Shirou didn't know what he was expecting, but this was not it.
He was currently in a restaurant with Noel and Ninny after getting his visitor card. Noel had brought him here so she could eat something delicious while Ninny had tagged along to get a free meal from the raven-haired girl.
Based on what he heard from the two, giving a tour and explaining the rules to Watcher would net an agent an extra Pay and Achievement.
So Noel was happy for this chance and took advantage of it, which resulted in a scolding from her blonde partner who wanted to earn the extra achievement herself.
Shirou was just a catalyst in this case and he had nothing to do with it, but still he felt bad about being the cause of an argument between them.
But that quickly disappeared once he got to know them better.
"So, Kurosaki. Tell us about yourself." Ninny spoke first as she sat opposite of Shirou. Noel was seated next to him. "What are you doing here? I heard you're from Japan. Do you study there? And Noel said you know magic. How did you learn it?"
The barrage of questions came as naturally as they finished their arguments.
"Well..." He began, thinking about his answer carefully. "I was here for a vacation and a chance to visit someone. And I came from Japan, yes. My magic is taught by my father, but I only know one kind so it doesn't really count as learning magic, does it? It's just one skill in many."
Shirou smiled sheepishly. It was the first time he met people who used 'magic' in this world. Shinigami and Quincy didn't count as they were just spirits in the end, so their powers weren't real magic but rather a skill.
"Oh! That's cool. So your father was a wizard?" Ninny asked eagerly, "That's awesome!"
"Wow, you must be from a rich family if you're able to have a vacation alone, I assume." Noel chimed in.
"No, not quiet. I used my savings to pay for the trip." Shirou shook his head, "We are just an ordinary family, not a rich one. I have worked at a candy shop since I was middle school and saved up for my own expense. Not a good one but enough to keep me going."
"You've heard him, Noel." Ninny elbowed her friend playfully.
"Hmph." Noel huffed, her face scrunched up in displeasure at Ninny.
"I think that's amazing. Saving up and then spending it for a vacation is pretty cool. And you even came alone!" The blonde witch said cheerily.
Shirou scratched his cheek in embarrassment, "It's nothing, really."
They continued to talk in the restaurant.
For some reason, the two Witches got interested in him.
At the same time, Shirou also asked various things about Reverse London to the two.
From the way they explained, it was obvious they knew this city like the back of their hands.
Noel, who was more knowledgeable and calm than Ninny, explained that Reverse London has existed since a long time ago. And Dragons were still around.
"And so-"
Crash!
Suddenly, a loud crashing sound rang outside. Noel and Ninny rose from their seats and looked outside.
Both of them had a grim expression. It seemed to be bad news.
"What happened?"
"A Dragon is rampaging nearby!"
Ninny's question was answered by a person who entered the restaurant as a refugee. His expression was panicked and terrified, as if he saw a monster.
"Let's go, Noel!" Ninny grabbed her pipe and ran to the door.
Grabbing her own pipe, Noel followed suit and left a message.
"You stay here, Kurosaki."
Both girls ran away to do their job. Leaving Shirou alone at the restaurant.
"...Nope." Shirou muttered and followed the witches, ignoring their warning.
If a Dragon was rampaging, then he would help them.
While he no longer followed his ideal of saving everyone and had accepted that sometimes sacrifices had to be made, it didn't mean he would do nothing to save someone. If it was in his power, Shirou would save everyone he could.
'And this power...'
He clenched his fists and glared ahead, following the two witches to the scene.
'Shouldn't be wasted.'
When he reached the place where Noel and Ninny had gone to, Shirou was met with the sight of a creature with elongated neck and a head that resembled a seahorse, but it had six legs.
It had a scaly skin that was a mixture of green and blue. It also had a pair of webbed feet, which made it seem like it came from an ocean or swampy area.
A pair of small wings sprouted from the sides of its body. It looked like a pair of wings of an insect, thin and delicate.
Its head had a pair of long antennae-like horns sticking out from its forehead. And its size... it was around the size of an elephant.
This creature was the Dragon.
"Rampaging dragon spotted! Request for a quarantine." Ninny called the headquarters through her phone.
As soon as she finished,
It tried to climb a bridge above the river and destroyed the steel supporting the road. Its tail was flailing about and it was roaring at everything around it.
The two witches, Ninny and Noel were there and had their magic kit in hand. They were trying to subdue the beast with magic spells.
"Stun ball!"
From the tip of her gun-like magic kit, Noel launched a magic bullet that shot through the air towards the Dragon.
It hit right between the eyes and caused the dragon to fall back.
Ready to intercept the dragon was Ninny. She rode what seemed to be a smaller dragon and flew in the air. Her magic kit was ready in her hand and she activated her magic.
"Flash Bumper."
Net-like barrier formed from the tip of her wand and expanded, softening the impact from the dragon fall. But her barrier wasn't strong enough as the net burst into pieces and the Dragon landed on a ground with a crash, causing a small crater beneath it.
Noel fired more magic bullet, but they were deflected away from the dragon. She gritted her teeth and tried again, this time using her pipe instead of her gun.
"Rainy Wheel."
Flaming blue fire resembling wheels of a cart appeared and flew toward the Dragon. The fireball hit the target, and it let out a screech of pain.
Still, the dragon was a tough beast and the flames couldn't do anything more than just annoying the creature. It continued to rampage, destroying everything around it.
Noel clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"We can't hold on much longer!" Ninny screamed, "We need backup!"
Shirou watched the two witches try their best to stop the Dragon's rampage, but they couldn't do it on their own.
After a while, he decided to join the battle himself. He couldn't stand by any longer as he felt like something terrible could happen if he didn't act now.
"Trace On."
Blue fire came to life as aria escaped his lips. In his hand, a black bow materialized alongside an arrow.
Shirou pulled the bowstring and fired an arrow at the beast. It split the wind and left a red trail in the air, before striking the dragon on the head with a small explosion and causing it to flinch in pain. It fell backward, landing on its belly. The ground shook from its impact.
Both Noel and Ninny looked shocked at what happened. They looked at the dead dragon, then at Shirou, who stood in front of the restaurant away from their location.
"Did he do that?"
"...Yes, I saw it too." Ninny confirmed.
"..."
Noel's eyes widened when she saw how Shirou subdued a dragon so easily.
'He did not use a magic kit and that bow looks like something a hunter will use.'
Noel had never seen anyone use a weapon other than a magic kit to fight.
Yet there he was, holding a bow that could defeat even dragons. He even smiled a little when they looked at him and waved his hand. His weapon disappeared into thin air when he released it.