The sky was pouring with rain.
The rain was as cold as ice, washing everything away.
Emiya Shirou suddenly opened his eyes.
The wooden ceiling came into view, and the warm touch of a blanket and quilt enveloped his body. The wounds all over his body tingled, as if they were healing at an extraordinary speed.
This place was unlike any scene from his memories—it was a wooden cabin he had never seen before.
The bright moonlight shone through a nearby window, illuminating the boy's well-defined features and his fiery red hair.
"Where is this...?"
He recalled everything that had happened.
———
He had clearly died, yet he had come back to life in this world, and his body had reverted to that of a child.
Moreover, from the moment he woke up, he had been imprisoned in a dungeon.
Those people seemed to be part of an organization called the "Evilus," which was involved in human trafficking.
He seized an opportunity, projected the key he have seen the guard carrying. Though doing so he nearly vomited blood as his full body was on fire after using projection. He didn't project any weapons, find opportunity and took the weapon from the man guarding him, and decisively killed him.
Although his body had returned to that of a child, and the strength he had trained for were gone, his projection magicraft his combat skills, awareness, and, most importantly, his resolve remained deeply engraved in his soul.
But with this injured body projecting swords or anything would be nigh impossible.
Later, he tried to escape but was caught by someone far stronger than any human should be.
The man boasted,"I'm a Level 3 upper-tier adventurer, you little brat who doesn't know when to quit," as he beat Shirou to a pulp.
However, due to internal disputes, the man didn't kill him outright.
"This little bastard killed one of ours. I'm going to chop him into mincemeat and feed him to the monsters."
"Wait, this kid doesn't have a God's Blessing, yet he managed to kill a Level 1 adventurer. Such talent would be wasted if we just killed him..."
They argued over what to do with the boy, but soon, they no longer needed to worry.
A sharp gust of wind swept in.
A woman wielding a katana, wearing a mask and hood, slaughtered the Evilus members. In front of her, they seemed weaker than children. The man who had proudly boasted about being "Level 3" didn't even have time to react before his head was severed.
The swordswoman fought fiercely in the Evilus's hideout. Despite being injured by traps, she swiftly dealt with all her enemies. Finally, she arrived before the unconscious boy, hesitated for a moment, and then carried the severely wounded child on her back.
———
"I was saved by her, wasn't I?" Back in the present, Shirou looked at his slender arms. His child's body was still too weak. More importantly, he had a little magical energy left, though he couldn't sense the presence of his magical circuits, he was sure if he tried later after recovering, he can use his signature Projection Magecraft.
He slowly tried to sit up but immediately lay back down.
Intense pain shot through his body. With difficulty, he lifted the blanket and checked the bandages wrapped around his abdomen. It seemed he had received proper treatment.
His left arm was definitely broken, and a few ribs were likely fractured as well. There were probably other minor injuries too.
"My injuries should have been more severe, and... ouch..."
The pain and itch in his left arm made him inhale sharply. His intuition and experience told him that his bones were healing at an unnatural speed.
"Ah, you're awake. That's great."
With the sound of the door opening, a girl walked in.
"Who are you...?"
"Ah, you should get up slowly. Although your legs aren't seriously injured, you still need to be careful. Even with the use of 'Elixir,' such severe injuries won't heal quickly."
The girl carried a wooden bucket filled with warm water. She had light silver hair and eyes of the same color. Her gentle voice carried an ethereal quality that didn't match her appearance.
She wore what seemed to be a maid or shopkeeper's uniform and smiled at the boy,"My name is Syr, Syr Flova."
'Is she the one who saved me? No, probably not.',Shirou recalled that the swordswoman was someone else. However, the girl before him must have been the one who helped treat his injuries.
"My name is Emiya, Emiya Shirou."
"Emiya? That sounds like a name from the Eastern countries. Can I call you Shirou-kun?"
"Ah, uh, sure."
Shirou's current appearance was that of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old. Syr's affectionate and cute way of addressing him wasn't inappropriate, but for someone with the soul of an adult, it was a bit embarrassing.
"You've been asleep for a whole day."
"A whole day...?",Shirou wasn't surprised by this. His only thought was, 'I survived.'
'And what about the swordswoman who had saved me? How is she doing now?'
Syr soaked a towel in warm water and gently wiped Shirou's face. Her light silver eyes met Shirou's as she began to explain the current situation.
Shirou didn't avoid her gaze. The gentle and kind smile of this lovely girl reminded him of his sister named "Miyu" from his past.
A "country girl" or "girl next door" might be the best way to describe her, giving off a sense of everyday comfort.
"This is the tavern where I work. I found you and another elf girl collapsed in an alley and brought you here—"
"Is she okay?",Shirou immediately asked.
"Ah, her injuries are more severe." Syr replied,"She hasn't woken up yet... Shirou, do you know her name?"
"No, I was just saved by her...",the boy answered.
Syr nodded,"I see... Then, Shirou, do you remember where your home is?"
The boy fell silent for a moment, "It should be very far away... No, there probably isn't a home for me here anymore."
Syr was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought up something painful for you...",Syr said.
"No, it's not that..." Realizing his words had caused a misunderstanding but unsure how to explain, Shirou was momentarily at a loss.
A deep voice broke the awkward atmosphere.
"Is the kid awake?"
The newcomer was a tall woman—not just tall, but also very strong, exuding a powerful presence.
She had earthy brown hair tied up, and both her facial features and physique gave off a bold and hearty impression.
"Yes, Mama. His name is Emiya Shirou. Shirou, this is Mama Mia, the owner of the tavern where I work."
'The tavern owner?' For some reason, Shirou felt a prickling sensation, as if he were standing before a powerful Heroic Spirit known for their strength... It was probably just his imagination.
"Honestly, we're short on hands right now, and you keep bringing in all sorts of strays like stray cats and dogs..." Mia sighed and complained, while Syr quickly walked over and gently tugged on the owner's apron.
"What is it?" Mia asked, puzzled. Syr leaned in and whispered something into her ear.
"...Sigh." Mia let out a long sigh and walked over to Shirou, placing a large hand on his head.
'Hmm, such strength...' Shirou was momentarily confused.
"Since that's the case, you'll stay here for now son. We're short on staff, so you'll work as a handyman. You'll work until you've paid off the cost of your food, lodging, and the Elixir."
"Okay, sure." Shirou replied.
"Honestly, this kid is one thing, but you really shouldn't have brought back that elf who's clearly trouble." Mia grumbled as she ruffled Shirou's head.
"But, Mama Mia, you agreed to it at the time, didn't you?"
Mia just kept sighing, while Syr smiled.
'This Mama Mia, though her words are harsh, is really a good person.' Shirou thought to himself.
"By the way, since you and that elf are together, starting tomorrow, you'll be taking care of her."
"But Mama Mia, Shirou is still injured..."
"We'll send him to the Healing Familia for a quick healing spell. Syr, you've already spent a whole day on this kid and that elf. Starting tomorrow, get back to work!"
"Yes~"
And so, Emiya Shirou took on the task of caring for the elf girl, and from Mama Mia, he learned her name.
Ryuu Lion.
———
"So, that's how it is..."
Over the past two days, while tending to Ryuu by her bedside, Shirou had been gathering information about this world through various means.
This seemed to be a fantasy-style alternate world. Besides humans, there were elves, beastmen, dwarves, amazons, and prums. For example, the sleeping beauty before him, Ryuu, was an elf with delicate features and long, pointed ears.
It was worth noting that Mama Mia's race was actually a dwarf, even though she was taller than many humans and elves. She was probably a special individual among her kind.
In addition to the various races, this world was also home to monsters that threatened human lives. These monsters came from the Dungeon, above which was the labyrinth city of Orario, known as the center of the world. This was where he currently was, and it was also where the gods of the heavens descended and gathered.
Those who entered the Dungeon to hunt monsters were called adventurers. Orario was home to many gods who had sealed their divine powers and descended to seek "entertainment." Adventurers could form contracts with these gods by receiving their blood, becoming part of their Familia, thereby unlocking their potential and gaining extraordinary powers, even achieving a higher level of existence.
The man from the Evilus had proudly said, "I'm a Level 3 upper-tier adventurer," because in this world, Level 3 was indeed an impressive achievement. Over half of the adventurers in Orario were at the lowest level, Level 1, and the proportion was even greater worldwide.
In an ordinary country outside Orario, a Level 3 adventurer could hold positions like "Knight Commander" or "City Lord."
So, what level was Ryuu, who had beheaded a Level 3 adventurer with a single strike...?