Chapter 32. Haruhime, Holder of One of DanMachi's Most Broken Skills!
The Pleasure Quarter of Orario is a breeding ground for desire and a sanctuary for vice. Its brilliance serves as the sharpest irony against the sanctity of Babel.
The moment Shirou Emiya stepped through the gates of the Amethyst Pavilion, he was enveloped by a scent of perfume so thick it was stifling, mingled with the heavy aroma of money. The place was opulent to the extreme; the glare from the crystal chandeliers was piercing, and every table and decoration seemed to scream, "I am expensive." The air hummed with decadent music and the cloying sweetness of alcohol.
This atmosphere was a textbook opening for a "hidden world" dungeon instance—the difficulty level was spiking.
"Target confirmed: Third floor, Amethyst Pavilion, second room in the left wing. Finn, starting infiltration mode."
Shirou spoke softly through the miniature communication magic hidden in his collar. He fought to maintain his "noble guard" persona, expressionlessly rejecting the beautiful waitresses who approached him.
"Good luck, Emiya. Remember, if you're exposed, retreat immediately. Bete will be on the perimeter to back you up. Don't try to be a hero; your current mission is intelligence and rescue." Finn's voice sounded helpless and slightly tense; clearly, he knew Shirou's natural talent for stealth was roughly zero.
"Understood. My target is Haruhime. I'll avoid all unnecessary combat. I'm aiming to complete the mission within five minutes to avoid triggering the alarm."
Shirou took a deep breath and began his "stealth" journey.
In truth... this [Assassin] style of conduct was actually quite suited to Shirou Emiya.
After all, he was Kiritsugu's "apprentice"!
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Stealth Mode: Shirou's [Presence Concealment (Pseudo)] had been activated, but in this high-density "nightclub" map, the movements of NPCs and the patrol routes of guards were the biggest threats. Furthermore, his Level 2 presence would be as conspicuous as a lightbulb in the dark if scanned by a high-level mage.
Shirou's Talent: As a straightforward hero, Shirou's stealth talent was in the negatives. But as a precision killer (the result of Kiritsugu's education), he only needed one opening, a handy hidden blade, and a perfect understanding of "human anatomy."
Shirou wove elegantly through the crowd, pretending to search for a lost "noble lady." His [Mind's Eye (True)] was currently functioning as a radar system, scanning the Amethyst Pavilion's mana fluctuations, guard sightlines, and floor-level magic traps with total clarity. In his eyes, this extravagant venue was nothing more than a 3D map composed of red and green light points.
"Third floor. Level 3 guards. Two-minute patrol cycle."
Shirou calculated silently. His stealth strategy was simple: stay in the blind spots of all NPCs and remain absolutely silent.
When he reached the staircase leading to the third floor, he met his first challenge. Two guards in black suits with swords at their waists leaned against the railing, chatting. The muscle definition in their arms and the gear they carried marked them as well-trained Level 3 adventurers—no pushovers.
"Hey, heard the boss took a big order today?"
"Shh! Don't talk about that! That's 'forbidden cargo' even the Guild can't touch. The defense upstairs was boosted to Level 4, and even the air has magic barriers. Word is 'That Person' gave the order personally—zero mistakes allowed."
Shirou waited. Five seconds. Four. Three.
The moment they turned their backs to the stairs to resume their upward patrol—that perfect timing—was a Magus Killer's lifeline.
"Trace—On (Silent)."
Shirou's hands moved like phantoms. Two hidden blades (Short Daggers) projected from mana were thrown with surgical precision. These daggers were compact with extremely weak mana signatures—Kiritsugu's preferred tools for silent assassination.
Thud! Thud!
The blades didn't strike lethal spots but accurately hit the pressure points on their necks. This was the standard "Magus Killer" methodology: achieve total control with the least possible noise. The two guards didn't even have time to shout before they went limp, their massive frames collapsing silently onto the plush carpet.
"Cleaner, moving in." Shirou stepped forward quickly, dragging the guards' bodies and stuffing them into a closet under the stairs with the practiced ease of a veteran cleaning service employee. He even went as far as to seal the closet door with projected mana threads to ensure they wouldn't wake up prematurely.
"Honestly, I've stained my tuxedo again," Shirou grumbled softly. There was no helping it; this was Shirou Emiya—even during an assassination, his "housewife" instincts made him worry about leaving a mess.
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Third Floor, Corridor.
The defense level here was significantly higher. Faint magic barriers flowed through the air, acting as sensors for "infiltrators." Shirou's skin could feel the mana, thick as a spiderweb. If he hadn't been using [Presence Concealment (Pseudo)] to carefully suppress his mana fluctuations, the barrier would have detected him long ago.
"Target room: Left wing, ahead."
Shirou pressed against the wall. [Mind's Eye] revealed that the door had not only a physical lock but three layers of magic password locks. If he tried to break these with brute force, he would trigger the highest-level alarm.
"Trace—On (Analyze)."
Shirou pressed his fingers against the lock. Magic circuits instantly connected to the lock core. Level 2 mana, SSS-rank precision, plus the "cheat-tier" skill [Structural Analysis]. Before Shirou, no mechanical or magical lock held any secrets; their blueprints were infinitely magnified and dismantled in his mind.
Five seconds later. Click.
All locks were disengaged. This speed made even Riveria, listening in from Twilight Manor, furrow her brow.
Shirou pushed the door open soundlessly and slipped inside.
The interior was a stark contrast to the luxury outside. The room was dim, illuminated only by a solitary magic stone lamp casting a weak glow, and it was filled with a heart-wrenching sense of despair.
In the center of the room huddled a small figure.
"Haruhime...?"
Shirou approached.
It was a demi-human girl with soft long golden hair, fox ears, and nine fox tails. She wore a thin kimono, her frail body was trembling, and her eyes were red and swollen from crying.
"Don't... don't come any closer..." Haruhime let out a weak cry of terror at the sudden appearance of the black-clad man. In her golden eyes, characteristic of the Renard, was a look of total despair toward the world.
"Don't be afraid." Shirou deactivated his [Presence Concealment], revealing a gentle smile. He intentionally softened his voice, trying to soothe the terrified girl.
"I am Shirou Emiya of the Loki Familia. I've come to save you."
"Loki... Familia?" Haruhime froze, a flicker of disbelief in her eyes. The Loki Familia was a name synonymous with heroes.
"Yes." Shirou knelt down and took out the token given by the Guild—a badge engraved with the Guild crest—placing it gently on the ground.
"We know of your ability, and we know the truth of your captivity. Please, trust me and come with me. You deserve a better life."
Haruhime looked at the badge, then at the integrity in the boy's eyes—a light purer than diamonds.
"Are... are you a hero?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.
"No, I'm just a meddling idiot." Shirou smiled and reached out his hand. His palm was dry and warm, radiating strength.
"Come, let's go."
Just as Haruhime was trembling, preparing to place her hand in his—
"ALARM! ALARM! INTRUDER IN THE TARGET ROOM, THIRD FLOOR!"
A shrill alarm instantly tore through the silence of the Amethyst Pavilion. Red magical warning lights spread across the walls like veins.
"Dammit, exposed?" Shirou's expression shifted. His infiltration had been perfect—did he step on a trap? [Mind's Eye] scanned every corner of the room instantly but found no residue of magic traps.
"Hmph, did you really think we would let a Level 2 rookie walk so easily into a trap set by a Level 5?"
The door was kicked open violently. Three adventurers in high-grade light armor surged into the room, their pressure far greater than Dix's men.
The scarred leader's mana fluctuations clearly reached the threshold of Level 5.
"Loki Familia's 'Senji Muramasa,' right?" The scarred leader sneered, gripping a scimitar that emanated a dark aura.
"We've been waiting for you. Your companion already spilled the beans—that Supporter who ran off with you? For a few tens of thousands of Valis, she sold your location out completely."
This kind of lie had absolutely no effect on Shirou's heart. His expression didn't even flicker.
As an [Ally of Justice], he could forgive even a genuine betrayal, let alone a lie like this.
"Don't bother, Shirou Emiya." The scarred man waved a hand. "That was just a smokescreen. The real trap is the floor beneath your feet!"
BOOM—! The floor beneath Shirou exploded, and a massive magic circle lit up instantly, emitting a blinding blue light.
It wasn't a trap; it was—a Spatial Transfer Circle.
"Welcome to our private arena, 'Senji Muramasa'." Dix's voice came through the communicator, rasping with manic glee. It seemed the Level 5 trapmaster was spectating from a safe corner.
"Taste the feeling of being besieged by Level 4s and 5s! In that arena, only death is the end!"
Shirou suddenly realized he had been sold. It wasn't Lili who sold him out, but Finn and Loki—or rather, the Guild—using him as bait to draw out the high-ranking members of the Dark Guild! Though it was for the greater good, the feeling of being treated as a disposable pawn made him incredibly angry.
"Dammit! Am I just a consumable?!" Shirou grit his teeth, scooped Haruhime into his arms, and his magic circuits began to run at an overloaded state.
"Trace—On! Steel is my body!"
He couldn't let Haruhime fall back into their hands. Since it was a trap, he would have to break through with pure violence!
"Trying to run? Keep dreaming!" The scarred man and the other two Level 4s attacked simultaneously. Black scimitars, spears, and magic arrows formed a seamless net of fire.
Shirou knew that in his current state, trying to tank a siege from Level 4s would last less than three seconds, even with [Structural Reinforcement].
Just as he was about to throw his last remaining high-mana projections to cause an explosion and buy time to escape the circle—
Hummmm—
A wind pressure colder and purer than the scarred leader's power descended instantly from the ceiling!
"What?!" Everyone was knocked back by this sudden force.
The chandelier was sliced through by a golden wind blade, and the massive crystal fell, crushing the head of the mage who was about to chant. This wasn't just justice from above; it was the perfect timing for a hidden plot trigger!
A golden silhouette landed gracefully between Shirou and the scarred man.
"Ais?"
Shirou's pupils shrunk as he stared in shock at the person who wasn't supposed to be here.
Ais Wallenstein, dressed in simple civilian clothes, gripped her iconic [Desperate Sword].
Her gaze was icy. She didn't look at anyone else; she only looked at the thugs attacking Shirou.
"My..."
Ais parted her lips. Her voice was small, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
"...training partner. Don't touch him."
"Y-You've got to be kidding me?! The 'Sword Princess' of the Loki Familia?!" Cold sweat broke out on the scarred man's forehead. The pressure of a Level 6 was enough to strike fear into any adventurer below Level 4. They thought they were catching a turtle in a jar, but they had hooked a dragon!
"Trace—On."
Shirou immediately understood Ais's intent. This was no coincidence—this was the hidden BOSS coming to save the day!
He set Haruhime down (hiding her in a corner and protecting her temporarily with a projected wire fence), and the black and white twin blades were projected into his hands instantly.
"Ais! I'll handle suppressive fire and control! Leave the frontal breakthrough to you! Watch out for the scarred guy, he's Level 5!"
"Mm." Ais gave a brief response and charged forward like golden lightning.
Skill Activation!
An emerald whirlwind enveloped Ais's blade. With Shirou's precision fire support, her attacks became even more relentless. She no longer had any reservations; her swordplay was as precise and lethal as art.
One attracted fire, the other reaped heads. One used "concepts" to create advantages, the other used "divine skills" to end the fight.
This temporary duo exploded with a terrifying combat power in this narrow corridor that far exceeded the sum of their levels!
"Don't look down on us, you small fry!" Shirou roared, hurling [Kanshou] with all his might. It struck a Level 4's knee with perfect accuracy. Every throw perfectly blocked the enemies' paths for a sneak attack on Ais. This had surpassed ordinary teamwork; it was reaching the legendary level of "telepathy"!
Though the scarred leader's Level 5 strength was immense, he was forced into a defensive position against Ais's Level 6 swordsmanship. And every time he tried to counterattack, Shirou's projected arrows or daggers would strike his joints with surgical precision, forcing him to retract his power.
"Dammit! This support... is too annoying!" the scarred man bellowed.
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— Off-site: Finn's inner monologue —
Twilight Manor. Finn watched the developments through the communicator, his thumb twitching so fast it almost flew off.
"Ais, Ais actually intervened?! And... Emiya is directing a Level 6 in combat?!
How is this an infiltration mission! They're running a high-difficulty two-player dungeon! And that chemistry—it's like a husband-and-wife team!
Forget it... Ais's safety is priority. Bete, head to the Amethyst Pavilion immediately! Support Ais! Notify Riveria, prepare her highest-tier magic, and wait for my command at any moment!"
Finn massaged his forehead helplessly.
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