First, escort him to Roy Mustang's unit, help them purge traitors, and seize control of the military.
Second, join forces with Olivia Mira Armstrong, convince her about the homunculi, then work together to eliminate every homunculus other than Father.
Third came the planned final boss: Father, the Dwarf in the Flask...
Of course, that was according to the original quest progression. After all, commissions usually followed the client's train of thought...
In the end, Shirou Emiya had skipped the first two stages of the quest and rushed straight through the final mission.
With the Dwarf in the Flask already dealt with, the remaining two stages of the 997 quest did not seem particularly difficult.
So, after crafting two standard-issue Herta Space Station weapons and some personal barrier equipment for him, Mr. Emiya temporarily retired after a job well done.
"Exactly twenty pulls. Should I touch the Fullmetal Alchemist banner?"
After tossing his newly acquired pet into Herta Space Station for the researchers there to study, Shirou was not worried that the little thing could cause any trouble with Herta's people around.
"Let's do a ten-pull."
SSR would be ideal. If he pulled SRs, Mei would gain a few more test subjects. And if he directly pulled the basics of alchemy...
"'Transmutation Circle,' 'Ley Line Sense,' 'Equivalent Exchange.'"
With the Herrscher of Reason's Authority, alchemy itself was not especially meaningful to him. Mr. Emiya simply wanted to test whether his earlier guess was correct.
If it really was correct, then if he handed alchemy over to Herta for research, could he not just lie back and collect the results?
"Am I relying too much on Herta's brain?"
The development of Nen had been Herta...
Finding the turtle from the Naruto world had been Herta...
The long-term commission involving the Simulated Universe had been Herta...
Even when it came to temporarily housing the Dwarf in the Flask, that electronic side-dish pet, his first thought had been Herta Space Station.
"Did I just find myself a mom too?"
He casually threw out a ten-pull. This time, it did not disappoint: seven whites, two blues, and one guaranteed purple.
"A purple reward... Sloane's Notes? So it belonged to that monk Scar's brother. His records? There is quite a lot in here... Let me see... alchemy pills, alchemy, Ishvalan Runes, Eldian Experiment Records, Auto Memory Dolls... Huh? Wait, what the fuck... what weird thing got mixed in here?"
"Violet? Attack on Titan? Wait, you even have records on Axis Element? No wonder that Crimson Alchemist managed to blow you up! A new element discovered from a set of data excavated alongside some physicist... This is the 2003 movie, isn't it... Then doesn't that mean there is also that little mustache from another world?"
The screenwriter had slapped his forehead and tossed Axis Element into the movie, without considering what kind of consequences the stuff would actually cause.
It was only fortunate that Scar's brother had died early, and much of his notebook had even been burned. Otherwise, if other alchemists had discovered the existence of Axis Element and those lunatics had truly started mass transmutations...
Then even Director Eren's absurd Rumbling would become an extremely righteous option.
"What was his name again? The Crimson Alchemist... I don't remember, but you really did save the world! People from the outside world ought to kowtow to you."
"How many absurd things did you cram into this?"
Mr. Emiya could not help rubbing his forehead. These things alone, put together, were enough to write an entire epic-length novel...
"I speedran it, but not completely."
At that thought, he smiled in relief.
"Fuck it, it wasn't a loss. I can still earn some points later and at least get a few more ten-pulls out of it."
"Come to think of it, there is Mikasa, Violet, Miss Hikari, and Miss Asta on my side... That makes four people with the same voice already, and there might be even more?"
"Two blues and seven whites. I got the basics of transmutation circles, alchemy, and alchemy pills... Dragon Vein Perception and Crustal Energy Perception... Everything I wanted hit pity. Not bad."
All things considered, this ten-pull had barely achieved his goal. There were no additional gains to speak of, but it was passable enough.
"Before the next draw, I still need to find March 7th."
"Little March, Mr. Emiya's jackpot can only rely on that blessed mouth of yours."
In order to make use of Little March's blessed mouth, Mr. Emiya decided...
"The food! It's glowing!!!"
"It's fluorescent agent! Shirou put fluorescent agent in it!"
"Fuck, it's back... This taste, it's like the Honkai Energy that once surged through my body has returned! Ideals, power, destiny..."
Seeing the old man looking as though he was about to take off his glasses and transform into a superhuman, Shirou quickly interrupted his chanting and lifted the covers off several more dishes. In an instant, the entire room was filled with an exceptionally terrifying aroma. Smell? It went beyond that... It transcended the enjoyment of scent alone. The fragrance permeating the air was enough to let their tongues taste every kind of primal freshness.
"You bastard! Shirou, why didn't you make these when you were with us?"
The short Stellaron Hunter who had somehow slipped into the inn looked like she wanted to jump up and kick Shirou. She glared at him viciously, then gritted her teeth and said,
"After eating this meal, how am I supposed to survive the next one?"
"Why not Join the Star Rail?"
"...Fair enough. I'll call Acheron and ask about taking a side job."
Miss March 7th belatedly noticed there was one more person present. She tilted her head and stared at Silver Wolf for a long while before dredging up the name that best matched someone she knew.
"Bronya, you came to the Xianzhou too?"
"Yeah, yeah, that's right."
"But today's outfit of yours looks..."
"Cool, trendy, fashionable, right?"
"It is, but are the heels on your usual shoes really ten centimeters high?"
Miss Hunter fell silent for a long time at that. Then she replied through gritted teeth,
"It's not a work setting, so... I'm dressing more honestly. This is my real height."
"I-Is that so? But isn't your chest a little..."
"This is... my normal state!"
"Three Egg Shaomai!"
"Killer Rainbow Dumplings!"
"Kokushi Musou Noodles!"
"Four Gods Sea~food Eight-Treasure Soul-Quelling Buns!"
"Six Flavors in One Magical Mapo Tofu!"
Each dish sounded more impressive than the last. Just hearing the names made everyone feel that the food in their mouths had somehow become even more delicious. After the meal, no one could bring themselves to refuse a single word from Mr. Emiya, the head chef in charge of the Astral Express's meals.
"Asta, my back feels a little uncomfortable."
"I'll handle it!"
"The bowls and chopsticks on this table..."
"Leave the cleanup to me!"
Welt unhesitatingly claimed the task he knew best. Back when he lived with Tesla, he had been the one who handled all the housework.
"I'll prepare some cof—"
Just as Himeko stood up to volunteer, Little March rose without hesitation and shouted,
"I have some treasured juice! Does everyone want some?"
Well done!
You did well, March 7th!
Even Mr. Emiya did not want to turn around after enjoying his own cooking and start gulping down strange black sludge.
"Wolfie, come massage my legs."
"I'll break both your legs."
"Silver Wolf, watch your tone. The person sitting in front of you just made ten glowing dishes in a row—the god who commands the Express crew's cuisine!"
"Is it possible that I'm with the Stellaron Hunters?"
"Then why are you eating the Express crew's food?"
"I paid for the meal. Ask that guy over there."
Miss Silver Wolf wiped her lips, popped another piece of bubble gum into her mouth, then mumbled,
"This script has changed a lot. Acheron asked me to remind you that there are still actors outside the Luofu who have not entered the stage."
"There are actors outside the Luofu who haven't appeared yet?"
Shirou raised an eyebrow. Those other actors definitely did not mean only Jingliu and Luocha. Then... who could it be?
"Could it be Ruan Mei? No, she's still at Herta Space Station right now."
"Silvermane Guard? He has no necessary connection with the Xianzhou."
"A new Lord of Annihilation? Not impossible."
"Don't tell me it's Doulan. If he came over now and released Hulay..."
The Buli Ren War Master, who had not left Youqiuyou for seven hundred years,
would see, at the very first moment after leaving Youqiuyou,
the Luofu Sword Master, who had earned the title Flawless Light over a thousand years ago.
Doulan: "War Master, will you win?"
Hulay: "Win your mother's ass."
Of course, the real situation would probably be Hulay smiling calmly and fearlessly facing Jingliu, only to hear that crazy woman shouting,
"Flowing Light!" "Prepare to die!" "Grass beneath my blade!" "You have nowhere to run!" "Let this moonlit night illuminate all rivers"... and then there would be no afterward.
"Come to think of it, if I got Jingliu's current sword, my swordsmanship should improve further."
If he learned the sword art said to be capable of severing stars, then in terms of technique alone, upon returning to the Nasuverse, he would probably approach the skill level of Kalarepaya of the Awakened.
"Kafka also asked me to pass along a message. Later, she wants to speak with Stelle alone."
"Let her go. We aren't going to lock her up."
"She said that if you don't cooperate, she will have to cause some trouble on the Xianzhou, which would waste time."
"Asta, your mommy misses you, so go see her. Remember to disguise yourself a little. The people on the Xianzhou are still hunting her."
After hearing that, Miss Asta considered it briefly before looking at Silver Wolf and asking,
"Time. Place."
"Eight tonight, Golden People Alley. Once you arrive, she'll find you herself."
"Okay."
Little Grey Hair nodded, while Shirou quietly pulled out his phone and sent Kafka a message.
I really can pole vault: What new side business are you planning to get Asta into this time?
Kafka: Your presence has reduced too many of her risks, but it has also brought more changes. She needs room to grow. This time, she needs to face some unexpected circumstances alone.
I really can pole vault: Aren't you afraid that once she grows up, she'll catch you and trade you to the company for a bounty?
Kafka: The company... by then, it may not necessarily be an enemy.
I really can pole vault: Who exactly hasn't arrived on set outside the Luofu? Doulan's people?
Kafka: Haven't you seen the new script? Then participate together with the people on the train. Don't worry, Acheron said you would like this script.
I really can pole vault: Hello? Aren't I with the Stellaron Hunters? Didn't Director Acheron say I was only going on business trips? There cannot be two suns in the sky; Director Acheron is the only sun in my heart!
Kafka: Himeko is the moon, right, darling?
I really can pole vault: ?
I really can pole vault: You've changed, Kafka. You actually learned how to disgust me. Tomorrow, when you go grocery shopping, everything you buy will cost extra, and every cup noodle you open will have no seasoning packet. I said it!
... ... Please give flowers 0 ... ...
Before you continue