Dozing Träumerei

Hang in there. Here, breathe with this handkerchief.

I believe we're in London. My name is Amakusa Shirou. Do you recognize me, Master?

Oh good, so you do understand me. Wonderful.

Yes, Master. We're in London now, and unfortunately, the situation doesn't seem good...

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I wish we could just head back to Chaldea now that you're awake...

But unfortunately, I get the distinct impression that there's something we need to do first.

There must be a reason why we ended up here. Do you remember anything, Master?

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Yah!

There, that's all the combat data we need. Great job, Jack.

Aww, it's over already?

No faaair! We wanna play mooore!

Um... Well, we could certainly always use more data.

Would you be okay with that, Master?

Yay! Then let's go somewhere different!

Sure I'm sure!

Okay then, just give me a second.

Ooh, and we want a different place, too!

？！

You got it. Here, you can choose from these.

Hmm, now where should we go...?

Hmm... Hmm... ...Huh?

Where's "Shinjookoo"?

Shinjuku is an area in Tokyo, the capital city of a country called Japan.

Let's go there then! It looks like fun!

Understood. Just give me a moment, and I'll go ahead and change the location then.

Let's also change the enemies to match, and...

There you go.

Ooh... Wow...

It's so pretty here! We think we like it!

O-oh yeah?

It's rough, and trashy...and perfect!

We bet there's all sorts of dead people here, and unhappy people here...

And... And...

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...Huh?

That's weird. That's really weird.

We don't know this city. We're sure we've never been here before.

So then...why do we understand it so well?

Jack!?

No. No, no, no.

We're not like that anymore. We're not!

Nothing... It's nothing. Don't worry, Mommy, we're fine!

...Ghh... Khh...!

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...Oh no.

We've gotta go back. We've gotta go back right now!

Is this...a high-density magical energy reaction!? Master, get away from there!

And hurry!

...!

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And when you came to, you found yourself here, huh? Now I see.

...That's right. I remember now too. I was planning to use the combat simulator right after.

But then there was some kind of error right before I went to take my turn, and the next thing I knew, I was here.

Whatever's going on, it sounds like Jack has something to do with it.

Then I guess we'd better go look for her. But first...

We should take care of these guys. Let's get this combat simulation started, shall we?

Huh? This is...

Yes, this is where you were born. Or maybe I should say it's where you never grew up!

Huh? Nursery?

No, I am not Nursery Rhyme.

I just transformed into someone you wouldn't want to have to fight.

I'm actually retribution.

You're going to atone for all those people you killed.

...!

Are you going to run away from your sins? Are you going to refuse your just deserts?

...Stop it.

Oh no I won't! You need to die for what you've done! It's your duty!

Stop it... Stop it! Don't say things like that!

You can't run away forever!

You're a miniature hell that's been dropped into this world...

So you need to accept your punishment and disappear!

...So Master, what I'm about to tell you may sound somewhat random, but I promise you it's relevant to our current situation.

I'm not sure if you already know this, but just in case you don't...

Jack the Ripper is an unusual case, even among Servants.

She's basically more like an evil ghost than a person. Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying that to be mean.

But the fact is, in truth she is an evil spirit born from the city of London itself...

...and Jack the Ripper is just the skin the spirit has chosen to wear.

What's more, that particular trait is something wholly unique to her, at least as far as I know.

While I have heard rumors that another criminal has been summoned among the Berserkers...

...I feel fairly confident in saying that our Jack is the only one who appears this young.

Oh yes, she's very wise. To put it another way, she's a very quick thinker.

Of course, you could also say that most Servants are wise, whether they look like children or not.

Incidentally, I'm pretty sure that wisdom is not something she had while she was still alive, so to speak.

If anything, it's like... Well, crowd wisdom.

Regardless, she's a child now, and deserves to enjoy all that that confers.

Oh yes, absolutely.

She may be brutal and merciless towards her enemies, but you could say the same of most any Servant.

If anything, it's extremely heartwarming to see her trying to enjoy her life with such childlike wonderment.

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...But she's also a murderer, remember?

!

I suggest you stand back a bit, Master.

Sorry for drawing my Black Keys so suddenly. If you don't mind my asking, who are you?

Me? Hmm... I suppose you can call me "Ms. London."

Not that my name particularly matters.

Now then, are you ready to face reality?

Of course. It's right in her name, after all. But you mustn't turn away from that fact either.

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...It would seem you're not here to fight us then. I apologize for my earlier actions.

...Hmm.

Master, this is just my intuition speaking, but I think we should let her come with us.

I think that's what she wants too.

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...Thank you. I'm glad we were able to reach an understanding so quickly.

It is as you said. I would like to accompany you two.

It doesn't matter what I am, or why I am.

While I'm sure it won't be straightforward to do so, right now, I would ask that you think only of saving that child.

Looks like we've found an obstacle already.

Once we're done with them, I'm hoping you'll tell us more about what it is you want.

Now then, shall we, Master!?

Jack is one of London's many victims.

Yes, that sounds right.

She's a poor, pitiful being, fully deserving of our compassion. That's why it's no surprise she sought revenge.

Hold on. That doesn't sound quite right.

If someone had killed her, then her taking revenge on them would make perfect sense.

Though of course, if we happened to be there, both Master and I would try to stop her from doing so.

But taking revenge on someone who didn't kill her makes no sense at all.

That's just lashing out.

True. But as someone whose name escapes me once said...

...victimhood can be used to legitimize any number of evils.

...That's true.

I must admit that it is all too common for one to use one's position as a victimor the appearance thereofas a weapon.

That is the sort of line Jack is walking right now.

Please, stop her before she crosses it.

You can't always run away, you know?

If you don't come clean with your sins, they'll just keep piling up!

Yes, you may be right. In fact, you almost certainly are! But does that mean it's okay for you to kill others?

... ...

We'll...kill you.

...Now, now. You mustn't go around killing like that.

...Who are you?

Hehe, it doesn't matter who I am. Just listen to me, okay?

I know you've all been through a lot. It's more than anyone should have to bear.

You could blame all living creatures for conspiring to make your lives miserable, and you wouldn't be wrong to do so.

But if you use that as an excuse to hurt others, it will end up hurting all of you, too.

It will...?

You're broken even now, but not in a sense that makes you dangerous or evil.

But if you start hurting other people... If you start to think it's right for you to do so...

...then one day, you'll end up completely falling apart.

How can you tell?

I'm not sure either. But you know I'm right, don't you?

... ...

What's wrong? Aren't you going to hate them back?

Don't you remember how many of you those doctors killed?

Don't you remember how those men who made you never even looked twice at you?

Don't you remember how the living couldn't have cared less about you?

Ngh... Khh...!

That's not right either, Jack.

Your anger, your frustrations, your regrets... They're fine as they are. Those are things all living beings need to reflect on.

...Just like how you can't stop to linger unless you've been constantly seeking something, some things can't be seen unless you have regrets.

And now...what you've been seeking is here.

Huh?

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Mommy! And...Amakusa Shirou?

Aha, now I see.

Ms. London, was it?

Could you be London itself, just as your name suggests?

Yes...and no.

Huh? Is that the same person we've been talking to here?

Nonsensical though that may sound, it does look that way.

She must have wanted to help you very much indeed.

...Hmm, okay.

So, there are more chirping songbirds here now. But that doesn't matter.

Hmm.

You're not actually Nursery Rhyme, are you?

Ah! We thought so!

She may be anyone and no one, but she would never transform into adults who have given up on their dreams.

Hmm. So that must mean...

...you read Jack's memories and chose to look like someone who would make a good victim. Am I right?

Wow, that's amazing! It's like watching a great detective in action!

Lamentably, I lack a certain gentleman's facility with the violin.

But it doesn't matter that you've figured me out. I'll still be a victim as long as I look like this!

Hmm.

I'd be very interested to figure out what you truly are, but for now, I'll settle for just defeating you.

Do you think you can beat her, Jack?

But... But she's...

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Huh?

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Oh, yeah.

Now we get it. We have to get out of here so you can leave too, right, Mommy?

Yes, that's very true. Not to mention the real Nursery Rhyme, and your other friends, would be very sad without you.

Oh no, we don't like that. We don't want them to be sad.

Right? So then, there's only one thing left to do.

Yeah, you're right. ...Okay! We'll dismember her!

...Aww, too bad.

I was so sure my society would have been perfect if I had just embedded you conceptually into it as an aggressor.

Now I see. How very unusual.

I never would have thought the residual data from our combat simulations would gain consciousness and try to create its own society.

Maybe you inadvertently copied a strange spell or two when you made this perfect recreation of London?

Given how close this location is to the Clock Tower, I'm not surprised recreating it could lead to some oddities.

I guess I'll have to choose the next place I recreate more carefully then.

All right... See you later, Ms. Perpetual Victim.

Bye-bye!

...Ugh, this is so disappointing.

Well, that's a relief.

You are

I'm nobody, Jack. Though if I had to pick something, I suppose I'd say I'm London's conscience.

No matter how coarse human society's systems may be, or how inferior its character...

...the fact remains that everyone has at least a little conscience in them.

The same concept was present even in the society that that Nursery Rhyme made.

That still leaves a few questions unanswered though.

For example, why are you a woman? Why did you choose that particular personality?

Well...

Is it because you're a mommy, even if you're not our Mommy?

...You know, I like that interpretation. Yes, let's go with that.

I'm someone you've dreamed about.

Someone who loves and accepts you unconditionally, and who wouldn't hesitate to take a bullet for you if necessary.

Someone who, once upon a time, just might have been your Master in a Holy Grail War.

Yes, I think that's just a lovely dream... A Träumerei.

Nn...

Now, it's time to wake up from this simulation, and go back home.

Will you be okay now, Jack?

...Yeah. We think we'll make do.

Oh good, it looks like our comms are back online. This seems as good a time as any to exit the simulation then.

Farewell, Ms. London.

Goodbye, everyone.

Not at all. I'm the one who should be thanking you.

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... ...

Oh my. What's wrong, Jack?

Well, um... We think...

...we're really glad...we got to meet you.

Maybe we still haven't met you yet, or maybe we already did...

But now that we've met you, we... On second thought, never mind that part.

We think...we're gonna try a little harder.

Goodbye, Mystery Lady.

Goodbye, Jack the Ripper. May you be happy to your final breath.

Um, Mommy? We're sorry for what happened today.

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We're not sure.

We don't really get humanity, and we don't have any reason to work hard for them.

We even think the world might be better off if they were gone.

But right now, we're having fun. We're happy.

Not to mention, if that mysterious lady is out there somewhere...

...No, even if she's gone now, and there's only traces of her left somewhere on this planet...

We think we have to do the best we can.

You're welcome, Mommy!

Yeah... Yeah, let's! We promise we'll try really, really hard!

So, maybe...we can still dream together too! Okay, Mommy?

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