The Pope's High Spirits

Hm? What's up?

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Why, 'cause you're a Master!

Besides, I'll only last a couple more days anyway, so you might as well get used to being the big cheese now.

Never could I have imagined I would hear one of the greatest rulers of all time refer to himself as "the big cheese."

And on that note, I've got a report for you, Master. Well, not me, actually. Sancho.

Thank you. At present, we have 463 Servants remaining.

That includes fifty-six Sabers, seventy-two Archers, sixty-three Lancers, seventy-one Riders...

...seventy-four Casters, sixty-eight Berserkers, and fifty-nine Assassins.

Of these, twenty-five are Heroic Spirits, present company included.

But the good news is, morale is very high. Everyone who chose to remain is raring to protect Proper Human History!

That is good news indeed.

Openly fighting for a common goal will foster much stronger bonds than fighting under false pretenses.

Reporting in. We've just finished healing all the wounded soldiers.

Now, why are you sitting on the throne like you're the biggest big shot in the room?

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That's 'cause Fujimaru's gonna stay king for the time being.

Me, I'm gonna stick with being Charlemagne the Adventurer!

Damn, but you've really got the royal Spirit Origin for the job, too. Ah well, guess there's nothing to do about it.

Now, our next order of business is to discuss our options regarding the clash between the Reinstatement and Revenge Rea

Emergencyyy! Breaking neeews!

The Reinstatement Realm's been destroyed!

What!?

The Revenge Realm, hmm.

You can see for yourselves. The sky in the former Reinstatement Realm's now the same shade of red as in the Revenge Realm!

We haven't yet confirmed this, but it's very likely that Kōnstantînos is gone as well.

That was fast.

I'd expected Zhang Jue's assassination would have left the Revenge Realm scrambling.

It may be that the one we killed was merely a terminal.

Hot damn. Seriously?

Very much so. ...Hm?

Huh? Hey! What do you think you're G-guards! Guaaards!

Oh, right. I'm the guard now! Help! Somebody, help me!

Ghh! So...strong...!

Huh? What's this all abou

Hello!!!

I know I just got here, but...

FIGHT US!!!

... ...

...Seriously? Damn, you really are the resident musclehead among the Twelve Paladins, huh?

Man, that was awesome!

Too bad it was directed at us, or it'd be even more awesome!

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Um, Bradamante? Let's just take it down a notch, okay?

And how do you really feel?

Get 'em! ...Just kidding. The thought never even crossed my mind, of course.

I must ask: Guard, why did you let them pass?

She scared me.

I see. Then, you will run a marathon in full kit.

Yes siiir!

You may already know this...

...but the Reinstatement Realm has fallen apart after the defeat of Emperor Kōnstantînos.

So now, the 542 former Reinstatement Servants who remain need to decide if we're going to join the Righteous Realm...

...or if we're going to punch you in the face and take over ourselves!

Wheee! That's the best muscleheaded idea I've ever heard from you, Bradamante!

Uh... Johanna, was it? Are you okay with that?

I am.

I would be lying if I said I bore Proper Human History no ill will.

So, I figured it'd be a good idea to just pop each other a couple of good ones to get it out of our systems.

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Well, now that Kōnstantînos is dead...

...I thought that, instead of joining forces under the pall of a major defeat...

...we'd all feel a lot better if we duked it out, first!

I gotta say... Super not what I was expecting from a lady pope.

I think this is great! We have the same style!

Okay, okay, never mind that now. So, I guess you'll obviously be fighting with them, Bradamante?

Of course!

We'd like to face you with six Servants, including myself, and have Lady Johanna stand in as our Master. What do you say!?

Hmm. What do you think, Master?

That would mean myself, Astolfo, Roland, and Don Quixote are a lock.

M-me, too!?

Let's do the best we can, sir.

Hmm. I'd better get the compresses ready now!

That is...not encouraging.

Kiyohime? No... Why? Has she been hanging around you guys?

You say that so casually!

At any rate, we should decide on at least four Servants, myself included, who will be joining this fight.

You, Astolfo, Roland, and Don Quixote.

Diarmuid, I want you to act as referee.

Understood!

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Master, you'll summon the last two. Is that all right?

Huh? Isn't your king

Shh.

...Hmm, so that's how it is, huh. Okay.

Wow, a single "shh" is all you needed to figure the whole thing out, Bradamante?

Just enough to know there's a good reason for it. Okay, let's fight, shall we?

Lady Johanna, would you kick off the proceedings?

Huh? Uh... Okay, let's... Let's take this outside, if you'd be so kind!

Message is getting kinda mixed here. C'mon, pope lady, pick a lane!

I know. This sort of thing really isn't my forte...

Easy there, Lady Johanna. This is a good opportunity for some self-reflection.

Now, let's do this!

Astolfo! Roland! You guys had better win, okay!

Yes, sir!

That, of course, goes for you too, Bradamante!

Me!? But, I'm your enemy here!

Ah, I don't care about that.

You're still one of my Twelve Paladins and one of my most trusted companions.

I care way more about that than I do the enemy thing. So, good luck, okay!?

(Sniff...) Th-thank you, my liege...

I see. So that's Charlemagne...

I'm impressed that you were able to make our Mante blush!

But that doesn't mean we're going to roll over and let you win! We're gonna kick your ass!

Yeah!

Righteous, schmighteous. Like the lady said, we're gonna kick your ass!

Oh yeah? You and your Reinstatement Realm old lady want a piece of us? (Taunt)

Huh? Where's a pansy-ass who doesn't even have the guts to rebel against Proper Human History get off talking to us like that? (Clap back)

Oh yeah? You better watch your mouth, or I'll killuh, kick your behind. (Trying for an elegant clap back)

Try it, punuh, good sir. (An attempt was made)

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Unofficial or not, is that any way for Heroic Spirits to behave!?

Stop that. You're embarrassing yourselves. Do you take yourselves for low-life thugs?

To those of you enjoying this as a spectacle, I suggest you reconsider. Now.

Ahem, ahem.

Oh, fiiine...

... ...

Lady Johanna, do you think you could try to act more, you know, um...popey??

If it's how I'm acting, it's "popey" because...well, I'm the pope!

Hey, guys. If we're gonna do this, I think we'd better hurry up.

Why's that?

'Cause it looks like that Lancer and Roland kind of didn't back down and now things are starting to get weird.

What he said! Now hurry up!

Oh. I see. Now I really wish you two had listened to me...

All right, let's do this! Nothing like a good slugfest to get everyone all simpatico!

W-we lost... I'm sorry, Your Holiness.

That's okay. This was still refreshing... I mean, purifying.

Congratulations. You beat us all black-and-blue, me included.

...Arguably, my life doesn't mean anything.

But right now, these other Servants are a lot like little lost birds, with nowhere else to go.

So please, I implore you to offer them refuge. And while we're at it...

Please feel free to make use of me as well. I should still have at least some value.

...Hmm.

I see.

(Yikes. That's unnerving... Oh well, I know it's a rather brazen request.)

(Heck, for that matter, they probably already know exactly what I'm up to...)

(Man, why'd they have to have a detective on their side!?)

How come she keeps making those funny faces?

Sir.

Lady Johanna probably still has at least a little hostility towards Proper Human History.

It makes sense, considering her circumstances.

However, that is not relevant to our business here.

There are many Servants from the Reinstatement Realm who still adore her. I'm sure her priority is saving them.

Even if she knows they'll all disappear should the Singularity be repaired, I'm sure they'd rather do so in victory instead of defeat.

So she's doing her best to respect their wishes and show how useful she can be.

She may be okay with her death...

...but she's also well aware that it would ruin any chance we have of a coalition between the Righteous and Reinstatement realms.

So I'm guessing she's trying to act useless so that we'll ultimately kill her with kindness.

That sounds...complicated...

You there! Lady Sancho!

Please get out of my head!

I'm sorry. Part of me is Rocinante, you see.

So I'm missing just a bit of humanity.

If you ask me, you have more than enough to go around...

Hmm... Yeah, that's complicated all right. So what do we do?

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Y-yes!?

I mean...

Yes, Fujimaru, Master of Proper Human History? What is it?

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... ...

...All right. As long as it's within my power.

Is this your doing, Mr. Holmes?

My doing?

Hmm. You mean, did I teach him that this would be the most effective way to get you to agree?

No, I did not.

I can assure you that Mr. Fujimaru spoke entirely of his own accord.

Seriously?

Seriously.

I have deduced... No, this isn't even that. This is merely a fairly obvious fact.

Pope Johanna, you possess immense strength against those who are similarly strong.

Your innate desire to rebel against Proper Human History has made you more than willing to stand your ground in the face of heroes and champions.

But pleas from the weak are much more likely to move you. And why shouldn't that be the case. You're the pope!

Your strength is proudly derived from love. You are the voice of countless believers too weak to speak for themselves!

As such, you are nearly incapable of refusing a request from one who is weak.

Even should that person not be one of your devout followers.

Your love simply will not allow you to do otherwise. Am I wrong, proud Pope Johanna?

...Okay, fine. I'll be whatever you want me to be! Even a figurehead!

But in exchange, I want you to promise me that you won't misuse the Servants of our realm, like making them into decoys or Servant shields or anything like that!

Done.

You have my word as Charlemagne that we will not mistreat them in any way!

Hmm. Charles the Great. Pope Johanna.

The two of you together should be all we need in terms of figureheads.

...Please don't make that face, Pope Johanna.

At times, our history simply cannot help but dream big.

I know, I know. You don't have to tell me.

Anyway, that puts our forces at 1,005 while the Revenge Realm must have at least 12,000 troops.

I'd guess they have a much higher percentage of Heroic Spirits in their forces, too.

The only way we can defeat a force over ten times our size is with a plan, but precious few strategies could carry us so far.

Most good tactics need at least a few more soldiers than we've got, or they just plain don't work.

So, we've pretty much got just one option.

Indeed.

We must send in a small, elite force to take Kriemhild's head.

We'll have the other Servants bring up the rear and do everything they can to delay any pursuers.

The front line will be me, Astolfo, Roland, Holmes, Bradamante, Diarmuid...

Pretty much everyone here, actually. We'll all charge in together.

You'll be up there on the front line with us too, right, Fujimaru?

Hang on! I want to be on the front line as well!

No, Don Quixote. I need you in the middle.

My guess is, even the very best of us...

...won't be able to hold out against a throng of enemy soldiers pouring down on us like a cloudburst.

We'll be lucky if even one of us comes back from that.

...Nngh.

So if and when that time comes, Don Quixote de la Mancha...

...I need an experienced knight-errant like yourself to lead the next vanguard.

It would be my honor!

Sir...

Don't try to stop me, Sancho.

I'm a Servant. I could never forgive myself if I sat this out.

All that aside, I'm really not liking these odds.

Sorry we took so long, everyone! Kadoc is back!

Oh? That was quicker than I expected. Did it prove fruitful?

Yes! Very much so!

Allow me to offer a correction on an earlier point.

Charlemagne said that you would be lucky to have single Servant survive...

...but what if we factor one more Servant into our plan?

So tired...

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You find someone, Kadoc?

Yeah, I did. Come on in.

My name is Siegfried. I would like to join the Righteous Realm and Reinstatement Realm's coalition army.

My bodymy armoris invincible steel bathed in dragon's blood.

If it's not too much trouble, I would like you to let me lead the vanguard.

Are you for real!?

Siegfried...

Now I see. No wonder Zhang Jue kept him sealed away.

As far as Kriemhild is concerned, he is the ultimate land mine.

Whether ally or enemy, his very presence will throw her off.

That aside...

Kadoc. Are you certain that was Moriarty?

Yeah, I am.

I don't care how good a Caster you are. There's no way anyone could replicate him that perfectly with an illusion.

He was definitely the real deal.

I see... Did you talk about anything else?

Mash should have a full log of our conversation.

Well, um, I actually just looked it over...

...and I'm afraid all the data from the point Kadoc ran into Moriarty has been corrupted beyond recovery.

The same is true for the video logs as well. Definitely the work of an inexcusably bad-bad professor.

(Bad-bad professor... Does that mean Ms. Kyrielight also thinks there is such a thing as a good-good professor?)

...Ahem. He must have destroyed the records so as to deny me any clues.

Well, I already told you everything we talked about.

Anything you can glean from that?

Ordinarily, yes...

...but this time, no luck.

Unlike my poor condition in Olympus, this latest situation isn't affecting my overall Spirit Origin...

...but in this case, I simply cannot organize my thoughts about this Moriarty.

By all rights, I should be the one to triumph over him.

He was without question my greatest rival. I fought him at the Reichenbach Falls, and we both went over together.

Our battle may technically have ended in a draw, but as I was the one to survive, I can claim victory.

That was true in both Sir Doyle's novel and in reality.

You mean your return from your Great Hiatus! "The Adventure of the Empty House!"

But this time...I cannot see a path to victory.

Perhaps that's because he's a Foreign Disciple. Or perhaps it's because...

Because what?

Because it is simply not possible for me to win.

... ...

...At any rate, let us turn our attention to Kriemhild.

Now that she has acquired a second Holy Grail, she is without question our most formidable foe.

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Great! Here, have a seat.

Can you scooch a bit? That's it. Right there in the corner.

Oh, did you also bring a blanket, like I told you to? These stone floors can get really cold.

Okay, I want you to hide here and watch what happens.

There might not be a point to this.

But, I think you'll probably want to know what happens.

She may not seem like she wants to tell us, but I've got a pretty good sense that she actually does.

And I'm also guessing I'm the only one she can talk to about it.

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You got it.

...What did you need?

Hiya.

I just wanted to have a little chat.

I already told the others about this, but I didn't get a chance with you since you showed up later.

Okay...

Well, that's fine with me. So, what is this about?

We've already agreed to work together, and I'll just be praying in the middle guard during the battle.

Eesh. You really don't want to be here, do you?

...Anyway, I just figured it'd be a good idea to get your real feelings off your chest before the battle.

I'm sure you've got plenty to share, right? Anger... Fury... Rage...

That's all the same feeling, jerk.

I know. I just didn't think it'd be right of me to name any of the others.

If I could share how I really felt, I'd already be doing that. It's not that simple.

But hey, there's nobody here, right?

You are, Charlemagne. I'm pretty sure the father of Europe counts as somebody.

Oh, that? That's only half true.

...Huh?

The other Charles the Great accomplished all that amazing stuff and became the father of Europe.

The...other Charles the Great?

So then...you're the aspect that collected all the, um, leftover legends...

...and you're actually closer to a phantasm than anything?

Exactly. It's a lot like your situation.

Actually, mine might even be worse. I mean, I'm pretty much all empty fantasy.

If this were Proper Human History, I'd never be summoned as a Servant at all.

But why?

Different aspects of a Heroic Spirit are summoned as Servants all the time.

It's 'cause the real Charles the Great's accomplishments are TOO damn amazing.

He did things everyone thought were impossible and claimed a spot at the very pinnacle of history.

He didn't have a flying Demonic Beast or a legendary sacred sword.

He built Europe as we know it through war and political savvy alone. Or so the story goes, anyway.

So there was basically no room left for a guy like me to exist.

Maybe that's not true for the Twelve Paladins, but honestly, they don't really need me to exist.

But, everyone loves the stories about you, right?

But me? I was denounced as an imposter.

Yeah.

Not much you can do about that, what with your name being inscribed in papal history.

But you still understand how people think about you, right?

I...

Some people might be sad when they learn you didn't really exist...

...but I doubt there're really all that many people in Proper Human History who laugh at you for being an imposter.

... ...

It's not true that Proper Human History didn't want you.

You're here because it DID.

The fact that you didn't actually exist despite that is what made you a legend, refuted or not.

If no one really wanted you to be real, your legend would have just faded away.

Just...pop. Like a soap bubble.

Like a bubble...

Kōnstantînos said the same thingthat my name remaining part of history has meaning.

Oh, so you've heard all this before.

But, I just don't get it.

How can you bear knowing that your whole life was a meaningless fantasy?

Hmm...

I guess because I wield my sword for the people who believed in me.

So what if you didn't stick around in the texture of reality? So what if someone thinks you're just a dream?

It's not just that. I... I was so angry at Proper Human History that I helped others rebel against it.

And the very fact that you feel guilty about it proves that you're finally on the side you were meant to be on.

...I wonder if Kōnstantînos knew this was going to happen.

Probably not. But...

But what?

I do think he was okay with you going either way.

If you wanted to keep rebelling against Proper Human History, he would support that.

And if you decided you were okay helping it anyway, he'd see you off with a smile.

But, why would he

I, uh...don't really think it's my place to say.

Huh?

If you really wanna know, you should ask Bradamante.

Aaanywho, you may never completely let go of that anger and resentment.

But that's okay.

I mean, you're hardly the first to have beef with Proper Human History.

And it's always the Servants who can put their beef aside who answer the call of a summon.

So until you exit this Singularity, I just want you to think about whether or not you can do that.

...All right. I'll...try to think about it.

Oh, and I'll try asking Bradamante about this, too. Um... You have my gratitude.

No need to be formal. You can just say "Thank you."

Thanks, Kingie!

Whoa! Kinda went from zero to sixty on the casualness in no time flat there, huh?

Kōnstantînos, huh... I wish I could've talked with him more.

Welp, there you go. Sorry for making you hide.

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Exactly!

But I'm sure you also wanted to know how she really felt. Right?

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Me too!

Forgive me, Master. There's something I wanted to talk to you about.

Oh, hey, Siegfried. I'm...guessing this isn't the kind of conversation you want anyone else hearing, huh?

Okay then, I'll give you guys some space!

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I'm told you and I fought side by side once before.

I'm sorry I have no memory of it. I only hope I proved useful in that battle...

At any rate, I have a favor to ask of you.

... ...

Once I tell you what it is...I'll understand if you decide to kill me.

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Hm?

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I see. I forgot you were part of Chaldea.

Thank you, Master. So...here is my request.

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I'm sorry. I truly am.

...So, do you know what he was talking about, Bradamante?

Uh...

Well, I'm pretty sure that's because you and Kōnstantînos...

...were deeply in love.

... ...

What?

I... Huh?

Oh come ON! Are you saying you really had no idea?

W-well, uh... I didn't think...it was anything romantic...

I thought he just liked me as a friend... Or like family... Or that he felt sorry for me...

I'm pretty sure he loved you for all those reasons.

(Sigh)...

Uh-oh. I hope I didn't upset you.

Still, if nothing else, I'm certain Kōnstantînos didn't have any regrets.

I-I-I never said I was upset! I didn't say anything like that!

I'm just, well, taken aback.

I see. You don't have any romantic experience, do you?

Apparently, I had lots, but I don't remember any of it.

Besides, I'm an imposter, so I'm sure none of those experiences actually happened.

Uh...

...Wait. Does that mean the, um, ex-boyfriend(?) I don't remember is a faceless 2D man...?

Let's not go there.

Nothing good can come from going down that path.

Anyway, I think we can officially call this your first love, no?

That's a little painful to hear...

Oh, but I guess it also makes me a little...happy. And sad. At the same time.

That's fine. It's totally normal.

I'm pretty sure His Imperial Majesty was the kind of guy who only wanted what was best for the woman he loved.

So when you look back on this war we're about to fight, Your HolNo. Just Johanna...

...as long as you're happy, and proud of what you've done...

...then I think that's the greatest reward Lord Kōnstantînos could have asked for.

That might be easier said than done.

I mean...I'm still sad that he's gone now.

...Grief is just as valuable an emotion as any other.

After all, we wouldn't be sad about losing something if we didn't love it in the first place.

Yeah... Good point. Thank you, Bradamante.

Not at all!

... ...

What's wrong, Holmes?

...I was just thinking about Moriarty's abilities. But I don't have enough information to draw any conclusions.

What about the ability he used to make Vlad rebel against Proper Human History? Would that be a clue?

You might think so...

But would he truly be so careless as to let slip such an important clue right before of my eyes?

That only raises more questions. Who knows? Perhaps that was his goal in doing so all along.

I see what you mean. It's easy to keep going around in circles...

You should get some rest yourself, Ms. Kyrielight.

Given that Charlemagne cannot remain for long, we'll need to leave in no more than five hours.

Okay. I'll go get a little sleep..

Good night, Holmes.

Moriarty. What is it you know about me?

I know everything about you, Sherlock Holmes.

I haven't yet decided whether you merit my respect or disgust, though.

...Now then, which side will win this upcoming battle?

Kriemhild, who is driven to seek revenge on Siegfried?

Or Chaldeathat is, the Righteous Realm, who is burdened with saving the very world?

Well, at this point, I suppose it hardly matters.

In fact...under these circumstances, I would even say I'd prefer to see Chaldea win.

It would give me an excellent motive to defeat Sherlock Holmes.

So please, go ahead, Chaldeans. Save the world like you always do...right before you destroy it.