Chapter 464
"There's no food residue nearby either. Do these guys really not need to eat?"
Shirou recalled the rumors he had heard before: the Magical Beast attacked humans not for food, but simply for slaughter.
"Is it the goddess's... wrath...?"
"Shirou, where is your weapon?"
Ushiwakamaru had already drawn his sword, and Musashibō Benkei had gripped his naginata tightly with both hands, while Shirou's hands were empty.
Ushiwakamaru had heard that swordsmen in peacetime generally wore cloth clothing, but Shirou didn't even have a sword at his waist! How was he supposed to fight?
"We're going in. I'll leave the cover to you two."
"Huh? Wait--"
Before Ushiwakamaru could speak, Shirou had already emerged from the bushes.
Observing with your eyes alone is not enough; the only way to truly understand the enemy is through battle.
"▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄--!!"
The horde of Magical Beast noticed Shirou and roared incessantly.
More than twenty Magical Beast turned around in unison, baring their teeth and starting to run.
Ushiwakamaru and Musashibō Benkei were on high alert, as even they rarely faced so many Magical Beasts at once.
Ushiwakamaru crouched down, channeling his magic into his feet, while Musashibō Benkei shouted and assumed the Niou stance.
It would be a tough battle, both the master and servant thought at the same time.
However--
What they saw next was the scene of the Magical Beast horde being unilaterally ravaged.
"Projection, start (trace on)."
As Shirou raised an arm, numerous magical weapons emerged from the void and fell like meteors.
"Varied..."
Caught off guard, the Magical Beast were mercilessly pierced by the relentless barrage of projectiles, letting out agonizing screams.
One sword isn't enough to kill the Magical Beast, so let's use numbers to win.
More swords were Projection, transforming into a torrential downpour of exploding iron and glass.
This era was the very end of the Age of Gods. Although the gods had become a natural phenomenon, a dense amount of True Ether still remained in the atmosphere.
This is precisely why Shirou can unleash Projection Magic with even greater power than he does in the modern era.
For the Magical Beast, this was a battle situation they had never encountered before.
They quickly realized that Shirou was the instigator of this natural disaster, so they charged towards the boy amidst the rain of swords.
Ushiwakamaru and Musashibō Benkei reacted quickly, shielding Shirou and killing any remaining survivors who managed to get close.
What was initially thought to be a battle that would last at least an hour ended in just five minutes.
"Your Excellency is truly astonishing."
Ushiwakamaru recalled Shirou's claim that morning that he "knew a little about swordsmanship"... What did that have to do with swordsmanship at all!?
Musashibō Benkei said thoughtfully, "I see. So Shirou has a fighting style similar to that of King Gilgamesh."
"Understood. From now on, this humble monk will protect you."
This seems to have caused quite a misunderstanding; Shirou was mistaken for someone who just carelessly throws his weapons around.
Shirou would be very troubled if he were to compare himself to that arrogant king who squanders his talent and lacks exercise.
But... oh well, it doesn't really matter.
"Then let's move on to the next place."
And so, Shirou continued searching for the Magical Beast gathering point near Uruk City with Ushiwakamaru and the others.
Her smooth, black hair danced freely in the wind.
The woman standing in the sky has exquisitely beautiful features, and her alluring body is adorned with jewels and precious ornaments.
She exuded a charm that transcended humanity, existing somewhere between the demonic and the divine.
The woman surveyed everything with her deep red eyes, revealing a bewitching smile.
Her name is the goddess Ishtar.
The mistress of heaven is also inspecting her own private garden (world) today.
"Ah, I found it! I found it!"
The place targeted by the goddess was a farm located on the outskirts of Uruk.
Although most of the suburban residents had fled to the city, the farm continued to operate, as it was crucial for the city's and Northern Wall's meat supply.
A dozen or so Uruk soldiers, dispatched there, are stationed around the farm every day.
But how could such a small number possibly resist the tyrannical mistress of heaven?
"King Gilgamesh is getting senile," the goddess thought smugly.
Look, several magical Magical Beast are silently surrounding the farm in the distance.
That won't do.
This land, this farm, and even the power of life and death over humankind—all belong to the goddess.
The goddess curled her lips into a smile and scattered five gems around herself, creating a floating array of gems.
The divine magic flowing from within him transformed into light that danced between the gems, constantly reflecting and emitting a dazzling, scorching glow.
Each gem corresponds to one of the five elements in Magecraft.
That was the talent possessed by the young girl's body that the goddess possessed—the ability to use five attributes simultaneously, truly a gifted individual.
And so, the magical beam, crafted from five-colored gems and imbued with the five elements, was about to crash down upon the Magical Beast that had stormed into the farm—
However, just as the goddess was showing a smug smile because of her indiscriminate bombardment...
"?"
A rain of swords fell from the sky, slaughtering Magical Beast on the ground.
Sharp and swift.
While lacking the dazzling brilliance of Jewel Magic infused with Ishtar's Authority, it boasts greater efficiency and security.
"..."
Upon witnessing this scene, the goddess Ishtar turned deathly pale.
She had already planned to go after the Magical Beast were defeated and then go after the farmers to extort money... no, to seize their property.
"Who... who is it that dares to ruin my plans!"
The goddess Ishtar looked fierce as she gazed at the figures who had appeared on the farm.
Through a magical reaction, the person who snatched food from his jaws was identified from among the three suspects.
"Unforgivable! I'll make you pay! I'll make you suffer a pain worse than death—ouch!"
Ishtar stared blankly at the human boy.
A well-built physique, a calm and composed demeanor, and slightly childlike features may not qualify as conventionally beautiful, but...
Wow! So handsome? Really so handsome? He's my type???
The goddess could hear her own racing heartbeat.
Volume 7: Chapter 303 Shirou, targeted by a troublesome woman
"The enemy was wiped out by Shirou the moment he appeared, leaving me no chance to shine... Ugh, I'm so frustrated!"
Ushiwakamaru returned to Shirou's side, dejected and with his head hanging low.
Even though she jumped at top speed with all her might, she still couldn't outrun Shirou's Projection, loading, and firing process.
Before Ushiwakamaru could even reach the enemy, the Magical Beast attacking the farm was pierced by the rain of sword blades unleashed by Shirou, and then died instantly.
After several battles with the enemy, Shirou gradually mastered the techniques.
The firing speed of the weapons is Shirou's greatest advantage.
It was precisely because of this incredible speed that he was able to contend with King Gilgamesh's "Gate of Babylon".
"Thanks to Miss Ushiwakamaru and Mr. Benkei's help, I was able to safely eliminate the Magical Beast."
Upon Shirou's words, Ushiwakamaru looked suspicious.
"Really? But I feel like you could manage the work all by yourself even without me?"
"Excessive modesty is not good, you know, Shirou."
"Truly worthy of being Merlin's disciple; unlike his master, his character is so upright that there's nothing to criticize."
Hahaha! At this rate, Ushiwakamaru's already meager value will be completely wiped out.
"Benkei! You sit right there!!"
After clearing out the Magical Beast near the farm, Shirou and his group were treated to a meal by the farm owner.
Is there anything that bothers you, Shirou?
"..."
The red-haired boy shook his head, then silently gazed at the sky.
What's going on? Is it just my imagination?
From the moment he started watching, Shirou felt as if a gaze was fixed on him.
The second day after Shirou's arrival in Uruk came to an end.
His remarkable performance even reached the sacrificial site.
Siduri came to the dormitory that evening, intending to offer her congratulations, but then--
They saw Shirou slumped in a chair, unable to move.
Even Shirou, who had undergone rigorous training in Magecraft and swordsmanship since the age of eight, needed some time to adapt to the environment of Mesopotamia in the Age of Gods.
The work had barely finished when the aftereffects quickly became apparent.
Like someone who has never exercised before going to the gym for the first time, Shirou returned to his dorm the next morning with aches and pains all over his body, barely able to lift his arms.
"... It's Magic Circuit overload."
For some reason, Ushiwakamaru seemed unusually happy.
"It's all Shirou's fault for working too hard during the day, that's why he's like this... He needs to get some rest now."
"Please excuse my poor appearance."
Shirou said, somewhat embarrassed.
Because his brain and circuits were in a state of hyperactivity due to inhaling the divine air containing a high concentration of magic, he neglected to manage his physical condition.
It seems that it will take some more time to fully adapt to the combat of this era.
Shirou had originally planned to try his hand at cooking the fresh beef he got from the farmer tonight, but in the end, Siduri ended up cooking dinner for everyone.
"Feel sorry."
"Please don't say that. It's all thanks to Shirou's battle against the Magical Beast that we can enjoy our dinner in peace like this."
Siduri placed the prepared stewed beef on the table.
Ushiwakamaru crossed his arms and said smugly, "Hehehe, don't take it to heart, Shirou."
You certainly did a fantastic job today, it was truly eye-opening, but—