"ROOOOAAARRRR!!!"
The Minotaurs' roar reverberated through the dungeon walls like thunder trapped underground, echoing with an animalistic fury that could freeze the blood of any less-experienced adventurer. The creatures advanced as one, each step shaking the ground and sending dust rising from the damp floor.
Shirou, however, did not flinch. His sharp eyes stayed fixed, his breathing calm, and a faint smile curved his lips.
With a simple thought, his magical energy surged like a rising tide. Ethereal flames flickered in his hands as Kanshou and Bakuya manifested before him—his favorite twin blades reflecting the dungeon's dim light.
The trust he felt from the girl behind him resonated deeply within. Lefiya was there, ready to chant her spells, and he would never let anything touch her.
When it comes to those I want to protect… there's no room for mistakes.
He planted his feet firmly, twirling his blades in a smooth motion.
"Let's dance, you horned bastards."
"ROOOOAAARRRR!!!"
The Minotaurs charged like a wave of flesh and muscle. Their fangs ground together as their nostrils spewed hot steam, the stench of blood thick in the air.
But before they reached him, a crystal-clear, melodic voice cut through the chaos.
[Proud warrior, archers of the forest.]
[Bow before the raiders who advance.]
[Answer your brothers' call and ready your arrows.]
Lefiya's voice echoed like a chant, steeped in elven power and tradition. She shone like a ray of golden light amid the gloom.
Crimson runes began forming around her, expanding in concentric circles. Magical energy crackled in the air, distorting the space itself.
A few Minotaurs, instinctively drawn to this new threat, broke away from Shirou and rushed toward the mage.
Shirou didn't move right away. He just smiled.
"Where do you think you're going? The party's right here."
Spinning Kanshou and Bakuya, he slashed through a Minotaur's flank, the twin blades carving an X in the air before biting deep into thick flesh, tearing the beast apart with a sickening sound. Spotting two more about to reach Lefiya, Shirou reacted instantly, hurling both blades in a perfectly synchronized throw. They spun through the air, leaving black-and-white trails, drawn to one another before striking their targets with surgical precision.
[Dye them in flame, light of the forest.]
Shirou didn't wait to see the result. He lunged forward like a sprinter, and in one leap, placed himself between Lefiya and danger.
"Trace on!"
A clean, elegant katana materialized in his hand—unusually long for a katana, though not quite an odachi. In the next instant, its blade was dyed red with the blood spraying from the neck of a Minotaur that had dared to come too close.
[Release them—the fairies' arrows of fire.]
Two Minotaurs lowered their horns and charged together, aiming to crush him against the wall. Shirou shifted his body, evading by a hair's breadth, and countered with precise cuts that severed muscle and tendon as easily as slicing paper.
Then he hurled his katana, pinning an approaching Minotaur to the wall.
He held nothing back with his magecraft.
In the blink of an eye, a succession of weapons—katanas, odachis, sabers, broadswords, naginatas, even spears—manifested and were wielded one after another without pause. Shirou handled each weapon flawlessly, each one serving its purpose before dissolving into light and being instantly replaced by the next.
[Falling like rain—burn the savages.]
Shirou knew the true offensive was about to begin. He stepped back half a pace, giving Lefiya the space to complete her chant.
"Mission accomplished," he murmured with a smile.
The elf's magic circle flared with blinding light, and as she raised her staff, the very air seemed to hold its breath.
"Fusillade Fallarica!!"
The dungeon ceiling exploded with light as countless flaming arrows rained down like meteors upon the monsters. The heat was suffocating, the roar of the flames deafening. Each impact created shockwaves, vaporizing flesh and bone alike.
The eruption of power consumed the entire battlefield—except for the small patch of ground where Shirou and Lefiya stood, protected.
When the light faded, only absolute silence remained. The dozens of Minotaurs had been erased, leaving behind only fragments of horn and the faint blue glow of magic stones scattered across the floor.
Shirou took a deep breath.
"That power… truly impressive."
He knew that in an enclosed space like this, even an army ten times the size would have been obliterated in a single strike from that spell.
"Shirou-san, I did it!!"
Before he could respond, Lefiya ran to him and grabbed his arm, her face glowing with joy. The contrast was striking: minutes ago she had been focused, immersed in her chant—now she seemed like a happy child showing her big brother a victory.
Shirou regarded her quietly. Moments earlier, a Minotaur's attack had come within inches of her, yet she had shown no panic. That came from her trust in him… and in herself.
"Looks like your hard work paid off, Lefiya."
He gently ruffled her hair, feeling her relax under his touch.
"Mhm! Thank you, Shirou-san, for taking care of me all this time."
She stepped back and bowed deeply. It wasn't just courtesy—her gratitude toward Shirou was genuine. From helping with her training to crafting weapons and armor, Shirou had poured time and effort into her growth.
He helped her back up, brushing aside the formalities.
(I don't do this expecting anything in return…) he thought. It was simply what he did, what he had always done—protect, teach, and support.
Perhaps that was why, when she looked at him, Lefiya felt something familiar.
"Looking at you, Shirou-san… I always feel like you're my older brother."
Shirou froze for a moment.
Older brother.
The last time he had heard those words… it had been in another world, from his sister Miyu.
He didn't answer right away.
"Shirou-san, do you also think of me as your little sister?"
"Do you really want that?" he asked, his tone serious—almost solemn.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
He looked at her, then smiled.
"Of course… you can be my little sister."
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."