Impossibly Miraculous

Whoaaa. That was amazing...

Huh?

...u... ...u!

？！

...ou...!

？！

Fou!

Hey! Are you okay!? Are you alive!? Are you still breathing!?

...Oh no. You aren't, are you? There's something stuck in your windpipe!

Let's see, um... I think for a choking victim, you're supposed to get behind them... Put pressure on their abdomen...

One... Two... Three!

？！

Oh, you're awake! Thank goodness!

Are you all right? Have you come to your senses? Can you see me okay!?

...

Oh, thank goodness! Thank goodness, thank goodness, thank goodness!

...(Sob)... Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just so happy I could cry. Wait, no. I am crying.

I'm so sorry... This is my first time saving someone's life, so...

Please, just let me get it out of my system... (Sniff)...

？！

Fou!

？！

Oh, so this little guy is named Fou? Is he your pet?

？！

Fou fou.

？！

Ahahaha, you're funny. ...Hm? Wait. Hmm...?

Um, you wouldn't happen to be a Master...would you?

Why yes! Yes, I am!

Aha! I knew it!

You see, I'm actually a Servant myself.

Does that surprise you? Please say yes.

？！

Oh, right, I still haven't introduced myself, have I? My name's Charlotte.

Charlotte Corday.

I, um... I'm probably extremely minor as far as Heroic Spirits go, so I won't blame you if you haven't heard of me.

Oh! Well, thank you.

...Although, if I'm being honest, having the reputation I do is actually sort of embarrassing.

I really wish I'd left some more flattering legends of myself behind when I died...

Oh no, don't be! I'm actually delighted to hear that!

Really, the things I did should never have gone down in history in the first place!

？！

But never mind that. What brings you all the way out to a place like this, anyway?

？！

Nooow I get it!

Yes, it all makes sense... This must be what I was summoned for.

I've been wondering what I'm supposed to be doing here ever since I materialized here...

So now that I know, I promise I'll do whatever I can to help!

？！

Yes!

I may be stupid, useless, and good for absolutely nothing...

...but I promise I'll do the best I can in spite of all that!

Fooou.

Aww. You're very cute, aren't you, Fou?

So what exactly is he, anyway? Some kind of squirrel?

I was summoned here about a month ago.

But it wasn't long before I realized that, well... I can't actually do anything on my own.

Oh no, there are. Plenty of them.

It's just that...I'm no match for them.

Yes. Really.

And it's not because I'm an Assassin or anything. I'm just...genuinely helpless.

？！

But I have a good feeling about this! I think I'm finally going to get to be helpful!

I'll certainly do my very best!

Anyway...I suppose the first order of business is probably tracking down all your other companions.

So while we're doing that...

...I'll tell you everything I know about Atlantis.

？！

Of course.

Okay, so this island we're on now is called Hestia, after one of the gods of Olympus.

There's a village here where some humans live, and another Servant lives on the island as well.

？！

Yes. He calls himself "The Courier."

I still don't know his True Name...

...but he's the one who brought me here on a ship.

？！

... ...

By the way, Fujimaru, I'm afraid I have some bad news.

？！

I actually have no idea where we are right now, either...

Now where was that village again...?

Fooou!?

？！

Fou...

I'm sorry...

Now that I think of it, losing my way is how I ended up at that beach earlier, too.

？！

Well

!

Fou!

？！

...u.

Grrr...

？！

(I'm afraid I have some more bad news now...)

(I lost my way earlier because I was running away from that Demonic Beast...)

？！

!

Th-there's no way we can beat it! Run awaaay!

Fou!

!!!

？！

Fujimaru!

？！

...Please, run for it! I'll hold it off as best I can!

I promised myself I'd be useful this time!

？！

...Here goes nothing!

(Huff... Huff... Huff...)

？！

No! I won't give up yet!

...

Huh?

Fou?

？！

(Sigh) Having a body can be a real pain sometimes.

No, wait. Something's not right here. Why do I even have to do this, anyway?

I mean, I'm a Servant, for Petros's sake!

Oh... Maybe it's 'cause my name originally meant "one who discharges water"?

Hahaha, that must be it! Hahaha! Whoever thought THAT was a good name for anybody!?

Fou...

Um... Does that mean the "water" falling on the Demonic Beasts' heads is actually...

？！

Fou.

Hm? What's that? Did I get it on somebody?

Haha, sorry about that! Hang on, I'll be right down!

Hup!

Sorry again. Didn't mean to involve you guys in my little, uh, bit of fun.

So, um... Who'd I get it on?

N-not me! I literally couldn't live with myself if it had!

Guess that means you guys were the unlucky winners then! Haha, my bad.

Ugh, gross! Stay away from me!

？！

I'm sorry, this is all a little too much for me...

Fooou.

There we go. A nice, solid hit.

Hey there! I don't know who you are, but you're lucky I found you when I did!

Well aren't you polite? Nice to see you know your manners!

Me? I'm just your everyday devilishly handsome hunter.

？！

As for the pretty young lady... You a Servant?

Uh, yes, I am. And...I take it you are as well?

Sure am! I think this calls for a toast. To our fateful encounter!

？！

Fou fou!!!

I agree! Cleanliness comes first!

All right, all right, I hear ya. Man, what a pain...

Okay, let's try that again. This means I saved your lives, yeah?

？！

Yikes. I must've made an even worse first impression than I thought.

Well, um, your entrance WAS a little... Okay, incredibly off-putting...

But I suppose we wouldn't be here right now if not for you, so thank you for that.

...So beautiful...

Say, now that I've washed my hands, maybe it'd be all right if I held yours?

No, I think I'll pass on that, thanks.

We still don't even know each other's names, after all, so I think it's much too early for anything like hand-holding.

Ouch. Rejected with cold, hard logic. That's just sad.

Okay then, sounds like introductions are in order.

I'm Orion, the Tri-Star hunter.

Fo...

？！

Fooou!?

Ah, now I gotcha. So you've met me before then.

？！

What's that supposed to mean?

Anyway, you are...?

Charlotte Corday.

O-oh. I see.

... ...

It's okay if you've never heard of me. I'm a very minor figure as Heroic Spirits go.

Haha, sorry 'bout that!

(Sniff)...

I'm so sorry, Fujimaru. I wasn't able to be useful after all.

If Orion hadn't showed up, who knows what would've become of us...

？！

Huh?

B-but I couldn't even defeat a single Demonic Beast.

Don't be ridiculous.

I'd never have been able to save you guys if you hadn't hung in there like you did.

Oh...

I see...

Then...I was useful after all! That's wonderful!

That means I can die now!

Where'd that come from!?

Oh, sorry, I misspoke. What I meant to say was, I'm so honored now that I could die a happy Servant.

Being able to help humanity is a dream come true for me.

(Sigh) I can almost feel myself disappearing as we speak...

Well don't, okay? I mean it!

Fou fou?

Oh, I get it. You're actually egging me on, aren't you?

Not even close!

...Actually, hold on. Something's still not adding up.

Let's see... You're not an Atlantean, right? And you're a Servant?

...What's going on here?

Now I see. So you're a Master... Oh, don't worry.

I can promise you, with absolute certainty, that I'm a Servant from Proper Human History.

...So, if you're here, does that mean you came to set this Lostbelt right?

Not exactly brimming with confidence, are you?

The cautious type, huh?

Well, for my part, it would've made things easier if you'd said you were here to kick this Lostbelt's assfiguratively, of coursebut oh well.

？！

...So.

I'm guessing from the way you're looking at me that you'd like me to help you...

But I can't.

Fou!?

Too much hassle.

What more do you need? Things don't always have to be overly complicated.

Man, you're a real doubting Thomas, aren't you? Yes, that's the reason!

？！

You can't be serious!

You must be a thousand times more useful than I could ever hope to be. So why won't you agree to help!?

Well, uh... Let's just say I've got my reasons...

Hmph...

？！

All right then, I suppose this is where we go our separate ways.

Come on, Fujimaru. We'll never find the village if we keep wasting our time here.

Let's just get going!

...Does she know the village is in the opposite direction?

？！

Oh, right. I'd almost forgotten we were lost!

Orion, will you take us there, please!?

Didn't you just say we were going our separate ways?

Urk... Gnnn...

Hahahaha! I'm just pulling your leg! C'mon, follow me.

Oh, and just so you know, it's over a day's walk from here, so we'll have to make camp at some point.

Really? My gosh, I must have been even less attentive than I realized.

I had no idea I'd gone so far.

...Well, don't worry. I promise I'll at least get you to the village safe and sound.

？！

...So let me ask you this.

How much do you guys know about this Lostbelt?

...Sounds about right. Okay then, let me tell you a little more about it.

Yeah? Can't say I know anyone by that name.

But I have heard there's someone called a Crypter staying at Olympus.

？！

And I... Um... I guess I only really know that the weather is very mild and pleasant here...

Oh, and the Atlanteans.

Besides that, there are powerful Demonic Beasts here who are much stronger than I am.

Powerful Demonic Beasts? Yeah, I guess.

But it's nothing that'll get in the way of life on this island.

In that sense, it's nice and peaceful around here.

...I hope your friends are still alive.

Well great! Glad to hear it!

With an attitude like that, I think you'll get by just fine.

I mean, there's nothing worse than dying, right? Can't say I'm too fond of killing, either.

？！

...So hey, I've got a question for you. A real serious one.

So I want you to look me right in the eye, and answer it as truthfully as you can.

Fou?

？！

This Chaldea place you're from...

Does it have any cute girls? Pretty ladies?

Women I can hit on without it being a problem?

Fooou!?

Oh, it's okay if they're already married. That sort of thing was totally cool in ancient Greece.

...Well, I guess you might die every now and then. Or suffer a fate that makes you wish you were dead.

Fou.

Can't blame you for that!

Wait. Does that mean you and I've met before?

In that case, I'm sure you've seen how terrifying she can be for yourself...

But you don't have to worry about her right now.

？！

This Chaldea place you're from...

Does it have other girls as cute as you? Or any other pretty ladies to speak of?

Gaah! Don't look at me like that!!!

Urk!!!

...Well, uh, if nothing else, we don't have to worry about her at the moment.

？！

Um... Is this really that important a question?

It is for me!

I, uh, I see. I suppose having been raised in an abbey, I simply cannot understand an issue like this...

Anyway, we'd better call it a night. Got an early morning ahead of us tomorrow.

Go on and get some sleep.

Fooou... Fou...

？！

There we go. Out like a light.

Sweet dreams, Fujimaru.

I'll be around to help you out for at least a little while. You ready, Charlotte?

A-as ready as I'll ever be. Oh, and please call me by my last name.

You got it.

All right, you lot. Keep it down, so you don't wake up Fujimaru, and I'll make your deaths quick and painless.

All right, that takes care of that.

Fou...

Oh hey, didn't know you were still up, fur ball.

Fou...

I know that expression. You're wondering why I'm not helping out, aren't you?

I am too, honestly.

I mean, the best I can do in battles like that is slow everyone else down.

Well... It's complicated.

The truth is, I really do want to help... I just need to agonize over it a little longer.

I've never had to deal with anything like this before. I might not look it, but I've actually got a lot on my mind.

...Atlantis is awesome.

There's no war, and nobody wants for anything. The only thing most people have to worry about is the Demonic Beasts.

...But there is one part I just can't tolerate.

!

Knock it off. She's not an enemy.

. . .

...Get lost. I don't feel like talking right now.

... ...

...Tch.

Um... Who was that?

Hmm. I guess I'd have to say she was... my ex-girlfriend?

Wait... What!?

But even though we broke up, we're still not exactly estranged?

Whaaa!?

Anyway, that's how it is. I'd appreciate if you could keep this between us!

(Sigh)...

Well, if you insist that's how it is, I certainly don't know enough about that sort of thing to say otherwise...

You don't?

No, I don't. Um... Is that odd?

Hmmm. Well, I guess that's okay!

Good.

Anyway, it doesn't look like any more Demonic Beasts will be bothering us...

...so I'm going to stay close to Fujimaru!

Fou, fou!

？！

Hey, you're up. Ready to get going? If we leave now, we should get to the village today.

Good morning, Fujimaru.

I've got plenty of jerky if you're feeling hungry.

？！

Fou fou.

？！

So that thing's carnivorous, huh?

Fou, fou!

？！

Hahaha, a creature after my own heart. ...Guess it wasn't just a walking emergency ration.

Fooou!

Ow, ow! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Well, I doubt he'd be enough to fill up on anyway, so let's get going and eat on the way!

？！

That's the village we're heading to right now.

？！

There's a bunch of remains here of the gods who fell during the war about ten thousand years ago.

...Sorry, guess that didn't make much sense to you, did it? Hahaha, don't worry, it will soon!

And there're the last Demonic Beasts. Hey, how's about helping me out to mark the occasion!

...

I just felt a flash of pain throughout my head just now, but I'm okay!

I'll do my best to ensure I at least don't get in the way!

？！

Try this on for size!

Aw yeah, we won!

Man, having a Master around really does make a big difference, doesn't it?

It really does! I don't know why, but I feel like I'm doing so much better now!

Don't worry 'bout it.

Aww yeah!

Hm?

Oh, I get it. Like this, right?

Aww yeah!

？！

...!

U-um... I don't suppose...

Oh, uh, yes, please!

But since I barely did anything to help, I think a low five would be more fitting!

N-never mind. It's nothing. Really...

Did you want a high five too?

Yes!

I mean, no! I mean... Um... Please, just forget it...

？！

？！

We did it!

Ooh, me next! Come on!

Huh? Well, um, in that case...

Just the fingertips!?

Well, I couldn't give you anything better than what I gave Fujimaru, so.

Why's that? Some kind of Servant code or something?

Um... I guess...something like that?

Fooou, fou fou.

Ah well, never mind that.

Here we are! Hestia Village!

Hm? Oh, hey, Orion.

What's going on? It's not like you to return from a hunt so soon.

Let's just say I happened across something rare and unusual.

Hm? You mean you found someone too?

"Too"?

Oh yeah, some people showed up here asking for help.

I tell you, I hadn't seen anyone that badly wounded in a long, long time.

Well damn, that's a hell of a coincidence. So where are these people now?

They're staying at the tavern for the time being. Apparently, The Courier happened to know who they were.

I was going to have them head for the temple once they got their bearings, but now that you're back, this works out nicely.

Why don't you escort them there?

Turns out none of them had an offering from the gods, just like you didn't.

Did you hear that, Fujimaru?

？！

Hell yeah I do. There's no way this is just a coincidence. Come on, the tavern's this way!

W-wait for meee!

... ...

!!!

Senpai... Senpai!!!

？！

You're all right! Oh, thank goodness!

I mean, well...

I knew you were still alive and uninjured thanks to your vital readings on the Shadow Border...

But since we couldn't contact you, I was worried that you might be trapped or imprisoned somewhere...

I can't tell you how relieved I am that you're all right!

Yeah.

Luckily, I got off with only a few bumps and scratches, since I was using the enhanced Ortinax at the time.

Oh yes, they're all okay too. Although...

？！

Fujimaru! You're all right!

Though we did have empirical evidence of your well-being, we were all still going out of our minds with worry.

I'll say. This whole sorry state of affairs just goes to show how much you still have to learn.

Now you listen to me. It's every soldier's duty to always contact their superiors, no matter what their situation.

If you're all right, we'll know to breathe a sigh of relief. If you're wounded, the shock will take our collective breath away.

Either way, once we have contact, then we can take action. But, if you never contact us at all...

My point, boy, is that it's about time you took your responsibilities as the last Master of humanity seriously.

Hmph. Let me guess: Your communicator was broken, right?

Well, given that you are uninjured, I'll overlook it just this once. The fact is, we cannot solve this Lostbelt problem without a Master, and as I just said, you're the last one we've got.

I don't want to hear your exc What's that? Your communicator was broken?

...Well, in that case, I suppose there genuinely wasn't anything more you could have done... All right, here, I'll lend you mine. Just try not to break this one, too.

？！

At any rate, though it is a great weight off all our shoulders to know everyone survived the attack...

I'm afraid the situation we find ourselves in is both highly complex and time sensitive.

Hmm. Where to begin...

Where else? The first order of business has to be Captain.

？！

Well...

The whole reason we survived is thanks to Captain Nemo forcefully initiating a Zero Sail.

Usually, Zero Sailing in the state we were in would've gotten us killed for sure, and should never have been attempted...

...but this time, it turned out to be the right call.

？！

I took a look at the data we collected during the attack...

...and it said that the beam that came down from the sky tore the Border to pieces.

So even though our Zero Sail came to an end successfully, albeit half-assedly, our existence was still ever so slightly unstable.

Are you familiar with a Rider by the name of Astolfo?

Then perhaps you're also familiar with his Noble Phantasm, the Hippogriff?

Since it is not of this world, and its existence is so ill-defined, the Hippogriff is able to travel freely between truth and fiction.

This enables it to temporarily evade attacks that are rooted in reality.

Well, one of the legends he shares with Bradamante involves a Phantasmal Beast called Hippogriff.

Hippogriff is a mythical creature that can travel freely to the Reverse Side of the World and back thanks to its ill-defined existence.

？！

In our case, under most circumstances, our predicament would normally have led to one of two outcomes.

Either that light from the heavens would have torn the Nautilus to pieces, or the forced Zero Sail would have resulted in us no longer being able to verify our own existence.

However, it is here where Captain's decision truly shines.

Sustaining damage in a neither-here-nor-there state served to verify our existence through external means...

...and in turn, the Zero Sail helped keep the light's destruction within manageable levels.

Though not without significant cost, I'm afraid.

Captain Nemo was integrated into the Nautilus, so when it was nearly destroyed, the damage to him was catastrophic, and has left him comatose.

Unfortunately, it seems his recovery will be neither swift nor simple.

But recover he must, for we cannot hope to cross the Sea of Atlantis without the Nautilus.

It is absolutely essential for us to navigate the terrain.

They're letting him use the bed on the second floor of this tavern. He still hasn't woken up.

？！

Under normal circumstances, the best thing to do would be to send him back to Novum Chaldea, turn him into his spirit form, and give him the time he needs to restore himself...

But our plan hinges on the Nautilus, and with that out of commission, our hands are firmly tied.

For one thing, we can no longer escape even if we wanted to.

？！

As far as I can tell, we're almost completely cut off.

We've been able to transmit a tiny bit of datajust enough to let her know we're still alivebut that's all.

It takes forever to send, too. To give you an idea of the scale and difficulty, it's like sending signals from Earth to Mars.

Then, right when everything was looking abjectly hopeless...

That's when I showed up and said:

"You look like you're in distress, o beautiful lady with the hidden eyes!"

Ask, and you shall receive! My name is Bartholomew Roberts!

I'm a professional pirate in the prime of my youth, and most importantly...

I'm single!!!

Hehehe, I take it we've already met then. Perhaps there's a version of me there in Chaldea?

Still, I'm a firm believer in proper introductions, so don't mind me if I do just that!

My name is Bartholomew Robeeerts!!

I'm single!

(Glance)

?

I said, I'm single!!!

Here, Mash, why don't you come stand next to me for a while?

Um, okay...

？！

Indeed, it was through meeting Mr. Roberts that we managed to arrive at this village.

What about you, Master? How did you find your way here?

？！

Hm?

There doesn't appear to be anyone else here. Though it does smell faintly of game.

Perhaps this means the Servant who escorted you to this village was here not too long ago?

Orion, hmm... ...The human version?

There's a human Orion too!? Not just a bear!?

Oh wow... I wish I could have seen that for myself!

In the meantime, um... I noticed you also seem to have brought a very beautiful woman with you. May I ask your name?

?

O-oh, I'm sorry. Were you talking to me?

I was!

My name is Charlotte Corday. I'm an Assassin!

U-um...

?

Mash, was it? Are you Fujimaru's Servant?

Yes, that's right. I'm Mash Kyrielight.

Well, as a fellow Servant, it's a pleasure to meet you!

Oh, and please, call me Corday.

Not at all. The pleasure's all mine.

So are you the one who escorted Master here then, Corday?

Oh no, it wasn't me! If anything, I was being helped much more than I was helping...

Neither Fujimaru nor I would have made it back here if it hadn't been for Orion!

Aha... No wonder I haven't seen you around then.

Yes, I'm afraid I got hopelessly lost. I'm sorry for worrying you, Mr. Courier.

Oh, that's quite all right. Just grow out your bangs, and it'll all be water under the bridge.

Huh?

Damn, I guess she didn't get it.

Anyway, is Orion gone now then? Well, that's too bad. Guess I'll have to go after him.

Then again, I don't really want to go after another man... Then again AGAIN, I think I have to

？！

Oh man... How am I ever going to decide?

Oh, don't bother. We don't have the time or the resources to spare running after someone who's already left.

Besides, we still need information first and foremost! Just what in the world is going on with this Lostbelt, anyway!?

Okay, Bartholomew.

I know you already told Holmes and me earlier, but would you mind going over this Lostbelt again for everyone else?

Not at all! Would you mind lowering your bangs?

Uh, why? I'm already perfect as I am, so no.

Tch.

...All right, moving on.

We know exactly why this Sea of Atlantis ended up as a Lostbelt.

Did you notice anything unusual about this village? I'm betting you did.

？！

Right.

As I'm sure you can imagine, those giant buildings you saw are not of human design.

They were made by...well, there's no better word for them than gods.

What's more, these gods still hold the reins of power here even to this day.

That's right. Here in this Lostbelt, the gods of Olympus are alive and well.