Inner World of Emiya Shirou...
Closing my eyes before sleep that evening, I appeared in my inner world as usual, lying on soft green grass amid a vast green field stretching in all directions. Standing up, I reflexively brushed the dust and grass from my clothes, then began scanning the horizon. My eyes immediately took in the familiar sight of what seemed an endless valley covered in low grass and blades whose edges were buried in the earth, hilts raised to the sky as if awaiting the moment I'd need them.
And I couldn't help but smile at the sight, for a huge portion of those seemingly countless blades had been forged by my own hands...
"I see..." A quiet mutter left my lips as my gaze caught a familiar silhouette on the horizon.
"Reinforcement." And following the so-familiar script, my legs carried me toward the now enormous majestic fortress wall visible in the distance, while my thoughts freely wandered the alleys of my mind.
All this space was my Reality Marble, and it had changed greatly compared to how it first appeared to me. The previously barren ground had long been overgrown with fresh grass interspersed here and there with cold steel stuck in the earth. The sunset crimson sky had become a gentle blue dotted with white clouds racing visibly wherever the wind took them. But perhaps the most surprising change was the disappearance of the giant gears in the sky. And I hadn't even noticed when it happened. At some point, they just... vanished. One by one, the monolithic, seemingly indestructible structures evaporated until none remained. I hadn't even thought about the fact before realizing they were gone.
Russell surely knew something about it. Hmm... I had to ask him later.
Putting the question aside, my feet left the green grass for a path that soon led to a wide road. Sturdy yet comfortable, it was paved with tightly fitted stones in such a way that even modern vehicles could transport passengers along it in comfort.
Just another quirk of my inner world, but only one of many...
Over time, Russell truly outdid himself in his pursuit of creation. For example, far ahead of me loomed massive gates that, even from several kilometers away, commanded respect. And I strongly doubt anyone would say otherwise. Right beside the gates, as an integral part of the wall, rose tall towers like stone sentinels guarding the capital's residents from any external threats. Some distance from the walls stretched a vast forest with impressive twenty-meter trees extending far and farther, interrupted only by equally vast fields and hills, occasionally divided by rivers and lakes. And throughout all my travels, I never managed to reach the limits of my own world, and I strongly doubt they even exist.
But I did find plenty of other interesting things during my "research forays." And, I must admit, not all of them were good...
My Reality Marble had become truly astonishing, if not downright bizarre...
With such thoughts in mind, I continued running forward. The distance to the gates was shrinking, and once again I thought that my Mentor definitely had a mania for gigantism or something like it. The massive gray, almost marble-white walls stood a good forty meters high, while the towers soaring straight to the sky reached fifty to sixty. Their mere sight took the breath away from first-time beholders and kindled pride in those fortunate enough to live within the walled city. Inside, it was an incredible blend of medieval and modern. Nearly every house had two or three stories, each equipped with all modern conveniences, but powered by magical "innards." Many homes were covered in vegetation like grapevines and the like, but even all that was trivial compared to what came next...
People—real, thinking people in the flesh—lived in this city. Walls teeming with guards protected everyone inside from external threats. The city itself, with its people circulating through the streets like blood, living lives known only to them across the expanse of a single stone organism. But the grandest sight of all demanded special attention: the truly colossal castle at the center, visible even from beyond the massive outer walls if you stepped far enough back. Knights, servants, and even a real king lived there! Though I hadn't seen the last one yet...
Russell said he created them all from images of those he once knew. Each is a spiritual construct with all human emotions and needs. In a sense, they are spiritual Homunculi, only without any obvious defects. They grow, are born, and live their lives according to their own wishes, and it often happens that some of them "outgrow" their intended roles and become something more...
"For they are made in their own likeness, shaped by their own souls," Russell once told me, without going into details about their emergence. Though it's entirely possible he just wanted to add some "pomp" and didn't feel like saying more...
After twenty minutes of intense running, I finally approached the massive gates flung wide open. A broad road led from them farther into the forest visible a couple of kilometers from the city. Caravans and other travelers moved along it to and from the city, like blood circulating through veins. And there, on the roads, you occasionally had to deal with bandits or even magical beasts that had ventured dangerously close to the highway, as often happens in the games my Mentor loves to play...
...Sometimes I feel like my Reality Marble has turned into some gigantic magical construction set. And considering that Russell is the one "assembling" it, that just seems... Strange.
Maybe for the sake of my sanity, it's better if I don't think too much about it...
At some point, I gradually slowed to a walk and calmly approached the open gates. They were guarded by two dozen sentries, each clad in full leather armor with metal elements covering vital areas. They carried massive halberds and short swords at their belts. Their uniforms were mostly blue with yellow patches here and there and the emblem of familiar golden scabbards on a blue background.
"Oh!.. Master Shirou! It's been a while since you last visited us!" A stocky guard with a plain, good-natured face and black hair greeted me with a smile.
"Hello, Bilmo-san! And stop calling me 'Master.' I'm much younger than you, after all..." I replied, already knowing my words wouldn't change anything.
"How could I?! Your weapons and armor have saved my life and my men's lives more than once. It would be extremely disrespectful of me to treat my benefactor without due respect!" Bilmo-san declared loudly, eyes blazing and a wide smile on his face, to the approving nods of the other guards and some passersby.
"Ha-ah... I get it, I get it. I hope nothing happened while I was away?"
"Of course not! We rarely see anything truly bad here. Just petty bandits and beasts... Nothing to worry about..." The guard said somewhat unnaturally, avoiding my eyes.
"Bilmo-san?.. What exactly happened?" I asked the suddenly sweating man, who, despite his far more imposing height and age, clearly felt uncomfortable under my gaze.
Something definitely happened...
"Uhmm..." The guard hesitated while I tried to ignore his comrades, who kept waving their hands and making negative gestures behind his back as I continued staring him down.
"I... Oh!" Bilmo-san's face suddenly lit up as his gaze caught something behind me. "...Sorry, Master Shirou, but another caravan from the quarries has arrived, and... Unfortunately, I have to leave you and get to work, ha-ha... And as always, glad to see you in Avalon!" The "rescued" guard suddenly shouted and hurried toward the arriving caravan, leaving me alone...
I watched him go with a critical eye when the other guards caught my attention—some heading after their captain—and my eyes snagged on their jerky, almost clumsy movements. Since I knew each of them personally, along with their approximate abilities, I couldn't help but find it strange.
Injuries? Then why are they here in this state? Isn't there enough manpower in the entire capital for replacements? And where did the injuries come from? Ordinary bandits wouldn't stand a chance against the guards under any circumstances. So, monsters? Here? Hmm... Looks like it. But this close? No... — Quickly scanning the surroundings, I noticed far fewer guards than there should be, and almost all wore new gear—the kind that had been gathering dust in the armory just last night, while the others had only come on shift today. The number of guards was also odd. There were usually at least fifty here, even if only two dozen were posted directly at the gates.
Looks like they got pulled away. Most likely to deal with the "problem"... — Fortunately, the guards' faces showed no losses. But even so, I should prepare new gear sets for them in advance...
"You'll pick up new gear this evening. And don't be late!.." I said loudly and headed to my "home," catching out of the corner of my eye how several guards froze awkwardly, making the corners of my mouth twitch upward.
"Avalon"—that's the name of this capital city of the suddenly expanded kingdom that formed across my inner world. Russell named it after the artifact of the same name—the scabbards of King Arthur—and it remains an astonishing place that's hard to believe in even after all this time since I first saw it. The lands here have strangely grown forests, new villages and towns have sprung up one after another, various beasts and magical creatures have found refuges in the depths of the thickets. In fact, my Reality Marble is almost indistinguishable from the real world, since everything found on its expanse is real...
And no, Russell isn't the king. He took on the "role" of the court mage, helping the "king" with everything. He found me housing in Avalon and gave me starting funds to live on, after which I had to fend for myself on Avalon's soil.
And yes, I really do have to earn my keep here... Inside myself... In short, no one on Avalon's expanse is going to sponsor me like before. And honestly, I still don't know how to feel about it. Fortunately, with my abilities, it's no big problem. And according to Russell, constantly relying on others isn't the right long-term solution, which I fully agree with.
Walking the bustling streets of Avalon, I kept running into familiar faces wandering the crowded capital's avenues. They greeted me as I greeted them. I'd helped many of them. I knew many personally, having earned a good reputation among the locals since my arrival thanks to my skills, whether blacksmithing or aiding in hunts for monsters and bandits. Some also knew about my other skills like cooking, but mainly I crafted quality tools, weapons, armor, and anything else that might prove useful. My main job is probably here at the Workshop, though I still frequently hunt dangerous beasts and occasionally escort caravans, earning me the nickname "Little Hero" due to my age and constant aid to people.
But naturally, I didn't become known overnight. Though I'm not sure exactly when my nicknames started spreading. And quite some time has passed...
It's worth mentioning that during Mentor's experiments about a year ago, when "Avalon" formed, time in my Reality Marble began flowing four times faster, so four hours here equal one hour "awake." Which in turn means they've known me here for four years, since I started my activities as soon as I got the chance.
Since then, I've been sleeping more, though it hasn't made things any easier. Training on Avalon's lands still directly affects "reality," and with the time difference, it gives me more hours for practice. Since then, upon waking, I've felt significant body pains that far outweigh the aftermath of past workouts, but the noticeable improvements I've shown make it worthwhile.
Even so, I can't skip warm-ups and "real" training. It solidifies the results, and they become a bit more effective combined with my "nightly" exercises. Plus, it helps me get used to changes in my own body. It would be awkward if I accidentally showed Olympic-level athleticism at school.
Mass hypnosis of all witnesses is already a hassle, but revealing myself to someone like Tohsaka would have consequences...
"Hello, dear home..." Finally, after twenty minutes of walking, I arrived at my dwelling within the capital of "Avalon." It was a two-story building styled in a European fashion. The first floor was mostly taken up by the living room and kitchen, plus a massive forge as an extension where I'd been crafting most of my goods for a long time. The second floor held the living quarters and a large bathroom. The roof was covered in brown tiles with a wide chimney venting excess heat from the forge.
"There's a lot of work today..." I said with a slight smile, unlocking the door with a simple key and entering. Inside, everything was furnished, in my opinion, too richly. Constantly helping Avalon's residents and others had earned me a certain reputation, and soon guests started visiting frequently. Seeing my home's overly simple setup, they immediately began furnishing it in gratitude for my "deeds." The dining table in the living room, for example, was brought by merchant Trumpier after I saved his caravan from an earth drake—a dragon but without wings and the size of a plump bull that attacked them. The expensive red curtains I got for helping cook dishes at Irina-san's wedding, now Irina Maltvin-san. And that's just a fraction of the gifts I simply couldn't refuse.
But sometimes they come just to taste my cooking...
Quickly preparing myself a hearty breakfast fit for three grown men and devouring it alone, I was about to head to the forge when I heard the doorbell. And that was strange. Usually, when I'm home, my magically enchanted workshop-forge is already heating another metal ingot at this hour. And since my acquaintances generally don't interrupt me during work, it meant either a stranger had come or someone had truly urgent reasons.
The bounded field around this house was the same as the one at my real home. Maximally inconspicuous and reacting to directed negative emotions like intent to kill, rob, or the like. The main line of defense is active protection triggered by the field's signal and my mental commands. Around the house, inside it, on the roof, in the basement, in the stone fence—numerous blades are hidden, ready to take flight in an instant and punish any intruder, no matter who. I've also installed some Mystic Codes ensuring no familiars or "pests" can get inside via instant destruction.
And all that is just the visible part of my defenses.
In any case, without much concern, I approached the front door and opened it. Standing there was a tall man, a stereotypical blond with blue eyes. He wore shining plate armor, clearly custom-made, with a crest of a golden sword in golden scabbards on a blue background on various armor segments. Judging by my father's memories, he was the spitting image of Artoria, except for the gender, pronounced muscles, and blue eyes... Otherwise, he could easily pass for a relative of the British King, if not the king himself.
"Hello, lad. May I ask if Master Shirou is home?" The knight addressed me, flashing a dazzling smile surely practiced on many before me.
"...I am 'Master' Shirou." I said somewhat wearily, watching the man's eyes slowly widen in surprise.
This happens with every new acquaintance. I've been here four years, but still look eleven or twelve, which isn't surprising since I am eleven. It's no wonder my guest made a somewhat skeptical face at my words.
"You... Sorry, I was told the local forge master was small, but I couldn't imagine he'd be a child..."
"Don't worry about it. I'm used to it." I waved it off and stepped aside, gesturing for him inside. "Please, come in. If you have business with me, we can discuss it inside."
Soon we sat across from each other at the living room table with tea I'd prepared. The man sipped from the offered cup, eyes widening in surprise, and started the conversation:
"This really is a fine brew! If you tell me where to find a similar tea blend, my comrades and I would be grateful."
"No need to go far," I began, shrugging. "I selected the tea leaves myself. I can share after hearing the reason for your visit." I had no clients among the royal knights yet and knew little about them, but I strongly doubted he'd come for tableware for court tea parties...
"Well then..." The man said uncertainly. "Honestly, I did come on important business, but I wasn't expecting such a young forge master..." The knight was about to continue, but I, understanding where he was going, cut him off.
"Before you go on about my age, I must remind you that since arriving, you haven't bothered to introduce yourself." I said coldly, giving the man an equally unreadable look.
I doubted this look would scare him, but according to my father, in "high-level" dealings, you can't show the slightest weakness, citing Clock Tower aristocrats as an example. Magi raised there might smile at you like saints only to stab you in the back when it suits them.
So I couldn't hide my surprise when my guest's eyes widened sharply and his body froze for a couple of seconds, as if suddenly paralyzed. But soon he abruptly stood, and unexpectedly... Bowed?..
"Oh!.. Please forgive my rudeness! I didn't mean to offend this home's master in any way, but sometimes I say things I shouldn't, so I apologize!" My guest raised his eyes with the most sincere expression I'd ever seen. I even felt awkward about my reaction, so after a brief pause, I nodded.
"...I accept your apology, and suggest we start over. You know my name, but haven't given yours."
"Thank you for your understanding." The man straightened and, bowing slightly, took his seat again. "My name is Edmund Varess, and I've come to ask Master Shirou—that is, you—to join an expedition to a recently appeared dungeon near a village called Pearl..." Choking on the word "dungeon," I quickly cleared my throat and listened on... "...We need capable people to investigate the cause of its appearance and, if possible, fully clear it of the filth constantly emerging from it."
When Sir Edmund finished, I couldn't help thinking his request sounded like some quest. Was Russell seriously intending to turn my Reality Marble into a video game? I wouldn't be surprised by new levels, notifications, and loot dropping from defeated foes dissolving into mist. Though considering my "status window," he might have already done it...
Edmund, meanwhile, apparently took my silence for interest and continued:
"You see, it turns out the dungeon is filled with undead and vampires. Taking someone unable to keep a cool head—and in the right place—might just empower the enemy, so we decided to urgently assemble a small team led by researcher Kalen. That's how we learned about you, actually. The old mage spoke very highly of you and your skills as a warrior, magus, blacksmith, and even cook, so we couldn't help trying to recruit such a capable person. Especially since Master Shirou has an excellent reputation among trustworthy folk. The expedition itself starts in eight days, and everything should be ready by then, so we're counting on your answer soon, as the matter is urgent." The knight finished and looked at me expectantly.
Eight days? By the timeline, that's around Friday night in real time... I can already see whose hands are pulling the strings, but oh well—time to continue the conversation.
"So you need a lackey to handle supplies, cook, and do odd jobs, all while not getting killed by the enemy, right?"
"I wouldn't call a potential comrade a lackey or servant, but... Yes, you're right in general." The knight admitted somewhat awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "We knights aren't great at things outside our direct duties, and having someone who can tend to our stomachs' needs during an expedition that might last several days would be a real lifesaver."
Strange things constantly happen in my inner world, not always due to Russell's direct actions, but most "anomalies" are tailored for me. This could well be the "surprise" he was preparing...
"I agree, but with some conditions." I said, holding up three fingers.
"Go ahead! I'll try to get you the best terms if your demands aren't beyond my abilities." Edmund leaned back in the wooden carved chair and listened.
"First condition: payment. Less than a hundred gold, and I'm out." I'd had many debates with Russell and Kiritsugu on "Should you charge for help?" I was for doing it for free, while the adults insisted I always take something for my work, even if symbolic. After years of arguments and examples from Kiritsugu's jobs, they proved my altruism risked not just betrayal and deception but simple misunderstanding. No one would trust me without knowing my motives, and few would believe in selfless aid.
Especially magi. Helping each other is tantamount to debt for them. A service they'll surely use, and it's far from certain you'd be ready to fulfill it...
At that moment, Edmund, unaware of my thoughts, calmly pondered the first condition, hand to chin, until he finally nodded.
"That's a hefty sum, but given the duties on your shoulders, it won't be a big issue. What's next?" The knight said, and I continued:
"I assume we'll travel by horse? If so, I'll need my own mount and personal training in handling it." I'd always wanted to learn, but never found enough reason or time to master the skill.
Hmm... Probably time to start thinking about a proper means of transport...
"Agreed—it'll be easier for us if you can stay in the saddle. I'll send someone when I return so you can pick a horse and start training." Edmund nodded again, smiling broadly, and I finally moved to the most important point...
"Thirdly, I need you to provide everything necessary for a field kitchen in advance. I'll prepare a list, and I won't settle for less than what's on it." I said with utmost seriousness, leaning slightly toward the stunned knight.
"...Khaha... I... I think that won't be a problem. The servants will prepare everything needed! Just give your list to my man arriving with your future riding instructor, and it'll be ready by the deadline. I assume that's all?" The knight asked, somewhat relieved by my last demand.
"Yes, that's everything. From me, I promise to do everything possible for the expedition's success, Sir Edmund." I said, standing and extending a hand to my guest across the table, which he soon shook.
"I'm glad we reached an agreement. I hope to learn more about Avalon's young talent..."
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan