The Epic Story of the Heroic Spirit of Emiya Giant Warrior

"Runova!" she cried out in terror.

This was the slashing magic possessed by Itsujo Kaguya, and also the technique passed down through generations of the [Itsujo] family—Iai Tachi.

If it were only the magic [Five Lights], it could only unleash a single sword flash, but when used together with the eponymous quick-draw technique, it would generate five godspeed magic slashes from different positions, unleashing an ultimate attack magic like a heavenly net.

Before her death, Kaguya had taught the art of Iai Tachi to Ryu, and Ryu had lived up to her reputation as a "battle genius," having already honed this technique to the [Five Lights] level.

Not a moment was spared for mourning Runova; arriving on the battlefield was—[Black Cat] Chloe Lolo!

"Surrender, meow! Cat won't fight, meow!"

Anya, covered in dirt, climbed up: "Ryu, you idiot, you don't know how to restrain your strength, meow."

Chloe also meowed unhappily.

"Ugh, sorry..."

No longer in a battle state, Ryu immediately realized she had incurred everyone's wrath and quickly used healing magic on Anya and the others.

The damage Anya and the others had sustained rapidly recovered, but looking at Ryu using [Astraea Record] again, the girls' eyes grew even angrier.

Chloe: "Ah, seeing Ryu level up like this, Cat wants to go to the dungeon to train too..."

Originally, everyone was Lv.4, but now Ryu suddenly leveled up to Lv.5, and immediately became the target of everyone's envy.

Ryu retorted.

"Shir, who holds the record for 'most plates broken in a day' in the tavern?"

"What about the second and third records?"

Ryu was instantly sunk by Shir's words, and she squatted on the ground: "Ugh..."

Too much time had passed since Ryu's last ability update, the span of her abilities was too great, and coupled with the direct level-up, the difficulty for Ryu to adapt to her new abilities was far greater than usual.

Otherwise, it would be fine if she couldn't unleash the full power, but like Alise's additional magic [Scarlet Flower], Ryu now even easily hurt herself when using it.

Anya and the others were brought by Ryu as sparring partners; all three girls were among the best Lv.4 Second Tier adventurers. Normally, their combined strength would be able to contend with a First Tier adventurer who had just leveled up to Lv.5.

Ryu muttered to herself: "In the end, it didn't have the effect of training and coordination at all."

Runova: "Worthless elf, you really sound annoying when you talk now, you know? If I couldn't beat you, I would definitely..."

If Runova wanted to level up, the difficulty mainly lay in obtaining [Great Deeds].

"Ryu, if you want to adapt to your new abilities by fighting the strong, there is a good option right now."

Shir said: "You can try challenging the strong of the Loki Familia."

Ryu's eyes lit up: "Alise..."

Now that I'm also Lv.5, it's time to settle the old scores with you!

"What's going on here? Are there usually this many people?"

An adventurer in the tavern's first-floor hall asked, puzzled.

Another adventurer pointed to the ceiling.

"Oh, oh, I see. The Loki Familia has another First Tier adventurer. As expected of them..."

"Shh, you still have to be careful when saying such things..."

The red-haired goddess walked down from the second floor. She stood in the center of the stairs, one foot on the railing.

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Loki Familia, long live!!!"

"Ais, why are you wearing a mask?"

Riveria walked up to the girl and asked, puzzled.

"N-nothing. I just feel this mask is very cool..."

Ais adjusted the fox mask on her head, making a guilty sound.

However, Little Ais didn't know that as the only person in the entire venue wearing a mask on her head, she was actually even more conspicuous. Moreover, her concealment was completely meaningless. If Emiya were here, he would have discovered her even faster.

Ryu respectfully bowed to the Elven Princess: "For this, Shirou made these snacks to give to you, hoping to express his feelings."

Emiya had been very busy these past few days, forging at the Hephaestus Familia workshop during the day and spending the nights in Pleasure Quarter. It was rare for Ryu to see him.

"It's okay. Compared to the banquet, important matters take priority, of course."

Riveria said understandingly, picking up a honey fruit cake and elegantly putting it into her mouth.

"Lefiya, go and get some for everyone to try."

Ryu watched the cute elf girl respond in a bit of a panic, taking the plate from her hands and running towards [Sword Princess].

Today's banquet protagonist, Miss Alise, was a little disappointed: "I haven't seen Shirou in many days..."

At least, I can see Shirou every day, and only a few people, including me, know about Haruhime's matter. There's absolutely no way Alise would know.

Whether a level has been raised or not cannot be seen from the outside. Alise sensed the overflowing magic power from Ryu's body.

Originally, after Alise leveled up, relying on the level difference of Lv.5 to Lv.4, her magic power intensity was greater than Ryu's, but now, Alise could feel that she had been completely surpassed by Ryu, even to the point where the difference was not small.

In addition to Alise, Riveria, who possessed [Elven King Crest], should also be able to sense the change in Ryu's magic power and use it to determine that Ryu had leveled up, but Riveria would not take the initiative to ask. If Ryu didn't say it, she would assume that this matter didn't exist.

Alise glared at Ryu: "I'm just an ordinary person, not a monster like you who levels up faster than flying, and I don't have your heaven-defying combat power!"

As for Alise, she wasn't a genius, at least not a genius like [Sword Princess] and [Gale].

Alise: "With your talent, I'm afraid you'll have the combat power of a veteran Lv.5 as soon as you level up. Sorry, I'm not interested in masochism, at least not if the opponent is you..."

"In short, if you want to fight, don't look for me."

"Whether it's [Fierce Wolf] or the Amazon sisters, these people are all warmongers and would definitely be willing to fight the famous [Gale]."

However, Ryu's movements were too fast. Before Lunoire could even make a sound, she had already activated the magic 【Five Lights】.

This technique had three stages: Sword Drawing Technique 【Flash】, Consecutive Attack Technique 【Double Leaf】, and 【Five Lights】, which integrated the technique with the eponymous magic.

【Five Lights】 was a secret technique that the Five Families had been continuously perfecting for a thousand years since the founding era. Due to the Five Families' special bloodline inheritance method, many members of the family possessed this magic.

Five slashes struck Lunoire from different directions. Although the power was restrained, it still left bruises on the body of the resilient Level 4, Second-Tier adventurer. Lunoire collapsed, losing her ability to fight.

Chloe decisively dropped her daggers, hastily abandoning the fight.

“That's right, Ryu is now Level 5, meow. How could we possibly be your opponents, meow!”

Lunoire: “I need healing……”

Magic 【Finale Windermia】

Inherited from her Familia companion, Mariel, this is a recovery magic.

It's a full recovery magic that takes effect quickly.

Lunoire: “I think I've said it more than once, but I still want to say, isn't Ryu's new magic a little too cheaty!!!”

Anya: “Yes, meow, it's just like Shirou-kun's projection, meow. How wonderful, meow wants magic like that too, meow.”

“You idiot fairy, don't make such a smug face, meow!”

“I'm not smug, and I'm not an idiot fairy!”

Lunoire looked at the girl beside her, watching their battle.

Syr smiled: “It's Ryu.”

Syr: “It's also Ryu.”

Even after leveling up to Level 5, Ryu still hadn't shed the name of “good-for-nothing fairy,” and even caused more trouble due to her body's maladjustment and incoordination.

Moreover, she had also obtained the 【Astraea Records】, a very complex magic.

The 【Astraea Records】 allowed Ryu to use the magic of her past companions, but she also needed to familiarize herself with those spells in order to use them properly.

In short, Ryu still couldn't exert her full strength, and for that reason, she was undergoing special training through combat.

However, Ryu wasn't a normal adventurer. She was the strongest waitress in the bar when she was Level 4, and she had accumulated an exaggerated amount of potential ability before leveling up to Level 5. Coupled with a body full of magic and skills, her combat power completely exceeded the limits that Anya and the others could handle.

Because of Ryu's stimulation, Lunoire had already begun to consider leveling up. Her basic ability values were completely sufficient, with her highest Strength reaching a level of B780, not far from A-rank.

Syr suddenly spoke.

Ryu immediately asked: “What?”

“Tomorrow night, the Loki Familia is holding a banquet at the 【Hostess of Fertility】 to celebrate Alicia of 【Garden of Purity】 leveling up to Level 5.”

92

Chapter 92: Shifting the Blame.

Today, the 【Hostess of Fertility】 was more lively than usual, and the second-floor banquet hall, which was rarely open, was also put into use.

“Didn't you know? The Loki Familia is holding a banquet upstairs to celebrate 【Garden of Purity】's level up.”

“I feel like if they maintain this momentum, it's only a matter of time before the Loki Familia surpasses the Freya Familia.”

“Today's mead is on me, everyone celebrate to your heart's content!”

Goddess Loki shouted, and the adventurers on the first floor immediately became excited.

The atmosphere of the banquet spread throughout the tavern, and the adventurers ordered more food and drinks, contributing more revenue to the 【Hostess of Fertility】 tavern. Mama Mia couldn't help but grin.

Ais was actually worried about being recognized by Emiya, which would lead to her false identity being exposed in front of Riveria, and she would be in deep trouble.

Fortunately, Emiya wasn't here at all right now.

“I'm very sorry, Princess Riveria, Shirou is unable to attend the banquet due to urgent business. I apologize on his behalf.”

However, Ryu, with a serious expression, couldn't help but complain in her heart: “Shirou's 'urgent business' is actually going to Pleasure Quarter to take care of a fox girl……”

Because of this, Ryu was very dissatisfied, but when she thought of it as a plan of the Goddess Astraea, she could only choose to endure and forgive.

“Yes, very delicious.”

Riveria said: “It was specially made to suit our Elven tastes.”

“Yes, yes, Princess Riveria.”

“Only here in the Loki Familia can I see so many of my own kind.”

Ryu couldn't help but think.

“Shirou-kun… isn't here?”

“Unfortunately, Shirou cannot attend the banquet today.”

Ryu said, the corners of her mouth slightly raised—but the angle was too small, and she still looked expressionless.

Thinking of this, Ryu's mood improved a lot.

“Speaking of which, Ryu—”

Alicia looked at the elf girl, lowering her voice: “Have you… leveled up?”

This showed that Ryu's level up this time was more significant than usual, to the point that she had difficulty adapting to her body after the vessel's upgrade.

“Yes.”

Ryu nodded: “For now, keep it a secret for me.”

“……Although I don't know what you're planning to do.”

Alicia said: “Okay, I'll keep it a secret for you.”

“Want to have a match with me?”

Ryu was eager to try.

Alicia immediately replied: “I refuse.”

Ryu was puzzled: “Why?”

“Do you know how many years I grinded at Level 4 before leveling up?”

There were also differences between the same levels. Ais, who had just leveled up, could solo a Level 6 monster, 【Direwolf】. The young geniuses like 【Wrath Serpent】 and 【Great Divide】 also possessed unique skills.

Alicia knew that she was able to level up, firstly because of time. Her seniority was much longer than Ais and Ryu, and she slowly accumulated enough ability values over the years; secondly, because of luck, accidentally eating the “First Kill Black Goliath” such a great achievement.

Ryu: “……I feel like what you're saying sounds a bit off.”

Alicia said: “Even if you defeat me, there won't be any sense of accomplishment or gain… Instead, you can try challenging those geniuses in our Familia.”