deep in thought, Shirou didn't go forward to disturb her. Instead, he first glanced at the people around him, then went directly to the seafood stall to pick fish.

"You're here? The fish today are all good, you can take a look."

The boss yawned and greeted Shirou.

"Yeah, the fish last time were pretty good. I came with someone this time, so I'll buy some more to take back."

While picking fish, Shirou chatted with the boss.

"Hmm… girlfriend?"

The boss asked, glancing at the person Shirou mentioned.

He didn't recognize Swire, as she was dressed more simply now and wearing a large hat.

"No, it's… just a friend."

He had initially wanted to say she was from the Knights of the Round Table, but after considering the few gazes he had felt just now, Shirou changed his answer to say she was a friend.

"I understand, I understand. I'll give you a better price today."

Seeing Shirou's hesitation, the boss took the fish Shirou was holding, expertly gutted them.

Shirou just gave a wry smile at the boss's words, without further explanation.

"Shirou, why did you come here?"

Swire, who had snapped back to reality, originally had some questions she wanted to ask Shirou directly, but she found that Shirou was nowhere to be seen. After looking around, she finally found Shirou at the seafood stall.

"Buying fish. The boss here is quite nice, and the fish are very fresh."

Carrying the large bag of fish he had just received, Shirou introduced them to Swire.

However, if he knew that one of Swire's clothes could cover the food expenses of everyone in Penguin Logistics for two months, he probably wouldn't have introduced them like this.

"May I ask why you've come here?"

Upon seeing Swire up close, the shop owner recognized who she was.

After all, he usually received help from Officer Xing Xiong, so he naturally recognized Swire, he just didn't know why she would appear here.

"...It's nothing, just accompanying him to buy groceries. Shirou, we should go."

When Swire saw the shop owner, she was stunned for a moment. He looked like a tough character, and with a bloody knife in his hand, Swire almost pulled out her handcuffs to arrest him.

After calming down a bit, Swire used Shirou as a shield and then, pulling Shirou's hand, left the place.

39 Shocking the little tiger for a whole year

Shirou, being pulled by Swire, didn't struggle and let her drag him along, but he still politely asked for the reason:

"What's wrong? Why are we leaving in such a hurry?"

"Don't you think that shop owner looks a bit off?"

After pulling Shirou a short distance away, Swire said in a low voice.

"Shop owner?"

He turned his head to look at the seafood stall owner. Although they were far apart, Shirou could still see that the owner seemed to be looking in their direction, his expression more like one of worry.

"I felt uncomfortable back there just now, and coupled with that owner seeming off, I almost wanted to take out my handcuffs and arrest him. Hiss I still feel a chill down my spine."

Swire rubbed her arms as she walked, and Swire's words made Shirou understand that he wasn't the only one who had felt those strange gazes; Swire had felt them too. So, it wasn't just him being overly sensitive.

However, the gaze didn't decrease as they left the area, so Swire's claim that the owner was problematic could be dismissed.

But Shirou didn't tell Swire this. After all, it was only after they had moved a considerable distance away last time that the sense of being watched and the malice disappeared. This time, they would probably have to go further for that feeling to vanish.

It was just that, whether it was an illusion or not, Shirou felt that the malice he felt this time was significantly stronger than last time. If last time it was just murky wastewater, this time it was more like thick mud.

Shirou felt a bit uneasy about this and hoped it was just his imagination.

"By the way, Shirou, what do you do at Penguin Logistics?"

Having moved away from the market and feeling a bit safer psychologically, Swire asked the question she had wanted to ask Shirou earlier.

She had already simulated in her mind that Shirou was a newcomer among Penguin Logistics' armed personnel or perhaps in charge of clerical support.

However, Shirou's answer almost made her fall on the road.

"At Penguin Logistics, I'm responsible for taking care of others. If I had to say... I guess I'm a housekeeper?"

After thinking about his usual work content for a moment, Shirou replied. As for the new work content his boss had arranged for him, it wasn't clear yet, so it was better not to mention it.

"Housekeeper...? No, a house*keeper*?"

Swire had never imagined that Shirou would be a housekeeper at Penguin Logistics. In her shock, she misspoke.

Shocking the little tiger for a whole year!

"That's what the boss said. My usual job is to take care of everyone at Penguin Logistics, tidy up rooms, and prepare their meals."

Although Shirou didn't know why Swire was so surprised, he still explained it properly to her.

"...No wonder you're so skilled."

After thinking for a long time, Swire didn't know what to say.

"???"

So, what was he skilled at? Why couldn't she finish her sentence?

Lately, Shirou had become somewhat annoyed by this habit of people speaking in half-sentences.

Before Shirou could get disgusted by this habit of speaking in half-sentences, he sensed something was wrong and slowed his pace, moving closer to Swire.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

Seeing Shirou suddenly move closer to her, Swire asked.

Shirou had basically kept a distance from her for most of the way. Why was he suddenly getting so close now?

When something unusual happens, there's usually a reason. Either Shirou's eyes had finally improved, or he had sensed something was wrong.

Based on Shirou's previous reactions to her, Swire unhesitatingly chose the latter.

"I feel like someone is aiming something at us."

Since he sensed it coming from behind, Shirou was actually walking slightly behind Swire. Because they were similar in height, or rather, Shirou was slightly taller, he leaned in close to Swire's ear to speak.

"Ugh, don't blow in my ear."

Covering her right ear, Swire showed an angry expression and spoke to Shirou.

Shirou was stunned for a moment, not understanding why her reaction was like that, but he still obediently moved a distance away from Swire.

Actually, Swire wasn't angry; she was just trying to avoid being discovered.

If, as Shirou said, someone was indeed watching them, then Shirou's behavior just now was too obvious.

So, Swire simply turned Shirou's action into an attempt to tease her. Although it was still a bit unnatural, it could at least pass as a cover-up.

Or so she thought?

Clearly, things didn't go as smoothly as Swire had imagined.

Shirou Emiya reached out and pulled Swire to the side. The next second, a crossbow bolt lodged itself in the spot where they had just been standing.

"They're fighting! They're fighting!"

The surrounding people and vendors saw this and skillfully found places to hide.

However, Shirou could still see them peeking out with curious eyes, watching the battle unfold.

"Longmen vulgarity, stop looking and hide properly."

Seeing the curious gazes of those around them, Swire cursed angrily, then pulled Shirou to find other cover.

She was regretting it immensely. How could they have run into an attack at such a time?

"This way."

Shirou casually flipped over an empty table and then hid behind it with Swire.

"A table? Forget crossbows, anyone throwing a rock could smash this thing!"

Faced with Shirou's choice of a table as cover, Swire was certain this guy had very little combat experience.

How could he expect a table to block attacks? And it was made of plastic!

She could smash this flimsy table with a single punch!

"Trace on!

Basic structure deciphered, Composition material deciphered, Reinforcement complete."

Shirou placed his hand on the underside of the table and quickly reinforced it.

Choosing the table as cover was simply a matter of proximity. Choosing other cover would have easily drawn others into the fray.