Chapter 55

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After breakfast was finished, Shirou quickly began cleaning the kitchen and dining room. He was used to this routine—clearing dirty plates, wiping down tables, and tidying up after the members of the Loki Familia had finished eating. Although this task might seem tedious to some, for Shirou, it was a moment of reflection and peace, especially since he enjoyed the simplicity of these daily chores.

Lefiya, who had just finished her breakfast as well, noticed Shirou busy with his work and immediately offered her help. "Shirou, may I help you?" Lefiya asked with a gentle smile. Shirou turned and happily accepted her offer. "Of course, Lefiya. Thank you for helping me so often," Shirou said sincerely. He always appreciated Lefiya's assistance, as she frequently came to the kitchen to help him with various tasks.

The two worked quietly, cleaning the dishes and wiping the tables efficiently. Although Lefiya was usually clumsy in many things, she was surprisingly skillful in helping around the kitchen, and Shirou felt fortunate to have such a reliable friend.

Once everything was done and the dining area and kitchen were back in order, Shirou had an idea to prepare something special. "I was thinking of making a snack for later while we watch the War Game," he said to Lefiya as he tidied up the last of the utensils. "Popcorn would be perfect for the occasion."

Lefiya, who had never heard the word "popcorn" before, looked at Shirou curiously. "Popcorn? What's that?" she asked, her innocent expression making Shirou smile. "I've never heard of that food before." With growing curiosity, Lefiya moved closer and offered her help again. "Can I help you make it?"

Shirou smiled, happy with Lefiya's enthusiasm. "Of course, I'll show you. Popcorn is made from corn kernels that are heated until they pop and turn into a crispy snack," Shirou explained while taking out some corn kernels from the kitchen pantry.

Lefiya watched attentively as Shirou prepared a pot and heated the corn kernels over the fire. It didn't take long before the first "pop" was heard, causing Lefiya to jump in surprise. Shirou chuckled at her reaction. "That's the best part," Shirou said. "After a while, all the kernels will pop and turn into popcorn."

Lefiya continued to watch in amazement as the small corn kernels transformed into a fluffy, crispy pile of popcorn. "Wow... this is really incredible," she said, her voice full of wonder. "I never imagined corn could turn into something like this. I've never eaten anything like it before." When Shirou offered her a handful of popcorn to taste, Lefiya eagerly grabbed a few pieces and popped them into her mouth. "Hmm... this is so good! It's crunchy and soft," she said, her eyes lighting up.

Shirou smiled warmly at the compliment. "In the world I come from, popcorn is really popular. We usually eat it when watching movies in the theater," Shirou explained, his voice carrying a bit of nostalgia. "I used to go to the movies with Taiga—someone like an older sister to me—and we would always buy popcorn before the movie started. It was kind of a little tradition we had."

Lefiya listened intently to Shirou's story, continuing to munch on the popcorn. She could feel the warmth and memories in every word Shirou spoke, making her smile softly. "It sounds like you have many fond memories from your world," she said gently.

Shirou nodded, feeling a bit nostalgic as he thought of Taiga and his old life. But at that moment, he was happy to share these memories and little traditions with his friends in this new world.

With renewed enthusiasm, Lefiya and Shirou continued making popcorn. They worked together skillfully, stirring the corn kernels as they popped over the fire, filling the kitchen with the soft sound of popping and the tempting aroma of fresh popcorn. Once the batch of popcorn was ready, Shirou grabbed several large bowls, and they began seasoning the popcorn to create different flavors.

Lefiya sprinkled cheese flavor on one bowl, while Shirou prepared caramel flavor for another. They also made a bowl of classic salted popcorn, and even experimented with a spicy version to surprise everyone. Each bowl was labeled with its flavor and neatly arranged so everyone could choose their favorite later. Once everything was ready, they carefully carried the bowls and prepared to take the popcorn to the meeting room, where the main members of the Loki Familia had already gathered to watch the War Game.

When Shirou and Lefiya arrived at the meeting room, the atmosphere was lively. Finn and Gareth sat calmly in their chairs, while Riveria, Tiona, and Tione had chosen to sit together on a long couch in the middle of the room. Aiz and Bete stood by a large window, looking at the giant circular screen that had started to appear in the sky, showing the beginning of the War Game. It seemed like everyone was ready to watch the battle with great excitement.

Bete, with his usual arrogant attitude, turned when he saw Shirou and Lefiya enter the room. "You're late," he said in a slightly dismissive tone, his eyes glancing at them with a bored expression, as if their presence wasn't particularly important.

However, Lefiya wasn't about to be outdone. She responded to Bete with a cheerful yet firm voice, smiling widely. "We're not late, we were just making some tasty snacks for everyone!" she said playfully. "But if you keep complaining like that, Bete, maybe we won't give you even a single bite!" she teased, not seriously threatening him.

Aiz, standing beside Bete, glanced curiously at the large bowls Shirou and Lefiya were carrying. "What is that?" she asked softly, her eyes shining with interest. When Shirou explained that it was popcorn with various flavors, Aiz didn't hesitate. She grabbed a handful from each bowl and started tasting them one by one. Her face quickly showed a satisfied expression. "Delicious," she said with a nod, enjoying every flavor she tried.

Seeing Aiz's positive reaction, the other Familia members became curious. Finn, sitting calmly in his chair, looked at the popcorn with interest, while Tiona and Tione quickly joined Aiz to try some of the flavors. Even Gareth, who hadn't shown much interest at first, eventually grabbed a bowl and tried the spicy popcorn. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the snack, and the atmosphere in the room began to feel more relaxed.

Shirou and Lefiya placed the large popcorn bowls on the central table, making sure everyone could sample their favorite flavor. "Don't worry," Shirou said with a gentle smile, "there's plenty for everyone. We made a lot." Lefiya nodded in agreement beside him, happy to see their hard work being welcomed with enthusiasm by everyone.

With the popcorn now available, the members of Loki Familia were ready to watch the War Game while enjoying the delicious snack. What had initially been a serious atmosphere now shifted into a more relaxed and warm one, thanks to Shirou and Lefiya's contribution of sweet and savory treats to the big moment.

Having enjoyed a few bites of popcorn herself, Lefiya decided to sit on the long couch next to her mentor, Riveria, to comfortably watch the War Game. She adjusted her cloak before sitting down and focused on the large screen suspended in the air, ready to watch the unfolding battle.

Shirou, who had remained standing after bringing the popcorn into the room, noticed that all the seats had been taken. He planned to stand in the corner, not wanting to trouble anyone. However, Lefiya, noticing this, quickly shifted a little in her seat and made space next to her. "Shirou-san, come sit here," she invited with a gentle smile, gesturing to the small area she had made.

Shirou hesitated for a moment but finally decided to accept Lefiya's offer. He sat down beside her, right between Lefiya and Riveria. The space was indeed tight, and without realizing it, his shoulders and thighs touched both of them. Although sitting felt a bit cramped, Shirou tried his best to stay comfortable.

"Sorry for making it cramped," Shirou said politely, feeling a little awkward due to the close proximity with both of them.

Lefiya turned to him and quickly replied, "It's no problem, Shirou-san." The smile on her face reassured Shirou, helping him feel more at ease. Lefiya herself seemed comfortable sitting close to Shirou, and she appeared happy to be sharing a seat with him.

Next to Shirou, Riveria sat calmly, her face showing no change in expression. Although she appeared composed on the outside, deep inside, she felt a bit pleased to be sitting beside Shirou. The feelings she had been hiding all this time remained guarded behind her serene demeanor. Riveria was used to concealing her emotions, but at this moment, the physical closeness to Shirou stirred her emotions slightly.

As he sat between Lefiya and Riveria, Shirou tried to focus on the screen in front of them, though the awareness of his physical closeness to the two women lingered in his mind. The room grew quieter as the War Game began on the large screen, with everyone's attention drawn to the battle. Despite feeling awkward at first, Shirou eventually calmed down and began to enjoy the moment with his friends.

On the large screen hanging in the air, a figure of an Elf appeared standing outside the fortress of the Apollo Familia. Her short green hair and partially masked face were visible, and she wore a sleeveless white shirt. Shirou, seated between Lefiya and Riveria, immediately recognized the figure. Although her disguise was effective for most people, Shirou knew exactly who that Elf was.

Ryuu, the waitress who usually worked at the Hostess of Fertility, had now appeared as a fearless warrior on the screen. In both hands, she held two Magic Swords—extraordinarily powerful enchanted weapons. One sword glowed red, while the other shone blue. Shirou, already aware of Ryuu's abilities, remained captivated by how she carried herself on the battlefield.

With a cold and confident demeanor, Ryuu stood before the enemy fortress. She looked ready to challenge anyone who dared to face her. On top of the fortress walls, members of the Apollo Familia spotted Ryuu and quickly took their positions. Without hesitation, they began raining arrows down on her. A barrage of arrows flew through the air, aimed directly at the lone Elf.

Without hesitation, Ryuu raised her red Magic Sword. A burst of fire erupted along the blade, and instantly, the arrows flying toward her were incinerated in midair before they could reach their target. The heat from the sword created a fiery barrier, protecting Ryuu from the long-range attack. When some Apollo Familia soldiers attempted to flank her from the sides, Ryuu skillfully wielded her blue Magic Sword. Lightning crackled from the blade, striking anyone who dared to approach, electrocuting them and knocking them to the ground before they could get close.

In the meeting room, the atmosphere became tense yet filled with awe. All eyes were fixed on Ryuu's extraordinary actions—despite being alone, she was able to fend off so many enemy soldiers. Finn, usually calm, stared at the screen intently.

"It seems that Elf is just a diversion," Finn commented seriously, showing his sharp strategic mind. He recognized that, though Ryuu played a major role in battling the enemy, her bold actions might be intended to distract Apollo Familia and shift their focus away from the main plan.

Lefiya, sitting next to Shirou, couldn't contain her admiration. As a fellow Elf, she felt proud seeing another Elf stand so strong and brave on the battlefield. "That Elf is incredible... I feel proud," she whispered, full of admiration. However, after a moment, her awe turned into confusion. "But… that Elf looks familiar. Like the waitress at the Hostess of Fertility."

Shirou, who already knew exactly who the Elf was, smiled awkwardly at Lefiya's comment. He tried to stifle his laughter, though inside, he felt a little concerned. "I think I need to remind Ryuu to improve her disguise," Shirou thought to himself. Despite Ryuu wearing a mask and different clothing, it seemed it wasn't enough to hide her identity from those who observed her closely.

Sitting between them, Shirou could only hope that no one became too suspicious of Ryuu's true identity. Although she appeared calm and modest as a waitress, it was clear she possessed tremendous strength and courage beneath her unassuming appearance.

Most of Apollo Familia's members were now thoroughly distracted by Ryuu's presence. The Elf's bold stance, standing alone in front of their fortress while defying attacks from all sides, had successfully drawn much of the enemy forces out of their defensive positions. The arrows that had once rained down on Ryuu were no longer effective, and with each failed attack, more and more Apollo Familia soldiers abandoned their posts to face Ryuu directly.

Ryuu, after using the power of her two Magic Swords until their strength was exhausted, causing them to dissolve into dust, drew a much simpler weapon: an ordinary-looking wooden sword. However, despite its simplicity, this wooden sword was a weapon Ryuu often used to defeat her enemies. Swiftly and skillfully, Ryuu used the wooden sword to fight off and defeat the Apollo Familia soldiers who tried to surround her. Her movements were quick and precise, each strike targeting the weak points of her opponents, causing them to fall one by one without being able to retaliate.

As Ryuu was busy fighting off the enemies swarming her, sudden help arrived from the side. Mikoto, who was also involved in the War Game, came in with swift and confident movements. She stood beside Ryuu, ready to provide support. With Mikoto's presence, the enemy's attention became even more divided. Mikoto quickly began chanting her spell, concentrating deeply, and when she finished, she invoked her spell, Futsunomitama.

Once her spell was cast, Mikoto used the power of Futsunomitama to create a strong gravitational field. With a single motion, her opponents in the surrounding area were slammed to the ground by the sudden surge in gravity, causing them to be dragged forcefully to the ground. They lay trapped, unable to move despite their best efforts to stand. With Mikoto and Ryuu now holding a major advantage, most of the Apollo Familia members trying to surround them were caught in Mikoto's gravitational force.

Meanwhile, in the Loki Familia meeting room, the atmosphere grew even more intense. Every member of the Familia watched the screen intently, following every move on the battlefield. Amid the tension, Gareth, seated comfortably and enjoying the spicy popcorn that Shirou and Lefiya had brought, appeared more relaxed.

Gareth grabbed another handful of spicy popcorn, popped it into his mouth, and chewed casually before offering his comment. "Those young ones... they need to keep up that spirit," he said with a small smile. Though he was older than most of the adventurers in the room, Gareth felt proud seeing the courage and dedication of Mikoto and Ryuu on the battlefield. Their fighting spirit reminded Gareth of his youth, when he fought with the same vigor.

The other members of Loki Familia remained glued to the screen, closely watching every detail of the unfolding battle. The fight continued, and with Mikoto and Ryuu successfully diverting Apollo Familia's attention, the larger plan to conquer the enemy fortress seemed to be progressing in their favor. Shirou could only smile softly, proud to see his friends performing so brilliantly.

Suddenly, the massive gate of Apollo Familia's fortress, which had been securely locked, began to move. The heavy rumbling of metal caught everyone's attention on the battlefield, as their eyes shifted to the slowly opening gate. All of Apollo Familia's members, who had been focused on Ryuu and Mikoto outside the fortress, immediately realized that something was wrong.

From behind the gate, a pallum walked calmly, wearing the distinctive uniform of Apollo Familia. With confident steps, he approached the gate's mechanism and unlocked it, opening the gate completely. However, the shocking part of this event was that the pallum was not one of Apollo's soldiers. It was Lily. Using her Cinder Ella magic, Lily had disguised herself as a member of Apollo Familia, successfully infiltrating the fortress undetected.

After ensuring the gate was fully open, Lily quickly stopped her Cinder Ella magic, reverting to her original form as a supporter of the Hestia Familia. Bell and Welf, who had been waiting outside, swiftly slipped in without much resistance. They knew this was a golden opportunity to strike from within, thanks to Lily's success in opening the enemy's main defensive gate.

Bell sighed in relief once he made it inside the fortress. "Thank you, Lily," he said gratefully, patting the shoulder of his reliable small friend. Welf also nodded with appreciation. "You're amazing, Lily," he added proudly. Lily, now back in her true form, blushed shyly but was clearly satisfied that her plan had worked perfectly.

Meanwhile, in the Loki Familia's meeting room, all eyes were watching the screen showing the events on the battlefield. Tione, watching Lily, Bell, and Welf's actions, immediately broke into a wide smile. She was both impressed and proud of their captain Finn's prediction, which had foreseen this as part of the diversion.

Tione enthusiastically praised Finn, "You're a genius, Captain! Just as you said, they used the diversion to open the gate from the inside," she said, smiling with admiration. Her eyes sparkled, filled with admiration for her beloved captain who always predicted enemy movements with precision.

Finn, sitting calmly in his chair, gave a small nod, not eager to show off his skills. He knew victory wasn't guaranteed yet, and much could still happen on the battlefield. However, he was pleased that his prediction about the diversion was accurate. So far, Hestia Familia's plan seemed to be going smoothly.

Next to Shirou, Riveria remained composed as usual. Gracefully, she enjoyed some cheese-flavored popcorn, her eyes still focused on the screen. "It seems true," Riveria agreed with Tione's statement. "That diversion was a smart strategy." Though Riveria's comment was simple, her tone was filled with conviction, showing she, too, was impressed by the success of the plan.

The atmosphere in the Loki Familia meeting room remained serious, though there were occasional smiles and admiration for what they saw on the screen. Everyone now eagerly awaited Bell and Welf's next move, hoping the well-executed strategy would lead them to victory in the War Game.

Tiona, watching attentively, let out a small sigh before giving her comment. "They can't win yet, not until they defeat the captain of Apollo Familia," she said seriously. Although Bell and Welf had successfully infiltrated the fortress and were making progress, Tiona knew victory wouldn't come easily as long as the opposing captain still stood strong.

Riveria nodded in agreement, her eyes remaining focused on the large screen displaying the battlefield. "It seems the captain of Apollo Familia is hiding in the central tower," she said calmly. "As long as he's not defeated, this battle is far from over." Riveria's observations were always accurate, and she could sense that Bell and Welf were headed toward a much tougher challenge.

On the screen, Bell and Welf were seen running toward the tower Riveria had mentioned. Apollo Familia's forces continued to block their path, but Welf, with his strength and resolve, decided to act as Bell's shield.

Bravely, Welf confronted the enemy forces, using his Will-o-Wisp magic to manipulate the fire from the enemy's attacks. With a quick move, Welf reversed the fire magic back at the Apollo Familia soldiers, causing the flames to strike them. After holding them off with magic, Welf swung his Greatsword with full force, breaking through the obstacles and enemies in front of him, giving Bell the chance to continue toward the tower unhindered.

Bell pressed forward at high speed, while Welf ensured that none of Apollo's forces could chase or stop him. This was a fight demanding speed, strength, and perseverance. In the Loki Familia's meeting room, all eyes were fixed on the screen. Even Bete, who was usually cynical toward Bell, couldn't hold back his comment this time.

"That kid... he wants to face the enemy captain alone," Bete muttered, a rare tone of respect in his voice. "He's really becoming a man." Bete, known for his roughness and never being easily impressed, acknowledged Bell's bravery with an unusual sense of admiration.

Shirou, seated in his chair, also recognized Bell's intention. He knew Bell wanted to prove his worth by facing the captain of Apollo Familia alone. Inwardly, Shirou reflected for a moment. "If Ryuu were the one fighting Apollo's captain, it would be easy for her," he thought. "Apollo's captain is only Level 3, while Ryuu is at least Level 4." Though Shirou knew that Ryuu could finish the battle quickly, he understood that this was Bell's fight. It was Bell's moment to prove himself.

On the screen, Bell finally reached the lower floor of the tower where the captain of Apollo Familia was hiding. Bell was panting, but his gaze was full of determination. He knew this battle would be his greatest test. Taking a deep breath, Bell activated Argonaut, the ability that enhanced his attack with a hero's aura. From Bell's body came the distinctive sound of ringing bells, signaling that Argonaut's power was awakening.

Bell prepared his ultimate attack. "Firebolt!" Bell shouted loudly, unleashing his magic, now strengthened by Argonaut. Bright blue and red flames surged from Bell's hand, racing toward the upper floor of the tower. The explosion of the empowered Firebolt shook the entire tower, causing lightning-like flashes to illuminate the surrounding sky. Bell had launched his most powerful strike, ready to face the captain of Apollo Familia with all the strength he possessed.

Everyone in the Loki Familia meeting room fell silent, waiting for the outcome of Bell's attack. Shirou could feel the tension in the air, but he knew one thing—Bell wouldn't give up until he won this fight.