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Ryuu took a deep breath, trying to suppress something swelling unnaturally in her chest. That feeling came without permission—warm, noisy, and utterly out of place in a situation like this. She turned her face away for a moment, as if doing so could force her heart back into its proper rhythm. Focus, she murmured in her heart. Now is not the time.
With the back of her hand, she wiped the remaining tears from the corner of her eye. The gesture was a little rough, as if she were annoyed with herself. "Damn it..." she muttered softly. This was the second time. The second time Shirou had seen her fall apart, she was crying uncontrollably. As Gale Wind, as someone who had once sworn to justice, it felt shameful—and all of this was the fault of that stubborn man in front of her.
Ryuu stepped closer, the distance between them shrinking. With her index finger, she pressed firmly against Shirou's chest. Tap. "You!" she said curtly, "Showing off in the wrong place." Her gaze was sharp, but her voice trembled slightly. "If Unlimited Blade Works—or whatever that was—lost, you know the consequences, right? You'd still be tortured. Over and over. Without end."
Shirou shrugged slightly, grimacing as even that small movement still caused pain. "Well... what else could I do?" he replied casually, far too casually for such a topic. "At least I tried to do what I thought was right."
"YOU!" Ryuu snapped, her voice rising before cutting itself off. She wiped her face again, then let out a long sigh, her shoulders dropping as if she'd run out of energy to stay angry any longer. "Ah, forget it..." she grumbled in annoyance.
She looked straight at Shirou, her voice lower and firmer this time. "Whatever happens from now on, I won't let you do something this foolish again. Understand?"
Shirou let out a small sigh, turning his face away slightly. "I'll avoid it if I can," he said quietly, his voice sounding like he was trying to be soothing. "But... if one day the situation forces—"
"No." Ryuu cut him off firmly, taking a step forward until there was almost no distance between them. "I won't let a situation like this happen again." Her hands clenched at her sides.
Shirou fell silent.
"I know your dream is beautiful," Ryuu continued, her voice trembling faintly yet steady. "Saving everyone, becoming a defender of justice... It's a worthy dream." She looked Shirou straight in the eyes. "But I won't let you burn for that dream alone!"
"Ryuu..." Shirou called out unconsciously, his eyes widening. His tone was genuinely surprised, as if he was hearing such intense resolve directed at him for the first time.
Ryuu shook her head, not stopping. "Listen carefully," she said quickly. "If you die and reincarnate, I won't let you suffer alone. Either I'll wait for you—thanks to my long elf lifespan—or I'll find you after I die and reincarnate too."
Shirou swallowed. His chest felt warm, yet strange. He smiled faintly, half-touched, half-amused. "But... reincarnation erases our memories, right?" he said carefully. "How would you recognize me in the next life?"
"Hmph." Ryuu gave a short snort, the corner of her lips lifting slightly. "I'll find a way."
"Ryuu, that sounds impossible—"
"Besides," Ryuu interjected quickly, looking at him with a confident gleam, "reincarnation won't erase your foolishness."
"Huh?"
"I'm sure I could recognize you," she continued flatly yet full of conviction. "In any world."
Shirou fell silent, then let out a small chuckle, huh. "That's... a weird way to comfort someone."
"Get used to it," Ryuu answered briefly. "Because you're not done with me yet."
"In that case," Shirou said, taking a deep breath, his tone calming again, though exhaustion was still felt in every joint, "Could you start by helping me find clues about that secret plan Rudra mentioned?" His gaze swept over the destroyed cave. "Even though he's already returned to Tenkai, there could be other gods involved behind the scenes."
Ryuu nodded slowly, her face turning serious again. "Alright," she said succinctly, then added quickly, "but before that, put out your flare and erase any traces that could be tracked." She glanced towards the cave entrance. "We still have a little time before the adventurers from Orario arrive. That divine light just now was too conspicuous—it's clearly a sign of a god's 'death'. It will definitely attract attention."
"Understood," Shirou answered without argument. He stepped outside for a moment, raising his hand. Fsssh. The red smoke still billowing from the flare slowly faded, turning into fragments of light before vanishing, reabsorbed as prana. Inside the cave, he knelt and picked up the short sword that had been lying on the floor, its blade still smooth. With one breath, the sword dissolved, turning into grains of light that disappeared in his palm.
Meanwhile, Ryuu moved nimbly among the bandit corpses. Her steps were light even though the floor was slick with blood. Crack. She kicked a wooden crate, then crouched down, opening the lid. Its contents were varied—an old map, small bottles containing suspicious liquids, and several documents bound with rough rope. "Hmph," she murmured, unpacking them one by one. "They were indeed preparing for something. This isn't just an ordinary base."
Shirou returned to the center of the cave. His gaze fell on Jura's black knife, still lying there, its blade gleaming dimly, wet with the ichor of a god. He sighed, a bitter feeling in his chest. "Ironic," he whispered almost inaudibly. "This knife... finished off its master, then even wounded its own god." His hand rose, and the knife faded, shattered into prana, vanishing without a trace.
A few seconds later, Shirou looked up. The large hole in the cave ceiling was still open, revealing a slice of the night sky. The rocks around it were melted, cracked by the divine light that had pierced through mercilessly. The night wind entered through the gap, bringing cold air.
So this is the difference, Shirou thought. The power of a god... and me, just a mortal. His chest felt tight, not from despair, but from the awareness of such a vast distance. Yet beneath that, his resolve only hardened further.
He lowered his gaze, clenching his fist. "I'm still alive," he murmured. "And as long as I am... I'll keep moving forward."
"Ah—what the hell is this?!" Ryuu's voice exploded, shattering the cave's silence.
Shirou's reverie was shattered instantly. He turned and immediately moved closer. "What is it?" he asked, crouching next to Ryuu, who was holding an old piece of parchment.
Ryuu lifted the parchment, her brow furrowed sharply. "Look at this," she said irritably. Engraved on its surface were unfamiliar symbols—circular lines, jagged angles, and small marks that looked like a combination of letters and numbers, yet didn't resemble any language she knew. "This isn't a map, nor an ordinary note. It's more like... a cipher."
Shirou narrowed his eyes, tracing the pattern with a sharp gaze. "I didn't think bandits usually used methods this complicated," he commented quietly. "Usually they just rely on brute force and crude traps."
"Tch," Ryuu clicked her tongue. "Jura." His name slipped from Ryuu's lips with disgust. "Must be his idea. Slippery bastard. No wonder he kept escaping from me—his brains were indeed used for troublesome things like this." Her hand clenched, almost crumpling the parchment.
"Calm down," Shirou said quickly, placing a hand on Ryuu's wrist before the parchment could tear. "If this is a cipher, there must be a key to decode it." He observed the symbols again, then looked towards the pile of crates around them. "Bandits like them wouldn't memorize a code this complex without help. The decrypt key must still be here."
Ryuu let out a long breath, trying to calm her emotions. "Alright," she finally said. "Let's search together."
The two moved quickly. Crack—thud. Shirou opened one crate, and Ryuu unpacked another. Rolls of cloth, empty bottles, pieces of metal, random notes—everything was set aside. Shirou's eyes moved rapidly, his mind beginning to piece together possibilities. Repeating symbols... consistent spacing between marks... not a spoken language, more like substitution.
However, what Shirou found made his brow furrow. Not a map, not transaction records, but rough sheets containing sketches of monsters. The lines were quick and sharp, clearly drawn by a hand accustomed to killing—scales, fangs, claws—all depicted with excessive detail.
"Huh?" Ryuu moved closer, crouching beside him. She stared at the drawings one by one, then pointed at something with the tip of her finger. "Look at their necks. All of them... are wearing iron chokers."
Shirou followed the direction of Ryuu's finger. True. Every monster—from small ones to those with much more ferocious appearances—had an iron ring around its neck. Beneath each drawing was a row of symbols identical to those on the cipher parchment. "This code..." he murmured, "...isn't a message. It's instructions."
"Installation methods," Ryuu continued, her tone cold. "Or possibly activation procedures."
Shirou stood up, then walked towards the remains of the Infant Dragon they had killed earlier. He knelt and picked up the iron choker lying there. Tss— his eyes dimmed momentarily as his tracing activated. Information flooded his mind—metal structure, mana channels, a mechanism for binding will.
"This isn't a toy," Shirou said finally. "With a design like this, monsters that can be controlled would at least be up to mid-floor level. Simple commands, but effective."
Ryuu let out a sharp breath. "So Rudra's 'secret plan'..." She looked back at the pile of sketches. "...involves controlling monsters."
"Makes sense," Shirou nodded. "Evilus has always liked indirect chaos." But he immediately shook his head. "But if it's only monsters at the Infant Dragon level, that's not enough to threaten Orario."
Ryuu narrowed her eyes. "Unless there are many of them."
"Mass production," Shirou chimed in. "Or—" he paused for a moment, staring at one of the sketches that was larger than the others, the silhouette of a shape all too familiar. "—or they intend to raise the level of the game."
"Monster Rex..." Ryuu said the name softly, as if the word itself carried weight. "If these chokers are reinforced—"
"—and attached to something that big," Shirou finished the sentence in a low voice, "Orario will bleed."
A brief silence enveloped the cave, only the sound of the night wind sneaking in through the hole in the ceiling.
But the oppressive silence suddenly cracked.
From a distance, faint yet clear, came the echo of a woman's voice—calm, firm, giving instructions. The mountain wind carried fragments of those words into the cave.
"...don't be reckless. Check every crevice. Don't get separated."
Footsteps. Several. Disciplined.
Ryuu tensed instantly. Her trained ears caught the rhythm without needing to see their faces. "Damn," she whispered. "Someone's already coming here."
Shirou raised his head, his expression hardening. He didn't need to ask who. The divine light piercing the night sky earlier was too conspicuous for anyone in Orario to ignore. "Then we don't have time," he said quickly. "Just take all these documents. Don't sort them."
In a flash of prana, two simple bags materialized in his hands—light but sturdy. Fshhh. Shirou tossed one towards Ryuu. "Put everything in."
Ryuu caught the bag without comment. Bruk—brak. Crates were forced open, parchments folded haphazardly, monster sketches, code notes, choker instruction sheets—all were swept in mercilessly. No time for neatness. What mattered was not leaving anything behind.
Shirou himself moved quickly, his hands rarely stopping. In between, his mind raced:
We have eradicated Evilus... yet still a god has returned to Tenkai.
And that leaves far too many questions.
Questions that would be asked by the Guild. By the gods. By other Familias.
Questions that they clearly did not want—and could not—answer.
"Enough," Ryuu finally whispered, tightening the strap of her bag. "Everything's in."
Shirou nodded. "Time to go."
Without waiting any longer, the two of them moved in unison. Ryuu's green shadow shot out first, and Shirou followed behind. Tap—tap—tap. Their footsteps vanished among the dark cave passages, leaving behind the destroyed, empty, corpse-filled base of the Rudra Familia—just a few seconds before the unfamiliar voices drew closer.
They moved in a winding path, descending the rocky slope while maintaining a safe distance from the group in the distance. Their torches flickered like orange fireflies, the firelight dancing in the night wind. Shirou and Ryuu chose a higher path, using the shadows of rocks and indentations in the ground so their silhouettes wouldn't be cut by the light. Crack—kresh. Small gravel shifted under their shoes, then they both stopped simultaneously.
Tap. Tap.
Ryuu's elf ears caught the rhythm of footsteps from a different direction—lighter, faster. Reflexively, she raised her hand. "Quiet," she whispered almost soundlessly. Shirou nodded and immediately crouched, taking slow breaths.
They slipped behind a thorny bush at the side of the path, pressing their bodies against the ground. Leaves rustled softly, srrrk, concealing their presence. Shirou held his breath, his heart beating steadily. Calm... don't move.
Two figures passed from around the bend. The moonlight revealed blonde hair and a short cloak he recognized—Aiz. Beside her, the long strides and the fierce werewolf aura were unmistakable—Bete.
"Really?" Bete's voice was low but rough, breaking the silence. "You saw that red smoke, Aiz?"
Aiz paused briefly, her golden eyes sweeping the slope. She gave a short nod. "Yes." Her voice was flat, without hesitation. "Follow me."
They passed so close that Shirou could hear the scraping of their shoes on the rocks. Tap—tap—tap. Ryuu held her breath, her jaw tightening. Shirou pressed his shoulder against the ground, feeling the thorns of the bush pierce his clothes, yet he didn't flinch.
Aiz and Bete passed by, their shadows lengthening then disappearing around the bend. Several seconds passed—silence thickened again. Only then did Ryuu let out a slow breath. Shirou turned his head, exchanging a glance. Without a single word, they both understood: they had escaped—for now.
Ryuu broke the silence after Aiz and Bete's footsteps had truly receded. She turned halfway, her voice low. "Should we just tell them everything?" There was hesitation in her tone, between responsibility and worry.
Shirou shook his head slowly. "Not yet," he answered succinctly. "I don't want them to worry." He looked at the path Aiz had just taken, then imagined the girl's face—calm as usual—turning pale if she heard what had really happened. Killing a god... The thought made his chest tighten. "It's too heavy for them to digest right now."
Ryuu fell silent. Her shoulders dropped a little, her expression gloomy again. Her lips parted, as if she wanted to apologize—again. But before the words could come out, Shirou nudged her lightly with his elbow. "If anyone needs to know first," he said half-jokingly, "It's Loki. And I'm sure... I'm going to get a serious scolding."
"Hmph," Ryuu snorted, the corner of her lips lifting slightly even though her eyes were still dim. "Sounds fitting." She then gestured towards the slope leading to the city. "Let's go. We'll continue sneaking into Orario. Before other curious groups arrive."
They moved again, steps muffled, blending with the shadows of the night. Tap—tap. The mountain wind rustled, carrying the scent of the city from afar. Without looking back, the two slid down, leaving footprints that were soon swallowed by the darkness.
They descended the mountains quickly, following narrow paths carved by wind and rain. Behind them, torchlights could be seen moving scattered—flickering among rocks and bushes—like a flock of lost fireflies, clearly combing the area.
"Hurry," whispered Ryuu.
Shirou nodded. Both quickened their pace, moving away from the lights. Thick clouds drifted across, swallowing the moon—darkness fell instantly, as if the night itself was giving them cover. Steady breaths, silent steps. No more conversation until the city wall loomed in front of them.
They stopped at the edge of the western wall. Ryuu peered up, her ears perking slightly. "Two guards," she murmured. "Up there. Paired together."
Shirou narrowed his eyes, calculating the rhythm of the patrol. "You take the left one," he said quietly. "I'll take the right."
Ryuu nodded once. No need for lengthy plans.
Krk— hands gripping stone. They climbed simultaneously, bodies pressed against the wall, moving like shadows. In one breath, they vaulted over the edge of the wall.
Thud! Thud! Two strikes landed almost simultaneously. The guards' heads jerked, eyes wide for a moment—then darkness. Their bodies collapsed without much sound, only a short gasp before falling unconscious. Low-level adventurers didn't have time to react; facing two level 4s, everything was over before they realized what happened.
Shirou caught the guard's body to prevent a noisy fall, and Ryuu dragged the other into the shadows. They exchanged a glance—safe.
They moved down the spiral staircase behind the city wall, keeping their footsteps as low as possible. The old stones were cold and slippery, but the narrow corridor was empty—no other footsteps, no additional torchlight. Tap... tap... Only the echo of their own breath bounced softly.
"Lucky," Shirou finally whispered, breaking the silence. "Looks like most of the guards have joined the mountain search."
Ryuu nodded without turning. "Yeah. They're from the Ganesha Familia," she explained softly. "Usually tasked as Orario's security apparatus. If there's a major incident, they're the first to be deployed."
Shirou swallowed. The image of the two guards knocked out on the wall flashed in his mind. "I... feel a bit guilty," he admitted quietly. "They were just doing their jobs."
"You didn't kill them," Ryuu answered succinctly, her tone firm but not harsh. "And if they remembered our faces, we'd be the ones dragged before the Guild." She glanced at Shirou briefly. "This is the safest way."
Shirou nodded, accepting it, though a sense of discomfort still lingered in his chest.
After a few more steps, Ryuu spoke again, her voice even lower. "Oh, right... the woman's voice we heard giving orders in the mountains. That's their captain. Shakti."
That name made Shirou pause for a moment. He turned, catching a subtle change in Ryuu's expression—not tension, but... familiarity. "You're friends with her?" he asked carefully.
"Acquaintances," Ryuu answered briefly. She looked down, her steps slowing by half a beat. "I... was closer to her younger sister." A momentary pause. "Ardee."
That name fell heavily in the air. Ryuu clenched her jaw, then took a deep breath before stepping forward again. Shirou didn't press; he walked beside Ryuu, letting the silence convey what didn't need to be said.
Once they reached the bottom of the stairs and emerged from the hidden corridor, the atmosphere of Orario immediately assaulted them. The streets were filled with noisy chatter—people coming out of houses, inns, and shops with faces full of questions.
"What was that earlier?"
"That light just now was from the west, right?"
"Did a god...?" Whispers mixed with small shouts flitted through the night air, like ripples in water spreading wider. Torches were lit, doors opened halfway, and curiosity overcame sleepiness.
Amidst the crowd, two figures walked calmly.
Shirou and Ryuu walked side by side, each carrying a bag that now felt much heavier than its contents. No one looked at them for more than a second. To the residents, they were just adventurers returning too late—dusty clothes, weary steps, blank faces. No one suspected that the divine light they were still discussing moments ago had come from the hands of the red-haired young man.
Ironic, Shirou thought briefly, suppressing the urge to look back. The perpetrator walks amidst the crowd, yet unseen.
Ryuu leaned her face slightly closer, her voice low enough to be drowned by the surrounding noise. "Let's go to my dorm," she said. "It's safer there. And... we can examine those documents without disturbance."
Shirou glanced at her, then nodded. "Alright," he answered simply. No arguments, no jokes this time. His body still felt heavy, and his mind was far more tired than he wanted to admit.
They turned from the main street, leaving the center of the commotion. The voices of the residents slowly faded, replaced by the sound of their own footsteps. Tall buildings cast long shadows, and the scent of night—cold stone and damp wood.
Without further words, Shirou followed Ryuu towards a direction he knew well: the waitress dormitory belonging to the Hostess of Fertility, a place that for Ryuu was home.
They hadn't even passed the iron fence of the dormitory when a lazy voice sounded from the direction of the porch.
"Ugh... why is it so noisy in the middle of the night..." Chloe complained while dragging her feet, her hair still messy, one eye half-closed. She yawned widely, haaah, clearly just woken up.
Another voice cut sharply through the night air. "Eh—eh! Chloe! Did you hear?! They say a god returned to Tenkai!" Anya appeared with sparkling eyes, her tail wagging impatiently. "The light was super bright, they said you could see it from half the city!"
"Oi, oi... slow down, my ears are still sleeping," grumbled Chloe, rubbing her face. "God again, god again... Orario is never peaceful."
Outside the fence, Ryuu stopped. She let out a soft sigh, her shoulders dropping as if shedding the burden that had accumulated since earlier. She turned to Shirou, her gaze softening. "Shirou," she whispered, "just give your bag to me. You rest. Let me try to understand those documents."
"What?" Shirou reflexively tried to refuse. "I still—"
"Don't," Ryuu cut him off quickly, looking straight at him. There was a pleading tone she rarely showed. "Please... at least let me repay your kindness. Just this once."
Those words made Shirou fall silent. His tongue felt stiff, as if all the reasons he had ready in his head evaporated just like that. He finally relaxed his shoulders, letting out a small sigh. "Alright..." he said softly. "Thank you, Ryuu. But... won't the other waitresses be suspicious of you?"
Ryuu just smiled faintly. She slung Shirou's bag over her front, while her own bag remained on her back. The sight looked a bit ridiculous—two bags hanging front and back—but she stood straight without embarrassment. "It's fine," she said lightly. "They're used to seeing strange things from me. You sleep well."
Shirou couldn't help but smile. A strange warmth filled his chest, a mix of gratitude and exhaustion finally released. "Good night, Ryuu."
"Good night, Shirou," Ryuu replied softly.
Behind them, Anya was still chattering about gods and divine light, while Chloe yawned long again. But for Shirou, those voices slowly faded away. The night finally gave him space to stop for a moment—and rest.