Emiya Shirou Couldn't Refuse

Shirou Emiya had long since considered how to strengthen himself.

With the integration of his Divine Blessings, all his various abilities had already become tied to his level.

Whether it was Projection Magic or Unlimited Blade Works, both could only improve when his level increased. He could no longer enhance them through other means.

But Shirou Emiya was already quite satisfied. After all, his counterparts from other world lines could no longer improve these two abilities.

Although he had only reached Level Three, Shirou Emiya had already surpassed Archer Emiya's original versions in both Projection Magic and Unlimited Blade Works, reaching a much deeper realm.

Not to mention the increase in his mana brought about by his Divine Blessings.

In his previous life, Emiya had once heard an evaluation of Shirou Emiya.

"Don't overestimate Shirou Emiya's mana, but don't underestimate his Projection Magecraft."

As long as he had enough mana, Shirou Emiya had no absolute nemesis. No matter what situation he faced, he could produce a corresponding weapon to break through it.

He could be called a budget King of Heroes.

But as the saying went, what made Xiao He succeed also made Xiao He fail. His Divine Blessings had enhanced these two abilities, but they also prevented him from improving them through intense training over a short period.

Aside from that, Shirou Emiya still had an ability he could improve: Illusionary Collapse.

Illusionary Collapse worked by detonating projected Noble Phantasms to create an area attack.

However, this method found it difficult to display its full power against monsters in the deeper levels.

As their levels increased, the monsters' endurance became stronger and stronger, and this pure mana could no longer inflict much damage.

Moreover, as his Projection Magic improved, the mana Shirou Emiya needed to project Noble Phantasms decreased more and more. As a result, the damage of Illusionary Collapse continued to decline.

This was truly frustrating.

But Shirou Emiya was not without a solution. He had found inspiration in his own title.

"Wait, a magic sword made to order?"

Setting down the forging hammer in her hand, Tsubaki looked at Shirou Emiya, who had come to visit, and asked in confusion.

After all, when it came to magic swords, all their damage came from the magic they released, not from the weapon itself.

Therefore, no one had ever spoken of commissioning a magic sword.

"That's right. I want to commission the finest magic sword possible. Its weapon shape should be that of an arrow, with an internal magic effect belonging to the fiery explosive type. There's no need to consider durability or release, since I plan to shoot it like an arrow."

That was the solution Shirou Emiya had come up with. Since the power of exploding Noble Phantasms was no longer enough, he would attack with arrows designed specifically to explode.

And was there any arrow more suitable than a magic sword?

The magic swords of this world were equivalent to magic scrolls, except that they existed in weapon form.

Every magic sword had a set number of uses. Once that number was reached, it would turn into fragments.

When Shirou Emiya had first come to this world, he had already wondered whether anything could be more suitable as his arrows than magic swords.

After all, the magic of this world was equivalent to the Noble Phantasms of the Type-Moon world.

In other words, he was about to go from blowing up Noble Phantasms to shooting Noble Phantasms. The increase in power would be far more than a little!

And he could blow up these magic swords too.

A double explosion. The power would be absolutely exhilarating.

"Shoot it as an arrow? I see. You're going to become the name in truth!"

After thinking it over carefully, Tsubaki understood Shirou Emiya's intentions and already had a rough plan in mind.

Seeing that Tsubaki had agreed, Shirou Emiya hurriedly thanked her.

Tsubaki waved her hand. Naturally, she would give Shirou Emiya special treatment. In a sense, he was her disciple, after all.

"What about the timing? Do you need it urgently?"

"If possible, the sooner the better. I'm going on an expedition in a week."

"An expedition? No wonder!"

After learning the circumstances, Tsubaki stood up and took out a forging outfit, tossing it to Shirou Emiya.

"What is this?"

"Obviously, it's so you can be my assistant! We'll talk about the other work later. For now, help me forge your magic sword."

Hearing Tsubaki's words, Shirou Emiya was deeply moved.

He hurriedly put on the forging outfit and chased after Tsubaki's departing figure.

"Master, let me show you how much I've improved during this time. I guarantee you'll be shocked."

"Haha, then I'll look forward to it."

"Ah! I'm exhausted!"

Shirou Emiya yawned involuntarily and returned to the Loki Familia looking rather tired.

Three days had passed since Shirou Emiya went to commission the magic sword. It had taken a full three days before the finest magic sword he had commissioned was finally completed.

During those three days, Shirou Emiya had barely rested. Aside from helping Tsubaki, he had spent most of his time secretly learning the techniques of forging magic swords.

Although once the magic sword was complete, Shirou Emiya would have plenty of opportunities to read the experience attached to it,

knowing a technique had never meant one had mastered it.

Among the Noble Phantasms Shirou Emiya projected, there was no shortage of wielders who had reached the Divine Realm level in terms of technique during their lifetimes.

But had Shirou Emiya's own skills reached the Divine Realm level?

Of course not. Knowing was one thing, but learning was still necessary.

That was why Shirou Emiya would never let any opportunity to learn pass him by. He would learn any technique that could strengthen him.

As a result, he had barely slept at all during these three days.

"There are still four days until the expedition. That should be enough time for me to reforge my equipment."

Shirou Emiya, desperate to incorporate the techniques he had just learned into his equipment, gazed wearily at the Twilight Manor before hurrying inside.

All he wanted now was to rest.

He walked familiarly to the door of his room, opened it familiarly, and familiarly threw himself onto the bed. Shirou Emiya soon realized that something was wrong.

Had his pillow always been this warm?

He laboriously raised his head. In the dim room, Shirou Emiya's eyes met those of a blonde girl.

"Ais, what are you doing here?"

Only after hurriedly climbing off the bed did Shirou Emiya realize that what he had just used as a pillow was Ais's thigh.

"I used the key you gave me before. I've been waiting here for you for three days."

After hearing Ais's explanation, Shirou Emiya finally remembered that Ais had a key to his room.

He had once promised that she could come and take snacks whenever she wanted. Since Shirou Emiya was often absent from his room, he had eventually given her the key.

After all, there was nothing important or private in his room.

But none of that mattered now. What mattered was that she had actually waited there for him for three days.

"Were you waiting for me because something important happened?"

"I want to learn the sword."

"?"

Shirou Emiya's face filled with question marks. She wanted to learn the sword? She was the Sword Princess! Who could teach her swordsmanship?

Seeing that Shirou Emiya had not understood, Ais hurriedly said, "I want to learn the sword technique you used to defeat Goliath that day."

Huh?

Did she want to learn Hundred Head Slayer?

What sharp eyes, girl. Unfortunately, I don't know it either.

"Sorry, I haven't mastered this sword technique myself."

Hearing Shirou Emiya's apologetic reply, Ais's cheeks puffed up, making her look especially adorable.

Looking at Ais's expression and realizing that she had misunderstood, Shirou Emiya was just about to explain when he suddenly heard the girl's clear voice.

"Big brother!"

Huh?

What did that mean?

"Since you often teach Lefia, please teach me too!"

Understanding what she meant, Shirou Emiya stared furiously with his eyes wide open and shouted inwardly.

You've got the relationship backward! Besides, it's not that I don't want to teach you. I can't use it either!

Even so, Shirou Emiya could not bring himself to refuse her again.

That was right. Shirou Emiya could not refuse.