Bound Morals and a Beast's Aching Heart

Ha!

This is not over yet!

Ghh...!

...Haaa!

(Huff... Huff...)

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...!

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Rrr... Raaaaaah!

Tch... Get a hold of yourself, Atalante!

Khh... Rah?

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Ah... Master. What was I...?

Phew... That was too damn close. You okay, Master?

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Here, I'll give you a hand. Up we go.

I...

What's the matter, Big Sis? You off your game or something?

...Or is it that you're TOO on your game?

No, I...

... ...

I am sorry, Master. I should have known better.

I must have completely forgotten that I am a Berserker.

Forgive me...

Welp, guess we're done here. C'mon, let's head back down.

Right...

... ...Hmm.

Good, you're back. How did it go?

It was pretty tough.

...I see.

If even you thought it was tough, Achilles, it must have been a formidable foe indeed.

Then it seems this will take us some time yet.

Not to worry. There's no reason to rush.

Our mission this time is simply to eliminate the evil force that dwells in these woods.

And between Geronimo and Atalante, both of whom are masters of navigating forests...

Achilles, who is more than ready for pretty much any fight...

And myself, with my nigh endless font of wisdom to draw upon if needed...

Hehe, frankly, I think it would be more difficult for us to fail than to succeed.

So instead of running about half-cocked and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, I recommend we take things nice and slow♪

Indeed. And we also need to ensure that Master stays safe, which is all the more reason to proceed carefully.

Now then, would anyone else like some tea?

I'll help you. I may be a queen, but I'm also very comfortable waiting on customers, even if I don't entirely know why.

Why don't you sit back and take a load off for a while, Big Sis?

Yes, I think I will do that...

Hey, Master, you got a moment?

What'd you think of the way Big Sis fought today? Is it just me, or was she kinda...off?

So it's not just me then.

Don't get me wrong, I've got no problem with how she fought per se. But I don't get why she tried to attack you.

If I hadn't been there to stop her, you'd be dead right about no

Well, nah, I don't think she'd ever go that far. But it definitely wasn't heading anywhere good.

Would you mind talking to her when you get a chance? Just give me a shout if you need any help.

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O-oh, hello, Master. What is it?

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Ghh.

...You are right. I must apologize once again. I had no intention of harming you, but

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Why...huh.

... ...

...Could we go for a walk while we discuss this?

...As you can see, the Demonic Calydonian Boar haunts me in this form.

It was this pelt I wear now that made the Calydonian Boar the terror it was. When donned by a human, they become a monster, gaining untold strength and speed.

When donned by a hero...the power they gain would easily surpass even that of such a monster.

...Of course, this power does not come without a price. For me, that price is the Beast Transformation skill.

Though it doesn't make my mind as soft as Madness Enhancement, it does still cloud my thoughts at times.

No, that is not right. In the moment I attacked you, I...

... ...

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N-never mind. That is enough. Yes. I will not fail next time. I swear it.

I will go on ahead, and have the other three protect you.

That way will be safer and serve to reassure you.

Now that that is settled, come, let us go back!

(Everything go okay yesterday?)

Awesome. All right then, let's finish this today!

Everyone readyyy? Then I'll go ahead and have my djinn scout out the area♪

Off they gooo♪

Hmm.

Djinn, if possible, would you all mind searching that large tree over there?

Oh? Did you sense something over there?

No, unfortunately, this is more of a hunch. I can't explain it well... I just have a feeling.

That's good enough for me. Let's check it out.

After all, your Intuition's just about as sharp as my teacher Chiron's own insight!

Hahaha, I appreciate that. Is that all right with you as well, Atalante?

Of course. Very well then, I will go on ahead with the djinn.

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...Hmm. I'm afraid my Intuition may have been a little TOO accurate.

What do you mean?

Take a look.

...It looks like that tree was just uprooted not too long ago.

Indeed. Which means we are dealing with a creature strong enough to pull up trees as though they were weeds.

Guess that means we're up against some kind of giant then.

Since there doesn't seem to have been any reason for uprooting this tree, I think we might be dealing with a Berserker.

...Hmm.

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Hehe, surely you remember that my sense of smell is even sharper in this form than it is in my Archer form.

This way!

Well, we definitely found it, but it also found us!

All right, Master, time to put the plan we discussed earlier into action!

Fall, dammit!

!!!

Go, Tauropolos!

Got it!

...It is gone. Good.

Looks like that's the last of them! Gooo team♪

Sweet. Hear that, Big Sis? We're all done here!

Right...

Hmm...

Why don't we save the niceties for after we're back at Chaldea?

Yeah, good idea.

All right, let's give Chaldea a call and head on back then!

(Sigh...) ...Something is definitely wrong with me.

Hey heeey♪

...Oh, it is you.

Master and Achilles told me you had something on your mind.

If it's something you don't feel comfortable sharing with either a fellow hero from your homeland or Master, I thought it might be easier to talk to me about it, since I'm obviously neither of those things.

We do have some other things in common, after all.

Heh. Not so fast. Do you mean to charge me for this "therapy session" you propose?

No need. I already received fair compensation♪

Now come on, don't be shy. These ears aren't just for show, you know.

I see I will not get out of this easily... Very well then, if you insist.

Aha. I see, I see.

Something is fundamentally...off, and I do not know where I went wrong.

I...

Hmm, hmm. Hmmmmmm...

Would you mind if I ask you a few questions?

Not at all.

That Calydonian Boar pelt is the source of your strength, right?

Right.

Okay, so it was putting that pelt on that made you materialize as a Berserker.

That means there's a big difference between this self and your original Archer self, right?

Yes. Everything is different. So different that I do not even recognize myself anymore.

So, just thinking out loud here, but you don't remember ever wearing that pelt when you were alive, right?

Of course not. It is a thing of pure discord.

When the hero Meleager tried to give it to me, many others fought over it, hoping to take it for themselves.

As for what ultimately became of the pelt...

I suppose the fact that it is part of my Noble Phantasm must mean that I ended up acquiring it for myself...

...but I have no memory of ever using it.

So in other words, this is your first time taking this form?

Correct.

Well... Heroes have various aspects to them, and their Servant versions only reflect a single one, right?

True.

In your case, your hunter aspect is reflected by your original Archer self.

So then, what aspect is this version of you reflecting?

I...

Yes, I know.

Even the noblest heroes have darker, unheroic aspects to them.

At first, I thought this version of you might be reflecting that, but if it's actually reflecting an aspect of you that didn't even exist when you were alive...

...maybe that would explain why you're having such a hard time accepting it?

...

Of course, I don't think this aspect took you completely by surprise.

Whether you call it your dark side, your cruel, unheroic side, or whatever, at least part of you must have known it was there.

I cannot deny that.

I was raised to serve Lady Artemis, and part of that meant privileging bestial logic above human thinking.

That side of me may well be more pronounced in this Spirit Origin.

...But then, that would put you fundamentally at odds with Master.

...!

He's an inherently neutral figure, so he may be accepting of all kinds of people.

But of course, there will still be some he gets along with better than others.

Alternatively, maybe you're the one having a hard time getting along with him.

...Yes. You may be right...

It's perfectly normal to not like certain aspects of a person you otherwise DO like. Trust me on that♪

It is?

Absolutely. Take me, for example.

...The one person I simply couldn't stand was also the only one in the whole world I ever fell in love with.

I know I'll never get to see him again, but even now, when I remember how we used to tell each other riddles, well...

It makes my heart heavy... ...but it also fills me with warmth.

I-I see. S-still, the thought of telling Master to his face what I do and do not like about him is...well...

Don't worry. One little heart-to-heart isn't going to ruin your relationship.

B-be that as it may

Don't worry so much! Just relax♪

Hmm... Well, all right. I will try telling him how I feel.

Of course, I see no need to do so right away. For the moment, I think I will start by asking him what his schedule is like tomorr

Great! Then I'll go call him right now.

Huh? W-wait! I said wait!

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I-I, uh, I see. You, um, certainly got here quickly...

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Then you have been close by all along!? Damn you, Moolah...!

Well, no matter. I was going to have to tell you this sooner or later.

...I hope you will listen to what I have to say.

It is a silly, insignificant problem, and not the kind of thing you would expect to hear from me, but...

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...So, there you have it. What? Why do you look so surprised?

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... ...Ahh, I see. Now I understand.

Of course. It only makes sense that we would have different opinions on this subject.

IWe, may be great heroes and beings of myth...

...but in this world, with our knowledge of current mores, we are also just ordinary people.

While I am sure an insignificant problem like this would never crop up during a normal Holy Grail War...

...it seems that being around for long periods makes us prone to think about things of this sort.

...Are you disappointed?

Right. Of course you are not. That is just what I would expect from you.

But?

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I-I see. ...Well, good. All the better then.

That makes embarrassing myself like this worthwhile.

Heh, how funny. Now that I have told you this, the pain of being pulled in two directions is gone.

I do still feel somewhat out of place, as though I have an itch I cannot seem to scratch...

But I do not think there is anything I can do about that, so I will pay it no heed.

For I suspect there will always be some sort of divide between us, no matter what else may come.

Much the same as when I betrayed you in that frozen tundra.

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You are too soft, Master. It was absolutely me.

I am sure I would have sided with you back then if I had been summoned to Chaldea's side...

...but left to my own devices, I am also sure I would make the same choice.

That...is just who I am.

I may think like a beast, but I still have people I cannot abandon. People I wish to protect no matter what.

I am human, yet beast, and a beast, yet human.

And despite that, I still run about trying to act like a god.

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Hehe, I thought you would say that.

Perhaps we have known each other for so long at this point that I have come to know what you will say before you say it?

In some ways, you and I are fundamentally different. ...That has been weighing on me for a long time.

But, I gather that does not bother you?

...Understood.

Very well then, Master! Let us set out for our next battle!

For I am in excellent condition today!

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Cover me, Achilles!

W-will do!

Well, well...

Ha!

...Now!

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Now let's kick this bad boy outta here!

Queen!

'Kaaay! Djinn, would you mind giving it a whack, please☆

Releasing Noble Phantasm! O sun and spirits, lend me your power!

Tsago Degi Naleya!

Time to pick up the pace! Let my hatred and desires gather here and now!

Tauropolos Skia Thermokrasía!!!

Damn, that was something. Big Sis really is a force to be reckoned with when she's not holding back. It's a little scary, honestly!

Shall I tell Atalante you said that?

Please don't.

In any case, that she is no longer hesitating is a good thing.

"The way to truly improve a horse's speed is with neither the carrot nor the stick, but with trust."

That a famous proverb or something?

It is. In fact, I made it up just now.

Yeah, pretty sure proverbs have to be around longer than that to qualify...

It was just a joke, embarrassing though that may be in its own right.

Oh hey, she's coming down.

There. ...How did I do, Master?

Good. I think I did quite well myself.

Hahaha, I may have refused to accept that compliment before, but now, I have no such qualms.

(Proud smile)

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So, Master, what shall we tackle next? A mountain? An ocean? A fortress?

A Demonic Beast? A vengeful spirit? Vicious monsters?

Whatever it is, as long as you are there with me, I know I can keep fighting in this form.