The Epic Story of the Heroic Spirit of Emiya Giant Warrior

“For Miss Anya to still believe in fairy tales at her age is...”

“...Anya, you're not skipping work again, are you?”

Despite the fact that her age and experience working at the tavern were greater than his, she always made it difficult for people to respect her. Without realizing it, he would directly call her by name. In a sense, this was also a kind of talent.

“You idiot cat, where the hell have you been?!!!”

The earth-shattering roar made Anya's face pale. “Oh no, I've been discovered, meow! Anya's gonna run, meow! I wasn't here, meow!”

“Miss Ryu...” Shirou tried to call out to her, but just then, Ryu reached out and cupped Shirou's face with both hands.

Chapter 3: The Useless Elf

I succeeded. I accomplished it.

I achieved my revenge, eliminating the [Dark Faction] that took the lives of my comrades, as well as the accomplices who colluded with them.

I tried to save the other imprisoned children, but the Dark Faction had planted exploding Flame Stones in the dungeon beforehand. Caught off guard, I not only failed to rescue anyone else, but also suffered even more severe injuries as a result.

This child should live on.

After completing her revenge, Ryu did not gain any sense of accomplishment or satisfaction. Only boundless loneliness remained in her heart.

The originally bright red vision had now turned gray. The smiles of her former comrades, or their tragic deaths, were difficult to recall.

She was already enveloped in endless darkness. What once illuminated the darkness was the raging fire of anger in her heart, but now, with the end of hatred, the fire had burned out, ultimately leading to complete nothingness.

This should be the last bit of justice remaining in the heart of myself, who has already been completely twisted by anger and hatred, pursuing self-satisfaction.

“Aishe, have you come to pick me up?”

Opening her eyes again, Ryu was certain that she had arrived in heaven. The red hair that came into view was as warm as the sun. Ryu hugged the long-lost figure in front of her, afraid that the other person would disappear like a bubble again.

Anya reappeared at the entrance, but this time she was being carried by Mia, the owner.

Mia, the owner, was concerned about another issue: “[Gale Wind]'s age should be over 18, right...”

After realizing that she had made a big blunder, Ryu's mind had entered a state of shutdown. Anya's gaze was like a giant hammer hitting her chest, causing her to make a "poof"-like sound of vomiting blood.

Mia, the owner, seemed to have seen through Ryu Lion's identity from the beginning, but other than her name, she didn't give Shirou any more information. In the past two days, he could only try to get information from Anya indirectly to understand some things about this world. As for Miss Ryu, he only knew her name and the fact that she was very strong.

However, Ryu seemed to have closed herself off. She was just lying in bed, not saying a word.

“Why did you save me?” She looked at Syr, asking in a hollow tone.

This was an extremely legitimate reason. Anyone present, in that position, would undoubtedly have done the same.

However, Ryu asked this question not to inquire about Syr's logic, but because she felt that she had no meaning in living or being saved.

The relief of the boy ultimately surviving, the embarrassment of mistaking the other person for someone else, and the entanglement of whether she saved a child out of self-satisfaction... all of this made Ryu unable to speak.

Strange meowing sounds and the sound of a dwarf's fist hitting a cat's head rang out around her. Treat it as noise.

If someone were to meet Ryu for the first time and want to shake her hand, Ryu would reflexively slap the other person's hand away. This was not out of personal will, but a kind of racial "cleanliness" of the Elf race.

The boy in front of her was the second one, and she was the one who took the initiative to approach him. Was it because he looked like Aishe, or...

Because of Mia, the owner's words, a sense of stagnation instantly spread through the air.

“What do you want to do, hand me over to the Guild?”

In order to avenge her comrades, Ryu privately attacked numerous factions and related personnel, and even killed many of the Dark Faction's internal agents in the Guild. All of these were extrajudicial killings without trial, so she was wanted by the Guild.

According to the price of thirty faris for one croquette, one Ryu is equal to two million six hundred thousand croquettes, which one could never finish eating in a lifetime.

“U-Useless Elf?”

Mia's answer left Ryu speechless.

“Miss Ryu, if you don't mind, how about staying here for a while? It's very safe here, it's not too late to leave after the heat dies down, Shirou will also be working at the tavern,” Syr said.

Keeping herself here was completely like inviting a wolf into the house. If she were to commit violence here, who could protect them, that rude dwarf aunt?

“Mama Mia is very powerful, you know. I believe she can protect Miss Ryu. Also, I want to get to know you better, Shirou thinks so too, right?”

“Miss Ryu, I also hope you can stay, at least to heal your injuries...” Shirou said to Ryu earnestly.

“I, I already!”

Unknowingly, the statement turned into a shout or wail.

“I... I already have nothing left, neither comrades nor a place to return to... I, who have committed foolish acts, should have died long ago. I have no reason to live!”

“Your words sound nice, but your body is very honest, meow.”

In the cat-person girl's straightforward explanation, the proud elf's face quickly turned red.

“Guh...”

What a shame. Ryu felt that she was going to die from cardiac arrest due to excessive shame. No, even if she wanted to die long ago, she didn't want such a ridiculous death... At least, at least it should be in a battle with ten villains...

Just then, Syr had an idea. She winked at Mia.

“Really, to not save a starving ghost, that would ruin my reputation. Come on, I'll make you something to eat.”

“You stubborn, idiot elf, don't insult my wisdom with these meaningless things. Just listen to me obediently!”

Unable to resist in terms of strength, unable to dodge in terms of reaction, unable to avoid in terms of speed... Facing the dwarf's one-handed suppression, Ryu's back was already drenched in cold sweat.

“Mama Mia, please leave the task of cooking for Miss Ryu to me.”

“Shirou-kun, for girls, 'this age' is a taboo word, meow. It doesn't matter to Anya because Anya is a genuine young beauty, but some old women care a lot, okay~”

“Of course, what you get from working is labor fees; slacking off is the real way to make money, meow.”

“Anya occasionally says things full of philosophy, huh.”

“Hehe, I told you, Anya is amazing...”

Shirou turned his head and found that the cat-person girl had disappeared, such speed...

The boy smiled and turned to look at Ryu, suddenly noticing that the elf girl had opened her eyes.

She abruptly pulled the boy over, until their noses were almost touching.

Amber and jade eyes met, reflecting each other's figures. They stared at the selves in each other's eyes, seemingly able to see past illusions within them.

And, also rescued a child from that place, a child with warm hair color similar to Aria's.

Once again, I couldn't do anything... No, this time, at least I rescued a child.

Or rather, he saved himself. Although I don't know how he escaped, staying in the dungeon would have certainly meant death. His own courage saved him.

Not knowing where to go or where to return.

Tears, laughter, pain, joy, all dissipated like smoke. Completing her obsession, Ryu finally became an empty shell.

No, in the pure black nothingness, there was still a tiny bit left, the spark of obsession.

“I'm always being saved by them. This time, I must at least save this child, even if it's just him alone –”

Finally, before fainting, she saw a girl reaching out her hand to her.

Great, this way, at least this child can be saved, and I can rest assured and follow in their footsteps again.

“Ryu, Miss?”

Wait, something seems off. Besides the red hair, the age, gender, and appearance all seem wrong.

“Wow, Shirou, did you really wake the princess with a true love's kiss, meow?”

Emerging with half her head out, Syr whispered, “Shirou-kun looks like he's being forced.”

As for Shirou, he looked to be only twelve or thirteen years old.

“Waaah—” Anya looked at Ryu with a subtle, euphemistic, not flammable... no, criminal's gaze.

Just like that, Ryu fell again, her face flushed with heat.

·

Aria, was the leader of Ryu Lion's former Familia, the 'Crimson Righteous Flower' with red hair, a deceased adventurer. In her daze, Ryu mistakenly saw the illusion of her old friend in Shirou's red hair.

Now is a good opportunity to learn more about Miss Ryu.

Ryu woke up again half an hour later. This time, the tavern staff were all present, including the waitress Syr, the owner Mia, the handyman Shirou, and Anya, who had come to join the fun.

“Um.” Syr had a very troubled expression. She smiled gently, “I couldn't possibly ignore someone collapsing in the rain, covered in injuries.”

Ryu then turned her gaze to Shirou, the boy with the red hair that made people feel warm.

But for a moment, she couldn't make a sound.

However, at this moment, the boy took the initiative to walk over.

“Thank you very much for saving me, Miss Ryu.” He held Ryu's hands, his tone earnest.

Ryu didn't push his hand away.

“Eh, eh, aren't elves all supposed to be clean freaks, meow? Why... Ouch, meow!”

“He is the second person…” Ryu was stunned for a long time.

The first was Ryu's former leader and confidante, Aria Lione. Before this, she was the first and last person who could naturally touch Ryu.

“You know my name.” Ryu stiffly changed the subject.

“You can find out by checking clothes and luggage, Ryu Lion the Gale, right.” It was the owner Mia who spoke, “A level one wanted criminal with a bounty of 80 million valis.”

Ryu spoke, her tone more self-abandoning than provocative, even desiring it.

And because she killed too many people and committed crimes too frequently, the bounty increased more and more, until now, it was the astronomical figure of 80 million valis.

Mia responded with a sneer, without any hesitation.

“What a joke, why would I do such a troublesome thing, you good-for-nothing fairy.”

“Now that you're awake, what you do next is your business, but you have to pay the lodging fee for the past few days before you leave.”

What nonsense are these two saying? How did they survive in Orario? I'm a dangerous level one wanted criminal, a powerful level 4 adventurer. It would be normal to either get rid of this trouble quickly or betray me for profit.

Ryu's mind fell into chaos.

Mia...?

Hearing this name, Ryu subconsciously thought of a piece of information, but she immediately thought it was impossible and immediately dismissed the idea.

No, don't say it.

Ryu was distraught.

I no longer have a reason to live. Don't look at me like that anymore. Don't make me recall the appearance of my deceased comrades again. Don't disturb my heart anymore –

Just as Ryu shouted so violently—

Suddenly, a 'gurgle' sound came.

This cute sound came from Ryu's abdomen.

“Your body still seems to want to live, oh.” The owner Mia couldn't help but laugh.

Ryu was already exhausted and seriously injured, and had been unconscious for three days in a row, so her body would naturally crave nutrients.

The boy in front of her seemed to purse his lips, and while Syr couldn't help but giggle, Shirou barely maintained his composure, and Ryu's pointed ears were completely red.

Mia was slightly surprised, but quickly raised the corners of her mouth in response.

“W-wait, I didn't say I wanted to eat anything—”

However, Ryu's words of refusal were not finished, and Mia grabbed her head and pressed it down.

“Ugh…”

The huge palm pressed on Ryu's head like a mountain, the force controlled on the edge of safety.

She immediately understood that her strength was vastly different from the other party.

At this moment, Shirou suddenly spoke.

“Oh?” The dwarf owner raised an eyebrow.

“I want to repay Miss Ryu's kindness, and I am quite confident in cooking.”