For Shirou, the sword is just a tool to protect his family, never the goal he's after.
If there were no fights in this world, no sudden bad things happening, he'd even give up getting stronger, just stay with his family, make tasty food every day, and enjoy the purest happiness.
Too bad, that's a goal he can't reach.
It's like being a hero is impossible, and you can't protect the people around you without power.
Only by getting great power can you protect what you want to protect.
And sword skill is the power Shirou is after.
If sword skill can't reach his goal, he'll give it up without question and find other tools to reach it.
"..."
Seeing Shirou being so set on this, the Sword God didn't say a word.
He didn't even clearly show if he agreed or disagreed, just nodded quietly and then waved his hand.
"If this is the path you believe in, then go down your path, but my requirement won't change at all. You have to swing the Longsword of Light while wearing this armor before I'll teach you even better sword skill."
"This... can I ask why?"
Shirou really couldn't hide his curiosity.
He was already confused before about why the Sword God was making the conditions so hard and forcing him to wear this heavy armor for the Sword Saint test.
Now the test is over, but the Sword God still won't let him take the armor off.
What's the point of it all?
Faced with Shirou's confusion, the Sword God smiled and slowly said, "How do you think your body compares to the Dragon God's?"
"Huh?"
He didn't expect the Sword God to ask such a question, and Shirou suddenly froze.
Then he started thinking seriously about what the Sword God said, and finally answered helplessly, "Not even close. Orsted's body is as hard as iron. Even without magic power around it, a normal person's sword can't hurt him at all."
"Yeah, that's the Dragon God, and also the Dragon race. They're born with things that we humans can never have in a lifetime."
The Sword God nodded, then asked a second question, "If you wanted to fight Orsted, would you think about defending yourself?"
"I... guess I would."
If it were a Sword God Style swordsman, they'd probably say no.
Because Sword God Style is sword skill that gives up on defense. It's all about fast attacks, beating the enemy in an instant with sharp, never-ending attacks, and not giving them any chance.
Normal Sword God Style swordsmen don't wear any armor when they fight.
They usually look down on covering themselves with armor, acting like Water God Style swordsmen who are cowards.
But Shirou isn't a true Sword God Style swordsman. His sword skill comes from the teachings of Servant Emiya and his own hard work. It's really just a practical fighting style.
It's just that he used to use the Sword God Style's Longsword of Light for fast attacks, so he seemed like a Sword God Style swordsman.
Shirou was worried that his answer would upset the Sword God.
But the Sword God just burst out laughing and said happily, "Good, good answer. That's why I like you, kid."
"Why?"
Shirou couldn't understand.
The Sword God said honestly, "Because the Sword God Style's sword can't kill Orsted. I know that better than anyone."
As he said that, the Sword God seemed to remember something, and fear showed in his eyes.
But that feeling only flashed for a moment. He quickly cheered up and said, "The Dragon God is the strongest being in this world. That doesn't just mean he's the strongest in some areas or has a few top skills. He's strong in every way and almost unbeatable. He not only has the fastest speed, the greatest strength, and the hardest body, but he can also use the skills of every race in the world. Whether it's the humans' Sword God Style, North God Style, Water God Style, or other races' magic and techniques, he's reached the top in everything."
"..."
Shirou didn't answer the Sword God because he already knew from Hitogami how strong the Dragon God was. He was really an unshakable being.
The title of strongest wasn't just empty words.
But Shirou still didn't understand what that had to do with him fighting in the armor.
Thinking about it, Shirou suddenly had an idea and said in surprise, "Sword God, do you mean you want me to use the armor to make up for humans' weak bodies and have what it takes to fight the Dragon God?"
"Heh, you're not completely stupid."
The Sword God looked at Shirou with approval for the first time and said with feeling, "The moment I met Orsted, I knew I couldn't beat him. Because Orsted's body is very strong, and my sword isn't sharp enough. Or rather, I can't imagine there's a sword in this world that could instantly kill that Dragon God... That's why I still don't dare to fight the Dragon God. Because my sword would probably only wound the Dragon God when it touched him, but the Dragon God could also hurt me."
"But humans' bodies are completely different from dragons' bodies. If I cut the Dragon God, he'd just recover after a while. But if I took a hit from the Dragon God, that'd be a fatal wound, and I wouldn't survive. Sometimes, I really wish I weren't human, but a demon, or even better, undead. If I had a body like an undead, plus my sword skill, I might be able to fight the Dragon God."
The old Sword God didn't hide his fear of the Dragon God, showing that he didn't have the courage to fight him.
And his words basically proved Shirou's idea.
The Sword God wanted Shirou to use armor to make up for his body's weakness and fight the Dragon God after making up for humans' biggest disadvantage.
But the harder and stronger the armor, the more it would limit a person's movements. Even the Sword God probably couldn't swing his sword freely while wearing armor.
So he forced Shirou to pass the test and swing the Longsword of Light while wearing armor.
After understanding the Sword God's thinking, Shirou had an even more important question.
"Why me?"
Shirou looked at the Sword God with confusion, not understanding why the Sword God had such high hopes for him and thought he could surpass him and fight the Dragon God.
He should know that Shirou was chased around and beaten by the Dragon God when he was in the Servant Emiya form.
The current Shirou hasn't even surpassed the limits of Servant Emiya.
"Why have hopes for you?"
To Shirou's question, the Sword God smiled, but it was a serious smile. "Because you're the human most like Orsted I've ever seen."
"The most like Orsted?"
"Yeah, haven't you noticed that you and Orsted are both copying and studying other techniques, and trying to combine all the techniques in the world into yourselves?"
"..."
Shirou was silent at the Sword God's words.
He didn't know how to describe how he felt at that moment. It was like he suddenly understood, but he also felt something complicated.
He never thought that he and the Dragon God would have such a similarity.
The Sword God continued, "Learning, copying, studying... that's your biggest similarity. I don't know how the Dragon God learned so many techniques and raised each one to the highest level. I also don't know how you got so many techniques and even have that magic to create weapons. Those things don't matter to me. I only know one thing: you're the only person I've seen who might be able to surpass the Dragon God. I even think you're another Dragon God Orsted in this world. So I'm willing to train you and improve you until one day you can challenge the Dragon God in my place!"
The Sword God actually had such high hopes for him.
Shirou was surprised for a moment.
He finally understood why the Sword God had such a strange attitude toward him, both looking down on him and giving him so many chances to take part in the test.
It turned out that it was all because the Sword God had too much hope for him and wanted to use every means to train him and help him grow further.
Shirou was undoubtedly very grateful for the Sword God's actions.
But he was also worried.
Because he was worried about whether he could live up to the Sword God's hopes.
Defeat Orsted.
Even though he had imagined it before, the fight with the Dragon God had left him with a psychological fear that he could hardly erase.
That feeling of fear still echoed in his mind today.
This was definitely not something that could be decided with words.
If he wanted to do it, he might have to give up his whole life!
However, Shirou wasn't confused about it, because he had decided a long time ago that he would give up everything to protect his family.
"I'm willing to accept the conditions!"
Shirou agreed to accept the Sword God's conditions and work as hard as possible to fight the Dragon God.
Not to mention that the Dragon God might threaten his family, Shirou really needed a strong person like the Sword God to train him.
"Very good."
The Sword God smiled sincerely for the first time, then said, "You said you were going to find your family. If it's not urgent, stay in the holy place for a while longer. I have a friend I want to introduce you to, and he can also give you some guidance in sword skill."
"Friend?"
Shirou was surprised and confused by the Sword God's words.
But the Sword God clearly didn't plan to explain further and waved for Shirou to leave.
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