Chapter 23. [Projection Magic] That Can Reverse the Electricity Meter is Truly Universal!
Orario at night is the most pleasant time for ordinary adventurers. It's a time to brag to their heart's content in taverns or squander money in the Pleasure Quarter, releasing the stress accumulated within the Dungeon. But for the current Shirou Emiya, it was the start of a "Mission Impossible."
An "Ally of Justice" always finds himself easily entangled in these sorts of situations.
No...
Ever since he conquered those girls with his "High Jump," he had already developed this kind of constitution.
"Emiya-sama... my heart is beating so fast." Lili clutched her backpack straps tightly, her face pale. "Even though we have the invisibility cloak that skeleton gave us, can we really fool the guards? Those are elite guards of the Loki Familia!"
"Don't worry, just don't make a sound."
Shirou pulled the brim of his hat down, holding Wiene—who was wrapped into a bundle by the black cloak—in his arms. At this moment, under the effect of the "Hades Mantle" given by Fels, Wiene had completely hidden her form and presence. Unless someone touched her directly, it was impossible to perceive that a living creature was there.
"Right now, we are 'Schrödinger's Infiltrators,'" Shirou joked inwardly. As long as they weren't observed, they were invincible.
"Steel is my body (Silence Mode)."
To be safe, Shirou even used a modified version of reinforcement magecraft on himself and Lili, eliminating the sound of footsteps and friction.
Like two ghosts, they passed through the bustling streets and arrived at the end of the Northwest Main Street.
Towers pierced the night sky. Twilight Manor. The headquarters of the Loki Familia and currently one of the most heavily guarded places in Orario.
"The main entrance is out; Finn has barriers set up there." Relying on the terrain maps he had mastered over the past half-month, Shirou led Lili around to the back alley.
"We'll go through the kitchen delivery passage. The chefs should be resting at this hour."
"Understood!" Lili swallowed nervously.
The two lightly vaulted over the wall (Shirou jumped over effortlessly while holding Wiene with one hand, pulling Lili over with the other) and landed on the backyard lawn.
Everything went smoothly. No alarms, no patrols. It was as if even the Goddess of Luck was favoring this hero bringing a dragon girl home.
However, just as Shirou was about to push open the back door of the kitchen...
"Slurp..."
An extremely ill-timed sound of someone slurping drool came from the darkness.
Shirou's movements froze. His [Mind's Eye (True)] instantly bristled, and the alarm bells in his mind cranked up to the highest level.
"Smells so good..."
It was a lazy, raspy voice, yet it carried a hint of playfulness that made one's spine tingle.
"This scent... it's the 'earthy smell' unique to the Dungeon, and... some kind of 'beast smell' I've never smelled before?"
In the darkness, a pair of slit pupils, crimson as blood, slowly opened.
Loki. The primary goddess of the Loki Familia was sitting cross-legged on the steps of the kitchen entrance, holding a jar of soma in her hand, smiling as she looked at the patch of "empty air" in front of her (the invisible Shirou and company).
"Good evening, Emiya. And little Lili."
Loki shook the wine jar.
"Back so late? And... you brought back a 'souvenir'?"
Game over. The "flag" had been collected with startling speed.
Lili was so terrified she hid directly behind Shirou, her whole body trembling. Faced with a deity's eyes—which seemed capable of seeing through one's very soul—any disguise appeared pale and powerless.
Shirou sighed and deactivated the silence magic on himself. Since they had been discovered, the only option left was to face it head-on (or bluff).
"Good evening, Loki," Shirou said, trying to make his voice sound as natural as possible.
"What are you doing here? Are you hungry?"
"Yeah, starving." Loki licked her lips, but her gaze was locked onto the clump of invisible air in Shirou's arms.
"I originally came to the kitchen to steal some snacks, but then I caught a very interesting scent. Emiya, aren't you going to introduce your 'new friend'?"
That look wasn't that of someone looking at an enemy, but of someone watching a magician about to have his trick exposed. A deity's intuition was sometimes more terrifying than any detection skill.
Shirou was silent for two seconds. He was weighing his options. Lie? Or confess? If he lied to Loki, the Goddess of Deceit, he would absolutely be seen through instantly. If he confessed... this was a Xenos, a monster.
"Gu... uuu..."
Right then, Wiene—seemingly sensing the massive divine aura emanating from Loki—let out an extremely faint, fearful whimper.
"Oh?" Loki's eyebrows arched. "She can actually feel fear? That's not like a typical magic beast."
"Phew..."
Shirou took a deep breath. He made his decision.
"Loki, let's make a deal."
"A deal?" Loki grew interested. "Let's hear it."
"I will cook you a 'Premium Late-Night Snack' like nothing you've ever tasted. I can even grant you three requests regarding cuisine."
Shirou held up three fingers, his gaze incredibly serious.
"In exchange... tonight, you saw nothing and smelled nothing."
"Oh?" Loki rubbed her chin, her squinted eyes flashing with sharp light. "That's it? Do you think this Goddess is the type to be bought off with food?"
"Plus a bottle of the Soma Familia's finest divine wine (lifted from Zanis)." Shirou raised the stakes.
"Deal!"
Loki jumped up instantly, her speed like a teleportation.
"Quick, quick, quick! Inside the house! It's windy out here, don't let the little one catch a cold!"
Lili: "..."
'Is this the dignity of a god? That's a bit too cheap!'
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Inside the kitchen, the lights were bright.
The invisibility cloak had been taken off Wiene. Silver hair, dragon wings, a dragon tail, and those golden eyes—filled with fear yet incredibly pure.
"Hoh..."
Loki leaned in close to observe, even reaching out to pinch Wiene's cheek (Wiene almost cried from fear, but Shirou calmed her down).
"Is this the rumored 'Xenos'? The secret those ****s at the Guild have been hiding was actually picked up by you." Loki marveled.
"This structure... she possesses complete sapience. Aside from looking a bit like a dragon, she's essentially no different from a human."
As a deity who had existed for eons, Loki's level of acceptance for "outliers" was shockingly high. In her eyes, as long as something was interesting, there was no such thing as a "taboo."
After all, the name [Loki] itself contained some very special meanings...
"You... don't plan to kill her?" Lili asked cautiously.
"Kill? Why kill?" Loki rolled her eyes.
"Such a cute cub, it would be a waste to kill her. Besides... if I made a move, this kid Emiya would probably defect on the spot, wouldn't he?"
She glanced at Shirou, who was busy at the stove. Though he appeared to be cooking, his entire body was in a state of high tension. If Loki showed even a sliver of killing intent, that red magic sword would absolutely unsheathe in an instant.
"What a protective dummy." Loki muttered, casually picking up a biscuit from the table and handing it to Wiene.
"Here, little one. Although you're a monster, since you've entered my home, as long as you don't cause trouble, I'll pretend I didn't see you."
"Tha... thank you..." Wiene timidly took the biscuit and spoke in a small voice.
"She can actually talk?!" Loki was even more delighted.
"Interesting! Too interesting! If Finn found out about this, his thumb would probably snap from twitching so much."
"Please be sure to keep this a secret from Captain Finn," Shirou said, walking over with a large clay pot. "At least for now."
"Smells amazing!" Loki's attention was instantly captured by the pot.
The lid was lifted. Although a golden light didn't burst out (it didn't happen), the rich aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen.
It was a stew made with herbs from the Great Tree Labyrinth, high-grade magic beast meat, and Shirou's special sauce—[Today's Menu for the Emiya Family.jpg].
"This is a nutritional meal specially made for Wiene, and there's a portion for you as well." Shirou served Loki a large, full bowl.
"Hush money."
"Mmm! Delicious!" Loki couldn't wait to take a bite, her face showing an enraptured expression.
"This meat quality! This broth! Emiya, you're definitely a God of Cooking who was held back by being an adventurer! For this meal, forget a dragon girl—even if you brought back a Minotaur, I'd accept it!"
"Then it's a deal." Shirou breathed a sigh of relief. Although the process was a bit thrilling, the result was good.
With the Goddess's silent permission, Wiene's safety within the Familia was temporarily guaranteed.
"Here, Wiene, you eat too." Shirou served a bowl for Wiene and carefully blew on it to cool it down. "Be careful, it's hot."
"Mhm!" Wiene happily took the bowl and started eating in large gulps, mimicking Loki. "Delicious! The food Shirou makes is delicious!"
Watching the scene of the big one and the little one (one God and one dragon) fighting over meat at the dining table, Lili, standing nearby, couldn't help but cover her face.
"What kind of strange development is this..." "The art style of the Loki Familia has been completely led astray!"
.
.
.
Late at night. Having eaten and drunk her fill, Loki went back to her room to sleep, satisfied (and she swiped that bottle of divine wine before leaving).
Shirou took Wiene to a hidden room in the underground warehouse. This place was originally used for storing discarded equipment, but after Shirou's [Projection] renovations, it had turned into a cozy little bedroom.
"I'll have to trouble you to stay here tonight." Shirou finished making the bed and looked at Wiene. "In a few days, after the heat dies down, we'll think of something else."
"It's okay." Wiene shook her head, hugging the pillow Shirou had given her, her face beaming with a happy smile. "As long as I can be with Shirou, anywhere is fine."
"...Get some sleep." Shirou patted her head and extinguished the magic stone lamp.
Walking out of the room and closing the door, Shirou leaned against the wall in the dark corridor and let out a long breath.
"What? Tired already?" Lili stood nearby with her arms crossed, teasing him.
"Taking care of a kid is way more exhausting than fighting monsters, right?"
"Yeah." Shirou gave a wry smile, but his eyes turned deep. "But I feel like... this is only just the beginning."
Xenos, Evilus, the Knossos... and that mysterious Fels...
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