Chapter 7. The Goddess's Gift and "A Body Formed of Swords"
"I heard that Hephaestus actually gave you a 'Divine Smith Card'?!"
In the main hall of Twilight Manor, Loki's exaggerated shriek almost blew the roof off.
"Emiya! You are way too lucky! That's a high-level VIP card that even I might not be able to get! Does this mean we can get weapons from Hephaestus's place at a 'bone-breaking' discount?"
"It's a 50% discount, Loki," Shirou Emiya corrected helplessly as he brought breakfast to the table. Today's meal consisted of thick Tamagoyaki (omelet) sandwiches paired with freshly squeezed juice; the aroma instantly soothed the restless main goddess.
"However, I don't plan on buying weapons for the time being." Shirou touched the deep-red shortsword at his waist—[Otherworld · Kanshou].
"With this, combined with Projection Magecraft, it's enough for my current battles."
"Hmph, this sword..."
Finn sat nearby, coffee in hand, his sharp gaze scanning the shortsword.
"Though it hasn't been enchanted, the density of the material is frighteningly high. Emiya, even though you're still Level 1, with this sword and your technique, you should be able to handle large monsters on the 12th floor, right?"
"Not yet."
Shirou shook his head, his expression solemn.
"While my 'Projection' is convenient, it consumes a great deal of stamina and magical energy. And... as a Level 1, my physical durability is a fatal flaw. If I encounter a monster with extreme speed or overwhelming power, technique alone cannot bridge the gap of the 'vessel'."
This was the truth. Though he had integrated the experience of a Heroic Spirit, his current physical body was, after all, that of a human who had only recently received Grace.
His reactions could keep up, but his body couldn't—this was his biggest current shortcoming.
"You have quite the self-awareness," Riveria nodded approvingly. "But there's no need to be too impatient. After accumulating Great Deeds and leveling up, your physical stats will experience a qualitative leap. Come, Ais, don't just focus on eating; pour Emiya a glass of milk."
Ais, who was nibbling on a sandwich like a hamster, paused her movements and obediently picked up the milk pitcher.
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After breakfast, Shirou Emiya set out once more for the Dungeon.
Despite his breakthrough in forging, he hadn't forgotten that his primary profession was an adventurer. To establish himself in this world and carry out justice, he needed the level and power to match.
As he stepped out of the shadow of Babel and crossed the bustling Central Plaza—
"Oh my!"
A delicate cry rang out.
A grey-haired girl wearing a tavern uniform and a white apron—seemingly not looking where she was going—ran straight into Shirou while clutching a pile of items.
Clatter. The things in her arms scattered all over the ground.
"Sorry, are you okay?"
Shirou was quick, catching the girl's arm to prevent her from falling.
"I-I'm fine... it was my own fault for not looking..."
The girl looked up, revealing a face that, while perhaps not peerlessly beautiful, possessed a mysterious attraction. Within those grey eyes, a faint, imperceptible shimmer flashed the moment she saw Shirou.
Syr Flova. The poster girl of the tavern "The Hostess of Fertility." And, of course, the mortal avatar of the Beauty Goddess who commanded Orario's strongest Familia—Freya.
"It's you?" Shirou recognized her. "Syr-san, from the tavern the other night?"
"Ah! It's Emiya-san!"
Syr showed an expression of pleasant surprise, which then turned into distress.
"I'm so embarrassed that you had to see my clumsy side."
"It's alright, I'll help you pick them up."
Shirou knelt down and began helping Syr gather the miscellaneous items scattered on the ground. There were vegetables, fruits, and a very heavy-looking book wrapped in cloth.
The moment Shirou's hand touched that book, the Magic Circuits in his body twitched violently.
"This is..."
Shirou frowned slightly. Even through the cloth, he could feel a massive, disordered magical fluctuation contained within the book, like a heart constantly contracting and expanding.
"Ah, that thing."
Syr blinked, her tone becoming somewhat casual.
"A strange customer used it as collateral for his bar tab. Mama Mia said it looks like some kind of antique and told me to either sell it as scrap paper or throw it away."
"Throw it away?" Shirou was stunned. "This looks... like a Grimoire."
In Orario, Grimoires were treasures of immense value. Simply reading one could force the awakening of a magic spell within the world's "Falna" system. Even the most common Grimoire could fetch an astronomical price of hundreds of millions of Valis on the black market.
"A Grimoire? One of those books that just gives people headaches?" Syr tilted her head, wearing an innocent (and mischievous) expression.
"I don't know the first thing about magic. Since you recognize it, Emiya-san, I'll just give it to you!"
"Give it to me?!" Shirou was startled. "No, this is too precious! This thing is worth at least several hundred million Valis..."
"Oh, in our shop, it's just 'scrap paper' worth a few mugs of ale." Syr forcibly stuffed the book into Shirou's arms, putting her hands behind her back and smiling at him.
"Besides, Emiya-san helped us chase away those troublemaking adventurers last time; consider this a thank-you gift! If you don't accept it, Mama Mia will scold me!"
"But..."
"It's settled then! I have to get back to work, bye-bye~!"
Before Shirou could refuse, the girl turned and ran into the crowd like a graceful butterfly, leaving only a faint floral scent in the air.
Looking at the heavy book in his arms, Shirou stood there, feeling a bit dazed.
'Giving away something worth hundreds of millions of Valis as 'scrap paper'? Is there something wrong with the cost of living in Orario?'
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At the corner of a back alley.
Syr leaned against the wall. Her innocent smile vanished instantly, replaced by a divine, lofty sense of amusement.
"Did he accept it..."
Her fingertip lightly brushed her lip, and deep within her grey eyes, a silver flame seemed to burn. That was the gaze of Freya.
"That child's 'vessel' (body) is still too fragile to carry that overly dazzling soul.
So, let me give you a hand... to make your body... as hard as steel."
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Twilight Manor, Shirou Emiya's Room.
Shirou sat on his bed, looking solemnly at the unwrapped Grimoire before him. The cover was made of some unknown monster hide, covered in twisted script.
"Since it's Syr-san's kindness... and I truly do need to get stronger."
He had realized in his conversation with Finn this morning that his physical stats were his biggest bottleneck as a Level 1. No matter how strong a sword he projected, if the arm swinging it broke first, it would mean nothing.
Shirou took a deep breath and opened the pages.
Whir—!
The moment it was opened, the words on the pages seemed to come alive, turning into streaks of light that surged into Shirou's eyes and rushed straight to his brain.
'Pain! Intense pain!'
But it wasn't the tearing of the soul; it was a piercing agony as if every bone in his body was being shattered and reconstructed. The Grimoire was guiding the "Falna" within him to excavate the "possibilities" sleeping deep in his soul.
Ordinary adventurers might awaken fire or lightning. But Shirou Emiya was different. His origin was "Sword."
In countless parallel worlds, that red-clad Guardian had chanted those lines countless times. It was his definition of self and the source of his power.
"Steel is my body..." "and Fire is my blood..."
As these incantations echoed in his mind, the massive magical energy began to violently wash through his entire being. It wasn't meant for attacking enemies. It was meant to "arm" himself.
Since the body was a vessel, then he would forge this vessel to be as indestructible as a Noble Phantasm!
"Ugh... AHHHH—!"
Shirou snapped his eyes open and let out a low growl.
"Trace—On!"
The emerald-green Magic Circuits didn't condense into a sword in his hand as usual; instead, they instantly crawled across his entire body! From his neck to his arms, and down to his legs. Dense Magic Circuits lit up like glowing blood vessels.
[Reinforcement Magecraft · Overload].
No, in this world, it had a new name.
Creeeak...
Shirou clenched his fist, and the sound of metal compressing actually echoed in the air. A faint metallic luster appeared on the surface of his skin, and under the stimulation of high-concentration mana, his muscle fibers exploded with power far exceeding the limits of Level 1.
"Is this... the new magic?"
Shirou stood up and lightly tapped his foot on the floor. Snap! A crack instantly appeared on the hard stone flooring. He could feel that his current physical durability, strength, and agility had all doubled under the blessing of this magic.
His once-heavy body felt light; his once-fragile skin felt toughened.
"It's like... turning myself into a sword."
Shirou looked at himself in the mirror, his body wrapped in magical radiance, and a confident smile curled on his lips. Though still Level 1, in this magic-active state, his parameters could likely tank hits from a Level 2 or even a Level 3.
"Now, I can finally go to the deeper levels."
Shirou dissipated the magic. The radiance faded, and a strong sense of exhaustion hit him. It seemed this magic consumed a vast amount of stamina and mental energy; it couldn't be maintained for long.
[Status Update] Shirou Emiya Lv. 1
New Magic Slot:
『Structural Reinforcement』 o Type: Enchantment Magic.
o Chant: "Steel is my body."
o Effect: Significantly reinforces the user's "Endurance," "Strength," and "Agility." Transforms the concept of the physical body into "Steel," granting high resistance to both physical and magical attacks.
o Side Effect: Continuously consumes a large amount of mental energy; accompanied by muscle fatigue after deactivation.
"Structural Reinforcement... a simple, unadorned name that fits me perfectly."
Shirou tucked the parchment away with satisfaction. Just then, a rapid knocking came from the door.
"Emiya! Are you in there? What was that magical fluctuation just now? It felt like someone was trying to tear the house down!"
It was Finn's voice. Clearly, the commotion of the floor cracking had alerted the Captain.
Shirou glanced at the crack beneath his feet, scratched his head awkwardly, and opened the door with that honest smile.
"Sorry, Captain Finn. I just... happened to learn a magic spell to make myself a bit more 'sturdy,' that's all."
Looking at Shirou's relaxed expression, Finn's thumb twitched slightly.
'That kind of pressure just now... could that really have come from a Level 1?'
This newcomer's growth speed was nothing short of terrifying.