Fate x Danmachi: The Sword Prince (eng)

Lefiya mimics Shirou's catchphrase Illustration has been completed please check it out at https://www.patreon.com/Rayish

Just as they stepped into the Dungeon, a group of goblins suddenly appeared ahead, their eyes glinting menacingly in the darkness. Shirou quickly looked around to make sure no other adventurers were nearby, then summoned a bow and a quiver of arrows using projection.

He drew his bow, aimed swiftly, and one by one, his arrows struck the approaching goblins with precision. Beside him, Riveria fended off attackers trying to get close, wielding her magic staff without needing to cast spells to defeat these weaker creatures. Each blow sent a goblin into ashes with little resistance.

In a short time, their brief skirmish was over, and the goblins vanished, leaving behind small, faintly glowing magic stones. Shirou began to crouch down and pick up the stones one by one.

Riveria knelt to help, but Shirou turned and said, "Riveria, let me handle this. I'm your supporter now."

Riveria pouted slightly, holding back a smile. "So you think that as royalty, I wouldn't dirty my hands just to pick up magic stones?"

Shirou looked confused and scratched his head. "It's not that… it's just, during expeditions with the Loki Familia, I never saw you picking up magic stones or drop items," he answered honestly.

Riveria chuckled softly at his innocent reply. "That's because on large expeditions, Finn and I are usually busy strategizing. But today's different, Shirou. It's just the two of us." She added gently, "And this time, I want to help."

Shirou nodded slowly, smiling warmly. "Alright, then, we'll do it together."

They continued on their journey, exchanging smiles and enjoying the rare moment of working together in the Dungeon without interruptions from other Familia members.

Riveria handed over the magic stones she'd gathered to Shirou, who carefully placed them in a small pouch tucked into his robe pocket. "Thank you, Riveria," he said sincerely.

Then, Shirou reached into his bag and pulled out a map. Seeing this, Riveria raised an eyebrow and asked, "A map? You really came prepared, but what's the map for, Shirou?"

Shirou smiled sheepishly. "Well, I still haven't memorized the paths in this Dungeon. Even on just the first floor, all the tunnels and corridors look the same," he replied with a slight shrug.

Riveria slapped her forehead, laughing softly. "Oh, of course. I almost forgot you're actually new to the Dungeon." She continued, "You often seem so experienced to me. Maybe it's because you're my teacher in Magecraft," she added with a warm smile.

Shirou felt flattered and quickly responded, "Yes, here you're the expert, Riveria. I truly admire your memory and understanding of the Dungeon."

Feeling her heart beat a little faster, Riveria gave a small smile, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Thank you, Shirou," she replied, then added playfully, "Alright, now it's my turn to be your teacher in the Dungeon. Put your map away; I'll guide you to the lower floors until we reach Rivira."

Shirou nodded respectfully. "Certainly, Teacher Riveria," he said with a mischievous smile.

Riveria chuckled at the title. "Then, follow my lead, student," she replied lightly, unable to hide the happiness that was slowly warming her heart. Together, they ventured deeper into the Dungeon, with Shirou following Riveria's confident lead.

Riveria led them with ease, showing the safest paths until they reached the 10th floor. Her sharp memory allowed her to avoid many confusing intersections, and with each turn or corridor, she shared various tips with Shirou.

"Look, Shirou," Riveria said, pointing to a small mark on the wall. "On this floor, if you see vertical scratches like this, it's usually an indicator of a safer path or a major intersection ahead."

Shirou nodded, trying to remember all her pointers. "So, with these marks, we can find more secure routes, huh? I didn't realize there were so many hidden hints in the Dungeon," he replied, closely examining the wall.

Riveria smiled. "That's right. The more you familiarize yourself, the easier it becomes to recognize details like these. These floors can indeed be confusing for the inexperienced. But by remembering certain features, you can reduce the risk of getting lost."

Throughout their journey, goblins, kobolds, war shadows, and occasionally killer ants appeared, blocking their way. However, with Shirou's bow and arrows and Riveria's precise strikes with her magic staff, they handled these monsters effortlessly, advancing quickly and dispatching each threat with ease.

After a while, Shirou commented admiringly, "Riveria, if I keep remembering all your directions, I might eventually memorize the way to Rivira."

Riveria smiled with satisfaction. "That's the goal, Shirou. With practice, you'll become more accustomed. And when that happens, you won't need a map anymore."

With Riveria's guidance, they continued deeper into the Dungeon, drawing closer to Rivira, enjoying the simplicity of working together and the strength they shared.

As they arrived on the 10th floor, the Dungeon's atmosphere shifted to something unique. A gentle mist, resembling early morning dew, blanketed their surroundings, seeping through the white grass growing low along the floor. A few leafless trees stood still, creating a mysterious ambiance reminiscent of a forest frozen in time.

Riveria gazed at the scene, then turned to Shirou. "Shirou, I'd like to shoot some arrows. Could you project a bow for me? It's been a while since I last did it."

Shirou smiled in agreement. "Oh, of course. I forgot that archery is also one of your skills, Riveria," he said. Raising his hand, he focused his prana and projected two elegant bows using Tracing. The bows appeared, glinting, materializing as the Noble Bow he'd once seen Raul use.

Handing one of the bows to Riveria, Shirou observed her. "This Noble Bow once belonged to you, didn't it?" he asked with a small smile.

Riveria looked surprised. "How did you know?" she asked, smiling faintly as if recalling old memories.

Shirou raised the other bow and tested it gently. "My Tracing lets me read the history of the weapons I copy," he explained as he felt the bow's balance. "So I thought I'd use a Noble Bow along with you."

Riveria smiled, pleased with his choice. "Alright, let's see who can shoot more accurately," she challenged confidently.

Shirou chuckled softly. "Alright, Teacher, I hope you're ready for a healthy competition," he replied, preparing himself. They stood side by side, each holding a bow and ready to face the challenges ahead.

Riveria slung her magic staff over her shoulder gracefully, freeing both hands to use the bow. Meanwhile, Shirou dismissed his previous bow projection, letting it dissolve back into prana. He refocused, projecting two quivers filled with arrows, one for himself and another for Riveria.

With a small smile, Shirou handed one of the quivers to Riveria. "Now we have more than enough ammunition," he said.

Riveria raised an eyebrow, looking at the quiver with admiration. "Your Projection Magecraft is indeed very useful in the Dungeon. As an archer, you'll never run out of arrows," she remarked with genuine appreciation, then looked at Shirou with a playful glint in her eyes. "How about a little competition? Whoever shoots the most monsters wins."

Shirou grinned, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Oh, and what does the winner get?" he asked curiously.

Riveria crossed her arms and answered casually, "The loser has to fulfill one request from the winner, whatever it may be."

Shirou was a bit surprised by the offer, his eyes widening. "Hmm, aren't you worried I might ask for something strange or embarrassing?" he asked, half-joking yet genuinely curious.

Riveria returned his gaze with full confidence. "You should be more concerned, Shirou. If you lose, maybe I'll ask for something you'd never imagine." A teasing smile appeared on her face, sparking Shirou's determination to accept the challenge.

Shirou grinned and nodded. "Alright, Riveria. I won't lose," he declared with resolve. Both prepared for the competition, bows in hand, arrows in their quivers, and a fierce desire to win the bet they'd agreed upon.

In her heart, Riveria was already planning what she might request if she won. A small smile spread across her face as she imagined asking Shirou to take her out to a fancy dinner in Orario. The thought made her heart race, feeling like it could be a dream date she'd longed for quietly.

But then, her thoughts shifted to the possibility of Shirou winning. Knowing his character, Riveria was confident his request would remain honorable. Yet, a mischievous thought crossed her mind. What if, however unlikely, Shirou requested something a bit perverted? Her face flushed as she considered the idea, and she couldn't help but think it might not be entirely unwelcome.

In a quiet voice, she muttered to herself, "I suppose… I wouldn't mind." She suddenly froze, embarrassed by her own thoughts.

Shirou glanced over at her, puzzled. "Something wrong, Riveria?"

Riveria quickly shook her head. "Ah, no, Shirou. Just thinking… about my request if I win," she replied, hiding her slight blush that was gradually fading.

"Then you'd better be ready to fulfill mine," Shirou said confidently, making Riveria smile with a secretive look, hoping she'd come out as the victor.

From a distance, several Orcs and Imps caught their scent and began moving toward them. Shirou and Riveria immediately raised their bows, ready to unleash their arrows.

Shirou aimed, recalling an archery technique he'd learned through Tracing from Riveria's own experience. With a small smile, he decided to use it, curious about her skill development. He drew his bow steadily, releasing an arrow in sync with Riveria.

Arrow after arrow flew as they began counting each hit, "One… two… three…" Their voices harmonized with each count, and with each fallen monster turned to ash, their scores steadily rose.

"Four," said Riveria, shooting an Orc in the neck with precision. Then, quickly, "Five!"

Meanwhile, Shirou kept his speed just slightly behind hers, carefully using the technique he'd learned from her. They continued shooting until the last Orc vanished into dust, and they stood with a tie. Riveria smiled with satisfaction, feeling the balance in their competition, unaware that Shirou had intentionally held back.

They then began gathering the scattered magic stones littering the dungeon floor. Shirou placed the last stone into his pouch and looked over at Riveria, "So… looks like we're even."

Riveria looked up and nodded, still catching her breath. "I guess we'll have to keep going deeper. Maybe we'll find a tiebreaker down there."

Shirou nodded firmly, "Alright, let's continue." They readied themselves to descend to the next challenge, both driven to surpass each other.

They kept descending, floor by floor, until they reached the twelfth floor, their friendly rivalry becoming more intense. Shirou and Riveria fired arrows with precision and speed, each shot aimed at a different monster—from the large-bodied Silverbacks to the high-flying Orcs and Imps. With a single shot, each monster turned to ash.

Along the way, they crossed paths with a group of other adventurers who seemed surprised to see two hooded figures easily dispatching monsters. The adventurers exchanged glances before deciding to take another route, avoiding potential trouble with the formidable pair of archers.

Still focused on their competition, Shirou smiled, noticing that no other adventurers dared approach them. "Looks like we managed to scare them off."

Riveria smiled under her hood. "That means our disguises are working," she replied, sounding pleased. "But I'm still going to win."

Every monster they encountered along the way fell with a single precise shot, and by the time they reached the thirteenth floor, they checked their scores again. Shirou counted carefully, shaking his head with a smile. "Another tie."

Riveria chuckled, feeling even more energized. "In that case, I guess we'll just have to keep going until one of us wins," she challenged.

"Alright, I'm ready anytime," replied Shirou, and the two of them delved deeper once again.

Upon reaching the thirteenth floor, the dungeon's atmosphere changed dramatically. The white grass that previously carpeted the ground was replaced by narrow stone corridors that twisted and turned. The dim lighting added a sense of entrapment to the surroundings.

Riveria took the lead, occasionally giving Shirou directions. "Follow this corridor. Don't go too far to the left; that path's a dead end," she said, guiding him along. Shirou followed closely, keeping his focus on their friendly competition, though the narrow area made it harder to spot enemies from a distance.

"Alright, I'll follow you," Shirou replied, readying his bow. He kept pace with Riveria, who moved confidently through the maze-like terrain.

As monsters began to appear ahead of them, Shirou gave Riveria a signal. "Let's shoot together," he said with a slight grin.

Riveria gave a slight smile, acknowledging Shirou's sincerity. "Alright, but don't expect me to go easy on you," she replied challengingly.

The unique monsters of the thirteenth floor began to charge at them—ferocious Hellhounds and swift Al Miraj. With arrows in hand, they both aimed at an oncoming Hellhound. Their arrows flew in perfect unison, striking the Hellhound and turning it to ash before it could get close.

"Got it!" Shirou exclaimed, raising his hand in a small celebration.

Riveria nodded with a confident smile. "Let's see who can take down the most monsters on this floor."

They continued walking through the stone corridors, facing monster after monster together. Shirou kept the competition fair, always notifying Riveria when a monster approached so they could shoot simultaneously. Every monster they encountered was taken down with precise shots, making them both enjoy their rivalry more than ever.

They continued to the 15th floor, with Riveria still leading, relying on her sharp memory of the Dungeon's pathways.

Upon reaching the 15th floor, the atmosphere grew tense, but they remained focused on their archery competition. As their scores stayed neck and neck, Riveria suddenly decided to use a special trick. She loaded three arrows onto her bow and expertly drew the string.

"Watch and learn, Shirou," Riveria said with a confident smile, then released the three arrows at once. They shot forward, hitting three Al Miraj that leaped toward them, killing them instantly and scattering ash into the air.

Not wanting to be outdone, Shirou smirked and said, "Impressive technique, but let me give it a try." He loaded three arrows, mimicking Riveria's movements precisely, then fired his own shots, downing three more Al Miraj with equal skill.

Riveria looked at him in surprise, almost in disbelief. "How…? You really copied the technique exactly like me."

Shirou chuckled and explained, "My Tracing ability isn't just about reading the history of a weapon. I can also replicate the techniques of its original owner, as if I'm seeing and feeling everything they did."

Hearing his explanation, an old memory flickered in Riveria's mind. She remembered a woman who had a similar skill to copy others' combat techniques. Her name was Alfia—a powerful sorceress with a mirroring technique, though plagued by an illness that weakened her.

Riveria sighed lightly and commented, "Your ability reminds me of a woman who… let's just say, was less than polite."

Shirou raised an eyebrow, confused. "Less than polite? Who was she?"

Riveria shook her head with a faint smile. "Just someone from the past… someone long gone. Call it nostalgia."

Finally, Riveria realized why they'd been keeping such a close score throughout. It was because Shirou had been replicating every technique she used, making them seem evenly matched.

With a playful tone, Riveria tilted her head and feigned a slight pout. "Shirou, could you stop holding back and use your own techniques? I want to see you fight your way."

Shirou scratched the back of his head, a bit flustered at being caught. "So… you noticed, huh?" He sighed and decided to stop copying. Focusing his prana, he let the Noble Bow disappear back into his prana reserves.

With a confident smile, he summoned the large, black bow usually wielded by Archer, his signature weapon that matched his true fighting style. "Alright, Riveria… I'll get serious this time."

Riveria gazed at the black bow in admiration. "Alright then, I'll be waiting to be impressed, Shirou," she said, a new excitement in her voice. "Oh, and our score is 80 to 80 now. Let's see who pulls ahead."

Shirou nodded, preparing himself. "Ready, Riveria. Hope you don't regret asking me to get serious."

As they made their way to the 18th floor, Shirou began demonstrating his real abilities with the large black bow. Every time a monster appeared—be it an Imp, Orc, or a surprise Al Miraj leaping from the darkness—Shirou managed to shoot it down before Riveria could react.

When they reached a corridor with a group of Minotaurs in the distance, Shirou quickly readied his arrows. With focus and without hesitation, he released shot after shot, piercing through the Minotaurs with unmatched accuracy. Riveria hadn't even raised her bow before the Minotaurs turned to ash.

"Shirou… you really aren't holding back anymore, are you?" Riveria murmured softly, her eyes fixed on his determined figure.

They continued onward until a Hellhound suddenly burst through the Dungeon wall, attacking aggressively. Riveria took a step back to keep her distance, but once again, Shirou shot an arrow straight to the Hellhound's heart before Riveria could even act.

"I can't even keep up in this fight," Riveria remarked, half in awe, half in a playful pout, seeing just how serious Shirou had become.

Shirou simply smiled as he readied another arrow. "This was your request, Riveria," he replied teasingly, but with sincerity in his eyes. "I want to make sure I don't let you down."

Riveria smiled faintly, happy to see Shirou fully display his skill. However, she realized something in her heart—that now she was truly just a guide, while Shirou led every battle.

At last, they arrived at the 18th floor, with a final score of 120 to 80—a decisive victory for Shirou.

Riveria looked at him, slightly pouting. "I suppose I underestimated you, Shirou. I didn't stand a chance," she teased, half-joking, half-acknowledging his victory.

Shirou shrugged with a small laugh. "Don't blame me. You asked me to stop holding back."

Riveria and Shirou walked into the 18th floor, a safe zone known as a place of rest, free from monster threats. The high ceiling was adorned with large crystals that emitted a soft, natural green glow. Thick grass covered the floor, and large trees set a serene backdrop—a stark contrast to the dangerous floors they had just traversed. In the center of the area stood a small town called Rivira, surrounding a giant tree.

Shirou and Riveria strolled side by side across the grass toward Rivira, engaging in casual conversation. After a long journey and an intense competition, they finally could relax without worry of being attacked.

Riveria turned to Shirou with a raised eyebrow and a smile. "So, what's your request, Shirou? You won by a lot this time," she asked, her tone full of curiosity.

Shirou paused, touching his chin as if deep in thought. "Honestly, I haven't thought of one yet," he answered, a small smile forming on his face. "Maybe I should think carefully to make the most of this opportunity."

Riveria blushed a bit, trying to hide her nervousness with a teasing tone. "Remember, Shirou," she said softly, "I'm just a helpless woman right now and… I have to fulfill 'any' request you make."

Shirou chuckled, but his cheeks reddened slightly at Riveria's teasing tone. "Anything, huh?" he asked playfully, though he felt a bit nervous inside.

Riveria responded with a calm smile, though a hint of nerves showed. "Yes, anything… as long as it's not too embarrassing," she replied with a laugh, even as her heart raced.

Shirou nodded seriously, though his eyes showed a hint of mischief. "Alright then… I'll make sure my request is just right," he said, glancing at Riveria.

Riveria could only chuckle softly, feeling relieved yet curious about what Shirou would choose.

Looking up at the ceiling of the 18th floor, adorned with glowing crystals that created a peaceful and captivating atmosphere, Shirou let out a satisfied sigh before saying with a smile, "It's so peaceful here, like a place made for a picnic. Riveria, how about my request is for you to join me for a picnic here?"

Riveria looked surprised, not expecting Shirou's request to be so simple. "A picnic? That's all?" she asked, still a bit confused.

Shirou nodded, smiling. "Yes, I couldn't think of anything else, so… yeah, that's it."

Inside, Riveria felt a mix of relief and disappointment. She'd expected Shirou to be the respectful type who wouldn't take advantage of her. But for some reason, she also felt a hint of letdown. Unconsciously, a mischievous thought crossed her mind—if only Shirou had asked for something more intimate, maybe… maybe she would have given it, even if it meant giving him her first kiss.

Almost inaudibly, Riveria murmured, "Coward…"

Shirou quickly turned, confused. "Huh? What was that, Riveria?" he asked, trying to understand her soft words.

Riveria hesitated, then turned away, her cheeks tinged with pink. "Ah… it's nothing," she replied with a faint smile, hiding her embarrassment behind her graceful gaze.