Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

Page 366

"Hey? Aren't you staying tonight?"

"Yes, there are still some other tasks to handle."

"It's rare for someone to buy a 'Victory or Defeat' underwear during the day; I thought I could use it tonight."

"I'm sorry, Atalanta, I'll come to see you again in a couple of days."

"Okay, don't forget what you said."

The two then parted ways.

"call……"

Atalanta watched Shirou's figure disappear, then let out a long sigh.

The frivolity and extravagance on the girl's delicate face vanished instantly, and she reverted to her cool and composed hunter persona.

"Playing a character that isn't me feels really strange, but I had so much fun today, so never mind..."

"Well, now it's almost time to get down to business."

Atalanta's green eyes shone with a resolute light, a gaze that held the promise of something.

The girl took out a black cloth that was constantly emitting an ominous purple aura.

No, that's not cloth.

If you look closely, you can see that its surface is covered with thick wild animal fur.

This pelt, radiating an overwhelming curse of magic, is the secret treasure of Atalanta, the foremost huntress of Greece.

"The Demon Boar of Calydon".

Legend has it that when King Eunius of Calydon offered human sacrifices to the twelve Olympian gods, Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, was the only one missing.

One theory suggests that Eunius did not offer a human sacrifice because the one chosen as the human sacrifice was King Eunius himself.

In short, the goddess was enraged by the lack of offerings and sent a giant monster to the earth.

At first glance, it looks like a giant, pitch-black wild boar, but it is actually divine punishment itself, with living beings as its accomplices.

It was a city-state devourer that exuded a stench of decay.

It can prevent crops from ever growing on the earth simply by standing there, truly a walking calamity.

Therefore, a punitive expedition was naturally formed.

Among the Greek warriors who volunteered one after another, the only woman to participate in this battle was none other than Atalanta.

While many men failed to even hit the monster with an arrow and were devoured in vain, she was the first to bravely shoot it through with an arrow.

After that, the survivors fought valiantly and defeated the monsters.

The one who skinned the monster and cut off its head was Meleageros, son of Eunius, who delivered the final blow with a javelin.

However, when dividing the spoils, he gave the part of the pelt containing the boar's head to Atalanta.

"You were the first to draw blood from a monster, so you own this hide."

Whether it was based on simple admiration and jealousy, or simply a desire to demonstrate fairness, it was met with strong opposition from the rest of the expedition team.

They weren't saying that if Meleageros, who defeated the monster, didn't need the hide, it should be given to us; they were saying that Atalanta's arrow hadn't even wounded the monster, and it should be given to the one who truly injured it—

For a girl living in the forest, status and reputation are meaningless.

But she couldn't accept the idea that her arrow had missed the monster.

The argument escalated—ultimately turning into pointless mutual slaughter.

Whether they loved or hated Atalanta, or plotted against her, all died tragically.

After this infighting, the Demon Pig's Skin has transcended its original meaning.

It is not only a symbol of divine punishment, but also an ugly crystallization of human hatred and desire.

Atalanta took the animal hides for herself.

She firmly believed that this must be an inspiration given to her by the goddess.

You must not be infatuated with others, you must not fall in love, for such things only breed hatred.

She never intended to use this skin.

However, the Demon Boar's Hide is indeed here, existing as a Noble Phantasm.

Despite Atalanta herself bringing it into existence, it remains a meaningless Noble Phantasm whose purpose is still unclear.

Now she finally understands—

This treasure can only be used when she is single-minded and has no attachment to anything.

Once you put on this skin—

Atalanta is no longer a Heroic Spirit, but has been transformed into a monster with an ugly appearance and devoid of human reason.

fair enough.

That's fine.

If this is the outcome he expected.

If doing this will help him.

Happy yet boring days.

Although there was nothing there, the surroundings were incredibly warm because of it.

It seems that it doesn't really like the human race. It's eager to survive, afraid of death, and just keeps increasing its numbers. What is it trying to pursue at the end of reproduction?

He never had a romantic relationship during his lifetime.

I don't even know what love is.

Until I met you, until I was drawn to you, Atalanta—I was no longer myself.

I used to think that love was something that only people other than myself could have.

Because I love humanity, I have never liked any one person.

Thinking this way—

As a result, I became infatuated with you and couldn't extricate myself.

Ahhh...

How could they have ended up in such a sorry state, even refusing to face their own inner selves?

"........."

The girl made up her mind.

She had a very happy and fulfilling date today, and she had no regrets.

Atalanta experienced happiness and capriciousness she had never known in her life in just ten short hours.

I left myself with no regrets.

Love is wonderful.

Love is truly wonderful.

Now she finally understands why humans are animals with a 12-month estrus cycle each year.

I really want to... keep experiencing it, but I can't.

We must gain power.

That's all for the pink time.

My love life is over.

In order to obtain the power to fight the angels.

To help the man she loves, the girl decides to sacrifice herself.

"Noble Phantasm—'Agrius Metamorphose, the Boar of Divine Punishment'."

If you drape it over a wild boar, it will turn into a monstrous beast that destroys the land.

If you drape it over a person, they will become a monster beyond human comprehension.

When draped over a hero, Atalanta will transform into a being beyond a Servant (a demon).

The beautiful laws that blended seamlessly with the forest instantly faded, turning silvery white, and even healthy skin seemed to have been dyed, becoming sickly white.

The wild beauty she possessed as a "Red" archer, roaming the wilderness, has vanished; an ominous mist now shrouds Atalanta's slender body.

"Aa ...

The demon, Atalanta Alter, roared and wrapped his arms around himself, collapsing weakly to his knees.

pain……

An excruciating pain, beyond description, seeped into every cell of the girl's body; even the venom of a hydra might not have been as intense.

dizziness……

The world spun around me, it felt like my head was being crushed by something, and I was so desperate that I wanted to cry.

hunger……

An uncontrollable hunger; a desire to eat, to consume, to have blood smeared all over one's body.

“Ah…ah ah…■■……■■■…”

Vision was blurred, and even making a sound was difficult.

Is what you say still human speech?

Could it actually be the howl of a wild animal?

Even amidst suffering that most people could not endure, Atalanta also experienced what she craved and rejoiced in.

strength--

The immense cursed magic surging within her body devoured towns and defiled the land, giving even the black arrows she casually fired the power equivalent to an "Anti-Army Noble Phantasm".

The skin, which was deeply cut by the fingernails due to the pain, regenerates and is restored to its original state in less than a second.

In addition to gaining magical and regenerative abilities that surpass those of Heroic Spirits, she also gained even more acute senses than she had in life.

Sight, hearing, smell, touch, intuition...

Even Greece's most famous female hunters never reached such a level.

Atalanta heard footsteps, muffled by the howling night wind, coming closer and closer through the forest—

"?"

Someone is approaching.

Atalanta forced herself to stay rational and raised her head.

"How...how...how did you get back...?"

Atalanta Alter loudly questioned the red-haired boy who had reappeared in the forest.

"I'd like to invite you to stay at the castle... By the way, Atalanta? What's wrong? You look a bit strange, are you alright?"

"do not come!!"

Atalanta Alter bared her sharp canines, unleashing a menacing magic.

Why is this happening...