Chapter 63 - Lefiya: "Emiya, are you my mom or something?!"
Loki stated that she would meet with Freya within two days and would have Shirou participate in the meeting. Whether Freya could be persuaded or not would depend entirely on Shirou's abilities.
Receiving such help from Loki, Shirou silently expressed his gratitude and turned to leave.
However, before he could leave the Loki Familia's home, he encountered an unexpected person: the golden-haired girl, Sword Princess Ais.
Ais was holding a broken weapon in her hand, and with calm eyes, she walked into the Loki Familia's mansion.
Shirou intended to pretend not to know her and simply pass by, but unexpectedly, Ais came straight up to him and stopped.
"Why are you pretending you didn't see me?"
Ais seemed very dissatisfied with Shirou's attitude and asked directly.
"Well, I just didn't want to bother you."
Of course, that was a lie.
The main reason was that Shirou had sensed the attitudes of the other members of the Loki Familia and realized that if he acted too close with Ais, he would draw their resentment.
In fact, just a few words exchanged with Ais had already earned him some terrifying glares from all directions.
"Why are you at our Familia?" Ais looked at Shirou with a puzzled expression. "If there's any trouble, I can help."
"No need."
Regarding the Apollo Familia problem, Shirou had no intention of dragging Sword Princess Ais into it.
After all, this situation most likely wouldn't require direct combat, so there was no need to get her involved.
"Is that so..."
Ais didn't seem to show any emotional change at Shirou's rejection, but the slight twitch in her eyebrow suggested a hint of displeasure.
So, she took the initiative to say: "Do you have time later?"
"For what?"
"My weapon is broken. Before it's repaired, I need to buy a replacement. I want to go to the Hephaestus Familia."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"I heard you're studying blacksmithing with the Hephaestus Familia. Can you take me there?"
"..."
Shirou was a bit taken aback by Ais's sudden invitation and instinctively wanted to refuse.
However, Ais's eyes were firm, showing that refusal was not an option.
Seeing that kind of determination, Shirou had no choice but to nod, realizing he didn't really have a choice.
Since Ais had just returned from the dungeon, she needed to go back and change clothes. Shirou had to wait at the Loki Familia entrance.
During this time, he felt the eyes of every member of the Loki Familia on him—so cold it was as if they wanted to slice him into a thousand pieces.
In the midst of this extreme pressure, Ais finally returned. Unexpectedly, Lefiya was with her.
"I-I won't let you be alone with Lady Ais!"
Lefiya was extremely hostile to Shirou from the start.
Her sharp attitude made even Ais show a helpless expression, clearly reluctant to have Lefiya tagging along.
But Lefiya was clearly determined to follow, and even Ais couldn't send her away easily.
Thus, the trip to the Hephaestus Familia now included three people.
During the walk, Lefiya forced herself to walk between Shirou and Ais, glancing at Shirou from time to time as if he were a dangerous wolf.
"Hey, can you stop looking at me like that?" Shirou didn't care much about Lefiya's behavior. "It was Ais-sama who asked me to take her to the Hephaestus Familia."
"Even so, you're still a dangerous person. You're not allowed within five meters of Lady Ais!"
"I'm just a Level 2, and she's a Level 5. You seriously think I'm the dangerous one?"
Shirou sighed in exasperation.
"You've reached Level 2 already?" Ais looked surprised upon hearing that.
"Yeah, after that last trip to the dungeon."
"I see. Same here."
"You too? Wait, are you saying..."
"I'm Level 6 now."
To think Ais had actually leveled up. That meant she had defeated the Monster Rex on the 37th floor of the dungeon.
Shirou couldn't help but feel amazed. Though he didn't feel threatened by her power, he no longer dared to underestimate her.
"Hey."
While Shirou was talking to Ais, Lefiya suddenly interrupted.
He thought she was annoyed at their conversation, but instead, she came closer and whispered:
"Are you sure you're only Level 2? That magic you used back on the 20th floor clearly wasn't normal..."
"Don't worry. On paper, I really am Level 2," Shirou explained quietly. "As for the magic I used to save you... just think of me as special. It's not something I can use lightly. Also, I hope you won't tell anyone else about it."
"Hmph, I'm not some big mouth, of course I won't say anything," Lefiya nodded. "Although sharing a secret with someone like you is annoying, you did save me once. I'll repay the favor."
"Thanks."
Shirou smiled at this tsundere elf girl.
Just then, he noticed Ais staring intently at him and Lefiya.
Her gaze felt... off. He was about to ask her about it when he realized the massive Babel Tower was right in front of them.
As their guide, Shirou led Ais and Lefiya to the Hephaestus Familia's shop.
"By the way, why did you come here?" Shirou asked. "The Loki Familia has closer ties with the Goibniu Familia. Usually, you'd buy weapons from them, right?"
"I bought one from them before and broke it," Ais replied awkwardly. "If I go back and tell them I broke another one, I'll get scolded."
"..."
To think the Sword Princess Ais was afraid of being scolded. Shirou couldn't help but wonder what kind of god Goibniu was.
While he was lost in thought, they arrived at the storefront of the Hephaestus Familia.
"So many weapons!" Lefiya exclaimed.
Ais was also surprised and didn't know what to pick.
After some thought, Shirou brought them to the premium weapon showcase.
"These are high-quality weapons personally selected by Lady Hephaestus. Their quality is better than the rest."
"I see."
Ais nodded and began browsing, testing each weapon.
Shirou also recommended some items to Lefiya.
Though wands weren't made by blacksmiths, but by special woodworkers, he could still suggest armor and close-range weapons.
"I think you shouldn't rely on magic all the time," Shirou said, looking at Lefiya's frail body. "Train more physically. That way, if monsters get close, you'll still be able to fight or run better."
"I get it, I get it! Emiya, are you my mom or something?! Why are you so naggy?!"
"If you're going to make a metaphor, at least say I'm your dad."
"If I had a dad like you, I'd never want to be born!"
"Yeah, yeah..."
Though they bickered as usual, Lefiya still followed his advice and bought some light armor and a self-defense dagger.
This further convinced Shirou that she was a classic case of saying one thing and doing another.
"I've made my choice."
By the time their conversation ended, Ais had also picked a weapon.
Shirou wanted to check it out for her, but to his surprise, she had chosen one of the trial swords he had forged.
"You sure about this one?"
"Yes," Ais nodded seriously. "It's the best weapon here."
"..."
Even though she praised him, Shirou just felt weird.
When Ais went to pay, even the Hephaestus Familia staff looked confused, shocked that the Sword Princess would buy a rookie-forged weapon.
"You didn't just choose it because I made it, right?"
Though he thought it unlikely, Shirou still asked.
"I wouldn't lie about a weapon," Ais said earnestly. "No matter who made it, this is the best sword here."
"..."
Since Ais said that, Shirou had no reason to argue.
He was about to leave when Lefiya suddenly said with an awkward expression:
"I-I want a weapon made by you too!"
"What are you, a kid?"
"Who are you calling a kid!!"
Seeing Lefiya fuming with rage, Shirou didn't know how to respond, so he quietly said:
"If there's a chance, I'll make one for you. But I can't today—I didn't prepare any daggers."
"Then I guess it can't be helped..."
Lefiya looked disappointed but accepted the reality.
After that, Shirou escorted Ais and Lefiya back to the Loki Familia.
He had no idea that Ais buying his weapon would bring him such immense fame.
At the very least, from today onward, the name Emiya Shirou would no longer belong to a mere rookie blacksmith.
.
.
.
Shirou returned to the Hestia Familia, intending to rest and prepare for the upcoming negotiations with Freya.
Unexpectedly, he saw Bell come in looking utterly dejected.
Seeing all the wounds on Bell's body, Shirou initially thought he'd been hurt in the dungeon, but he soon realized something was off—Bell's wounds looked more like injuries inflicted by humans, not monsters.
Still, he didn't ask directly. He could tell that Bell's pride prevented him from revealing the truth.
Instead, Shirou quietly approached Lili to inquire.
"Lord Emiya... you noticed?" Lili looked surprised. "Yes, Bell's injuries weren't from monsters. He told me not to tell anyone, but since you've figured it out... I'll be honest. He got into a fight with adventurers from another Familia."
"Which Familia?"
"From the crest they wore, I believe it was the Apollo Familia."
"Apollo again?"
Shirou almost laughed from frustration. Trouble from the Apollo Familia just kept happening.
At this point, it clearly wasn't a coincidence. The Hestia Familia had definitely been targeted.
Still, he didn't say this aloud. He didn't want to make Bell or Lili feel anxious.
He simply asked for details.
According to Lili, the incident happened on the way back from the dungeon.
Bell and Lili ran into members of the Apollo Familia, who deliberately provoked them into an argument. Normally, Bell wouldn't have fought back, but they insulted Hestia—and even Shirou himself—which enraged Bell and led to a fight.
The Apollo adventurers had Level 2 members, and Bell was no match. He got beaten badly.
Out of shame, Bell had Lili pretend he was wounded by monsters.
"So they provoked Bell on purpose? Why?"
"No idea," Lili shook her head. "The Apollo Familia, just like their god, is full of temperamental lunatics who abuse their power and bully weaker Familia. Maybe Bell was just unlucky."
"Coincidence? I don't think so."
"Huh? You think there's another reason, Lord Emiya?"
"Not sure yet. I'll investigate."
Shirou told Lili to take care of Bell and to keep this incident from Hestia as much as possible. He didn't want her dragged into it.
After making these arrangements, Shirou finally rested to prepare for the next day.
At last, he received a message from Loki.
He immediately joined her and they went to a remote tavern together.
"I usually meet Freya in private booths at places like this," Loki said. "We both draw too much attention. If we meet openly, rumors spread like wildfire."
"That makes sense," Shirou nodded.
Loki Familia and Freya Familia were the two strongest in Orario. If they joined forces, it would shake the entire city.
Many Familia, especially those operating in the underworld, didn't want to see that happen.
Led by Loki, Shirou entered the private room of the tavern and immediately saw the woman sitting inside.
Though she wore a cloak to hide her appearance, her movements and aura made Shirou instantly realize—
This must be the goddess Freya, the ruler of Orario's strongest Familia.