Chapter 46

The next illustration is ready! Initially, I asked my illustrator to create a chibi illustration for the welcome note, but instead, He made a full illustration of Aiz wearing Saber outfit in a love pose. You can check it out at https://www.patreon.com/Rayish.

Shirou arrived at his destination—a dilapidated, abandoned church where the Hestia Familia had once lived. As he observed from the shadows, all that remained were the remnants of a battle. No one was visible around the church. The ground in front of the building was littered with scattered footprints, small blast marks, and clear signs of a fierce fight.

"Only the aftermath of a battle..." Shirou thought, sharpening his vision as he searched for clues. The cold wind that swept through the church added to the gloomy atmosphere. Shards of glass from shattered windows lay scattered, and the wooden door hung loosely from its hinges, nearly torn off. The walls of the church were riddled with cracks and scratches, evidence of Bell's desperate attempt to defend himself.

But there were no signs of life. It was as if the Hestia Familia had been completely wiped out.

With calm and caution, Shirou moved through the ruins, his footsteps silent as he took in every detail around him. No sounds, no movement—just an oppressive silence. Yet beneath that silence, a growing sense of urgency stirred in his heart.

"Where are they?" Shirou murmured inwardly as he stepped into the dusty floor of the church. Inside, it was the same—ruined, dust-covered, and empty. What once may have been a place of worship was now draped in thick dust. The pews were overturned, and some were shattered into pieces. But there were no bodies or clear signs of a struggle.

Taking a deep breath, Shirou ventured further. His eyes were drawn to a small splatter of blood on the stone floor, and nearby, a few scattered weapons lay abandoned. "This doesn't look good," he thought. He began piecing together what might have happened here.

The battle had taken place only a few hours ago, but... where were Bell and Hestia now?

"If they lost, they must have been captured... or worse," Shirou thought, quickly dismissing the dark idea. He knew Bell well and recognized the strength of his determination. If there had been even the slightest chance, Bell would have fought until the end.

Crouching near the altar, Shirou touched the ground where the blood had mixed with the dirt. The blood hadn't fully dried yet, indicating the fight had been recent. Despite how grim things seemed, Shirou was sure that Bell and Hestia were still alive.

With renewed determination, Shirou stood and sharpened his senses, trying to detect any traces of prana or magical energy left behind. He knew that if he moved quickly, there was still a chance to find Bell and Hestia before it was too late.

"The world of shadows will be my weapon," Shirou whispered as he once again activated Presence Concealment. Silently, he dashed out of the old church, resolved to track down where Bell and Hestia had been taken.

Shirou quickly scaled a tall building near the abandoned church to get a broader view. As he reached the rooftop, the wind whipped through his black cloak. On top of the building, Shirou enhanced his vision using Reinforcement, channeling prana to his eyes to see farther.

His gaze swept over the busy streets of Orario until finally, he spotted Bell and Hestia. In the distance, he saw them running swiftly toward their destination—the Apollo Familia's headquarters. Shirou's heart raced. Though he didn't fully understand what was happening, his instincts told him something significant was about to unfold.

Without wasting a moment, Shirou sprinted along the rooftops, leaping from one to the next with impressive speed. His Presence Concealment made him invisible, a mere shadow moving skillfully above the city.

As he neared the Apollo Familia's stronghold, Shirou observed from afar that a tense standoff was taking place at the large gates. Below, Hestia stood firm in front of Apollo and his smug followers. Bell stood beside her, still catching his breath after running, but the determination on his face was unmistakable. Apollo smirked arrogantly, while his Familia members gazed at Hestia and Bell with disdain.

From his vantage point above, Shirou watched the pivotal moment.

Suddenly, Hestia angrily removed her white glove. Without warning, she threw it forcefully at Apollo, and it struck him squarely in the face. The atmosphere shifted instantly. The crowd witnessing the event fell silent. Apollo's expression shifted from shock to a sly grin.

"This... is a challenge to the War Game," Shirou whispered to himself, observing from the rooftop.

With a swift motion, Apollo picked up the glove from the ground. In a loud, smug voice, he declared, "Very well, Hestia. I accept your challenge for the War Game. Let's see who is truly stronger."

Shirou narrowed his eyes, analyzing the situation. Hestia and Bell were clearly in a dire position. The Apollo Familia was much larger, more organized, and far more powerful. While Bell had grown stronger in a short time, he couldn't possibly face the entire Apollo Familia alone.

"This is madness," Shirou thought, though he couldn't help but admire Hestia's bravery.

"I can't just stand by and watch," Shirou muttered, his resolve growing stronger. He knew what he had to do. Even though his identity as a member of the Loki Familia bound him by certain rules, as long as he acted under the guise of Hassan, he could help without revealing who he truly was.

Taking a deep breath, Shirou reinforced his Presence Concealment once more and waited for the right moment to act.

Apollo, brimming with confidence, cast a mocking glance at Hestia and Bell. However, instead of detaining or mistreating them, he allowed them to leave peacefully. Apollo's confidence was clear—he believed that victory in the upcoming War Game was already his. His smug smile showed he was sure of his triumph.

From above, Shirou watched as Hestia and Bell began their walk back toward the old church. His eyes followed their every step, ensuring no other threats targeted them. Once he was certain they were safe, he quietly retreated into a shadowed alley.

There, Shirou took a deep breath, releasing the Presence Concealment he had maintained. The mask and cloak of Hassan dissipated into particles of prana, vanishing. Now back to his identity as Shirou Emiya, he calmly walked toward Twilight Manor, though his mind was still filled with what he had just witnessed.

In his thoughts, Shirou pondered. This War Game was clearly a battle between the small, weak Hestia Familia and the much stronger, larger Apollo Familia. He felt trapped in this situation—he couldn't help directly without breaking the rules that barred other Familia from intervening. How could he assist Bell without involving the Loki Familia?

After a long journey, Shirou finally arrived at the gates of Twilight Manor. As he approached, he saw Aiz standing there, waiting for him patiently. The setting sun illuminated her face, enhancing the natural grace she always exuded.

As Shirou drew near, Aiz turned, her calm and attentive gaze meeting his. "Are you alright?" Aiz asked softly. "Did anyone discover your identity?"

Shirou smiled faintly, a little relieved by Aiz's concern. "I'm fine," he replied, shaking his head. "I only watched from a distance. It seems Hestia was cornered into challenging Apollo to a War Game."

Aiz fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "It's an unfair fight," she said quietly, almost to herself.

Shirou understood the difficulty Bell and Hestia were facing. "I want to help them," Shirou murmured. "But this is a duel between the Hestia Familia and the Apollo Familia. Interference from outsiders won't be allowed."

Aiz looked deeply into Shirou's eyes, as if trying to read his thoughts. "You don't like just being a spectator, do you?" she asked gently.

Shirou nodded. "I can't just stand by when I know someone needs help. But this time... I don't know how."

Aiz remained quiet, contemplating his words, before finally saying, "Maybe there's another way... We just need to think about it."

Aiz sighed softly before starting her story. "Actually, I've been secretly training Bell for the past few weeks."

Shirou was surprised to hear this. "Why didn't I know about this?" he asked, curious.

Aiz turned toward Shirou, her usual calm expression in place. "I've been training him at dawn," she replied in a gentle voice. "Usually, you're teaching Riveria in the warehouse at that time, so you wouldn't have noticed."

Shirou fell silent, reflecting on what he just heard. He knew Bell was training hard, but he hadn't imagined that Aiz was quietly involved in Bell's progress. After a moment, he spoke again. "But, Aiz... you need to be careful. If this is discovered by others, especially Apollo Familia, they might accuse Loki Familia of interfering in Bell's preparations. That would cause big trouble."

Aiz looked at Shirou seriously and nodded slightly. "I know. That's why I've kept it secret. I always make sure no one sees us," she said. She appeared calm, but a trace of concern could be seen in her eyes.

Shirou nodded, though his worry remained. "That's good, but you have to be really careful. I don't want you getting into trouble just for helping Bell."

Aiz gave a faint smile, a small smile crossing her face, and then said, "I'll be cautious. Besides, Tiona and Tione know about this too. They can help me divert Bell to a secret training spot if I need to handle it directly."

Shirou looked at Aiz with respect. He knew that Aiz had a deep sense of sympathy for Bell, even if she didn't express it outright. In his heart, Shirou felt relieved that Bell had someone like Aiz to help him, but he was also aware of the great risk Aiz was taking.

"Well then, I'll leave it to you," Shirou said at last. "I trust that you and Bell can handle this. But if you ever need help... I'm here."

Aiz only nodded in response. The two then fell into a quiet moment, enjoying the peace between them amidst the great concerns they both faced.

Shirou and Aiz walked together toward Twilight Manor, both lost in their thoughts after the long conversation about Bell and the challenge of the War Game that Apollo Familia had just declared. That brief calm was broken when they were about to enter the mansion. Bell's voice could be heard from outside, calling out Aiz's name, asking to meet her.

Aiz immediately felt anxious, her expression becoming tense. "What is he doing here?" she muttered softly. Shirou could see the worry in her eyes.

But before Aiz could step outside, Tione, who was near the door, stepped forward, glancing outside toward Bell. With a smirk on her face, Tione lightly patted Aiz's shoulder. "Relax, Aiz. Just go to the quiet alley. I'll tell Bell where to go."

Aiz nodded slightly, then bid farewell to Shirou with a look of concern. "I'll meet Bell in the alley later."

Shirou could only nod and say, "Be careful, Aiz."

As Aiz walked toward the alley suggested by Tione, Tione stepped outside, approaching Bell, who was still calling out for Aiz.

Tione asked in a gruff tone, "What are you doing here?"

Bell was surprised by Tione's sudden harshness, as she was usually kind to him. "I just want to see Aiz, even if only for a moment."

With firm steps, she walked toward Bell and quickly grabbed him by the collar with both hands. Effortlessly, she lifted him a few inches off the ground.

Bell was shocked, unprepared for such rough treatment. "E-eh?! Tione, wait! I just want to see Aiz!" he exclaimed in a panic.

Tione lowered her voice as she brought her face closer to Bell's. "Listen, kid. If you want to meet Aiz, not here. She'll be waiting for you in a quiet alley, away from prying eyes." Her voice was a mix of teasing and seriousness.

Bell nodded nervously, still hanging in the air. "O-okay, got it."

After making sure Bell understood, Tione lowered him roughly and told him to leave. "Don't stay here too long. And keep this secret."

Shirou, who had been observing from a distance, could only nod to himself, trusting his friends' plan. He knew they were all doing this to ensure Loki Familia wasn't suspected of interfering in the War Game. Even though Shirou still felt uneasy, he chose not to interfere further, especially since Finn had already warned him.

"Aiz can handle this," Shirou thought, before finally deciding to rest and trust his friends with their plan.

After that, Shirou helped with cooking in the kitchen. He started serving dishes at the dining table in Twilight Manor. But as he noticed the seats filling up with other members of Loki Familia, his attention was drawn to one empty seat. Aiz, who was usually already seated and eagerly waiting for Shirou's cooking, was nowhere to be seen.

Shirou smiled to himself, thinking, "Aiz must be training Bell intensively for the War Game." He knew how seriously Aiz took helping Bell improve his abilities.

With care, Shirou prepared a large portion for Aiz. He arranged it nicely and placed it on a tray. Then, he carried it to Aiz's room, making sure the food stayed warm. Upon arriving at her door, Shirou set the tray down, thinking that Aiz might return late after a long training session.

As Shirou was about to leave, Lefiya appeared from the corridor, heading toward her room. She saw Shirou placing the food in front of Aiz's door and immediately asked with a frown, "Why hasn't Aiz come back? Is she still out?"

At first, Shirou hesitated to answer, but after thinking for a moment, he remembered that Lefiya probably already knew about Aiz's relationship with Bell and the training they'd been doing. In a calm tone, Shirou replied, "It seems Aiz is training Bell for the War Game."

Lefiya's face immediately turned into a deeper frown. "Ugh, Bell again? Why is he taking up so much of Aiz's time lately?" she said with frustration, though there was a hint of concern behind her complaint. "Bell better win. Otherwise, he'll only embarrass Aiz."

Her tone sounded like a threat, but Shirou knew Lefiya was actually worried. She hid her anxiety behind her stern attitude. Shirou smiled gently, responding to her tough exterior, knowing how much she cared.

"Don't worry, Lefiya," Shirou said calmly. "Bell will do his best. And Aiz, as usual, will make sure he's ready."

Lefiya huffed softly, but she seemed a bit more at ease. "Yeah, I hope so. Bell can't disappoint Aiz." As she continued walking, she glanced back at the food Shirou had prepared for Aiz. Despite her frown, it was clear that Lefiya noticed how much Shirou cared for his friends.

Shirou watched her leave, feeling relieved that he had managed to calm Lefiya a bit, though he knew her jealousy toward Bell was likely still there.

Shirou returned to his room after dinner. Physical and mental fatigue weighed on him. He undressed and lay down on his bed, trying to close his eyes. But his mind spun ceaselessly, like a wheel that couldn't stop turning. Thoughts of Bell kept flashing in his mind, leaving Shirou frustrated as he tried to figure out how he could help Bell in the upcoming War Game.

Lying in bed, Shirou stared at the ceiling. His thoughts scattered, considering various possibilities and scenarios. He desperately hoped the War Game chosen would be a one-on-one duel, not a large-scale battle involving many Familia members. That would be the best chance for Bell—if it were a direct duel, Bell might still have a shot at victory, especially with the training he'd undergone with Aiz and the support from Hestia Familia.

However, a nagging worry haunted Shirou. If Apollo Familia chose another form of the War Game, like a large-scale battle that would humiliate Hestia Familia with sheer numbers, Bell's chances would dwindle. Shirou knew that Apollo Familia had many members and far more resources. Bell, though strong, was just one person up against a much larger and more experienced Familia.

In his mind, the worst-case scenario began to form. "What if Bell loses?" As a hero who always wanted to protect others, Shirou couldn't accept that thought. The sense of responsibility to help Bell and Hestia Familia, even though he technically couldn't interfere openly, felt like a burden too heavy to bear.

In a small corner of his heart, Shirou began to consider something more extreme. "If there's no other way..." he thought with determination. "I'll step in myself. I'll hide my identity again and take down Apollo Familia one by one."

He knew such an action would be risky. Breaking the rules would create major problems. But if the situation truly spiraled out of control, he couldn't just stand by and let his friends be crushed by Apollo Familia's tyranny.

Slowly, Shirou closed his eyes, trying to sleep. But his heart remained restless. He knew, whatever path he chose—whether to let Bell fight on his own or to take extreme measures to bring down Apollo Familia from the shadows—would come with serious consequences.

But Shirou was prepared. No matter what happened, he wouldn't let Bell or Hestia be dragged into ruin without doing something.