Please play Fate/Go with me.

"Wait! Shirou, don't run around!" Hiratsuka Shizuka called out.

Having made contact with Chaldea by phone, Shirou didn't have time to worry about the people nearby. He found a quiet corner with fewer people and asked anxiously.

"Da Vinci, dear friend! What's the situation over there?"

“Shirou, calm down. They’re all alright. Thanks to Astolfo’s Noble Phantasm, they escaped with him. That monster stayed behind and wreaked havoc, devouring every living thing it could find and constantly growing stronger. Now it’s finally quieted down,” Da Vinci said.

"Have you found a solution?" Shirou asked.

Leonardo da Vinci shook his head and said seriously:

"No, everything is too bizarre. If Merlin hadn't had such a deep understanding of dreams and reminded me, I still wouldn't understand what that monster was all about. Despite its appearance, it had a divine reaction, mixing ugly and beautiful things together. It must be some kind of product that mixes people's dreams together."

"Then let me go back quickly. What good will it do you and Merlin to let me out?" Shirou shouted.

“No, I won’t let you go on this adventure until we find a way to defeat that monster, Shirou. Merlin felt the same way.” Da Vinci firmly refused the boy’s request and asked in return:

"Even if you get inside now, Shirou, do you have a way to defeat those monsters in the dream? In that world created by the Black Mud Heroic Spirits, even if you get killed, you might be resurrected after a while."

"Then what can I do here? Am I supposed to let those girls face that monster alone?" Shirou asked. To be honest, even he wanted to stay far away from that monster and didn't want to get even a little bit closer to it. If Jeanne d'Arc, Tamamo Neko, and the other girls were hurt by that monster, and he escaped to the outside world alone, he would feel guilty for the rest of his life.

Leonardo da Vinci looked at the screen very carefully and corrected him:

"It's necessary! This is something only you can do. According to the monitoring from Chaldea, the ability to seal the soul has been eliminated because the balance of the dream world has been broken."

Although the black men, palace maids, and guards who were swallowed by the monsters were indeed devoured, some of them reappeared in the ruins of the palace at dawn.

Moreover, judging from the news from your world, quite a few people have woken up, but their condition is very strange. They seem to have suffered some kind of shock; their temperament has drastically changed, and they are mentally dejected.

"What? So a group of people trapped in the dream have already escaped that world?" Shirou asked.

“It’s not that simple. Even if you manage to escape temporarily, if there’s no way to stop it, you’ll be easily sucked back in the next time you dream about it. You’re only able to avoid being sucked in because of the magic provided by the Holy Grail and the protection of Merlin, an expert. But these are still just speculations. For that monster, sucking in humans wouldn’t be difficult at all,” Da Vinci said.

"Damn it, have the humans of this world become food for that monster? We have to think of a way. That monster is definitely not meant to be left in this world." Shirou said through gritted teeth, even the thought of that twisted creature still sent chills down his spine.

"We'll have to investigate to find out the specifics of the problem. In short, I won't let you enter that world again until Chaldea has figured out the underlying principles. What you need to do now is rest well. Later, you can try to contact those who have woken up from the dream to see what's going on. Maybe you can find a breakthrough," Leonardo da Vinci warned.

"..." Shirou was about to speak when he heard footsteps running towards him. Da Vinci then disconnected the connection.

"Hey! Shirou, are you alright? Why did you suddenly run out?" Hiratsuka Shizuka asked as she ran up, panting.

"I'm sorry, teacher." Shirou looked at his teacher, realizing that he had troubled her. Teacher Hiratsuka had probably gone to many places to look for him.

"What? Did you do something to offend me? Never mind! But if you have any problems, you should tell me. Otherwise, even if you don't tell me, I'll find out through other means and then follow you around! Don't try to shoulder everything yourself." Hiratsuka Shizuka looked Shirou up and down and didn't ask any more questions.

"I understand. I will ask for your help when necessary," Shirou replied. He had calmed down by now. The encounter with that monster had left his mind in a state of tension and confusion.

Hiratsuka Shizuka readily agreed with a smile and led the way outside. "Alright, let's go! Grab your things, the teacher here has already contacted me and said they're waiting for us in the parking lot."

"Thank you, teachers. It's so kind of you to come and pick us up." Hiratsuka Shizuka stepped forward and said to the teachers from the Chiba branch school.

"It's alright, it's alright. Luckily, we have a car. It's also a day off today. We originally planned to take Hiratsuka-sensei and Shirou-kun to see the sights in Paris, but unfortunately, this happened." The teacher driving said helplessly.

"What's going on? Are you all sick?" Hiratsuka Shizuka asked, puzzled, seeing the students around her with their eyes half-closed and looking listless.

“Hiratsuka-sensei, it’s not just us, even the teachers and locals are like this. Lately, for some reason, many people here seem to be not getting enough sleep,” the female student explained.

“I had another strange dream last night. I was racing against a flock of talking birds, and in the end, everyone won a prize.”

"Ah, if that's the case, I think I had a similar dream."

"These dreams are considered good. I heard that some students in France have nightmares about being eaten by some kind of monster. It is said that when they wake up, their skin turns black all over and the nightmares don't go away for a long time."

"Stop talking about it! It's terrifying!" said a girl who was very sensitive to this topic.

"That student is naturally dark-skinned, right? These kinds of superstitious things don't really matter anyway. Even the experts don't know what's going on. But it's true that it's easy to get sleepy after coming to this country. Haha~" a student said, yawning and wiping away tears from their eyes.

"Yes, even if I sleep fifteen hours a day, it still doesn't feel like enough. I thought it was because I'm getting old, but I didn't expect the students around me to feel the same way," the middle-aged teacher leading the group said with a smile.

"That makes sense, but it's strange that so many people slept so soundly on the plane today. Is it because of the weather? Or is there some kind of infectious disease that makes people sleepy?" Hiratsuka Shizuka said, looking outside with a puzzled expression.

"It's because the seniors are too lazy! If humans allocate their time reasonably, seven hours of sleep a day is enough to keep them energetic!" At this moment, a blonde girl crossed her arms and said arrogantly as always.

"Ah, Erina, so you're here too." Shirou greeted her.

"Why are you so listless, Shirou? Don't disappoint me!" Erina said to the boy, annoyed. When she first arrived here, things were actually quite good; she met some talented young chefs and booked meals at all the Michelin-starred restaurants in the area.

But as time went on, the city became increasingly strange. People became lazy, and eventually even the upperclassmen around them seemed to be infected.

Wouldn't this also lower her own reputation because of these people?

She had expected Shirou, her lifelong culinary rival, to be different, but he also looked listless and dull. What happened to him? Did he catch a cold?

Erina looked at the boy and asked, "Shirou, cheer up. If you're sick, go to the hospital for a checkup. It wouldn't be right for Komachi to know that I'm right here with you, yet I let you act foolishly and not get treatment for your illness."

"Thank you, Erina, I'm fine," Shirou said to the girl.

Erina, still full of arrogance, said, "Hmph! Don't misunderstand. I just didn't want you to infect me. I came here for a culinary exchange, but it was all cut short because of a cold. That's not something you can just explain away with a few words!"

If she weren't blushing now, some people might actually believe it.

"Heh." Shirou smiled, feeling that being in a place like this with the girl had pulled him back to reality from the shock of his dream. Yes, at least reality wasn't like that monster, simply mixing beauty and ugliness into a disgusting lump of flesh. The great joys and sorrows of life are ultimately few; most of the time is spent in the mundane.

“Oh, right! Shirou, since we’re in Paris, why don’t you join the cooking class too! Let’s have our cooking showdown!” Erina suggested.

"I'm sorry, I'm really not in the mood right now," Shirou refused. Indeed, he needed to pull himself together; his immediate priority was to find a way to defeat that black mud monster. He had been watching the monster closely at the time, so perhaps he was the one who understood its true nature best, even more so than Chaldea or the hidden Merlin.

Although he suffered a greater mental shock than anyone else as a result.

The van carrying the students moved slowly forward. The conversations between people gradually subsided, and many students on the van fell asleep right behind their seats.

After that, Shirou parted ways with Ms. Hiratsuka, who was heading to the girls' dormitory. Under the guidance of the team leader, he completed various procedures and moved into the French dormitory. Normally, France would have a welcoming party for a new member, but now the whole of Paris was gloomy, and this Paris branch campus was no exception. All he could find were listless students, either pale and dejected or suffering from narcolepsy and looking sleep-deprived.

Although living in a student dormitory can be inconvenient, the place here is a Western-style building, and each person usually has their own room. Although the space is not large, it is sufficient for studying and sleeping.

The next day, Shirou used his free time to inquire about the students at school who had had nightmares. He then went to the hospital to check on the patients who had been sent there because they had fallen into a deep sleep, but who had later woken up from their coma.

Sure enough, the patient, who had fallen asleep again after a night's rest, woke up once more. He seemed quite energetic, and aside from being a little weak from the prolonged slumber, he was perfectly fine.

But some people woke up in agony again, this time as if they had had an even worse dream. Some were crying and shouting that they were too scared to go back to sleep.

There were also incidents where someone woke up with bloodshot eyes, remained in a state of extreme agitation, and nearly attacked a nurse.

This time, the black French boys who were sucked into the black mud monster all looked unwell and were even afraid to sleep.

The white French boy who held a high-ranking position would be sucked into his dreams once he fell asleep, where he would be tormented and killed by strange monsters, waking up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night. If he tried to fall back asleep, he would be found again and tormented and killed once more.

There are also those who are in a deep sleep, with smiles on their lips, but no matter what they do, they cannot be woken up.

Some woke up crying, as if they had experienced the most tragic thing and were on the verge of developing depression.

Shirou also knew that it was because Da Vinci and Merlin used magic to protect him from being sucked into the dream world that he was able to avoid such a thing. Otherwise, he would probably have experienced the same thing.

The only saving grace was that Joan of Arc and Tamamo Cat, with Astolfo's help, escaped the monster's pursuit, but they could only hide in the castle in the suburbs and were unable to make any moves.

He must find a way to stop this vicious cycle that is providing negative energy to the black mud monster.

But what exactly should be done?

Erina picked up her arms and walked over. She looked at the listless boy and felt a surge of anger.

"Shirou! You look terrible right now. Have you also developed depression like the people here in France? You look so gloomy and suicidal."

"Erina." Shirou looked at the girl. Right now, the only ones who could escape Paris's wrath were probably him and this young lady who had the protection of a possessed Servant.

"Really, huh? Huh! Ba! You should also give this blockhead a good talking to!" Erina sensed the words coming from the possessed Heroic Spirit within her body and thus relinquished control of her body.

At this moment, the blonde girl's demeanor changed, from an arrogant young lady to a reserved yet spirited young woman. She was none other than the boy Tomoe Gozen from before.

"Shirou, I think Erina is right. If you, as the commander, can't muster any enthusiasm, no one can trust you. As for this matter, we've consulted Leonardo da Vinci. Actually, I have an idea to share with you."

"What? Tomoe Gozen?" Shirou looked at the young female warrior in surprise.

"Let's go somewhere else," Tomoe Gozen said, and walked outside on her own.

The two left the ward and came to the rest area with vending machines. The vending machines here had a wide variety of products, almost like a mini supermarket, selling raw meat, oysters and fruits and vegetables, caviar, and even luxury goods.

After walking for a while, they finally found a machine selling hot drinks. Shirou bought two bottles of hot drinks and handed them to the girl.

Tomoe Gozen took the hot drink, twirling it between her hands to warm her palms, and began to say to the boy, "You should know something about my past, right?"

"Hmm." Shirou nodded slightly. He was a military commander who lived in a time of war and made great achievements, thus earning the title of Heroic Spirit and being talked about by later generations. But for those who lived in that time, it was a time of chaos, war, and bloodshed, far from a suitable place to live.

The saying goes, "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand." These heroic spirits are forged from blood and flesh, mostly from the enemy, and some from their own bodies. Only they themselves know the pain and torment they endured throughout their lives, the dangers and cruelties they suffered. Moreover, almost none of these heroic spirits meet a peaceful end.

“I once had a very sad dream. My husband died on the battlefield, and I was the only one who was ordered to break out of the encirclement and escape to live in seclusion.”

The regret and hatred from losing my husband and having my brother murdered haunted me throughout my life, and I could never forget them, even in death. Even now, as a Servant, I cannot forgive Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune.

"But at the same time, I also hope that I can cheer myself up. If I can meet my husband again, I hope that we can live a simple rural life together. Every day I will cook delicious food for him and drink a cup of sake with him."

"I'd be so happy if he were willing to play games with me at other times." Tomoe Gozen said this with a lovely smile full of longing and anticipation.

"So, I didn't forgive Yoritomo and Yoshitsune. It's just that I have more important things to do and more happiness to pursue, so I let it go."

“That’s right! Shirou! Now is not the time to be discouraged. Although I said I didn’t want to get involved in these strange things, I won’t let it go if they come knocking on my door! So I’ll help this time too!”

Erina crossed her arms and looked at the boy before changing her words.

"Of course! Don't get me wrong! I didn't do this for Shirou! It's just that everyone around me is sighing and complaining, and even my cooking isn't as delicious anymore! Did you hear me? I, Erina Nakiri, have already said I'd help you, so you should at least try to be more motivated!"

"Ah, thank you, Erina-sama, you're so reliable!" Shirou nodded, now completely energized. Yes, even a little girl the same age as his sister had come to comfort him; if he didn't try his best to find a solution, it would be a real shame.

"What? You were looking so gloomy just now," Erina complained to the boy.

"Yes, thank you, Erina, Tomoe Gozen." Shirou looked at the blonde girl and thanked her sincerely from the bottom of his heart.

"Didn't I tell you to say it twice?!" Erina clenched her hands, which were hanging down, and called out in a sweet voice with a slightly flushed face.

Yes, the only thing that can fight against dreams is reality! If you encounter misfortune in a dream, then resist it with even stronger happiness in reality.

If you feel empty in your dreams, fill them with love!

When he was able to do it, this was the only thing he could do: cooking, delicious food that makes people feel happy and satisfied.

It evokes people's yearning for happiness in life, even when life is not as they wish, the people around them are unkind, and family members often fail to understand them.

Even if it's just for this delicious taste, this glass of wine, I can keep trying.

"Erina, can we use the school's kitchen?" the boy asked the girl, now that he had perked up.

"Hmph, you're finally starting to look like you did back in the archery competition!" Hearing the boy's words, Erina smiled and replied, "Of course! This is a school that trains Michelin three-star chefs."

“That’s perfect! Let’s put the cooking competition on hold for now. Erina, can you do me a favor?” Shirou asked the blonde girl.

Erina crossed her arms and gave the boy a disgruntled look. "Shirou, what else do you want to say now? If I wasn't going to help you, I wouldn't have come here in the first place. Of course! If it weren't for the fact that you're Komachi's older brother, I wouldn't bother with a boring man like you."

"Oh! I'll treat you to something delicious as a thank you gift," Shirou replied with a smile.

"Hmph, if it's not good, just wait and see what I say with the harshest words." Erina glanced haughtily at the boy, then revealed a cute smile. "So, what do we do now?"

"In short, let's borrow a computer and some books first, study the recipes here, and then contact Ms. Hiratsuka for help." With a plan in mind, Shirou stopped procrastinating and quickly arranged everything in an orderly manner.

If the Black Mud Monster feeds on the intense emotions generated in dreams, then what it needs to do is soothe those emotions.

If that's the case, then there's only one thing he can do: soothe the wounded souls with food. If his guess is correct, the black mud monster should also be weakened as a result.

Chapter 181 Cooking with Erina

Jeanne and Tamamo Cat are fighting the monster in the dream world, while he, though not in the dream, can also fight the monster in his own way in this place, at the Paris branch school.

Shirou found Hiratsuka Shizuka and honestly told her everything. Because of their camaraderie from fighting together at Mount Lu, Hiratsuka Shizuka readily agreed to Shirou's request. Rather, this development in a shonen manga seemed to have completely ignited her passion. Even if Shirou didn't ask for her help, she would still step forward on her own.

As a Chinese language teacher, Shizuka Hiratsuka quickly wrote an application and submitted it to the team leader.

The team leader rested his chin on his hand and said, "Hmm... a food festival, that's a good suggestion. Parisians certainly have a taste for food that's just as good as ours. And I trust Nakiri's cooking skills, after all, she's the granddaughter of that food demon king."

“Teacher! Shirou, I can guarantee his cooking skills,” Erina stepped forward and said.

"I'm happy for your approval, but this is in front of the teacher, so please at least address me as 'senior'."

"Well, Shirou, we actually had a similar food exchange event in Britain, and it was very well received. I'm sure you'll find out about it soon after this exchange event ends," Hiratsuka Shizuka said with a smile.

'But archery performances seem to have been forgotten. Is that something to be happy about?'

The team leader hesitated before saying, "But... Britain and France have different standards for food. It's like how Mapo Tofu in China and Mapo Tofu in the West are both Mapo, and how curry in China and curry in India are both curry, but they taste different... Do you understand what I mean?"

"Although I don't quite understand, I still managed to get the gist of it." Erina and Hiratsuka Shizuka shook their heads together.

"It's alright. Actually, I've already prepared a gift and brought it with me. You can taste it before making a judgment, teacher." Shirou took out a thermos and handed it over.

"Oh, Shirou, you're so thoughtful. I won't be polite then." The teacher in charge took the insulated box, opened it, and saw that it had two layers.

The top layer is a common fast food in France: toast, two slices of bread toasted until golden brown, with ham and cheese, shredded lettuce, a few slices of cucumber and carrot sticks, and drizzled with delicious dipping sauce.

For the French, a cup of coffee would make for a decent lunch, since taking a girl out for a meal that lasts several hours, with music and some red wine, is dinner.