Cradle's Will/whoever

I know keeping Fujimaru safe is extremely important, but does that mean you have to cradle him in your arms every time this happens?

Oh, well that's just a perkI mean, you never know what might happen, right?

So, um, a second layer of protection never hurts.

... ...

All right, never mind. Let me see... It looks like Āyus and Duryodhana are relatively close by this time.

Let us go find them.

Where did all these new admin privileges come from!? What happened while I was asleep!?

Oh, you like them? Well, you're welcome, then!

Uh...thanks?

Don't let him fool you. I deserve at LEAST half the credit. I was the one who got rid of Rider's advantage.

At any rate, this means you can now manage the workloads for Build and Transfer as well as Repair.

Yeah. I'm still a Type R myself, but it looks like I can also handle these other tasks as a kind of subcategory now.

I can even manage the location for all the different AI types and communicate with them, too! This is going to be really useful!

This is what the partition map currently looks like.

Hm, I see. Wow, my territory is huge now. I'll have to make sure I do a good job taking care of it...

Yes, but in exchange, you will also reap a larger share of benefits, too.

It is also lucky that so many of these jobs have to do with safety.

I think our next course of action should be to go around stocking up on Raniment and helping other AIs on as we do.

？！

One of the home bases, maybe? We should probably stick with Repair's, huh?

No. We are going to pay a visit to the church in Defend.

You planning to ask the central governing AI about this supposed Archer or something?

If I can. I am sure she knows more about this world's Servants than anyone else, after all.

But first, Āyus, I should also tell you what Rider told us before he vanished.

Hmm. I don't think there's anyone like that described by Rider here.

Me neither. Rider probably just got confused before he passed on.

That is possible, yes. But there is no harm in making sure.

Well, don't look at me. I've got no opinion on this.

Regardless, our top priority is to replenish our fuel supply.

Āyus, would you mind looking into what the AIs under your charge are up to, and find tasks we can assist with?

Sure thing. Come on then, there's no time to waste!

...Thank you.

And thank YOU! Oh, you don't have to give me any more. I don't want to take too much!

...Before, we were ordered to give as much as we could without disappearing.

...Oh, right. The Build AIs used to work for Caster's absolute shit of a Master.

I bet they were getting exploited pretty bad.

Well, now that I'm your prime AI, all that's going to change!

All I want is for us to be like fam

No... As far as I'm concerned, you Build girls already ARE family!

...Thank you. Again.

...By the way, are you the Master of Assassin?

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I heard you were a big help...

...in wresting control away from Build's last prime AI.

...Thank you, too.

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...I just realized. I can thank you in other ways besides Raniment.

...We have materials, too. Would you like to make something?

...I'd like to make something for you. Just tell me your desired parameters, like its ideal shape and purpose.

...I can make enough for all of you.

Huh? That's really nice of you, but we already have all the repair equipment we need, so... Hmm. It's hard to come up with something on the spot.

Why don't you just make whatever you feel like, then?

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...I see. ...Then I'll get to work.

...They're done. ...Here you go.

It looks like...a game piece? Oh, wait. This one's carrying a little medical bag. Is this me?

...Affirmative. It's a custom-made chess piece.

You can use them in place of the king or queen...or as their own original chess pieces.

Personally...I imagine them as moving in the same way as a queen and knight.

...Because those are the strongest pieces.

？！

Oh, you have one of me, too? I'll never say no to a bit of idolatry.

So, am I a long-range attacker or a charmer who can bring anyone I attack over to our side?

It hardly need be said that AI and chess go together like peanut butter and jelly.

These AI must be using it as a way to improve their computational abilities. Fascinating.

Although, if I am being completely honest, I do feel like my piece should be a little taller.

Still, it is wonderfully made. Thank you.

Hold up.

Why is mine the only one that's all boxy? It looks like it's from a super low poly game or something.

For that matter, even the shape is pretty shabby!

...That was not intentional. I simply overestimated the amount of material we had available.

...So I did not have enough to finish yours properly. As for the shabbiness, that is just your imagination.

...I'm sure it has nothing to do with you being the only one who acted a little frighteningly.

Are you sure?

...Incidentally, your piece has a rare ability: it cannot move at all.

...Amazing. There's never been another chess piece like it.

I knew it! You totally messed mine up on purpose, didn't you!?

Fine, since you got everything else about it wrong, I'll decide its proper abilities myself.

Behold Duryodhana, the strongest chess piece ever! Just place it on the board, and all the opponents' pieces will bow down in reverence before they're knocked out of commission! How's THAT!?

(...Snort)

What was that? Did you just laugh at me?

Āyus, are you sure she's really your subordinate? Maybe you should double-check your authority?

Anyway...I'm glad this worked out so well.

？！

Okay, let's keep this supply train going!

How about we visit the Transfer side next?

Now THAT'S a speedster.

You moved so fast I almost thought I saw a wolf, or maybe a dragon. Nice. Very nice.

Gosh, I could get used to how fast the Transfer girls' speed is! I might have them make one of their mobility attachments for me.

Um, isn't this kind of a lot? Are you sure you want to give so much away?

It's a bonus.

We thought all we'd be doing is making one-way trips anymore, so...

Well, don't worry. I'll never order you to do anything as horrible as blow yourselves up.

So just ride like the wind and don't worry about a thing!

That's a relief.

Then, it's been a long time, but we'd like to hold a competition to celebrate our new safety and security. Would you like to join us?

Competition?

A race to see which of us can run most like the wind!

We'd love it if you participated in the guest slot.

Incidentally, we Type Ts all have the same base stats...

...so our races are almost always dead heats that come down to hundredths of a second.

Then, what's the point?

Well, um, I think Berserker is probably the fastest of us, so... Good luck!

Since you love nothing more than crowing about how great you are in every regard, I'm sure you must be a fast runner too, right? Not that I actually care.

Want me to give you a speed boost with my Etherlite? By the race's finish, you will have torn every muscle in your body, but that is just the price you will have to pay.

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Of course I'm not going to race! I'd be on foot. They've got freaking motorbikes!

If there's one thing I hate more than anything, it's contests I know I can't win!

No, wait. I also hate losing contests I was sure I would win. Look, I just hate losing, period!

But never mind that. You know what every good contest needs? A bet.

That, I'm willing to do. Hell, I'd even be willing to be the one who takes the bets myself.

It doesn't matter how close a race is when you're the one handling all the money... Gehehe...

You there! No underhanded schemes!

I swear, you sure love to gamble, don't you? I can only imagine you must have won something big when you were alive.

？！

Anyway, let's watch their race and then head on to the next area!

That was great. Your skills never cease to impress.

We'll give you a little extra to show you there's no place like home.

Mmm, there really is nothing like Repair work for me. It feels good to get back to it!

And after all that work we did, we're nice and stocked up too.

I'd say we're ready for anything now.

It does feel like we're finally back at the real starting line.

With that awful Caster finally gone, we can have a proper Holy Grail War.

So, I guess once we're all ready, we just go over to the other prime AIs' home bases and ask them to fight us, right?

So long as neither side employs any underhanded tactics, that does sound correct.

But first, we still have an important errand to take care of.

So we're still going to Defend? We're all stocked up and ready to go though. Can't we just fight first?

It is best we have a full and accurate grasp of the situation.

Remember, this war was originally supposed to be held with only five Servants before AssassinKama appeared anomalously.

So it could very well be that there is another anomaly out there, too.

Of course, I cannot say how likely it is that this Archer really exists...

...but if there is a chance for us to find out, we should do so.

Because if the victory condition for this Holy Grail War requires that only one Servant be left standing...

...getting the number of Servants participating wrong would be a dreadful mistake.

Well, I guess you've got a point there.

Of course, if we are being realistic...

...it could also be that Lancer or Saber killed Rider's Master with a long-range attack we do not yet know about.

Since you already know LanBhīma, what do you think?

...He's the son of Vāyu the wind god. That's probably also how he got his lance.

He could probably manage a long-range attack if he tried, but I don't think he's the type to

Ah, forget it! Don't ask me! I don't know anything about the guy!

I didn't know him well before, and I sure as hell don't know this weirdo he's become! Hmph!

Now come on! We can't afford to waste time like this!

He's never gotten THAT upset about Lancer before. I wonder what got into him.

Something happened though, that's for sure...

Hey! Wait for me!

Good timing.

What, getting rid of these bugs that popped up out of nowhere? Just seems like a pain in the ass.

Not that. I am talking about the AI who should be taking care of these things coming over to see us.

Oh, hi, DX.

I see you were assisting the Type Ds with their duties again. Thank you.

I am glad to see you. I was planning to ask Rani-XII to arrange a meeting with you too when we met with her.

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I just want to make sure of something. I will not be long.

Warning. Unauthorized attempts to connect to my internals are strictly prohibited. Do so again, and I will designate you a hostile entity.

So much for my second round of asking forgiveness rather than permission.

Then I must apologize for the blunt question, but would you mind removing your armor and showing us your form beneath?

Even in this world, a Holy Grail War Master is marked by their Command Spell. Once we see if you have one, we will have our answer.

... ...

I do not know what you mean...but, all right.

Does this satisfy you?

...It does not look like you have one beneath your innerwear, either.

That is all. Again, I apologize.

I mean, it makes sense. If there really was an Archer here, they'd have to be her Servant.

She's the only prime AI with an area to manage who isn't also a Master.

But since she isn't one, Rider was probably just mistaken.

...Maybe.

Now that I have verified that the most likely candidate is not a Master, this does seem like a lower priority.

Still, we have already come this far.

So I would still like to talk to Rani-XII and make absolutely sure before we decide our next course of ac

Look out!

Whoa, those things came out of nowhere! What the hell are they!?

They are not bugs, but I have determined that they are still targeting AIs in the central area.

I recommend that they be eliminated for violating the rules... Requesting assistance!

G-got it!

What the hell were those weird mutts?

Something tells me we're in for another major pain in the ass.

... ...

Why would those creatures go after AIs?

If they want their Raniment...that's no different than what Caster was doing.

But Caster and his Master aren't here anymore. So...why?

...Understood.

Those were your intertype comms, right? Did you learn something about those creatures?

This unit's next actions will depend on the central governing AI's instructions...

...but I can tell you that I have obtained some new information about those Demonic Beast threats via Defend's comms network.

I will share this information with you in accordance with our risk management protocols.

Those Demonic Beast threats have appeared in every partition across the world and are indiscriminately attacking AI to steal their Raniment.

The threats have been coming from...Grow.

This leads us to believe the one responsible for these violations of the rules...is Saber.