DanMachi: The Epic of the Heroic Spirits of Emiya Shirou

Every time she swung the wooden sword, her light green hair would flutter in the wind.

The outfit, which flows in the wind to complement the movements, consists of a short-sleeved top paired with shorts for easy movement.

Her porcelain-white skin looked even more striking in the dim sky.

Liu always gets up very early in the morning.

Although the bar always starts preparations for opening early in the morning, Ryu has developed a habit of practicing with her wooden sword well before dawn, much earlier than the opening preparations. Even now, after leaving her former profession as an adventurer, she hasn't neglected her training.

A while ago, I invited Anya, a cat girl whose adventurer level was the same as Ryu's, from the tavern to practice together, but after that, Anya refused to accept Ryu's challenge anymore.

"That useless fairy Ryu has absolutely no idea how to control her strength, she hit too hard!"

After being scolded by Anya, Ryu was left to practice alone.

As for claims like "Ryu is definitely taking her anger out on Anya and is jealous that Anya can help Shirou train the cat," Ryu pretended not to hear them at all.

Despite not knowing the meaning of her daily, mediocre training since she was no longer an adventurer, she persisted in exercising to at least ensure her body wouldn't rust and that she wouldn't forget the feeling of combat.

"Perhaps one day in the future, my only power will come in handy." Deep in the heart of the elven girl, there was a faint thought.

She wasn't as pretty as Seele, nor as cute as Anya, nor as resolute as Shirou. Now that she had even abandoned her will to justice, all she had left was a little bit of strength and some value.

As Liu thought to herself, she unleashed a fierce slash, and unknowingly, her movements gradually became more ethereal.

The elven girl wore no shoes or socks; her fair feet trod on the soft earth of the courtyard. The forest fairies were not accustomed to touching humans, yet they found peace in contact with nature—the soil, the grass, and the trees.

As the sword slashed and thrust upwards, the girl's steps gradually began to exhibit different rhythms.

Liu herself didn't realize that she was unconsciously imitating the boy's actions.

Despite the huge gap in their abilities, the beneficiaries of their daily sparring weren't just the lower-ranking Emiya. Both Ryu, who watched from the sidelines, and Anya, the main character, were subtly influenced by the boy.

Movements, footwork, timing of attacks, breathing rhythm... their exceptional bodies subconsciously absorbed the essence from Emiya. It seems somewhat unbelievable, but the higher-ranking adventurers were indeed growing under the influence of the lower-ranking adventurers, though neither Ryu nor Anya had yet realized this.

"I also want to spar with Shirou." Whenever Ryu thought about how Anya could help the boy grow while she could only watch from the sidelines, she felt a strong sense of resentment and the heartache of having something important taken away from her.

However, because he was so clumsy, his attempts all ended with Shirou being seriously injured.

"Sigh." Suppressing a feeling of regret, Liu walked towards her assigned bedroom in the detached house.

Now I need to tidy myself up and change into my uniform.

Today, I'm working as a waiter at the tavern again; a brand new day is about to begin.

The sunrise, bringing light to the city, shines over the city walls and gradually illuminates the entire city.

The bright sunlight and fresh air at dawn gradually improved Ryu's mood; in any case, she had at least found meaning in her existence here.

"Shirou, Seele, I'll do my best for them!"

·

"Shirou, aren't you going to the Familia or the dungeon today?" A silver-haired human girl approached the boy who was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard and handed him a towel.

“Yes, the goddess said we should balance work and rest. We should work hard when it’s time to work and rest properly when it’s time to rest.” Emiya took the towel from the girl and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Thank you, Seele.”

It's the weekend, and I was planning to practice forging in the workshop, but the goddess strictly forbade it.

"Take a good rest this weekend. Pushing yourself too hard won't do you any good for the future," the goddess said. Then she turned around and scolded Tsubaki, who wanted to take Shirou out for a big drinking session, and the blacksmiths who tried to share the entertainment district coupons with the boy.

He had originally planned to explore the upper levels of the dungeon, but then he realized that what the goddess said made sense; he should take a good rest once in a while.

“But Shirou is still practicing his swordsmanship.” Seele put her hands on her hips. “Shouldn’t he listen to the goddess and get some rest?”

“For me, this level of training is a form of rest.” Shirou was telling the truth. He didn’t find this simple sword-swinging practice boring at all; on the contrary, it gave him a sense of peace and tranquility.

"Is that so?" Seele tilted her head. Today was her day off, so Seele wasn't wearing her waitress uniform, but rather her cute everyday clothes.

Wearing a pure white long dress without any decoration, the girl's pretty temperament became even more natural. A gentle breeze blew by, and the hem of the dress fluttered slightly, revealing Seele's slightly taut, smooth calves and her feet in white sandals.

The girl's long silver hair was tied into a ponytail, the ends of which undulated slightly with her emotions. Emiya subconsciously glanced at the girl's fair collarbone a few more times.

During the previous times when Seele was on leave, Shirou happened to be forging swords in the Hephaestus Familia's workshop. This was the first time he had seen Seele wearing this casual outfit.

For some reason, today in front of Seele, Emiya couldn't control his gaze, as if he were being seduced by some irresistible force.

Seemingly aware of the boy's actions, Seele smiled. Although as the leader of the "Sylvanas Party," she always held the idea of ​​bringing the human boy and the elf girl together, she couldn't help but feel happy seeing the boy's adorable behavior.

The boy's frustration stemming from the useless fairy's lack of ambition and his constant flirting with other girls was thus relieved.

"What a pity, Ryu has to work today..." Seele thought.

Ryu and Anya's vacation started two days ago, which conveniently coincided with Shirou's day off.

Moreover, Mia's mother would never allow Ryu to take leave, because Ryu accidentally broke Mia's favorite vase a few days ago.

After working at the tavern for almost a month, my debts have only increased instead of decreased. I truly live up to my reputation as a useless fairy.

However, even if you can't take leave, skipping work is still fine.

Since my salary has already been reduced to a negative number, it doesn't matter if it's reduced a little more.

"There's no other way. That useless fairy is too good for her. For Liu's happiness, I have to be more proactive." Xi'er thought to herself as she looked at the boy.

"Shirou, let's go on a date together, the three of us—Ryu, Shirou, and I!"

Chapter Thirty-Three: An Unexpected Encounter with the Elf "Sisters"

This was Emiya Shirou's first date since he came to this world.

It's called a "date," but it's not the kind between lovers; it's just an activity for friends to spend time together.

Liu, who was traveling with him, thought so too, though she herself felt a faint sense of joy for reasons she didn't even understand.

Shirou still remembers the kindness of Ryu and Seele in saving him, and of course he would not refuse the request of his important friends and benefactors.

He was also willing to be a companion to the young girl. Seele had a unique temperament that made people feel relaxed when they were with her, as if time stood still and the peaceful daily life could continue endlessly.

Ryu would never refuse any of Seele's requests. She felt a deep sense of gratitude towards the girl and even became the only person in the entire "Abundant Mistress" tavern who could grit her teeth and eat the "dishes" made by Seele.

Because Seele's cooking ability, well, it's probably the opposite of Emiya's, and a few levels lower than Mia's.

The human boy and the elf girl walked side by side down the street. Seele walked in front, deliberately walking along the very edge of the sidewalk, as if playing a game where stepping on other parts would mean elimination. The narrow footholds forced her to walk with a cat-like gait. To maintain her balance, the girl spread her arms wide and made "Eh, eh" sounds.

"So cute." Ryu couldn't help but think so, and the passersby around her thought the same way. Many people couldn't help but cast envious glances at Emiya.

Since coming into this world, perhaps influenced by divine grace, Emiya's body has developed extremely rapidly, and his height increase is visible to the naked eye. At first, he was slightly shorter than the girl, but now he is catching up at a rapid pace.

In addition, his shoulders are getting wider, his arms are getting longer, and his muscles are becoming more defined, gradually revealing a solid shape.

Unbeknownst to her, Seele had fallen a step behind Shirou and Ryu. She quietly observed Emiya's figure, then smiled and suddenly sped up, leaping in front of Shirou.

Then Emiya and Ryu saw a silver ponytail bouncing in front of them, and through the soft strands of hair, the girl's fair nape was faintly visible.

Even with a few strands of hair obscuring her face, the girl's skin seemed to appear even whiter and more translucent.

Feeling Emiya and Ryu's gazes flicker towards her for a moment before shifting away, Seele couldn't help but chuckle mischievously: "Ryu seems to be staring at me for even longer~"

"This is even more interesting than I imagined..." Seele thought to herself, just then.

"Ah, Mr. Emiya." A cute female voice disturbed Seele's mood.

A cute elf girl greeted Emiya: "Mr. Emiya, it's been a while."

Her long, thick golden hair was as bright as blooming wildflowers, but even brighter than her hair was the girl's smile, which displayed a warmth and cheerfulness that was completely unlike that of an elf. The girl waved and walked towards them with delight.

“Miss Lefia, it’s been a long time,” Shirou replied.

"Just call me Lefia." The elven girl with long, wispy blue hair shook hands with Emiya naturally, then grinned foolishly.

"Lefia, you can just call me Shirou," Emiya said politely. "May I ask who this gentleman is?"

“Hello, my name is Alicia, Alicia Forrestlet,” the other elven woman introduced herself.

This is a female elf with long, orange-gold hair similar to Lefia's. Unlike Lefia, Alicia's demeanor is impeccable, perfectly matching people's imagination of elves—dignified and beautiful, exuding unparalleled elegance in every gesture, as if each movement had been meticulously crafted, inspiring awe. At the same time, her subtly aloof aura gives her a sense of unapproachability.

Alysia's lips curved into a gentle smile, and her slightly curled hair added a touch of mature charm. The strands of hair that fell over her shoulders swayed gently with her breath.

When standing next to Lefia, Alicia exudes a calm and composed aura, much like a dignified older sister, creating a striking contrast with her lively younger sister. The two complement each other perfectly.

Furthermore, what cannot be ignored is Alicia's exceptionally voluptuous figure, a rarity among elves, with curvaceous and well-proportioned curves. She is at least one Lefia stronger than Ryu, making her "older sister" aura even more pronounced.

She reached out her hand to Shirou, but unlike Lefia, she wore black arm sleeves that covered her entire forearm.

“I’ve heard of you before, Shirou-kun. Thank you for taking care of Lefia,” Alicia said.

“No, we were partners in action at that time, it was what I should do.” Shirou said, and considering her identity as an elf, he only touched Alicia’s finger lightly before letting go immediately.

“Shirou-kun, this is a very powerful adventurer~” Seele quietly tugged at Shirou’s sleeve from behind and whispered, “Alysia Forrestlenet of the Garden of Purity is a Level 4, second-tier adventurer of the Loki Familia.”

Emiya truly didn't know the other party's identity. He hadn't expected this elven woman to be such a powerful figure. However, perhaps because he was used to spending time with Ryu and Anya, he didn't feel any emotional fluctuation.

"Seele, it's been a long time." Alicia said to the girl, her smile much warmer than when she was facing Emiya's serious expression.

However, Alicia's image in Seele's heart is actually quite subtle.

Alicia is a very proper and pure elf, and is informally known by the gods as "the disciplinary committee member of the Loki Familia".

However, a goddess who wished to remain anonymous had seen that this respectable elven "Disciplinary Committee Member" possessed a soul that was surprisingly impure.

It's not a terrible black or gray, just simply impure, or rather, not very "disciplined"...

However, until now, Alicia has maintained this serious and dignified demeanor, thus making this matter an interesting little secret in the heart of the goddess who can see through souls.

To this, the goddess could only sigh, "The children of the mortal realm are truly fascinating."

After greeting Seele, Alicia quietly observed Ryu, who was following behind Emiya and Seele.

Upon noticing a fellow elf approaching, Ryu immediately frowned and shielded Shirou and Seele in front of her.

However, she was much taller than Seele, and an elf with such outstanding appearance would stand out even if she were hidden in a crowd.

"[Swift Wind] Ryu Leon, you just dyed your hair green and then brazenly went out on the street..." Alicia immediately recognized this famous member of her clan and couldn't help but feel ashamed of the other's audacity.

As one of the most powerful factions in the labyrinth city, the Loki Familia had naturally received information about [Gale] long ago. After all, she had no intention of hiding anything. The waitresses at the tavern called her "Ryu" every day, and even her hair had only been dyed in the last two days.

They can be described as arrogant, lawless, brazen, and unscrupulous.

Of course, Alicia wouldn't do anything unnecessary; she would pretend she hadn't seen anything.

Although the elven girl in front of me looks exactly like a certain first-class wanted criminal, is of the same race, has a similar temperament, carries a signature katana, and even shares the same name "Ryu," can't all of this just be a coincidence?

At least their hair colors are different.

The woman in front of me, Liu, had her hair newly dyed a vibrant emerald green.

"Hmm, it's been a long time, Lady Alicia." Seele returned the greeting from the elven beauty with a sweet smile. The Loki Familia were frequent visitors to the [Abundant Mistress], and most of the adventurers among them knew Seele.

Because of the special skill "Fairy King's Seal" that can amplify the magic of all elves, the Loki Familia is very willing to recruit elf mages, and elf girls often harbor longing for the princess.

The two-way exchange resulted in the Loki Familia having a unique group of elf mages, all of whom are beautiful elf girls, making them quite eye-catching and a paradise for elf lovers.

Alicia is a high-ranking member of the Loki Familia's magic squad. With a level 4 strength, she is not only skilled in magic but also an excellent archer. She is also proficient in rapier, making her a versatile all-rounder.

"Oh, Shirou, are you on a date? Did we accidentally disturb you?" Lefia belatedly realized her mistake and said somewhat embarrassedly, while revealing a gossipy look in her eyes: "Is this your girlfriend?"

On the other side, Alicia maintained her proper posture, but when she heard this topic, her slender ears noticeably tilted up.

They couldn't help but be interested when the topic of love came up; clearly, even the etiquette of the Elven race couldn't suppress their curiosity.

"We're just friends." Seele affectionately pulled Shirou along, while her other arm wrapped around Ryu's arm, and said in a cute tone.

What exactly is the relationship between these three people? Both elven women felt completely bewildered.

"Oh, right, Alicia, I forgot to mention before, Shirou's archery skills are also very impressive." Lefia abruptly changed the subject, as if she had suddenly remembered something, and said excitedly.

"Yes, I believe that for someone like Lefia (an elf) to praise him so highly, Mr. Emiya must possess exceptional archery skills (for a human)." Alicia smiled gently and replied with great grace.

(However, they are, after all, just human beings.)

Seele immediately sensed Alicia's disdain, and she frowned slightly in displeasure. However, just then—

"Shirou's archery skills are truly, truly amazing, better than any elf I've ever seen. I think even Lady Riveria's archery skills aren't as good as Shirou's!" Lefia said earnestly.

Alicia's expression froze; she maintained her smile, but her eyes narrowed completely.

"Lefia Veridiss".

"Yes!" The elf girl's heart skipped a beat when she was suddenly called by her senior's full name, and she instinctively stood at attention.