Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

You got beaten up and then thanked someone? Are you a masochist?

Well, judging from the skill (Hero's Unfading Flower), there is indeed a tendency in that direction.

“You’re absolutely right. My current state is the greatest insult to Archer.”

Achilles murmured, "Saber, thanks to you, I have finally regained my senses..."

If I give up now, Archer will have died in vain.

I should never have stopped here.

Shirou gave him a deep look, and it seemed that everything was fine now.

"let's go."

"Ah, yes!"

Leticia followed Shirou and left the tavern.

"Why didn't you stop me just now?" Shirou asked, dissatisfied.

"Huh? Should I stop you?" Leticia tilted her head cutely.

According to Shirou's original plan, Leticia would rush up to stop him when he was beating up Achilles.

In the end, she did nothing but watch helplessly, causing Shirou's hands to go numb from hitting so hard that he had to stop on his own.

"You should have told me beforehand!"

Leticia pouted: "I got so engrossed in watching that Master Artorius looked incredibly handsome tonight."

"Um, really?"

"Yeah yeah!"

Leticia looked excited; it was the first time Shirou had ever seen her so excited.

"The clash of fists between men, a duel wagering on their beliefs, truly moved me."

"What are you imagining? That didn't happen at all. I just didn't like him, so I beat him up."

Shirou noticed that Leticia's expression was a little off—

Oh, right, she looks a bit like Irisviel.

That guy would occasionally stare at his interactions with Shinji with a strange look, making Shirou feel a chill run down his spine...

"Please don't let anything strange awaken, Leticia."

"What are you saying, Master Artorius?!"

The girl laughed brightly.

Not long after Shirou and Leticia left the tavern, a seductive female figure emerged from the darkness.

Semiramis gazed at the red-haired boy's retreating figure from afar with her cold, golden eyes.

-------------

Volume 5, Chapter 249: During Ta-Miao's heat cycle, she became a carnivore—

"Honestly... I thought you would come to see me sooner."

On the third day, Shirou found his next target for recruitment in the forest near Tulipas—the "Red" archer, Atalanta.

"Work is important, but family is just as important... Even if the world ends, you shouldn't just abandon your woman, right?"

As she said this, Atalanta jumped down from the tree and came to Shirou's side, excitedly taking his arm.

"Archer..."

The cat-eared girl held up a finger and pressed it against the boy's lips: "The Holy Grail War is over, isn't that a bit outdated?"

"Atalanta."

"Hehe, that's more like it."

Atalanta laughed and said, "Alright, let's go!"

"Go? Where?"

Shirou glanced subconsciously in Metatron's direction. Was she about to go and fight that guy right now?

"Of course I'm going on a date."

The cat-eared girl said with a matter-of-fact expression, "Anyway, you've been dating quite a few other girls lately."

Isn't it strange that he'd rather go on dates with them than spend time with his own woman?

Shirou sighed: "Ha... May I ask, who told you all this?"

"Rider."

"…………I knew it would be like this."

What on earth is that Astolfo guy showing off everywhere...?

"Alright, alright, let's forget about that woman... Let's go!"

Atalanta held Shirou's arms tightly, able to feel the soft curves of the girl's skin against his.

"You'd better play with me all day, darling?"

Atalanta muttered a flippant nickname she'd picked up from some goddess, and pulled Shirou away from the forest.

I don't know if it's just Shirou's imagination.

He felt that Atalanta was a little too excited today, completely lacking her usual seriousness and composure.

It's like he's become a completely different person—

Is it because it's in heat?

……

……

As a result... I spent the entire day on a date with Atalanta.

First, they went to the clothing store in town to pick out clothes for Atalanta, and then they officially started shopping.

The two of them ate food and drank coffee together on the street, and visited nearby historical sites and attractions together.

Is it because the end of the world is coming?

Romania's already poor security situation has worsened.

Or perhaps Atalanta was originally a bewitching beauty from mythology who captivated countless men?

In short, they were approached by many people during their dates.

"Miss, would you like to go somewhere fun next?"

"Sorry, I already have a sweetheart—"

Let me introduce you to this... who is both my husband and my master, my dear...?

As Atalanta spoke, she pulled Shirou, who had a distressed expression, to her side.

"If you can beat him, it's not impossible for me to go with you."

"W-what...! Miss, are you telling the truth?"

"Heh, on another note... you weaklings think you can beat my darling—"

Even if the world were to end, that would be absolutely impossible.

The cat-eared girl curled the corners of her mouth, revealing a contemptuous and cold smile.

"Damn it!" "Outrageous!" "Unforgivable!" "Give Atalanta back!"

The men were as if they were under hypnosis, their fighting spirit soaring.

finally--

It turned into a series of arm-wrestling matches held at an open-air cafe on the street.

The men who challenged Shiro included local residents as well as tourists who came to get a closer look at the Hanging Gardens (which have become a Romanian landmark).

The long procession stretched all the way from the new town to the old town.

Of course, there wasn't a single guy who could beat Shirou.

Among them were one or two guys who still had some backbone, like that wild Trojan hero with green hair who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

"Damn it! I guess I still can't win!"

"call……"

Shirou breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew his stiff arm.

This kid almost broke my arm—luckily, I was a step ahead and projected Hercules's panel (arm strength).

"It's a great pity that today's challenge has to end here..."

Now I must announce the sole winner of this conference—it is my dearest one!

Atalanta first raised Shirou's wrist high, then threw herself into his arms and rubbed her head against him affectionately.

"Aaaaaah!" "You beast!" "I'm so unwilling to accept this!"

"Why is this happening?!" "Oh God, we might as well just destroy this world!"

The men wore expressions of despair and sorrow that seemed more poignant than if the world were ending.

"Seriously, you're really good at making things difficult for people."

After the crowd dispersed, Shirou gave Atalanta a disgruntled look.

"Didn't you say you'd have a blast with me today?"

"No, I never said that."

"I was really enjoying myself... Alright, we still have plenty of time, let's go to the next place!"

"Yes Yes Yes."

Shirou felt as if he were riding on the back of a rampaging wild boar, and just pulling the reins to avoid being thrown off was already exhausting.

However, it's just tiring, but this kind of fatigue also makes one feel refreshed.

"Did you have fun today?"

Atalanta's sudden question startled Shirou.

"I'm very happy."

The girl seemed somewhat dissatisfied: "You hesitated for a moment, didn't you?"

“I’m very happy,” Shirou repeated.

Although the world is facing the crisis of destruction, how to fight monsters like Metatron remains a mystery.

However, Shirou was indeed relaxed at that moment.

It hasn't been many days since Aika collapsed, but Shirou feels like he hasn't felt this relaxed in a long time.

The sun shines brightly, the sky is blue, and pedestrians on the street are full of energy.

Just taking a walk in a place like this can make me feel much better.

"This is all thanks to Atalanta."

"Now you understand how important I am, right?"

Atalanta linked arms with Shirou's like a lover, a satisfied and happy smile on her face.

Night falls.

Since Shirou had other work to do that night, he took Atalanta back to the forest outside the city.

"Atalanta, about what happened this morning..."

"You hope I can help you in this battle, right? Of course, no problem! I will also fulfill my duties as a wife and fight alongside you against the angels."

"Thank you, then I'll take my leave now."