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In the afternoon, after his business at Twilight Manor was done, Shirou headed towards the Hostess of Fertility. The sun was directly overhead, and the streets of Orario were filled with adventurers coming and going. The sounds of iron-shod boots, loud conversations, and the clanging of weapons mixed into the typical city bustle.
As soon as the Hostess's door opened—cling!—the aroma of warm food greeted him. Inside, the restaurant was as busy as ever. Anya stood behind the cash register with her signature smile, her cat tail swaying slowly. Chloe and Lunoire bustled between tables, carrying orders while joking with customers. From the kitchen, the sounds of pots and pans—clang, shhhh—could be heard with Syr inside helping Mama Mia, her face looking serious yet still friendly as she greeted passing customers.
But one figure was not to be seen.
Shirou paused for a moment, scanning the room. "Ryuu...?" he murmured.
That pale green-haired elf was not among the waitstaff.
A bad feeling immediately arose. Shirou walked to the cash register. "Anya, have you seen Ryuu?" he asked.
Anya tilted her head. "Ryuu? Oh, earlier Ryuu was told by Mama to clean the backyard, nyaan." She glanced at the small clock on the wall near the register. "But it's taking a really long time, isn't it? Usually she's quick."
Shirou's brow furrowed slightly. "The backyard...?"
He immediately turned around. "Alright, I'll go check."
Shirou walked through the side corridor towards the restaurant's back door. As he passed, Anya whistled softly, "Nyaaan... It's strange, if it were Syr it'd be normal to take a long time, she'd definitely be lazing around in the back—"
"I'm not lazy!" Syr's voice immediately shrieked from the kitchen. "I heard that, Anya!"
"Eh? What did I say?" Anya pretended to be innocent, her tail wagging quickly.
Shirou didn't look back. He opened the back door—kriiit—and stepped outside, his feeling of unease growing as he searched for Ryuu's figure in the quiet little restaurant backyard.
Shirou walked further into the backyard, and that's where he found her.
Ryuu was sitting leaning against a stone wall, still wearing her green waitress uniform. Her knees were slightly bent, her head bowed, while a broom lay beside her hand. A pile of leaves and dust in the yard showed a job only half-finished.
"Ryuu...?" Shirou called softly, his heart beating a little faster.
No answer.
He took a few steps closer—and stopped. From the direction of the elf girl came the sound of gentle breathing, accompanied by a soft snore that was almost inaudible. ...khrr...
Shirou was stunned. That snore was in stark contrast to Ryuu's usually cool and stern face. For a moment, he almost let out a small chuckle, but immediately held back.
Now he could see more clearly. Beneath Ryuu's blue eyes were faint dark circles, a sign of lack of sleep. Her face looked pale, her shoulders slumped, her breathing regular—it was clear she was exhausted.
"So this is why..." Shirou whispered to himself.
The memory of the previous night flashed in his mind: secret documents, unfamiliar symbols, and Ryuu's determination to decipher them. He could imagine the girl sitting all night, copying, cross-referencing, thinking hard, unwilling to stop until her body gave out.
Shirou looked at the broom on the ground, then back at Ryuu's face. "Working too hard... idiot," he murmured, but his tone held no reproach at all.
He carefully picked up the broom so as not to make a sound. Then, without waking Ryuu, Shirou began to continue the delayed work.
Swish... swish...
He swept the dry leaves, tidied the corners of the yard, picked up small bits of trash, and even rinsed the stone floor with water from a bucket in the corner. Each movement was made slowly and deliberately, occasionally glancing towards Ryuu to make sure the girl remained asleep.
"Sleep a little longer," Shirou whispered as he worked. "Let... me take over."
He continued cleaning the yard until it was tidy, letting Ryuu enjoy her rest—even if only for a moment.
The broom was still moving slowly in Shirou's hand when he sensed a small change behind him. From the direction of the wall came the sound of breathing changing, then the eyelids of those blue eyes fluttered slowly.
Ryuu awoke half-conscious. She blinked several times, the world feeling tilted for a moment. Once her focus returned, her gaze immediately caught Shirou's figure finishing the job.
"H—huh...?" Ryuu jolted slightly. "Shirou...?"
A few seconds later, her face stiffened. "Sorry—! I fell asleep... I've just been a bother to you."
She tried to get up quickly, a soldier's typical reflex, but her body didn't fully obey yet. Shirou turned while lifting a dustpan filled with dry leaves and dust.
"It's okay," he said lightly. "It's almost done, anyway."
He walked to the trash bin and emptied the contents—krshh—then brushed his hands together.
Ryuu finally stood up, but her steps were unsteady. Her knees felt a bit weak.
"Ah—"
"Hup."
Shirou was already at her side, one hand supporting Ryuu's arm so she wouldn't fall back against the wall. His grip was firm but careful. "Take it easy," he said. "You haven't had enough sleep."
Ryuu took a breath, trying to straighten up. "I can still work," she said stubbornly, though it clearly contradicted her condition.
Shirou shook his head. "No. You should take the day off."
"But—" Ryuu turned anxiously. "I already took time off before from Mama Mia... if I skip again now—"
"I'll come with you to ask," Shirou cut in without hesitation. He gave a slight smile, his tone calm. "Hopefully they'll understand."
Ryuu fell silent for a moment. Her gaze lowered, then returned to Shirou's face. A faint sense of relief mixed with guilt was clearly visible. "...Thank you," she said softly, finally letting her body lean slightly on Shirou.
The backyard fell quiet again, leaving only the sound of the gentle afternoon breeze and the last of the dust that had been cleared away.
As soon as they re-entered the restaurant, the door vibrated with a soft sound—reek. Anya, standing at the register, immediately turned, her ears twitching as soon as she saw Ryuu being supported by Shirou.
"Nyaaan? Ryuu, what's wrong?" she asked spontaneously, her golden eyes widening. "Are you sick?"
Ryuu shook her head quickly, though her body still leaned slightly towards Shirou. "No... just exhausted," she answered briefly, trying to sound firm as usual.
From the kitchen, Mama Mia had been watching from the start. Her gaze was sharp, her large arms folded across her chest.
"Exhausted, you say," she snorted. "Do you think I can't see the dark circles under your eyes, hm?" Her voice was heavy, full of pressure. "Is this work, or slow suicide?"
Ryuu lowered her head slightly. "Sorry..."
Shirou stepped forward half a step. "Mama Mia," he said politely, "this is my fault too. She pushed herself too hard. May I take her home and make sure she rests?"
Mama Mia stared at Shirou for a long time, then let out a rough sigh. "Hmph. Fine," she finally said. "But on one condition."
She fixed Ryuu with a sharp look. "You rest. No work. Don't do anything. Sleep."
"...Yes," Ryuu answered faintly, not arguing at all.
Shirou gave a slight bow. "Thank you."
They then walked towards the exit. As they passed the dining area, Chloe grinned broadly while wiping a tray.
"Have a good rest~" she teased. "Don't take too long getting all lovey-dovey ."
"Hey, don't start," Lunoire chimed in half-heartedly, but the corners of her lips also lifted.
Ryuu, still weak, immediately looked up, her face flushing slightly in annoyance. "I won't," she said firmly, almost curtly.
Shirou just gave a small smile, opening the door for Ryuu. Cling.
The afternoon breeze greeted them as they stepped outside—Ryuu allowed herself to be led away to rest.
After walking a while along the bustling streets of Orario, their steps finally stopped in front of the Hostess of Fertility's waitress dormitory. The small building felt quieter compared to the nearby restaurant. Shirou opened the door and guided Ryuu inside, climbing the wooden stairs to her room.
Once at the door, Ryuu fumbled in her pocket with a trembling hand, but Shirou had already opened it first. Inside the simple yet tidy room, he helped Ryuu walk to the bed.
"Take it easy," he said gently.
Ryuu complied, then sat, and finally lay down. As soon as her back touched the mattress, her body seemed to immediately lose its remaining strength. She let out a long sigh.
Shirou stood beside her. "Do you want me to get you some water?"
"Mm," Ryuu answered faintly. "Also... could you bring the stack of Rudra Familia documents from my desk?"
Shirou's brow immediately furrowed. "Ryuu," he said firmly but without raising his voice, "didn't Mama Mia say you have to rest?"
Ryuu looked at him. "Just for a moment," she said quickly. "I've translated some... and I want to show you the results."
Shirou fell silent. He knew that tone all too well—the typical Ryuu stubbornness, one that wouldn't stop just because her body protested.
"...Alright," he finally said with a small sigh. "But after that, you sleep."
Ryuu nodded slowly. "Promise."
Shirou walked to the desk, picked up the stack of documents full of unfamiliar symbols, and then went to the small kitchen to pour a glass of water. When he returned to the bedside and handed both over, Ryuu looked at him with a calm expression—though her face clearly still showed exhaustion.
She didn't say anything, but the way she held the documents was like someone who could finally breathe a little easier.
Ryuu shifted some sheets of the document onto her chest, her fingers still trembling slightly from fatigue. In a soft yet focused voice, she began to explain.
"This is last night's result," she said, her voice hoarse from exhaustion. "The cipher isn't complete. I had to guess the pattern from symbol repetition, cross-reference it with logistics notes, and monster sketches." She paused for a moment, drawing a breath. "But finally... I found something."
Shirou leaned forward. "And the result?"
Ryuu let out a small sigh. "Locations."
Shirou blinked. "Locations of what?"
"I don't know for sure either," Ryuu answered honestly. "But this isn't a list of names or items. They're coordinates."
"Are they far?" Shirou asked automatically, his mind already running to plans for supplies and exit permits from Orario.
"No." Ryuu pulled a map from another stack and spread it out on the blanket. "They're all in the Dungeon." Her fingertip traced the marked points. "From early floors to mid-level. The deepest... is the twenty-fifth floor."
Shirou narrowed his eyes, examining the map carefully. "These areas... have low monster spawn rates," he murmured. "Quiet zones. Usually avoided by large parties because they're considered 'empty'."
Ryuu nodded. "Exactly. Too quiet. And that makes them perfect for hiding something."
The small room fell quiet for a moment, only the sound of Ryuu's slow breathing and the faint ticking of a wall clock—tick... tick... tick—while the meaning of the points on the map slowly formed the outline of a plan far larger than they had suspected.
A sense of urgency pressed on Shirou's chest as these pieces of information assembled in his head. The points on the Dungeon map felt like thorns that couldn't be left alone for too long. He clenched his fist.
"I have to check these places now," he said quietly but firmly, more to himself than to Ryuu.
Ryuu, still leaning against the pillow, immediately tried to sit up. "I'll come—" her voice sounded fragile, her knees had just moved when her body swayed.
Shirou quickly held her shoulder. "No," he said softly, yet leaving no room for argument. "You promised to rest." His hand reached for the stack of documents and the map from Ryuu's lap, one by one carefully, as if afraid to ruin the result of her all-night effort.
He walked to the desk, neatly placing the documents on the wooden surface. Tok. He folded the marked map, then put it into a bag he projected instantly—shaa—it appeared from the prana in his hand. As he did so, Shirou glanced at Ryuu. "Why did you push yourself this hard?"
Ryuu gave a faint smile, her eyes half-closed. "Because... this is all I can do to repay you," she answered softly. "Staying up all night... still feels like it doesn't match the suffering you endured for me."
For a moment, the dream of Rudra's torture flashed in Shirou's mind—sharp winds, bone-biting pain, screams swallowed by a storm. His chest tightened. He pushed the image away, storing it tightly behind a calm face. Without saying anything more, he pulled up the blanket and tucked Ryuu in neatly.
"You don't need to think about repaying me," he said gently. "We're friends, right?"
Ryuu's voice grew weaker, sleepiness finally winning. "You always... put others first," she murmured. "Never minding yourself... because you're so strong... as if you can bear everything alone..."
The words hung in the air as Ryuu's breathing became regular. Hff... hff...
Shirou stood for a moment, gazing at the elf's face that had finally fallen asleep. He projected a black hooded cloak—fwoom—the dark fabric enveloped his body, then he shouldered the bag.
From behind her closed eyelids, Ryuu whispered in her shallow sleep, almost inaudibly, "After all this is over... I'll update my status... meet with Goddess Astraea again... and hopefully I can become stronger... to be worthy of standing by your side..." Her breathing then truly sank into sleep.
Shirou walked to the door, looking back once more. His hand paused on the handle, then he closed the door slowly—klik.
"You're already strong enough, Ryuu," he said softly, almost like a promise only he could hear.
***
Before truly heading towards the Dungeon, Shirou stopped at a quiet street corner, opened his bag, and took out all the maps he had taken from Ryuu's room. He spread them out one by one on an old wooden crate at the edge of an alley, his finger moving quickly along the markings Ryuu had left.
He sorted them neatly—from the deepest point to the shallowest—like a field planner arranging an operation route. Map of floor 25... 21... 18... 14... then stopped at one point that caught his attention.
"Floor nine," he murmured.
The small circle of black ink on that map looked too clean, too deliberate. Shirou stared at it for a long time, as if wanting to pierce through the paper and see directly what was hidden there.
He rolled up the other maps and put them back in the bag, then slipped the neatly folded floor nine map into a pocket of his cloak—a place he could easily reach at any time.
After that, he pulled the black hood over his red hair. The shadow of the fabric covered part of his face, enough to make him inconspicuous among the city's bustle. Without wasting any more time, he strode towards the Babel Tower.
His steps then led towards the city center, to the towering Babel Tower. The daytime atmosphere in Orario felt more sparse than usual; most adventurers had already entered the Dungeon since morning or were resting as afternoon approached. Only a few small groups were visible in the plaza, some sitting, some preparing their gear.
Shirou passed them without attracting attention, his boots tapping lightly—tap, tap—until he arrived in front of the giant spiral staircase that coiled down into the Dungeon's belly. The air from below felt colder, damp, and smelled of wet stone.
He paused at the edge of the stairs for a moment, steadying his breath.
"Floor nine... start from there."
Then he stepped down, the shadow of his black cloak disappearing into the depths of Orario.
As soon as his foot touched the Dungeon's first floor, Shirou immediately felt the familiar difference in air pressure—damp, heavy, with a slight metallic smell from long-dried monster blood. But to him now, this place was almost like a backyard.
"Early floors... just a warm-up," he murmured.
He raised his right hand, a pale blue light flashing for an instant.
Shrring—
A gleaming black katana formed in his grasp. Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
"Kyii—!"
A goblin jumped from behind a rock, wooden spear raised.
Slash!
The small body was split apart before it could even touch him, dissolving into misty dust.
Several kobolds appeared next, barking wildly while swinging their claws. Shirou didn't even slow his pace.
Tak—tak—shraaaak!
Swift movements, precision, efficiency. Monster after monster vanished, leaving small shimmering crystals that clinked as they fell on the stone floor.
He kept moving.
Staircase after staircase.
Corridor after corridor.
From the side of the corridor, two war shadows slid low like living shadows. Shirou twisted his wrist—
Clang—crk!
The katana blade swept through one's neck, then the other's body was cut at the waist before they could get close.
Time passed without him noticing.
When his foot stepped on stone with a different carved pattern and the surrounding atmosphere felt a little heavier, he knew—
"Floor nine."
Shirou stopped, pulling the map from his cloak pocket. His eyes matched the symbols on the paper with the corridor structure ahead.
"Hm... this path."
He turned—not following the flow of adventurers visible in the distance, but taking a narrow, rarely-used corridor. The further he walked, the rarer the sounds of others' footsteps became. The natural light from luminescent moss grew dimmer. Only the sound of dripping water and the scraping of his own boots accompanied him.
Tap... tap...
"Ryuu was right," he murmured. "A place like this... perfect for hiding something."
He tightened his grip on his katana and continued forward into the depths of the quiet corridor.
According to the point marked on the map, Shirou stopped in front of a stone crevice almost invisible if not observed. The crack formed a narrow hole descending into a hidden corridor, dark and silent, as if separated from the Dungeon's main flow.
"This is it...," he whispered.
He raised his hand and concentrated his prana.
Ziiiing...
A simple flashlight formed in his grasp, its pale white light parting the darkness ahead.
The corridor was narrow, its walls rough and damp, and the air inside felt warmer, humid, with a pungent, acidic smell. Every step produced a low echo.
Tap... tap...
In his mind, various possibilities arose.
An experimentation site? A storage room? A backup base? Or... a controlled monster nest?
He kept walking until the corridor suddenly widened, opening into a hidden chamber.
And in the middle of that chamber stood a giant cage, made of thick, rusted iron bars.
From within came a sound that made the hair on Shirou's neck stand up.
Krrrsh... kshshsh... klik-klik-klik...
Like thousands of giant insect legs scraping against metal and stone, accompanied by the sound of moving mandibles, never ceasing.
Shirou raised the flashlight, its beam piercing through the gaps in the iron bars.
Inside, a reddish-brown creature squirmed.
A Killer Ant—but its size far surpassed any he had encountered in the Dungeon.
Its body was as large as a small cart, its belly swollen, its serrated mandibles the size of a short sword, and its pitch-black eyes gleaming, reflecting the flashlight's beam. Around its body, a layer of hard shell pulsed slowly, as if the creature was breathing together with the Dungeon itself.
Shirou narrowed his eyes.
"...A queen ant?"
He had never seen any record of a Killer Ant queen existing in the dungeon. The fact that this creature was caged here made his chest feel even heavier.
"So this is what they were hiding..."
He slowly stepped forward, every muscle tensing even though he knew the creature couldn't match his speed. But his instinct screamed that this wasn't an ordinary monster and that whatever the Rudra Familia's previous plans were, this monster was one of its keys.
The closer Shirou got to the cage, the clearer he saw a thick metal ring encircling the ant queen's neck. The metal was dark, covered in crude rune carvings—clearly not jewelry, but a control device belonging to the Rudra Familia. From that ring pulsed an energy discordant with the Dungeon's, a creation of mortal hands.
The ant queen became aware of his presence. Its giant body tensed, spiked legs scratching at the stone floor.
Krrrshh—klik! klik!
Its mandibles opened wide, not just a threat—there was real fear behind its aggression, like a creature that knew it was caged and now saw a stranger approaching.
Shirou's flashlight beam lowered.
There—a spread of eggs.
Dozens, hundreds, possibly thousands. Some had already hatched, empty shells scattered, and from cracks in the stone emerged newly hatched Killer Ant larvae, wriggling, searching for direction. The sight made Shirou's breath catch for a moment.
"She's a mother...," he whispered.
Guilt stabbed him, quick but real. Yet simultaneously, his mind was cool and clear:
A monster is still a monster. If left alone, this will be a disaster for novice adventurers.
An idea crept in.
If that ring can control her... then I might be able to control her too. Turn a threat into a weapon. Lock down spawn routes. Disrupt the plans of their remnants.
Shirou closed his eyes, raising his hand slowly.
"Trace... on."
He directed his consciousness to the iron ring on the queen's neck—probing its structure, runes, energy flow within, trying to mimic and take over the control function.
But—
BZZZZT---!!
A surge of electricity leapt from the ring.
"—?!"
The ant queen shrieked.
KRRRRAAAAAAASHHH!!
That shriek wasn't just a sound, but a signal. From the walls, stone cracks, the ceiling, ground.
Krrk—klikklik—kshshshsh!
Tens... hundreds of Killer Ants flooded the chamber, flowing like a red tide, their eyes gleaming wildly, their small bodies marching in unison towards a single target: Shirou.
He took a long breath, covering his face with his palm for a moment.
"...Ah. It seems I really don't have a talent for being a Tamer," he complained flatly.
He glanced around—the wave of monsters approaching, the queen's shriek still echoing, the eggs continuing to hatch.
"Troublesome... but not a big problem."
His fingers tightened.
He knew the following fight wouldn't be difficult—but it would clearly be very bothersome.
And with that, Shirou stepped forward to meet the sea of ants.
"Trace—on."
The air around Shirou vibrated.
Five fiery magic swords appeared floating behind his shoulders, radiating dazzling heat.
"Go."
WHOOOSH—!
The five swords shot forth simultaneously. Explosions of fire bloomed amidst the swarm of Killer Ants.
KRRRSHH—!! FSSSSHHH!!
A wave of heat swept through the corridor, giant ant bodies burning and falling in succession. The smell of char filled the air.
Behind the cage, the queen let out a long howl. That sound wasn't just anger—there was panic, there was loss.
But the fire wasn't enough.
From behind the flames, dozens more kept running, their legs hitting the stone with a terrifying rhythm, mandibles open, ready to attack.
"Damn it..."
Shirou took half a step back, then raised his hand again.
Dozens of sword blades appeared like a rain of metal, then slammed into the ant wave before him.
CLANG—CRASH—THUD!
But the warning came too late.
Krrr—klik!
Movement behind him.
From above.
Even from underground, stone walls shattered, and red bodies burst through.
"...They're surrounding me."
Shirou didn't have time to think long.
"Trace on"
"Kanshou, Bakuya!"
The twin swords fell into his grasp. He spun, slashing directly.
CLASH! THWACK!
He moved quickly, cutting off paths, holding back each creature that got too close. Attacks came from all directions—he dodged, jumped, parried, and counterattacked without pause.
"If this keeps up..." he murmured while regulating his breath, "...I'll run out of space."
His steps remained stable. His gaze is sharp.
The sea of Killer Ants hadn't subsided. Yet Shirou hadn't the slightest intention of retreating.
Indeed—Shirou was surrounded.
From the front, back, above, even from cracks in the ground beneath his feet, Killer Ants emerged endlessly. The corridor walls vibrated from thousands of running legs. The sound was like relentless heavy rain.
Tak-tak-tak-tak-tak---
"Their numbers... are insane," Shirou murmured while holding his breath.
He moved Kanshou and Bakuya to form a defensive circle.
Each slash felled one, two, five—then ten more came to replace them.
Time kept passing.
Minutes turned into hours.
Sweat trickled down his temples, his breathing grew heavier, but his movements remained precise. Sometimes he retreated, sometimes advanced through the swarm, creating space with a rain of projected swords.
Occasionally, an ant mandible managed to pinch his arm or calf.
"—Tch."
It felt like being pinched too hard... itchy, annoying, but nothing more.
Level one Killer Ants were utterly incapable of piercing the body of a level four adventurer like him.
"If this is what you call a siege... you're too weak."
He jumped onto a large rock, projecting a dozen more blades.
WHOOOSH—CLANG—CRASH!
Lightning flashes of metal slashed through the corridor, ants fell, yet their numbers seemed undiminished.
Hour after hour passed.
Shirou had lost count of how many had fallen. His arms were sore, his breath heavy, but his resolve didn't waver.
"I have to end this... go straight to the source."
Shirou's gaze returned to the cage at the end of the corridor—
where the Killer Ant Queen still howled, calling her army.
He strengthened his grip on his swords.
"This fight is taking too long."
And with one long breath, Shirou prepared to break through the sea of ants—heading towards the queen at the center of the chaos.
The queen trapped inside the cage seemed to tremble. Her giant body shook violently, yet she still positioned herself in front of the pile of eggs and her still-soft, not-yet-mobile young. Her long antennae vibrated, her mandibles open, not to attack, but as if giving a final warning to the strange creature before her.
Shirou paused for a moment.
He lowered his sword slightly, his breath caught.
"Sorry..." he whispered, more to himself.
"If you're left alive, you'll leave this place and attack other adventurers. I can't allow that."
With heavy steps, he advanced.
The light of the projected blades reflected off the cave walls.
There was no scream, no meaningful resistance—only a bitter decision that had to be made. Shirou ended the queen's struggle, then ensured the remaining eggs and the Killer Ant young no longer moved.
He stood still for several seconds after everything ended.
The corridor, once filled with the sound of hundreds of feet, was suddenly silent.
Slowly, from all directions, the remaining swarm of Killer Ants began to withdraw. They stopped attacking, then turned around, and one by one disappeared into wall crevices and small tunnels. Without their queen, they no longer had a central command.
Shirou let out a long sigh.
His body felt sticky from insect fluids, and his skin was covered in the annoying itch from non-harmful but very bothersome bites. He patted his arm while muttering, "This is really uncomfortable..."
Now the cave was quiet.
He observed his surroundings, then let out another small sigh.
"Alright... now for the most boring job."
He began picking up one by one the magic stones scattered among the Killer Ant carcasses. The small stones glowed faintly—low value, average quality, but there were quite a number of them. Shirou gathered them into his bag, all the while complaining inwardly about how the hours of effort didn't match the meager reward.
But at the very least...
The first point on the Rudra Familia map was now cleared.