Shirou shouted excitedly to his companions, his voice echoing against the cavern walls.
Before the towering Goliath, whose strength and attributes utterly surpassed his own, any direct strike would have left Shirou gravely injured—perhaps even at death's door. And yet, not only had he survived, he had won.
This was a battle none of them would forget any time soon.
Looking at Shirou, who still held his right hand raised, every member of the Loki Familia who had followed him was frozen in place.
It wasn't just the fact that he had defeated Goliath alone.
It was the shocking detail: Shirou hadn't been struck even once.
His movements, his ability to analyze the fight, his close-combat skills, the weapons he projected, and above all, the devastating power of that arrow—everything was rewriting the way the Loki Familia saw him.
For a moment, silence lingered in the air. But soon, surprise turned into thunderous applause. It was more than a celebration of Shirou. It was a triumph for the Loki Familia itself, who had witnessed something extraordinary.
"Shirou!!"
Amid shouts of admiration and voices brimming with excitement, Shirou was surrounded by his companions.
"Hey, wait! Stop touching me!" he tried to protest, but it was too late.
A flood of hands reached for him—pulling, hugging, squeezing—as if everyone wanted a piece of him. He could barely breathe in the middle of the crowd.
"Hey, who just pinched my butt?!"
"Not me! I just wanted to hug you!"
"What a blatant lie, I felt it!"
Lost among the bodies pressing him from all sides, Shirou began to feel dizzy. He couldn't tell who was simply celebrating and who was shamelessly taking advantage of the situation.
The worst part was that the women of the Familia, bolder than anyone else, weren't holding back in their embraces and touches, crushing him against them.
"I… I'm going to die crushed before I even make it back to Orario…" he thought desperately, trying to escape.
For Shirou, this moment didn't feel like a celebration at all, but rather an ambush. Women were, without a doubt, terrifying creatures.
On the other side of the cavern, the adventurers who had been resting on the 18th floor and planning to return to Orario watched the scene in shock.
The shot of that arrow, something that had wiped out the Goliath as if it were no more than a common target, had carved itself into their memories. It wasn't the kind of sight one could forget easily.
"Didn't he just reach Level 2 a month ago?" one adventurer muttered, his voice trembling.
"How the hell did someone like that defeat Goliath alone?"
"And you think I know?! If I did, I'd be doing it too!"
Conversations mixed with nervous laughter and disbelief.
Amid the shouts and applause, Shirou finally managed to break free—only to be pulled back into the crowd moments later. Despite the discomfort, he couldn't stop himself from smiling. No matter how suffocating it felt, this was recognition he had never imagined receiving.
On the way back, the atmosphere was pure celebration. Orario awaited them—and with it, a banquet worthy of their victory.
Shirou, both excited and exhausted, already had his own plans: to cook for everyone and show them what "full strength" truly meant.
"Look closely… this is my real power!" he thought, a spark of pride in his chest.
While the Loki Familia reveled, the entire city of Orario buzzed with excitement. News of his feat was already spreading like wildfire through the streets.
An adventurer who had reached Level 2 only a month ago had defeated, all by himself, the boss of the 18th floor.
The story spread rapidly, growing more exaggerated with every retelling. But unlike the distorted legends that usually circulated through the city, this time there was proof: the Loki Familia themselves had witnessed it.
The massive magic stone brought back as a trophy was the final confirmation.
The whole city was in an uproar. Some believed it, others doubted, but none dared challenge the words of one of the most powerful Familias in Orario.
And in the middle of all this commotion, Shirou remained oblivious, simply enjoying the festive atmosphere.
---
"I'm so tired!"
Late at night, Shirou collapsed onto his bed, completely out of breath.
It was true that he already had experience as a cook, but he had never done something on that scale before. Preparing dishes for nearly a hundred hungry adventurers, each with the appetite of three people, was a task worthy of divine punishment.
"That was worse than fighting Goliath…" he grumbled, rolling from side to side.
"Yeah, I was right not to become the Familia's chef. If I had to live surrounded by those ravenous animals, I'd have died of exhaustion in the first month!"
Even while complaining, a faint smile formed on his lips. The exhaustion was real, but the joy of celebrating together, of seeing everyone happy and satisfied, warmed his heart.
With his eyes closed, Shirou let himself drift into memories of another time—quiet days with Miyu.
"Could it be… that my wish came true? Is Miyu happy now?" he murmured to himself, before sleep finally claimed him.
---
The next morning, however, an unexpected detail nearly made the entire mansion explode.
"Huh? What's the meaning of this 'Independent Action'?!" Loki shouted furiously, waving the paper in front of Shirou.
"Are you trying to steal my job?!"
Shirou blinked a few times, confused.
"Independent Action? That's… my new ability?"
He already knew that name.
Independent Action—the ability of a Servant to remain active even without relying on the magical energy supply from their master. In simpler terms: to act without needing anyone.
A skill tied to the Archer and Faker classes… and, at higher levels, one that allowed its user to remain in the world without any contract or bond. Useful to the Servant, but a nightmare for the master.
Loki narrowed her eyes, glaring at him like a child who had suddenly grown wings.
"Do you have any idea what this means?! I'm your goddess!!"
Shirou scratched the back of his neck with an awkward smile.
"Well… on the bright side, it means you can get some more rest, right? I can handle myself…"
"Rest?! You think I want a child who ignores me and does everything on his own?!" Loki nearly jumped with rage.
Huffing, she handed him the paper with the full Falna update:
---
[Name]: Shirou Emiya
[Level]: LV.3
[Basic Abilities]:
Strength: I0
Endurance: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
[Development Ability]:
Smithing: G
Magic: I
[Magic]:
Unlimited Blade Works
· Projection Magic
· Reality Marble
· Structural Analysis
· Chant: (Omitted!)
[Skills]:
Anima Ignis
Clairvoyance
Mind's Eye
Counter-Magic
· Reduces incoming magic damage
· Greatly enhances this effect due to user's level
· Greatly enhances this effect due to magical properties
Independent Action
· Greatly increases mana recovery speed
· Greatly increases stamina and injury recovery speed
· Automatically updates the Falna
---
Shirou stared at the panel for a few seconds and then, unable to hold it back, let out a confident smile.
"Independent Action, huh… I guess that fits me pretty well."
Loki, on the other hand, stomped her foot in indignation.
"Fits my ass! You're going to give me endless headaches with this, kid!"
But Shirou only chuckled quietly, already imagining the problems—and the opportunities—that this ability would bring.
---
(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."