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After ensuring his lunchbox was neatly stored in the cloth bag and spending a long while sitting under the shade of a tree in the city park, Shirou stood up from the bench, smoothing out the hem of his tunic.
"Well then, I'll take my leave now, Mrs. Aina," Shirou said with a slight bow. "I still need to return to the Pantheon. There's the matter of picking up a quest… and completing some unfinished paperwork."
Aina stood up as well, slinging the cloth bag over her shoulder. She smiled warmly while gently patting the top of the bag.
"Very well, Shirou. May your affairs go smoothly," she said sincerely. Then, in a lighter tone, she added, "If you need help or have something important you couldn't convey to the guild staff, you can relay it through my child, Eina. We can meet again later."
Shirou nodded earnestly. "Thank you. I'll remember that."
The two exchanged a brief smile, small and simple, yet carrying a slowly growing mutual respect.
Aina then turned around and walked in the opposite direction from Shirou, her steps calm yet light. The midday breeze tousled a few strands of her long green hair. In her hand, the cloth bag swayed gently with the rhythm of her steps.
There's still one lunchbox left… she thought to herself. I hope he hasn't had lunch yet.
Her destination was clear: the magic stone processing factory in the eastern district of the city, where her husband worked as a senior technician. If Eina couldn't join her for lunch, perhaps she could share the meal with the man who… she had once met in this very park, with a similar lunchbox in hand.
Meanwhile, Shirou strode briskly back toward the Pantheon, this time with a clearer purpose and a faint sense of comfort from their earlier conversation.
Shirou stepped back into the Pantheon, now bustling with adventurers.
As he set foot inside the guild building, already dense with the sounds of conversation and the clatter of metal boots, Shirou let out a quiet sigh. The scent of old paper, ink, and the distinct smell of armor mingled in the air, welcoming him back.
His gaze swept across the room and immediately landed on the right, where a figure with short pink hair was waving energetically.
"Hey, Shirou Emiya!" Misha called out with a grin. "I've been waiting for you!"
Shirou quickly made his way toward the reception desk, but just before he reached it, his eyes caught something unusual—a grain of rice clinging sweetly to the corner of Misha's lower lip.
He tilted his head slightly, staring at it with a puzzled expression.
Misha noticed Shirou's focused gaze and flashed him a confident smile. "What's with the staring? Mesmerized by the beauty of this incredible guild employee, are you?"
With a dramatic flourish, she flicked her short pink hair back and gave him a teasing look.
But Shirou simply raised his hand and pointed to the corner of his own lips in a straightforward gesture.
Misha blinked—once, twice—then touched her lips. "Huh?"
As her fingertip brushed against the stray grain, she let out a sigh as if just realizing, then… without hesitation, casually licked it off. "Oh, rice. Geez, this is because Eina's mom's lunch was just too delicious, you know?"
Shirou could only shake his head in amusement.
Misha laughed to herself, then began pulling out blank forms from her desk drawer. "Alright, Shirou. Now, it's time to complete that mysterious data of yours. Before you attract even more curious fans."
She produced a thick form with several unfilled columns and handed it to Shirou along with a pen.
"Let's start with the easy stuff first. Name, age, gender. I know these forms can be confusing for beginners, but please, no joking around, okay?" Misha grinned again, propping her chin on her hand.
Shirou took a deep breath and picked up the pen. "Alright… let's get this done."
After calmly filling out the form at the reception desk, Shirou finally completed his registration. He handed the sheet back to Misha, who eagerly snatched it up.
The pink-haired girl's eyes scanned Shirou's handwriting, her lips curling slightly as she read aloud, though half of it seemed to be for her own amusement.
Name: Shirou Emiya
Familia: Loki Familia
Level: 1
Developmental Abilities: --
Skill: --
Magic: --
Role: Supporter/Archer
Advisor: Lefiya Viridis
Misha glanced at Shirou with playful eyes. "Wow, turns out you can write after all," she remarked lightly. "Not that I thought you looked dumb or anything, but… seriously, believe it or not, some adventurers who register with me… still need my help because they're illiterate."
Shirou's expression stiffened. "I'm self-taught…" He didn't elaborate further about the Holy Grail transferring this world's language knowledge to him.
Misha continued reading, then paused at the level column and raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? So you're still Level 1? That means you're not a transfer from another Familia, right?"
Shirou nodded slowly, holding his breath. "Correct. Loki Familia is my first Familia."
He didn't add the fact that his actual level was four—writing Level 1 was far safer to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.
Misha tapped her chin with her index finger, then smiled encouragingly. "No wonder you don't have any skills or magic recorded yet. But don't worry! As long as you're with Loki Familia, your progress will be quick. They're top-tier, you know—all of them are incredible adventurers."
"Thank you." Shirou dipped his head slightly. His words were sincere, though a pang of guilt pricked at his chest—the data was a half-truth, after all.
Then Misha's eyes returned to the last line.
"This advisor section… technically can be left blank," she explained, pointing to Lefiya's name. "Because officially, only guild staff are recorded as advisors."
"Eh? Should it be removed?" Shirou asked, confused, glancing at the paper.
Misha shook her head, crossing her arms. "No need, I'll tidy it up later. But still… you're pretty lucky." She leaned forward with a grin. "Getting the Thousand Elf as your mentor… wow, that's like hitting the jackpot."
Shirou smiled, this time more warmly. "I know. I'm very grateful…"
Memories flooded his mind—the first moment Lefiya, with her nervous face and slightly trembling voice, explained the basics of the Dungeon and accompanied him on the early floors… even buying him weapons and armor. Though she initially seemed reluctant, as if pressured by Riveria, over time, they truly became friends. Even more than that… someone who was always ready to support each other.
Shirou clenched his fist lightly on his thigh. I'll always remember… those days.
Shirou glanced at Misha's desk after their conversation about Lefiya ended. "So… can I pick up a quest now?"
Misha raised a finger and wagged it slowly side to side. "Ah-ah, not done yet. One last step, Shirou~"
Shirou raised an eyebrow. "What else?"
"Your face." Misha smiled, pointing at her own nose. "We need to sketch it—draw your portrait. We require a sketch of your face for the records. If you go missing in the Dungeon, we need to know who to look for."
Shirou could only nod, exhaling quietly.
Misha then turned around and waved. "Rose! Could you assist Shirou Emiya, please?"
The sound of shoes clicking against the floor echoed. From behind a wooden partition emerged a tall woman with werewolf ears poking out from her fiery red hair. Her dark brown eyes were sharp, as if assessing an enemy. With an expressionless face, she stared at Shirou without preamble.
"Emiya, follow me," she said coldly.
Shirou stood quickly. "Understood," he replied, following without protest.
As he walked behind Rose, Shirou thought, This is the first time I've seen a werewolf other than Bete… Do all of them have such rough attitudes? Or is it just their way?
Rose opened the door to a small, dimly lit room with wooden walls covered in parchments of adventurers' faces. She pointed to a simple wooden chair.
"Sit. Don't move. Focus on the wall behind me," she said curtly, already seated and rolling up her uniform sleeves. In her hand, a pencil and a thick parchment were ready.
Shirou sat still, straight as a statue. In his mind, he mused, Facing monsters in battle is easier than being a motionless model like this…
The sound of scratch… scratch… from the pencil began.
Rose started drawing, her eyes occasionally flicking to Shirou, then back to the paper, then to his face again. Her movements were quick and precise, like a veteran artist… who had no interest in him.
Shirou felt the stark difference. She and Misha are like night and day. But I suppose, in a place as busy as this, everyone has their own role.
And so, he remained still, letting Rose sketch him… as if he were being carved into the official world of Orario's adventurers.
The atmosphere in the drawing room was so quiet that the sound of the pencil scraping against the parchment was crystal clear—scratch… scratch… tap-tap. Shirou sat upright, trying not to move an inch as instructed. But as time dragged on, his mind began to wander.
Unconsciously, his gaze drifted to Rose's face. Her jawline was sharp yet symmetrical, her eyes focused like a predator assessing its prey—yet undeniably, there was a unique beauty there. An aura of stern professionalism that was intimidating… yet admirable.
Interesting. All the guild's receptionists are attractive young women… Misha, Eina, even Rose herself… while most adventurers in Orario are rough, temperamental, and reckless. Shirou began to speculate, Maybe this contrast is necessary. Beautiful, graceful faces to manage those barbaric adventurers.
Suddenly, a cold voice cut through Shirou's musings. "You're a member of Loki Familia, aren't you?"
His focus snapped back instantly. "Yes," he answered simply, without moving a muscle.
Rose paused her drawing for a moment, looking at him over the paper. "How's the Doll Princess? Still as reckless and impulsive as ever?" Her tone sounded indifferent, but there was a faint hint of concern hidden beneath.
Shirou immediately knew who she meant. "She's doing fine," he replied calmly. "Though she's still… impulsive. But we look out for her."
For just a fraction of a second, a smirk appeared on Rose's lips. "Hmph. You're just a Level 1 supporter. Know your place."
The comment stung, but Shirou didn't react. He simply remained silent, bowing his head slightly as if accepting the reprimand. It's fine if they underestimate me, he thought. It's easier to hide my strength. Let them keep looking down on me. As long as I can protect what's important… like I've done countless times for Aiz.
Several minutes passed in silence. Rose finally set down her pencil, blowing lightly on the parchment to ensure no smudges remained.
"Done," she said coolly, handing the sketch to Shirou. "Give this to Misha."
Shirou stood, accepting it with both hands. But before he could open his mouth to thank her, Rose spoke first.
"One more thing. Don't get arrogant just because you joined Loki Familia." Her gaze was piercing like a dagger. "The Dungeon won't care how strong your Familia is. Those who let their guard down… will die."
With that, Rose turned and walked away without looking back, letting the door close softly behind her.
Shirou stared at the now-shut door. He felt no anger. Just a faint bitterness… and understanding.
She's like Bete. Insulting with harsh words… but that's her way of showing concern. This world is harsh. Even care… can come in the form of threats.
Calmly, he clutched the parchment with his sketch and stepped out of the room, heading back to the reception desk where Misha waited.
In the hallway outside the room, Shirou slowed his steps. Curiosity compelled him to unroll the parchment in his hands before returning to Misha's desk.
"Let's see how Rose sees me…" he murmured softly.
When he unfurled the paper, he was stunned. There, sketched with firm yet smooth lines, was his face—his gaze, the curve of his jaw, even the arrangement of his hair were meticulously detailed. But what made him frown slightly… was the fact that the drawing made him look far more handsome than he thought he was.
"I'm not this good-looking… right?" he thought, touching his own cheek.
Yet Shirou couldn't deny—Rose's drawing skills were extraordinary. Every stroke was measured, proportional. He could see how the face on the paper looked calm… yet resolute. As if it wasn't him… but a hero from a folktale.
Carefully, he rolled the parchment back up and walked to the reception desk, where Misha had returned from her break and was now munching on a small snack behind the counter.
"Excuse me," Shirou said, handing over the parchment.
"Ohh!" Misha quickly took it and unrolled it. Her eyes widened. "Whoa, this isn't a sketch—this is high-class portrait art! Senior Rose is on another level," she said, half-impressed, half-complaining.
She slipped the parchment into a large drawer under the desk. "Finally, your data is complete, Shirou Emiya," she said while marking something on the document in front of her with a quill.
"But… huff, now I have to copy this perfect sketch onto a mini-sized form for internal records." Misha pouted. "My hand's gonna get tired."
Shirou could only apologize. "Sorry for the trouble."
"Nah, it's fine. At least you're not as annoying as those other guys who act all tough but can't even write their own names," she retorted, pointing at the form Shirou had filled out earlier.
Shirou simply nodded. But in his mind, a small memory surfaced. In his old world—Japan—identification was done with photos for an ID card: My Number Card. He still remembered how the automatic camera asked him to stay still and look straight ahead. A different world, similar procedures. But this time… I'm drawn, not photographed.
He sighed. I've come this far… Yet that world feels like a distant dream now. He tucked the thought away deep in his heart, along with all the memories of the home he had long left behind.
"Well then," he finally said, "can I pick up a quest now?"
Misha nodded quickly at Shirou's question. "Of course. But do you have any specific requirements for the quest?" she asked, leaning lightly against the desk.
Shirou touched his chin, thinking for a moment before answering, "The plan is… tomorrow, I'll be heading down to the Dungeon up to the 27th floor."
Misha's eyes bulged. "The 27th floor?! Are you serious? Aren't you just a newly registered Level 1 adventurer?" She leaned forward, staring at Shirou from under her brows with disbelief. "Oh wait, you're not alone." Misha suddenly remembered.
Shirou raised both hands briefly, as if to reassure her. "Relax. I'm going down with Aiz and Lefiya. I'm just their supporter."
"Ahhh, the Sword Princess and the Thousand Elf, huh?" Misha whistled softly while waving her hand. "With them as your partners, even the Floor Boss would greet you with a smile."
She chuckled to herself. "Aiz could slash through half the monsters up to the 27th floor with her eyes closed, and Lefiya the elf… her magic could burn an entire early floor to the ground."
Shirou simply nodded calmly. "So, is there a quest that suits us?"
Misha grinned broadly, spinning around and stepping out from behind the reception desk toward a large board filled with neatly posted quest requests. "Mind if I pick for you? A recommendation from Misha-sensei?"
"Go ahead," Shirou replied casually, trusting her fully.
With practiced ease, Misha scanned several sheets, quickly shifting through some papers before plucking two from the board.
She returned, waving the two sheets at Shirou. "Okay, here are two quests I picked. First—collecting blood from an enraged Minotaur."
Shirou raised an eyebrow. "Enraged?"
"Yup," Misha explained, placing one sheet on the desk. "Blood from an aggressive Minotaur has higher potency. They usually appear between the 13th and 17th floors, perfect for clearing before resting at Rivira."
Shirou nodded, following Misha's explanation seriously.
"And this one," she continued, placing the second sheet, "is for gathering rare coral from an underground lake on the 25th floor and above, before reaching the 27th. It's usually found at the bottom of large pools in the Water City."
"An underwater quest?" Shirou murmured, weighing the difficulty.
"Exactly. But it's not combat-heavy. More of an exploration quest, perfect after you and those two elites finish your action-packed rounds."
Misha looked at Shirou seriously for a moment. "But be careful. Monsters sometimes guard that coral—giant fish-like creatures with steel scales. They can appear suddenly."
Shirou felt grateful. "I understand. Thanks for picking these out."
Misha leaned back casually, folding her arms on the desk. "In that case, should I prepare these two quests for you now?"
"Yes, please," Shirou said softly, looking at the sheets. "I'll make sure we complete them properly."
"If you're going down with those two," Misha remarked while filling out the request forms, "I almost feel sorry for the monsters."
Shirou didn't respond. But in his mind, he knew… the monsters weren't the only things to be wary of.