Count

There you are. You're late.

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What point is there in wearing modern clothing when there's no one else around?

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Are you alone? Where are Jeanne Alter and Salieri?

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...I guess Kagekiyo isn't with you either, then.

I'm not surprised. You must have noticed it as well.

Every Servant we've seen here has been an Avenger. I'm the only exception, since humanity itself summoned me.

...Fine, I suppose Cagliostro is an exception too.

At any rate, it seems like Avengers play some kind of role in this strange Singularity.

At least, it seems that way to me.

But, seeing as this is the last trial...

...you can ask the leader of all this for yourself. We're about to meet.

Let's go.

Welcome home. I've been waiting for you to return.

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...Haha.

Naturally, I asked Sir Hassan there to go fetch you...

...while I waited here in front of your house.

I believe the shadow at your feet aided with transport for all but the third and fourth trials. But for this one...

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Indeed.

I thought it best then that I show you the way to your foe instead. Please, follow me.

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That it is.

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You're not wrong. I didn't realize it before now either.

Cagliostro is right. He said he found out while he was pretending to be the third trial.

The one behind all of this...

...is in your house.

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That's right. Your father's study. The one that nobody is supposed to go near.

There's a perception blocker protecting it that even works on Heroic Spirits.

It's a powerful spell. If he hadn't pointed it out to me, I'd never have noticed.

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In one sense, yes. In another, no.

It will be faster if you see for yourself. Here, let me get the door.

Welcome to the heart of the Singularity, so to speak. This right here is the entrance to its farthest reaches.

It is also a quiet room, completely isolated from the outside world, and completely shielded from any means of perception.

It is this very study...

...that enabled the masked Count of Monte Cristo to conceal his whereabouts these past six days.

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Yeah. This room's why.

Its perception blocking extends to the entire house.

Maybe I would have noticed it if I hadn't been in my spirit form while guarding your aunt.

Or maybe Jeanne Alter or Kagekiyo would have noticed if they'd ever come inside.

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Yes, it is a true tragedy. It strikes me as an act undertaken purely out of malice.

... ...

...Give me your hand, Fujimaru.

Don't look so surprised. It's for a temporary contract.

The final trial is almost here. We can't afford to be picky.

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Honestly, I still don't know.

I still get the sense you don't understand the responsibility of being humanity's last Master.

But, at the same time...I can't deny that you're stepping up when you have to.

For one thing, you didn't flinch even when you were up against Divine Spirit-level threats. So for now, that's good enough.

Now come on.

There. You're now my temporary Master. I can finally fight at full strength.

I may not be as strong as the Extra classes, who skew heavily toward offense...

...but I can still be useful in my own right. Not that it seems I'll get many chances to prove it.

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Yeah.

Hehe, what a heartwarming sight. How wonderful.

The only thing that could make it better would be if you were to form a temporary contract with me as well... But I understand if that's asking too much.

Now then, let us be on our way.

...The darkness awaits.

...That's deep.

That is the Colimaçon Noir, the Black Spiral! Or at least, that's what I call it.

And somewhere on that seemingly endless spiral, we will find the Count.

Don't worry. It may be long, but that's all. Sooner or later, we will find him.

So, we must watch our step as we go.

Enemies incoming. Do be careful, Fujimaru.

There they are; the toxic flames of love and hate. I must say...

...they are as hideous as ever.

So, those fire creatures were the masked Count of Monte Cristo's minions.

Given their temperament, yes, I believe so. ...Is something wrong, Master of Chaldea?

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Hmm. Trouble with your simple summons, I take it?

Well, here we are, about to fight the last battle of this Singularity, and yet...

...it seems Lady Jeanne Alter, Sir Salieri, Lady Kagekiyo have deserted you.

I must say, never could I have imagined it coming to this. I'm sure you'd known some of them for quite some time.

Well, you needn't worry. It will take more than the honeyed words of our enemy's leader to sway my allegiance.

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Heroic Spirit of humanity, after all. I can't speak for Hassan over there, however.

Shut up.

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Oh no, you don't!

Hahahahaha, Heroic Spirit of humanity!

Hehe! Hehehehe, alas, alas! I regret to inform you that...

...this one was a fake. How unfortunate!

!!!

...How truly unfortunate.

I am not what I claimed.

The Count of Monte Cristo did not bring me here as a trial.

Nor did I materialize here to help you, a Heroic Spirit on the side of humanity.

I am a Foreign Disciple!

But my ambitions cannot be confined to a mere Alter Ego!

I am a natural-born Pretender! For me, there can be no other Spirit Origin!

There are none better when it comes to the double, or even triple cross!

And now, your life is mine!

Cagliostro, you bastard!

...!

And that's three!

Hehehahahahaha! You're the third one of his cherished companions I've laid to rest!

What are you talking abou

Do you know how I knew of the relationship between the Count of Monte Cristo and the Death Storm King?

No, for that matter, do you know why the Death Storm King was one of the trials to begin with!?

It was me! It was always me!

I killed his loved ones with my own hands! My compatriots devoured his young attendants!

I am neither the enemy of humanity, nor of the Foreign God!

My only enemy is the Count of Monte Cristo!

Trials? Humanity? Ordeal Call? Hahahahahahaha, none of that matters to me!

Master of Chaldea, you are the Count of Monte Cristo's sole remaining regret!

What's more, your soul remains undaunted in the face of your efforts to resist that great organization!

All the conditions are in place...

...for you to meet your death at my hands!

So yes, unfortunate though it is...

...the best thing for you is to die a miserable death.

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Mm?

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Mmmmmm?

Ah, my apologies. I was certain I had pierced your heart, but yes, it seems you're still here.

Is it that accursed Mystic Code you're wearing? You're prepared for anything, as befits the last Master of humanity?

Well... Mmm...

I suppose it is all a matter of perspective. This could be quite amusing as well!

Yes, that's it! This would all be so dreadfully dull if you never had a chance to resist in at least some way.

Since you managed to defeat the Death Storm King I took the trouble to make...

...by all means, do your best. Fight back until the last drop of blood, your very last breath, has left you.

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy the show from the comfort of my front row seat as you pitifully wear yourself down.

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Enough! You're going to die, and that's that!

Oh no, you don't! And that's the last time I'm saying that!

Fujimaru! If you're planning on surviving this, do whatever you can to save yourself!

I'm not going to be able to heal your wounds again!

Hmm. You fight as fiercely as any Heroic Spirit of humanity, Hassan of the Shining Star!

So you're why he still lives even after I pierced his heart!

You're no more than the Count of Monte Cristo's dog, loping about, tongue lolling! I swear, whatever the era, he always has a lackey to do his work for him!

I'm nobody's lackey! I just have a job to do!

And a job's not done unless it's done properly!

You! Enemy of the royal family! How dare you set me up like that!?

What the...!?

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Right!

Count Cagliostro, you are invited to my ball of death.

And this time, it will be your head that falls!

How dare you... How dare you! You will pay! You will pay for this!

Vae Victis! Ahh, a pox upon everything!

...!

Ghhhhhh! You... You stupid, useless excuse for a royal...!

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I am immortal!

Hehehe! Well done, resisting so fiercely! I am truly impressed, Master of Chaldea!

Sadly, it seems I must take my leave. Do remember this, though:

One day, as the final Disciple, I will find you and

Except there isn't gonna be another day.

!

It's time to show you how brightly my star truly shines!

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Full activation! Maximum drive!

This shining star is about to run you through! Zabaniya!

...I...see. Well done.

A true star, shining. Your technique was masterful beyond describing with anything so crude as words.

So this is how you were able to become the leader of your assassin sect at such a young age... I should have been more careful...

Should I ever get another opportunity, I will study it well.

There won't be another. You always intended to finish him off here, didn't you?

...I can't fool you, can I? Impressive.

Indeed, my sword is coated with a particularly nasty curse. Any ordinary human it touches will die in minutes.

In losing the battle, I still completed my objective.

So, it would seem I have won the wa

Nope. Accounted for that too.

I can only use it once, but the healing Noble Phantasm I borrowed can disable all kinds of curses and spells.

Good thing, too, since I'm sure a bastard like you made sure to include a nasty organ-rotting spell or something similar to go with that curse.

...

...Well I'll be damned. Hehe.

A healing Noble Phantasm, huh. I ought to have known I could never beat him on my own...

Good, he's finally gone. Phew.

I swear, that man is harder to kill than a cockroach. Even more so now that he's a Heroic Spirit.

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I've been in your shadow this whole time. Didn't you notice?

The Count saved me just as I was about to disappear.

Oh, not Count Cagliostro, of course. I mean

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...Good.

Anyway, his magical energy allowed me to stay materialized.

Hehe. But I guess that's all over now.

All right, Master of Chaldea, I need to be on my way.

I wonder, though...

Will you feed everything to the fire? Or will you

...No, never mind. I've been cruel enough.

No sour grapes. I lost fair and square.

You overcame the third and fourth trials honestly. All you have to do now is go on to the last.

...Goodbye.

So the queen is gone.

How are you feeling? You haven't lost too much blood, have you?

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Good. If that's all, you're probably fine.

I never asked exactly how long it lasted for, so that's a relief.

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Hm?

Oh, right. As you can see, it's my turn now.

Cagliostro was able to regenerate even after his head was cut off, right?

There's got to be some trick behind that...

Anyway, I had to push my drive my circuits even further than usual to be sure I completely shattered his Spirit Core.

I'm nothing compared to the past Hassan leaders, you know.

I'm a failure who can't match Cursed Arm's sheer lethality or Hundred Personas' versatility...

I couldn't even show my face to Serenity or the First.

So this was what I had to do to accomplish something.

But at least I managed to keep you alive. Not a bad way for a Heroic Spirit of humanity to go out.

Anyway, before I go, I've got something to tell you.

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It's not my Noble Phantasm keeping your heart beating right now.

It's one I borrowed before we came here.

Attendre, Espérer... It's a healing Noble Phantasm that belongs to the masked Count of Monte Cristo.

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Not long after I started guarding your aunt.

He came out from the study and gave me this Noble Phantasm for safekeeping.

Said I should use it if your life was ever in danger.

Well, I didn't so much use it as I did designate its target.

I'm pretty sure he's the one releasing its True Name and consuming magical energy to activate it remotely.

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"If he attempts to kill Fujimaru, use this before he expires."

I think those were his exact words, more or less.

He also said something about how Cagliostro would always talk a good game no matter how much we suspected him...

...and that you would accept him into the fold no matter how suspicious he was.

So it was always pretty much a given that you'd wind up mortally wounded.

Not much chance Cagliostro wouldn't take a crack at you, really.

But, the Count also said that as long as I had this Noble Phantasm, I could save your life once.

Or something along those lines.

...Haha. I remember thinking,

"Wow, this guy really trusts Fujimaru to do the wrong thing."

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You said the masked Count of Monte Cristo is the one who trapped you in the prison tower once, right?

And the one in your shadow is Chaldea's Count?

Have I got that right?

I don't know much about any of that, and I don't really know either Count at all...

But are you SURE you know which one is which?

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...Ugh. This is such a pain.

I barely even understand myself, so why am I bothering with my worrying about other people?

I shouldn't have to worry about it at all, especially as a Heroic Spirit, but then I got stuck helping out you and your friends almost right away.

What a pain.

Still...

... ...

No, never mind. Forget I said that.

I did what I could during our temporary contract, but I don't know how much is accurate.

As a Heroic Spirit of humanity, I needed reliable information before I could ascertain the masked guy's true intentio

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...Right.

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I swear, you really are...

Well, no matter. If that's how you feel, then keep going.

Go give that pain in the ass masked bastard a piece of your mind. And mine too.

...Go on. He's waiting for you at the end of this path.