Supper of the Sun King (1/2)

Oh winds, I release you from your duties. By the name of Nitocris, give us a view into the heavens!

The storm has ceased, Senpai! The sky's perfectly clear... Blue as far as you can see!

What a pleasant smile. It was worth putting on such a show.

But that band of light exists in the skies of this era, too.

Yes, quite frustratingly. The only thing that needs to shine in the sky is the sun.

Fou, fou.

All you need to do now is head west. You should reach the grand temple in about two hours.

That's good. Then I'll take my leave here. May good fate accompany your journey.

？！

I have no business at the grand temple. Nor a reason to stop you from going.

...We really were simply brought together by coincidence.

I have always been a wanderer. I am unfit to keep the company of others.

He left...

...Mash. Did you feel anything strange from that Servant just now?

Nostalgia, perhaps? Or that you know him somehow?

I didn't really feel anything in particular...

...No, I actually did have a strange sensation. We're both Servants, but something seemed different...

I see. Hmm, then Lucius really might be his True Name. Don't know what to make of that, though...

It's not really strange, but saying that name itself is something of a joke.

Lucius is the name of a Roman emperor who appears in the "Historia Regum Britanniae."

He didn't achieve any particular feats worth mentioning...

Master, you know him!?

Wow, I see you know your stuff, Fujimaru! That's right, Lucius was an emperor of Rome.

He appears in the "Historia Regum Britanniae," but he was a very minor emperor...

？！

...Anyway, the issue isn't his True Name. What's strange is the Noble Phantasm on his right arm.

That was Nuadha's right arm. The shining arm, Airgetlám.

Well, he isn't actually Nuadha, so there's no mistake that it's a replica...

But even then, its power was extraordinary.

It was able to defeat a sphinx, a creature of near divinity. What kind of mechanism could be behind it?

I'm curious... so curious... And as someone who also has an artificial arm, I'm also envious!

I want something like that tooooo! I want to defeat a sphinx all by myself tooooo!

That's enough useless chat! Are you going to the grand temple or not!?

I'm not made of time, you know!

If I don't return by evening, they'll realize that I've been abducted! How disgraceful!

？！

I'm sorry, Queen Nitocris. We totally forgot you were there.

You act polite, but you've got a sharp tongue, girl! What's your name!?

Oh, pardon my rudeness. My name is Mash Kyrielight.

This is Da Vinci. And this is our Master...

？！

Hmm, very well. It's a little late, but I'll forgive you. None of the names are on the criminal register. What a relief.

Now then, I bestow upon you the duty of escorting me. Protect me until we reach the grand temple.

We need to protect you, the queen? Everything we've heard up to now suggests that this desert is your domain...

This isn't my domain, it's the Sun King's. And it's not even a domain per se... It's a land at the end of the world.

Stopping the sandstorm like I did means that demonic beasts outside of our control will invade.

That's why you must guard me, just in case. You have a responsibility to bring me to the grand temple.

I see. Beasts outside of your control...

？！

Understood, Master. Executing orders.

Queen Nitocris. Is that thing sneaking up behind you a creature of the desert?

!?

Guruuuuuuu Zbuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

I don't recall ever seeing such a demonic beast! Destroy it, Fujimaru!

Where did those beasts come from? I've never seen or heard of anything like them...

？！

Hmm. Maybe we're the ones who lured them out, seeing as how we're... er...

(We shouldn't say we're from Chaldea. Nitocris isn't exactly an ally, after all.)

Seeing as how you're... what?

Oh, seeing as how we're just traveling performers, carrying rare goods! Of course things like that would come after us!

...How suspicious. It's clear that you aren't subjects of the Sun King, but...

Where exactly are you from? Are you mountain people, or citizens of the Holy City?

And besides, what exactly is a Master? I heard the pharaoh mention that term a few times...

You're a Servant, but you don't know what a Master is?

Even if you were summoned by the Singularity... the Holy Grail, you should have at least some knowledge as a Servant.

I was summoned by the great pharaoh the Sun King Ozymandias.

He ordered me to work for him. That's all I need to know.

I don't know what it means to be a Servant.

I'm a pharaoh first and foremost. Being a Heroic Spirit comes second.

So that name comes up after all... Okay, this'll be a long story. Let's talk while we walk!

Queen Nitocris. You're in charge of these sandstorms... Well, not just them, but the protection of the desert as a whole.

You haven't been given any other knowledge at all. Am I correct in assuming this?

I wouldn't say none at all. I am aware of the state of the war.

Pharaoh Ozymandias rose to power not long after being summoned to this era.

This territory of Egypt is proof of that. The pharaoh saved his subjects that were summoned together with the land.

That's right. Likely due to the pharaoh's great power.

For normal Heroic Spirit summons, it's only the individual... the hero themselves. However, Pharaoh Ozymandias was different.

In his case, he is the nation. When he appears, it is only natural that his lands would also be restored.

That's what I said, yes. Is there an issue? Did you enter this place without even knowing what it was?

Yes, be lenient with us. With the sudden sandstorm, we had to keep moving forward.

We couldn't help it. There weren't any border lines, and we were suddenly in Egyptian territory.

...

？！

...Anyway. The pharaoh showed us his right to rule as king.

However, there were some who opposed him. They were the indigenousthe Saracen mountain people...

And the citizens of the Holy City you mentioned. The people of Jerusalem, right?

Wait a second. Did you just say Jerusalem?

Your Majesty?

...Who exactly are you, really, mentioning Jerusalem after all this?

That doesn't exist anymore! The Holy Land was destroyed!

All those who live in this land already know that!

？！

I thank you for saving me. However, this is a different issue altogether!

I knew I couldn't allow you to enter the great temple! Your actions will be what decides that!

Come, envoys of the king! Ascertain the truth of these people!

Your Majesty! ...Master, Queen Nitocris is getting ready for battle!

No, I won't fight. That's the least I can do to pay you back. They will be the ones to test you.

...You have a choice before you. Live in this land and dedicate yourselves to the Sun King. Or you may refuse.

Refusal means that the wastelands of death will be your final resting place. Either that, or the Lion King's...

No. No, that will not happen. Fate converges upon our king, Ozymandias!

O great lion-bodied beasts, bestow a trial upon them! Show me the truth they stand by!

Hm. The kings of Egypt, the pharaohs, had a different level of authority than the kings of other nations.

They were worshipped as gods that rule over men, and they flaunted their power as such.

A living god is the most suitable term. HoweverQueen Nitocris... I feel a little sorry for her.

？！

Yes, exactly. The sphinx's power is being kept to about 10%.

This may be convenient for us, but living as a pharaoh like this must be harsh for her.

Save your secret talks for later! Now is the time for you to prove your innocence!

We did it, Master! The sphinx is retreating into the sky!

？！

(...I'm surprised she managed, with such a weak body... Upon closer inspection, her hands and legs are still trembling...)

Queen Nitocris! The sphinx has let us go!

Is this the end of your so-called trial!?

Yes, very impressive! Your strength has been recognized by the Sun King!

In that case, my guidance is unnecessary! Fear not, and pass through this storm!

The king's benevolence will be your light, and welcome you! Farewell!

Oh... She's gone...

That just means she decided to draw the line. She probably thought she'd get too attached if she stayed any longer.

Still, this means we're safe now. The other sphinxes around us won't attack.

As she said, we should cut through the storm. It's finally time to confront the truth

About what exactly is going on in this Singularity.