Lady Avalon lowered her head and replied absentmindedly.
That was right. Of course it was.
When all was said and done, exchanging bodily fluids was merely something third-rate magi did. A mage as powerful as Lady Avalon had no need for it.
Good grief... What was I even worrying about—or looking forward to? Shirou breathed a sigh of relief.
At that moment, Lady Avalon lowered her voice, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"W-Well, I do have some kind of mana-supplying magecraft, but it requires the other party's cooperation. Master's magecraft is just too awful, so it can't be done."
"Hey! Am I really that awful?"
"Yes."
Lady Avalon said with absolute certainty, "Establishing a mana channel is an extremely complicated thaumaturgical formula. The slightest mistake could cause severe backlash. For a third-rate magus like Master, the risk is far too great."
"I see..."
"Exactly, that's how it is... So..."
Shirou noticed Lady Avalon's slender, pale throat quiver slightly.
"I told you before, didn't I? If Master wants to supply mana to a female Servant, all you have to do is hug her...
"Ugh... It's very simple, right?
"It's something even a third-rate magus like Master can manage."
"You did say that..."
Shirou nodded. "By the way, could you stop calling me third-rate all the time? It really hurts."
Lady Avalon retorted mournfully, "B-Because Master is third-rate...!"
Damn it...
Lady Avalon had been belittling him nonstop since earlier, and Shirou's chest began to stir restlessly for no apparent reason.
"Master... You want to stop the Holy Grail and Saber, don't you?"
Shirou gave a quiet "Mm." "Of course I do."
Lady Avalon said, "Now that the Dead Count Shapeshifter has been destroyed, Master, you must rely on my power if you want to fight Saber.
"So there's no time left to hesitate.