Rama Got His Sword

Good morning, Senpai. Are you awake?

That nap was exactly three hours. Rest when you can. That's the spirit.

Geronimo said to take a nap since it's going to be a long journey, but...

？！

Relax. This is a small town in the West. The residents have already evacuated, likely due to the Celts' fierce attacks.

The only people on this land now are those who have come to our side.

It's Geronimo!

Is he all right?

The life force of Servants is incredible. I can't say he's fine, but he's breathing anyway.

There's a Servant here?

Yes. Actually, we're sheltering the third Servant I mentioned here.

Of course I'm helping you because I want your help in return, but most of all, it's to get him medical treatment.

In other words, the spotlight is on me. Not like it matters...

If there's a patient who seeks treatment, I will tend to him.

Yes, please. In your care, he may yet have a chance.

All right, bring him out!

Ungh...

...Horrible...

A part of his heart has been gouged out! I'm shocked he's still alive!

Well... Endurance...is...my strong suit... Ugh...

I've never seen a wound like this before. But I can't turn you away.

Don't worry, young man. Even if you end up in hell, I'll drag you out.

Hnngh... That does sound...promising!

Ah, owwww! C-Can't you be a little more gentle!?

Do you understand? My heart is crushed!

I'm surprised you can even talk.

Anyway, I'll heal you. First, your heart is about to lose all functionality.

Because of that, blood cannot circulate properly in your body... I must cut it out.

...All limbs, I mean. And if possible, I'll take all organs out except your lungs too!

W-Wait, wait, wait! Focus on repairing just my heart, no amputation!

I cannot lose any means to fight!

What are you talking about? There is no greater joy than being alive!

As an individual life form who has taken root on this earth, you have a duty to survive, come what may!

Th-That's easy for you to say!

It's all right. I swear that I'll heal you... I swear it!

...So, who is he? He doesn't seem like a Servant from this country...

Y-You mean me? I am Rama! The great king of Kosala!

For more details... Owowowowow! Read the Ramayana! That's all!

Aaaah, dammit! That really hurts!

...Frustrating. Frustrating, frustrating, frustrating, frustrating!

No matter how much I slow down the speed of encroaching death, I cannot stop it!

No, I won't give up. As long as this body is alive, I'll fulfill my duty!

Ah, Nightingale, be more gentle! Who were you fighting that could give you such a wound?

It was inevitable... After all, my opponent... was Cú Chulainn, Ireland's strongest hero.

Cú Chulainn!?

Ahhh... Of course. If Celtic warriors are the enemy, then naturally he would be around...

Cú Chulainn... Ireland's most renowned hero, nicknamed the Child of Light.

They say if he aims his lance, Gáe Bolg, it always pierces his target's heart.

...I suppose it would be difficult to avoid that, even if you are the hero of the Ramayana.

...More like, it's a miracle you're still alive.

Preventing the collapse of our front lines is important, but I want to heal Rama.

When I heard about a Servant concentrating on healing soldiers, I brought you here Hmmm?

That voice...from the sky.

Tch. Scouts. I'll wipe out every last one of them.

...I have a favor to ask of you all. At this rate, the boy's condition isn't going to improve.

His heart should've been repaired just now, but more than 10% of it is starting to deteriorate again.

A bottomless bucket... Well, not that bad, but without continuous treatment he will die quickly.

This is completely due to my own incompetence.

However, I do not want to give up on him. I will not give up on him.

This boy wants to live so badly.

As long as he possesses the will to live, I will never give up on him!

Tell me how to do this. How to treat him. Tell me that which I do not know!

...Doctor. Please give us your analysis concerning Rama's injury.

Yeah. You don't need to send me any detailed data. I can tell at a glance. It's a curse.

Removing the curse takes precedence over treatment. The fastest way is to defeat the person who injured him.

Gáe Bolg is said to be a demonic spear or technique wielded by Cú Chulainn

In any case, there's no doubt that it was a blow that, if left untended, will destroy the heart.

It's basically a miracle that Rama is still alive. Normally, I wouldn't be surprised to see him already dead...

Or rather, it's strange he's not dead.

...Then again, this is Rama, hero of the Ramayana, one of India's two epic poems. If anybody can perform a miracle, it's him.

Indeed. You should praise me even more... Ouch.

It's more accurate to say that Rama reversed his state of death through sheer willpower.

Basically, the fact that Rama is alive is an "error" in the proper cause-and-effect flow of this world.

Doctor Roman, please correct yourself. I do not think it is an error that he is alive.

Take your finger off that trigger! Please, just hear what I have to say!

As I said earlier, the only way to save him is to eliminate the spear that can distort cause and effect.

HoweverI can tell how difficult that is even by monitoring events from over here.

Besides Cú Chulainn, it's certain that there are at least two more Servants.

Exactly. This is quite literally a war that we are in.

Were I to stage a one-man attack, only death would greet me. Ugh... I'm sorry, please continue your treatment!

You don't need to tell me. Please sit still.

However, we do have one thing in our favor. This world's state is unstable.

Just like how the Celtic warriors continue to be summoned and fight to the death despite their precarious existences...

If we can somehow strengthen Rama's existence, we can remove the distortion cast on him, or close to it.

...Is that similar to how we broke Siegfried's curse when we were in France?

Yeah. The best thing would be to make contact with a Servant who knew him when he was alive.

Knowing the "blueprint" of his body when he was alive will likely increase the efficacy of Ms. Nightingale's treatment.

...I know someone. A Servant that meets your criteria exists in this world.

Ah, hmm. It's embarrassing to say, but...

Senpai, stop! Loose lips sink ships, as they say.

If you utter that name in a place like this, there is no doubt she will be summoned.

Kyuu, foou.

Huh...Eli? Unfortunately, you are quite off the mark.

？！

Another was summoned from the same era as memy wife, Sita.

I have not seen her yet, but I am certain that she is being held captive somewhere in this world.

I crossed blades with Cú Chulainn in order to find her location.

I see. Your wife, Sita. You may have dragged her here when you were summoned.

If we find her, it may be possible to cure you.

...I see. At present, Rama is unquestionably the strongest among the Servants who have been summoned.

At full strength, he would likely be an equal match for Karna.

I want to save him if I can. We must locate his wife Sita as soon as possible.

For that purpose, I would like Nightingale to accompany me

Hm? I'd go with you to the ends of the earth. Got a problem?

Truly!? I feel reassured, but you don't need the details!?

Why must I abandon my patient? Especially if there is no one besides me who can save him.

With that in mind... I believe it is worth seeking a somewhat more effective nursing method.

Rama, please excuse me. Don't struggle too much.

Wh-What!? You can carry me so easily!? This is how I used to carry Sita!

...Isn't that how you carry a princess?

Oh...

Hey, put me down! What am I to do if my people witness me in this state!

I do not mind. I am used to violent patients. This way, please. We must also prepare a special belt.

Let me go! Let! Me! Go!

Oh, uh... That was quick. You are truly the angel feared...uh, I mean, adored by all soldiers.

...

...What's wrong, Doctor? You seem disheartened...

Oh, it's nothing... I mean, Rama is still young, right? Yet he has a wife...

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I can't read your expression, Fujimaru! Are you sympathizing with me or laughing at me?

? That is true, but I think it's strange for the Doctor to feel inferior.

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N-No, I mean I believe the Doctor has, uh, been married previously...

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What? Mash, why did you have to blurt out something like that!?

But it's true. This one time I saw the Doctor washing his hands and there was a

Ahem. Sorry, but can we get back to the subject? We're quite pressed for time, too.

Oh...that's right. I apologize. Please continue.

Besides healing Rama, we also need to figure out how to deal with Edison and the Celtic soldiers.

I suppose Mr. Mage in the other world has some kind of plan in mind?

Of course. While Fujimaru is on the front lines, my job is to collect data and analyze it.

Recall earlier when weor Mash Kyrielight, rather, fought with Fionn mac Cumhaill.

He muttered something that bothered me.

"They're monsters born indefinitely from our queen. Even if we lose a few thousand here, it won't be a problem for us!"

In other words... the Celtic soldiers may be able to multiply infinitely.

If that's true, normal attacks are useless. Reducing their numbers won't work as a strategy.

...That did briefly cross my mind. But it's overwhelming to hear someone say it outright.

Does Edison's mechanized infantry follow the same principle?

It's probably fair to say so.

The only way to counter Celtic soldiers, who wouldn't flinch at the loss of thousands, is through mass production.

As an inventor, Edison did not try to pioneer anything

His talent lay in modifying other people's cutting-edge inventions so that they became more accessible.

Without Edison, the telephone, the light bulb, and many other so-called "modern conveniences"...

...would have developed at an unimaginably sluggish pace.

Moreover, America's pride is its ability to develop war-machines on a massive scale.

I see. Perhaps it's natural for the King of Inventions to call himself this nation's king.

However, it's a troubling idea for us mages: mass production will lower the value of all Mystics.

At any rate, there's only one course of action I can recommend.

Assassination Use Servants to take out both the king and queen at the same time.

Facing them head-on and wasting our resources is exactly what they want.

With an enemy that can multiply troops indefinitely, the only solution is to target their leader!

Exactly. Well put, Doctor.

You must be quite a famous mage. Your voice alone seems unreliable, but that intelligence is anything but.

...Even Geronimo has to point that out... I wonder just what's wrong with my image...

Fou, fou.

Excuse me, Doctor. Fou just said, "Geronimo hit the nail on the head."

Hey, I'm well aware that I'm kind of a wimp, okay!?

...All right. To make sure this assassination succeeds, let's unite all the Servants scattered in different areas.

Once we come together, we will make a stand against the Celtic soldiers and Edison.

...We need to make sure to return this land to the hands of its people!