Fate/Grand Order story · Interludes, Interlude
You, Like a Smiling Flower
Interlude. Interlude
2 scenes, 183 lines
1. Before the battle
30 linesIt was just another job.
To them, it was just another minute Singularity. To me, it was a threat to be eliminated as a Counter Guardian.
There's no need to go into details. A target emerged, and needed to be taken care of.
I simply do what I was meant to do: I search for the enemy, engage, and eliminate them.
The fewer people I engage with, the better. At least, that's a personal choice of mine.
Heroic Spirits. Heroes. Many of those are mere shadows of mass murderers.
In my opinion, they are all repulsive. I prefer not to be by their side when fighting.
But working completely independently is also difficult.
It must be because of my lack of freedom as a Servant.
Requiring Master to accompany us for Rayshifts is a pain. But I suppose that has turned out to be a blessing in disguise...
Fujimaru, or Master, is quick to understand. And so we were progressing smoothly. This time is no different.
The source of the minute Singularity... It could be a fragment of a Holy Grail, or a remnant of the original abnormality in the timeline.
But they are all simple to track. A majority of them can be eradicated and handled with a single attack.
Should it be a life-form, we kill it. If it is an inanimate object, we destroy it.
We seek it out, and then swiftly...
...This time around, it's quite clear-cut.
It must be a remnant of the many things you defeated. It's not as powerful as what we encountered in the final Singularity.
It's not alive. It's already dead.
But it's taken in a shard of a Holy Grail.
Which then it turned into a minute Singularity. What a pain. There are far too many Holy Grails...
...and, of course, shards in this Grand Order.
Sorry to take up your time, Emiya.
Likewise. Sorry to rope you into this.
Thanks for finding it so quickly.
Finding the problem and dealing with it swiftly is my forte. I should be the one thanking you.
？！
Now let's do it. I'm sure IT'S also tired of waiting for us.
Commence battle!
2. After the battle
153 linesIt ends here, you worthless pile of nothing. I'm sure you're sick of living as an empty shell.
Mission completed, Master.
The minute Singularity has disappeared. We should hurry back to Chaldea.
Good work, Emiya.
We got it done quick thanks to you.
......
.........
............
Um...
What are you two doing in front of Emiya's room?
？！
Um, it's actually a bit of a long story...
...
It has nothing to do with the Holy Grail. I am...like a Divided Spirit that poured out of the Holy Grail...
That makes me unique among all the Heroic Spirits. But me standing right here is not related to that whatsoever.
...We're just taking a peek.
It's exactly how it looks!
When you're stalking prey, you hide in the darkness! This jaguar is sad to know you forgot the laws of the jungle!
That's not it. We're not out to kill anyone!
Why don't you just talk to him?
Yes...you're right. We know that's the right thing to do...
But that man doesn't want to see us. Even when we speak to him, he just walks away...
Honestly, we've run out of options.
？！
(Gasp!) Here he comes!
Deploying Noble Phantasm "Jaguar in the Black"! It'll make this whole place SUPER dark!
Come on, Miss Iri and Master! This way!
Be like glue, stick together and become one with the darkness...!
Ah! My shadow...!?
Is that a Noble Phantasm you don't use in battle!?
You sound like a boss.
？！
(Hmmm...like the "Dancer in the Dark." Perfect. Nobody can see us from the outside!)
(It's a nagual-like Presence Concealment. Behold, it can even hide friends other than Jaguar!)
(Wow, how wonderful.)
(Yep, yep. Miss Iri, you really are accepting and wonderful too, meow. You get a Jaguar stamp... Stamp! Once more for good measure.)
(Teehee. You flatter me, Jaguar Warrior.)
(By the way, it will only work for Jaguar during battle. Obviously, I can't hide an entire group in the middle of a fight!)
(Our prey is heading towards the Command Room. Come on let's TAIL him!)
(Roger that! Come on. Master, you too. Hold your breath and follow us. We're in this together now!)
I guess I'll tag along.
(That's the spirit! Big Sis is glad to have an understanding Master. Here, I'll give you this wonderful dead spider as a reward!)
(Eh? You don't want it? But it's a paw-sitively perfect gift!)
Chaldea has enough stalkers...
(Yeah, Jaguar thinks so too. I'm a teacher, after all. But they say: eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, and a Blaze for a Bunyan.)
(It's Emiya's fault for being so secretive. Even Big Sis thinks... No, that's not my point.)
(Even I'm concerned for him. What in the world happened to him to make him act like that.)
(What's with the dark, gloomy aura? If we leave him alone, he's definitely gonna die alone.)
(...Yes. I can't just sit idly by and watch that happen to him.)
？！
............
.........
......?
...
(It appears he was speaking with that Archer.)
(What were they talking about? Let's go ask!)
Mee-wow, Emiyan! The Emiyan who at least makes us feel kind of comfortable!
... (She appeared out of nowhere again...) Hello, jungle spirit. What business do you have with me?
Ah... You're one of the few people who treats me properly, as a spirit! I paw-sitively love that!
I'm compelled to send over a nice hawk carcass or something as a gift...but now's not the time. What were you HAWKing about!?
That's...direct.
(Yes, that's the kind of bluntness I'd expect from Jaguar Warrior...)
That was a lame pun, but hopefully he didn't notice her true intent.
(The Assassin... He left already, so hopefully it's not that obvious. Oh my, wait a minute...)
(Does that mean we lost sight of him!?)
？！
...
Oh, well.
After all, no matter how chaotic and full of ulterior motives your actions are, at least it's all usually done with the best intentions.
Yep, yep. That's because I'm an animal.
He asked about my magical energy consumption during battle. I answered as best I could.
Oh. That's insignifiCAT.
(Yes, that's quite ordinary.)
Whatever! I've GATO-go, first Emiyan! Or actually, maybe you should be second...?
Anyway, until next time! It'd be nice if you made some good ta-PAWS so that I can have a nice drink soon!
(Ah! Jaguar Warrior, wait, wait!)
Yes, I spoke briefly with him.
We spoke about what to be mindful when battling in groups. Other than that, nothing else significant...
Yes. I did just speak with him.
We talked about battles in the Singularity. It wasn't that long of a conversation.
I actually had some questions for him of my own...but that should be for another time.
We spoke on various topics in magecraft.
He asked me a few things about grand magecraft and ritualistic magecraft, mainly about Mystic Codes.
And about the magical energy consumed when using things like that...
It was quite insignificant. It could have been covered in a few short words, really.
He was likely...
No, I'd rather not. This isn't something to involve myself in based only on speculation.
Argh. We lost him! Big Sis is a-paw-led!
...
Huh? Does Iri look relieved?
She looks happy, actually.
？！
Yes, you're right.
I'm just happy. I was worried that he was all alone in Chaldea...
That's what I've been concerned about this whole time. It's always been on my mind.
But maybe that was just my selfishness talking. No matter which "what if" version of him would appear...
To think that I would be needed...
I am such a greedy woman. I may not look like it, but I'm supposed to be a mature wife...
Ku...guwah!
For Master Iri to say words like "mature" and "wife" without hesitation...ahhh, she has so much adultness!
Oh, y-you think so? A-and what exactly is "adultness"?
This Jaguar is moved. I'm at a loss. But I haven't lost the game! NEVER SURRENDER!
Remember to always be a tough cookie, and grin and bear it!
Dammit! We're going to play again...fur real soon!
It's gone...
Um, for now, good work...?
...
...I managed to get away. Ugh, what a pain.
Divided Spirits like goddesses...two special Servants. Having their attention is nothing but trouble.
First Servant: Irisviel von Einzbern. Second Servant: Jaguar Warrior.
Those two seem to want to talk to me excessively, and it's obvious that they don't like me to be isolated in the way I prefer.
That is why I sought out other Servants to talk to. I am not used to conversing with heroes of the past.
I'm assuming El-Melloi II must have caught on, but he's not one to talk. He's that kind of man.
...Now, are the two Servants satisfied?
It really is a pain in the ass...
But this is nothing new. This isn't the first time I felt the burning gaze of two Servants in Chaldea.
It's none of their business. I suppose their interest stems from knowing another version of me from some other version of history.
Or something like that. How stupid.
Whoever they know, he is not me.
...Yes, you're right. A different person.
But there must be SOME sort of connection between us. Though you may not believe it...
And besides, my dear...
You're watching me...following me with those eyes. At times. Sometimes.
How dare you enter someone else's room. You're like an Assassin.
And stop reading others' minds. I know that as a Divided Spirit of a Holy Grail...which makes you a part of the powerful wish-granting device...
...reading one's mind may just be second nature to you. But it's annoying to me.
...I'm sorry.
I never meant to annoy you. Nor do I wish for you to take an interest in the version of me in this world.
But...you know...to see you so alone...
...is very painful for me.
... ...
That's your problem.
You're right.
...Not getting involved with others is my decision.
Kiritsugu?
Don't call me that. So...you do know that name...
...Please get out. A day may come when the two of us speak...
But it is not today, Irisviel von Einzbern.
...Yes.
I'm sorry, Kiri
...Assassin.
A terminal of the Holy Grail. Transformed from an Einzbern homunculus.
She'll be one formidable opponent.
I-I just saw Caster run out of Assassin's room, crying!
You're right. It seems that way.
Wh-wh-wh-wh-what does that mean!? And why...why is my heart racing so much right now!?
...Who knows? Maybe because you're such a simpleminded brat?