A Prophecy

Atmospheric magical energy density just skyrocketed, and now there's a second high-density magical energy signal, too!

And on top of that, it looks like Cernunnos just disappeared from the pit!

I mean, that's certainly better than the alternative, but it still beggars belief! What's going on here, Technical Advisor!?

The increase in atmospheric magical energy density resulted from all the faerie bodies being burned!

It's no cause for immediate concern, so we can ignore that for now.

As for the second high-density magical energy signal, we haven't been able to get a visual on it yet, so we can worry about that later, too.

As far as the pit goes, it's...well...

I'm sorry, I have absolutely no clue! All our data collection pertaining to it just vanished!

It's almost like time itself has been rewound, but only in close proximity to the pit!

Hold on! I'm picking up a space-time tremor inside the bridge! Something's about to come out! Everyone, get down!

？！

Fujimaru! Kyrielight! Altria Caster!

H-how the devil did you just pop right in here like that!?

No, never mind that now! Tell me what happened down there! Be as quick as you can!

？！

...So Muramasa's gone too, huh.

Mash, bring the round shield to the analysis room, please. I'd like to store the sacred sword essence now, while we still have a chance.

Okay! Right away!

Now then, let's make sure we're all on the same page. First off, well done, Fujimaru.

Thanks to you, we now know how the British Lostbelt came into being, Cernunnos's fate, the pit's true nature...

Merlin gave us a second chance by winding back the events that occurred near the pit.

And we know that a new sacred sword was forged in the planet's inner sea, with Altria Caster as its custodian.

This has given us what we need to put together a plan of attack.

Captain, patch me through to Professor, would you?

I'm here, Holmes. Don't worry about filling me in. I've been listening in the whole time.

I'm aware our observational data regarding the pit disappeared along with the dream, but I trust you still have our navigational records pertaining to it, yes?

Then I'd like you to calculate how much time we have until Cernunnos appears, and until his curse begins pouring out of the pit.

Furthermore, I suspect we're going to engage in close quarters combat with Cernunnos involving Servants positioned on the Border's deck...

So we'll need anti-curse measures in place as well as sturdy physical defenses.

We're not going to attack Cernunnos with the Storm Border's cannons?

Considering his massive size, I think that would be our best way of going about it.

We'll certainly try that as well, but I doubt typical means of physical intervention will do us much good.

While I'm sure he has a Spirit Core just like any other god, it's protected by a thick layer of cursed flesh.

Seeing as that curse effectively functions as muscle, we won't be defeating him so much as exorcising him.

As such, I suspect that blessed spiritual attacks from Altria Caster and Grímr the Sage...

...will be our only effective means of fighting him.

(Though unfortunately, what we can do to finish the job afterwards remains an open question.)

(...I hate to do this to Captain Nemo, but ramming Cernunnos at full speed may be our only option...)

Roger that. The ship definitely doesn't have much curse dispelling equipment, after all.

I've just completed calculations for the countdown. We have thirty minutes until Cernunnos appears.

And the last time he showed up, it took another hour for the curse to spill out of the pit.

You hear that, everyone!? We only have an hour and a half!

Our greatest enemy may be Cernunnos, but there's another calamity we need to stop before he appears!

We cannot let these calamities escape Britain's shores and reach the outside world.

To do so would be to let them become part of Proper Human History as well.

Our first objective is therefore to find Barghest, the calamity headed to Norwich from Manchester by way of Oxford...

...and take her down before Cernunnos appears!

Neither we nor Britain have a moment to spare, which is why I'm beginning this operation immediately.

Master Fujimaru, Altria Caster, and Grímr. You three will figure out a way to defeat Cernunnos.

Captain, you and the Marines will plot the optimal route for the operation!

Da Vinci, Professor, you two will come up with an anti-curse barrier for the Storm Bor

Huh!?

What was that!?

？！

Impact on our starboard stern quarter. A single strike just carved through our physical defenses!

It burned away the armor plating, and the interior hallways are exposed to open air!

Dammit, Marine overboard! One of them fell! Dammit...!

...Later, Meunière! Right now, we need to know what's going on!

Where did that thermic ray come from, Da Vinci!?

Nothing short of a Divine Construct should even be able to scratch the Storm Border's armor, let alone shred it!

There, I found it! Putting it up on the monitor now.

That's

？！

Enemy craft is cruising at twelve-hundred kph and still picking up speed! Whoa! It's bounding off the magical energy in the atmosphere!

It's at Mach 1... Mach 2... It still hasn't hit its top speed! We're dealing with some kind of supersonic fighter! (Crying)

Hang on. How can it flit around at that speed!?

Oh crap, oh crap! Enemy aircraft is coming about and bearing right for us! It's on a collision course!

Contact in ten...nine...eight...!

Pull up, Meunière! Flanking speed! That thing'll tear through the bridge if it hits us straight on!

We need to dodge it at the last possible second and escape to higher altitude before it can change course!

GrrrRAAAAAAH!

Khh! It was a damn close shave, but we got off with just a few scratches on the prow.

Enemy aircraft is now ten...no, fourteen kilometers away! Aah! It just turned around again!

What do we do, Captain!? That thing's not gonna stop until it brings us down!

I know. Just keep taking us up!

We can't outmaneuver that thing, so we'll just have to hope we can fly higher than it can!

What is that thing, Da Vinci!? Do you have any new data yet?

Sure do! That wasn't a talon strike just now. It was a concentrated Mana Burst straight from the enemy's mouth!

It looks like Barghest wasn't the only thing burning Britain to the ground!

Just the heat from that thing's Breath attack is enough to cleave through the ground. Its acceleration isn't affected by atmospheric pressure or air temperature...

And its wings apparently ignore the laws of inertia completely!

There's no mistaking it. That thing is Albion, the pure-blooded dragon... A third calamity!

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Albion's coming after the Border! If it lands a Breath attack on our stern, we're done for!

We already know its Breath is strong enough to cut through our physical defenses like paper. One strike to the stern, and we'll lose the whole engine!

Everyone, sit down and strap in tight! Da Vinci, start tracking the time until the next Breath attack!

At two seconds before impact, I'm going to unfurl the gravity sails to maximum and pitch the ship upward, turning us on our tail!

It'll feel like taking a tumble in midair, so the ship's going to shake like crazy! Don't stand up unless you've got a death wish!

Once we've evaded the Breath attack, I'll return the ship to an upright position and maintain our altitude.

Here it comes! We're in its firing range! Six, five, four, three!

Raise the bow and unfurl the sails! Pull uuup!

？！

We made it up above the clouds, Captain! But... Dammit! We've burned through almost all the magical energy we had stored up!

Now what do we do!? There's no way we can dodge another one!

...

May I say something? I should be able to defend against that thermic ray now.

I will not be able to protect the entire ship, and I can only do it for a few minutes.

But if there's one section that's absolutely crucial, like the engine, I can at least put up a defensive barrier there.

Will that be enough to get us through this?

That's most encouraging, Altria Caster. But before you do that, I have a question for you.

The calamities' only target is the British faeries. So why is that dragon attacking us?

Why should it be interested in us?

Huh? Uh, I don't really know. I'm still learning the ropes myself, so...

It's because we now have a means of saving Britain.

Before, the calamities considered Chaldea to be just another pebble on the road.

But now, Altria is back, and we have a real chance of taking down Cernunnos.

And the calamities know just as well as we do that the faerie of paradise is the enemy of Britain.

I see. So before, we were merely passersby, but now that we have a weapon, we're involved.

That changes matters considerably. That dragon isn't coming after us.

It's coming after Altria Caster. And that means...

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Indeed. We can narrow the enemy's focus simply by sending Altria out to the deck.

Huh!?

If Altria goes out to the deck with her hands up, that will lure Albion towards her.

Once it closes in to try to kill her, we'll draw it into close combat.

I call it "Operation Titanic." What do you all think?

I can't believe this! What the heck kind of hero is this guy, anyway!?

I don't know what a detective is, but if Proper Human History calls someone like THAT a hero, it deserves to be destroyed!

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Look, even if I actually agree to this insane decoy scheme, I won't be able to defend the ship at the same time.

I can either lure Albion in, or I can protect the ship from its Breath attacks.

Doing both just isn't an option.

Dammit! Just when I thought we had a viable plan!

Altria knows her limits. It's not a matter of willpower or confidence.

If she says she can't do something, it's because she really can't do it.

So we'll just have to drop this plan and

No, we don't. You need a decoy to lure that dragon in, right?

Then I'll do that while you protect the ship, Altria.

？！

I'm sorry. He insisted on coming to the bridge...

I appreciate your offer, Percival, but I'm afraid you simply wouldn't work.

That calamity is after the faerie of paradise. There is no one else who can take Altria's pla

That's where you're wrong. I CAN take her place.

This spear is the Spear of Selectionthe same one used by the last faerie of paradise.

I'm an artificial Child of Prophecy, which makes me the perfect person for this job.

...Good. I can still move. I should be able to manage like this.

...I hope you're all watching this, everyone.

All right. I understand what I have to do.

I'll stay put on the bow and let all of you handle the dragon.

I'm in no condition to fight anymore anyway, so decoy duty should be perfect for me.

Come on, you two. Please don't look so glum.

I'm glad I can still be useful somehow. You really don't need to feel bad about this.

That said... I do have one last request I'd like to make.

Please, don't think too badly of this Britain, or of the faeries who lived in it.

Just like there are good humans and bad humans, there are also good faeries and bad faeries.

There's no such thing as a bad species or a bad society. There are just good and bad people.

I don't know anything about your world of Proper Human History, but I do know this:

Even though it ended up like this...

Even though so many sad, tragic things happened here...

Faerie Britain was still a beautiful kingdom, and a wonderful world.

...Our Britain may be dying, but that's not because it was wrong.

It's not because it was a bad world.

Things that should persist, will persist. Things that should continue on will do so.

That's all I wanted to say. So please, hold your heads high.

Our world took over ten thousand years to come this far.

It may never be perfected now...but your world still has a future ahead of it.

So I hope you'll take advantage of that to make it there someday.

Even if it takes hundreds, if not thousands of years...

I hope your world will one day become a utopia where every living thing can find salvation.

...Hmm. Thinking back on it now, I might've come across a little arrogant...

But, I guess I couldn't have been too bad if both Fujimaru and Mash smiled at what I had to say!

All right, Percival! Let's show everyone why you're a Knight of the Round Table!

This will be your last battle, so make sure it's one you're proud of!

... ...

...All that aside, this is kind of crazy, isn't it?

I still can't believe I'm riding on a flying ship. It's like something out of a story.

If this goes well, I'll have to make sure Gareth and the Round Table Army never hear the end of it.

...Enemy dragon incoming! Accelerating to maximum speed to match!

We only have enough fuel left for one shot at this!

Fujimaru, I want you to back Altria Caster up by throwing everything you've got at it!

Enemy contact in ten seconds!

This will be our first battle against a calamity! Good luck, everyone!

The dragon is withdrawing! We haven't defeated it yet!

Dammit, we can't let it get away! We'll never get another chance!

We have to finish it off now, no matter what! Engineer, give us more power!

I can do that, but the Border won't be able to handle it! It'll bend the whole ship out of shape starting from the hole in our right flank!

If our keel starts to warp too, the whole ship'll fall apart!

Dammit! It's going to get away... If only I'd been more careful!

？！

Huh? But, we don't have any means left to

Senpai is right, Captain. We don't have to go any faster.

She won't be going anywhere. Britain's strongest knight is still standing on our bow.

...I thought you would be free once Morgan was defeated.

I thought being a Tam Lin was chaining you down.

That's why I started the Round Table Army.

That's right. I...

Oh silly. You can't swing a sword with tears in your eyes. Why don't you take a little break, Percival?

You're doing a great job. Much better than all those faeries who sit around doing nothing.

I'm proud of you, too. I can see why you were the last child to make it through the

Huh? What's wrong? You're crying harder? Oh... Right, I shouldn't have said that...

...I'm sorry I'm so insensitive, Percival. Emotions are... Well, there's a lot I don't know about them.

Right. Of course. They were all your friends, but you were the only one to be chosen.

You had to grow strong, no matter how hard it was.

Okay. There's something I can teach you, then.

It's okay to feel indebted to your friends. It's okay if you can't find a way to like yourself.

One day, you'll find something you care about more than yourself. That's how it was for me!

So please, remember this, Percival:

No matter how terrible this world is, as long as you can find just one thing you love, then

...I know.

I deceived a lot of people for that. Now it's time I got what I deserve.

...Hear me, sacred spear.

O Spear of Selection, pass judgment on mine actions.

...Ah... Ahh...ahh...

...Percival... ...Percival...

...Perci...val...

...My...

...brother...

Well done, my fellow Chaldeans! And you, Altria Caster of Britain!

But we don't have time to celebrate our victory just yet! Technical Advisor, status report!

Heavy damage to the Storm Border's right flank, and we used up a ton of fuel during that battle.

We'll need to keep the Border up here on standby while we refuel and repair.

The fuel shouldn't be an issue, since we can use the mana in the atmosphere to produce more.

We'll need at least twenty minutes to repair the ship, though. But I'd really love thirty so we can do it properly.

I...see. That long? All right, figure something out!

What about you, Administrative Advisor!? How much time have we lost!?

We spent twenty minutes fighting the fire calamity...

And it will take thirty more to get the Storm Border in fighting shape again.

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Indeed. We won't make it for Cernunnos's emergence, but we'll still have forty minutes until the final catastrophe.

More importantly, we have a solid chance of defeating him now.

The issue is the other calamity, Barghest.

She and her black dogs have burned Oxford to the ground, and will soon arrive in Norwich.

We simply cannot go after both her and Cernunnos in the Storm Border. If we're going to defeat her, it will have to be with a separate unit.

We could always just leave her. We've got much bigger fish to fry right now.

The pit's calamity will destroy the whole world if we don't stop it, but all the black dogs do is burn down cities.

The world won't be in any danger if we leave them alone.

...I'm inclined to agree, Grímr.

Once Barghest leaves Norwich behind and sets out on the ocean, she'll become a calamity for Proper Human History as well.

However, she won't be the first faerie named Barghest to appear in British myth...

And the threat she poses can be dealt with later. We can't and shouldn't prioritize her now.

Wait! Please! I'd like to request that a separate unit be sent out to handle her anyway!

I understand she's not our top priority. I agree that we should focus all of our resources on Cernunnos right now.

But, even so... Even so, I'm asking you to let me go after her!

I can't just sit by and let Barghest become an enemy of Proper Human History!

Besides... Norwich is both her and Boggart's hometown.

Letting her destroy her own home would be...tragic...

Kyrielight...

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...What do you think, Fujimaru?

Mash Kyrielight is your personal Servant. If you believe she can do this, I'll support your decision.

We don't know exactly what kind of calamity Barghest has become, but we do know it'll be one hell of a fight.

With that in mind, are you sure you want to do this?

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Very well then! Holmes, put together a plan of attack! I don't care how reckless it is!

Just make sure it doesn't exceed the time we have until the Storm Border leaves for the pit.

Also, I'll need Altria Caster to stay here on the Border!

If you two don't make it back in time, she's our best shot against Cernunnos.

...No, on second thought, we'll need Altria Caster, Grímr, and the Storm Border.

As long as we have all three, we should be able to take out Cernunnos.

So if you two can't make it back before it's time to go, I won't hesitate to leave you behind. Got it?

So if you determine you can't complete this mission, you just come right back here! And keep an eye on the clock either way!

This is the one time I will NOT tolerate disobedience! Get back late, and you can expect a week in solitary!

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...Good grief. This is going to be quite the complicated operation.

Fortunately, I've always preferred complex cases over simple ones, and I fully respect your decision.

In fact, I suspected something like this might happen, so I ensured the Shadow Border was prepared while you were down in the spirit cavern.

All you need now is a driver. Hmm, let's see...

Mr. Meunière, can I count on you to escort them once more?

Y-yeah, you bet! I'm used to parachuting in and everything now!

Then it's settled. The calamity at Norwich will be handled by two of our most seasoned members:

Mr. Fujimaru, and Mash Kyrielight.

You'll have thirty minutes to complete the operation. I can't give you any more than that.

We'll catapult the Shadow Border toward the outskirts of Norwich.

Once you've defeated Barghest, you're to return to the rendezvous point in the Shadow Border.

From there, the Storm Border will retrieve the Shadow Border, crew and all, and head for the pit.

Any objections, Da Vinci?

Nope. Sounds perfect. I was just hoping for a little time to take care of an errand of my own.

I just ran a scan on Britain, and found out I left something really important back in Salisbury.

I need to go back to Mike's pub to pick up Tiphone, and all my records of our journey.

It would be a real shame to leave here without those.

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You know it. ...We gave her a really hard job, after all.

So as soon as we send the Shadow Border on its way, we'll head back to Salisbury.

Once we arrive, I'll leave the Storm Border on standby in midair and go pick up Habetrot at the pub myself.

After that, we'll fly as close to Norwich as we can and wait for you guys to get back.

All right. Now that we've got a plan, there's no time to waste.

Marines, you work with Nurse and Engineer on repairs!

Mash and Fujimaru, you two get on the Shadow Border! The Storm Border will keep heading toward Norwich until we're ready to launch you!

After ejecting the Shadow Border, we'll turn towards Salisbury and drop off Da Vinci!

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Don't worry about me! I know Mike's pub like the back of my hand!

Okay, see you later, Fujimaru! I just know you and Mash are gonna make it back fine, too!

Ghh... Aah... Aaahhh...

Ah... Ahhh... Aaahhh!

Ah... Agh...ghh... (Huff...) Aah...ahhh...

Ghh... Ghhh... Ghhh!

Hello? Who are you? Why are you crying?

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

Manchester... I must...hurry...to Manchester...

I must...get the faeries there...to Chaldea...

I must...give Adonis...at least...a little more...time...

...It's over for Britain...

Camelot is already overrun with mors, and the other cities will follow soon...

Before that happens to Manchester...I need to gather my residents and bring them to the shore where Chaldea waits.

Even if I can't go with them myself... I can at least make sure they survi

...Huh?

Get rid of them! Get rid of them! Get rid of our old toys before we move!

Tear off their limbs! Rip out their guts! It's so fun! Hehe!

The first scream's the best! None of the rest compare!

Now ■■■■ them! ■■■■ them! Get rid of them before Barghest gets back so she doesn't find out!

Barghest will be furious if she finds out we've been keeping them in our sheds!

Barghest will be giddy if she finds out we've been ■■■ing them in our sheds every day!

Barghest the Big Eater! Barghest of Many Loves!

If she finds out, she'll punch us for not letting her join the fun!

...What...

...What is this? What are you doing!?

What do you mean? We're just imitating you, Barghest! We all know all about it!

We saw you in your mansion! We always hid and watched you!

You had so much fun playing house. You read such wonderful stories.

You were enjoying yourself so much every day that we decided to try imitating you!

You're...imitating me? By...killing humans...?

I...killed a human? I

Ah. ...Ahh, ahh...

You treated him so kindly! You cared for him so tenderly!

And then you ate him! You ate him right in your manor!

It was sooo much fun to watch, we decided to try it ourselves!

And it WAS fun! Way more fun than just watching! There's nothing more fun than ■■■■ing humans!

Ah... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!

Ghh... Ghhh... Aaaaaah!

Having another good cry, ■■■■■■■■? Why don't you come over here?

You don't have to stop crying. Just tell me what happened today.

It's okay. I promise I'll never stop liking you, no matter how embarrassing it may have been.

You know, there's nothing like a fun story to cheer you up in hard times. Why don't I tell you another tale of your favorite Knights of the Round Table?

I'll tell you a story of flotsam that drifted here as a changeling. A florid, proud, and slightly somber story.

A story of the brave knights you've always looked up to.

There, look out at the garden. Those flowers you planted have grown in beautifully.

And I see you planted another one for me today, so that I could enjoy them even though I can't walk.

Going to end your life to atone for your sins? I know how you feel, but let's just take it easy.

You're the most truly noble of faeries. You ending your own life would be a tragic loss.

So let's make a deal, Barghest. It's still a little too soon for you to take on the curse.

I'll seal this memory away for you, so you'll go on believing he's alive.

Don't worry. If things get too hard, just come back to this room and you can experience his last day again, like a dream.

Now come on, let's go! Let's go to the outside world, where there're more humans to eat!

It'll be so much fun! Even more fun than this!

I just know we'll be happy with all those humans to play with! You know, I've read about this in a book that arrived as flotsam.

It said creatures that do things like this are called "demons"!

... ...

...aAA...

Look, everyone! Barghest is smiling! She's about to do another of her hilarious performances!

Barghest the Crybaby! Barghest, crying tears of happiness!

What kind of prey are you having today? Don't be stingy! Let us try some, too!

Aah! There it is again! It's all over! Not even the vault castle can keep us safe! Norwich is done for!

We're dead if we stay here! Let's make a break for it, before that thing chews us up like it did the city walls!

What about Lord Spriggan!? Shouldn't we take him with us!?

Who cares about him!? He chose to hole up in the vault! He's not our lord anymore as far as I'm concerned!

Come on, I'm gonna open the door! Once we're out, head straight for the harbor!

As long as we can make it to sea, we at least won't have to worry about being burned ali

Run away? Idiots. What's the point of going anywhere if I have to leave all this precious art behind?

My vault castle is impenetrable.

I've spent a hundred years reinforcing the bell tower, and making it the strongest tower of pure iron in Britain.

It can stand up to any number of mors!

Gaah! Cut that out! Don't you know how dangerous that is!?

Who's going to restore all these precious works of art I've been collecting if they get damaged!?

Nobody, that's who! Not even Morgan understood their true value!

It's unbelievable what merely imitating humanity can accomplish!

Yes, ninety percent of this is worthless junk, but the other ten percent!? Miraculous! Diamonds in the rough!

Somehow, against all odds, this country produced some of the finest works of pure art ever made!

Yes, that's right!

It's fine if these faeries don't see its value! Indeed, there would be little point in trying to explain it to these plebeians anyway!

Britain's art is mine! It's the only reason I've stayed alive all these years!

My soul has been in thrall to this world from the moment I first wandered into it!

Collecting this treasure has been my raison d'être!

It is mine! It can ONLY be mine! MINE!

I'd sooner see Britain burn than give up this priceless vault!

Dammit, will you cut that out already!? What in the world is going on out

...Oh my.

... ...Oh my.

Well, that's...a hell of a thing.

Don't I look the fool for saying I'd rather see Britain destroyed.

...Hmph. I can't believe I not only misjudged my clientele, but also my chance to quit while I was ahead.

True, I did want a foolish puppet I could manipulate as I pleased, but even that only goes so far.

There's nothing so difficult to control as a runaway Philistine. I should have known better than to look down on them.

That aside...

I thought Morgan or Chaldea would be the ones to destroy Britain. I never could have imagined it'd be one woman's idiot idea.

All things begin with the smallest of foundations, however they may eventually flourish.

A foundation so small, even the tiniest of insects gnawing at it can bring it all crashing down.

All right, we stuck the landing! Norwich is just a stone's throw away. Hang on tight! I'm flooring it!

Damn, it's over a thousand degrees out here, just like it was at Manchester! And there's tons of black dogs out there, too!

Before we get there, Fujimaru, let me just remind you of what Holmes said!

From what we know of your past battles with Barghest, and what we saw of her in Manchester...

It's safe to assume she can absorb the life-force of any human with low magical energy resistance who gets too close to her!

So this time, you need to stay behind in the Shadow Border and summon your Servants remotely!

Barghest's magical energy consumption has a one-kilometer radius, so this'll be the greatest distance you've ever summoned from.

According to Nemo Professor's calculations, you can only summon one Shadow Servant. Two if you really push your limits!

While we're on the subject, Nemo Nurse also said to tell you that you'll seriously regret it if you try to summon two!

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...! Thank you, Master!

Yeah, that's about what I thought you'd say! Don't worry! I'll take the heat from Nurse right there with you!

...Whup, there's the high-density magical energy signal we've been expecting. It's six kilometers ahead, right in the center of Norwich!

Here's the feed from the telescope. Let's see what Barghest looks like nAaah!

She's over forty meters tall!? And she's actually eating that lightning!

We'd need the Storm Border to even stand a chance against a monster like that!

Are you guys sure you want to do this!? It's not too late to turn around, you know!

Even Holmes said if worse comes to worst, we don't HAVE to fight her!

...I'm sure. Please keep going! Please, let me go to her!

There's nothing to be afraid of! The old Barghest was much stronger!

Seriously!? Damn, this Barghest sounds like a hell of a gal! Ugh, fine! You're sure about this too, right, Fujimaru!?

'Cause we're comin' up on the point of no return real fast now!

？！

I will, Master! Opening the hatch and casting leg enhancement spell...now! Here I go!

Come on, Fujimaru, pull it together! I knew you were pushing yourself too hard!

I've been following along on the monitor, and there's just no way you can beat her! She's consuming enough magical energy to kill a mage, easy!

I'm gonna contact Mash and get her out of there! She doesn't stand a chance by hersel

...Huh? Am I seeing things, or is her shield glowing?

Hm? Are those new Spirit Origin signals?

Here, I'll throw the data onto the monitor. Recognize them, Fujimaru?

？！

Huh? Why're you getting up like GAH! How many stim ampoules did you just take!?

You're still going to do this!? Nurse said two Servants was your limit!

？！

？！

Your fire has razed this city to the ground... You've become a Demonic Dog that burns faeries alive and feasts on their smoke and lightning...

...You're a completely different creature than the knight I met before...

You no longer know this city, or even remember your own name...

I know there's no way I can defeat you. You'd probably devour most Heroic Spirits before they even had a chance.

Even so, I can't let you win! Not here!

There were faeries who looked up to you! Faeries who wanted nothing more than to come back here!

Do you see this shield!? This is the shield of the heroic knights you once admired!

Rob... Wag... Winky...

They didn't put their faith in me just so I could give up now!

I am Mash Kyrielight, the knight of Sheffield!

I am the Knight of the Round Table who will banish the calamities and save Britain from its fate!

Well said, young maiden. You spoke not from anger at your enemy, but to inspire yourself.

I have heard your stirring cry, and cannot stand idly by.

I hope you can forgive my tardiness.

Would you permit me to join you on this battlefield, Lady Mash?

...

I'm surprised you got here before me, Sir Gawain. I thought it was my duty to protect beautiful maidens.

...Then again, it seems I was getting ahead of myself. The young lady clearly needs no escort.

Her fighting spirit and bravery are truly like spring thunder. I doubt even our fellow knights could hope to match her.

But do not think I will let you keep the honor of fighting at her side to yourself, Sir Gawain.

I'm not going anywhere, no matter how I may be mocked for being a hovering parent.

Wh-what do you think this is, some kind of parents' day at school!?

E-er, I meanWhat are you two doing here!?

I thought Heroic Spirits from Proper Human History couldn't be summoned to this Britain!

So it would seem. But it appears we are a special case.

There must have been people in this land who assumed our names.

So if they were making use of our names...

...it's only fair that they should make some room for us as well.

Indeed. I have no way of knowing who in this land chose to carry on my name...

But it is thanks to their reckless braverynay, their exploits, that I am able to be here now.

This Spirit Origin will only last a few minutes, but that will suffice. Gawain, I leave the left legs to you.

This Demonic Dog is clearly Cath Palug's equal. We have no time to argue.

I could say the same to you, Lancelot. Do not take needless risks simply because Lady Mash is here.

Remember, failure is not an option. Not with three Knights of the Round Table fighting together.

Now, to arms, comrade! Together, we shall carve a path for the shield knight!

Indeed! Let's be about it!

Thank you, you two!

With your help, I should be able to defeat her... No, to save her!

Her name is Barghest. She's a loyal knight who has always done her best to protect this Britain.

She used her strength to protect the weak, and prayed for a world where they could live in peace.

Black calamity. Leader of the faerie-eating beasts.

As one entrusted with the name of a knight from the Round Table...I will see that you go no further!

The beast's magical energy signal is...gone...

And the smoke and fire that was covering Norwich disappeared along with it...

She did it, Fujimaru! Mash actually banished a whole calamity! I can't believe it!

？！

Oh geez, you just barely pulled through, too! I can't believe you remote summoned two Servants... Twice, no less!

Just lie down and rest, okay?

We have ten minutes until our rendezvous with the Storm Border, and Mash should be back soon, so...

Yeah, you should have just enough time to grab a few winks!

？！

For some reason, I can just tell when and where he'll try to strike.

We're both worthless good-for-nothings at heart. I was always thinking more about how things would end than how long they'd keep going.

Remember that well, and don't let your guard down until it's well and truly over.

Phew...

...Thank you, Sir Gawain, Sir Lancelot.

Thanks to you two...

...I was able to show her what true Knights of the Round Table are like, just like she wanted.

...I'm pretty exhausted, but I don't have any major injuries, and my respiratory system is fine.

Thank goodness. Just a little rest, and I should be back on my feet.

Oh, right. I should let Meunière know I'm done.

I can make it back to the Shadow Border in threeno, four minutes, so he can just wait there for

...?

Senpai!? What are you doing here!?

？！

Never mind that now! We need to get your wound treated! Get behind me, Master!

And thank you for helping me recover my strength almost instantaneously! It's a good thing you got here when you did!

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

Haaa... ...Well, shit.

You ran all the way here from the Border? What a killjoy!

Didn't anyone ever tell you that you're supposed to stick to combat support? What a piss-poor excuse for a Master you are.

Now you went and ruined the meal I've been looking forward to for nearly forever. Ugh, you're the wooorst.

Guess I must've lost a step if I messed up something so easy.

？！

Beryl Gut... I thought you might still be alive.

'Course I am. Can't go dying while I've still got a reason to live.

Isn't that right, Mash?

I'm sorry I left you alone for so long.

I didn't get tired of you, I promise. Just lots of crap getting in our way.

Not only have there been no opportunities for us to spend time alone together like we used to...

...but you even got healthy enough to get up and start moving around on your own, just like the Doctor planned.

Man, I miss our days in Chaldea's treatment room.

You always looked so bored in there. That's why I went in to...liven things up.

You didn't have much in the way of human emotions back then, but you still had the same responses to pain as anyone.

I still remember the sound of the bones in your fingers snapping, and the way your screams echoed around the room.

It was like I was playing in a concert hall, and you were the piano! Just the two of us, alone in the world.

...Ugh. My head is killing me. The hell's going on?

Ah, whatever. There's no Doctor here now. Sure, there's someone else trying to spoil our fun...

But he won't come between us for much longer. Sorry to keep you waiting so long, Mash.

？！

I'm talking about love, of course.

I don't want to kill Mash. I just want to love her. So stay out of this, all right?

Go on, Mash, tell him. Tell him this is just how we communicate.

Tell him this is my love language.

That's... That may be true. You never had any malicious intent toward me, murderous or otherwise.

When you broke my fingers in the treatment room...you even seemed genuinely concerned for my condition.

You listened intently to my cries of pain.

And you said...that was love.

You said it wasn't joy that moved you, but the sight of agony.

？！

Well of course. I'm only human. I never had many friends I could really relate to.

Same with interests, really. It's hard to find someone who

...Ahh, dammit. I was hoping to take my time with this, but it looks like my head's going now.

That mors curse finally caught up to me.

But that's okay. It just means I won't be able to act human anymore.

So before that happens, I'm gonna take my blushing bride and be on my way. Mind giving us your blessing, Kouhai?

Go, save the world if that's what does it for you. Everyone's got their kinks.

I don't really get it, but hey, different strokes for different folks.

All I ask in return...is that you keep your nose out of other people's love lives.

Hey, Gran? Why do witches die if they fall in love with a human?

Keeheeheehee. Why, that's easy. Keeheeheehee!

It mixes bloodlines. That rots our souls.

Keeheehee, keeheeheehee! We're fairies, you see! We don't give birth to children!

I'm my own daughter, see! Keehee! Keeheeheehee! Keehee...hee...

Ah, but I screwed up! I screwed up real bad!

Ahh, ahhh, ahhhhhh! Why did I end up looking like this!?

Please, let me go back! Let me go back to my old form!

Curse the Meinster! Curse that little wench! So what if she's Yumina's descendent! Does that mean she can do whatever she wants!?

Even though I screwed up! I'M the one who was deceived! Ahh, if only I'd never met him!

If I'd never gotten involved with a human, then I never would have been stuck with a brat like you!

...I'm sorry, Beryl. I don't know why I said that. You're my precious son. My darling boy.

It's okay, Gran. I know you don't mean it.

Now don't cry. You can't see the stars in your eyes when you cry. They're your best feature. Prettier than anyone else's.

Beryl...! Oh, thank you, Beryl!

You're the only one I can count on... The only thing I have worth living for...

So there's no more spells you have left to teach me? I see. That's too bad, Mum.

Whoa, whoa, you gotta be shitting me. What the hell is that?

I thought Chaldea was supposed to be a humane organization about preserving humanity. So how does that thing figure into your mission, Doctor!?

Hey, Doctor. What's that girl's name?

I've seen a ton of people over the years, and that girl right there? She's something special.

She might have a long way to go now, but one day, she's gonna be prettier than anyone else.

That said, I don't actually know the first thing about art.

Whenever I go to a new country, I always make sure to visit its biggest art museum.

I've seen a lot of renowned landscapes and paintings, but I didn't think much of them.

I could tell they were well-made, of course, but that's all.

For the longest time, I figured I just wasn't the kind of guy who could appreciate beautiful things.

But then...

...I fell in love, Mash. I finally got to know who I really am.

I don't hurt you because it's fun, or because I hate you.

I hurt you because I care about you. I hurt you so I can love you.

That's the kind of guy I am.

I'm just the type of guy who can only recognize beauty once it's been damaged.

So I'm gonna keep you safe. From everyone, and everything.

I'm not gonna let the Doctor or Marisbury have their way with you.

I'm not gonna let them give you a Sirius Light. That was my condition for becoming their cleanup guy.

Remember this, Mash.

I'm not going to die as long as you're around. I'll always have fun in a world with you in it.

Hard to believe, isn't it? I know. I can hardly believe it myself.

But it's true. You're the most important thing in this whole world to me. Haha.

So...

...you don't mind, right, Mash? I want to see you suffer more than anything.

Beryl Guuut!

...Huh? That's weird.

Why're you punching me, Doctor? Are you trying to take her away from me again?

Wait. Please. You can't do this to me. I still haven't felt anything.

I only accepted this shitty deal to be brought back to life because they said you were here.

All I wanted was...to see you...again...

？！

...It's okay, Master. He can't do anything anymore.

...That's it... Those eyes. Those eyes are...beautiful...

...You've gotta...take good care of them... You've only...got two, after all...

...You don't have to run. I'll keep...you safe...

...I love you.

I love you, Mash.

I love you from the bottom of my heart.

...Yes. I'm sure you do.

But I don't understand what you call love, Beryl.

And...I don't think anyone ever will.

...

Okay, the Shadow Border is on its way to Norwich, so now it's my turn. I'll be back in twenty minutes.

R-right. I know you said Salisbury is the safest city in Britain, so I'm sure you'll be all right...

But are you certain you don't want to take along a bodyguard or two just to be safe?

I know Captain and the marines have to stay on the Storm Border to make repairs...

But you could always ask Grímr or Altria Caster to go along with you, no?

F-for that matter, while it pains me to say it, I could have Holmes accompany you too, or even go with you myself if necessary.

You, Gordy? But I thought you hated Singularities.

I do! And Lostbelts, for that matter! Hell, I don't even want to think about setting foot outside the Border!

But, circumstances being what they are, I can't afford to be choosy. Besides, I have a bad feeling about this...

Man, you really are a worrywart, aren't you, Gordy? I appreciate the thought, but it'll be faster if I go alone.

I already pass for a faerie in Salisbury, and I know my way around there, too.

Besides, we only have one pair of jetwings, remember? Don't worry, I'll be fine.

I'm just gonna swoop in, pop over to the pub, and come back with Habetrot. In and out.

Okay, be back soon. Take care of the Storm Border while I'm gone, Captain.

Of course. I may be the ship's captain, but you're its brain. We need you back here as soon as possible.

Oh, you! You know just as well as I do that Professor can handle things here, too!

Still, I appreciate the vote of confidence! I'll be extra quick, just for you!

The city's burning... It's been burning forever now...

There haven't been any wind tidings from Lady Aurora... Everyone in the city's changed...

...Of course. I'm not surprised. Deep down, we were all jealous of each other.

We pretended to laugh while we actually seethed. We pretended to be sad while we secretly smiled.

That's just what we faeries are like... So of course this is how things turned out.

...The pub's so quiet now. There's no sign of the faeries who used to smile and laugh here anymore.

Nobody comes to my pub at all... I guess Britain really is done for...

But, that's okay... Things are just back to the way they were before. My pub was always like this.

Drab...boring... A far cry from the places on Main Street... Just like me...

All the exciting recent stuff was just a special occasion... An unbelievably fun once-in-a-lifetime exception...

Phew! Good thing I made it here without anyone seeing me! That was too damn close for comfort!

Man, Gordy was right! I had no idea things had gotten so bad here!

Duhbinchi! You came back!

Waaah! This is great! I'm so glad you're all right!

Things took a really bad turn at the cathedral, right!? I was so worried about you!

Hey Mike. Good to see you safe and sound, too.

Not that I was especially worried about you.

Your pub's pretty sturdy, and you're not the type to take unnecessary risks.

I knew you wouldn't let the rumors mess with you, or take to the streets like the other faeries.

Y-yeah, of course not! I've been in the kitchen all this time coming up with new recipes!

Here, Duhbinchi, check this out! This one's really something!

I found out you can make a really thin kind of bread with the buckwheat flour I got from Norwich!

Then you can put all kinds of yummy things on top, like cream, ham, veggies...

Whoa, that's amazing, Mike! You invented galettes!

Not even Norwich managed to come up with those, and they've been breaking the queen's laws to do whatever they wanted for ages!

You must have been doing a lot of experimenting to figure this out! This is a proud moment for me as a teacher!

...Yeah. Yeah, I did. I worked really hard at it.

It was tough, but fun. It wasn't easy, but it was really fulfilling.

It's like a whole new world's opened up. I'm not the same useless Mike I was before.

I'm a fully-fledged faerie now, and it's all thanks to you.

Aww, you're giving me too much credit. I didn't make you into a hard worker. You had that going for you all along.

You would've made something of this pub eventually even if I'd never showed up.

...Where're you going, Duhbinchi? What's on the second floor?

Oh, I just popped back to get something I forgot.

I need to grab Tiphone and Habetrot and go back to our ship as soon as possible.

...Go back?

...Where to?

Our ship's parked up in the air. Once I get back, we're gonna go take care of the calamity.

Say, here's a thought. I know Gordy won't be happy about it, but do you want to come with us?

That riot out there isn't calming down anytime soon, yeah? Having one faerie come along won't make any difference.

...N-no thanks. I'll stay here. Here's fine.

B-besides, I've still got the basement. I'll be safe no matter what.

...Yeah. It's safe here. There's nowhere safer.

...There's no point going out. We can just stay here...forever.

Habetrot! Are you up!? Are you still conscious!?

...Nn...

...Yeah. Is that you, Da Vinci? I knew you'd come back for me.

I wish I could've gone to meet you myself...but oh well.

You don't have to say anything. Your face is saying everything I need to know. That's good. Keeps things simple.

...Yeah, it does.

I don't know how things ended up like this, or why you made the choice you did.

But after scanning all of Britain with the Border, this was the only conclusion that made sense.

...You are going to help us, right?

Of course. Besides, it's been kinda tough staying awake all this time.

I hate to ask, but would you mind carrying me? I can't really move so well anymore.

You bet. That was the plan.

Thanks for everything, Habetrot. You really are a bride's best friend.

...I know the truth, Duhbinchi.

I know you're not a human, or a faerie.

...But I don't think Fujimaru or any of the others do.

You're stronger than a human or a faerie...but your life's much, much shorter...

And pretty soon...it's going to end...

Okay, I've got Tiphone Mk. II, too! Now I'd better hurry! I've already taken longer than I meant to!

So why not just stay here?

That way, you'll live at least a little longer than if you go back outside.

Sorry for all the trouble, Mike! But I'm really glad you were here!

And I don't just mean for today. I mean all of it.

If I hadn't met you, our journey would've been a lot harder.

So thanks for listening to me that day. Pub life turned out to be a lot of fun.

And since I might not get another chance to say this...

I just want to tell you that you've got a lot more going for you than you realize.

And I just know you've got lots of days filled with even more fun ahead of you.

...

All right, take care now! I'm off to save the world!

...Ahh... Ahh...!

Ahh...ahh...

...Ghh. Ngh...ghh...!

Yeah... Yeah.

Farewell, my friend from a far-off world.

Thank you for coming to Britain. Thank you for coming to my pub.

Thank you for all those wonderful days. They truly were a dream come true.

All right. Mash, Meunière, and Fujimaru are back from Norwich.

And Da Vinci is back from Salisbury.

All our units have completed their missions, and we can set a course for the pit.

But before we leave, we still have time to do one last run-through of the operation.

Commander Goredolf, would you do the honors?

R-right, of course. These run-throughs are important, after all! I appreciate your consideration!

Right then! Listen up, Chaldea Lostbelt field team and local collaborators!

We are about to fly to the pit and begin our battle against Cernunnos!

This should be our final battle in Britain, so don't worry about saving your strength for later.

I want you all to use everything you can! Every special technique and every ace up your sleeve!

I mean it! You guys are always holding back one last trick! This time, I want to see no holding back, and no secret last-minute surprises!

We're just going to carry out this operation as we planned it, and we're going to defeat Cernunnos!

Remember, we were all wiped out once before!

It's only thanks to that witch Koyanskaya that we're still here.

And according to Da Vinci, there's no more sign of her Spirit Origin anywhere in Britain.

I'd say the odds are good she's already left this Lostbelt behind. And good riddance!

At any rate, remember, this is our last shot at this! Don't count on getting a third chance!

？！

Good. Now then, would you go over the particulars, Administrative Advisor?

Certainly, Commander Goredolf.

Repairs on the Storm Border are complete, and our flight and weapon systems are all fully operational.

Meanwhile, it has been twenty minutes since Cernunnos reappeared in the pit.

Going from our previous experiences, the calamity hands that assaulted us will appear in another forty minutes...

But just like the fire calamity that attacked the Storm Border earlier, we expect there to be a change in Cernunnos this time as well.

Specifically, defensive systems.

Once he realizes we have a Divine Construct on board in the form of Altria Caster, there is a very high chance this calamity will try to attack us.

And since it simply isn't possible to evade all those cursed hands...

...this time, we will pour everything we have into a defensive Anti-Curse Layer and take them directly. Isn't that correct, Grímr?

Yup, you got it. I'm gonna put a meditation spota "well" up on the deck.

Proxy or not, I'm still the god of wisdom. If I really concentrate, I can turn this whole ship into sacred ground.

I couldn't do much against Albion's thermic rays, but I can definitely hold off spiritual interference.

So I'll take on Cernunnos's curse, his anger, myself. He and I are both Celtic, so the least I can do is hear him out.

There you have it. With Grímr the Sage's help, the Storm Border can get close enough to Cernunnos to fight him.

Last time, he destroyed Camelot fifty minutes after he appeared, so we'll need to defeat him before that happens.

Our combat team will consist of Fujimaru, Mash, and Altria Caster.

Though naturally, since he'll be on the deck, Grímr will also participate as needed, as will Chaldea's Servants.

We have thirty minutes to win this battle, starting now.

Do be sure to keep that in mind, Master Fujimaru.

We just passed Oxford! Five minutes until we have visual on Cernunnos!

Should I keep going straight, or should I make a little detour!?

No need for a detour, Marine. Grímr, prepare for battle, if you would.

It's time for us to get rid of the final calamity!

Nervous?

？！

Me too! I mean, think about it! We're about to fight a god! A god!

Doesn't really get much more intimidating than that as opponents go, does it!?

Not that I'm one to talk. I only just learned about Proper Human History at the Site of Selection, after all.

But you must be used to these kinds of things, right, Fujimaru? I mean, this is far from your first time, right?

？！

...I see.

Well, that's a relief. Now I know it's okay to be nervous.

But, uh...could you pick my staff up for me if I end up dropping it from sheer nerves?

？！

Nope! Doing everything all on my own's still beyond me, so I'm glad I have others around to pick up my slack!

？！

？！

No, no luck there, I'm afraid. Still as in the dark there as ever.

But that's okay. I might not know why I keep persevering...

...but I think there was someone who did know.

Oh, but I'm getting off track.

Fujimaru, I wanted to thank you now, while I still can.

Once we defeat Cernunnos, I'll go back to Avalon, and you'll go back to your own world.

This me is just what was left after Muramasa took over the final part of the sacred sword's creation for me.

Once I use up my magical energy, my role will be complete, and I'll fall into a deep sleep...

Just like how King Arthur left for Avalon in your world.

So yeah, after we've dealt with the calamity, I'm going home to paradise.

？！

I've always known where I'd return one day.

I've known since I sacrificed myself to the Site of Selection... No, since I first floated to the surface.

But, before I leave, there's one other thing I have to do.

I have to pay you back for everything you've done for me.

For Avalon le Fae like me...saving Britain means restoring this false Britain to the way it should be.

But you and your companions were different. You knew it was false, and you still wanted to save it.

So I figured, just this once... I'd like to share the same goal.

As long as you keep holding on to hope, this Avalon le Fae will keep listening to you.

...And not just so you can save Britain. So you can save the world.

？！

By the way, Fujimaru, I have a question for you.

What part of this journey did you enjoy the most? And don't say Manchester.

？！

？！

？！

Me? Um, let me think...

I was definitely the most fired up for the chocolate-making, and the most shocked in Norwich...

But I think my happiest memory was in the Welsh woods the fourteenth day after we met!

That's when we shook hands for the third time!

"I just want to help the Child of Prophecy on top of that." Maaan, that was so cool! Wooo!

？！

So on that note, here. This'll be our last one.

？！

Distance to Cernunnos...five kilometers! Descending to begin our final approach to the target now!

Contact in two minutes! All hands, get to your seats and strap in until we get there!

？！

...But the most fun I actually had was on our eleventh day, in Gloucester.

For you, it was probably nothing special...

But it was my first time talking a walk down a big street with someone I really liked.

We have a visual on Cernunnos! Lookouts, status report!

The target's making a move! I'm picking up multiple magical energy signals from the bottom of the pit!

It's the curse hands! Putting up an Anti-Curse Layer and Anti-Misfortune Barriers...now!

Oh man, are we sure those'll be enough!? They're pouring at us like Niagara Falls!

Don't worry! I'll push 'em all back at once!

In my death, I speak of life!

O Mímisbrunnr! Leyline of mistletoe! Sever the past, and grow towards the future!

For the next nine days, no folly shall be tolerated! Cross the twilight, Gambanteinn Valhalla!

Whoooa! Those cursed hands just turned into light and vanished!

There's a second wave incoming now, but with that working for us, we shouldn't have anything to wor

Ghh! Dammit! He countered my Retaliating Curse!

Chaldea! Fujimaru! You're not getting another shot! You need to finish this, now!

Absolutely!

The armor may provide some protection, but we can't avoid the atmospheric magical energy contamination.

Master Fujimaru will therefore remotely summon Servants from the Command Room to aid in battle...

...while continuing to provide Miss Kyrielight with magical energy!

Let's begin our fight against Cernunnos!

It's time to bring Britain's calamities to an end once and for all!

Cernunnos just instantly regenerated after his magical energy signal terminated! No signs of external injuries anywhere!

It's no use! He's not going to stop! We've only peeled off a few layers of skin!

How'd it feel to fight him, Mash!? Did you figure anything out!?

I'm afraid not!

We dealt him countless lethal blows, but none of them did any lasting damage!

I think his curse is bubbling up to heal him faster than we can hurt him!

All we can see now is the putrid, dead flesh that's been bloated by his curse.

If we can't cut the curse off at its source, we'll never be able to dispel this calamity!

All right. That oughta stop the bleeding for now.

Well, well. Rotten or not, he's still a god, ain't he? No... It's because he's gone rotten that he's that much harder to get rid of.

Now that we've tried fighting him, I can say for sure that he's got a Divine Core.

A Divine Core... As in, the soul of a Divine Spirit? But, Cernunnos has been dead for

Something must have gotten inside his heartsome kind of real special sacrifice that curses the faeries' whole existence.

It was that sacrifice that reanimated Cernunnos's corpse and sent him up to the surface.

Chipping away at him won't do anything. We need to completely annihilate him, all at once.

？！

Sure we do. It's been around for a long time.

The twelve sacred lances embedded in Camelot's main gate. If we can activate them, we can beat Cernunnos.

That's what we were fighting for here.

It's not quite enough to just prevent Camelot from being destroyed.

Our job was to stall Cernunnos here and get the guardian of the sacred sword to the throne.

And we've done that. Now all that's left is to see how her journey ends.

Huh?

？！

She's not here... I don't see Altria anywhere!

She must have slipped away from the deck when I wasn't looking...

？！

？！

？！

Right! We have to do whatever we can...

Reengaging! I'll block all his attacks myself!

(Huff, huff, huff, huff...!)

I think... No, I'm sure it was this way!

Come on, Altria! Don't stop to think! You've already been here with Fujimaru! Just trust your gut and keep going!

I know. It's here. It's here...! It's crawling up from the bottom of the pit right now!

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

Someone who stands at the edge of the world, rather than its center.

A beacon at the farthest point, no matter what sort of end may be upon us...

There! I definitely recognize this intersection! Then it's just up this way!

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

...(Gulp)

...Your anger may be justified, but this still isn't the way.

If you've decided that Britain is a land of sinners...that not a single one is untainted...

...then you should have made a system to forgive their sins, not just punish them. You should have chosen a sentence and given them a chance to serve it.

...Wow. She really was a genius.

Ghh... ...Aaaaaah!

...This isn't so bad.

Rhongomyniads, locked and loaded. Round Table Lances, weighing anchor.

Great Anti-Calamity Rite, open! O lances of salvation, become the rain of Orkney and wash away all sins!

Gaaah!

No, it's not that! I'm just not using them right!

Don't you dare wish you could stick around just a little longer! You've already had plenty of time!

...I need to use everything. Every last bit of myself, both past and present.

That's the whole reason I've come this far.

...Change the circuit from the throne to my heart.

Change the magical energy used from Camelot to the Avalon le Fae.

Change Rhongomyniad to Excalibur.

...Morgan. My rival from a far-off world.

I never was able to beat you. Not even to the very end.

I couldn't show you who I was through my strength, or even say anything back to you.

Did you find the reason you were looking for?

...No. I never did become who I wanted to be.

Now, I'm going to finish the job you should have done two thousand years ago!

O sacred sword, reveal thyself!

Hear me, enshrined god, and forgive us our sins!

Twelve charges of an extremely powerful spell were just fired from Camelot's main gate simultaneously! They're all direct hits!

Cernunnos's Spirit Origin signal just changed from negative to positive!

Ninety percent of his outer cursed layers have been blasted away! ...Whoa! I can see something!

There! It's his Divine Core! I'm sensing a ton of godly energy from it!

？！

Well done, Altria Caster! Although...

Is it just me, or is his nearby flesh wriggling around, like it's still trying to regenerate!?

It's not just you! It's already started to regeneraaate! (Crying) Not even the Rhongomyniads were enough to beat him!

We only have six minutes until Cernunnos is back to his old self! What do we do, Captain!?

If that's a Divine Core, our normal weapons won't be able to destroy it.

...Da Vinci, order the rest of the crew to abandon ship. You can use the Shadow Border to escape.

The Nemo Series and I will stay here in the Command Room.

As soon as we've confirmed you're all safe, we're going to ram the Storm Border into the Divine Core at full speed!

What!? B-b-but, that'd be suicide! No! Absolutely not! I can't let you throw your lives and this ship away!

There's no time to argue, and this isn't up for discussion. Come on, Fujimaru, you need to hurry up and

No, that won't be necessary.

Now that Cernunnos's Divine Core has been exposed, this operation has played its part.

Fujimaru, would you hurry up to the deck? Mash is waiting there for you.

She can't slay a god without your Command Spells. Catch my drift?

？！

The target's Divine Core is finally exposed... But at the rate it's regenerating, it won't be long before it's hidden again!

Altria gave us an incredible opportunity... And I had the means to take advantage of it...

But now, there's nothing I can do... And it's all because I was too much of a coward...

If I just hadn't run away from my choices...from my responsibilities...then I could've...!

Man, you're really broken up about this, aren't you? I get it. You WERE running away from fighting back then.

No matter how brave or heroic you were, at your core, you still hated fighting. That hasn't changed.

But what has changed...is where you're looking now.

Now, you know what you're fighting for, and why. And that means I don't have to keep holding onto this for you.

Huh...?

...Habetrot?

Yup. And I've got something that belongs to you. Something you left behind after it was used at the castle in Sheffield.

It's something that should never have existed in Britain, and something you'll need to show who you are from now on.

You said it's called the Black Barrel, right? Don't forget it this time, Mash.

...

We, as we are now, are hypothetical beings, all being created in the Tree of Emptiness's simulation.

So I'm going to move forward under the premise that it wasn't Mash who existed in the Fae Era, but Galahad.

Neither you, nor I, must remember anything about to her.

No way! I don't wanna forget about Mash!

She's gonna go through something awful again in the Era of the High Queen, right!? Then I have to be there to help her!

You're gonna be around in the Era of the High Queen, right, Aesc!? Then I'll figure something out, too!

I know! An ice coffin! I'll ask Grímr to make me the same kind of ice coffin as Mash!

I have to! I still haven't kept my promise to her! I still need to make her the best bridal dress ever!

...Once this world changes over to the Era of the High Queen, every loose end will disappear.

You can't go from one era to the next. At least, not while retaining your memories.

Even I could never do that. It would only lead to contradictions.

If I added this loop's knowledge to myself in the Era of the High Queen, I'd no longer be able to exist.

We have no choice but to forget about Mash.

...If, even knowing all that, you still want to remember her...

...you will need to steel yourself.

So long as you retain memories of Mash, you will not be meant to exist in this world...

Your entire life up until Mash is sent here from Norwich will disappear...

And no one will be able to speak the first Tam Lin's name.

Let me be clear. No one in the Era of the High Queen can ever know you were one of my first knights.

If even one person realizes you're actually Totorot, you'll vanish from the Era of the High Queen.

You are from a fantastical Lostbelt. As such, there is no way for you to survive in the reality of a Singularity.

So...I am going to erase all of Mash's memories of you.

Everything from the moment she meets you in Sheffield in 2019, to the moment she enters her coffin.

So long as she has no memory of you, you should be able to live in the Era of the High Queen as well.

Which is why you'll have to stay away from Mash once she's been freed from her coffin.

If she remembers you, you'll vanish from the Era of the High Queen.

You'll disappear when the morning lark sings, just like a summer night's dream.

Totorot... No, Habetrot!

How could I have forgotten about you!? I'm sorry! I'm so sorry I didn't remember!

It's so wonderful to see you again! I can't believe this is happening...

No... You've been with me all this time, watching over me!

Yup. I always keep my promises, you know. Here, this is yours.

I've been hiding it inside my Spinning Wheel all this time. Never even noticed, did ya?

Y-you've even got the Black Barrel! Then, when you came floating down from above, you must've

Yup! I stashed it away quick as a wink while Beryl was yammering on! Pretty impressive, right!?

It is! You must be just as fast as ever then! I had no idea you had

...Habetrot?

...The morning lark is singing, and my dream is coming to an end.

But that's okay. I mostly did what I wanted to do, and I long since kept my most important promise.

So this is where old Habetrot says goodbye. I wish I could've seen your happily-ever-after...

Ah, hey, knowing you guys, you'll be fine! In fact, I bet you'll always have perfect weather for every single one of your anniversaries!

Wait... Ah. Ahh...!

Is this...is this because I remembered you? Is that why you're disappearing!?

Why... Why did you do all this for me? I don't deserve it!

Sure you do. And even if you didn't, so what? I don't care.

I just want you to be happy. I mean, everyone did the best they could, right?

Aesc did...Ector and Wryneck... Even Grímr was a pretty good guy.

They might all be gone now, but we still had a great journey together.

And besides, I'm a friend to brides everywhere. I wanted to make sure your future would be a happy one.

No... No, please! Please don't go!

Take the memories back! I promise I won't remember you! Please!

Just, please...don't go...

You... You more than anyone else...

...You put everything into making your dreams come true...

Aw, come on. You know that's not true.

But if you really, really want to pay me back...then, how about this?

Remember. Remember me. Remember Aesc. Remember how beautiful our Britain really was.

...I will. I promise!

Welp, looks like we're out of time. I can see Fujimaru running this way, too.

Go put Cernunnos out of his misery, Mash. He's suffering too, in his own way.

Consider this a fresh start for the dreams that await you. No matter how hard it is to say goodbye, there will always be something wonderful to look forward to. Always.

Now, go on! Hold your head high!

Show this old Tam Lin what a badass you really are!

...Of course I will! Just watch me, Totorot!

？！

Right, Master! I won't run away again! As a knight who completed her pilgrimage...

I'm going to use everything I have to crush the calamity plaguing Britain!

Target elimination confirmed! Did you see that, Habetro

...Ah... Ghh... ...Ghhh...

...Thank you.

Thank you, Tam Lin Totorot. Thank you, Habetrot the Spinner.

I'm so proud that you chose me to be your dream.

...Goodbye. May the flowers bless you, too...

？！

？！

Attention on the deck. Fujimaru, Mash.

We've confirmed that Cernunnos has disappeared, and the curse spraying from the pit has ceased.

We're even able to get readings on the bottom of the pit now, where it seemed bottomless earlier.

Every calamity in the British Lostbelt, and all threats to Proper Human History, have been defeated.

Once we've refueled the Storm Border, we'll head back to the waters off the western coast.

Then, as soon as we've confirmed the British Lostbelt is safe, we'll return to Novum Chaldea.

Great work, you two. I'll be keeping the speed low for a while, so take your time about coming back inside if you like.

...Phew. I think we finally pulled it off.

I'll admit, I was freaking out a little when not even the Rhongomyniads finished him off...

But then you guys showed up with a god-killing weapon that'd easily put Muramasa to shame!

？！

Well, yeah, sure. It'd have been great if we could've won without any sacrifices.

But things don't usually go that way. Most of the time, you lose something or someone along the way.

This time might not've been any different...

But personally, I think those two went out happy. Knowing they did everything they possibly could.

And it's all because they believed you guys would win this thing'cause they wanted to see you do that more than anyone.

They put their trust in you, and thought of you as their friends. If you're gonna remember them, remember them for that.

And don't forget, your battle doesn't end here with Britain.

You've still got this Foreign God thing to contend with.

...I know. We're so grateful to Altria and Habetrot. And to you, Grímr the Sage.

By the way, I couldn't ask this during the battle, but... Is your eye all right!?

Oh sure! It's just what I needed to put on a truly mythical performance! 'Sides, having only one eye made my magecraft sharper than ever!

？！

Looks that way.

The god of wisdom entrusted me with ensuring Chaldea got their hands on the sacred sword.

And, as a Celtic Heroic Spirit, I also got to be there for Cernunnos's final moments.

So now, my role in this Lostbelt is complete.

As the only helper here from Proper Human History, I'm glad I managed to save face.

？！

？！

Thank you again, Cú Chulainn. What are you going to do now?

Are you going to be registered at Chaldea as a Caster?

It's Grímr, all right!? Now that you know my deal, I'd rather you call me "Grímr" from now on!

...But anyway, I owe you guys one, now. And not just me. The god of wisdom says so, too.

And if I can keep this Spirit Origin after going back to the Throne, I'll pop by Chaldea as a Caster.

So I'll see you guys then! I have a feeling I'll be seeing you all again!

？！

？！

...All right. It's time we put this Lostbeltno, this Lostworld behind us.

The calamities have dealt the isle a critical blow. There can't be many survivors left.

Still, at least it hasn't been completely destroyed.

I wish we could stay to see Britain get back on its feet before we return to Chaldea, but...

Yeah, that would be niceWait. Huh?

All the flames and curses have dissipated, but chunks of ground are still breaking apart. In fact, if anything

Attention! Attention! I'm picking up a massive gravity fluctuation across all of Britain!

The ground is floating up into the air, even though there's nothing creating gravity up there!

What the heck's going on!? This doesn't make any sense! Everything is falling up!

It's worse! Sheba's detecting a level one threat!

I can't see what's causing it, but the way things are going now, the whole Earth's gonna be gone in an hour!

It's the collapse! The collapse has started!

!

？！

？！

But, we dealt with all the calamities! There shouldn't be anything left to threaten Britain!

So why is the collapse beginning now!? There's no sign of a new enemy anywhere!

Sure there is. You just didn't notice it because you'd been looking at it the whole time.

Remember that mural in Londinium?

That was a depiction of the Prophecy of Destruction Cernunnos's priestess made just as she was being dismembered.

"As the world grows newer, unbeknownst to all, its roots will grow older..."

"...until one day, they will be so brittle as to crumble with a bite from a single, insignificant insect."

That prophecy wasn't about Britain's future.

What you're seeing now is what happens when the roots of even the strongest human history are gnawed through.

Soon, the entire planet will be gone, as though it never existed.

Huh? You mean you've been on to me, Fujimaru?

Well, that sucks. Now I feel silly for biding my time waiting for the perfect moment to make my reappearance.

But, really, so what? I never bothered to hide it from you in the first place.

Of all my little pawns, you were by far the most insignificant.

？！

？！

Oh? What's wrong, Blanca? Your pretty antennae stopped moving.

Ah. You're dead.

Were you taking all the mors' poison being directed at me from all of Britain, in my place?

Thanks, I guess. Not that it really matters.

...Oberon? That's Oberon?

He certainly does look the part of a faerie king... But what's the meaning of this, Da Vinci?

Your reports said he was one of your local collaboratorsa Proper Human History Servant who had been summoned by this land.

But his Spirit Origin isn't from Proper Human History at all.

For that matter, he's neither human nor faerie. In fact, he doesn't match any known life-form!

Is that really Oberon the Faerie King?

Of course it is! Believe me, I confirmed it dozens of

Huh!? I can't see his magical energy signal on the Border's sensors!

No, wait, I can...but it doesn't match any of our data! His Spirit Origin is changing literally every second!

I don't believe it! There's no trustworthy information about his Spirit Origin anywhere!

He may as well be invisiblethere, but not there at the same time!

Th-then...who in the world is he?

...

Ah! I just picked up a massive irregular space in northern Britain! No way! When did this show up!?

My apologies, but I don't know what you mean by "irregular space"! Can you be more specific!?

Um... Uh... Look, it's...there's just a weird thing there, okay! What IS that thing!? Is it actually...alive?

I'm sorry, but we can't explain it! We just can't!

We've never seen anything like that creature anywhere in the world!

I even tried firing a sensor pulse at it, but I didn't get a single reading! (Crying)

I can tell it's really bad news, though! Sheba's gone pitch black! It's hard to believe, but according to this, we're already done for!

"Return Impossible." "Destination Permanently Unmoored." "Eternal Voyage In Progress." What kind of status reports ARE these!?

Captain, we're scared! Did we already sink without realizing!?

Yes, there is something pulsating to the north, and I can only describe it as a hole in space...

...but it seems we can't view it on the monitor.

Mr. Fujimaru! Can you see it from the deck!?

？！

...What is that, Master?

Some kind of black haze is sucking up the ground... No. It's...eating the island.

What... What in the world could that horrible-looking creature be!?

？！

？！

That's right. Just a single insect.

Though as you can see, it's actually a conceptual insectan infinite hole that's going to destroy Britain and turn the planet inside out.

You can think of it as an endless hollow, if you like.

It's also me.

Even I can't really tell which of us is real and which is just the shadow.

？！

？！

...Well, since you asked, I'd be happy to oblige.

...Senpai. Oberon's form no, his very Spirit Origin is

I swear, these faeries are just unbelievable.

First, they kill a god and use his body to create a small island to replace the land that disappeared because of their screwup.

Then, still not satisfied, they kill uncountable numbers of their own kind to fill in the sea and make an entire landmass from their corpses.

Ugh, their sheer audacity and greed is enough to make me sick. Don't you agree, Fujimaru?

Even as a human, you think they're pretty awful...

So imagine how disgusted the original Britain must be with them after it was returned to nothing.

No wonder it sent calamities after them to try and wipe them all out.

？！

Anyway, Cernunnos wasn't part of it. In some way, he was actually trying to protect the faeries.

The only reason I made it up to the surface now is because he's finally gone.

Morgan ensured Faerie Britain's creation by sealing Cernunnos away instead of defeating him.

I honestly wasn't sure what to do. I certainly had no means of defeating Morgan myself.

So, I waited. I waited for a human who could defeat her to appear.

I waited for someone who could pop the lid off Cernunnos and finally get rid of him.

The Child of Prophecy's prophecy was just the chance I was waiting for. It was even a kind of amusing idea.

So, I helped it along a little.

I did my part to ensure the Child of Prophecy would set off on her journey, and successfully complete her pilgrimage.

All so you could be the ones to ruin everything you were working towards.

？！

Gladly.

I've taken the form of Oberon the Faerie King, a fantasy, a fiction created by your own Proper Human History.

I'm the embodiment of Britain's willthe very will that wished for its own destruction when the Age of Mystics ended.

...My name is Vortigern.

Oberon Vortigern.

I'm the Abyssal Worm who destroyed Faerie Britain, with a little help from all of you.