Emiya Shirou Doesn't Want to Work Overtime [246]

“Who are you?”

Shirou Emiya quickly halted his steps—not running on ordinary streets, but darting between rooftops.

For someone to appear here like this, Shirou couldn't simply believe this was just an ordinary old man.

Especially one deliberately standing in his way.

“To be honest, I’m quite surprised to meet a human like you.”

The elderly man spoke calmly to Shirou, his words tinged with faint admiration.

Shirou didn't immediately draw his blades. He felt no malice from the old man before him.

This elderly figure spoke as casually as chatting with a neighbor.

Yet Shirou remained cautious. He might be straightforward, but not naïve enough to trust someone who appeared so suspiciously before him.

Even if this person bore him no ill intent.

Still, Shirou wouldn't choose violence as his first response.

“What do you want?” Shirou asked warily.

To show up at this moment suggested hidden motives.

Shirou was utterly unfamiliar with the workings of this world. If Shana were by his side, she would likely have recognized this elder at first glance.

But the old man had chosen precisely when Shana had departed to approach Shirou. Without ulterior motives? Shirou couldn't believe that.

“You're right to be cautious. I'm not here without reason,” the elder sighed, pulling a bookmark from inside his coat and offering it to Shirou.

“What’s this?” Shirou didn't accept the bookmark. He’d learned enough magecraft knowledge from the Yggdmillennia Clan to recognize potential magical dangers—even if this was a different world, the manipulation of Power of Existence bore strong similarities to magecraft.

This bookmark might very well conceal magical traps. Shirou had to remain alert.

Had they met by chance on a city street, perhaps Shirou wouldn't have doubted so much and might have accepted. But under these suspicious circumstances, the bookmark obviously spelled trouble.

The old man, though, seemed to anticipate Shirou’s refusal.

With a soft snap of his fingers, the bookmark rapidly flew through the air, attaching itself firmly to Shirou’s clothing.

“This item will randomly teleport you elsewhere should your life be in danger—consider it my apology.”

Ignoring Shirou’s reaction, he gazed toward the imminent battle between Shana and Margery Daw in the distance.

“Frankly, I didn't want to do this. But I couldn't refuse the request and reward from the Hunter.”

Upon hearing Friagne’s title from the elder’s mouth, Shirou instantly drew the chained short sword he’d projected earlier, pointing it at him.

With just those words, the elder had declared his position clearly.

But before Shirou could take any further action, the old man’s body dissolved into a flock of birds, vanishing instantly.

Zhhhng—!

At that precise moment, the Fūzetsu deployed, a spell circle glowing beneath Shirou’s feet.

“Not good!”

Only then did Shirou realize—the old man’s goal had been to delay him, giving himself enough time to set up this Unrestricted Spell.

But now, with the crimson glow surging, Shirou had no means of escape.

He could only react in this final instant—

“[DEMON ARMOR—INCURSIO]!!”

Threads erupted around Shirou the moment the red light engulfed him, swiftly forming a half-dome shape. Scaled armor spread rapidly across them, encasing Shirou completely like a protective bowl.

BOOM———!

A violent shockwave exploded the instant Shirou finished armoring himself.

Fierce, pale-white flames immediately swallowed him whole.

The terrifying heat made Shirou feel as though he’d stepped into a scorching furnace.

Ever since his fight with Shana, Shirou had carefully noted matters related to flames. He remembered clearly—when he’d slain those puppets, Friagne’s self-restoration had been accompanied by pale-white flames.

Shirou deduced that this was likely the unique manifestation of each Flame Haze’s and Crimson Denizen’s powers.

And he wasn't naive enough to believe that Friagne’s restorative flames couldn't harm people.

Earlier, Friagne had simply regarded Shirou as merely human, never unleashing his full power.

So when Shirou realized Friagne had set this trap, his first reaction wasn’t to directly equip Incursio, but instead to rapidly erect a barrier using Incursio.

Though the Incursio Armor wouldn’t melt from mere heat, it evidently lacked insulation. Those flames didn't need to destroy the armor—merely roasting alive whoever wore it.

Even with Shirou’s rapid response, the flames’ heat quickly became unbearable. It wouldn’t take long for him to suffocate inside this fiery cage.

But all Shirou needed was this short window to respond.

“[TRACE—ON]!”

Armored fists crashed repeatedly into the rooftop beneath him. In mere moments, Shirou plunged underground.

Bang—!

With a rumble of earth, Friagne, floating midair, glared irritably at Shirou who burst from beneath the ground nearby.

“Tsk—!”

Swiftly ascending to distance himself from Shirou, Friagne sent his puppets surging forward one after another.

These puppets were nothing like the weaklings from before.

Some possessed enormous forms capable of crushing Shirou to pulp with a single strike.

Friagne couldn’t just wait passively in his hideout for the arrival of Sabrac. That would’ve been far too inefficient. With Shirou and Shana’s search speed, his hiding spot would eventually be discovered.

If that happened, Friagne doubted he could evade Shirou again.

That arrow-like sword nearly took his head last time—just a hair’s breadth away from becoming the first Crimson Lord slain by a mere human.

He’d be the laughingstock of the entire Crimson Realm.

It wasn't that humans had never defeated Crimson Denizens, but a Crimson Lord—among the mightiest beings—was never an existence humans could overcome through sheer numbers. No human had ever slain a Crimson Lord.

Friagne clearly understood he was no match for Shirou Emiya. Thus, to ensure his plans proceeded smoothly, Friagne wouldn't foolishly wait in his base for Sabrac to arrive.

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T/N: NOOO WHY ARE THE VILLIANS SMART

This is a fan translation of 卫宫士郎不想加班 by 此世无存. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!