Olympus's Reception (First Half)

It's been two hours since we left the Storm Border.

Our comms still aren't working well, so we can't get in touch with anyone.

I doubt the Bounded Fields our disguises are generating are interfering with the signal, so it must be the magical energy in the atmosphere.

I guess this means we'll need to head back to the Border to tell everyone what we find out.

I agree.

Right.

I just hope we can meet up with the Servants who got here before us quickly...

？！

There are no hostile entities nearby. I don't see any residents of Olympus, either.

But going off the topographical information I was able to glean right before we landed, we should soon arrive at the city's western perimeter.

We'll have to be careful as we make our way there, Senpai.

Fooou!

It's nice to see you in good spirits, Fou!

I don't think I've seen you this happy since Scandinavia. Is it all the magical energy in the atmosphere?

Let me double-check the readings...

The atmosphere's magical energy density is still on par with the Age of Gods from the Seventh Singularity.

I'm not seeing any abnormalities in your vitals either, Master. Everything looks to be within normal parameters.

Hehe. They really are a jewel of Chaldean engineering, aren't they?

Still, if you ever do feel like anything isn't right, please let me know right away.

It's why I always carry a stash of emergency talismans!

Yes, I'm fine. The only difference is that my skin feels a little more sensitive than usual.

？！

While we're here, why don't we check to make sure our disguises are working properly, too?

Activating disguise Mystic Codes now... Everything looks fine.

Fou, fou fou!

A-aah! What is it, Fou!?

I see... Thank you, Fou.

Fooou!

Thank you, really!

Th-thank you, Senpai. You're too kind.

... ...

Fooou, fou!

？！

... ...

？！

Oh, I'm sorry... I was just thinking about the disguises.

We still don't know what Olympians look like, so I hope they'll be enough to let us blend in.

Fou, fooou.

According to the instruction manual, these disguise kits reference current Atlantean fashion...

...to simulate the kinds of clothes the Atlanteans presumably wore before they were banished.

Da Vinci must have figured that an advanced civilization like Olympus...

...would probably be the same today as it was several thousand years ago.

So I suppose whether these disguises are effective or not will depend on how accurate her simulation is...

？！

That's true. Da Vinci's inventions have never let us down yet!

All right, Senpai, let's keep going. Olympus's western perimeter should be just up ahead.

Time to start our close encounter of the third kind with the local populace of Olympus...in this fifth Lostbelt!

Fooou, kyaaau!

Okay, we made it to the city.

It certainly looks very different than anything we've seen in any other Lostbelt...

Compared to, say, the Chinese Lostbelt, which developed along its own unique path...

...this one seems much more in line with what we would think of as a developed nation in Proper Human History.

I-it does, doesn't it? I got a glimpse of it from above while we were, um, making our way down here...

...but I still can't quite believe they've advanced this far...

I know. They look just like the kind you'd expect to see in any modern city.

I can see even bigger ones off in the distance, too. I can't believe they've advanced so far...

？！

Fou, fo?

... ...

......

Ah.

I-I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was spacing out.

Anyway, the local residents don't seem to be paying us much attention, so it looks like the disguises are working.

As I thought, there's even more concentrated magical energy in the atmosphere here than there was in Atlantisas much as there was in the Age of Gods.

Although...

Fou fou.

It certainly seems like the local Olympians are all accustomed to this atmosphere.

I suppose this means... this is a humanity from the Age of Gods.

Still, all that being said...

I'm amazed to see how much foot traffic there is here!

Between the buildings and the roads, it really does seem like a lost modern city from Proper Human History.

Fou!

And, what's more...

Everyone here seems so...happy...

？！

...Yes.

Fou, fou fo.

Don't worry, Fou. It won't be a problem.

We know we're still on a mission. We won't forget where we're from or why we're here.

Besides, we have an obligation to pay close attention to how the people of this Lostbelt live their lives.

Master, did you notice any familiar words in those conversations we overheard?

Yes, there were. I heard the names of several ancient Greek gods.

Yes. Exactly.

？！

Demeter, the goddess of the land. Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty.

And I overheard a few others as well.

I'm not sure if they were talking about the gods of mythology, or other people named after them.

They could also be talking about Divine Spirits... Heroic Spirits... Mechanical gods, like in Atlantis...

Or maybe there are other actual non- Divine Spirit gods here, like Zeus.

？！

I hope you're right.

Now that Zeus himself has attacked us, it's only natural for most of the other gods to follow his lead...

...but there should still be other gods like Apollo who will be exceptions to the rule.

Nkyu... Fou.

You'll let us know if you sense anything dangerous, right, Fou?

Fooou!

All right, Senpai, let's start gathering information.

We should be able to learn what we need by making close contact with the local Olympians and talking to them.

H-hello. May almighty Zeus's protection be with you.

Oh, hey there. May Zeus and Hera's protection be with you, too.

Say... I don't think I've seen you around here before.

R-right, I suppose you haven't. I only just got here from the, um...countryside?

Er, I basically came from the edge of town, so I'm still not used to being around so many people.

Really? I'm pretty sure this is what it's like everywhere in Olympus...

Then again, I've only been to Shrinetown a few times, and it's not like I've seen everything the city has to offer.

And hey, there were some less urban areas ten thousand years or so ago, so I guess it makes sense that there are still some districts like that now.

So, what brings you here? You just move in or something?

N-no, nothing like that!

I'm just, um...passing through? On a trip?

Anyway, I don't know much about this area, so I was hoping you might be able to fill me in.

？！

Oh, is he with you?

I'm guessing you're married or something?[srYou definitely don't look like siblings.:So are you sisters or something? You don't look related, though.]

W-we're, um...

Fou, fou!

Oh, hello, cutie. You a squirrel? Some kind of Chimera pup? ...No, I'm guessing not.

Anyway, I won't pry. I think it's great you're traveling, and I'd be glad to tell you what you want to know.

This is the west side of the Interstellar Mountainous City of Olympus's Tenth Residential Layer. Here, take a look.

Doesn't the Holy Vessel Ring Cronus Crown look beautiful from this angle!?

Cronus Crown...

See the great shrine inside it up there? You'll never get such a great view of it over in the East District.

That's Great Orbital Shrine Olympia Dodona, the heavenly castle of our holy gods. Glory be to Zeus!

And way up there, above the crystal mountains that provide us with unlimited magical energy?

That's Atlas, the World Tree.

It used to be called the Tree of Emptiness, but almighty Zeus gave it a new name.

It's a miraculous tree made up of Zeus's glorious light, and it was a gift from some gods of a foreign land.

You can see it real clearly here, right? When it blooms, we're going to hold a huge festival right in this district!

A...festival?

Well sure. After all...

...that tree is what's keeping us alive after we were cut off from Proper Human History.

Hahaha. I see, I see. It's not every day we get travelers around here.

The last ones I met were a young couple a lot like you two about two hundred years ago. Yes, that's it. You should be proud.

There's nothing wrong at all with taking the path less traveled. I have absolute faith that the gods support us humans in all our vast diversity.

Still, that being said... I don't have much I can teach you.

Surely, you'd already learned about the Crown and the World Tree, right?

No matter where you go, Olympus's endless bounty surrounds you!

It's always been that way, especially over the last few thousand years, and it always will be.

So there's nowhere in all of Olympus you could go where we aren't positively spoiled by riches.

Just look at all these glittering production towers! The ambrosia Lady Demeter bestows upon us every day!

Things like hunger, illness, injury, and pain are all relics of the distant pas

Hm? What's that?

...Yes, that's right. Two hundred years ago. It was practically just the other day.

...My job?

Haha, you travelers are funny. Jobs are those things people used to have to do to earn money, right?

I'm amazed you still remember such an ancient concept. Are you history buffs or something?

Well, I think that's wonderful. There's just something romantic about archaeology.

It's such a shame that the gods don't like to talk about things that happened more than ten thousand or so years ago, and that there aren't more records of the past.

You must run into the same problems at every university and research organization. ...Me? Oh, no, I don't go to university.

I'm an artist. There's nothing that brings the gods more joy than the evolution of art and culture!

I don't know what we would do without the gods. They watch over us, protect us, love us... Ahh, glory be to Zeus!

Oh, yes, in my case, I study under Educational Terminal No. 3 at the nearby art academy!

Well, me, and about five hundred thousand other students. Hehe.

War?

Yeah, I've heard that used to be a thing. You can read all about it in the government records, libraries, and university archives.

Oh, wait. Is your district one of the ones that doesn't have any big government offices or libraries?

I'm amazed there are still places in Olympus bereft of the gods' glory.

Anyway, sure, I can tell you what I know.

A long time ago, there were four great wars called machia.

The first was between Zeus's gods and Cronus's Titans. The second was between Zeus's gods and the White Ruin.

The third was between Zeus's gods and the Gigantes.

And the fourth was

Huh? The exile that took place a few thousand years ago?

Yes, that was part of the fourth machia, a tragic civil war fought between the gods themselves.

The followers of the gods who lostthe poor people who did not accept the gods' protection...

...left Olympus and descended to Atlantis.

Though another theory says that they left in search of their far-off homeland.

Either way, it's all in the past now. Humans have never waged war with one another, and they never will.

Yeah, it's great here! Every day's so much fun!

I played all day yesterday, and I'm gonna play all day today, too!

Hey, what kind of animal is that? A baby Chimera? A lion?

Huh? What'd you say?

Is there anything we're scared of? Or anything that hurts us?

Uh, no? I can't think of anything like that.

Heck, I can't even remember the last time...

...I heard words like "pain" or "scary"!

Are you two in pain? Are you scared of something?

You want to know more about the gods?

...You can't be serious, right? Is this a trick question or something?

Huh? You're from the countryside?

Do you know about Lord Zeus?

...I see.

I had no idea there were still areas within Olympus bereft of the gods' glorious protection.

Do tell where you're from later, okay? I'll let them know during my regular prayer at the branch shrine.

I'm sure Lady Europa will take care of it once we bring this to her attention.

You do know who Lady Europa is, right?

Queen Europa is Lord Zeus's wife. She's a demigod who assimilated with Lady Hera, so she's sure to hear your prayers.

...Really? Don't tell me you didn't even know that?

What about the branch shrines? You know, the places we go so the gods will hear our voices?

Do you mean you don't even know about them? ...How the gods can hear us better there than anywhere else?

You poor children. That's the saddest thing I've ever heard in my life.

But don't worry. The gods watch over all of us equally.

Ahh, glory to the great gods of Olympus!

Glory to the ones who sit atop the great shrine, in possession of the Cronus Crown!

Lady Demeter! Lady Aphrodite! Lord and Lady Dioscuri! Queen Europa!

Almighty Zeus!

Glory to our guests, the gods of foreign lands...

...and to Lord Zeus's sworn friend, Lord Kirschtaria Wodime.

Fou, fooou!

Kirschtaria...

I guess that means everyone in Olympus knows who Kirschtaria is then.

Oh my, do watch your tongue. You can't refer to Lord Zeus's sworn friend without a title.

Oh! I-I'm sorry. That just slipped out...

Hehe. I don't mind so much myself, but you could end up on probation if one of the guards were to hear you.

Probation?

？！

Oh my... This is even worse than I thought. I can't even imagine how undeveloped the place you grew up in must be.

You should really file a proper complaint with your local government office about this.

Just to be perfectly clear, no guard would ever do anything so barbaric as that.

Lord Zeus has decreed that not a single drop of blood should ever be spilled in Olympus.

Oh my, I can't believe there's still even one place in the city that uses language like that.

This is just beyond belief...

I-I'm sorry. I was just reading a history book recently, and I guess I kind of got history mixed up with reality.

(Th-thank you, Senpai. I just wish I hadn't had to lie to her...)

(R-really! I'll have to be careful about that!)

？！

Fo... Fou, fooou!

Fou?

Attention, my beloved Olympians.

This is Queen Europa. I am speaking to you from above Great Orbital Shrine Olympia Dodona.

A revelation is upon us. A revelation is upon us.

Oh my!

Fooou...

Fou?

Quiet!

Go on, stand up straight and pay attention! We haven't had an unscheduled public broadcast from the great shrine in hundreds of years!

Y-you know, you're not the first person who mentioned something that happened hundreds of years ago. Do you

Yes, of course I remember! Now hush already! This is a divine revelation!

Intruders from the outside have infiltrated our Interstellar Mountainous City of Olympus.

Be careful, my beloved citizens, for these intruders are extremely dangerous.

!

Lord Zeus has sensed them here among you.

...There are two of them.

These monstrous villains are from Chaldea from Proper Human History.

They are destroyers of worlds who have obliterated four other Lostbelts.

These arrogant malefactors believe themselves this world's true inhabitants, and look down their noses on our Olympus.

We cannot peacefully coexist with such beings, so just this once, you are permitted to use violence against them.

You will recognize one of these loathsome Chaldea demons by the red marks on their right hand.

Should you find them, it is Zeus's command that you kill them.

Red marks...on their right hand...

Chal...dea...?

No way. Are... Are you two them? The ones from Proper Human Histo

Senpai!

？！

R-right!

Hey! Get back here! Lord Zeus wants

Fou, kyaaau!

Eek!

This way, Fou!

Fooou!

Wh-why're those two running off like that!? Wait. Are those...the Chaldea demons!?

A-a-aah! It's Chaldea! The Chaldea demons!

...H-hold it. This is as far as you go.

W-we citizens of Olympus heard everything the revelation told us.

!

...Please, let us through!

Fou, fooou!

You people from Chaldea...

...have been killing everyone in the Lostbelts, right?

And now, it's our turn.

I... That's...

I have to say, it's still hard to believe. I would've expected you two to look more...evil or something.

I never would've guessed you'd actually look like a couple of sweet kids.

...Were you just trying to get us to lower our guard?

... ...

...I haven't done any combat training in a long time.

I've never wished Lord Ares were still with us more than I do right now.

We may have done away with concepts like jobs, labor, and professions a long time ago...

...but we do still have soldiers.

I may only be a reserve guard, but that's enough to let me don the armor of the gods.

？！

A magical energy transformation!? I can't believe a normal human is able to output so much magical energy!

It's almost like a Servant's Master!

...Right.

...Right. I know.

？！

For this battle, I'll consider this soldier a single Servant-class hostile. Initiating Ortinax combat mode!

Setting output to maximum levels!

A black shield, huh? So that's Chaldea's weapon of choice.

Very well then, let's see if your shield can withstand my divine steel, you heartless, merciless demons!

Mash Kyrielight, preparing to engage in combat with hostile entity!

Hraaaaaa!

Haaaaaa!

He really is strong...!

(And he said he was only a reserve guard who hasn't even trained in a long time!)

(He's not giving us a single chance to escape!)

(And then there's his sheer magical energy levels! They're on par with a Servant!)

(No... If anything, they're even higher!)

Master, the hostile is extremely powerful! He's easily several times stronger than the Atlantis border guards!

His overall combat abilities are the same as a Heroic Spirit! Maybe even higher!

？！

Stand back, Ms. Kyrielight.

Reinforcements!?

I was afraid of this. Based on what we know of the Atlantis border guards...

...I suspected the people of Olympus may each individually possess as much magical energy as a Heroic Spirit.

I swear, why is it always the predictions you most want to be wrong that turn out to be spot-on!?

Fo, fooou!?

Holmes! What are you doing here?

Remember how the director was shouting right before you two left? That was because I had just suggested to him that I accompany you.

？！

Indeed, I have.

I had hoped that, once my suspicions proved groundless...

...I could return to the Border and continue protecting Da Vinci, Captain, and the director.

But now that my suspicions have proved correct, it seems that is no longer an option!

Baritsu!

...!

Let's take him down together, Holmes! Please, follow my lead!

Understood!

Haaa!

!

(He blocked it! Now he's going to counterattack!)

(But I should be able to defend, especially now that Holmes is backing me up!)

...I'm surprised at you.

Khh...!

I never thought your attacks would be so soft. Maybe deep down, you aren't really cut out for fighting.

But, you're still from Proper Human History, and Chaldea to boot.

So I'll start by cutting off your arms.

？！

Fou, fooou!!!

...Holmes!?

...Baritsu can be employed for defense as well as offense. At least this is a damn sight better than what happened in Scandinavia.

Ms. Kyrielight!

Run for it!

And don't look back! I'll find some way to hold him off!

...So, you care for your allies.

So then, how?

How can you bring yourselves to destroy Lostbelts!?

I could answer that if you wish, but would there be any point in doing so? Would you put away your sword if I did?

No, I wouldn't.

...I've wasted enough time talking. I'm a soldier. All I need to do is tear that Spirit Origin of yours to shreds.

Prepare to die, insolent Heroic Spirit without so much as a drop of divine blood.

？！

Holmes!

We will win this! Moving forward is the only option we have left!

On a long and despondent journey like this, none of us can afford to look back!

Mash Kyrielight! Fujimaru!

Keep running, and don't look back!

Are you done prattling on now? Then die!

Huh!?

Damn, you guys wasted no time kicking things into high gear! Couldn't you have been a little more elegant about it!?

!

？！

This is the most prosperous of all the Lostbelts; a city-state ruled by real, genuine gods, right?

So don't you think you should be a little more dignified in how you go about baring your fangs!?

Who are you!?

Ha ha ha! You wish to know who I am, soldier from the realm of the gods!?

I am a wanderer who crosses between worlds! I let the wind take me where it wished, and now, in my death, I have become a Servant!

If you want to know more about who I am, then I'll gladly tell you!

I'm a Saber who's sworn loyalty to that Master there! I'm the swordfighter who's going to cut you down with two drawn blades, two hidden blades, and one secret blade!

With my Niten Ichiryu, I have achieved mastery over the void! My True Name is Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara-no-Harunobu!

Call me Miyamoto Musashi!

Eeek☆ That was just too cool, even for me!

I'm losing...!? How!? They're just ordinary human Heroic Spirits!

(Too bad. He outclasses me in sheer ability and training, but he knows absolutely nothing about real combat!)

Forgive me!

Well done. I mean it.

...Will you tell me your names again, Chaldeans?

Miyamoto Musashi, of Niten Ichiryu.

...Mash Kyrielight, Demi-Servant.

？！

...Musashi. Mash. Fujimaru.

Olympus will never let you escape with your lives. We WILL kill you. On that, you have my word.

？！

Fou, fooou...

Enemy hostile completely silenced. The battle is over.

... ...

...I wasn't planning to take his life directly...

I'm sure you weren't. That's why I did it. There a problem with that, Fujimaru?

？！

Good. Now, do you know what we need to do next?

？！

Very good. Remember, you're in the heart of enemy territory now, so get used to making calls like that.

...I'm sorry.

Anyway, I'm so glad you're all okay! Did I manage to make it in time for the start of the adventure!?

？！

You bet! Whenever Chaldea's in danger, I'll be there to help! I still have to pay you guys back for letting me stay there, after all!

Anyway, I know we have a lot to catch up on, but right now, we should focus on getting out of here.

Like I said, this is the heart of enemy territory, so we don't want to stick around. Know the way out of town, Mash?

...Y-yes, I do! I'll secure an escape route right now!

Great! I knew you had a keen eye for this stuff. How about you, Mr. Detective? Can you stand?

...I can. It would seem the bleeding's stopped as well. Thank you, Ms. Miyamoto. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along.

It would also seem you're more right than you know. Take a look.

Fooou!

Multiple Olympian soldiers spotted! Master!

？！

R-right! But, I'm afraid all three major roads have been blockaded

Then we can take the back alleys! They're nice and twisty; perfect for making a getaway!

That would seem to make more sense than moving about in the open...but wouldn't our enemy be more familiar with the lay of the land than us?

True. That's why we'll just have to trust to our luck when it comes to whether or not we'll run into anyone!

If we do...we'll just have to cut them down and keep moving!

？！

Right!

(Huff... Gasp...) Phew, this is rough!

I swear, is everyone in Olympus as strong as a Heroic Spirit!? 'Cause it sure feels like it!

...I'm not detecting any magical energy readings nearby. I think we managed to lose them for the time being.

I'll use a talisman to put up a concealment Bounded Field. It's not much, but it should give you a moment to breathe.

You did great, Master. You just ran the equivalent of a fifteen hundred meter dash at full speed.

You should use this chance to take some deep breaths and replenish your oxygen levels. Would it help to sit down?

I won't. Thank you, Master.

？！

Fou fou.

Right. Thank you, Fou. That's very considerate.

... ...

......

...I guess it wasn't just that first Olympian soldier who turned out to be incredibly strong.

No, it wasn't. These people have all been powered up to an unheard-of degree. It feels like humans were brought up to Heroic Spirit-level while still somehow remaining human.

And they're not just physically strong. Their mental toughness is off the charts, too. They didn't even bat an eye at losing an arm.

Yes, well, you can understand why they might be so fired up, as they say nowadays. They're fighting for their world just as much as we are for ours.

No doubt they have their own loved ones they wish to protect here. It's little wonder they would put up such a tremendous fight.

？！

There was always a chance that we would need to fight our way through the local populace in previous Lostbelts. Now, it would seem, that possibility has become reality.

Meaning, every person in this Lostbelt...

That is, everyone who lives here in Olympus... should now be considered our enemy.

...Everyone in this Lostbelt...

Zeus's revelation was extremely effective. From now on, we should consider the entire city to be on the lookout for us.

Suffice to say, the Olympians are simultaneously innocents who depend on the Tree of Emptiness for their survival...

...and vicious enemies who will take any chance they can to end us.

？！

？！

(Not "We need to beat them" or "We need to be strong," but "We need to hold our heads high," huh?)

(...He really does have his head screwed on straight. I didn't even have to break out a pep talk.)

(I guess they've both seen a whole lotta worlds in the time between Russia and here.)

...Oh, right. This really isn't the time to let our guard down and relax, is it?

Besides, we don't know if these people can still hear us through the Bounded Field or not.

They can't. Strong as they may be, the Olympian soldiers are still limited by their human perception capabilities.

The defensive systems do seem able to sense magical energy...

...but given the sheer amount found in the atmosphere, the addition of a few Servants shouldn't draw any notice.

So as long as we don't have, say, a Divine Spirit-class Servant among our ranks...

...or they don't try to find us with something similar to a god's own eyes, we should be safe for

!

...Mr. Holmes?

...As I was saying, something similar to a god's own eyes could be able to detect the Bounded Field itself.

A god, in this case, referring to any being that surpasses our common understanding of magecraft and Heroic Spirits.

In other words

Fo!?

In other words, to a god, or a being roughly on par with one, we would appear to be totally out in the open!

An enormous magical energy reading is headed our way! Thirty meters...twenty...ten...!

It's coming from the other side of the alley!