Welcomed by the Sand (2/2)

We've covered about 10 kilometers so far... Master, just hang on for a little bit longer.

O-Or would you like me to carry you? If you ride on my shield, then I can just pull it...

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...Just as I thought, the mana density in the atmosphere is too high. Here, Fujimaru, take this.

A portable oxygen canister? When did you...

It's a mana-blocking mask I made in a hurry. The atmosphere here is too harsh for humans.

Hey, that's what I'm here for. Still, a little "thank you" would be nice. Come on, shower me with your admiration!

Either way, we'll be at the water source soon. You can see that building beyond the sandstorm, right?

That must be a temple. If we can at least get in there then we should be able to

Sorry. Forget everything I just said, this place is no good. We have to turn back.

Why!? We're so close!

That we are. But I can see countless shadows in the area between here and the temple. Look closely.

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You're right. They're all wandering around... I wonder what they are?

They're the same kind of sphinxes we encountered earlier. They're roaming around the temple freely.

!

It's suicidal to pass through here. Let's find a different shelter.

By the way, I got a pretty good idea who's residing in that temple.

We can't enter on our own. So let's look for another route.

Hey, if need be, I'll even supply my universal secret cottage like you might see in games, so rest easy. It's comfortable up to three uses, so Huh?

...I think I just saw some shadows heading this way from the temple... Sphinxes?

All right, let's make a run for it! I thought I glimpsed a skull mask as well, but whatever!

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Master, is something bothering you!?

Whoa, they're moving way too fast! See, Fujimaru, I told you to move

...Huh? For sphinxes, their magical energy level is too low... And this number... Humans?

Hmph, they caught on pretty fast! Sending soldiers after us, eh... How clever of you, Sun King.

Those monsters won't dare to hurt us as long as we have the queen, but the humans are different. She has no influence over them.

There's no time, get rid of them! But let one of them live! It will be a valuable source of intel!

Enemies sighted! I'm counting ten of them! All human!

One of them is carrying a bound woman! Senpai, your orders!

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...Right! Please leave it to me, Master!

Ugh! My mask...

...What? Don't tell me you're a Master!?

What kind of reaction is that!? Don't be so casual with our names, moron!

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Please forgive us, Lord Hundred Personas! It seems they are no ordinary soldiers!

The design of that girl's armor... She's most likely from the Holy City

The rest of you, fall back! We're up against Servants, you'll be easily killed...

...Or not... and just struck with the flat sides of their blades...

Are you underestimating us? Mocking us? We of the mountain don't deserve your blades?

...Fine. Either way, this battle is ours as long as we still have our lives.

Our current objective is to take the queen. Now that we have our prisoner, those cursed sphinxes

Uh, about that... During our battle just now, that trickster over there...

Oh hello♪ But I'm not a trickster, I'm a genius. And one who doesn't miss any chances at that!

I grabbed your prisoner while Fujimaru was fighting.

Who are you people! Do you work for Ozymandias!?

...I-I am the Hassan of the Hundred Personas! One of the leaders of the West, an Old Man of the Mountain!

Who, you ask? ...Say, are you an idiot or what?

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I have a sitrep! The sphinxes are coming back! And some strange creatures wearing cloth are with them!

Idiot! They're Medjed! Don't look them in the eye, or you'll be cursed!

Damn it, we failed again! Retreat! Make sure you don't drop the food we took!

Listen up, shield girl and staff woman... Wait, woman? Whatever, you there with the staff!

You too, human! You little wolf cub! Just you wait, I will never let this go!

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Hahaha! Hassan never waits when told to wait! Farewell, you slowpokes!

Sandstorms are an everyday thing for us. We're protected by our wind-deflecting amulets!

...The enemies are moving away fast... We lost track of them.

Too bad, we finally ran into people we could talk to...

Well... yes. Although I feel like everything we said backfired...

Right, the woman they'd captured!

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Okay, okay, leave it to me. I'm taking the ropes and gag off of her right now.

Hmm, did they put her to sleep? Hey! Smack, smack. Hey!

Wakey wakey! A one-in-a-million genius is standing right in front of you!

...Mmm... No, Pharaoh, please don't pull my hair like that...

That may look like an ear, but it's a magical catalyst evoking Horus... No, not bed head either...

Huh!?

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(Oh, this doesn't look good.)

(Right, she's frozen stiff.)

Insolent fools! Who are you? Do you know who I am? How dare you treat the pharaoh Nitocris thusly!

(Nitocris! She's the sorceress queen of ancient Egypt, Master!)

(Yes, she doesn't look intimidating anymore after all that, but she's indeed a powerful Heroic Spirit from 2000 BC.)

...Whispering behind my back, hmm!? Are you making a mockery of me?

Oh, that's right, you already have! You drugged me and dragged me outside the temple!

I cannot show any sympathy to such vulgarity! Normally I'd question your allegiance to the Sun King

But first, you will have to do something incredible to earn the forgiveness of Queen Nitocris!

Mirror of the Underworld, appear! Please pay them back a thousandfold for the humiliation they have caused!

Nitocris's mirror! Master, she's getting ready for battle!

She's mistaken us for the people who abducted her! I'd like to talk it over with her

Oh boy, that was a bust. I shouldn't have poked her all over with my staff.

But we have no choice. We can't prove our innocence anyway, and that queen doesn't look like a good listener!

First, we're gonna have to fight her! Let's go, Fujimaru!

...As I have only just awoken, I am merely at half strength...but no matter! It is surprising to be pushed this far, however...

I must say, those were some drastic measures. You're quite the warriors, I'll give you that.

However, your trial begins now. You committed a grave sin by disgracing me, and I want to know whether you can atone for it.

The pharaoh granted this divine beast to me. You shall be tested by it until you are torn limb from limb!

How shameless. Do you really think I'd believe you?

Of course. Pharaohs must first assert their own justice!

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Please listen, Queen Nitocris!

We really did save you, after you were captured by assassins!

Even so! That doesn't change the fact that you witnessed my disgrace!

Besides, you don't have any proof! Why did you save me!?

Did you happen to be here out of coincidence? And you saved me, despite not even knowing my name?

That is an impossible story! Saving a stranger for no reward in this land at the end of the world!

Nothing seems to be getting through to her... We might have no choice but to defeat her.

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(...They're still so passive, even after all of this... Did they really save meno, no!)

You bear the armor of the knights from the Holy City! I cannot trust you!

Go, sphinx! Bestow upon them the judgment of the great Sun King!

Sphinx!? Fighting a divine beast in our current situation is too harsh!

No, please raise your head. No divine beast could shatter your shield.

Above all, the justice you stand for is right. You will easily overcome a battle born of a misunderstanding such as this.

Who are you!?

We have yet to forge a bond for you to know my name. You may consider me the same as an enemy for now.

You must be the one called Fujimaru, yes? I am Lucius, a Servant without a Master.

I just couldn't help but interrupt. You may think I'm meddling, but please forgive me for that.

If you don't mind, I can lend some assistance. My sword is yours, make use of me as you will.

You look so weak, but you've got a big mouth! I'll crush you both and make you all my slaves!

Now, prepare yourselves!

My apologies!

Amazing... The sphinx has been completely eliminated! I'm not detecting any spiritron reconstruction!

That arm... That knight's right arm... There's no doubt, that's the radiance of Airgetlám!

It's the divine arm of the Celtic war god Nuadha! He's using a Mystic of Divine Spirit-class!?

Wh-Wh-What...!? The Pharaoh's divine beast... The noble beast Lord Ozymandias entrusted to me...

It's been completely eradicated from the earth... J-Just who do you think you are!?

That's why I apologized. I concluded you wouldn't settle down unless I dealt that final blow.

Now listen, awoken pharaoh. Incarnation of the god Horus, Nitocris.

It's true that they saved you. I witnessed it myself, after all.

They saw you were about to be taken by the Old Man of the Mountain and company, and saved you honorably.

If you still refuse to believe it, then I will have no choice but to use this silver arm once more...

Do you wish to lose the Sun King's trust even more? Will your own standing not become precarious as well?

Uh... But you aren't even citizens of Egypt. You have no reason to help me...

Then let me ask in return: the people of the mountain aside, do the knights of the Holy City have reason to abduct you?

I... suppose that's...

Only the people of the mountain have the ability to sneak into my temple...

Nitocris seems depressed now. Maybe she's regretting her actions?

Yes, now would be the chance to press her for answers. Fujimaru, go right ahead!

Foou!

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Eek!? Wh-Why are you shouting like that all of a sudden!?

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Uh, agh... That's... No. Now that I think about it calmly... There's no other explanation...

You have my gratitude, travelers. ...I'm sorry. My short temper got the best of me again...

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W-Water!? In that case, there's an oasis nearby...

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Fou, foooou!

That's right! And we want to take a bath and relax, too!

(What's with them, suddenly acting so brazenly! Ugh, but they did save me, so I need to show my gratitude!)

...Ahem. Very well, I understand! I'll make a special exception, and welcome you as my guests!

You'd like some hospitality, right?

In that case, escort me back to Ramesseum Tentyris, the most prosperous and ideal nation in the desert.

Normally you need to answer a sphinx's riddle to get inside... But I hereby bestow upon you the honor of entering its walls!

Fou, foooou!