Rayish
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Chapter 95
🕑 Added 2025-02-03 11:26:26 +0000 UTCThe warm night enveloped Orario as Shirou and Lefiya walked together toward the Hostess of Fertility. Both had cleaned up and changed clothes after a long day of hard work at the forge. Shirou wore a plain cream-colored tunic, simple yet neat, while Lefiya looked sweet in a white collared shirt adorned with a purple ribbon, paired with her signature pink corset dress that complemented her appearance.
When they arrived, the night had just begun, and the restaurant wasn't too crowded yet. Shirou pushed open the sturdy wooden door, and the small bell above it chimed softly. The aroma of delicious food immediately greeted them, followed by the sound of light footsteps approaching.
Ryuu appeared from behind the counter, wearing her neat waitress uniform. Her bright blue eyes immediately locked onto the two newcomers, especially when her gaze landed on Shirou. A faint smile formed on her face, but there was something hidden behind that smile.
"Welcome," Ryuu greeted formally, though her sharp gaze remained fixed on Shirou. Her bright blue eyes narrowed slightly as if observing every move the man made. However, what surprised Lefiya was Ryuu's next sentence.
"Thank you, Thousa—I mean, Lefiya," Ryuu said in an almost flat tone, though her faint smile hinted at hidden satisfaction. "You not only delivered my message to Shirou but also brought him here directly. Impressive."
Lefiya was stunned. Her face turned red, and she bit her lip, realizing her mistake. She had completely forgotten about her promise to deliver Ryuu's message to Shirou about his mysterious debt. "I-I..." Her voice choked, unsure how to respond.
However, before Lefiya could explain, Shirou had already caught on to the situation. With a sly smile, he pretended to look hurt. "Lefiya," he said, turning to the young elf with a half-dramatic tone. "I didn't expect this. I thought you invited me to dinner to celebrate our hard work, but it turns out this was a trap! You brought me straight into Ryuu's ambush." Shirou winked at her very clearly, making sure Lefiya realized he was joking.
"Eh?!" Lefiya was startled, initially not realizing that Shirou was acting. However, when she saw his wink, understanding began to dawn on her. She then tried to play along, putting on a confident act, though her face was still slightly red. She puffed out her chest and pointed at Shirou firmly. "That's your own fault, Shirou! If only you'd paid your debt sooner, I wouldn't have had to do this!"
Ryuu, unaware that she was witnessing their theatrical act, simply nodded in satisfaction. Over the past week, Shirou had piqued her curiosity with the hanging story of what feat he had accomplished to achieve a double level-up. Seeing Shirou "betrayed" by Lefiya gave her a sense of satisfaction she secretly enjoyed.
With a firm step, Ryuu moved forward and grabbed the back of Shirou's collar. "Sorry, Lefiya," she said in a calm yet firm tone. "I'll borrow this man for a moment."
Lefiya could only nod stiffly, too confused to respond. Her eyes followed Ryuu as she dragged Shirou out of the restaurant, while Shirou only managed to glance back at Lefiya and shrug lightly, as if saying, "I'm fine."
Once the door closed, Lefiya stood still for a moment before softly slapping her own cheek. "Ah, why did I forget something so important?" she murmured quietly. However, she knew this was unavoidable. Now, she could only wait to see what would happen between Shirou and Ryuu outside.
Ryuu dragged Shirou to the back of the restaurant with steady steps. The area was quiet, illuminated only by the faint moonlight filtering through the gaps between buildings. The night air felt slightly colder, adding a dramatic touch to the situation. Shirou followed without protest, though he already had an idea of what was coming. This must be about last week's story, he thought, suppressing a faint smile.
Once they reached the corner behind the restaurant, Ryuu stopped. In one swift motion, she pinned Shirou against the wall. The sound of her shoes squeaking on the rocky ground was clear in the silence of the night. Shirou barely had time to react when Ryuu's left hand slammed into the wall right next to his head with a solid thud. The position made Shirou flinch momentarily.
His eyes glanced at Ryuu, who stood very close to him. In another situation, this pose might have been considered romantic—like in a drama or anime with a classic "kabedon" scene—but this time, the roles seemed reversed. Shirou, the man who usually held control in many situations, was now in a defensive position. Meanwhile, Ryuu, a young lady with a cold expression, looked like a merciless interrogator.
"Continue," Ryuu said flatly, her sharp eyes staring directly at Shirou. "Your story from last week. Finish it now."
Shirou blinked slightly, knowing exactly what Ryuu meant. Ah, right, that night before the Knossos expedition. Afterward, I helped cook at the Hostess of Fertility. Shirou hadn't had the chance to finish his extraordinary story—the double level-up. The story had been cut short due to something unexpected. Shirou had to take a heavily drunk Loki back to Twilight Manor, leaving Ryuu without a conclusion.
"Ah, about that," Shirou murmured, scratching the back of his head, trying to avoid Ryuu's intense gaze. "How about tomorrow? I'll come to the waitress's dorm. We can train together again, and I'll finish the story. More relaxed, right?"
However, Ryuu only narrowed her eyes, unimpressed by the offer. With a quick motion, her right hand slammed into the wall on the other side of Shirou's face, fully trapping him between her arms. The loud bam made Shirou flinch slightly, and his position now left him completely at her mercy.
"No," Ryuu answered firmly. "I don't have the patience to wait. Tell me now." Her voice remained calm, but there was an authoritative tone that made Shirou feel he had no choice.
Shirou let out a long sigh, trying to find a way to stall or defuse the situation. "You're really persistent, huh," he said in a half-joking tone. "Alright, if that's what you want. But let me catch my breath first. You're making me feel like I'm being interrogated." He grinned slightly, though his heart was racing with a different kind of intensity. Ryuu was truly in control, and Shirou could only comply for now.
Ryuu pulled both hands away from the wall, then crossed her arms in front of her neat green uniform. With a serious expression, she looked at Shirou. "Alright, go ahead and start the story," she said in a flat tone, but there was a hint of urgency hidden in her voice.
Shirou smiled faintly, almost like a smirk. "Where should I start? From the first time I saw the Dungeon? Or when I found the map that helped?" He tried to tease, deliberately stalling.
Without hesitation, Ryuu immediately replied, "From the beginning. Since you arrived in Orario." Her eyes stared straight as if signaling that she wouldn't accept any excuses.
Shirou let out a long sigh, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Ryuu with a puzzled expression. "If I start from the beginning, you might miss work for too long," he said, half-joking, trying to lighten the mood.
"Then start quickly. Don't waste any more time," Ryuu cut in, her tone slightly annoyed, though a faint blush on her face indicated she wasn't entirely angry. Shirou couldn't help but chuckle inwardly—seeing Ryuu, who was usually calm and cold, showing emotions like this felt refreshing. He couldn't help but think that her annoyed expression actually made her look cute.
"Alright, alright, I'll start," Shirou finally replied, adjusting his tone to be more serious. "So, when I first arrived in Orario, I really had no place to stay. At that time, Syr offered me a place to live upstairs in this restaurant. But, of course, there was a condition. I had to pay by helping out here."
Ryuu let out a small snort. "That's too early. I already know that story. We're coworkers, Shirou," she said, her tone of protest returning to her usual flatness. However, a moment later, she continued in a softer tone. "But... I understand. Back then, Syr helped me too." She averted her gaze slightly, her eyes calm as if reminiscing. "When I was badly injured after wiping out the Evilus members and lost everything, she gave me a place to stay and a new job. If it weren't for her... I don't know what would have happened."
Shirou fell silent for a moment, observing Ryuu's slightly softened expression. Deep down, he became even more convinced—behind Syr's friendly smile and ordinary demeanor, there was another side. A side of a kind-hearted goddess who not only offered help but also a place for those who had lost everything. "Syr... or whoever her true identity is, she's more amazing than she appears," Shirou thought.
Finally, Shirou decided not to waste Ryuu's time any longer. He took a deep breath and continued his story. "Alright, then I'll skip to when I joined the Loki Familia," he said. His eyes met Ryuu's attentive blue gaze, showing that she was truly listening carefully.
Ryuu gave a small nod, her expression still calm, but there was curiosity in her eyes. "Go on," she said briefly, giving Shirou space to speak more.
Shirou recounted his early days in the Loki Familia with a faint smile. "Lefiya, who just left with me, was the one assigned to be my mentor when I first joined. She guided me, introduced me to how the Familia worked, and even accompanied me during my training in the Dungeon." There was a warm tone in his voice as he remembered the beginning of his journey with Lefiya.
Hearing this, Ryuu raised an eyebrow slightly. "You're quite lucky," she said softly, "to receive guidance from the Thousand Elf. Not everyone gets that opportunity." There was admiration in her voice, though it was delivered calmly.
Shirou smiled broadly, clearly agreeing. "Yeah, I really am lucky. Lefiya was really welcoming when I joined. Even though she seemed a bit nervous at first, she did her best to be a good mentor. I remember how hard she worked to make sure I understood everything she taught."
Ryuu looked at Shirou with a slightly changed expression, as if remembering something. "By the way," she said suddenly, "you once mentioned that you also trained with Lady Riveria, right? A High Elf Princess respected by all elves." Her tone was slightly sharper but still neutral.
Shirou nodded slowly, a bit confused by the sudden shift in the conversation. "Yes, Riveria helped me a few times. She's very patient and wise, though sometimes a bit strict."
Ryuu gave Shirou a suspicious look. "So, you're close with Lefiya, and you were also trained by Lady Riveria..." She paused, letting Shirou feel a bit nervous before continuing. "And now, you're here, often chatting with me. All elves. Don't tell me..." Ryuu crossed her arms over her chest, her face serious but with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You have a fetish for elves?"
"Eh?!" Shirou immediately panicked, waving both hands in front of him as if trying to deny the accusation with his whole body. "No, no, no! It's just a coincidence! Really! I... I don't have a preference like that!" His voice grew increasingly high-pitched, making him look even more cornered.
Seeing Shirou's panicked reaction, Ryuu couldn't hold back a small laugh. "Fufufu." Her laughter was soft but enough to make Shirou bow his head in embarrassment. "Relax, Shirou. I was just joking," Ryuu finally said, a faint smile still on her face.
Shirou let out a long sigh, trying to calm himself. "You really cornered me there, Ryuu. That wasn't fair."
Ryuu simply shrugged with a calm demeanor, then refocused on Shirou's story as if nothing had happened.
Shirou continued his story casually, though he occasionally rubbed the back of his neck as if preparing himself for Ryuu's reactions. "So, back then, the Loki Familia was preparing for a long expedition. I was left behind because, well, I was still level 1 at the time," he explained with a small smile.
Ryuu gave a small nod, understanding the decision. "That's natural. At that time, you were still a beginner. There's no way they'd take the risk of bringing you to dangerous places," she said calmly, though a hint of pity flickered in her eyes.
Shirou smiled faintly, continuing his story. "Before they left, Lefiya reminded me of something. She said, 'Shirou, don't try to explore beyond the 4th floor while we're gone. The Dungeon isn't a place to be reckless.' But, well..." Shirou paused, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
Ryuu narrowed her eyes, her sharp gaze piercing Shirou. "You didn't listen, did you? I'm sure you went alone and broke through to deeper floors," she guessed directly but with full confidence.
Shirou chuckled softly, a bit embarrassed that Ryuu had guessed correctly. "Hehe, yeah... you're right. I didn't listen," he admitted. "But I had a reason. At that time, I wanted to know my limits. So, I started looking for advice and ways to explore deeper floors."
Ryuu's eyes narrowed further. Her memory flashed back to a few months ago. "Wait," she said, staring at Shirou. "I remember. You asked me for tips on exploring the Dungeon back then. Don't tell me... that question was for your reckless plan?"
Shirou simply smiled without saying a word, his expression like a child caught being naughty. Ryuu let out a long sigh, then asked with curiosity. "How far did you manage to go alone, Shirou?"
Shirou smiled casually, his expression completely unfazed as if he were talking about something ordinary. "Up to the 18th floor," he answered lightly, as if it were no big deal. "The safety point in Rivira."
Silence suddenly enveloped them. Ryuu stared at Shirou with a rare look of shock on her face. Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly. "What?! The 18th floor?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising for the first time. "You, a level 1 beginner... alone... broke through to the 18th floor?!"
Shirou felt amused seeing Ryuu's unusually strong reaction. "Yeah, alone. But I wasn't reckless. I prepared a lot, including potions from Miach and maps I got from the Loki Familia. I was always careful."
Ryuu was still silent, trying to process what she had just heard. How could a level 1 beginner, with no support and no long-term experience, break through to the safety point on the 18th floor? "You're really... either amazing or too reckless. I don't know whether to praise you or scold you for your foolishness," she finally said, her expression a mix of awe and confusion.
Shirou just shrugged again, this time with a calmer smile. "Maybe, but I thought I could do it. And it turns out I could," he answered simply.
Ryuu looked at Shirou with a slightly raised eyebrow, still not fully recovered from the earlier shock. "So, after your reckless journey to the 18th floor, you immediately updated your status with Goddess Loki, right? And then got a double level-up?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity.
Shirou suddenly looked nervous. He averted his gaze for a moment before scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh, actually... no," he answered softly, like a criminal caught red-handed. "I didn't update my status at all back then. I was afraid Loki or the other Familia members would find out I broke the rules and went to deeper floors alone."
Ryuu stared at him without blinking, before finally covering her face with both hands, as if trying to digest the stupidity she had just heard. "Good grief, Shirou..." she sighed, half-cursing. "So you struggled all the way to the 18th floor, and you didn't think to update your status? You're even crazier than I thought."
Shirou could only laugh awkwardly, his voice soft, almost like a whisper. "Hehe," he murmured, not knowing what else to say to defend himself.
Ryuu took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Then how did the Loki Familia find out about this? You couldn't have hidden it forever," she said, her tone half-resigned.
Shirou seemed to ponder for a moment, recalling the event. "It happened when I returned to the 18th floor. At that time, I ran into some friends from the Loki Familia who were in big trouble. They were being attacked by a level 6 enemy," he explained, his tone turning serious. He remembered Aiz and Lefiya, who were cornered by Revis at the time, but he chose not to mention their names.
Ryuu listened intently, her expression darkening as Shirou explained. "And what did you do?" she asked in a soft but intense voice.
Shirou took a deep breath before answering. "I had no other choice. To save them, I had to reveal my secret. I used all the strength and techniques I had to fight that enemy," he said.
Ryuu froze upon hearing those words. "You... a level 1... fought a level 6 enemy?" she murmured, almost in disbelief. She stared at Shirou with wide eyes, as if unsure whether what she was hearing was real. "That's completely insane."
Shirou shook his head slowly, trying to downplay his achievement. "Not really. I just used tricks. I managed to injure her badly, but I was also severely injured. It wasn't an easy victory."
However, Ryuu didn't seem swayed by Shirou's explanation. She continued to look at him with disbelief. "Still, that's unbelievable. A level 1 fighting a level 6 and surviving... no wonder you got a double level-up after that," she said, finally understanding why Shirou was considered so extraordinary by the Loki Familia.
Ryuu looked at Shirou with a contemplative gaze. Deep down, she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of admiration. Shirou reminded her of the heroes from the tales she had heard—Albert, Dim, Argonaut, and others. They were figures without Falna, yet they could face enemies far stronger than themselves. Their courage and determination were just like what she saw before her now.
"Someone like him... might truly be destined to bring change," Ryuu thought silently. She became even more convinced that supporting Shirou as an ally of justice—a "Seigi no Mikata"—was the right decision.
However, her gaze of admiration soon turned slightly stern. She let out a long sigh and looked at Shirou seriously. "But, Shirou, you need to be more careful in the future. No need to be so reckless again," she said, her tone slightly scolding but still gentle.
Shirou smiled faintly, then replied in a relaxed tone, "Alright, Miss Ryuu. I'll be more obedient in the future."
Ryuu held back a small smile, but deep down, she couldn't contain her growing curiosity. "Shirou," she said seriously, "I really want to know... with what power did you manage to reach the 18th floor alone? And how could you fight a level 6 enemy?"
This time, Shirou grinned mischievously, making Ryuu a bit confused. "Hm, I've already told you my secret," he said, pointing at Ryuu. "Now it's your turn, Ryuu. What's your secret that you haven't told me?"
Ryuu fell silent for a moment, trying to think of what she could share. However, she realized there was nothing left she was hiding from Shirou. Finally, she sighed and pretended to look annoyed. "Hmph. You! Instead of telling everything clearly from the start, you made me suffer with curiosity all this time!" she said in a mock-angry tone, placing both hands on her slender hips.
Shirou laughed nervously, a bit unsure how to handle Ryuu's 'tantrum.' "Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Ryuu, don't be mad, okay?" he said in a coaxing tone, though he felt Ryuu wasn't truly angry.
However, Ryuu, feeling in control of the situation, only reinforced her stance. "No!" she replied firmly but with a playful tone. "I'll only forgive you if you show me your power. Prove to me what allows you to do such crazy things."
Shirou could only sigh in resignation, realizing Ryuu wouldn't stop until he agreed to her request. "Alright, alright. Tomorrow I'll come to your waitress dorm. There, I'll show you my power," he answered with a tired smile.
Hearing this, Ryuu nodded in satisfaction, her faint smile showing that she had successfully gotten what she wanted. Deep down, she remembered Syr's words from some time ago. Syr was right. Shirou really couldn't say no.
Comments
striker James
This was a great chapter
