London Night

I'm glad to see you back. A shame about the officers at the Yard.

Rest for a little. I heard you haven't rested at all since your arrival, right?

Pushing yourself doesn't equate to good work. Be it writing or hunting for the Holy Grail, occasional breaks are needed.

Thank you. But...there's no time.

Fool. Are you a workaholic, too? Can you not forget the weight of what you carry?

Then let me tell you a story to pass the time. A story of how Nursery Rhyme and I materialized.

Um...you mean Alice, right? That's what she called herself...

No, Nursery Rhyme. You left for the Yard before I could tell you.

I didn't get to say this, but both Nursery Rhyme and I appeared "from the demonic fog."

With no Master, and no summoning ritual, either.

Yeah, so was I, come to think of it. Jekyll's no Master, and there was no summoning ritual.

I just woke up one moment in the fog. Huh, do Servants just naturally appear like that?

No, no, no! That's impossible!

If you can just appear... No, be summoned on your own, you're something way more powerful than a Servant!

Yes, it's normally impossible.

If you meannaturally appearing Heroic Spirits, there aren't many, but there are a few such records.

But when that happens, they don't have a personality of their own.

When a Heroic Spirit appears as a Servant, they're always summoned from the Throne by a ritual.

？！

Listen, in the other three eras we went to, the Servants were always summoned under the Grail's influence.

It's absolutely impossible for a Servant to just appear on its own!

So the Servants aren't appearing from the fog, then? That leaves one possibility.

The fog was "created by the Holy Grail." Or, what creates the fog is influenced by the Holy Grail.

That's...what it would mean. That's the logical conclusion. No contradictions.

Logic applies to most things in the real world. About the only thing it doesn't apply to is love.

Use your imagination. Then, you'll anticipate most things, and sometimes even predict them.

Haha. Love? Like you'd know, you punk.

I don't want to hear that from a kid who doesn't even know love. I'm a virgin. I know all about love and romance.

...Huh? Hmm. Huh? That doesn't make sense, does it? Hmm?

？！

Have you forgotten? I am Andersen. My storytelling makes me a Caster Heroic Spirit.

If a swordsman's skills lie in battle, an author's skills lie in letters, words, indolence, pain, and love.

Be it improv poetry or a crazy deadline, a true author is capable of anything when serious.

I am a creative author. Not many can match me for imagination.

I won't lose a debate to an amateur. If you're not going to rest, go for a late-night patrol.

Yeah. You're right! If we can nab that "P" and make him talk, we can end this.

I'm going for a patrol then. I'll take a walk to the edge of the city area.

Oh, Senpai... Mordred is about to leave.

？！

Right!

You're good at manipulating people, huh? But thanks, they were under a lot of strain.

It's nothing compared to writing a moving story.

I just had to "motivate" them. ...But I don't understand.

Hmm?

What I showed them may be an illusion. A wisp within a match light. Logical or not, it's no different from a fantasy.

You just used your imagination, right? So

Don't be stupid. That was just a "play" on words.

...It feels strange to do a patrol with a bunch of people.

I always did it on my own. Well, this makes it easier, so I don't mind... Oh, there's some already.

I just can't match Mordred for speed. I see them too. Enemy responses!

Roger. Master, your orders!

There were quite a few. Whew.

You must be tired. Do you need to rest?

No, there were just so many of them. It would be different if there had been a Helter Skelter.

It's quite strong. It's probably the only enemy I've enjoyed fighting during this materialization.

Mash and Fujimaru have only encountered it once. It was a tough opponent.

Maybe there aren't that many of them? Come to think, you covered a lot of ground but haven't seen any.

Yeah... Come to think, I've never seen big groups of them.

If possible, I'd like to go up against a tough enemy. I hope we'll see one tonight.

？！

Oh, you think so?

Why don't we go on a bit further? There is still some distance to the City's edge.

Um, well, I'm confirming map information... It's not like I'm particularly familiar with London.

Well, if something turns up, we'll deal with it then.

...Hmph, more gutless enemies.

All enemies destroyed. No, I don't think they were as easy to defeat as you say...

If the fog makes Servants appear, I want it to toss out a strong one.

Oh... But you know. What if what comes out isn't necessarily an enemy?

Right. In fact, you've been helping us. Same goes for Andersen.

But, Nursery Rhyme and Jack were enemies. Both were likely Servants that materialized from the Demonic Fog, too.

I'd like to occasionally see an enemy that faces me head-on, instead of all these guys that attack from behind.

Right? You're quite a perceptive Master.

...You really think so?

？！

Senpai, let's continue patrolling. It's only a little bit further to the edge of the City.

Come at me! Strong enemies!

Well thenwho is it that doth summon me!? I, Caster Shakespeare, travelled with great haste to the city of fog.

Or so I wish to say to you. But it seems that I was not summoned to participate in a Holy Grail War this time.

This is quite vexing indeed. O God! Where dost lie the grand story that I am destined to behold?

No reply. Silence. God hast forsaken me. Where art the tale making blood boil, flesh dance, heart shiver, and soul shake!

Then, I can only utter these words. Oh, "Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind!"

...This is a blank. Next.

Ah, what have we here? How curious our paths should finally cross within this unfathomable fog!

Do you know him? This, uh... Caster Shakespeare guy?

Never heard of him. He's a blank.

But we just confirmed our theory. Right now, this guy materialized from the Demonic Fog.

It is a tragedy that my Master does not exist. But, I was able to meet you. Surely this too is destiny.

I shall weave a tale of your exploits. I pray that your tale shall live up to your reputation.

Ugh...

This guydoesn't look like an enemy. It's kind of odd if you think about it.

What's the difference between him and the likes of Jack or that clown? Jack aside, everyone moved on their own will.

Also

Never mind. Wait. What, did this night patrol hit the jackpot?

What?

He's here. The one we've been waiting for. Hey you! You got some nerve for someone who fled!

...Looks like I am late.

？！

How unfortunate. It seems you have already procured the Servant that newly materialized.

He appears to be a Caster. If only we had procured him, he would have made a fine ally.

Hah hah. I get it. It's really quite simple when you reveal the trick.

...Yes. Now I understand as well.

So, you procure and round up Servants materializing from the Demonic Fog, and make them your allies.

I see. Logically it's simple. But, easier said than done.

Unless you have the Holy Grail, it's impossible to make Heroic Spirits move according to your will.

Correct. I confess as much. It is as you say.

We continue to wait in London for those who are indispensable to us to manifest themselves.

So, we procure Heroic Spirits materializing from the fog one by one, and "adjust" them so they work on expanding the fog.

It is truly regrettable indeed that we were not able to procure all of you.

We surely would have been fine friends. All of us.

？！

...Yes, Senpai. I feel exactly the same as you do.

Hah! Seriously. You'll have to allow me to pass on that!

You won't get away this time! Mage, name yourself before I cut you down!

As you wish. There is no catalyst to transport at this time. I shall procure you here myself.

I am Paracelsus von Hohenheim. I manipulate the Four Great Elementals, and I seek the True Ether.

Of course... I possess a different objective at the moment.

Master, prepare for a battle between Servants! Your orders!

...A most natural result.

This is precisely what I'd expect from a sword-wielding hero. Naturally, evildoers must fall.

Overcoming all the world's evils. Resisting all this world's greed.

And you who will carve out the future of this world. May the path before you...

...be somehow illuminated... By true...light...

...I have confirmed termination of the enemy Servant. Victory is ours, Senpai.

Damn. The idiot disappeared without a trace. He was a nauseating mage from beginning to end.

"Carve out the future?" Give me a break. As if I'm the type to do that. Ugh.

"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player."

Huh? What was that?

It's nothing but a few fanciful phrases crossing my mind. It is quite a fine spectacle that you have shown me today.

I was only able to behold the mage in a short role, but he provided a truly satisfying final act.

...What an idiot. You're just being delusional.