Singularity Landing

...ter!

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...ter!? ...ke up...ter!

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Master! Please...wake up!

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Master! Please, get a hold of yourself!

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Th-this is the Seventh Singularity all over again! What's going on!?

There must be Servants nearby! Let's ask them for help!

This can't be right!

All the Servants that should have Rayshifted along with Fujimaru have been sent flying!

Fujimaru doesn't have any Servants to support him anymore!

What!? Da Vinci, you have to call him back!

We can't! The Singularity is establishing itself too quickly!

We can't bring Fujimaru back until he fixes the era!

We'll give it a shot, but I don't think we can do it before he hits the ground!

Master!

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Ah, yes. Save the falling boy.

That is precisely the girl's role in this soon-to-begin story of love and hope: the "meet cute," as it were.

Soon enough, you will be off gallivanting about with your new love, doing your best to fix the Singularity. Or perhaps not.

Truly a lovely story! A grand take! Unfortunately, though...

...your rescuer is neither a dapper young gentleman, nor a beautiful young lady.

You must content yourself with yours truly: a rather shady-looking old man.

Hah hah! I can't fault you for your curiosity, but let's wait until you're back on the ground first!

My, my. I'm impressed you have the wherewithal to mind your manners at a time like this.

You must be exceptionally polite, or exceptionally foolish.

Let us hope for the former! Now, for the landing!

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Whew! That was no mean feat for a gentleman of fifty or thereabouts.

But I brought it off perfectly. Not that I would expect anything less of myself.

Right, then. How are you holding up? No brain damage? Nerves all right? Bones intact?

Hmmm... Hmmmmmm.

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Ah, pardon my lack of manners. I must have been scrutinizing you rather closely.

Well, don't mind me; I'm just a dried-up old man. Not much different from being inspected by a machine.

The important part, of course, is to be certain that you are still fit and able!

Excellent. Now that that we know you're well...

Welcome to hell, Master of Chaldea!

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Just take a look at what's happened to this city.

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Spellcasters, Demonic Beasts, sentient mannequins, and pseudo-soldiers known as "Hornets"...

Almost all of the good people have died off, leaving only the worst of the worst. A fin de siècle in every sense of the word.

Cut off from the outside world, this city has become a prisona horrific cesspool of the unutterably vile.

We call it Shinjuku, the Quarantined Territory of Malice!

Shinjuku...

Quarantined Territory of Malice...

It seems the time has come to reveal Shinjuku's first secret.

It is nothing earth-shattering, but go on, see for yourself.

Is that...a wall? It's surrounding all of Shinjuku, just like the one that encircled Uruk!

Right you are! It is a wall! And yes, it does indeed surround Shinjuku.

So what's beyond the wall, you ask? Nobody knows! No transmissions come in, no transmissions go out.

I thought that everything burned down when humanity was incinerated.

We're currently unable to analyze anything but Shinjuku.

Sheba can barely make out the scattered remains of the wards that neighbor Shinjuku.

But otherwise, the outside of the wall appears to be the same as the periphery of the Singularities during the incineration.

Excuse me, but what's that tower over there to the west?

Tower...? ...Ah, that tower.

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Hey, Servant-y person. Do you know what that is?

Oh, that? I believe you will find that is the lair of the one who will be your nemesis here. But I'm afraid you won't be getting there anytime soon.

I'm sure you understand that in stories such as ours, the path to the villain is circuitous at best.

So you mean the path cuts off before it reaches there? What about hopping along the rooftops?

I'm afraid that would make you easy pickings for the enemy Servants.

Servants!?

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Yes, I think it's about time you told us that.

Mm-hm, I see.

I suppose it would only be proper for me to tell you my True Name now.

But remember this, young Master of Chaldea. Usually, a Servant must keep their True Name hidden.

After all, revealing it would also mean revealing their weakness.

The more invincible a renowned hero of myth seems, the more certain they are to have a weakness.

Mythology, after all, does sometimes have its plot devices.

Sometimes, the bigger the monster, the easier it is dispatched.

Thus the custom among us Servants of calling each other by our class names in typical Holy Grail Wars.

Though I am given to understand that there was no time for that sort of thing during the restoration of humanity.

Of course, with any number of Masters urgently shouting "Archer, attack!", "Archer, heal!", and "Archer, defend!"...

...One could be forgiven for getting a little confused.

Nonetheless, in this Singularity, revealing one's True Name could well prove fatal.

Are we clear on that, young man?

As such, I can tell you my class name to facilitate easy communication.

But I cannot yet reveal my True Name. I hope you will understand.

Ah, the perfect answer. Small wonder it was you who saved the world.

Hahaha! You don't waste any time, do you? An admirable demonstration of your decisiveness.

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Very well then, I shall tell you my class name!

I'll even be more specific to help make it a proper appellation!

My class is...Archer! Here I am known, or so I'm told, as "the Archer of Shinjuku"!

Of course, you may simply call me "Archer" if you're sure you won't find it confusing!

Ha ha ha! You said it, Fujimaru! Got a nice local feel to it!

I had my reservations about this name at first too, but I decided it was better than "Tokyo Archer"!

There's a certain...pomposity it would take to use such a prestigious city as my name, no?

"And here comes Tokyo Archer, the undisputed champion of the Holy Grail War for 13 years straight!"

You know, that sort of thing.

On the other hand, "Roppongi Archer" rather sounds like I work at a host club!

At any rate, there you have it: I am the Archer of Shinjuku. At least, I believe so.

Hmm?

Like the name of a Kabukicho host, you say?

Ha ha ha!

I cannot blame you for thinking so! This butterfly ensemble does seems to have been made with an eye to garnering female attention!

Not that I ever had any interest in or luck with women even when I was alive, of course.

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All right then, let us begin our trip into hell!

An Archer class, huh? I would have guessed you were a Caster.

You're a sharp one, aren't you.

Even my Spirit Origin wonders if I wasn't originally supposed to be a Caster.

Hmm, you know what, never mind that for the moment. I may seem otherwise, but I am most assuredly an Archer.

And by 1999, you don't even need to wait around for Angolmois.

If all the weapons of mass destruction scattered around the world were to activate, we'd be done for.

Of course, it's usually the case that that doesn't happen. Theoretically, that's even how it should be.

Without something akin to divine intervention, destroying the world should have been an impossible dream.

But now, the world's so small it can fit in the palm of your hand! That certainly simplifies matters!

Today, each and every one of us has the potential to destroy the world. How things change...

Hm? Hmmm? ...Ah, my apologies. Listen to me, rambling on when we should focus!

Hmm... Talks like a bad guy, dresses in modern-day clothing, looks like a Caster...

Hmm... I'm drawing a blank!

Ha ha ha, sorry about that!

At any rate, Master of Chaldea, you may want to take a few steps back from where you're standing.

What with the net and all.

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Damn, I missed!

Is that wire mesh or something?

Master, I'm picking up several hostile-looking entities. You need to get out of there immediately!

Now now, just hold your horses, young miss.

This is an excellent opportunity to truly understand what's happened to Shinjuku.

B-but

I will, of course, assist. It is the very reason I saved the young Master here, after all.

Think of this as my audition of sorts.

Now we've got 'em! ...Hey! Over here, guys!

What a handsome guy. I can't wait to mess him up!

Those are no run-of-the-mill ruffians... Are they enchanted!?

How can ordinary humans in 1999 do that!?

An excellent question! The answer is that they are not, in fact, ordinary.

They're spellcasters that have managed to survive this living hell!

Only the truly wicked can survive in Shinjuku as it is now! Anyone lacking that vicious virtue meets with oppression or death.

Order is long since gone. Chaos is all that remains!

Kill them! If their bodies are clean, the necromancer'll give us a good price for them!

Now then, Master of Chaldea!

Now that you are in this evil world awash with sin and bereft of punishment, what do you have to show me!?

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Of course!

Well then, this should certainly be...diverting!

All right, Master, give me your orders!

Hm? Oh, don't misunderstand.

You're a simple one, aren't you! No need to show me anything; all you have to do is what must be done.

I can enjoy the show all on my own accord!

You tell that Archer, Senpai!

Senpai repaired all seven Singularities! He's the greatest Master in the world!

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O-oh, sorry, Senpai. That just slipped out.

All right, Mr. Archer of Shinjuku.

I have no doubt that Fujimaru's going to put on a great show for you. But, I know a better way to satisfy you.

Shall I tell you what that is?

Aha, no need for that. I understand perfectly. Very well, Master! Use me however you see fit!

I am the Archer of Shinjuku, Servant at large and master of magical bullets!

All enemies defeated. Well done, Master!

Hey, Mash, got a second?

What is it?

Do you have any idea what the Archer of Shinjuku's True Name might be?

No, I'm afraid not.

Not only am I the world's most eminent artist, but I am also the world's foremost authority on Servants.

And that one doesn't line up with anything I know.

Even if I narrow the scope to either Archers or Casters, there's always something off about him.

Yes. I think so too.

I get the feeling that he's not just hiding his name. He might even be disguising his class.

You too, huh?

Still, I can understand mistaking, say, a Saber for a Berserker...

But mistaking a Caster for an Archer? That seems seriously unlikely.

And then there's his fighting style.

Yes, I wondered about that too.

An Archer who uses bullets? Naturally I've got a few ideas, but he doesn't line up with any of them.

Hmm...

At any rate, we should keep trying to find out who he is. But don't say anything about this to Fujimaru.

Understood. I'll continue to investigate his identity while this operation is underway.

D-damn it! You'll pay for this!

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All done.

I must say, one truly feels one's years when being summoned at this age to fight in battle!

Hahaha! You've got me there. I suppose this must be me in my prime!

I AM in excellent shape. And this weapon, this coffin, certainly makes it easy to hit whatever I happen to aim for.

Now is your prime? Are you certain?

Nope! But, there's a reason for that. See, the thing is...

Apparently, I've never had a youthful moment.

No youthful moment...?

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Right you are, young knight. I have no memory whatsoever of being young during my prime.

In fact, ever since I got older my memory has been hazy and fragmented. It's really quite troubling.

Why was I fighting here, I wonder.

I suppose you would, wouldn't you! Hah hah!

At any rate, I take it you now understand how truly awful this Shinjuku is?

Hah hah! Justice! Is that what you call this!?

Although... This feeling in my chest... Maybe it IS what you'd call...justice.

Hmm... You really are a sharp one, aren't you! Perhaps a little too sharp!

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So, Archer of Shinjuku, now that things have calmed down a bit, I was hoping we could have a chat.

Hmm, yes! I certainly understand!

You want to know more about what's going on in Shinjuku here, don't you?

And I'm sure you especially want to know how it's unusual, and where history may have gone astray.

...Well, before we get to that, why don't we make a deal?

I will tell you the truth about this city. In return, you pay me accordingly.

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Hmm, neither, really!

What I want from you...is trust. I want to hear you say you trust me, and also act accordingly.

In all my life, there is only one thing in which I've trusted absolutely. And you are not it.

Do you think you can trust me?

Perfect!

So, it's not that you don't trust me...it's that you want to, eh.

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Good.

If you had agreed to trust me right away, I would have packed up and gone home immediately.

Not that I have a home to go to, of course!

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Now now! This is just how I look natur

...Ahem.

At any rate, neither of us trusts the other yet. But, I think there's one big thing we can agree on.

We cannot permit Shinjuku to remain as it is.

Evil cannot be permitted to rampage unchecked. I think it's safe to say we're on the same page there?

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Delightful!

Then I shall do my utmost to earn your trust, and you may demonstrate what you're capable of.

You commanded numerous Servants and triumphed over the seven Singularities, right? That must mean you're not only the last Master in the world, you're also the greatest! Now, that I must see for myself!

Month X, Day Y Dantès' Journal

To be frank, good cannot survive here. Here, good is fragile and unreliable.

Cooperation is impossible. Therefore, no choice remains but to rely on others.

Reliance makes for less than the sum of its parts. As such, evil will always refuse good.

A cat, all skin and bones, has summoned the last of its strength to consume a dog's remains.

Its gaze is as sharp and deadly as a knife. The rats nearby waiting for scraps dare not approach.

A person draws near, hoping to beat the cat to death and devour both it and the dog.

Then the rats come, swarming over the three larger creatures until even their bones are gone.

Evil consumes both good and evil alike, annihilating each with equal disdain.

To survive here, one must either possess great power, or move in a group of like-minded comrades.

Unfortunately for me, being part of a group is not something I excel at.

So, what am I to do?

My investigation of Shinjuku is proceeding apace.

Though the knowledge of Shinjuku imparted to me differs greatly from the reality of its insides, the premises of its external structure remain largely intact.

There are ruins where buildings should be, and collapsed husks where houses should be.

However, there's something different about that building. What could it be?

Month X, Day Z Dantès' Journal

I have confirmed the presence of a visitor from Chaldea. He is now accompanied by...another.

His situation is more perilous than he realizes. For that one's heart is pure evil.

Believe me, I would know. For evil is as evil does.

From the moment he was born, he only knew contempt. To him, love has always been a foreign concept.

That's why I find him standing at his side to be so...frightening.

However, if he was to find out what I was up to, I would lose the element of surprise.

At the moment, my sole advantage is that nobody knows I'm here.

We still believe this Singularity to be some sort of mistake. The result of mere coincidence.

No. No, no no!

This has all been meticulously planned out from the beginning. With...his...involvement, it had to be!

...Good. That'll do nicely.