However, even if he could not forge a Divine Construct, Emiya Shirou clearly had other plans.
"If I can't forge a Divine Construct directly, then I'll forge a weapon that can become one."
"Looks like, in the end, I still have to walk the path of a growing weapon."
Hephaestus of the DanMachi world had once said that, to a blacksmith, forging a weapon that could grow was nothing short of heresy.
Emiya Shirou understood that way of thinking very well.
A weapon that grows would inevitably be stained by the colors of others.
It represented a craftsman pouring their lifeblood into something that would eventually be shaped by someone else.
If a forged weapon was treated as a child, then creating a growth-type weapon was akin to giving birth but refusing to raise it.
From a blacksmith's perspective, that was clearly wrong.
But that logic only applied to blacksmiths.
From the standpoint of an adventurer, it was a completely different matter.
For an adventurer who treated their weapon as their wife, who wouldn't hope that their wife would grow alongside them and devote herself only to them?
Which adventurer wouldn't want a weapon that could grow?
And as a blacksmith, Emiya Shirou also had his own rules.
If the request came from a stranger, he would only forge an ordinary weapon.
As for growth-type weapons, those were reserved exclusively for his friends.
"Following Fujimaru Ritsuka, whose future potential is unlimited, those two armaments should have a bright future."
Thinking of that, a satisfied smile appeared at the corner of Emiya Shirou's mouth.
Before long, soldiers sent by Siduri arrived outside his forging room, carrying the materials that had been prepared.
After receiving everything, Emiya Shirou shut himself inside and once again began his life at the forge.
...
"Clang!"
The sound of a hammer echoed sharply through the room.
With that final strike, Emiya Shirou finished the work in his hands.
"To think it took five full days. That was exhausting."
As his forging level continued to rise, crafting weapons that weren't Divine Constructs had rarely pushed him this hard anymore.
"But still."
He stared intently at the three divine weapons laid out together, his eyes filled with quiet satisfaction.
"They're all excellent masterpieces."
After admiring them for a moment, Emiya Shirou stored the weapons into his storage space and walked out.
When he returned to the Chaldea Embassy, the place was already empty.
Only a single letter remained on the table on the first floor.
He opened it and read through the contents, then nodded slightly.
Just as he had expected.
Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others had already moved out and headed to the Absolute Demonic Front.
In the letter, Fujimaru Ritsuka apologized for not waiting for him.
After all, just as Emiya Shirou himself had said, Mash's time was extremely limited. Not even a moment could be wasted.
Because of that, they had no choice but to leave first and wait for Emiya Shirou at the Absolute Demonic Front.
"That's the right call."
Emiya Shirou agreed without hesitation.
Compared to waiting for him to finish and then traveling together, Mash's safety mattered far more.
In the original trajectory, Mash would be saved by Fou.
But that was only possible because Roman activated his Noble Phantasm and sacrificed himself.
Emiya Shirou didn't want to see that outcome.
In his previous life, he had mourned Dr. Roman's death.
Roman had wanted to become human.
He had wanted to live an ordinary life.
Yet after realizing that the world was on the brink of destruction, he threw himself into endless study and preparation.
He worked without rest, never stopping.
And in the end, he erased his own existence.
It was an ending that was far too tragic.
Emiya Shirou couldn't accept it.
More than that, during the time he had spent with Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash, he had also grown close to Roman back in Chaldea.
They could now be called friends without exaggeration.
Emiya Shirou genuinely liked his personality.
So as a friend, he would not allow Roman to die.
And if Roman didn't die, then Mash wouldn't be erased while blocking Goetia's Noble Phantasm.
She wouldn't need to be saved by Fou.
Which meant she would still be bound by her shortened lifespan.
And eventually, she would still reach the end of her road.
That outcome was also something Emiya Shirou was unwilling to accept.
Looking around the empty tavern, he shook his head lightly.
Without anyone else here, the place felt far too quiet.
He returned to his room, packed his belongings with simple efficiency, and left the tavern.
Moments later, he took flight toward the Absolute Demonic Front.
...
Arriving once more above the Absolute Demonic Front, Emiya Shirou looked down at the demonic beasts that continued to assault the battlefield without pause.
He shook his head helplessly.
"How tragic."
"Is this really a death match between different forms of life?"
Scanning the battlefield, he quickly located Mash.
Unlike the other soldiers stationed atop the city walls, Mash was fighting continuously outside the walls.
Beside her, Little Rimuru was also cutting down demonic beasts without rest.
"So it's Mash and Little Rimuru holding the line."
"What about the other two?"
Using the magical imprint he had left behind, Emiya Shirou quickly found Fujimaru Ritsuka.
At the moment, Fujimaru Ritsuka was standing on the city wall.
She was wearing Uruk's standard-issue armor, clearly meant to protect her.
Because of that armor, Emiya Shirou hadn't noticed her at first glance.
Standing beside her were Shuna and Ana.
Judging by their posture, Shuna seemed to be instructing Fujimaru Ritsuka on some necessary knowledge.
"It looks like things are stable for now."
With a small smile, Emiya Shirou descended.
He didn't head directly for the city wall.
Instead, he landed at the rear of the front lines.
There, he spotted Merlin and Leonidas I, who were in the middle of discussing their response to the coming situation.
"Long time no see, Merlin. Leonidas."
"Shirou, you're finally here."
"Mr. Emiya, we've been waiting for you."
Leonidas laughed loudly as he strode over, placing a heavy hand on Emiya Shirou's shoulder.
"I heard from Merlin earlier that you'd be coming back. The soldiers on the front lines have been looking forward to it."
"You're exaggerating."
Emiya Shirou looked slightly troubled.
"Not at all," Merlin said with a grin as he walked over. "Thanks to your forging skills, every soldier on the front lines has benefited."
Hearing that, Emiya Shirou was just about to respond-
When a shout suddenly reached his ears.
He turned his head.
It was Shuna, Ritsuka, Mash, and Little Rimuru.
All four of them were running straight toward him.
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