Two months had passed since the duel with Chris and Cherry. In that short span, Shirou had begun to settle into village life, gaining admiration not just for his strength but for the way he had defeated Cherry—one of the village's strongest defenders. To the villagers, he had become a symbol, a glimmer of hope for the next generation.
With Sarah often away, busy managing the fragile peace after defeating the demon queen Eliza, the orphanage fell under the watch of Cherry and Chris. Alica, however, devoted herself entirely to training. She dragged Shirou into sparring sessions every day, unwilling to be left behind.
In the Training Ground
"Match over—Shirou wins. That makes it ten–zero," Dake announced.
Alica's sword slipped from her trembling hands and clattered onto the dusty ground. Her chest rose and fell sharply. "One more! I won't lose again," she snapped, glaring at Shirou with burning determination.
Vanessa folded her arms with a loud sigh. "Honestly… how many times are we supposed to watch you lose? It's getting boring. Fighting over and over doesn't change anything, Alica."
"Shut up!" Alica retorted, cheeks flushed, then jabbed a finger toward Shirou. "Don't think you'll always win. This time, I'll beat you!"
Shirou gave a tired shrug, looking more irritated than excited. "I don't feel like fighting anymore."
"What? Just one more—" Alica's voice cracked between annoyance and desperation.
"Don't wanna," Shirou replied flatly, already turning his back.
"You—!" Alica stomped forward.
But Dake quickly stepped between them. "Let it go, Alica. Enough fighting. Let's do something else."
Alica clenched her fists tight. For a moment, she looked as if she might lash out again, but the faces of the others—equally drained—made her pause. With a reluctant groan, she exhaled. "Fine. So what do we play instead?"
"Oh! Tag!" Dake shouted, raising his hand in excitement.
"I… want to make a crown of flowers," Sabrina suggested softly.
"I want to play house!" Jack declared boldly.
Everyone turned to stare at him. "I'll be Papa, and Alica—"
Wham! Alica's fist sent him tumbling to the ground before he could finish.
"Forget it. Let's just decide on the way. Hideout," she muttered, already marching off.
The group laughed and followed, eventually heading into their secret forest refuge—a place no villager, not even Chris or Cherry, knew about. It was a dangerous secret; the forest was forbidden ground.
Shirou and Chris
Elsewhere, Shirou wandered lazily, hands behind his head, when he spotted Chris sweeping leaves beneath a towering tree. Chris noticed him immediately.
"Hey, Shirou. What are you doing out here all alone? Where are the others?"
"They're still at the training ground," Shirou answered mildly.
"Then why aren't you with them?" Chris asked, tilting his head.
"I was… but Alica kept getting frustrated when she couldn't beat me. She demanded rematch after rematch. I figured if I stayed any longer, she'd explode, so I left."
Chris chuckled warmly. "Ha! That sounds exactly like Alica. She wants to be just like her mother, Sarah."
Shirou frowned. "Why? Aren't they not even blood-related? She's just another kid Sarah took in… why would she want to become a monster like Sarah?"
Chris froze mid-sweep, then raised an eyebrow. "A monster? Calling a hero that is… well, bold. But no, you're wrong. Alica really is Sarah's daughter—her biological daughter."
Shirou blinked, startled. "But Sarah told me the person she loved died in the war before they could marry."
Chris exhaled, resting on his broom. "Ah… so she shared that story with you… Listen, when Sarah journeyed from village to village on quests, she met Max, a blacksmith. Not just any blacksmith—he was a genius craftsman, a magician with tools. His weapons turned battles around in the war. Funny thing is, Sarah and Max didn't get along at first. But as they spent time together, something changed. She grew close to him. Soon after, she was pregnant. With Alica."
Shirou's expression stiffened. "I see…"
Chris noticed the shift in his eyes but chose not to pry.
Shirou then snapped his fingers suddenly. "Wait—our duel! Chris, how about continuing our last match? I've been itching for one!"
Chris flinched as though caught. "Ah, sorry, Shirou. I think Cherry's calling me. Later!" He dropped the broom and practically ran away.
"Wait! Don't run—!" Shirou groaned, exasperated. "Geez. The only strong one left in this village is Chris, and he refuses to fight me… I need strong opponents to grow stronger. When the time comes, I'll take my revenge… against the hero Sar—"
Shirou stopped short, his eyes widening.
Wait… revenge on Sarah? That was why he came here. But two months had passed, and slowly, bit by bit, the hatred that once consumed him was dimming. If that continued… he would forget his purpose.
"No…" he whispered fiercely, gripping his fists until his nails dug into his skin.
Living this peaceful life would soften him into weakness again. Weakness that couldn't protect anyone. Weakness that had taken everything from him.
If he let go of his hatred, then he would betray his mother's memory. Betray her love, her care… everything she entrusted to him.
"I can't betray her," Shirou muttered, his eyes burning. Then, without hesitation, he dashed toward the forbidden forest.
"I have to keep training. I have to grow really strong. Strong enough to fight monsters like Mother Eliza said and when I become Strong enough I have to face the war hero Sarah."
Alica's Side
"Don't just stand there! Go get the ball, you idiot!" Vanessa barked at Jack, who had frozen at the edge of the clearing.
"W-Why meee…?" Jack whined miserably, before scampering off into the bushes with tears streaming down his face.
Alica puffed up her chest proudly, grinning ear to ear. "So, how many times have we won now? Ten? No—twenty?"
Sabrina, who had been keeping score with calm precision, lowered her hands gently. "If we're being exact… it's already thirty times."
"Ah, thirty victories for us!" Alica puffed out her cheeks with pride, almost glowing with smug triumph.
Dake crossed his arms with a tired sigh. "You know, Alica… I am playing these games too. Can't you stop rubbing it in so much?"
Meanwhile, Vanessa's face twisted in irritation. "Tch… where is that stupid Jack? Can't even find the ball properly." She stormed toward the bushes, grumbling.
Alica burst out laughing, pointing at her. "Loser! Total loser! Hahaha!"
"You don't have to say that…" Dake frowned. "Don't forget, you lost to Shirou ten times in a row."
Instantly, Alica's face turned bright red. "You little—get back here!" she screamed, lunging toward him.
With a panicked laugh, Dake bolted. "W-Wait! I was joking!"
Watching them, Sabrina covered her mouth and chuckled softly. The atmosphere—chaotic, loud, yet full of warmth—was everything she had always loved about their group.
But then the minutes stretched on. Jack and Vanessa had still not returned.
"Geez… those two," Alica muttered, planting her hands on her hips. "Still can't even find one ball?"
Sabrina's voice, usually tinted with calm innocence, carried a worried edge now. "Maybe… maybe we should check on them."
Both Dake and Alica exchanged glances, then nodded. Together, the three stepped cautiously into the thicket, following the faint trail left behind. The forest grew thicker, darker, the cheerful air replaced by an unsettling silence.
And then—they froze.
There, in a small clearing, they saw it.
A massive A-class wolf stood before them—its body black as night, eyes glowing crimson like burning coals. Saliva dripped from its jagged fangs, each drop sizzling on the forest floor like acid.
At its feet were Jack and Vanessa.
Jack lay crumpled, blood pouring from a deep gash in his stomach. His hands pressed weakly against the wound, but the scarlet flow would not stop. His breath came out in strangled gasps, and his pale face twisted in agony.
Vanessa trembled beside him, her arms stretched protectively in front of his broken body. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stammered, voice breaking.
"P-Please… let us go—please don't hurt us…"
But the beast, driven only by instinct, tilted its monstrous head. It could not understand her words. Its nature was hunger, and its next meal stood right before it.
Behind the bushes, hidden in the undergrowth, Alica's group looked on in horror. Their breaths caught in their throats, bodies stiff with fear.
"What do we do…?" Sabrina whispered, her voice quivering.
"We can't… we can't just let them die," Dake muttered, determination burning in his eyes. "We need to help them—" He turned to Alica, desperate. "You can! If anyone can, it's you!"
But when his gaze met hers, what he saw wasn't confidence—it was fear.
Alica's face had gone pale. Her lips trembled. Sweat dripped down her forehead as her body shook uncontrollably.
She was weaponless. Without her sword, she had nothing… no way to stand against an A-class monster. No way to save them.
"I… I…" she choked, unable to summon the courage. Her chest constricted painfully. She wanted to move. She wanted to act. But her frozen limbs refused.
Sabrina pulled at Dake's sleeve, her own eyes wet. "She can't… Without her blade, she's helpless. If she tries to fight, she'll only…" She couldn't even finish the sentence.
The wolf's growl deepened, its fangs inches away from Vanessa. The children held their breaths.
And then—
A shadow shot overhead.
Shirou.
He landed in front of the wolf with the force of a hammer, dust scattering around him. His voice rang out like steel.
"I'll distract it! When I do, move them out!"
The beast lunged for Vanessa, jaws glowing with saliva.
But before its fangs could sink into her, Shirou charged forward like lightning, slamming his shoulder into the wolf. With a thunderous crash, he drove the towering beast straight into a tree. Bark exploded into splinters.
"Now!" he roared, his glare fierce and unwavering. "Take them and run!"
"...Sh-Shirou?" Vanessa stammered, tears blurring her eyes.
"Don't waste time—go!" he barked.
Seizing the moment, Dake, Alica, and Sabrina scrambled from their hiding place, dragging Vanessa and Jack to safety.
But freedom for them came at a heavy cost.
The beast tore its fangs into Shirou's arm, lifting him off his feet before flinging him like a broken doll against a massive boulder. His cry of pain echoed through the forest. Blood sprayed across the ground.
Sabrina screamed, trying to rush back, but Alica grabbed her arm.
"No!" Alica's voice cracked.
"But—if we leave him, he'll—!" Sabrina choked, eyes terrified.
Through gritted teeth, Alica forced herself to say the words. "If we go back, everything he did… it'll all be wasted. He fought to buy us time!"
Shirou, despite the agony, shouted hoarsely in agreement. "Go! I'm fine—just go!"
The children fled, tears streaming down their faces.
Shirou clutched his mangled right arm, the pain screaming through every nerve. Useless. His movements sluggish. His vision blurred, stained by the crimson veil of blood dripping from his forehead.
And yet… he stood.
Barely, but he stood.
The wolf advanced again. Its fangs carved through the air, catching his flesh a second time and tearing through his chest as it flung him back, ribs cracking audibly.
Coughing up blood, Shirou leaned against a tree, his strength fading fast.
"Maybe… it was a stupid idea…" he muttered bitterly, his lips curling into a faint grin despite the agony. "Jumping into a fight with no weapon… no strategy… it was suicide from the start."
The hulking wolf prowled closer, shadows swallowing him whole, jaws gleaming red with blood.
And yet… Shirou welcomed it.
His eyes softened. "Looks like… this is it for me."
The beast leapt.
And then—light.
A blazing fireball split the air, screaming forward like a comet. It struck the wolf square in the chest. In a single instant, the creature's body erupted into flames. Its death cry shook the trees before its entire form dissolved into ash, scattered by the wind.
Shirou's eyes widened—not with relief, but with disbelief.
A voice followed, sharp and mocking, yet chillingly familiar.
"End? What nonsense are you spouting? Didn't you once say you would kill me yourself? Then don't you dare die before keeping that promise."
The smoke cleared.
There—standing in the firelight, a white cloak dancing in the embers, braided hair shining like silver under the moonlight—was a face Shirou knew all too well.
" Long time, no see, Shirou"
"Ela?"