Feelings Like a Wedge

...Hmm, I see.

It sounds like you've been feeling guilty, helpless, and like nothing matters.

Maybe it was silly of me to come to you about this...

Not at all.

We are both French Heroic Spirits from the same era. There's nothing wrong with leaning on that connection.

Still, I'm sorry.

So, here's how I see it.

Heroes like uswell, I suppose this applies to Anti-Heroes and fairy-tale monsters, too...

For better or worse, we're inextricably tied to the great tapestry of history.

Whether we lived out our lives as heroes or died as monsters, we did so because that's what was expected of us.

Putting to one side the issue of good or bad, there is great strength, wisdom, and willpower to be found in that.

I used to wonder what business a mere executioner like me had being here, too.

But once I started looking, it turned out there were other roles I could fill.

I guess the term for it is "counselor"?

I'm neither a king, nor a monster.

I'm just an ordinary human who followed the orders I was given by virtue of being born to a particular bloodline.

Even so, I still struggled. I kept wondering whether there might be a better way, even if the difference was slight.

My situation's the opposite.

...Yes, that's true.

You were praised as an angel for assassinating Jean-Paul Marat.

I'm afraid that's only half right. I wasn't praised for what I accomplished.

...Right.

A person's appearance has nothing to do with what they've accomplished.

Nonetheless, the fact remains that you were praised as an angel, even though you killed someone.

...Honestly, I was taken aback myself.

A lone woman, with no particular connection to anyone in the nobility...

...devising and executing a plan to assassinate so important a figure, without involving anyone else.

That sort of thing is arguably what has always taken place behind the scenes in assassinations throughout history.

But other such assassins had power.

Whether it was power in the form of authority or magical energy, it was, nonetheless, power.

But you

Right. I had nothing of the sort.

I just got an idea in my head, and somehow got lucky enough to pull it off.

You may be right.

Besides, in the end, what I did was

Also true.

Your assassination led to Robespierre's Jacobins seizing control of the government and ultimately beginning what would come to be known as the Reign of Terror.

... ...

...However, that was

I know. Sooner or later, that would have happened regardless.

Even without my intervention, I am sure the Jacobins would have done things the same.

I was just a convenient foothold for them to stand on.

But, if that's true...something doesn't add up.

If my actions were ultimately meaningless, what am I doing here?

...Good point.

That is a major contradiction...or at least, that's how you perceive it.

Whether you created a turning point for history or not...

...there's no reason for you to be here.

Exactly. I'm...not completely useless when it comes to combat.

But there are so many better fighters than me. So many Servants better than me in every way.

No matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to catch up. No matter how much I learn, I'll always be left behind.

For me, that's very...well...

Painful?

...

I see.

I'm afraid just talking to me won't change the sense of powerlessness you're feeling.

Would you mind waiting here just for a bit?

Okay, but...why?

I'm going to think of some other Servants who can help you with your concerns.

I'm sure they'll be able to help you arrive at an answer you will find satisfactory.

W-wait! You really don't have to go to all that trouble!

It's no trouble. Besides, this is important. At least, it is for you and me.

Okay, wait here. I'll be right back.

H-hey! Come back! Are you serious about this!?

How did things come to this...?

Hey. Sanson said you needed my help?

He told me the same thing♪

Same. Hmm. Well we got ourselves one helluva motley crew here, eh?

Lookin' a little like he just rounded up whoever was in the area, ain't it?

Hey now, that's not true. We definitely have something in common.

Frankly, we all failed to achieve what we set out to do.

...

Hmm. S'pose you got a point there. I mean, I did wind up dead while I was makin' a getaway...

And that ain't exactly achievin' what I set out to do.

Same for me, of course. Though I did get really close.

...Really, really, REALLY close!

Yes, we get it, thanks. As for me... Well...

I was a spy who kind of just bumbled around from place to place and never did much of note.

So, uh, anywho...

Sanson asked us to accompany you, so here we are.

I see. But, I don't have anywhere for you to accompany me to, so...

Oh, don't worry about that. Master told us all to come with him to help repair a minute Singularity.

We've got the resources to bring you along too if you want.

What do you say, Corday?

Yes, of course!

So, what kind of Singularity are we dealing with this time?

This one's in eighteenth-century France. Here's what Da Vinci told us:

"There's something in this area of France that shouldn't be here at this time."

"I want you to go to the nearby town, find out what's going on, and put a stop to it."

And so, here we are.

So we need to gather information first, huh. Good thing that's one of my specialties.

Okay, I'm off! I'll be back with information soon.

？！

All right, we're countin' on ya.

Oh...then would it be okay if I went along to help?

？！

I am.

I don't know how much help I can be, but...I'd still like to try...

I see... Okay, looks like it's you and me then.

I'll put together cover identities for us on the way there, so follow my lead, okay?

Cover identities?

You know, figure out things like who we are, and how we should act to get people to trust us.

Now come on, let's brainstorm together♪

There are places where my line of work is well-received, and others where it...isn't.

It looks like...this town's not especially fond of exotic dancers, but I don't think it shuns us, either.

What do we do if they do end up, um, shunning you?

The best way is to put on a disguise, but there's also another, faster way.

What's that?

Talk to anyone who breaks off from the crowd.

Whenever people break away from a community, there's always a moment they yearn for companionship.

If you can track them down, shake their hand, look them in the eye, and steal a kiss from them right then, they're almost guaranteed to fall in love with you.

...Seriously?

I guess even if they have some notion they're being deceived, their instincts make it hard to refuse.

Anyway, let's go over it again. I'm a roaming exotic dancer...

And you're my...employer? Nnn, no, I don't think anyone would buy that.

No, let's make you a maid-slash-bodyguard.

A bodyguard...

Don't worry, you'll be fine. All you have to do is stand behind me with a knife.

Hmm. You should probably change your outfit, though.

Oh, and I think we should also come up with a couple of signals.

If I do this with my fingers, that means I want you to

Can you believe it!?

My boss was actually scared out of his mind to come to this town!

I had no idea he was such a coward!

Gahahaha! Sounds like a real loser, all right!

Then again, it's true this town is

... ...Ah, dammit. I shouldn't have said that.

Oh? What's the matter? Is there something I should be worried about here?

If there is, that's a terrifying thought. I'll have to get right back to my boss...

(Oh, right. That means "whisper to me.")

...May I speak to you, ma'am?

Oh? What is it?

(How's this?)

(That's perfect. You know, you have a lovely voice.)

(I, uh... Thank you, but...)

H-hey. What're you whispering about?

... ...

Never mind! It's nothing to do with you.

Well... I was just thinking that if something's going on here, it might be time to bring in my hunter.

Your...hunter?

I hired him as a bodyguard on my travels, and to hunt animals along the way.

My Billy's an absolute wizard with guns, you know.

Why, I'd bet there's not a single wild beast out there he couldn't kill.

Really? Even...that thing?

That's right. Even that thing.

There's not an animal out there that can escape my hunter.

Not even a monster.

Would it cost money to have this hunter take care of it?

Why, of course. We can't expect a hunter to work for free, now, can we?

Ha, now I see. So that's your game here.

Right. Of course.

Why else would a beautiful woman like you come to a run-down old town like this?

So, how much're we talking here?

Let's see... I'd say about...this much.

That much!?

If you feel that's too expensive, why not get everyone else to chip in? You're good at that sort of thing, aren't you?

I... Well... I suppose...

Well, that makes sense. I can't blame you for not wanting to trust us.

...All right, how about this? My boss has entrusted me to negotiate payment on his behalf.

What say you pay us half the money up front, and the other half once you're satisfied the monster is dead?

...I don't know...

Well? What do you say♡

(Oh! Another signal!)

... ...Lady Mata Hari.

The boss only agreed to let you negotiate the amount.

I don't think you can decide how we receive payment without his permission...

Oh, don't worry. He'll be fine with this.

Besides, these people are really in trouble, right?

If we contact him to get permission, it could be days before we hear back.

...All right.

As long as you're willing to take full responsibility.

So, what do you say, hon?

... ...All right. The truth is...

... ...I guess we have all the information we need now...

Yup! I'm glad it was so easy.

You look kind of shocked. Is something wrong?

Well, um... I don't quite understand what just happened.

I thought I was following along with the conversation just fine, but then, before I knew it...

The goal wasn't to get money out of him. It was to get him to trust us. The money was just a means to that end.

When neither party knows the other, money changing hands is the only way to establish trust.

But...isn't that being awfully careless on his part?

Not at all. I'm positive he was thinking something along these lines:

(If they really do kill the monster, make it back in one piece, and don't let down their guard...)

(I guess I'll just have to pay up.)

(If they really do kill the monster, but they come back barely alive, or if they let down their guard...)

(I'll kill them and take the money back.)

(If the monster kills them...I'll have someone collect their bodies.)

(The monster won't be interested in the money, after all.)

You see? Out of four possible routes, three of them end with him losing nothing.

If we come back half dead, or let our guard down, he can easily get his money back. If we die, he can still get his money back.

The only way we make it out of there alive is to both kill the monster, and stay on our guard around the townspeople.

So he could never even conceive of the actual truth.

Namely, that our goal is just to kill the monster, and nothing else.

Wow. That's incredible.

I may not be much use in battle, but I can at least help out with this sort of thing.

I see...

Incidentally, I took advantage of my looks to seal the deal...

If it had been Billy here instead, I'm sure he'd have gotten the information his own way.

Jing Ke might have a hard time in this land and time period...

...but I'm also sure she'd succeed in places where it would be difficult for me to manage.

I...

Maybe you could do the same. Maybe you couldn't.

Oh, and one more thing I think you should know.

Things like, "Only you could do that," or, "You're the only one who could pull that off"?

They might seem great, but actually...no, they're not good at all.

I see...

Think about it.

The whole world is hanging by a very thin, fraying thread right now, right?

The situation couldn't be worse. Everything I ever loved, or that anyone else loved, is on the verge of disappearing forever.

So it's up to dead people like us and living people like Master to do our best to fight back.

That's why we can't afford to be particular about who does what.

We need an army's worth of people to fight, with each one ready to step in at a moment's notice to take another's place if needed...

...so we can protect the one person who's truly irreplaceable.

... ...

Hehehe, now I see. Logic really isn't what's going to get through to you.

Maybe that's why Sanson called on us to help.

Huh? Um, what do you mean?

You wanted to push back against what I just said, didn't you? Even though you don't entirely know why.

N-no! Th-that's not...true at all...

It's okay. I understand.

Yes, what I just said may be important...but that's all it is.

Or to put it another way: it's only important in a general sense.

I'm sure there's something that's even more important to you, personally.

Something...more important to me...

That's right.

Once you understand that, I just know you'll feel more at ease.

Then again, maybe the opposite is true.

...Okay, why don't we get to repairing this Singularity? It sounds like we have our work cut out for us, doesn't it?

Let's go back to camp and discuss all this with Master, shall we?

...Okay!

？！

That's right. At least, according to the information we got.

The Beast of Gévaudan, huh... But it ain't the real one, right?

I don't think so...

From what we heard, it's a large, four-legged, man-eating Demonic Beast.

And that could describe any number of creatures besides the Beast of Gévaudan.

It does make sense for this time period. But, we're also not in Gévaudan, so...

I'm guessing these people heard the rumors of the Beast of Gévaudan and just assumed it was the same one.

Well, it don't change what we came here to do.

All right, let's figure out our plan of action. We've gotta make sure we know what we're doing ahead of time.

Right on.

...Okay, let's go over it one more time.

Mata Hari and Corday will be the rear guard, I'll take the front line, and Billy will hold down the middle position.

I'll face the Demonic Beast directly and do my best to lead it towards Billy.

Mata Hari, you draw the monster's attention so it doesn't focus its attacks on me.

Master, you stay in between the mid and rear guard unless things turn dangerous, in which case you fall back while giving us your orders.

Does that cover everything, Master?

My job is to protect you, Master.

We need at least one Servant to stay with you, and I'd only get in Jing Ke's way in a close-quarters fight, anyway.

？！

Great. Okay, we're almost to the cave now.

It's here. And it's a monster for sure.

If it were a wolf, it'd've sniffed us out soon as we showed up.

And if this thing ain't got the senses to match a wolf, I'm a monkey's uncle.

...Pretty sure that's our only option.

Assassins usually prefer to avoid a stand-up fight if we can, but... Oh well.

？！

Oh!

Here it comes!

Hey! Over here!

That was amazing, Jing Ke! I've seen professional dancers who can't move half as well!

Guess it comes from practicing qinggong in my spare time. Hah!

(Too bad Jing Ke's attacks ain't done nothin' to hurt it. If we're gonna put it outta commission...)

(I'll have to use my Noble Phantasm to put a bullet through its eye.)

All right, Master, I'm countin' on you to give the signal!

？！

Okay, everyone! Let's do this!

...!

Thunderer!

Phew.

All right, that 'bout takes care a that. Nice job, y'all!

Phew. I worked up a good sweat.

... ...

You did great too, Charlotte. ...Is everything okay?

Master!

Khh...!

？！

Another one!? No, this one must be the real beast!

Jing Ke! Behind you!

Huh!?

We're surrounded!?

Shit. They must've been hidin' all this time!

I'll keep 'em busy. You go help Master!

I can't! There's more over here!

？！

Master!? Are you sure!?

Come on, Mata Hari! We're going to hold out as long as it takes!

...Okay!

This! Ends! Now!

(Huff... Huff...) Master...? Are you...okay?

Oh, thank goodness...

...Well...I'm still...alive...somehow... Hehe...

？！

Ow ow ow ow... They sure were a sneaky bunch, weren't they?

Are you okay...Mata Hari?

More or less.

Mata Hari, this may not be the best time or place for this...

...but I understand, and I've figured out an answer.

Hm?

I...

That's who I am.

I see. I knew it...

I'm fine. It's nothing. Now, why don't we go home for real this time?

I say it's time we head back to Chaldea!

Mind if I join you, Jason?

Do I get a choice? You already sat down.

There's actually something I'd like to talk to you about.

Oh yeah? Too bad. I don't wanna hear it.

What do you think I should do to erase memories of myself?

Did I not just tell you I don't wanna hear it!?

Come on! I know you have some good advice for me!

Gah! You're not going to budge on this, are you!?

All right, fine. Easy answer? Just make a whole bunch of new memories.

If you can do that in the same place you made the old ones, even better.

I see... So then, I'll have to go to the ocean with him...

Yeah, yeah, whatever.

But if you're gonna go to all that trouble, then give it your all. If you need to get a swimsuit, get a swimsuit.

Okay!

Also, I'm not helping you with this.

Okay! ...Huh? Why not?

Let me tell you something.

You know why Servants exist?

It's to protect their Master from land mines (cough) namely, you (cough).

I heard that!