Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

This was actually a major misjudgment.

Shirou originally thought that he could beat Atalanta by using "Time Control Six Times Speed" once, but he didn't expect that he would not be able to widen the gap and was almost overtaken before the finish line.

He gritted his teeth and tried using "seven times speed," and although he won, he paid a heavy price.

Not only was he seriously injured, but his magic circuits went berserk, which greatly reduced the self-healing efficiency of Dragon Heart.

"Are you... alright...?"

Atalanta was startled by Shirou's blood-soaked appearance and asked tremblingly.

Shirou glanced at her and retorted irritably, "Do I look like I'm alright?"

"Feel sorry……"

Atalanta lowered her brows apologetically.

What happened?

The huntress was unfamiliar with magic and therefore could not understand it.

But she could understand that the "Black" swordsman must have made a tremendous sacrifice to win this trial.

You'd actually go to such lengths to beat me...?

Atalanta's heart raced, and she felt a strange emotion rising in her chest.

She didn't understand what this emotion was; she simply reached out her hand instinctively.

"What...what are you doing?"

Atalanta placed her hand on Shirou's cheek, surprising him.

Shirou is extremely weak now, and the "Red" archer could kill him with ease.

But she doesn't seem to intend to kill me...

Atalanta gently stroked Shirou's cheek.

She gently wiped away the blood from the corner of his eye, then revealed a gentle smile that Shirou had never seen before.

"………………What an idiot."

"what?"

Shirou was dumbfounded: "Speaking of which, Big Sister...?"

"My real name is Atalanta."

"Oh...oh oh...hello..."

While they were talking, Atalanta was still touching Shirou's face.

That's like how blind people perceive each other's appearance through the touch of their fingertips and palms.

"...Woo."

Atalanta realized that her cheeks were starting to burn.

Did the vows made before his death have any effect?

The girl didn't think so: it was her own will, and had nothing to do with any person or god.

At this moment, all I want to do is touch him as much as possible, feel him as much as possible, and learn more about the red-haired boy's existence.

"I once swore to the goddess before I died: 'The man who can beat me in the race will become my husband.'"

Atalanta revealed a smile that was both innocent and alluring:

"Black Swordsman, claim your 'prize'—I am your woman now."

Volume 5, Chapter 241: The Carnivorous Catwoman Wife Who Desperately Wants to Have a Child with Shirou

"?"

Shirou paused for a moment, then quickly explained, "Sorry, 'Red' Archer, I didn't mean that..."

"There's no need to use such formal terms; you can just call me by my name."

Atalanta stroked Shirou's cheek as she said, "If you like, you can call me 'older sister' like before."

"Uh……"

Her tone was completely different from before; the once aloof and cold girl was now warm and attentive.

Her demeanor was gentle, and her emerald eyes, which she looked at Shirou, seemed to flicker with some kind of flame.

Shirou had a vague feeling that something was wrong and felt it was necessary to explain things to her.

“Archer, you’ve misunderstood. I have no intention of becoming your husband.”

Hearing him say that, Atalanta frowned slightly: "Holy Sword Wielder, are you going to deny the fact that you defeated me?"

"Do not……"

"In that case, you are my husband."

Atalanta said with a proud expression:

"I once swore to the goddess: 'The man who can beat me in a race will become my husband.'"

Countless heroes have challenged me, and without exception, they have all fallen to my arrows.

"Black Swordsman, you are the only man to have won this trial. Feel honored."

"........."

There was absolutely no way to communicate.

Shirou thought wearily: Could she have Berserker class aptitude?

"That was your vow in life. Now that you are a Servant in this world, you no longer need to follow that vow."

Shirou said, "Even the goddess you worship shouldn't want you to be bound by such a vow forever."

Atalanta said, "Ah, of course I know very well that Lady Artemis said the same thing to me."

"Since you understand this principle, then—"

The girl shook her head: "It has nothing to do with the vows I made before I died."

I was simply drawn to your running figure—I've fallen in love with you.

"Varied…………"

Shirou was speechless.

Atalanta never experienced love during her lifetime.

She was abandoned by her biological father right after birth, and even after she grew up and achieved success, her father only used her as a tool for a political marriage.

Although she appears cold, aloof, and unapproachable, she actually longs for love and to be loved more than anyone else.

However, not all kinds of love are acceptable.

What Atalanta wanted to know was a pure love that transcended desire, power, and fame.

Without exception, every man who proposed to her was lusting after her beauty and body.

Blinded by vile desires, they were even willing to risk their lives to participate in Atalanta's trials—

They were foolish and despicable; it was only natural that they would be killed.

But Shirou is different.

His reason for participating in the trial was very simple, extremely simple.

Just for an enemy who isn't even one's ally—

To fulfill a promise he made to the "Red" Spearman, he risked his life and challenged himself.

Although Atalanta appeared dismissive, she was actually deeply moved by Shirou's personality at that moment.

This kid...

He was unlike any other man I had ever met...

Then, he ran himself ragged and nearly died in a race against himself, but ultimately won.

Atalanta knew he must have used some despicable trick to win, but so what?

No matter how despicable his actions may be, his original intentions and purposes were incomparably noble.

Atalanta was drawn to Shirou's desperate back view—no, she was probably infatuated with him.

really--

Even now, after the age of gods has faded, the goddess must be watching over me from somewhere.

The vows I made back then might have existed just for this moment.

I want to win this man's favor; the young girl happily recognized her own will.

"Hehe, you're blushing...so cute."

Atalanta observes Shirou's reaction with a smile, and happily twitches her cat ears.

The latter quickly removed the hand that had been stroking her and turned her head away as if to cover it up.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm sorry, I can't be your husband."

"Huh, I knew you would say that."

Shirou: "…………"

He was somewhat surprised, not expecting Archer to accept his rejection so easily.

What?! You were talking so enthusiastically just now, I thought you were going to keep pestering me for a while...

Um, don't get me wrong, I'm not feeling frustrated at all!

“I know you can’t accept me so quickly, but the fact that you beat me in the trial will not change.”

Atalanta said with a seductive expression, "No matter what you think, I am your woman now."

Shirou: "…………"

I knew it would turn out like this, sigh... women.

Um, don't get me wrong, I'm not happy at all!

Shirou felt there was no point in continuing the argument, so he tentatively asked...

"Before the race, you said, 'You'd listen to me if I win,' right?"

Atalanta: "What do you want? I once swore to the goddess to protect my purity, but if it's you..."

Shirou: "Could you take me to the place where the magicians are imprisoned?"

Atalanta: "It's okay if you don't want to get married. Even without the title of wife, I'm willing to be your woman."

I have only one wish, and that is to have your child… I love children! I want your child!

Shirou: "Never mind, I'll just find it myself."

"Since it's your future husband's request, there's no reason to refuse. Please come with me."

Atalanta grabbed Shirou's wrist.

They wandered around the maze-like corridors for ten minutes before entering a small room.

In the room, five men and women sat around a round table, each muttering illogical words.

"Listen carefully, compared to explicit formulas, Eastern techniques emphasize gentleness—"

"I visited the legendary Library of Ivan the Terrible, which should give me an understanding of the changes that magicians in the Russian region have undergone—"

"My brother, you have obtained the Holy Grail, so why has your wish not been fulfilled?"

“My brother, that’s only natural, because we didn’t obtain the Holy Grail.”

"Ah, I want to work, I want to work, anything is fine, I have to work—"