All-Out War - Reinstatement Realm (Second Half)

...Is that everyone? Good. All units, report.

East gate unit, reporting in. The forest had a strange Bounded Field around it.

It appeared to be of Far East origin, and it wasn't easy to figure out.

Is there a reason you're using the past tense?

We've finished figuring out how it works. We should be able to break through later today.

It's all thanks to our Casters.

I see. I'll have to give them a fitting reward later. What about the west gate?

West gate, reporting in. Some of their elite warriors are defending this gate.

One of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins and a summoner gave us the most trouble.

The summoner in particular kept summoning Shadow Servants on the spot that exploited our weaknesses perfectly.

...I see. Then I'll go to the west gate myself.

As for the east gate, if you've already broken their spell, then the rest should be easy.

Crush them under sheer weight of numbers.

Next, our soldiers from the middle will strike the north gatethe fortress's main gate.

Our scouts have already searched for traps and found none. They probably didn't have enough time to plant any.

I see... May I ask how you can be so certain, Your Imperial Majesty?

We confirmed that the enemy had scouts in cities other than Sirmium.

Which is as expected.

There was a strong possibility that our battlefield would end up being somewhere besides Sirmium, after all.

We chose Sirmium for both expediency and honor...

...but the Righteous Realm is walking a razor's edge.

Their core weakness is their lack of Servantpower.

They may have a few exceptional Servants, but turning two or three cities into fortresses overnight, even with Casters working at full capacity, was never achievable.

Which is to say, they reached their limits sooner than expected.

Add to this that we will be attacking all three gateseast, north, and southat once.

I'd like you to handle the east gate. Don't be afraid to burn it all down, including the forest, if you have to.

Understood. I won't rest until it's all reduced to cinders.

...Um, sir? Are you sure about her?

I am. We can't stop a Berserker from going berserk, but we can make sure she goes berserk somewhere advantageous to us.

Oh yes, I'll burn it down. I'll burn it all down. I have no attachments to this world, after all.

...Kōnstantînos.

Johanna?

Let me go to the front line. I want to lead the attack on the north gate myself.

...Are you sure about this?

It's all right, Your Imperial Majesty. I'll protect Her Holiness with my life.

...Very well. I shall trust you with her safety.

But let me ask you just one thing. How do you plan to attack?

Why, Your Imperial Majesty, I'm the pope.

What more do I need to do than pray?

...Hahahaha! How right you are. Your prayers are enough to bring any enemy to their knees!

All right, I'll lead the charge on the west gate. How long will it take all of you to be ready?

I'd say...maybe half a day or so?

If we're going to make sure we're prepared for anything, we'll need a day.

How about you, Bradamante?

You're all such slowpokes. We should be ready to launch the assault in about two hours.

Right you are, Bradamante.

B-but sir, we're all worn out.

I know.

Bear in mind that though we may be tired, our enemy must be exhausted beyond belief.

I need you to summon your strength for one last push. Please.

I'll go get the middle ranks ready for the attack! Please wait here until I return, Pope Johanna!

We'll be leaving in two hours!

Huh? That soon? U-understood! I mean, okay, got it!

That's the spirit! Okay, let's do this thing!

Then I'll go get my team ready for the east gate assault.

How tiring...

West gate team, I know I'm asking a lot, but I have one more job for you.

I see. So this is why you had us retreat so quickly.

You do have some energy to spare, yes?

Yes, though only a little.

But if our victory is all but assured, that should bolster morale.

Okay, we'll be ready to move out in two hours.

Very good. Now let's go!

？！

I'm sure you are, Senpai. The best thing you can do right now is get a good night's sleep.

Indeed. If today was any indication, there's going to be plenty of fierce fighting to tackle tomorrow.

This was an arduous battle even for Servants, let alone a human.

It really is best if you just shut that brain off and get some rest.

？！

Good.

Excuse me, Charles the Great. I know you must be dreadfully exhausted, but I'm afraid we have an emergency.

？！

Forgive me for interrupting your repose, Your Imperial Highness.

？！

Our worst fears have been realized. The enemy plans to attack the east, west, and north gates simultaneously in about an hour.

S-say what!?

I thought something like this might happen when they retreated earlier than I expected.

Agreed. The timing for that retreat was most unusual.

I suspect Kōnstantînos intended to wage a series of battles right from the start...

...and that his soldiers were not privy to those intentions.

Agreed. From everything I saw, his soldiers were fighting tooth and nail.

They were doing everything in their power to conquer our fortress, including frequent use of their Noble Phantasms.

And so I believed we might be spared the trial of battles coming in rapid succession.

Kōnstantînos played his cards well. I never would have expected he was conserving energy for a sustained assault.

His soldiers' training and morale alike are leagues above ours.

Is this really the time to be praising our enemy?

No, I suppose it isn't. Very well then, I shall go and prepare for battle.

S-sir! We have an emergency!

The Reinstatement Realm's middle ranks have begun their assault on the north gate!

Didn't you already tell us as much?

Y-yes sir, but you see...

...Pope Johanna is leading the assault!

...!

So that's their game...

Round up every one of our warriors from the Far East and send them to the north gate!

Under no circumstance are you to allow anyone from her own faith to face her in battle!

I-is that bad!?

Even if Pope Johanna's existence was later refuted, she is still the popethe highest possible position one can achieve in the Catholic Church.

She will almost certainly be an immensely powerful Servant.

That power could easily affect our own army too.

Will you be okay facing her, Holmes?

I suspect so.

I can't speak for Sir Doyle, but I myself have little in the way of faith.

I shouldn't have any problem facing her.

I see. Then I want you to head out there as well.

The battle at the north gate will be a fierce one.

I'd like to send the finest warriors we have there, but I suspect the enemy will change their approach for the west and east gates as well.

Frankly speaking, I'm rather astonished.

The Revenge Realm suffered a loss to be sure, but overall, they are still in good health.

However, I suspect what we are seeing here is the full extent of the Reinstatement Realm's strength.

...Is there any chance they might have joined forces with the Revenge Realm?

Very unlikely, but not impossible. Doing so would be an unofficial means of diplomacy, to say the least.

For instance, if the Revenge Realm were to later betray them, there is no international body of law they could turn to for help.

Bearing that in mind, I can't see anything to be gained from pursuing that particular possibility.

Then

Indeed, Sancho. It's just as you suspect. They mean to wipe us all out.

... ...

Th-th-then what are we supposed to do!?

What else?

In all of human history, there has only ever been one thing to be done when faced with an enemy who wishes your destruction:

Fight back with all your strength. Let's go, Master.

？！

I'm going to open a line to the entire army.

Listen well, elite soldiers of the Righteous Realm.

We have learned that the Reinstatement Realm's soldiers you fended off earlier will attack again soon.

It is cruel of our enemy to send their tired, injured soldiers back into battle so soon, but it is also effective.

So now, I ask you: Will this news send you all into despair? Will you give up? I think not.

For on the battlefields you have fought before...

...did you not expect to be surrounded on all sides by your enemies?

Remember, you are all here right now because you overcame similar odds before.

You were hailed as heroes, and you died as heroes.

I will make this simple for you. Fight, and win.

That is what I, the Righteous Realm, and Charles the Great all wish of you!

...That, at least, should mitigate any damage to our morale.

I expect that whichever side makes it through this next battle will be the one to win it all.

The Reinstatement Realm may outnumber us, but their forces are not inexhaustible. If we can fight them off here, they will be forced to retreat.

Now, who should take which gate...

I'll oversee the north.

Don Quixote, Astolfo, Roland, Diarmuid, you four will take the west.

That is where I'm sending all our finest warriors.

As for the east...can I ask you to hold it for us, Master?

？！

Xu Fu's Taoist arts have likely been nullified. Otherwise, they would not be inclined to attempt this strategy.

So, I want you to bar the gate and buy as much time as you can with standard siege tactics.

I will stay here to keep an eye on the entire battlefield and issue additional orders as necessary.

...Be prepared for a long night.

Perfect timing! Lady Xu Fu's in trouble!

Huh? You think the enemy's going to break through my (simplified) Unreturning Formation? Isn't it way too soon for that?

There's no way they could've figured it out already! No chance! Watch, I'll prove it to you!

...And she hasn't been back since.

？！

I'm going hooome!

？！

They figured out my speeell!

Waah!

？！

You see!? This is what I've been dealing with since I got here!

And what's worse, whoever it is keeps attacking me so I have to escape from the Life gate to the Scene gate!

Not even Lu Xun escaped this quickly!

There is strength in numbers, Lady Sorcerer.

Who's there!?

？！

Hello there. It's a pleasure to meet you. And now...

...I must ask you to go away. Forever.

I have no use for a Proper Human History without my dear Anchin in it.

So I'll burn everything...everything...until it's all dust and ash.

Come, fire! Come and cleanse us all!

You know this lady!? Then, do you know her weakness!?

Whatever it is, we gotta figure out how to make her stop, or we won't make it to the next battle!

？！

Gaaah! Stooop!

？！

You there, woman in the Chinese outfit! Quit scurrying around and stand still already, won't you!?

Why the hell would I do that!? It's the only thing keeping me alive!

？！

This isn't fair! How'd they get past my Qi Men Dun Jia!?

You did well, woman of the Righteous Realm, but you can't win against such overwhelming numbers.

One lone Caster like you could never hope to defeat a hundred Casters working tirelessly to unravel your spell.

As for that, um...other Caster? If you're willing to give yourself up peacefully...

...I would treat you very well as my honored guest.

I see. So you're saying there's a chance!

Talk about looking on the bright side...

Aww. But I was going to be so hospitable...

And by "hospitable," you mean "lock him up and keep him as your plaything"?

Well, yes.

She actually admitted it!

？！

Oh well, I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

You and I are enemies. I should probably just cremate you now and be done with it.

Hup.

Huh?

...Eek!

Now's our chance! Come on, let's get out of here!

Hmph!

Just you wait! The next time we meet, I'll go a little easier on you!

A-all right. Let's do this!

... ...

What are you waiting for!?

We're only up against a single foe! Her army's lagging way behind her!

I-I know. But...well...

Oh forGive me that!

I'll shoot her myself!

... ...

Tch. Go on, Archer! Shoot her!

We're loyal to the Righteous Realm, and she's loyal to the Reinstatement Realm. That makes us enemies!

I-I know! I know that!

...Okay, here goes!

... ...

Wh-what the...? It was almost like...the arrows and bullets refused to hit her...

I may not have ever truly existed...

...but even an imposter pope like myself can manage a miracle or two.

F-fortify our defenses! Caster! Give us another barrier!

...Gate, I implore thee to open.

What the...!? Who opened the gate!?

N-nobody! It just opened up on its own!

Berserker!

D-dammit! Even he can't keep it closed!

...The gate is open. Praise God for this miracle.

A... All units, chaaarge!

Send word to the commander! Tell him the enemy's about to breach the north gate!

Our Berserkers and Lancers will hold them off as long as they can, but we need reinforcements!

What reinforcements!? The rest of our troops are already guarding the east and west gates!

Dammit... Dammit!

Astolfo, get back. Roland, attack in concert with your subordinates.

(Huff, huff...) Got it!

I'll take his head this time! Come on, let's go!

By all means, come and take it. Assuming you can get past my Noble Phantasm's three-layer bulwark.

Man, these are strong... I could only manage to break through one wall on my own!

I'm pretty sure it'd be the same for anyone else trying brute force, too!

It feels like those walls embody the entire concept of defense.

We'd probably need a Servant on the same level as Mehmed II to even have a chance of getting past them.

...I shall trust your intuition. Diarmuid.

Yes, sir.

Take your troops and lead them against Kōnstantînos's soldiers. It should at least be better than nothing.

Right away.

Count Vlad.

Holmes? I thought I sent you to the north gate.

The enemy managed to open it, but we barred the doors with rather a hefty amount of rubble.

So things played out just as we expected there. Well done.

It won't hold them for very long, but it will hopefully be long enough.

More importantly, what are we going to do about the situation he

The west gate's about to be overrun! We need to do something soon, or we'll be

I see...

... ...

Prepare to retreat.

I've employed every tactic and spell in my arsenal, but it simply wasn't enough.

Don Quixote.

Y-yes?

...I'm sorry.

You entrusted me with your soldiers and resources, and I've squandered them all.

No, Count.

I could never have made it this far on my own. Sometimes, luck just isn't on your side.

I've lost a battle or two myself in my time. Well, they were practically child's play compared to this war, but still.

You go on. I'll bring up the rear.

The Righteous Realm needs you now far more than it does me.

I'm afraid I can't agree, sir.

Sancho? What are you doing? You need to get out of here, too.

Sir, I am your maid, attendant, princess, and guardian.

I will always save you...no matter what.

Sancho, what are you

？！

Master? What is it?

？！

...!

So, um... Do you two know each other or something?

？！

Well, she wouldn't be the first formerly friendly Servant to be fighting for an enemy.

Don't worry about it.

Yes. We have more pressing concerns.

Such as?

The forest has been burned down, leaving the east gate completely exposed.

We'll be lucky if it lasts the hour.

Did you tell the Casters to reinforce the gate and ramparts?

They're working on that right now, but there's only so much they can do.

Unfortunately, I doubt it'll be enough to stand up to our enemy's Noble Phantasms.

So they're just gonna crush us with sheer numbers? Dammit, what a way to lose!

...They're here!

Good evening. It seems we've met again♡

？！

Personally, I couldn't be happier. Something really worth burning for.

If you're interested in joining me, my offer still stands.

？！

... ...

Ahh... Too bad♡

It really is a shame. Assassin, deliver this message:

The east gate has been destroyed.

His Imperial Majesty sends words of commendation, as well as a report: "The west gate has fallen. Commence pincer movement."

You're kidding me!

I see he moves just as quickly and precisely as ever.

So, what will you two do now?

Whatever it is, I doubt it will stop our fifteen hundred Servants from grinding you into mincemeat.

？！

Huh?

？！

...!

Huh? Really?

How can you be so sure?

？！

... ...

That's true. If the west gate really had fallen, there would probably be more commotion than this...

Wh-who cares about that!?

... ...Which one of you lied?

Was it His Imperial Majesty or you?

Uh, I don't

The Reinstatement Realm has officially gotten on my bad side. I'm taking my leave right now.

Y-you what!?

I believed the Reinstatement Realm was righteous, pure, and free of lies.

That's why I chose to side with them.

But if they are willing to lie to achieve their goals, be it for appearances or any other reason...

...then I will have no part in it.

Does that mean you're throwing your lot in with the Righteous Realm?

... ...You there, the caster.

Were you lying just now?

？！

...I see.

Then I suppose I have nowhere left to go.

I destroyed the east gate. You can take it from here.

Surely you're not going to lose now, even without me, right?

...Heroes really are incorrigible.

I'm an Anti-Hero, thank you very much. If you wish to try and take my life for this, then by all means, try.

Get lost. We'll handle this without you.

Fine. Goodbye.

Ph-phew!

At least we got rid of that flamethrower lady.

...Which doesn't change the fact that the east gate has been breached, though.

I'll have our Casters start repairing it right away.

？！

... ...

Aren't you going with him, Lady Xu Fu?

...Yeah, yeah, I'm going, I'm going! Ugh, this is such a mood killer!

Destroy them! Our victory is close at hand!

？！

I-it's no use! All units, fall back! Fall back!

We're going to destroy the ramparts to buy us some time, like we were ordered to do!

？！

Well, I do!

Understood! Preparing explosives now! Archer!

Releasing Noble Phantasm! Fire!

Bastards! Still, this counts as breaking down the gate!

Scale the ruined ramparts! Charge! Charge!

？！

...Then, we have no choice but to fall back to the Righteous Realm. Tell our generals to order a retreat.

I'm sorry, Master... I'm afraid this battle is lost.

What's done is done. The best thing we can do now is determine our next move.

And one more thing...

(Go on, Count Vlad. Get out of here. I'll hold Ms. Sancho back as long as I)

Holmes?

You're not going anywhere.

Ghh...!

I see you're quite quick to change gears, Ms. Sancho.

Spend long enough traveling with Don Quixote and that's bound to happen.

Sancho? What in the world are you doing?

We're going to defect to the Reinstatement Realm. I'm bringing them Count Vlad as an offering to curry favor.

You...you're whaaat!?

I wouldn't be able to do this if we had been fighting Kriemhild...

...but Kōnstantînos should honor our pleas to spare our lives.

When did you realize, Holmes?

Quite some time ago.

I could tell you were concerned about Don Quixote's safety to the exclusion of all else.

But I suspect you only just decided to act not too long ago.

Otherwise, you would have already been in contact with the Reinstatement Realm.

I further suspect that you have not revealed your intentions to Don Quixote either.

You're right. My sir is terrible at keeping secrets, after all.

Stop it, Sancho! I don't want this!

Then would you rather die here?

Well...no, but...

Nobody wants to die. Nobody wants to get hurt. That's true of just about every human.

Have you forgotten that you and I aren't actually heroes, sir?

Hngh!

Holmes! I'm counting on you to rendezvous with Master and finish the mission!

...Understood.

Very well then, Sancho.

You may take me away and use me as a bargaining chip.

Someone has to take responsibility for this failure, after all.

I'm sure Kōnstantînos will be happy with my head.

However.

...You want me to leave the Master of Chaldea alone?

That's right.

For both Holmes and myself, there is nothing more important than his safety.

Just as you are loyal to your sir first and foremost.

Please, stop this, Sancho. I think I'd rather just

Sir.

It's not that I don't value your devotion, but...

Don Quixote, the seasoned knight-errant who loved stories so much he became one himself.

No one will place their trust in you if you hesitate to turn traitor when needed.

If you're to betray someone, you should be brazen about it.

Otherwise, no one will ever trust you.

That's okay.

We aren't here to be trusted.

Sancho... Why are you going so far?

I don't expect you could ever understand, Count Vlad.

For regular people like us, battles, heroes, gods, and legends are all terrifying.

We don't want to spend even a second around them if we have any choice in the matter.

We're ordinary. Completely ordinary. We have no business standing beside the likes of you.

But, Don Quixote is one of the most well-known knights there ever was.

Yes...known for being a delusional fool. But...that's okay.

We will survive, no matter how foolish we must be, or how many regrets we pile up along the way.

We have to survive, no matter what!

Your emotions are running rather raw, Sancho. You would do well to calm yourself.

...My apologies. All right, let's be on our way.