Pioneer of the Stars

...He's late.

The arrows have stopped. Medea, check things out with your familiar.

That's unnecessary. It seems Heracles has been defeated.

What? Hey Medea, that's not funny.

Oh, there he is. Hey Jason! Can you hear me?

Well then, we're coming for you!

...Impossible! Heracles! What happened to Heracles!?

Oh, come on. You really need to ask?

If he was alive, we obviously wouldn't be, right?

Since we're alive, it means he's dead. That's pretty simple logic.

There's no way he'd die! He's Heracles! The great immortal hero!

He's the epitome of a hero, someone who heroes admired, challenged, yet still fell short of!

There's no way a petty, ragtag bunch like you could ever overcome someone like that!

...I guess even you felt a semblance of friendship. Even if it was a distorted one.

Well, fine. If that's what you want to believe, so be it. We'll settle the match.

Ugh! ...Get us out of here!

Oh, thinking of running?

We're retreating! Using this Holy Grail, all I need to do is summon a new Servant!

As far as I can tell, we're still at an advantage here. ...Well, gotta follow the captain's orders.

So you ARE thinking of running. Just as I thought. Men, are you all ready?

"Golden Hind!" This is our last voyage, our final task as pirates!

The target is the Argo! The treasure they hold captive is the freedom of the seas!

We'll have them pay us back in full! Ring the bells, brothers!

Aye, aye, Boss!

Hard to port! Make a steady approach and fire the cannons and guns!

What're you doing? Hurry up and cut us loose!

With so many Archers on their side, their attacks are that much more fierce.

Never mind the cannonballs... It's Atalante's arrows. We're the only ones who can block them.

Damn, how are they catching up! This is the legendary ship, Argo!

It's in a different class from their mundane sailboat!

The difference is in the helmsman, I guess. Those are the skills of one who has lived with the sea.

They're fundamentally different from someone who just takes his boat out casually.

Damn... We have no choice. O Holy Grail!

We've caught up with you, pretty boy! Let's see what you got!

You lowly scum! Go! Kill them!

Fou!

...That's a Shadow Servant! Be careful, everyone!

Oh boy. What a rotten thing.

...But, I guess since you're relying on tricks like this, it means you're pretty much cornered, right?

How dare you, you piece of...

Now, now, Jason was it? No need for such a scary face... Guess I really hit the mark, didn't I?

All right, let's board! ...Then again, we're just all Archers.

I'm going. Being an Archer doesn't mean I can't handle close-range combat.

In that case, I guess I'll go, too. If I die, I'll trust you'll take care of the rest.

Fou!

Mash Kyrielight, here I go!

Hektor!

Yes, yes, I know. All right, Medea.

If the need arises, I'll be counting on you.

Yes. It is my duty to protect our Master. I will look after him until the very end.

Oooh, scary... Is this what they mean by "naturally insane"... Hm?

Hi, future boy. Your name was Fujimaru, right?

I'm impressed you've come this far. It's truly amazing. France, Rome, and now "here."

I appreciate you coming all this way. I value that kind of perseverance.

？！

Oh, my hunch was right, that's all. I'm just a warrior who couldn't pick a Master to serve.

Now, let's see who can hold out longer. This old man is pretty confident in defensive battles.

SoCome at me with everything you've got, brat. I'll show you how experience trumps youth.

...This is Hektor, the hero of the Trojan War. We can't let our guard down. Let's take him down, Master!

...Dammit, this is it for me. Well, I did what I could.

But at least I'll leave a parting gift. Euryale, offer your lifeto the "Ark!"

Oh no!

Yes, that is what I expected you would do.

Wha...

"Eye of the Euryale."

Urgh... This old man's scheme...How did you see through it?

Oh, I didn't see through anything. But you killed Asterios.

That alone was reason enough for me to pay close attention to you, old man.

...Pfft. I guess I'm just not cut out to be a villain.

I thought I'd at least go out big at the end of the world. But your hands are tied when the "top" is terrible.

Wha...Hektor!?

Hektor has passed on, too. Lord Jason, what shall we do now?

Impossible to surrender or retreat. I'm a mage who can only heal and defend.

Now, what shall we do?

Silence, woman! If you're my wife, act like one and think about protecting your husband!

Yes. Of course I am thinking, Master. After all, that's what a Servant does.

...What's that look? Why are you still smiling!? Don't you understand what this situation means?

Wait! Before that, I have a question for Jason.

...Who gave you such an idiotic idea as sacrificing Euryale to the "Ark?"

That's none of your business!

Oh, I think it is. After all, if you had sacrificed her, the world would have been destroyed.

What?

Of course. That box brings death.

To offer it a Divine Spirit is completely insane.

This era is unstable to begin with. It would have killed the era itself.

Ridiculous. Lies. That can't be

That's why I'm asking you.

"Sacrificing a Divine Spirit will grant infinite power." Who tempted you with that promise?

Was it Hektor? Medea?

...Medea? He's lying... isn't he?

Sacrificing a Divine Spirit to the "Ark" would've grant me powers and invincibility, right?

I mean, that's what HE told me...

It is no lie. After all, the death of an era brings complete destruction.

If the world is destroyed, your enemies will cease to exist. See? That makes you invincible, no?

Y-you. You people lied to me?

That doesn't serve my purpose at all! I was finally going to create an ideal nation!

One where everyone respects me! A true utopia, where all are content, and there is no war!

Was this trial not for that purpose!? Was it not to give me a second chance!?

...That is a dream that can never come true, Lord Jason. It is beyond you.

You'll never be an ideal king. Even if your heart truly wished for peace, your soul is hopelessly twisted.

You cannot make your dream come true. Not in the manner that you desire.

You will only realize your fate the moment you obtain what you truly desire, then crush it with your own hands.

What... What are you talking about, witch!? What does a woman who was holed up in a rural shrine know!?

I was born the son of a king, but my uncle robbed me of my throne. I was forced into the care of a centaur!

Even while suffering that indignity, I became resourceful. I built the Argo and gathered a crew of heroes!

So what part of me!? Where!? Where am I lacking the qualifications to be king!?

I just wanted to take back my own land! I just wanted my own nation!

How is that wrong, you traitor!?

...Such a pity. Ever since I was summoned, I have told you nothing but the truth.

I am Princess Medea. Prior to being betrayed, I was a witch who blindly believed the one who summoned me.

That is why I have protected you all this time. You were chosen by "that" king.

Everything is real, everything is true. ...Though there may have been some misunderstandings.

For example, I just said I would protect you, yes? But how I will protect you

Huh?

This, is how.

Wha-!? Y-You! Stop! What are you doing!? Aaah! No! My body is melting!

Fouuu! Fouuuu!

O Holy Grail. O ultimate vessel granting my desires. Manifest. Remember. You are one of the 72 Demon Gods.

Arggh, ack, aieeeeeeee!

I shall give you the strength to fight. I shall give you the strength to rise up.

Let us fight together for the sake of destruction.

Now then, rank number 30. Sea Fiend Forneus. Use that power to put an end to your journey!

A Demon God! This is the second one of those things, I mean deities, we've seen! Something like that really exists?

!!!

This is a surprise... What did she just say?

Rank number 30, "Forneus!?" She's talking about Solomon's Demon Gods!

Will weBe able to defeat it?

I hit it! All right, if it can be hit, it can be defeated!

Mash, this is truly the final battle! Come, get a hold of yourself!

You came all this way to slay that thing, didn't you? So hold your head up high!

This is it! The final battle! Be brave and laugh your fears away!

Say, "I have no use for a monster! Just give me a pretty crown!"

Whoaaaa!? We... We just heard somethin' awfully rare, yeah!?

Did Boss just say a seriously feminine line!?

Shut up you fools, go hide in your cabins! This isn't something you can handle!

A-Anyway, Mash, just do it! And forget what I just said!

If you keep hesitating, I am going to take that second Holy Grail for myself!

Captain Drake.

...Yes, understood! Master, visual confirmation of the final enemy of this era!

Commencing correction!

？！

Yes!

...We got it, Master!

？！

Yes!

Oh...ah...ugh... Medea, Medea, Medea...

Yes, Jason. Is something wrong?

...Fix me, my Medea. It hurts, it hurts, it really hurts!

...

What are you doing you slowpoke? I said, fix me.

I can't do that, Jason. I'm sorry.

...Huh?

I will be falling soon myself. It's such a pity. Originally, the world would've sunk with you.

...Why you, just as I thought...

Although it has nothing to do with me, but it's true that I did know you.

Even as we speak, the memories of Princess Medea are coming back to me.

Even if she was betrayed, even if she was cursed at, even if she'd been deceived from the very start.

She truly, truly adored her Lord Jason. You had been given divine power, yet

You were endlessly innocent. Like a child excited over receiving a paltry treasure.

You were hopelessly cruel, and completely innocent. Despite being weak, you attracted others and inspired loyalty.

That's who you were, Jason. That was her first love.

But you were quick to betray everything. That's the only way you knew how to live.

If soisn't it easier to sink along with the world, so that you won't be betrayed?

You were neversupposed to return to your land.

Damn...witch! ...You treacherous...damned witch!

Die! Die! Go to hell! Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!

...I'm sorry, Lord Jason.

I wanted to protect you from him, but I had no way of doing so.

I don't have much time left... I only wish I could have dreamed a beautiful dream in my final moments...

Medea's about to vanish... No, before she does! Fujimaru, you have to ask her!

？！

...I'm no longer at liberty to tell you that, since I have lost to him as a mage.

Princess Medea the mage, not the Servant, was defeated?

In other words

Yes. Please be sure to prepare yourselves, newest and last mages from a distant era.

You don't stand a chance against him. As mages, you have no prayer of defeating him.

Sogo gather stars. Numerous dazzling stars.

Stars that can rise against the greed and beast hidden within man's heart. Stars that can remain bright even within a storm and light up the sky

Elimination confirmed. Holy Grail collection complete.

No enemies left. End combat actions.

Era correctioncomplete.

The wind has stopped blowing... Ah, this is the end. There is nothing that can be done.

This sea will end soon. But not anything like the giant whirlpool earlier.

This is a good ending. It's a new birth Our sea is coming back to us!

Heeeeey! It's goodbye to this damn weird sea!

We did it, men! Can's say I won't miss it, though! After all, these waters were full of adventure!

Hey, we're vanishin', one after another! Guess that's how life works, the rank and file exit first!

Mash and Fujimaru, see ya! Thanks for helpin' the captain!

We'll get hanged sooner or later, but you're good folk! Let this be a lesson! Never keep the company of pirates!

Everyone...

Haaaa! We can finally go home!

Come on, Orion! A new journey of love awaits!

This is supposed to be a nice goodbye scene. Don't you want to look cool?

Oh, forget it. I'm tired.

Well, I hope we can meet again with me in a different form! Farewell!

Oh, and Mash. How about a kiss goodbye for good measure?

No? Oh, okay.

Darling, how about a "goodbye" from me?

I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

And so our roles are played out now. Oh, what a terrible time.

Without "me" or my "loser sister" around, it's dreadfully boring.

...Although I would like to meet HIM again someday.

I'll have to call him by name, and make fun of that embarrassing confession of love.

Oh, that's right. Fujimaru, you did well, too. As a final reward, I'll give you a little kiss.

Get down on your knees. Here(smooch.)

Wha!?

Well, safe travels. Make your next struggle as merry as this one.

...

...Whew. I'm happy I was of service this time. I didn't want to be defeated like last time.

That said, I haven't really shown what I can do yet. So please call on me again sometime.

Still... From now on, how should I go about honoring Lady Artemis?

Well, it's about that time.

It seems you have various struggles ahead, but do your best without being discouraged.

With two humans, a quarrel ensues. 100 will create competition, 1000 will cause confrontation.

That holds true no matter what era. You should fight your own battle.

Please, wait. You knew about the 72 Demon Gods.

Was that... Um, really a Demon God? The doctor claims they don't exist...

Oh? Did I say as much? Why would you think so?

...Well, naturally. You're King David of Israel.

You are the father of King Solomon, who is said to have summoned the 72 Demon Gods.

Fou!

Hmm. It's true Solomon is my son... But summoning spells are beyond my capabilities.

...How utterly useless...

Ah, how rude. But what about yourself?

It seems you said that Demon God was no Demon God. On what grounds?

W-Well, that's That wasn't exactly my image of one, or...

Ahahaha. Roman is a fan of King Solomon. I hear he's been an admirer for a long time?

Hey, Leonardo! That was a secret! A secret!

That's why you don't accept the Demon Gods, isn't it? You don't want to believe your idol messed with such disgusting things.

Ugh... Right, you're correct! The 72 Demon Gods signify both the beginning and the pinnacle of summoning spells!

They couldn't be foul creatures like that! I mean, he's King Solomon, you know!?

He's the king who held the omnipotent Ten Rings, built the First Temple in Jerusalem, and made Israel prosperous!

How could someone like that command such monsters, or even worse, plot... plot the destruction of humanity!?

There you go. As his father, what do you think, King David? Does King Solomon have a connection to that Demon God?

Mm, Solomon would do things like that, you know? Basically, he's a cruel, vulgar good-for-nothing.

What? How terrible! I can't believe anything anymore!

Hahaha. My apologies. It's my fault for not having much to do with Solomon. I was never interested in child-rearing.

But certainly though he was a fool, he was honest.

As for destroying human history, well...

I don't think he'd consider it unless he was betrayed by all ten of his secret lovers?

In its own way, that makes his image even worse.

Fou.

Just how bad is the public's image of King Solomon!?

Well, I must be going. I leave the rest to you, but if anything happens, don't hesitate to call on me.

...Right. So we still don't have any definite information about the Demon Gods yet.

ButKing Solomon is involved, and that's the ugly truth...

Doctor?

Oh no, never mind. Now, Captain Francis Drake.

Thank you very much. With so many special cases this time, I wasn't really much help.

Lucky we had a dependable voyager like you on site. Thanks to that, history has been successfully corrected.

Oh, it was nothing. I couldn't do much in the end.

Ahhh... If I could become one of those Servants too, I'd be a little flashier.

But I suppose that's an impossible request. A pirate like me could never be treated like a hero.

？！

Really? Since that's coming from you, I'll believe half of it.

So if history is corrected, will I really lose my memories of all of you?

？！

Hahaha. Well, you don't have to say a word. That look on your face says everything.

I see. Guess I can't sail around the world with you folks. A pity.

But that's fine. Our time together was short, but it was a merry journey.

So go. For seafarers, parting is always abrupt.

Blown up by a cannonball, washed away by a wave, and ultimately lose sight of our destination and die.

That's why we take those fears and always "brush them off" with a laugh.

Yes, goodbye, Captain who navigates across the seas of freedom.

...It's too bad. During this journey, I wanted to discover my wish and report it to you, Captain.

Mm? What we talked about before? How you're troublesome because you have no wishes?

It bothered you that much? Don't be silly. Or rather

You already have a wish, Mash. You know very well what you want to do.

Huh?

Captain Drake, what do you mean...

Saying you have no wish is wrong. In the first place, nobody is without greed.

All humans have some kind of wish. You can't live without one.

The only difference is living while knowing what it is, or spending your whole life not realizing it.

...Same with that Jason guy. Even he had a dream of "creating a utopia."

His homeland banished him, and didn't save him. I don't know if he did all this to prove them wrong.

Still, he wanted his nation to be a peaceful one.

The man was obsessed with the desire to rule, and at the very end, he arrived at his true wish.

...Yes. Jason's actions and behaviors were reprehensible.

Butsurprisingly, he was thinking of the people. Though selfish, he was trying to protect others.

Aye. Sometimes sinners do saintly deeds, while saints sin. That's humans for you. That's us.

That's why everyone's got a wish.

It's just that some go their whole lives without realizing what their true wishes are.

...Captain Drake. Which type am I?

You... You're the type that's better off not realizing. You should stay just the way you are.

I'm sure you'll know in the end.

You'll realize what you want to do, and why you continue to raise that shield to defend others.

I'm the opposite, I already know. The sooner you know, the uglier the punchline ends up being...

...Captain Drake. Are you, um... From now on, your life...

It's fine. You needn't state the obvious. I know how it ends for me. I die, right?

Life is interesting once you know you're going to die. No, because you will die, you want to live in the moment.

I'm not really a fiend for treasure. What I want is money, and pleasure.

We're gonna die eventually! So I want to enjoy every single moment while I can.

Thanks to you, I now know how vast the world is. It's a never-ending journey, even if I go all out.

I'd be satisfied to take just a little of that, and blaze one of the many trails available.

How blessed, how inconvenient, and how it would be just like what I wished an ending to be.

So never mind. Don't worry yourself over my dying days.

Farewell, Mash and Fujimaru. You too, cowardly scholar guy!

The reward for saving an era... Let's see

When your journey ends, just remember how much fun you had with me! That'll be enough!

？！

Welcome home. Good job, Fujimaru and Mash.

This makes three eliminated Singularities. Protecting human history... That mission is no longer just a pipe dream.

I'll look into that Demon God on my end. For the time being, I'll focus on King Solomon's era.

I'll use Chaldeas and Sheba to observe the Earth of 1000 BC.

...Are you sure?

Sheba's range is the Christian Era. Go back further than that and you lose accuracy.

Plus, it would require vast amounts of magical energy and electricity. Chaldea's current reserves aren't that

With my pride on the line, I'll take care of that somehow. As for magical energy, I might know someone who can help.

Really? I thought chances for outside help were nonexistent?

Fooou!

Huh? Oh yeah, sorry. I had the wrong idea. I'll get by somehow with Da Vinci's stash.

Anyway, you two need to unwind. Next up is the fourth Singularitythe turnaround point.

France, Rome, and the sea. Each time, the number of irregularities has been increasing.

Maybe with the next Singularity, the real target will come.

That's why I want you to rest up. We've got some time until the next Rayshift.

Fooou!

Good job, Senpai. You did your best too, Fou.

Ky, kyuuuu!

...By the way, Senpai. Did you want to sail around the world with Drake?

Me too.

The captain was larger than life, but overflowed with charm.

After our battle is over?

...Yes. Not a trip via Rayshift, but a journey in this era.

I want to enjoy a world in which the future isn't decided yet, just like Captain Drake.

？！

...Senpai. I think this recent search for the Holy Grail was the most special case so far.

The process solely was to head somewhere. It was a battle on a seemingly endless sea.

Along the way, I think I learned something.

Good and bad people alike contribute to human history. Human diversity and contradictions. Expectations, too.

...Humans are brutal creatures. They use wisdom and gain power for their own desires and objectives.

That is a truly brutal trait. You could say that they are the most powerful and barbaric organisms on the planet.

But there's hope in that brutality... The hope of realizing what couldn't be realized.

The power not to let the impossible remain impossible. This power, this hope, she taught us that is what makes us human.

...I don't know if I have such a power. But, I'd like to get as close as I can.

So I can keep fighting by your side, Senpai. To become a Servant that you can be proud of someday.

Now, then, Senpai, Fou, sweet dreams. We're on dry land for the first time in a long while.

We don't have to worry about getting seasick anymore. Please have nice and long rest.