Chapter 3

Short Notice.

Updated previous chapters for some details here and there.

The word strong doesn't justify the black-haired man called Albert who is currently fighting at the front line. That is what I thought as I watch him killing monsters here and there before Hrunting could even sense them coming at us.

"He's showing off."

I turned to the jade-haired elf called Celdia. She was fuming as if exasperated at how Albert-san acted. Oh, I know that he's trying to show that he is much better than me and I don't deny that. His weapon itself told me that I will have no chance to win unless I manifest my Reality Marble and spam swords against him.

"Oh, let him be. He's just jealous that Aiz-chan here is going with Shirou than him. Better let him vent off right now rather than later."

Yes, I agree with the Amazon woman, Evelda. I don't want to be his target later on when we get out of the dungeon. But still… I turned at the blonde girl who still had her arm linked with mine.

She was admiring his father with a happy expression.

Why don't you go to him? No, actually, please go to him since I can't stand the look your papa gives me anymore.

"Shirou, isn't it?"

I turned to Celdia who suddenly called out my name while we kept walking forward with Albert-san killing every monster in his sight.

"Y-Yes?"

"You don't need to be nervous," she chuckled. "I'm not going to eat you or anything…but perhaps Albert over there would."

"Ahaha…" I can't deny that.

"I've been wondering…why are some of your hair and parts of your skin have different colors? and that...scar on your face..."

Well…I didn't expect she would outrightly ask me that question, I was lucky that only veterans like them could see the scar right now or Aiz would have freaked out. It was thin, but I guess I shouldn't underestimate their eyes.

"It's because I overused my magic when I started using it," I lied about my age but not the reasons why some of my hair and parts of my skin have different colors. "As for this," I pointed at the scar she mentioned. "I'll answer it later."

Celdia hummed at my answer before she began to question me again.

"Tell me more about your magic, Aiz said that you summoned swords?"

"Looots of powerful swords!" Aiz corrected.

I gave her a small chuckle at that.

"Yes, I summoned swords with my magic, including the sword in my hand right now."

It's better not to tell her about my magecraft too detailed.

"Hoh?" the two women's eyes narrowed at Hrunting.

"I can feel that sword is not just a normal sword… What can it do?"

"Um… Its potency increased when I fight monsters." I answered the curious Amazon.

"Does it work on a Dragon?"

"Dragons? It should be." 'Since Beowulf killed a dragon before he succumbed to the dragon's poison.'

The two women's eyes widened… is that hope that I see in their eyes?

"Hey boy, lemme hold that sword of yours for a moment."

I nodded at Evelda before handing Hrunting to her. Then she swung it several times as if trying its balance.

"This is incredible…with this, perhaps we could kill it…"

She muttered all of that but I could hear it clearly. My suspicion was growing as I listened to the two that mentioned Dragon as a singular, not plural. I did suspect that Dragons exist in this world, but the way they mentioned a Dragon and not Dragons was basically saying there was only one Dragon in this world and perhaps really destructive.

"Can you make more than one?" the elf turned at me. Her voice was a bit pitched as if excited from the sword alone.

"Uh…yes?"

"Shirou, Shirou! Do it again!" Aiz called in an exciting way, I gave her a light pat, a habit that I used to do when alone with Miyu.

Albert-san too had returned to our group after finishing up all possible nearby monsters.

"What's wrong?" he asked before turning to Evelda who was holding my sword. "Is there something wrong with it, Evelda?"

"It's a Dragon killing sword."

I could see the surprise in Albert-san's expression very clearly and I didn't like it. Not one bit.

By the way, I better correct them first or they will assume that sword is specialized in killing dragons.

"It's not a dragon-killing sword…it just has greater potency against monsters…"

"Even so, this sword will be a boon to us."

I tilted my head to the side at the Amazon's remark as she grinned at me. What did I get myself into this time?

If they get excited over Hrunting, I wonder if I should bring out Balmung and Ascalon? Even without releasing their Noble Phantasm, their steel alone is enough to wound Dragons if not kill them.

I sighed before calling out to the three excited adults.

"I'm sorry to bother you three, but didn't Albert-san say that there is someone worried for Aiz here?"

The three looked at each other for a few seconds then decided to leave the matter for later.

"Boy, let me use this sword to test it against the monsters here. With me and Al, you don't need to worry about the incoming monsters on our way out."

"Uh…sure…"

Aiz took my hand again before we resumed our walk toward the exit, then Celdia began to walk behind us as if to protect us from incoming monsters from behind.

"I won't pry about your magic anymore since I know the feeling of being asked about something that I don't want to share with anyone."

Glad to hear that.

"I appreciate it." I nodded gratefully at the elf and she did the same to me.

On our way to the exit, I can see Evelda grinning as she cleaves through the monsters she encounters like a mad woman.

"It's like cutting butter with no resistant!" she yelled with a ferocious grin as the monsters she killed started to become too much gore for a kid to watch. Albert-san stood right in front of us as he tried to have Aiz not watch the scene with heads, body parts, and innards flying everywhere in front of us.

One thing that bothers me is that there is no blood at all.

The monsters either get absorbed by the ground or they turned into smoke. Did I mention that they drop a crystal thingy after they got killed? Celdia-san is collecting the crystals along the way if they aren't broken by the Amazon's attacks.

"Celdia-san, what are those crystals?" I asked with curiosity in my voice.

"These magic stones? We use them in our daily lives such as powering stoves, lanterns, and some others…I guess you're still a little child since you don't know how important these things are."

She chided me with a small sigh, but I was happy to welcome it.

I'm really glad kids in this world don't have any knowledge about those crystals at an early age or I will have to give them another reason as to why I don't know mundane things like that.

While I'm deep in my contemplation eyeing those 'magic stones', I notice that Albert-san is trying to have Aiz hold hand with him. That made me think about one thing.

…I wonder if I would act like that if there's a boy approaching Miyu.

Then I tried to imagine grown-up Miyu in her wedding dress getting married to some other man.

…

"S-Shirou? Are you alright? You look like you want to cry…" Aiz asked worriedly. She closed in on me after she shook her Papa away which depressed the doting father again.

"Nothing…I just had a nightmarish thought…"

I shook my head and tried to smile at the worried blonde girl.

Calm down, Emiya Shirou. I'm sure whoever she's married to later, that man will make him happy.

…

"Shirou, you're making that look again…"

I slapped my face twice on the cheeks, which surprised the three around me.

"Yes, I'm fine now, thanks for worrying about me, Aiz."

"Y-You're welcome, Shirou."

I nodded at Aiz before looking at Albert who somehow had a knowing grin on his smug face. He couldn't possibly know what I was thinking, right?

"Shirou, isn't it?"

I nodded. That was the first time he finally talked to me.

"As a father, I'm grateful that you saved my daughter."

I was about to nod again at him but…

"However, I won't let you get close to my cute Aiz!"

I deadpanned at the adult man. I could see from the corner of my eye that Evelda too was shocked at her friend's outright declaration toward a kid, her hand was still moving though, not stopping killing the monsters approaching us. Celdia too dropped the bags of magic stones she had collected to the ground, her expression was kind of funny since she had always been regal ever since we met.

"Papa! You're doing it again!" Aiz yelled with a flushed face.

The three of us, me and the women turn to Aiz, noticing that this isn't the first time her father says those words judging from Aiz's comment.

"You always say that when I play with boys at the park! This time, I'll tell mama!"

"Huh!?"

Albert-san just gawked at his daughter after Aiz deliberately announced that she would tell her mother about this matter. It's surprising to see how someone you usually protect stands for herself right? The same with Miyu for me.

I smiled bitterly before I interrupted the father and daughter.

*cough*

Everyone turned at me except for Evelda who was still busy with the monsters, but I was sure that she could hear us.

"I don't mind if you don't want me to get close to your daughter, but please, in the future, keep your eyes on her. Your carelessness almost let your daughter lose her life."

"Well, the boy said it, Al!"

Evelda snorted followed with a laughter as she finished wiping out the monsters before she continued talking.

"Can't believe the day I see someone other than us berate him, moreover it's a kid slightly older than Aiz-chan herself!"

"It seems that he is not just your happy-go-lucky kid like the others if he could make that statement."

Celdia too chuckled at Albert-san who couldn't believe what he just heard from a kid's mouth.

"Shirou! You weren't serious when you said that you won't get close to me, right!?"

Aiz asked with fear behind her voice.

I shook my head slowly. She was too attached to me even though we just met not too long ago. It wasn't good of course. Might as well get it out now rather than later.

"Aiz, I know you're still a kid, but you're too trusting of someone… I might be a bad person that purposely let the monster chase you and then saved you for my own goal, you know?"

I could feel the adults' eyes were on me, not because of my reasoning but perhaps at how a boy my age could have that kind of thought.

Aiz then shook her head.

"No, no! I know that you're a good person since you paid attention to small details about me! You noticed that I was cold and gave me your coat! You also gave me all your food without leaving any for yourself!"

She's now throwing a tantrum at me without stopping. I have to look up to the adults for help, except the two women are now grinning at me while Albert-san is just dumbfounded at how the situation goes for him.

"Aiz-chan," Evelda began with a cooing tone, and Aiz turned to her. "Do you want to get close to Shirou here?"

The blonde girl nodded hastily before Celdia now opened her lips.

"I'll let you know that you cannot laze around with your study if we allow you to get close to Shirou here."

"I'll put my effort 100% into my study!"

She answered again, this time full of confidence, and Celdia nodded happily with a very rare smile that I saw for the first time.

"Now, Albert, do you want us to tell Aria about this matter, or you will give your blessing for the two?"

"Ugh…"

Seems like Albert-san can't run away anymore from this matter. In the end, he reluctantly nods at us before Aiz wrapped her arms around my neck as her cheek rubbed mine.

The two women were happy to see Aiz like that, but I could feel the death glare from her father on my side.

…

What do I do to get them every time Aiz does this?

The five of us continued to walk with Albert-san at the front this time.

He's still throwing glares at me every time he turns to check on Aiz who has her arm linked with me. We don't talk much since we don't want to attract monsters, but sometimes she whispers something barely audible to me and I just nod correspondingly at her.

Then all of the sudden, Albert-san made a hand sign to stop.

Huh. This is the first time I see a ghost. Is that also a phantasmal species?

"Be careful, don't let it get close to you. We can't hurt or kill it with normal attacks either, only magic can do that."

I looked at Albert-san in disbelief.

"Celdia, would you?"

The elf nodded readily before she started chanting her magic. It was in a language that I couldn't comprehend.

"We call them Wraiths, their ability is to steal the happy memories of people they get close to."

"How do we get them back then if our memories got stolen?"

"We kill them. However, once a Wraith steals its prey's memories, they will try to make an immediate escape."

As Albert-san explained that, he had picked Aiz up and held her in his arms to avoid the incoming Wraiths and I followed suit.

"Evelda! I'll leave it to you to wave them off of Celdia! Buy her some time!"

"Not a problem!"

The Amazon replied with a grin. She had returned Hrunting to me and used her greatsword instead.

I nimbly dodged the incoming Wraith by taking a huge leap backward and repeating them several times to avoid letting them get close to me.

I glanced at Hrunting before I swung it at the sword-length Wraith to see if it works against them.

To my expectation, it killed one of the Wraith easily without any resistance. It made a really annoying sound when it disappeared.

"Damn, should've expected that sword works on Wraiths."

I heard Evelda's muttering as she waved off the Wraiths surrounding them.

It's incredible to see her move like that while protecting someone in the middle of a chant.

"Shirou! Behind you!"

Aiz yelled at me with a fearful tone before I noticed a Wraith had crept up on me. Seeing it up close, it doesn't have any skin or anything, only skulls covered with white transparent silk. It only has its upper part of the human body, not the bottom part.

I swung Hrunting at the closing in Wraith, killing it while nimbly siding to step, and lowered my head as another Wraith flew past me.

These things are tenacious. I grit my teeth as I look at the elf who is still chanting her spell.

Whatever it is, I hope she can finish it faster!

I look at the approaching Wraiths, this time they come with hefty numbers toward me. Of course, I don't let them get close to me, nevertheless, allow them to lay their skeleton fingers on me, but I think I underestimate them since one of those Wraiths just came out from the ground in my blindside.

Before I knew it, the wraith opened its skeleton mouth and I felt something fly out of me.

"I wish upon the stars… that we can be real siblings…"

The memory of that night, when Miyu and I truly became brother and sister was slowly disappearing from my mind, and in another second, it was gone.

While I did remember who Miyu is, I felt hollow. I couldn't remember how we became siblings at all. It was as if some part of your memories was wiped out clean and you couldn't remember any of it but you have the result.

I fell to my knee, but my hand holding Hrunting was still moving to keep those Wraiths away.

"Shirou!"

I can feel someone standing near me with Aiz's voice nearby.

Right now, it doesn't matter to me. No words of consolation can heal me if I don't get my memory back.

I have to kill it.

The last thing that I'll allow this world to do to me is erase my memories of my sister.

"Give it back…"

A black metal bow was projected in my left grip and Hrunting in my right was thrumming as it altered itself into an aerodynamic design.

I scrunched my brows in anger and gritted my teeth really hard that I could hear them making noises.

"S-Shirou?"

I nocked Hrunting to the altered black bow to suit my height. I drew the metal string far back, making a screeching sound, enough to make an adult winced in pain.

My eyes followed the Wraith that stole my memories. It went past through the dungeon wall without stopping.

"Hrunting!"

I loosened my fingers, and the now arrow-sword pierced through the Wraiths in its way, chasing after the Wraith that stole my memories.

It drilled through the pillars, rocks, and walls without any trouble.

"Let light be its judgment, Heiliges Licht!"

Followed by it, I could hear Celdia finish her chant and raise her staff which also served as a pole arm to the air when a bright golden light emitted from it, killing all the Wraiths in the area.

While it did shine brightly, it didn't hurt our eyes since we didn't need to shut them.

After a few seconds, I can feel Hrunting finally hit its target and decided to dismiss it.

"Shirou, are you alright?" Aiz held my hand as I still had my attention toward the wall the Wraith went to.

"Yes, don't worry about it."

My voice was toneless with no feeling behind it. I could hear the adults trying to console me, but there was no need for that because I could see white transparent smog coming at me through the dungeon wall.

"No way…"

I don't know who says that but I don't care, I'm just glad that it finally returns to me.

When it enters my body, I can finally remember how the two of us became real siblings. I sighed in relief at that before I turned around to see the adults gawking at me.

"What?"

"It is impossible for Celdia's magic to reach the Wraith that escaped this room…therefore it must be the arrow that you let loose from before."

I look at Albert-san. This man's sharp.

"That's correct." I raised my hand and projected Hrunting again after dismissing the black bow. "When used as an arrow, it will kill its prey no matter how many obstacles it hid behind and how far it escapes."

I altered the sword to let them see how I did it. Again, the three were gawking at me as if I were something else.

"You're full of surprises boy."

The Amazon grinned at me, knowing that I had recovered my memory.

"Chant-less magic? Even I can't do that."

The elf is now smirking at me as if studying a curious object.

Then I turned at the tugging on my shirt's sleeve and found Aiz looking sad at me.

"Shirou, are you really alright? I saw you make a really scary face just now…"

"Ah, yes. Sorry for that… I was furious about that thing stealing my precious memory."

I scratched my cheek sheepishly. I must have made her scared of me.

"No, it's fine Shirou. I will be really angry too if my happy memories get stolen…"

I nodded at her.

"So, what's the memory about? I had some of mine stolen years ago, but we can still make them again."

I turned toward the Amazon. I knew she was crude, but I didn't mind it at all. I smiled at her.

"It was the memory of my sister. I can't possibly make them again since she had gone to somewhere impossible for us to reach."

"Oh…"

The Amazon turned sullen before Celdia smacked the back of her head with her staff. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Albert-san sighing at Evelda with a pained expression.

While they might have got the wrong idea, it was better for them to think it that way although it was a bit painful for me to not correct it. After all, I didn't want them to have me explaining what I meant by alive but not reachable.

"Sorry about my friend there, she didn't mean anything bad."

I nodded at the black-haired man.

"Then…shall we move on?"

Albert led the way this time with Evelda behind him, us behind the Amazon, and Celdia at the rear.

We didn't encounter any more Wraiths which was good since I hate it when they stole my memory. That didn't mean we didn't meet any monsters though. The Minotaurs and Ants were spawning at an incredible rate as if preventing us to reach the exit, but that was for naught since Albert-san and Evelda disposed of them easily.

After around a few minutes of walking, we finally reached the exit. As we passed through it, I could hear someone running toward us and before Aiz beside me could let go of my hand, she was hugged by a woman with the same hair color as her.

"Aiz!"

"M-Mama?!"

I watched the mother and daughter's reunion with a small smile for several seconds before I looked at our surroundings. We were in the middle of the forest with no nearby human settlements as far as my eyes could see. There were quite many other people surrounding the dungeon's entrance, there were humans, elves, short stature people, perhaps dwarves, people with wolf ears, and many other kinds of races.

"Amazing…" I uttered in a small voice. This was the first time I saw many different kinds of races with my own eyes.

As I was amazed by our surroundings, I could feel Aiz tugging my sleeve before I turned to face the almost similar mother and daughter with their age as their only differences.

"Shirou...your face..." Aiz fearfully said and I noticed what she meant. Albert-san and his companions too can finally see the scar that Sakura made though they were not as surprised as the blonde girl.

"It doesn't hurt anymore, you don't have to worry about it."

Aiz nodded before her mother finally opened her lips.

"And who might this be, dear?" the woman asked her daughter with a soothing voice.

However, instead of Aiz who answered her mother, the Amazon cut in.

"His name is Shirou Emiya, the one who saved Aiz-chan from Hell Minotaur. Also, Al here told Shirou that he won't allow him to get close to Aiz-chan here."

Albert-san's jaw dropped at his friend's sudden betrayal while Aria, the blonde woman's name, looked at her husband in disbelief. But that wasn't all since it was Celdia's turn to add some more.

"Apparently, this is not the first time Albert had threatened boys to not get close to Aiz here since Aiz herself said so."

Well, that sealed Albert-san's fate since her wife was not glaring at him anymore but wearing a smile that did not reach her eyes on her face.

"So that's why I didn't see any boys get closer to our Aiz… do you have something else to add, dear?"

"W-w-wait Aria! I-i-it's j-just…"

"Hm?"

Yeah, no matter where I am, you must never make a woman mad since even the strongest man in the world cowered before her.

I watched the two's interaction for a while before I decided to distract his wife.

Better to get him to owe me even if it's a small matter.

"Ahem." I cleared my throat purposely then all the attention was directed at me.

"I can understand Albert-san's reasoning that he doesn't want any boys to get close to a beautiful girl such Aiz."

I take a glance at Aiz whose cheeks reddened from being called beautiful before turning back at the adults.

"Oh? Mind to explain?" asked Evelda with a grin.

"I raised my sister on my own for years, therefore, I might have the same feeling as Albert-san if I see any boys get close to her."

Hearing my answer, the adults who went to save Aiz didn't question anything and just nodded at me. Aria, however, was intrigued by it.

"Oh my, I can't wait to see your sister if that is so."

I smiled at the blonde woman when Albert-san whisper something to her ears. I didn't need to reinforce my hearing to know what it was since Aria's complexion went pale as soon as she heard it.

"My apology, I didn't think that something so tragic had happened."

I nodded at the blonde woman.

"My name is Aria, just Aria, and I'm the mother of Aiz who you saved, and the wife of Albert Waldstein, I thank you for saving our precious daughter."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. My name is Shirou Emiya and you're welcome."

"Shirou it is then." She nodded. "Come, tell me about yourself and how you came to save my Aiz. I love stories where heroes come to rescue their princesses."

With that said, I got pulled along by Aria-san while the rest of the adults continued to do whatever they needed to do with the dungeon. I could see some of them scrutinizing me, probably confused as to how a kid other than Aiz managed to get inside the dungeon and survived until Albert-san's group came to save us.

After a bit of walking, we finally got into a tent that was quite big and could fit a family inside. There were several more tents other than this and I could see some kind of small arena not far from the tents. There were women from different races busy with their work including children playing around the tents.

'It seems they've been staying here for quite a while…'

"We're a group of mercenaries if you're curious." Aria-san supplied with a smile after ushering me to sit on the chair with Aiz helping her mother.

"Usually, we traveled from one place to another in a short time…but until the next job comes in, we decided to stay here and rebuild the seal that Celdia created for the Dungeon's entrance…that and another reason."

Hm? I noticed a small change in her tone when she said the last part.

Aria-san then flicked her fingers and several ice cubes formed from nothing fell into the cup.

Wait a minute, didn't Aiz say that no humans can use magic? Then how did Aria-san do that?

"Oh, Mama's special like you Shirou, she can use magic too!"

As if noticing my confusion, this time it was Aiz who supplied me with the information that I needed.

"Oh? Shirou can use magic too?" Aria-san came from the small kitchen with a tray of drinks and snacks before putting them on the table.

Aria-san sat in front of me while Aiz sat beside me, confusing the former but giggling nevertheless.

She doesn't show any disapproval like Albert-san, so I guess it's fine.

"It seems our Aiz has taken a liking to you, that's a relief…"

Again, the last part that she uttered makes me really uncomfortable.

First, it was when Evelda was busy with Hrunting and Dragon, singular, not plural. Then Albert-san too was showing a huge interest in the weapon and saying that it was a boon for them and now, Aria-san acted like her daughter would be in the safe hands if something happened to them.

I took a sip from the tea that she served.

"Then Shirou? Would you like to learn magic from me?"

"Huh?"

I widened my eyes in surprise when she offered me something ridiculous right at the start. I almost spat out the tea if I didn't compose myself sooner.

It was a bit baffling since I heard from Kiritsugu that Magus was very secretive about their magecraft. Well, it wasn't wrong since Celdia herself said that she didn't want anyone to know about her magic. As for Aria-san, I didn't know whether because it was rare for her to meet someone able to use magic outside of demi-human races that she acted on impulse or she was just testing me.

"Not so fast, Aria."

Voiced someone from outside of the tent, revealing Albert, Evelda, Celdia, a dwarf, and a wolf man coming inside the tent.

"Dear? What do you mean? And are you done with the dungeon?"

Instead of Albert-san, Celdia answered her.

"Yes, it only needed a quick finishing touch when we realized Aiz was gone."

"As for what Albert here said, he wants to test the kid's prowess before you teach him anything, Aria."

Aria-san stood up from her seat while Aiz tilted her head to the side, not quite understanding what was going on.

"Albert…he's just a kid…"

"Aria, trust me on this matter. I need to know what the kid can do before we let him run around our camp or tell him about the matter or you teach him anything. Besides, he could keep up with Evelda easily and I believe that he hadn't used all of his power yet."

Aria-san turned at me in surprise before looking back at her husband.

The husband and wife had a staring contest before the latter finally nodded.

"Fine, but I'll have you know if you purposely beat him up because you don't want him to get close to Aiz, you're in a world of suffering, mister."

Alfred-san let out a dry laugh at his wife's threat before his eyes focused on me.

"Shirou Emiya, come with me to the arena, I'll test you personally."

I nod at the man. They are planning something and whatever it is, it concerns Aiz heavily.

"Shirou? Are you going to fight papa?" Aiz asked worriedly as she looked at me and then at Albert-san.

"It's just a light spar, besides, if I want to get close to you, then I have to get your father's approval, right?"

"Oh…um…okay then…"

She covered her face with the coat I lent her, a bit flustered with my statement.

"If you say it like that, it feels like you're asking for Aiz's hand for marriage, boy." Evelda grinned at me while the other two women made a small laugh. The dwarf and the werewolf man too found that funny and began to tease Albert-san. The blonde girl in question just tilted her head to the side, not understanding what the adults were talking about and I just gave the Amazon a dry laugh.

Albert-san however wasn't happy with it and gave me a very strained smile. I could see his eye twitching at me before he turned around toward the tent's entrance followed by the dwarf and the man with wolf ears.

It was only the first day since my arrival in this world, and I had to deal with things like this.

I sighed before following them.

AN.

Chapter 3!

Finally, it's out but still with some mistakes here and there which I plan to fix in the future. And as you can see, the next chapter will have Shirou vs Albert.

No, Shirou won't win.

and I think I just broke the power scale for a thousand years later since Shirou is too OP as he is now comparable to a level 7 adventurer, but oh well.

I purposely have Shirou not correct about their assumption that Miyu dies since he doesn't want to explain too much about the past that he is starting to let go of. He feels guilty about that though. But I'll have him explain it later on when things calm down a bit for our MC.

I need feedback for this chapter desperately, please PM me if you think your inputs are important.

Enjoy and review! I read all the reviews you gave me, so don't hesitate!

Oh, don't forget for Honkai Impact 3rd's Dreamy Euphony Online Concert in 4 hours!