A Despairing Past and a Hopeful Future

Ah, there you are, Master. May I speak to you for a moment?

Wonderful. That's just what I like to hear.

Well, as it turns out, it's about something extremely important. Something that directly concerns me.

？！

Let me get straight to the point: I have something I wish to confess to you.

Well, that's rude. There's no need to look as though you're bracing for impact.

Unlike a certain dragon princess I could name, I am under no delusions about who you truly are.

...Ahem.

I know I may have been treating you a bit, well, coldly, Master. Not to put too fine a point on it.

Yet despite that, you have been perfectly patient with me and welcomed me with open arms.

Therefore, I feel it is only right that I let my hair down, so to speak, and be my true self around here.

I know what the others say about me.

"The young beauty so cool she's ice-cold." "Prim and proper to a fault."

"A porcelain doll who'll shatter at the slightest touch." "Lovely bangs that half-hide her eyes."

Those are just a few of the things I've heard myself called.

But the truth is...

I am...

An irredeemable imp.

I suppose I should be thankful that you seem so befuddled.

Oh? You sound skeptical.

Then again, I suppose I'm usually so elegantly well-behaved that it's no wonder you find it hard to believe.

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At any rate, the reason why I went to the trouble of announcing it like this...

...is because now that you and I are on better terms, you have an obligation to know who I truly am.

Specifically, I'm going to engage in mischief.

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Yes. Mischief.

There is something about making mischief that makes my heart dance with joy. Perhaps it takes me back to my childhood days or something like that.

At any rate, I can no longer bear to act like the good little girl I'm not, so I will no longer be doing so.

But I will apologize in advance for the mischief I'm going to cause. I'm sorry, Master.

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For that...

You'll just have to wait till tomorrow to find out.

Teeheeheehee.

...Teeheeheehee.

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Did I surprise you!?

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Teeheehee. My first bit of mischief was to change your room around.

Of course, this is nothing the professor et al. haven't already done, so I'm still only getting started.

Oh my.

Very well then, I'll just stay right here in the meantime.

No? I can't? Too bad...

But for the record, I've had some experience comforting wounded soldiers...

...so I have no issue with a man getting changed in front of me. Hehehe.

Of course.

...Well? What are you waiting for? The sooner you're done, the better.

What, do you need a hand? My, my, I guess I'm not the only princess here, hm?

Indeed. Good morning, Master. Hehe, nothing fazes you, does it?

？！

Now then, today is our combat simulation day, right? So let's get going.

Don't worry, Viy already set everything up.

Oh my. How could you even suggest such a thing? (Crocodile tears)

No, I think we'll be leaving the settings right where they are, thank you very much.

Why yes.

We always train in the same boring environments these days...

...so we decided to "mix it up" with some random data from the database.

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Now then, come along. The day's not getting any younger!

Oh my, I wonder where we'll end up first. These random choices are so exciting.

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Beginning combat simulation in three, two, one...

Let's see. This looks like...

So hot.

...I mean, it's fine. This is fine.

Who, me? Don't be silly.

So hot.

...What? I didn't say anything.

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Ahem, ahem.

I must say, Master, it must be awfully difficult for you, having to prepare for combat in an environment like this.

Teehee, you're a stubborn one, aren't you?

But you know...I actually prefer stubborn people over wishy-washy types.

Oh, very well then.

I'll just have to cool you off a bit myself! And by "cool you off" I mean freeze you solid!

What's that? Thanks, but you'll manage? ...Hmph, too bad.

You'd be surprised how much cooler your whole body will feel with just a mildly frozen nape.

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Anyway, I assume we'll be attacked shortly, yes? Let's see, where will the enemies come from...?

Huh? The lava?

Oh my... How did they all survive in there?

Master? Master! What happened? You look white as driven snow!

What is it? Cyanosis? Anemia? A migraine?

Well, don't you worry. I might not look it, but I've actually worked as a nurse (or something similar) before!

And if I remember my training correctly, you should be fine as long as I keep performing CPR on your heart!

Halloween?

That's that festival Chaldea holds in autumn on an irregular basis, right?

Does that mean you last encountered Servants swimming in lava during Halloween?

...How does that work?

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Ahem, ahem.

At any rate, I'll take care of them.

All you have to do, Master, is ensure I can make full use of my abilities as your Servant. Are we agreed?

... ...

...So hot...

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Ugh!

Whose bright idea was it to set the combat simulator to an environment like this!?

Oh right! It was Viy!

Well, I've learned my lesson. From now on, I'll pay much closer attention when adjusting the simulator's settings.

Now come on, let's get out of here. I can't stand this heat for a moment longer.

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Thank you, Master.

... ...

...Well?

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Well!?

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It's sooo hooot!

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Ghhh... But not moving makes the heat worse, too...

I know. Maybe some light conversation will serve as a distraction.

Let's see, what to talk about... Say, how much do you know about me, anyway?

I see. Well, I'm happy to hear you've done your homework.

In that case, I'll skip ahead a bit.

Oh my. Well, that won't do at all.

Every good Master should know at least a little something about their Servants.

Very well then.

In that case, I will tell you about my background myself.

...But I'll keep it to under five minutes, since it's so unbearably hot.

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What do you expect? I already mentioned the unbearable heat.

Now then. To begin, I was born into the title of Grand Duchess of the Romanov Dynasty...

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...And that is how I died.

Oh yes, it was dreadful. Growing up, I never expected I would die in such a cruel manner.

Even now, I will never forget this grudge. If those soldiers' graves were within walking distance, I would march right over there, spit on them, and rub it into the dirt.

And yet, strangely enough...

Here in Chaldea, it all seems like a far-off, vaguely nostalgic dream.

Ulp.

Well, um... Not always, but... Maybe sometimes...

Good question...

I would say yes, but there is also a part of me that's glad for it...because it makes me feel like I'm practically a normal person.

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Hmm...

I suppose, deep down, I still believe people are fundamentally good.

Not people like those barbaric soldiers, of course, but people like my family.

...Which isn't to say I'm not aware that, historically speaking, my family did some rather dreadful things, too.

I know they lived, and grew up, and learned, and ate, and lived their lives like any other person would.

Or at least, I thought I did.

I'm still not sure if our people starving to death was my fault or my father's fault.

Or perhaps it was entirely Father and the government officials who swore loyalty to him who were to blame.

Maybe the things they did were simply so terrible that my family...

...Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and myself...

...all deserved to be hacked to pieces and dissolved in sulfuric acid.

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...(Sigh)

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up such unpleasant memories.

And besides, I know I will never find answers to those questions, no matter how long I look.

I just have to keep agonizing over them and looking back on them forever.

It's not right for me to expect you to answer them for me, Master.

Oh my, this won't do at all. If I don't snap out of it, I'm liable to end up being summoned as an Avenger.

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Is that so? ...Hehe. All right, Master, if you insist.

Let's see... I believe this is how you make an unbreakable promise in your homeland, yes?

I swear that I will never become an Avenger. Pinky promise.

If this turns out to be a lie, then cross my heart and hope to die.

...You know, I thought this would be a more lighthearted endeavor. I didn't realize quite how morbid it was until we got to the end.

Though admittedly, I'm still not sure how crossing one's heart could actually bring about one's death.

Good point.

True. Some mysteries are better left unsolved.

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Oh my, was that an earthquake? ...No, it couldn't be, could it? Hopefully, it's a sign that we'll get to leave soon.

I suppose this would never have happened in the first place if I hadn't encouraged Viy to play with the simulator's settings...

Then again, who's to say it wouldn't have?

Oh my. From the look on your face, I take it you don't believe it could have happened any other way?

Well, say what you will; my Viy is still adorable. Especially his eyes when he has them both wide open.

Though I know some people have complained that he's scary, or shows up in their nightmares...

...or that they'd wish he'd stop glomming on to the backs of their heads.

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Hehehe, yes, I suppose you are, aren't you?

Still, you should know that Viy holds you in very high regard, even if he has his own way of showing

It's freezing.

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What is this place? It looks like...a prison made out of ice?

Well I've never seen anywhere like this before. Perhaps the system is "bugging out," as they say. All right, shall we make our escape?

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There we go. Now we can walk right out of here.

...Hm? Now why are you looking at me like that? Are you surprised that I would employ such a brutish method?

Well in case you need a reminder, I am the Grand Duchess of the holy Romanov Dynasty. Brute force is absolutely in my wheelhouse.

Now let's be on our way!

Oh my...

Now we're at a party hall? It's just one surprise after another.

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Hmm... Well, the flavor is nothing to write home about. And it doesn't seem to have replenished any of my magical energy.

Then again, perhaps that's only to be expected, since we are in a simulation and all... I suppose that makes this no different than eating mist.

And in that case, does that mean I've become a wise parsley, able to live off nothing but the faintest drops of dew?

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...I swear, English can be so difficult sometimes.

Why can't you all keep things simple and just speak Russian like civilized folk!?

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...Fair enough.

On a different subject, I trust you're familiar with Jason the hero, yes?

And you're also familiar with the series of horror films starring an antagonist by the same name?

Well, can you even imagine our Jason running around with a shaved head and a hockey mask in place of that other Jason?

I certainly can't. The very idea of it gives me a huge case of the giggles.

I'm sure our Jason wouldn't be very happy to hear that...

...but the way I see it, if you can't be free to imagine whatever you like, then where can you be free?

...And on that note, it looks like Viy is doing his best to be considerate.

What's that? This is the opposite of being considerate? Yes, you may be right.

Anyway, I suppose this is still a combat simulation, so I won't feel too bad about crushing them.

Let's go, Master!

Phew, that's that. I would say that battle went rather well.

Your orders were absolutely on point, Master. Now then, shall we take our leave of this place?

...We CAN leave, can't we?

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Hehe.

Well, if we couldn't, I suppose we'd just have to throw a never-ending party here.

...Yes, that might have been the case. Now that I think about it...

If we'd been left to our own devices, my family and I might have continued throwing endless parties forever.

We would have continued to eat, and learn, and grow, without ever growing tired of our day-to-day lives.

...All the while oblivious to the people starving to death right beneath our noses.

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...I suppose you're right.

People can only barely keep up with what's going on around them.

They're just not capable of seriously considering the plights of perfect strangers in the rest of the world.

If there was an exception to that rule...I guess it'd be the person I'm looking at right now.

...I take it from your expression that you have mixed feelings about that statement?

Yes, I know. It's very difficult to truly be concerned for others during peaceful, ordinary times.

But in your case, you still wouldn't hesitate to help anyone in your field of vision, would you?

I'm sure that way of life will bring you more than your share of headaches, but even so, I hope you never lose that spirit, Master.

Good. That's all I ask.

Because I have every faith that your best will be more than enough.

There's no need to think too hard about it.

Knowing you, I'm sure all you'll need to do is follow your heart. You can always rationalize your actions later.

In your case, I think that's all you'll need to be satisfied.

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Now then, let's get out of here, Master. Tomorrow is another day, after all.

Phew...

Say, Viy? Do you think there's something wrong with me?

I might be a Servant now thanks to meeting a creature as strange and mysterious as you...

...but do you think I'm really doing the best I can? ...I am, right?

Huh? Am I...sleeping?

Even though I'm a Servant?

...Was this your doing, Viy?

If this is your idea of mischief, it's not funny. I'm very sensitive, remember?

Or what? Are you telling me...that's a scene from my future?

... ...

That's ridiculous. No, that's not even possible.

. .

...Nobody's coming. Maybe this means Master isn't here.

...There's nobody here.

...!

Um... Who are you?

!

Enemies!

...No.

...?

We obey your orders.

Who are... What are you talking about?

We will kill everyone here, because that is what you want.

!

Master! Where are you!? We're under attack!

...Master? Where are you? Where is everyone...?

Khh... Open your eyes, Viy!

That's strange...

I don't remember the hallway...being this broken...

And...why is there nobody here? ...Master?

...Huh?

. .

Viy? Do you remember when I was summoned?

...!

My head... It hurts... No... Stop it, stop it, stop it!

...Whose side are you on?

...!

Huh?

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Aah! M-Master!?

I-I'm sorry. I must have fallen asleep.

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C-come now, Master, don't tease me like that. I'm supposed to be doing the teasing here, remember?

I am an imp, after all.

...And don't look at me like that. This is perfectly fair.

Hey...Master?

I just had a bad dream. A really, REALLY bad dream.

So, um... Would you mind holding my hand, Master?

Would you please hold my hand so that I don't go crazy or fall to pieces?

...Master? I know I'm being a scaredy-cat now, but would you please help me anyway?

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Thank you...