Arrival of Twin Swords

A killer...you say?

Indeed.

I know little about the workings of the "simulator," but I do know that a mysterious killer has been appearing there as of late.

It is fortunate that this began during Master's absence, as they were quite a formidable foe...

At any rate, we must remain on the alert. Would you be so kind as to inform Master?

Y-yes, of course.

Although, um, why did you choose to approach me about this, Lord Tajima?

Now then, if you will excuse me.

W-w-wait! Just a moment, Lord Tajima!

Is there a problem?

Well, um...

I just wanted to make sure...

You say this killer appearing in the simulator is not what they call an "NPC"?

Do I have that right?

That is correct.

This person possessed the aura of a true swordsman...to an extraordinary degree...

It was just yesterday that I encountered them.

I was taking a walk in the simulator when...

...Who goes there?

Show yourself. I can tell you are no mere enn-pee-see.

...

So, you are bereft of speech. Or perhaps, you were born without a mouth.

I am trained in Otomeryu. Ordinarily, it is not meant to be seen by the eyes of commoners...

...but now that the Tokugawa shogunate no longer holds sway, and I am a mere shadow of the true Tajima...

...I see little point in letting such concerns stay my blade.

So be warned. Draw nearer, and I will cut you down.

...!

Impressive.

I must say...

...your swordsmanship is a sight to behold. No human could make use of such a technique.

You must be some manner of monster.

Or perhaps...a curse that has gained consciousness.

...Regrettably, I was unable to settle our duel before they left.

It appeared they were dissatisfied with my swordsmanship.

Yes... I had the distinct impression that one blade is not enough for them.

It was as though they were searching for an opponent who wields two blades instead.

I imagine they were taking the form of a dead man's essence, much like we Heroic Spirits.

But now, they must have lost sight of who they are, and so have turned on those of us who carry blades of our own. What a pity.

...And so they have devolved into some mindless killer wandering the simulator.

...So it is basically rogue data that is similar to a Heroic Spirit. Understood!

I'll go tell Master right now! And I'll let Da Vinci and Mash know, too!

...And that's everything Lord Tajima told me!

You're welcome, Master!

He said it's because he doesn't know much about the simulator...

？！

So...does this mean there's a bug in the simulator...?

Our scans haven't picked up anything, but the main point of the simulator is to project Heroic Spirits' Spirit Origins.

With all that intricate data in the registry, it's entirely possible that a bit could have gotten scrambled somewhere and caused a problem.

Besides, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's one of the best swordsmen who ever lived, right?

If he felt like this thing wasn't just a normal NPC, I'm inclined to take him at his word. Something must be wrong.

Hmm. Welp! Guess we'll just have to run some comprehensive emergency system diagnostics!

...Master.

Oh, hello, Lord Diarmuid. What brings you here?

If I may, I would ask that you please take me to the simulator.

I think I might have an idea as to who this miscreant may be.

Okay, Senpai, Diarmuid. The simulator is up and running with no trouble so far.

I'll be monitoring the entire system from here in real time, but please let me know if you see anything amiss.

There aren't currently any NPCs in that area, so there shouldn't be anything unusual happening.

？！

If my instincts are correct...

...we should encounter our target soon, even if this place is meant to be deserted.

Are you sure, Diarmuid? I've confirmed that your area is cut off from all external access...

Yes, I'm sure.

Whoever this is, they won't pass up their chance to find what they're searching for.

？！

...Me.

What do you mean?

You were wondering why Lord Tajima didn't tell you about this yourself, right, Master?

I can answer that.

... ...

It's because our miscreant must be some kind of curse. Or rather, feelings that have degenerated into one.

I just never thought it would look for me in the simulator, tracking me through the bonds we share.

...Lady Kiyohime.

Yes! I'm here!

There is the faintest trace of this curse still lingering on your shoulder.

It is from when you spoke to Lord Tajima, after he encountered it here.

That is almost certainly why he tried to distance himself from Master. To keep the curse away from him.

Really!?

But, our sensors didn't pick up anything when she entered the Command Room!

Now that you mention it...I do think my shoulders feel a little heavy...

I'd better burn that curse away later, just to be safe.

Impressive.

Lord Tajima must have come to you because he knew you would have been able to handle it without difficulty.

?

Master?

？！

That curse...

No... Those feelings are directed at me.

I can still detect the scent of Danaan on them. I have no doubt that it is searching for me.

I considered trying to quietly handle this myself, so as not to trouble the rest of you...

...but that is not a decision I can make on my own.

I am sworn to serve you now, Master, and cannot take up my spear without your permission. That is why...

？！

You are too kind, Master.

Please be careful. This scent... The curse is drawing near!

I can't see anything on our monitors...

No, wait! I'm picking up a hostile headed your way!

...

Oh my, he just radiates animosity!

There is no way this is NPC data! These numbers shouldn't even be possible! Senpai!

？！

Worry not, Master! Virtual space or not, I will make sure no harm comes to you!

I, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, shall be your opponent!

Damn! I can't finish him off with this Spirit Origin!

Senpai! Diarmuid!

Master!

The hostile shows no signs of disappearing! It's going to be fiendishly difficult to defeat them in battle!

I think you should

？！

!?

...You are not the one.

You are not the one. You are not the one.

Your spear is not enough. Your spear is not enough.

Show me your true power. Show me the power of a knight raised by the sea-god Manannán.

Show me the sword of Manannán!

Master, stand back!

Hraaaaaahhh...!

Gáe Buidhe!

...You are not the one.

(My demonic spear didn't work?)

(No, that's not it...!)

...That's right. He wishes to duel with swords alone.

No other weapon will lay him to rest.

!!!

I'm picking up a powerful magical energy reading! It doesn't appear to be hostile, but...

Are they here to fight too? No, wait. This feeling...

...I'm sorry for the trouble. He is indeed looking for you, but he is also looking for me.

You're...

Now I see...

Diarmuid!?

You're lowering your spear...? Isn't that dangerous to do in the face of an enemy?

It's fine. This shadow is different.

If anything...I would say he's here to back us up.

Indeed I am.

However, I currently lack a corporeal Spirit Origin, and thus would like to make use of yours.

If that is acceptable to you, Master.

...Master, I would ask you to grant his request. We must do this if we are to defeat this opponent.

？！

Understood!

They're resonating with each other...!? It looks like Diarmuid's Spirit Origin is changing!

...Servant, Saber. My True Name is Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, of the Knights of Fianna...

...and my two demonic blades are at your service!

Now! Curse who has taken form in our simulator!

No... You are a pure, honest gianta Giolla Deacair! But I also know you as the Fairy King Ábartach of the Danann!

Why have you come to Chaldea!?

Fairy King Ábartach of the Danann!?

Wh-who's that!?

He's a king who ruled over one of the fairy kingdoms in Erin!

In the Fenian Cycle of Celtic legend, he was said to have formed an alliance with the Knights of Fianna...

...and in the process of forming that alliance, Diarmuid ended up fighting one of his knights...

Although some accounts of that legend say that Diarmuid actually fought the Fairy King himself!

Yes... Yesss...

That is the knight of Fianna I have been searching for. At last, you have shown yourself before me.

I saw your swordsmanship in my dreams. I saw your swords shining brightly atop the earth once again.

Thus did my consciousness cross time and space to arrive in this digital domain...

...At last, I have found you again, Diarmuid!

Not the invincible knight Fionn, with his demonic sword Móralltach and demonic spear Gáe Dearg!

Nor the figure of the Lancer with two demonic spears! No, at last, you have become a Saber wielding two demonic swords!

A far cry indeed from the Diarmuid I saw at the spring on that fateful day...

...who was the only one able to leap beyond that precipitous cliff!

Ahh, I want nothing more than to defeat you and your two swords, Diarmuid!

...What a self-centered king you are.

Nonetheless, I understand how you feel, and I accept your challenge!

I am Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, First Spear of the Knights of Fianna! But now I stand before you armed with two swords, not spears!

Now, you shall know defeat!

Aha. Now I finally get it.

So that's what's happening here! This is a...erm, Holy Grail War, right?

That explains why there's so many Servants here, and why it all went so ugly so fast.

I was kind of shocked when they all started attacking me one after the other.

...But now I guess it makes sense.

Since they're all hoping to make their wishes come true, and only one of them can succeed...

...it's no wonder they'd be so aggressive.

So thanks, and sorry! This was really informative, but I'm afraid I can't take part in this deathmatch.

I'm really more of a drifter.

I'm not one of the Heroic Spirits the Holy Grail chose to take part in this war.

...I see. So your manifestation does not depend on the Holy Grail.

Though I would usually find that difficult to believe, I will take you at your word, Miyamoto Musashi of the two swords.

So, you seek mastery over the heavens themselves. I never thought to witness swordplay like yours.

I'm glad I got to meet you too, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne of the Knights of Fianna.

Seeing as you're the only Heroic Spirit here who was actually willing to listen to me!

I wish I could stay and talk more...

...but it looks like sticking around any longer is gonna mess with this Holy Grail War business.

So I'll just leave it at this!

If our paths ever cross again, I hope we'll get to see each other in Chaldea someday!

Chaldea...?

...I suppose there is no better word for this than "fate."

Perhaps the Holy Grail ended up granting my wish after all, but for whatever reason...a part of my soul accomplished something miraculous.

I crossed between worlds, just like the one seeking mastery over the heavens.

Granted, I was only able to do so as a bug in the simulator, but I managed it nonetheless.

However, at the same time, I inadvertently ended up drawing the remnants of the Fairy King Ábartach's soul towards me, thanks to our deep connection.

For that, I am truly sorry.

Well, uh, the data that appeared to be Ábartach is completely gone now.

So...

I merely did what was required to clean up my own mess. Now, I will return this Spirit Origin to my Lancer self.

Farewell, Master. Farewell, Chaldeans.

？！

Ye

？！

...I'm sorry?

Fascinating.

So two different versions of the same Heroic Spirit now coexist in one Spirit Origin? Hmm...

I suppose it is not totally dissimilar from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde's case, though for you it seems to be a more temporary phenomenon.

Especially given how the Saber version seems to have made his way here via the connection he made to Ms. Miyamoto in a parallel world.

That particular Spirit Origin has, of course, been registered in our database by now...

...but I'm afraid that your current self can only maintain its manifestation for so long.

Therefore

You might as well enjoy yourself while you're here. This should be fun!

So, I'll put a little more in the way of resources into the simulator while you're here.

After all, we're Chaldea, the Security Organization for the Preservation of Humanity. You won't find this many Servants anywhere else! Ever!

There ought to be plenty of badass heroes here for you to cross swords with!

I, um... Are you sure about this? I never belonged to this world, after all.

Are you certain it will not be a problem to keep me here, even temporarily?

？！

...Oh. Well...

Go on. What's he saying?

...The Lancer within me says we should accept Master's generosity.

Then listen to him! Please, enjoy yourself.

... ...

You are all very kind. Very well then, I shall do my utmost to enjoy what time I have here!

Go!

？！

...I almost feel as though I am dreaming.

Yet I doubt even the gods or the Fairy King could ever have conceived of something so wondrous as this.

Truly, I could ask for no better parting gift.

You have my deepest thanks, Master of Chaldea.

Senpai... Diarmuid's Spirit Origin is forcefully reverting to its Lancer form!

Of course, Master.

？！

It would seem this is it. It won't be much longer now until I disappear.

But please, do not worry about me. My Lancer Spirit Origin is perfectly capable.

I am still me, whether I carry sword or spear, and I will continue to wield them for your sake.

Now then, I

...!

That golden sword! Are you...the King of Knights?

Forgive me. It would seem you no longer have time to spare for a duel.

Perhaps we can remedy that some other day, Sir Diarmuid.

As I see it, it may be best simply to summon your new Spirit Origin here...

...but it is only through fate that we may have another chance to duel.

And so, while I cannot give you my word, I can at least say this much:

I hope we will meet again some day, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne of the Knights of Fianna.

...Yes. I'd like that very much.

Should that day ever come, King of Knights...we will have a battle for the ages!