"Eh? Little sister!"
Looking at Shirou Emiya's earnest, expectant gaze, Lefia said shyly, "Can I?"
Lefia had no resistance whatsoever to becoming Shirou Emiya's little sister.
She understood all the care Shirou Emiya had shown her. She often wondered at night how she could repay him for it, even though he never asked for anything in return.
That feeling truly made her feel as though they had become siblings.
"Of course!"
"That's exactly what I was hoping for."
Shirou Emiya answered earnestly.
Although it had only been a spur-of-the-moment idea, Shirou Emiya believed he had the ability and determination to protect her.
He had already possessed the sense of responsibility that came with being an older brother.
Staring at the somewhat excited Shirou Emiya, Lefia hugged the staff in her hands tightly, her rosy lips parting slightly.
"Big brother!"
Hearing that voice, which sounded like heavenly music, Shirou Emiya felt as though his very DNA were trembling. He gently stroked her head and said excitedly, "I'll definitely protect you, Lefia."
He would absolutely never let something like what had happened to Miyu happen again.
Looking at the shy yet excited Lefia before him, Shirou Emiya's eyes revealed resolute determination.
"Eh?! Lefia actually became Shirou's little sister!"
After hearing Lefia address Shirou Emiya that way, the overreacting Tione immediately began shouting.
Hearing her cry, the members of the Familia soon appeared from who-knew-where.
Unlike the loud Tione, however, everyone offered their blessings regarding Shirou Emiya and Lefia's new relationship.
After all, from the moment they became members of the same Familia, they had already been like brothers and sisters.
Shirou Emiya and Lefia had merely taken that relationship one step further.
Moreover, after spending this time together, everyone knew that Shirou Emiya was exceptionally good at taking care of others.
He often helped his fellow Familia members as well.
Everyone offered their heartfelt blessings upon his gaining Lefia as a little sister.
"Congratulations, Shirou. This is an important family member."
"With Shirou's personality when it comes to caring for people, I feel the two of you really suit each other."
"I want an older brother like Shirou, too."
Hearing everyone's congratulations, Shirou Emiya grinned and scratched his head as he responded to their blessings.
Just then, Riveria appeared in front of Shirou Emiya.
Seeing Riveria, Shirou Emiya's expression immediately turned serious.
As one of the Familia's leaders and the royal elf, Riveria's opinion was extremely important.
Not to mention that Lefia was the successor she had chosen herself.
If she did not approve of this sibling bond, Shirou Emiya's situation would become very troublesome.
However, Riveria was not that strict. She sincerely offered her blessings regarding the sibling bond between Shirou Emiya and Lefia.
"If you're the one taking care of her, then I can rest easy too."
Through Shirou Emiya's conduct in the Familia during this time, Riveria had already figured out his personality.
She believed that Shirou Emiya would certainly take good care of Lefia.
She could sense that this man would never betray anyone.
Hearing Riveria's approval, the tension in Shirou Emiya's heart instantly eased.
His serious expression turned into a smile once more, and he thanked Riveria for her recognition.
For a while, the Familia became especially lively.
"Speaking of which, where's Loki? How could she be absent from such a lively occasion?"
After happily chatting with his companions for a long time, Shirou Emiya finally noticed that Loki was nowhere to be seen.
Ais and the others were absent as well.
"Loki went to attend the God's Meeting."
Faced with Shirou Emiya's question, Riveria answered with a faint smile.
The God's Meeting?
Suddenly remembering something, Shirou Emiya hurriedly asked, "Riveria, could the so-called God's Meeting be the one where they determine the title for a newly promoted LV.2?"
"That's right. It's precisely that God's Meeting."
Hearing Riveria's confirmation, Shirou Emiya immediately became nervous.
Once adventurers reached LV.2 and became upper-class adventurers, the gods would determine their titles at the God's Meeting.
Ais's "Sword Princess," Riveria's "Nine-Headed Demon Princess," and Finn's "Brave" were all titles bestowed at the God's Meeting.
In Orario, a title carried the important significance of being a second name.
However, as an unprofessional naming institution made up entirely of gods who loved a good laugh, the titles they came up with varied wildly. Many of them were so embarrassing that people could barely hold their heads up.
Although, out of consideration for the Loki Familia's reputation, they probably would not give Shirou Emiya an overly outrageous title, he was still somewhat worried.
So much so that the joy he had felt at gaining a little sister had been greatly diluted.
After the Familia members dispersed, only a few people remained seated in the Familia hall, waiting for Loki to return.
As for Lefia, she had already shyly run back to her room while everyone was praising her.
"Speaking of which, where are Ais, Finn, and the others?"
Hearing Shirou Emiya's question, Tione said irritably, "You actually have the nerve to ask? Isn't this all because of your theory?"
"You mean the matter of limiting our own strength?"
Shirou Emiya immediately understood. After all, the only thing he could think of that would affect Ais, Finn, and the others at the same time was the self-limitation training method.
"That's right. Fortunately, you told us in advance. That girl Ais really did plan to go to the dungeon alone to test it."
"After being thoroughly scolded, they ultimately decided to have Finn and Gareth take Ais into the dungeon to give it a try. Tiona, Bete, and the others went along as well."
Shirou Emiya had long guessed that Ais would go to the dungeon alone to conduct the experiment, so he had informed Finn, Riveria, and the others beforehand.
Thinking of Ais being scolded, Shirou Emiya felt like laughing.
Riveria set the book in her hands aside and continued answering Shirou Emiya's questions. He had been immersed in teaching Lefia throughout this period.
"After Finn and I carefully considered your theory, we felt that it made a great deal of sense. It fits the pattern by which adventurers improve their strength. If it's confirmed to be true, then Shirou, you'll become a great contributor to the Familia."
For Finn, Riveria, and Gareth, whose levels had already reached LV.6, further progress had long since become unimaginably slow.
If the practicality of this self-limitation training method could be confirmed, their strength would improve tremendously.
"This is what I should be doing."
Shirou Emiya remained modest in the face of Riveria's thanks. After all, it was only his theory.
However, there was something he wanted to ask Riveria for.
"Riveria, can you teach me the technique of Parallel Chanting?"
Parallel Chanting was the method of chanting while fighting at the same time. It was an extremely important technique for mages.
In the original story, Lyu, the LV.4 adventurer from the Hostess of Fertility, was an expert in Parallel Chanting.
Even during her fierce battle with the mutated Floor Master, she had been able to smoothly chant her spell. This was extremely important to Shirou Emiya.
When Shirou Emiya chanted the spell for Unlimited Blade Works, he was likewise unable to move and could only use the Seven Heavenly Rings to block attacks.
But if he could learn Parallel Chanting, his Unlimited Blade Works would become even more lethal.
"If you're willing to learn, then I'm more than willing to teach you."
Riveria did not hesitate at all to teach Shirou Emiya the technique of Parallel Chanting.
After all, Shirou Emiya was an important junior to her, practically a future pillar of the Loki Familia, and perhaps even a candidate for its future captain.
Therefore, as long as Shirou Emiya wanted to learn, she was willing to teach him.
"Then I really have to thank you, Riveria."
Before you continue