Chapter 39. Ais's Knee Pillow? I, the Great Hero Emiya, am Specialized in Using My Life to Pick Up Girls!
37th Floor, the "White Palace."
Or perhaps now, it would be more appropriate to call it the "Ruins of the White Palace."
After that golden light cannon that pierced heaven and earth dissipated, the entire floor seemed to have been put on mute. The roars of monsters vanished. The collapsing of rocks stopped. Even the mana in the air—which had been restless and filled with the "malice of the Dungeon"—was forcibly "suppressed" by the residual prestige of that Holy Sword. It felt like a classroom of elementary students who had just been scolded by a strict homeroom teacher; it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"What... what even is this..."
Tiona Hiryute—the Amazon girl who usually feared nothing and could even slice dragons with a smile—was currently standing at the edge of a massive crater over fifty meters in diameter. Her jaw was practically dislocated, and her eyes had lost their highlights, as if she had witnessed some Cthulhu Mythos creature that defied comprehension.
"This is... a Level 3 magic?" Tione swallowed hard, glancing at the kukri in her hand. She suddenly felt that her weapon looked like a toy for peeling fruit.
"This is basically an 'Anti-Fortress attack,' right? No, it's an 'Anti-World attack,' isn't it?! This kind of fire coverage... even Lady Riveria's ultimate magic couldn't achieve this level of physical destruction!"
"No." Riveria Ljos Alf, the strongest mage in Orario, was currently retracting her staff with a pale face. She looked at the deep pit still emitting wisps of blue smoke and the rocks at the bottom that had been vitrified under the high temperature. As an Elven royal who had studied magecraft for decades, she understood the weight of that strike better than anyone.
"That wasn't simple magic." Riveria's voice carried a hint of a tremble—reverence for the unknown.
"That was... a 'miracle.' A radiance that transcended the limits of Mind (Mana) and directly interfered with the 'Rules.' That child... just what has he hidden in his body? Does his soul connect to some high-dimensional 'Throne'?"
In the center of the crater, Ais Wallenstein was kneeling on the ground, carefully cradling the boy who was charred all over and looked like a tattered ragdoll.
"Shi... Shirou..."
Ais's voice carried a sob—a side of fragility she would normally never show. She wanted to touch his face but was afraid of breaking him. At this moment, the skin on Shirou's right hand was completely gone; the exposed muscle fibers were a heart-wrenching dark red, and ivory-
white bone was visible. Other parts of his body were covered in cracks of varying sizes, making him look like a piece of fine porcelain on the verge of shattering.
"Don't... don't..." Ais tightly gripped Shirou's intact left hand. Within her golden eyes, tears rolled down like broken strings of pearls, dripping onto Shirou's scorched cheek.
"If only you wake up... I'll agree to anything... Whether it's fried potato puffs... or a knee pillow... or even..."
"Cough, cough... really?"
A voice—so faint it was like the hum of a mosquito, yet sounding like heavenly music to Ais—rang out.
"Really... even 'that' is okay?"
Ais froze. She looked down, meeting Shirou's amber eyes which, though dim and lifeless, still held a trace of a mischievous smile. Even in this near-death state, this man didn't forget to crack a joke.
"...Idiot!"
Ais broke into a laugh through her tears, and then—rather than a gentle embrace like in a romance drama—she instinctively wanted to give this worrisome guy a punch. But the moment her fist was about to land, she pulled it back, turning it into a gentle stroke.
"Thank goodness..." Ais buried her face in Shirou's chest (carefully avoiding the wounds), her shoulders shaking violently.
"Thank goodness... you're still here..."
Watching this scene, the surrounding Familia members who had rushed over one after another revealed auntie-like smiles. Even Tiona, who usually loved causing trouble, stood quietly aside, not wanting to ruin this "masterpiece painting."
Except for a certain awkward werewolf.
"Tch, I knew this disaster wouldn't die."
Bete curled his lip and turned his head away with a look of disdain. However, his hand—which had been tightly clutching an expensive Elixir—finally relaxed, and he quietly shoved the potion back into his pocket.
"Wasting my emotions. Let's go, clear out the small fry nearby. Don't let some passing goblin finish this kid off."
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Two hours later. Dungeon, 39th Floor, "Great Tree Labyrinth · Safe Zone."
Although the name was the same as the 19th floor, this was the Safe Zone of the Deep Floors. The surrounding trees were taller, their bark hard as iron, and glowing moss provided a stable light source. The Loki Familia expedition had established a temporary forward camp here. Barriers were deployed, campfires were lit, and the air was filled with the scent of herbs and food.
"Aaargh—it hurts, it hurts! Gentler! Mama Riveria! Gentler! Those are nerves!"
From the largest tent came Shirou Emiya's pig-slaughtering screams. The sound was so wretched that the guards outside couldn't help but shiver.
"Shut up."
An 'anger' vein was visible on Riveria's forehead. Holding bandages and silver needles, she was performing a "mummification" treatment on Shirou.
"Why weren't you afraid of pain when you were playing the hero just now? Weren't you very cool when you soloed a Special Floor Boss? Now you know how to howl?"
"That was the adrenaline! Now that the drugs have worn off, of course it hurts!"
Shirou wanted to cry but had no tears.
Although he used [Avalon Pseudo] to hang onto his life, the burden that "self-destructive" Noble Phantasm release placed on his body was devastating. It wasn't just physical damage; it was an over-pressurized squeezing of his magic circuits.
Right now, except for his mouth, there wasn't a single piece of healthy flesh on his body.
"Still, you really were reckless." Riveria sighed, her movements softening slightly as a trace of heartache surfaced in her eyes.
"A mana discharge of that scale... if it weren't for the amazing tenacity of your magecraft (referring to the S-rank), you'd be a dried corpse by now. Even an Elf wouldn't dare overdraw their life force like you did."
"Hehe, I had no choice." Shirou could only laugh sheepishly.
"In that situation, if I didn't gamble my life, I really would have lost it. Besides... that big guy was coming for me."
"Hmph. If you dare be this reckless again, I'll throw you to Loki for 'special training.' Or tie you to a chair and make you cook for the whole group for a month," Riveria threatened, then finished the bandaging with a neat butterfly knot.
"Alright, you can rest. No moving for the next few days—not even a finger. All physiological needs... ahem, besides breathing, let others help you." Riveria stood up, delivering her medical orders like a strict head nurse.
"Eh? Then how do I eat? How do I... that?" Shirou was dumbfounded. Was he destined to be an invalid?
"Someone will feed you. As for the rest..." Riveria showed a meaningful smile, looking toward the tent entrance. "I think someone is already impatient to take over this trouble."
"Eh?!"
Before Shirou could react, the tent flap was lifted. Ais walked in carrying a bowl of steaming porridge. She had changed into clean clothes, her long golden hair tied back casually; she actually looked somewhat like a "devoted wife." Behind her followed an awkward-looking Haruhime (who really wanted to come in but was suppressed by Ais's aura) and Tiona, who looked like she was watching a good show.
"Emiya, eat." Ais walked to the bedside, sat in a seiza position, and naturally moved Shirou's head onto her lap.
[Skill Activated: Knee Pillow (Lap Pillow) Lv. Max]
"Wait, wait! Ais?!" Shirou felt the back of his head sink into a soft cloud, the unique fragrance of the girl lingering at the tip of his nose. Although it felt great, they were still at war (an expedition)! So many people outside were watching! And this pose... isn't it a bit too intimate?
"Riveria said you're not allowed to move." Ais logically scooped a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, and brought it to Shirou's lips.
"Open your mouth."
"I can do it myself—"
"Aaaah—" Ais stubbornly held the spoon, her golden eyes written with "if you don't eat, I'll hold it forever" and "if you dare refuse, I'll cry for you."
Facing such a pure, small-animal-like gaze that carried a hint of threat, Shirou surrendered.
"...Ahhh."
He opened his mouth and took the spoon. The warm porridge slid down his throat, carrying a faint saltiness and... a certain sweetness called "happiness." This was likely seasoned with something called "a girl's feelings."
"Is it good?" Ais asked expectantly, her eyes sparkling.
"Yeah, it's good." Shirou nodded. Even though it was just instant porridge, it was being hand-fed by the Sword Princess! This treatment, if placed in Orario, would make 900 million boys so jealous their cells would undergo plasmolysis, potentially triggering a new round of Dark Faction riots.
"Heehee, this is Ais's first time taking care of someone, you know." Tiona peeked through the entrance, laughing like a cat that had swallowed a canary. "Before, when she got hurt, she
couldn't even be bothered to bandage herself; she'd just sit there like a log. It seems you're special, Emiya~"
"No... Noisy!" Ais's face turned slightly red, but she didn't argue, simply continuing to feed him spoonful by spoonful. Every movement was so careful, as if she were feeding a precious... pet?
In the corner, Haruhime bit her handkerchief, her fox ears drooping and her tail dragging listlessly on the floor. "Uuuu... that position was supposed to be this concubine's... Knee pillow... this concubine learned it first... this concubine came first..."
Is this the so-called "wail of the losing dog"? No, Haruhime, you still have a chance! Just wait for the night raid (incorrect)... or develop a new use for the [Uchide no Kozuchi]!
After dinner, Finn held an emergency strategy meeting. Naturally, as the number one casualty and hero, Shirou Emiya was granted permission to listen in on his stretcher (actually because Ais refused to let him go and moved both the man and the stretcher directly into the meeting room).
"According to the scouts' reports, the road conditions to the 50th floor are better than imagined." Finn pointed at the map; although his expression was tired, his gaze remained sharp. "After Emiya dealt with that Irregular (The Executioner) on the 37th floor, the monster spawn rate in the vicinity seems to have dropped. This is an opportunity for us."
"But, Captain." Gareth frowned, glancing at Shirou on the stretcher. "Emiya's current state... can he continue? His right hand..."
Everyone's eyes turned to Shirou. At this moment, Shirou's entire upper body was wrapped in bandages, and his right hand was fixed against his chest, making him look like a critical patient just pushed out of the ICU.
"I'm fine." Shirou struggled to sit up (only to be pushed back by Ais, forcing him to speak while lying down). "While I can't use that 'light cannon' anymore, normal projections and support are still no problem. Besides... I have a premonition."
"A premonition?" Finn raised an eyebrow.
"That 'Executioner'..." Shirou recalled the details of the battle, a trace of gravity flashing in his eyes.
"It wasn't naturally generated. It was... 'manufactured' by some kind of will. Furthermore, the mana it released before dying seemed to be transmitting some signal to the deeper levels. That feeling was like... a summons."
"A summons?" Riveria mused. "You mean it was calling for allies? Or..."
"It was calling for its 'Master'." Shirou's voice was low. "The 59th floor... there is absolutely something waiting for us there. And that thing might be even smarter and more dangerous than we imagine."
"The Corrupted Spirit..." Ais whispered the name, her hand instinctively tightening on the edge of Shirou's sleeve. That was the target of revenge she had always pursued, the shadow in her heart that wouldn't go away.
"In that case, we can't back down even more." Finn's thumb stopped twitching, and his eyes became incredibly firm. "The enemy has drawn their sword; there is no way we of the Loki Familia won't answer the challenge. If we retreat, we don't deserve to be called Orario's strongest."
"Pass the word!" Finn stood up, a powerful aura erupting from his small body—the dignity belonging to a leader.
"All units rest for one day! Early the morning after tomorrow, we move out!"
"Target: The 50th floor! We're going to take out its nest before that 'Master' is ready! We'll let it know the consequences of provoking our Loki Familia!"
"YES!!!" The response echoed through the camp.
After the meeting, the night was still and the camp grew quiet. The campfires gradually died out, leaving only the footsteps of the patrol.
Shirou lay in the tent, yet he couldn't fall asleep. It wasn't because his wounds hurt, but because...
"Um... Ais?" Shirou looked helplessly at the girl still sitting by the bed, staring at him like a goalkeeper. "Aren't you going to sleep? You have training tomorrow."
"I'm not sleepy." Ais shook her head, hugging her knees like a vigilant little rabbit. "I want to watch over you."
"Watch over me for what? I won't run away. In this state, I can barely even roll over."
"You will." Ais said seriously, a trace of fear flashing in her golden eyes. "You'll have nightmares. You'll hurt. You'll... suddenly disappear. Just like back on the 37th floor."
In that instant, Shirou saw the deep-seated fear in the girl's eyes. It was the psychological shadow left behind when she failed to catch his hand as the 37th floor collapsed. To Ais, losing someone... was her greatest fear. She was afraid that if she closed her eyes, this warm person would vanish like foam.
Shirou's heart softened. He reached out with his uninjured left hand and gently grasped Ais's hand.
"I'm right here." Shirou said softly. "I'm not going anywhere. Even if I have to leave, I'll take you with me. That's a promise."
"Really?"
"Really. I swear. In the name of 'Senji Muramasa'—no, in the name of Shirou Emiya."
Ais looked into Shirou's eyes. Within those amber pupils, her own reflection was mirrored. It was clear and warm. There was no deception, only complete acceptance.
"Okay." Ais finally showed a look of relief. She leaned over the bedside, holding Shirou's hand, buried her face in the crook of her arm, and closed her eyes.
"Goodnight, Emiya."
"Goodnight, Ais."
Watching the girl's breathing gradually steady, seeing her golden eyelashes flutter under the faint light of the magic stone lamp, Shirou felt that this moment of tranquility was more precious than any "Great Feat." Even in the depths of this dangerous Dungeon, as long as this warmth was present, it was heaven.
If this was the so-called "Hero's Reward," then even breaking a few more bones seemed worth it.
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Outside the tent, Bete, who was on night watch duty, listened to the movements inside (mainly hearing the phrase "take you with me"). He spat in annoyance and kicked an innocent pebble.
"Tch, so sappy it makes me sick." He pulled his collar tight against the late-night cold wind. "Two idiots. To think he'd actually say lines like that..."
Despite his words, he silently walked to the windward side of the tent, crossed his arms, and stood there like a door god.
"If you ever let her... I'll never forgive you."
Moonlight spilled into the forest of the 39th floor. This was perhaps the last peaceful night before the decisive battle. Following this silence, the ultimate trial called the "59th Floor" was opening its fangs in the darkness.
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