At the End of Brilliant Steam

...Uhh...

That direction. Got it. ...Senpai, it seems we want to go west from here.

？！

Yes, probably the Westminster area. That's where we'll find the Houses of Parliament.

Let's go there and pound them down. Ah. But first.

Yes?

There's one thing I need to say. This time, my hands are tied protecting Fran.

You see, she's not a Servant, and it's unknown how much damage an artificial human can take.

So "I'm going to protect her." ...We have a strange connection.

We can't count on Mordred during the battle then, so you guys will have to provide all the muscle. Be careful!

？！

Right. Okay then, Senpai. Let's move out!

...To think it's really near the Houses of Parliament. What a place for a remote control. Is it actually inside?

...Uhh, uhrrr!

Looks like it's close. She says it's in our immediate vicinity

Look, there's a gargantuan one! Fran, get behind me and stay there!

Mash, Fujimaru! I'm leaving this one to you. Take it apart!

Roger that. Master, it's combat with a giant hostile. Awaiting orders!

All giant hostile targets have gone silent.

It appears it wasn't a Servant... But, was this the Noble Phantasm that's manipulating the others?

...Uh. ...Uh, uhh.

It seems so. Okay, that's one nuisance out of the way.

Good work. Fran. We pulled through thanks to you.

...Uh, uh. Ah...

Mash, Fujimaru. Just in case, could you send me some visual data of the remains?

I'll go ahead and analyze them here. Well, I'm just going to ask Da Vinci about them.

Understood.

...Doctor. We discovered something strange. Something that the other Helter Skelters did not possess.

Perhaps the manufacturer's name? It's written in English.

"Charles Babbage, AD 1888"

...Uh!!?

Hmm. What's wrong, Fran?

... ...

Good morning, Senpai. Did you sleep well?

It seems like you went by yourself to the nap room a little earlier...

？！

Oh...um, that's right... The two Heroic Spirit authors are occupying that room...

In that case, you probably didn't get much rest. I-I'm sorry I didn't notice.

I...wish I had let you use the sofa in the living room that was assigned to me...

？！

...Senpai...

Mm. Both of you are awake. Hey, have you seen Fran around?

Come to think of it... Oh! Senpai, maybe Fran...

？！

...Well, if she's fine with that, it's fine. I myself have no intention of entering that room.

That room gives off a kind of odd ambience. I wonder if that's the power of authors with looming deadlines.

They've basically just been writing since materializing. Though I'm not sure if Andersen is really working or not.

I couldn't help but sense a strange pressure coming from that room...

Good morning, everyone. Looks like you all got some rest.

There's something we need to talk about, okay? It's the name you found a few hours earlier.

Charles Babbage, right? He was an outstanding British scientist and mathematician of the 19th century.

Yes. He belongs to this age. I haven't met him myself, but I recall a few things.

I'm sure that he and the original Dr. Victor Frankenstein were acquaintances.

I'm sorry, but please wait.

Babbage was supposed to have passed away at least a decade prior to our present time.

Huh? No, that's strange. He may be old, but he should still be an active scholar in good health.

???

Jekyll, are you sure that's not a lapse in your memory? Are you really sure that Babbage is a man of this era?

Of course. I came across his name while perusing this year's Royal Society Almanac. Victor also spoke of him.

So I can't imagine he's dead. His inventions were featured in newspapers from last year and this year, too.

Allow me to confirm this. Let's see, yes, a newspaper will do.

...Indeed, there is an article here. Charles Babbage. Born 1791. This is the very man in question.

I can think of two possibilities. One is that our historical records do not match reality.

Another is that a "shift" of events has occurred. That, in fact, has occurred in all the previous eras.

Orleans, Rome, even Okeanos. The events were all slightly distorted and "shifted."

Due to events changing, the dead are still alive and not there as Heroic Spirits

It's possible. The same applies to those who died from the Demonic Fog.

It may be that 20th century events have shifted all the way into this era.

So... in the case of Fran, as well as Mr. Jekyll?

We can't rule it out. So who belongs to this era, and who doesn't?

It's extremely difficult to determine. Especially when there are no records left in existence

Hmm. Are you talking about me? I'm curious, but we'll talk about it later. I've received some emergency correspondence.

It's bad news from my information network. Saber, this concerns you too.

All the Helter Skelters that had been completely shut downhave reactivated.

What, again? So there was another remote control elsewhere?

...This is indeed an emergency. We need to deactivate them again as quickly as possible.

Yeah. There's no way we can let the enemy procure any other Servants that materialize from the fog.

Mash, Fujimaru, I'm counting on you. Make sure you stop the Helter Skelters for good this time!

？！

Yes!

But, having said that, we've got Fran on our side. We can dodge the enemy.

Do the same thing as last time. Head straight to the remote without encountering enemies.

... ...

You're right. Let's hurry, but be careful not to let our guard down.

I won't. Then again, thinking of Fran's precision last time

Oh, we're running into them already? We haven't reached the remote-controlled ones yet, right?

...Machine sounds ahead. Several large-type units! It's an enemy group. Master, your orders!

...Enemy group defeated. It seems like we're being attacked more frequently.

The enemy just keeps on coming... Fran, what's wrong? Are you not feeling so good?

...Uh...

So next we head east... Seems like you're pointing in more directions than before.

If something's wrong, it's okay to say so. Like I said, just be frank with us.

...

...We defeated the enemy group. We believe the attack frequency has been rising.

Senpai, is this

...Yes, I suppose so.

I don't know. But, if you allow me to state...my personal theory...

？！

I do believe that... Fran is the cause. She's hesitating when it comes to directional commands.

Isn't that right... Fran?

...Uh...

... ...

...Fran. We need to talk.

...Uh.

You have no intention of leading us to the remote, do you? It's obvious at this point.

Is that true? Fran

Yeah. She's hesitating about something. One more thing.

There's something she hasn't told us. Right, Fran?

...Uh. ...Uhh, uh, uh.

...Look, I've said this so many times now. You haven't forgotten, right?

If you have something on your mind or something to say, be frank with us.

？！

...Uh...

...Uh, uh...uhh...

...Uhh...ah...ah...ah, ah...uhh...

...Uhh...

...

...Oh. Right. That's what it was.

？！

She knows a man named Babbage. She has apparently even talked to him in person.

She can trace the magical energy because she's tracing something resembling his presence.

But, he is not the type to do these kinds of things. That's what she's saying.

...

Mr. Jekyll said just as much. I also should have noticed at that point...

...I get it. You're covering for him. Isn't that right, Fran?

But, your own actions are contradictory. Babbage isn't the type to do "these kinds of things," right?

...Uh.

Well then, it's simple. ...I hate to quote that stupid brat, but I have no choice.

Fran. Calm down. Try using your imagination. You can do that much, right?

Babbage isn't the type to act like this. Yet, Helter Skelters are wandering around everywhere.

So, that means he's being forced into this. To do "these kinds of things."

...Uh!

Okay, good girl. So, you understand what you need to do, right?

...Uh, uh!

？！

Yes, Senpai!

It's close.

Yes, I can tell, too. The magical energy is concentrated here, even in the Demonic Fog.

Look, over there. I'm sure Fujimaru will also hear it soon.

I detected it here as well! It's a giant response, and almost right in front of you. To think it was there!

Huh, it was in the center of the City Area. It was right near the apartment.

Well then, it's time for us to meet. Either it's the other remote, or

...Uh, uh!

Listen, listen, listen! I am the King of Steam.

Unable to grasp the future that lay within reach, I am the king of an evanescent world of fantasy.

I am known to you rabble as the mage "B". I am a mastermind behind "Project Demonic Fog" that's enveloping this city.

FurthermoreI am a Heroic Spirit emerged from the Demonic Fog of the empire's capital.

...Mage "B?"

...One of the enemy bosses, huh. Damn, I didn't see that coming.

True, your name starts with "B." I see. I was overthinking and missed something so simple.

However, this... Is the same shape as a Helter Skelter?

This guy's specs are probably way higher. Just a hunch, but my hunches are usually right.

He does not seem human. So he must be... a Servant!

I am the King of Steam. Having died once, I now dwell within a world of fantasy.

My fantasies have sublimated to a Reality Marble, but it's not enough. It's not enough. It's still not enough.

Behold how I desire. Behold how I struggle.

With steel, I seek to lead a steam-filled civilization. With ideas, I seek to lead an inconceivable civilization.

AndI lament the incineration of humanity and civilization, of the world and the future.

Oh, so that's it! It means that he himself is already a Reality Marble!

It's similar to the Magical Tome. Though, the Magical Tome distributed sleep to materialize.

He will continue to disperse his alter egos infinitely. Most likely, that's

Mr. Babbage. If what you say is the truth, we can reason with each other.

We are the same. The future should not be burned to ashes!

Enough gabbing. Listen up, you big piece of scrap iron.

The daughter of someone you know has come to stop you.

Listen to what she has to say. Your pompous speeches and everything can come after that.

...Uh, uh!

...Uh...uhh, ah...ah, ah!

...Ah, ah, ah!

Oh, I see. I could never forget Victor's daughter. Are you there?

Lovely little artificial human. Piteous being unloved by your creator, thus craving love.

Ah, I can hear your words. Ah, I can hear your thoughts.

That's right I...no, we, must fulfill our aspirations as scholars.

We exist for the sake of humanity and civilization. Thus, I sought...a fantasy world, a new era of dreams.

Thus...

Gah!?

...Ugh... uh... ughh, ugh... ugh!? What...is this... Angrboda's interference!?

The Holy Grail that was implanted! I see, so "M"... so even I!

Victor's daughter! Run...for your life!

...Uh!

Enough, Fran.

You said what needed to be said, and he replied in his own way. You did a good job.

But, sometimes it ends up like this. Your feelings don't get conveyed, and you must settle things with swords...

Sometimes it just turns out this way.

Arghh!

...Here he comes!

Communication breakdown, and now a battle!? This is a similar reaction when a Command Spell has been used

If this is the Holy Grail's doing, then we have no choice but to defeat him. Mash, Fujimaru!

Master, your orders. Commencing battle with a large-type Servant!

？！

Yes, Master!

...Head to the underground part of the city.

...Deep, deep, deep beneath the Underground, in the depths... There...lies the core of..."Project Demonic Fog"...

The source of the Fog...covering the city... Namely, my invention...Massive Steam Engine Angrboda...

The Holy Grail... was used as the power source for...Angrboda...

...Uh... uhh... ah.

...Sorry, daughter of Victor.

I heard your voice... but I am no longer a human...with a proper life...

...but an improbable Servant... of irrelevant thoughts...

...

...I...

...Oh, I have seen a dream of my world... ...But... Even that...

...Even in a world where my dream will not be realized... I do not wish to end your world...

Looks like we have the next destination.

Yes, underground. That's what Mr. Babbage told us.

Let's get Fran back to Jekyll's apartment first. Then we'll take out the final boss.

？！

...Yes, Senpai.