Forbidden Secret Chamber/do not enter.

Hehe, this is great! Just look at all these wonderful materials!

...Yaaay. (Clapping)

...There goes our leader looking smug again.

...I don't mind it, though.

...She really loves her job.

...I get it. Makes me want to show her all our best materials.

I'll help with her harvest however I can.

(Staring)

Say, do you know where Saber is? I want her to take a look at these, too.

I think she went out on patrol.

I see. She really does take her job seriously, doesn't she?

I know she's just trying to keep Grow safe but I wish she'd try to get to know everyone here better.

Including me! I mean, we're Master and Servant for CPU's sake!

...Oh. Saber's back.

... ...

Oh, welcome back, Saber. Did you find anything amiss?

No.

...Sakura. Just so you know

Sakura...? Oh, right. That's my name, isn't it?

I'm so sorry. I really do appreciate you naming me after the cherry blossom design on my clothes.

I'm just still not used to having a name yet... Um, anyway, what is it?

It's nothing important.

I just want to let you know that a sudden reveal of the material you're hiding behind your back...

...isn't going to elicit much of a reaction from me.

How many times have you tried to surprise me with giant materials at this point?

You should understand by now that I can't react the way you want. You're wasting your time.

Oh... Right. I'm sorry.

I just stopped by to make my regularly scheduled report. I'll be heading back out right awa

Wait. Look at this newly processed material we got from Keep! Have you ever seen anything like it?

I think they processed it in a way similar to cooking, or at least something like it. I think it's called bread? Or naan?

Anyway, it's got a little Raniment in it too, so I'm sure you can make good use of it.

Why don't you at least replenish your Raniment before you go? I already did that earlier.

...All right.

Hehe. Isn't it fascinating, knowing the materials we make can be turned into things like this?

I'd kind of like to learn how to make this but I guess that would be stepping on Keep's toes a bit...

Okay. I'm done eating. I'm leaving.

Already?

...All right. See you later then.

Sakura. I know you care a lot about Grow.

I also know how much you hope nothing bad will happen to it or to the work you do here.

So that's my goal.

I'm your Servant, so I am going to do everything I can to make your wish come true.

But that doesn't make us friends.

We might look to be of similar age but that is just how we appear. There's no point in us trying to be friendly.

... ...

Y-yeah, maybe you're right. But, I still feel like

I'm going now. Do your job, Sakura, and I'll do mine.

Well, back to work, I guess.

This lot seems like it should have tons of big materials, so I'd better psych myself up.

Hup!

...Ooh, that's your "time to get serious" pose, isn't it, Leader?

...The legendary pose you only do when you're hyped-up.

It's been a long time since I've seen you do that. I bet that means today will be a good day!

C-come on, don't be weird. I was just psyching myself up a little.

...I mean, I guess you could say it's become kind of a habit, but still.

(...This is for the best. It must be.)

(I don't know why, but...)

(...something really is telling me not to get too close to her.)

(So, I'm sure this is for the be)

Huh!?

Whoa there.

See? I knew she'd show up.

A Servant and their Master...!

Hey there. I'm Lancer. Pardon the intrusion.

Let's see... Looks like you're packing a sword, so I'm guessing you're Saber? Pretty small sword, though.

It may be small, but it's plenty sharp enough to kill you. Care to see for yourself?

(Don't do this, Lancer. It's impossible. You haven't got a chance. Not with me as your Master.)

(I...I'm a useless, hopeless sinner. I don't deserve to win. I only deserve to be punished...)

...Just kidding.

Don't worry. I've got a weapon on me, sure, but I'm not here to fight.

Especially not when it looks like you're missing your Master.

...Huh?

What are you saying? You're a Servant in a Holy Grail War, aren't you?

'Course I am. But right now, I've got more important things to worry about.

Before we fight, we eat. Food's the most important thing, you know. Like they say, you can't fight on an empty stomach.

And in my case, I can't fight until I've fed my Master something so good, it snaps her out of her funk.

And that's why I'm here! I need ingredients, not a fight!

So put your sword away, Saber.

Are you an idiot? Do you really believe someoneanyone would fall for that?

Well, I'm gonna need you to or we're really not gonna get anywhere... Okay, how 'bout this?

...Why are you just sitting on the ground?

Saber, call your Master here.

I never lie. Let me talk to your Master. They'll see that I mean what I say.

So you really are an idio ...!

(...Now I get it. They must be trying to keep me busy me here so another unit can go after Sakura!)

Huh?

I told you this wouldn't work. Let's just go home...

Sakura!

Wh-what is it, Saber? You look like you've just seen a ghost or something.

...You're okay.

That's a relief... But, no, I can't let my guard down yet. I might have just beat them here.

There is an enemy in the area. We should take you from here just to be sa

There we go. I'm gonna put you down now, 'kay?

Why did you just rush ahead like that!? You big jerk...!

Lancer!

(How did he get here so quickly? He couldn't have followed me; I was going as fast as I could. Unless...he's as fast as I am!?)

Hm? What's with the look?

Oh, yeah. I've got a little protection from the wind, so I'm not as slow as I maybe look.

... ...

So you used me to find out where my Master was?

No, you just ran off without saying anything.

Besides, I only asked you to get your Master. I didn't say I was going to wait there for you.

So, when you just ran off, I figured you were showing me the way. So I followed.

But never mind that. It's not important, anyway. Hey there. Are you Saber's Master?

...Yes.

You don't need to speak with them, Sakura. Just stand back.

I keep telling you, I'm not here to fight. I'm a cook first and foremost.

And I can't do any cooking in this world without ingreI mean, materials. So, I came here to get some.

Since you're the ones growing everything, you ought to have some premium quality stuff, right?

Cooking...? Does that mean you made those new materials going around?

Oh, did you try one? Good stuff, right?

It was delicious. Just thinking about it sends me over the moon...

Hahaha! Yeah? Well, I'm glad to hear even AIs like my cooking!

But it hasn't been enough to cheer up my melancholy Master here.

And since if you wanna make the best food, you need the best ingredients, I figured I'd come right to the source.

I see...

Are you buying this, Sakura? You actually believe him?

Hmm. Well, if he was trying to fool us, I don't think this is the kind of thing he would be saying.

Plus, if he wanted to fight, I'm sure he would've attacked you before you came back here.

And then there's

And then there's that wonderful smell. Do you smell it?

Well...yes, I do.

So I think he's telling the truth about being a cook.

And as the prime AI of Grow...

...it's my job to provide materials to Keep for them to use.

...Just so we're clear, I'm not the one asking for them...

Besides, remember what I said earlier? I was just hoping someone at Keep would teach me how to cook.

There's so many things I want to know. So why don't we try taking him at his word, Saber?

... ...

I took you for timid. You're far more stubborn and stupid than I realized.

Hey, don't call me stupid.

You don't make a move without my permission. So much as look at her in a way I don't like and I'll kill you.

...No, not only you. I might just start with your Master.

Fine by me!

Well, it's not by me!

No, wait... If anyone's dying here, it's going to be me. I can tell.

Hey, I was just agreeing to them giving us the ingredients I want.

You're not dying anytime soon. Not with me protecting you.

... ...

This is great! I can already feel the wind changing!

Okay, let's get to it. Show me the best materials you've got.

Come to think of it, this might be the first time anyone has ever so aggressively pursued quality material.

Okay, I'm going to do the very best I can to help you!

Hup!

I'm still not sure exactly what kind of material you think is the best...

...but I can at least start by showing you to our warehouse.

You'll find all our best materials in there, ready to be shipped out.

That sounds great. Thanks!

Oho, you really do have plenty to choose from here. This is promising.

You've got all kinds of ingredients I've never seen before...

...but the mark of a good chef is their ability to tell what'll make a good dish even before it's cooked.

Now, let's see what you've got...

Those are the materials I'm proudest of over there. I hope he's satisfied with them...

It looks to me like he's just rummaging through them without any real thought.

For all we know, this whole thing could be a ruse to lower the materials' value. How far are we willing to trust him?

Now he's sniffing them. He may well lick them next. If we let him, he might even take a bite out of them.

Wouldn't it just be better if I killed him before he got the chance?

N-now, now, take it easy.

If he actually licks or bites any of it, I'll have him pay.

Even if he does, it'll only affect one lot. I think this is just what he does to assess quality.

(Ugh. I hope he doesn't take too long...)

... ...

Um, excuse me, but...you're Lancer's Master and Keep's prime AI, right?

Probably.

Probably?

Our personalities were randomly assigned to us.

I think something must've gone wrong with mine, because I don't have nearly the sense of duty other AIs do.

And as far as I can remember, I never did.

(Hell, if anything, I don't even feel like I deserve to be a Master in a Holy Grail War at all...)

...(Sigh) I wonder what's going on.

Now that I've met you and seen how capable you are, it's clearer than ever.

I can't cover it up anymore. Not that I was ever really trying to.

I think there are fundamental bugs in my programming as both an AI and Master.

Oh... You think so? You don't look bugged to me.

Yeah. I do.

...But, um...

Oh, right. I almost forgot to ask you.

What's your name?

I'm Sakura. Saber came up with it for me.

Me? I don't have a na

Yes, you do.

Lancer!

You said you felt like that was your name, right? Don't hide it. Names are important.

Hey, this one's got a great shape! How's it smell? ...Oho, nice...

...Cerejeira.

Cerejeira? That's a lovely name.

If you say so.

Hehehe. So, did you try Lancer's cooking too, Cerejeira?

It's really delicious, isn't it? So Lancer has been cooking it himself?

It's so good, I've been hoping he would teach me how to make it as well.

I bet he would if you asked him. He's...a really weird Servant.

He hasn't fought a single battle since he was summoned. All he does is cook and make me eat what he makes.

Oh my. Hehe. I get the sense you really like him but don't want to say it. Right?

Being able to eat his delicious cooking whenever you want? It almost sounds like you're bragging about a doting boyfriend.

Anyway, Saber's a great Servant, too.

She's pretty curt most of the time...but she's actually really sweet.

Anytime I do anything even slightly dangerous, she stands behind me and keeps watch over

Sakura.

...Hehe, guess that means I should keep my big mouth shut.

I'm sorry. I'm not usually this talkative.

But the Type Gs tend not to be much for conversation, so I'm enjoying this talk quite a bit.

...You're weird.

You do know I'm an enemy Master, right? And still, you're talking to me like we're friends.

We were all AIs that only existed to perform our assigned function before we were given these pseudo-personalities...

...so I think each of us has some aspects to our personalities that are at least a little irrational or peculiar.

I honestly just wanted to try talking with you, even if you're an enemy Master.

I know that doesn't change the fact that we're rivals, but...so what?

Just because we're rivals doesn't mean we can't also be friends, right?

...Does it?

I...I...

I'm not sure I have any business being anyone's friend.

Prime AI... Master... Someone's friend...

Doesn't matter what. I've never felt like anything I've done so far has ever qualified me to be anything more than I am...

"So far"? Now who's saying weird things?

We didn't even exist until the randomizer made us into Masters, right?

So who cares if you made a mistake or two in your past AI life?

You...really think so?

Yes, I do. So don't worry about whether you're qualified or not.

...You're weird.

Here we go! These are the best materials I've seen yet. Size? Sheen? Both perfect!

I'll take the whole lot!

...Uh... Sorry, am I interrupting something?

N-no. Not at all. It's fine.

Yes, we were just having a little chat. It was very productive.

Well hey, glad to hear it. Anyway, I can pay you in Raniment, right?

Here you go.

Oh my, so much? Are you sure you're not giving us an advantage here?

Well, I did just drop in out of nowhere. It's only fair I pay a little extra.

Well, thank you very much.

Here, Saber, why don't you take some too? I don't need all this.

...You do know you just gave usyour enemiesa significant advantage, right? Are you sure you know what you're doing, Lancer?

Or are you just that confident you can beat me even with a handicap like this?

Man, you're really itching for a fight, aren't you? Like I said, I'm not planning to fight anyone for a while.

I won't be doing anything but cooking until I finally put a smile on my Master's face.

And how long is "a while"?

Like it or not, we're still participants in this Holy Grail War. You will eventually have to fight.

How long is a while? Beats me.

Personally, I think we could all stand to take our time with this war. You and me, yes. But everyone else, too.

We should all eat our fill, really make sure our bellies are full.

Then, once we have nothing better to do...

...we can hold a big tournament or something to work off the food.

... ...

Anyway, we'll be on our way now. I've got to use these choice ingredients to make my greatest dish ever.

Hehehehe. Just you wait, Master. This time, I'm really gonna blow your socks off!

I told you, don't expect me to wait for that.

Well, um...goodbye.

I was hoping to ask Lancer about cooking, but I couldn't work up the nerve...

I don't blame you. And I would've done whatever it took to stop you if you'd tried.

This had better not happen again.

It'll be challenging enough to keep you safe during this Holy Grail War without you putting yourself in harm's way like you did here.

You think I was in danger?

Oh please. You can't seriously be thinking of them as actual friends now.

If you are, you're far too naive for your own good.

Maybe. I guess I just love Grow more than anything.

So...I can't help but have a soft spot for anyone who appreciates it, and the quality of our materials.

Well, you should work on that.

They're the only other Holy Grail War participants we've met so far. We can't expect the others to be like them.

We were lucky this ended peacefully. That is all it was, though: luck. Should this happen again, there's no tell

Wh-what was that?

Hey! Come in! What happened over there!?

We're in trouble...

We're under attack...

It's a Servant...!

Line up over there.

...Understoo

You're things, not people. Don't waste my time with pointless sounds. Just do as I say. Silently.

I don't even need to hear a "yes" out of any of you.

I know exactly what it is I need to do and I expect the same level of focus from all of you.

This should happen automatically as you simply follow your highest priority: complete obedience to me.

Ideally, there should not be a single wasted moment for any AIs working under someone as brilliant as me.

... ...

Good. Now, time to activate my new modified programming.

First, I'll use my prime AI authority to disable the limiters...max out all the parameters...and ignore the safeties.

Ghh... Aah!

Ah...aah...

Ahh, music to my ears. What a lovely symphony to fill the air...

... ...

The forced Raniment transfer program is working properly. Quantity, transfer speed, stability... All working perfectly.

That is all well and good.

However, there is another problem that needs to be dealt with.

Some of you started singing despite your lord's explicit orders, didn't you!?

Did he not just command you stop wasting his time with pointless sounds? Can you dullards not obey a simple order?

Ah... Ghh...

Do not expect forgiveness simply because you succeeded in making beautiful music.

Isn't that right, Master?

Your only option now, ahh, is to punish them accordingly.

That is the logical conclusion. That is the natural way of the world!

Besides, if they break down, you can always make more. Go on then. Do it!

... ...

...Good point. I'll conduct another extraction.

... ...

Hahaha, hahahaha! Now do you understand!? Hmm!?

Your lord's orders are absolute. Whatever he says, goes!

...That's right. No one defies me.

I am the greatest, most perfect being in this world.

That superiority gives me a rightno, a duty to stand atop others. This is the ideal I strive for.

In the name of that ideal, I am willing to employ the most logical and efficient means necessary to win this war.

Right you are, Master. Those with power should rule those without. It is only natural.

It is precisely why I must rule this world.

And why I must win this Holy Grail War to become the new central governing AI.

That is the best outcome for this entire world. It is what will make all the other AIs the happiest.

... ...

Your silence is forlorn. But your face...your face is beautiful. I can see everything through it.

Panic, pain, fear, bewilderment...and all the while you retain your sacrificial, mindless determination to your duties.

That is the function you serve as an artificial doll. It is why you can never escape even the cruelest fate.

Yes, that is your curse. What else could it be but a curse!?

Now, dance for me, my little mime. I will be enjoying your show from my room filled with the scent of life...

... ...

All right. We have both recovered our energy. I trust you see a path to becoming the king of this world?

Of course I do. We'll start by eating the low-hanging fruit.

For the time being, we'll save the cowards who joined forces for later. Our next target will be our other neighboring area.

Grow... That was Saber's domain, as I recall.

I doubt they will have teamed up with Berserker's Repair, given how separated their partitions are.

Hmph. Don't worry about the other sides' forces.

In the worst case, we can just use the trump card I finished tuning up.

Good point.

Ahh, I can't wait for that to start flowing out from its room...

Come, Caster.

The day of my coronation is close at hand.

Then, I, the head of the Makiri family, will reach the Root entirely on my own power!

And once I have the Root, all the world's evilsall its ideals, will be mine! Haha, mwahahaha, hahahaha!

("The head of the Makiri family." Master has mentioned that several times and I still have no notion of what it means.)

(I suspect even Master himself is unaware of what he is saying.)

(I wonder where his Master personality came from?)

(Then again, I suppose one might ask the same of me. Regardless, now that we are here, our only concern is to fulfill our role as pawns in this Holy Grail War.)

We are all alike. Every living thing is a pawn of the godsof the story being told.

All we need to do is release the desires given to us and live our lives with hedonistic pleasure until death takes us.

Come then. Let us feast on their screams...

...just as I did when I indulged myself in that room...

Damage is...significant.

We have to...get out of here...

This is awful! We have to help them!

Keep moving, Sakura! Now tell me, where are the enemies fewest in number?

Um... Looking at the number of AI comms, I think it's probably Field N34.

Then that's where you need to fall back to!

I can handle these things individually without much trouble but there are so many of them!

Y-yeah. I understa

Hey! Get a hold of yourself!

Sorry, I'm fine. I just tripped, that's all.

Well, it seems the AIs here quite enjoy the taste of dirt.

So you're the ones doing this!

Caster. The pleasure's all mine.

I hope you can forgive my poor manners. I'm not quite done feeding my pets, you see.

Eat up.

Aah! Stop it! Please, stop this!

Don't be ridiculous. What sense is there in not finishing so delicious a feast?

Hmph. What sorry excuses for Masters you and Berserker's Master are. Masters are supposed to be superior mages.

So how is it possible that there are so many dullards among you? Are the basics truly beyond ALL of you?

I know we're fighting a Holy Grail War, but even so, this...this is going too far.

These girls keep this world functioning. We need them.

And not just here in Grow. They're the foundation of everything that makes this world what it is.

If you keep killing them, how will the world continue on? Everything will start warping and falling apart!

Oh please. These AIs will be regenerated soon enough. The worst that will happen is a temporary reduction in their numbers.

And these materials you're growing? I can't imagine they need any help from you. They will grow just fine on their own.

Yes, once I'm the central governing AI, I'll automate this entire partition.

Making cutbacks where resources are being wasted is just being sensible.

You're wrong. That will never...

Please, you must understand.

You don't know how seriously we take our jobs...how much pride we take in our work!

I'm sure that's true for the girls in Build as well.

The hell I care. I'm not like you lower forms of AI. Excess is excess, period.

I...I don't mind dying. I don't care what happens to me.

But please, whatever you do, don't destroy Grow.

If you want to fight, then...I'll fight you myself.

Obviously I'm here to fight. However

We're still going to keep eating in the meantime. My pets and I share a stomach, you see.

But if you're not feeling up to it, I don't mind waiting until we've finished every last morsel in this area.

No! You can't!

Forget it, Sakura. There's no point in talking to them. They're going to try to destroy Grow no matter what you say.

Fighting is our only option.

(She's still reeling. I can't be sure she'll be able to provide me with the magical energy I need.)

(So I can't plan on being able to use my Noble Phantasm. I can't let her use up her Command Spell here, either.)

(On top of all that, I've got one hand tied behind my back since I have to worry about minimizing collateral damage.)

(But even so...I have to do the best I can with what I have. I refuse to let Sakura die here!)

Oh? Petrifying Mystic Eyes and a monster faintly seen by light...

Are you Medusa?

...Work it out for yourself.

(I can handle the familiars. But there are just too many of them!)

(We're just going to have to run for it. Even if it means abandoning Grow, at least Sakura will)

No, Saber. We can't. Please. That would defeat the whole purpose.

...

What's this? Already out of energy? Seems you can't use your Mystic Eyes in rapid succession.

Or at the very least, not at a level strong enough to instantly petrify me at this distance.

Of course, even if you did use them on me, I would resist their effects. I'm superior to you, after all.

As I thought, my job remains the same. I'll just keep my distance and continue to overwhelm you with sheer numbers.

Sakura!

I...I'm sorry. But, it's okay. I'm...okay...

Don't be ridiculous! Of course you're not okay!

Allow me to deliver the finishing blow.

But first, those eyes of yours. They're terrible...they've seen things they shouldn't... I'm going to gouge them from your skull.

And then, hehehe, I'm going to bask in the repentant screams of my beautiful new bride...

？！

I'm Āyus, the prime AI of Repair. We've come in response to your request for emergency aid!

I know we're in the middle of a Holy Grail War, but it's still Repair's job to treat damaged AIs.

I can't possibly ignore an official request for help!

You...you really came. Thank goodness...

Sakura? You called them here?

I saw a Type T on my way here, so I entrusted her with an SOS while I helped her escape.

It's an emergency system meant for Grow to request help from Repair in case there's some kind of disaster.

I didn't know if anyone would actually come, but I thought it would at least be better than doing nothing.

That's absurd. It would be like asking someone burgling your home for help putting out a house fire.

But, for whatever reason...I guess it worked in this case.

Ugh, great, it's that Caster again. He really ought to be ashamed, pulling this same shit over and over.

Has he just never heard the word "brazen" before or something?

So, those two have been binging on AIs here as well as in Repair.

Huh? Caster? Dammit, I thought it'd be...

Well, looks like I was way off the mark. Can we leave now?

No!

？！

You again!? What is your problem!?

Why must you keep showing up and interfering!?

Uh, maybe because you're just a walking bad guy cliché? Honestly, it's embarrassing.

What's the plan this time? Get your ass kicked and run like the hackneyed, third-rate villain you are? Again? Went great last time.

You know, you're so pathetic it's almost cute. No, really. I'm starting to get chills down my spine!

Shut up! Shut UP, you miserable, mewling worms! How dare YOU stand in MY way!?

Fine then! If you're so eager to interfere, I'll take you on myself.

I am completely certain that my superior method of collecting resources is the most efficient approach. I can't lose!

Whoa. Someone's full of himself.

Fine. I came all this way. It'd be a shame to go back without accomplishing anything.

So let's crush this Caster while we've got the resources to spare and put Grow in our debt while we do it!

(I don't really get what's going on, but if we can get Saber on our side in the confusion, that'll make this worth it!)

I'm not going to lie; I'm basically running on fumes here. If you're really going to do this, I'll be counting on you to do it.

She is very different from the one we know, down to her class, but yes, I think...

Excuse me, but are you Medusa, youngest of the three Gorgon sisters?

？！

What, so you know who I am, too? I didn't even show you my Mystic Eyes yet.

Oh well, I guess our True Names were bound to come out eventually. Yes, that's right. I'm Medusa.

But never mind me. Focus.

And also

Oh gosh, I didn't realize how badly you were hurt! Hang on! I'll heal you up right away!

But, I'm Saber's Master...

Oh, are you?

Well, I know our positions make things more complicated, but your request was from one partition to another, so...

...I'll just try not to worry about the complicated stuff for now! You just lie over there so I can treat you!

Thank you...

I'll use whatever strength I have left to keep my Master safe.

If you're going to heal us, then I'll protect you too, Repair Master.

Just remember, offense is your job.

I'll never trust you, no matter how hard you try. But if you really did come to help...I hope you can.

Come on, Saber. Be nice.

No more talking. Right now, I need you to just stay still!

Oh. Sorry...

Oh? You're already looking much more shapely than the last time I saw you, Assassin. How fitting for a beautiful bride.

Beautiful? Yes. Bride? Definitely not. What do you say? Want to take a dive over the edge and into depravity?

Hehehe, hahaha! Then you are indeed qualified to entertain me! Now, come. Be my bride.

Allow me to explain. I must go. But I will leave this key for you. This little trap will test your love and loyalty.

Now, prepare yourselves, wicked ones! Taboos you'll wish you had never witnessed will soon pour from my secret room!

...Phew. How's that?

...I think I'm okay now. Thank you. You saved my life.

Ghh...

Hey, don't push yourself!

All I've done is patch you up enough to stop you from shutting down entirely.

I could work on your AI parts, but I couldn't do anything for your Master parts...

...so I'm afraid there may still be some lingering damage.

You really should have a proper diagnostic run later, once things have calmed down.

Thank you. But just being able to move is enough for me.

Now, never mind me. Please, I'm begging you, just focus on treating the other injured AIs.

I really don't think just being able to move is enough...but under the circumstances, okay, I understand.

But please make sure you come to Repair for that exam when you can, okay!? Physicals are important!

So you're okay.

...That's a relief.

All thanks to her. What's the situation now, Saber?

It looks like they're just managing a barely competent job. I can't say I'm particularly happy about that.

Ghh!

How!? We had far more power stored up than you did!

Eh, you've got a bigger stack of resources, sure. But you know what they say! It's not the size that counts...

...it's how you use it. Guess we're just better about knowing when to hold back and when to let loose.

Doesn't matter how much money you have to spend if all you do with it is hire a bunch of weaklings.

Any true warrior knows how and when to conserve his energy.

And that there is no truer, greater warrior than me, well...just goes without saying.

...Hey, who said I'm only good at slacking off? You might be right, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

I must have enjoyed my battle with Saber a little too much. It seems it's possible to have too many beautiful wives to choose from...

...Now I see.

？！

For some time now, I have thought something was off. Thanks to this no-holds-barred battle, I am now certain of it.

That is not Gilles de Rais.

Huh? What do you mean? Just look at him.

That is just a trick our eyes are playing because he both looks similar and uses similar familiars to Gilles de Rais.

But no French marshal would conduct himself like this, nor so openly admit to his obsession with the screams of women.

Is that not just...what love looks like to him? It certainly was for the one back in Chaldea.

Further, his repetition of "bride," "room," and "key" all help pinpoint what is going on.

These are the hallmarks of a deranged serial killer who kept a magical key to a secret room and would kill his brides whenever one looked inside.

I know the story well enough to be sure of his identity, though not because I consciously decided to recall it.

It only happened to occupy a handful of kilobytes' worth of the storage I still retain in my mind.

And I think you might know what that story is too, Fujimaru.

Yes, I do.

I suppose even if you do know his name, his fame actually makes it less likely that you would know his story.

But I am sure you will recognize it once you hear it.

？！

Bluebeard.

A monstrous character from a folktale written by the seventeenth-century poet Charles Perrault, said to be modeled after Marshal Gilles de Rais.

That is most likely Caster's True Name.

Really?

I can confirm this by asking only one question.

Caster.

What do you think of Jeanne d'Arc?

Who's that?

？！

...Just as I calculated.

Their Spirit Origins are so similar that there must be some overlap.

I believe that is why their familiars and their forbidden rooms were linked together...

...and why a key that opens the door to a room filled with terrifying monsters became his Noble Phantasm.

To put it another way...

...he is like an Alter Ego made up only of the aspects of Gilles de Rais associated with Bluebeard.

Shut up! Enough of your irritating chatter! So what if you know his True Name!?

I am superior! I cannot lose! Failure is not an option!

Caster! It's time to use that trump card!

O-oho, I see. But are you sure, Master? That's

So!? Suffering such a humiliation as this is almost as unthinkable as slinking away in defeat.

And above all...I'll be damned if I run away yet again!

I have an ideal I'm striving for. That's why I'm here.

Why would a mage hesitate, even for a second, to use what is inarguably the right method?

In fact, if I don't do this now, I have no right to fight for that ideal at all!

I've had enough of these dim-witted AIs, this world that refuses to recognize my talent, and all the other mages who insist on trying to stop me from reaching the Root!

My name is Makiri Zolgen! Carve it into your mind before you die a miserable death!

？！

？！

Now, bear witness to the Noble Phantasm I, Build's prime AI, have created with my unparalleled mind!

Do it, Caster! Swear by your accursed True Name that you'll kill them all!

Oho, oho! My little key opens the lock to an even more forbidden door!

I fear no dragoon nor royal guard! Hear me, Wives Seven and Eight!

Hear me, all my future brides!

Come, give me the ecstasy of killing you in that very room!

Wh-wh-what the hell is thaaat!?

That is their trump card? It is too large! Absurdly large!

Yeah, that's completely nuts. Unfortunately, that might also mean we're in a bit of trouble...

Doesn't really matter how efficient we are with our energy against something like that.

I think it's also fused with Caster, so it's pretty unlikely I'll be able to drag it down into depravity.

Okay! I know exactly what we should do next.

Give up and run for it!

Sakura. Tell the AIs to get out of here as fast as they can. We can't do any more for them now.

And when I say "out of here," I mean out of Grow itself if that's what it takes.

That should be safer than staying here. Go on, tell them.

B-but... But then

I'm a monster myself, so trust me when I say that thing only cares about eating even more than it already has.

We can't beat it now. It would just eat us. Right now, we can only run away.

If it destroys the facilities as well...then they were a necessary sacrifice.

But if any AIs try hiding inside, that thing will just eat them along with the whole facility anyway.

My point is, we all need to get out of here, now.

That doesn't mean we're abandoning Grow forever. But if we don't go now then it really will be lost. Come on, let's go!

Hngh!

Yes, yes. This is even better than I'd imagined!

Who cares about fuel? There's plenty of food for the taking!

Hmm. I think I'll input the control routine now... Hm? It shouldn't be responding so slowly...

So he's heading that way next? I guess he's developed a nose for Raniment sources too.

Well, no matter. It relied entirely more than I expected on the autopilot, but that's hardly a problem.

Who cares about reduced mobility with all that power to spare? Go on. Keep eating! Keep growing!

Oh, and if you run into another Servant, go ahead and eat them, too.

They don't have a chance against you. No one can ever hope to defeat you! Mwahahahahahahaha!

(Huff, huff) C-can we stop now? We should be more than far enough.

What is our current location?

Let's see... Right around here.

It's this point almost perfectly intersecting Grow, Keep, and Defend.

You told the Grow AIs to run over your intertype comms, right?

Yes. I told them to run for their lives and get as far away as they could...and that they should forget about Grow for now.

But they're not like the Type Ts. They can't move nearly as fast.

Even if we managed to escape, a good number of them will still have to face that monster...

As long as they all ran off in different directions, the enemy won't be able to go after all of them.

We just have to believe that we did everything we could to minimize our losses.

... ...

(That AI's face kind of looks like Pārvatī. It's a little unsettling.)

Oh, I-I'm sorry. You saved our lives, and I haven't even thanked you yet.

Please, allow me to introduce myself properly.

I'm... Well, Saber here named me Sakura. I'm her Master, and Grow's prime AI.

Thank you for saving us.

Hey, like I said, I'm a Repair AI. I wasn't about to ignore an official request for aid.

I only sent that because I couldn't think of anything else to do. I didn't expect anyone to actually come. Why did you?

Well, as you can see, I'm already working with this Assassin and her Masters.

Hmm, how can I put this...? I guess, I want to do the best I can in the Holy Grail War...

...but I don't think that means I need to sever all my relationships with the other AIs.

If anything, I'd prefer to strengthen them.

So...I suppose you could say I couldn't just ignore that call for help.

Well, let me say it again then. Thank you for saving us.

Never mind the thanks. We just did what anyone would.

Now, let me get a better look at you. Are you the one? Hmm, no, I'm not sure...

What do you think you're doing to Sakura? Get away from her now, or I'll kill you.

You've got a great figure, but you're way too violent for my tastes. No, you're not the one, either.

Hmph. It looks like neither of you is the woman I'm destined for.

I don't know what you're talking about...

...but don't think we owe you anything just because you came to our rescue.

？！

That's fine. I can't speak for Berserker there, but having you owe us was never my intention.

Anyway, I'm having more Repair AIs head this way as we speak.

Don't worry about the damaged Grow girls. We'll take good care of them.

But...where's a good place to do that? Should we just have them all gather here?

No... It all depends on where Casterthat giant monster heads to next.

If it starts heading this way, we'll need to run as quickly as we can.

Hang on. Attacking AIs in the Defend area is prohibited, correct?

In which case, we can simply move a little south from here into the central neutral area.

That way, at least we will not have to worry about the AIs coming to further harm while we treat them.

I agree.

That's why I told the Grow girls to escape to the central area if they could.

Oh, yeah! Okay then, let's head there now and set up a field hospital in

Unfortunately, I can't recommend that.

Who's there!?

You? Aren't you Defend's prime AI?

Hi, DX. What are you doing here?

Then again, we're right next to Defend, so I guess it's no surprise you're nearby.

Hold on. What did you mean by that? What is it you cannot recommend?

Several things.

I can't recommend that you gather a large group of Grow or Repair AIs. I especially can't recommend that you do so in Defend.

Hold on. Are you telling us we can't evacuate to Defend? Why not?

Doesn't Defend have a neutrality rule to let it function as a safe haven in emergency situations like this?

I was sure that, just like the church is a neutral zone for the Holy Grail War participants, Defend is supposed to be neutral for AIs

...That is correct. It seems further elaboration will be necessary.

At present, Defend's AI neutrality rule is not in effect.

The enormous entity made from Caster's familiarsthe mass of those writhing creatures...

...has invaded Defend and is eating every Type D in sight.