A Mountain Where One Encounters God

This is the mountain Asha told us about.

So far...I'm not seeing the god we're looking for.

I don't detect a Servant reading from here. What can you sense?

I think I can sense something akin to divine aura...but it's too faint to be certain.

I sense it too. At least we would seem to be on the right track. Let's keep looking around.

Heeey! Is anyone heeere!? Siiitaaa! It's me, Rama!

？！

Fou fooou, fou fooou?

Ugh, this is getting us nowhere. We should split up and cover more ground.

That is. Very true. I can. Fly by. Using my. Wind Fire Wheels. I will search. From the. Skies above.

Ah! P-please don't go off too far, Nezha! We don't know what else might be here!

...Do you think she'll be okay...?

Don't worry, she's a venerated hero in her own right. I'm sure she'll be fine.

She said it herself, she's somewhat similar to us in certain ways.

I do agree that her tendency to rush headlong toward her goals with a single-minded earnestness has the potential to cause trouble...

...but I also doubt there are few who can keep up with her sheer airborne maneuverability.

Besides, it seems we have our own things to worry about.

Yeah, figures there'd be a monster or two hanging around the mountain where that god lives. Think you guys could take these things out quickly so you can get back to looking for them, please?

Have you disposed of all the hostiles then?

Yes, it was no problem. I don't think the Ortinax has ever been in better shape.

It's so much more stable now than it was before we came to the Wandering Sea.

Not only does it have properly outfitted equipment now, but having both Da Vinci and Sion fine-tune it is like...

...this one proverb I heard a while ago. Giving an ogre a heavy weapon?

Something's not right.

I-I knew it! I thought it sounded strange as soon as the words left my mouth.

Kintoki's the one who taught me that expression, but I think something might have gotten lost in translation...

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with Japanese sayings either. I was speaking about our enemies.

They are indeed all gone, but there is still something else here... Something whose intentions I cannot discern.

？！

...There.

Show yourself.

My, my, my... Since when is a Servant supposed to go tossing spears at fragile little humans?

Were you a normal human, I would indeed be deeply ashamed, but I sensed such an attack would not nearly be enough to end you.

Now that I have seen you for myself, I am even more confident in that assertion.

Well doesn't that just smack of a bit of ex post facto covering your derriere, honey.

I thought I'd hidden myself pretty well, so imagine my surprise when that spear went whizzing past me.

Oh well... That's what I get for not being more careful about investigating strange noises.

You're... You're...!

Peperoncino!

Heeey. Long time no see, Mashie.

Oh my, you're SO much more expressive now than you were the last time I saw you.

Well I think that's just peachy♡

...

Wh-what!?

...! Who are!?

Scandinavia Peperoncino! You're one of the Crypters!

Absatively. And you must be Chaldea's new director. As for you...

Why, you must be Mashie's Master, Fujimaru.

Oh my, how forthcoming of you. I like that.

Oh my. I understand your trepidation, but it just breaks my heart to see you won't even give me the time of day.

？！

If you're here, Peperoncino, then...

...you must be the Crypter in charge of this Lostbelt, aren't you?

Hmm, yes, I suppose I am.

？！

...

Oh, riiight. Almost slipped my mind. Before we do that whole song and dance, there's something I really should warn you about.

Oh? And what is that?

Don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly happy to sit here and chat with you all you like...

...but maybe you should be a little more concerned about your absent friend right now?

Huh? What are you talking abou

What is... Look out!

Something's plummeting right towards you!

They're Servants.

One of them's Nezha...but her vital signs are dropping like a rock!

And the other one is...is... What in the world!?

Khh... Ah...

Nezha! Master, it's Nezha! But, her body is...!

I failed. I was. Careless... Master. I'm sorry...

This is. Beyond terrible. It would. Be one. Thing if. I had. Only lost. But this...

Master... I'm so. Sorry... I wish. I could. Have helped. You more...

Ah...!

Keep your guard up, Master. We can mourn for her later. Those dust clouds are clearing away, and whoever killed Nezha is about to step out.

Huh? Nezha...?

I'm afraid not. Yes, that is Nezha, but she is not the one we know.

I will be direct. The Nezha you know is gone. Her Spirit Origin has completely vanished.

The Nezha before you now is not the one summoned at the Wandering Sea, nor the one who was once present at Chaldea.

I suspect that Servant there is a different side of Nezha...and an enemy who serves this Lostbelt.

...

Report: Individual exercise complete. Hereby returning to my duty as a divine general...

...eliminating foreign elements.

Commencing operation.

I have a report to make. That tall man is gone. I didn't even see him leave.

Hmm. That's concerning too...but we don't have time to go looking for him now.

I don't know if this Nezha is his Servant or not, but her intentions couldn't be more hostile.

We'll have to focus on dealing with her first.

Here she comes, Master and Mash! I know how you feel right now, but you need to get your heads in the game!

...R-right! Disengaging Ortinax limiters. Preparing for full-powered Anti-Servant combat!

Sh-she's strong...!

Battle is proceeding smoothly/Victory is at hand.

You might be a little more talkative than our Nezha, but you don't understand your situation at all!

Denied/There is nothing wrong with my analytical capabilities.

Hm...?

...

Higher priority recalled. Disengaging from battle.

Damn, she got away. Was she acting on her Master's orders...?

I can't tell. But that Nezha was a formidable fighter indeed. I sense that she is...optimized for this land.

If we had kept at it, one of us would have ended up resorting to releasing the full power of their Noble Phantasm.

Perhaps we should be grateful that this mountain where the god we are looking for resides still stands intact.

Fou...

...

？！

...I know what's going on. It's a lot like the tides.

No matter how much you plead, or how much you pray, there are some things you can't stop...

...and you just have to accept them.

I got to know Nezha pretty decently myself after I met her in the Wandering Sea.

It's true that I was interested in how her mechanical body was made with sage arts, but I also felt like we were similar somehow.

...So I know that Nezha was a great warrior, and an upstanding Servant.

I'm sure she was prepared for this, much more than she needed to be. She would never want you guys to be so sad about her that you stopped moving forward.

...Yes. You're right...

Let me just ask you one thing. ...Did she die in vain?

Not at all. The enemy's sheer mobility was like few things I have ever seen.

If Nezha hadn't come in contact with them first, they might have taken us by surprise and critically injured all of us.

...If that's what you think, Hero of Benefaction, then it must be true.

Then when we get back, and I make my report to Sion, I'll tell her Nezha fulfilled her duties admirably.

...I'm sorry. I'm okay now. Let's get back to work.

Agreed. Now is not the time for you to worry about this other Nezha. We'll handle that analysis on our end.

Although, one thing I did notice in your battle just now...

...was that she did not appear to be subject to this world's estrangement effect, as you are.

So we may be able to learn more about that effect by focusing our efforts there.

This world's estrangement effect... That's a good way to put it. It does feel like we aren't truly in this world, even though we clearly are.

Anyway, we won't have answers for you anytime soon, so I'd like you guys to keep going with your god search for now.

Then we'll do just that.

Come now, cheer up. King's orders. Moping around won't get us anywhere.

Sometimes, you have to say goodbye before you're ready, and others, you get to meet someone you never expected to. That's life.

Now come on, Master! We have a new god to meet!

？！

Fou!

Yes, Master. I promise to give this search my full effort!

All that aside. All that aside...

Where IS this god? I can sense something nearby, but I don't see them anywhere.

I've actually worked up a sweat from walking around so much. I think I'll take a little break here.

Aha, this rock should make a fine seat. There we go...

DAAAAAAHHH!

Wh-what in the world was that? It sounded like a pig squealing for its life.

I-I can't take it anymore! Fuhee! A beautiful boy's beautiful body, coming in direct contact with me!

Uh, I mean, never mind that. Ahem, testing, testing...

"How dare you, humans...mans...mans... Bow your heads before me...me...me... You are in the presence of a god...od...od..."

"Leave here at once if you value your lives...ives...ives... Do that, and I promise your family will live in health, and your business will prosper...er...er...er...!"

What the!? Did the rock just talk!?

Fou! Fo fo fo fou! (Special Translation: All right! Kill it with fire!)

"What was that? What a cheeky little animal you are, daring to challenge a god... Fuheehee, yes, I can understand you. Know why? 'Cause I'm a god!"

"Very well then, if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you shall have...ave...ave...ave! Now leave all your money behind as an offering...ing...ing...ing...!"

"Worship me... Praise me... Spoil me... Run to the convenience store and get me more ice cream so I can concentrate on grinding..."

...Hey, Karna? This divine aura... It can't be what I think it is, can it...?

......

Don't move, Rama. This won't take long.

Huh? Wha? Waaaaaah!?

H-hey, watch it! Do you have any idea what a close shave that was!?

Your spearhead was just a few centimeters away from making a yucky shish kebab out of my flab

...

...

...Karna? What're you doing here?

I was just about to ask you that. What are you doing here, ■■■■■■?

Fou... Foooooou!?

...Karna? What're you doing here?

I was just about to ask you that. What are you doing here, ■■■■■■?

Hey, there's no one in here! Pay no attention to the gal behind the curtain!

？！

Hm? Did I just say something...?

...What a strange feeling.

I have no idea why I said "I was just about to ask you that" or what it was I wanted to say afterwards.

...This is all very unclear, even to me.

I've never met this woman before. And yet... And yet...

It's strange. I don't know how to describe this feeling. It feels as though I've just met the light of my life...

And like I've just encountered my big sister... And like I've just encountered my life coach...

And like I've just encountered someone who needs to be cared for and tended to, all at once... I'm afraid I don't know how else to put it.

...

(Ahh, so that's what's going on. I guess that makes sense, since Karna's not a god...)

(So he just vaguely remembers his former Masters from other worlds.)

(...Oh well, can't help that now! 'Sides, nobody has to know as long as I keep my mouth shut!)

Hmm, hmm. So you feel like we're friends even though we've never met before, hm? What do you know, that's more or less how I feel too.

I get the feeling a lot of stuff's happened, but I can't seem to remember any of it clearly.

Hey, doesn't this remind you of one of those RPGs where the protag's got amnesia and a tortured past?

I wonder when we'll get to the cutscene where I awaken to my hidden power! Not that waking up is really all that high on my to-do list, really...

Personally, I prefer to hang out in the starter village and wait for someone else to defeat the final boss.

I see you're, um...a very unique person.

Wait. There is one thing I know for sure; you're human. But then, how are you cloaked in that divine aura?

Oh, that! Sorry Karna, but you got it all wrong!

I guess not even your vaunted sight managed to see all the way to the truth of the matter this time!

Meh heh heh. Me, human? Perish the thought.

I'll have you know I'm one of the best-known and most popular gods in the whole world! Just call me...Ganesha!

？！

Fou...

Hey! Which one of you just called me Indian mythology's sideshow act!?

Look, I can understand why you'd do a double take at a gal with an elephant for a head, but my fame and divinity are the real deal!

So show me the respect I deserve, dammit!

Of course I respect Ganesha. And I can more or less tell that your divine aura is genuine.

But then there's this...other aura that couldn't be further from the divine...

Yes, that's it exactly, Rama. I'm impressed. It only took you a moment to see through this being's true nature.

Hey! You don't gotta be THAT impressed!

From what you have said, the young lady appears to be a Pseudo-Servant with the Divine Spirit Ganesha as her core.

Ganesha is known for many things, including wisdom, wealth, prosperity, fortune, business, and the removal of obstacles. Truly fascinating.

Chaldea had its fair share of Divine Spirit Servants of all kinds...but this one looks to be much more like its vessel than the spirit inhabiting it.

Think Zhuge Liang, only with a Divine Spirit instead of a Heroic one.

I've definitely heard the name "Ganesha" before, and I think I at least know the essentials about him.

His elephant head is probably his most famous aspect, and he's also said to be the son of Shiva's wife, Pārvatī.

It's too bad Pārvatī's not here with us. Then you could have had a nice mother-child reunion.

Geh. She's around too?

Oh, not right now. I was just speaking hypothetically. ...Do you not wish to see her?

Oh, well, it's not like I'd mind or anything...

I just really don't care for the way she always blurts out whatever she's thinking.

While I'm at it, would it have killed her to give birth to me in a more normal way?

As for my old papan, well...

He's the guy who cut off my head and figured everything would be fine if he just stuck an elephant's in its place.

So I'm not sure I'd really know what to say if I ran into him now...

Basically, even I, Ganesha, might start freaking out a bit if both my parents were here.

Though I do still respect them. I think.

I see. That sounds...complicated...

Oh for...! I've had just about enough of this!

Well done on finding a Divine Spirit Servant, but you didn't come all this way to waste time on meaningless drivel!

Who's this faAhem, stout old guy?

You were about to say "fat," weren't you!?

Well, I'm a god, so I figured I'd show some mercy and not diss you at our first meeting.

Is that so! Well how bloody kind of you! Frankly, you're the last one here who should be commenting on my physique!

...Does this mean you now have a friend with whom you can discuss fitness?

Hmm. This may be cause for celebration.

What're you talking about!? I don't wanna celebrate anything like that!

At any rate, that man is something like the supervisor of my current Master, Fujimaru.

Damn right I am! I'm not just a noble with a bit of extra girth. I'm the leader of this entire operation.

You're a Rogue Servant, are you not? Then be a good lass and help us out!

Whaaat? You wanna make me work?

Hard pass. Ninja vanish!

Ah! She went back inside that statue.

We need all the help we can get to keep the nearby village safe.

Especially now that we've just lost one of our most capable allies.

...

It sounds like you guys have it rough...

But, sorry, I can't help. If you need someone to help you fight, you'd better try some other god.

Honestly, I don't wanna fight even a little bit. I'm just gonna hang out in here and keep enjoying my sweet, sweet shut-in life.

It's actually way more comfortable in here than it looks. It's got cushioning out the wazoo, and of course it's fully air-conditioned.

I can even manifest handheld game consoles in here thanks to my mysterious godly powers of wealth.

There's nothing like a good roguelike for killing time. I could play those for hours on end...

She is stubborn. I know from experience how hard it can be to get her to act. At least, I think I do.

Master, would you happen to know if there are any stores around here that sell Swiss rolls?

？！

...I was speaking figuratively.

I only meant that I have some idea of how to handle her.

？！

Understood. Then I will drag her out of there by force.

It's not the most diplomatic solution, but for some reason, I get the sense that we would actually be doing her a favor...

Indeed. This is how we usually handle gods who refuse to listen to reason.

No way! My butt shall not leave these cushions! I'm warning you, anyone who tries to mess with my shut-in lifestyle's in for a SERIOUSLY bad day!

It's still hard for me to believe she's a god when she says things like that...but we can't afford to back down now.

I'll help Karna try to get her outside as peacefully as possible!

Fuhaha, you fools! Our earlier battle was just a demo! Now, witness Ganesha's full power!

Nooo! My paradise suit...

Well done. It's good for your health to get outside and exercise now and then.

Gnnn, why do you have to be so boring and right all the time, Karna? Who do you think you are, my dad!? My mom!?

How strange. I'm certain I have no connection to Ganesha, yet I find myself inexorably compelled to help you.

...Was I a fan of Ganesha back when I was alive?

...

Hahaha, so we've won? We've won, right?

Then since we now hold your life in our hands, you're going to cooperate with us whether you like it or not!

Ugh, this freakin' guy again.

You know, the way you just expect I'm gonna go along with whatever you say reminds me of a teacher I had back in middle school. I really hated that guy.

Maybe your fat ass needs a bit of divine retribution for abusing your authority.

？！

Hmm. Well, I do feel a kind of kinship with you, seeing as you look to be the only other Average Joe here.

So I guess I can at least hear you out. 'Specially since it doesn't look like Karna's gonna give up anytime soon.

Besides, if I'm being honest, I still don't fully get what's going on around here anyway.

So, what is it you wanna talk about?

The world's been bleached clean... Trees of Emptiness... And Lostbelts...?

I see... All right, I get the gist. Sounds like things are even rougher for you guys than I thought.

Although... You...

？！

You're actually the most important part of your operation! What gives!? I thought you were a fellow Average Joe, turncoat!

Yes, he is. Senpai may only be ranked as a standard-class Master, but his accomplishments easily meet or exceed those of an A-rank mage.

I would be happy to elaborate, but I'm afraid that to do so adequately would require me to write at least a five-hundred page report...

...and it would unfortunately be a little difficult to do that now.

Hmm, you don't seem like you can tell a joke with a straight face... You're serious, aren't you? Yikes.

You're the vessel for a Divine Spirit now. Doesn't that mean you are also anything but ordinary?

.........

Oh come on, Karna! You could at least pretend to back me up here!

...On second thought, never mind. You'd just say something like "She was never ordinary. Her unusual weight and waistline clearly set her apart."

And the worst part is, you wouldn't even be saying it to be mean!

How did you know? Perhaps you truly were worthy to be chosen by Ganesha...

...No, wait. Something tells me that can't possibly be the case...

All that aside, I do have to wonder: Why were you summoned to this Lostbelt?

Why was I summoned? Believe me, I've been asking myself the same question.

I think it was kind of a "You have been choseeen" deal? Like, the Ganesha inside me showed up and said something like:

"Save the world, hero of the digital realm... If diversity is Proper Human History's greatest strength, then even someone like you can do this..."

"Now is the time for you to spread your wings... And since this is a request from my mother, not doing so is not an option..."

"Be warned: If you fail to save the world, you will never return to the way you were..."

So, yeah, Ganesha seems to be a pretty nice god, and he's definitely an Indian one at heart.

Oh, and don't bother asking me about my class. I'm not quite sure what it is, either.

I think that might be 'cause Ganesha found me through some sort of devilish intermediary or something?

Yeah, I don't know what to make of this Extra class either...

But we can worry about that later.

At any rate, it seems pretty clear that the Counter Force summoned her here automatically.

So it seems like a safe bet that she'll end up joining our side.

But why'd Ganesha choose me of all people? I'm just an unemployed shut-in with excess padding.

If it were up to me, I'd be demanding an explanation from him and requesting he choose someone else immediately.

'Course, I guess that's kinda moot now that I'M Ganesha.

I think it comes down to compatibility.

You may be an ordinary person, but you are an ordinary person with some exceptional qualities.

I may not remember why I know that, but I do know that for certain.

...Th-there you go saying things like that with a straight face again! Hmph!

Fo fooou...

That goes for you too, Fujimaru.

I'm not good with words, so I can't explain it well, but you have many exceptional qualities. You may not be a great warrior or a powerful mage, but you are a great Master.

？！

Anyhoo, even if I don't like it, I figured now that I'm here, there must be something I'm meant to do.

So I took a look around and happened upon that town, but it couldn't have been more idyllic. We're talking "THIS is what world peace looks like" peaceful.

Even a shut-in like me couldn't help but admire the fields of flowers and find this world beautiful.

So I figured there was nothing for me to do after all, and Ganesha must've messed up and sent me to the right place at the wrong time or something.

So I came back here and've been enjoying my lazy NEET life ever since.

The end! Well? If you got a problem with that, then bring it on!

Tell me, how long ago were you summoned? When did you pay the town a visit?

Hmm... I'd say about five days ago on both counts.

Okay, so according to what Asha told us...that would be back during the first yuga, Kṛta Yuga.

Were the buildings broken back then?

Uh, no? It was a perfectly neat little town. Not so much as a brick out of place.

Then the destruction we saw must have all happened over the last five days, thanks to the kali...

That was a littleno, incredibly careless of you, Ganesha.

If you had only stayed there, you would have had every chance to fulfill your divine duties and save the townspeople.

H-hey, whaddaya expect? There wasn't a single thing wrong with the place back then...

What's done is done. There's no point dwelling on the past. Right now, we need to worry about tomorrow.

...We just lost a friend of ours a short while ago.

I miss her terribly...but I'll never forget how determined she was to keep fighting.

So I feel like we need to carry on in her stead, and keep moving on.

Which is why we need your help.

Will you please join us, Ganesha?

(Sigh)... I didn't even think gods were real before, and now, I AM one.

It's still hard to believe this is happening. Part of me's convinced it's all just a big mistake.

But, it does look like I've got a quest to save the world now...

And if there's a branch where a town gets attacked open now, I guess I can't just sit back and watch.

...Fine, I'll go with you, all right? Just don't expect me to be much help in battle!

Harrumph. You could have saved us all a lot of time if you'd just agreed to help us from the beginning...

Thank you, Ganesha. I'm so glad you'll be helping us!

Okay guys, it's gonna be dark soon, and we don't want to be out and about in an unfamiliar land at night.

So I say we go back to the cave and make camp there until morning.

We'll head out again at the first sign of daybreak. Make sure you all get plenty of rest!