6th Night: It's a Wonderful Life, Santa!

This will be our campsite!

Wow!

Fun, it's fun, so fun!

？！

A sleepover on Christmas. What a carefree scene we have.

That aside, Fujimaru. I transferred the goods you requested.

？！

No problem, it's part of my job.

Spend the night here, and if all goes well, you'll reach the sea tomorrow.

If all goes well, that is!

Oh? This feast...

It's the feast Mister Emiya made for us! We hurried out and forgot all about it!

...I feel a little bad...

Rest assured and eat up. He said the key to party foods is that they taste good even when they get cold.

D-Don't worry about me. I am not hungry.

You're not?

I'm sure she is. She's too proud to admit it, I bet.

I-I am not!

You are, you are!

Am. Not!

？！

Yes?

Mggh!? ... (munch, munch, munch) ... (gulp)

So tasty... I mean! Please don't shove food into my mouth.

Well, it was tasty, though. Um...m-more, please?

Piece of cake.

Did I just hear slander and label that I should definitely respond to!?

"Being faithful to one's principles" and "clarity of purpose" are my two mottos. Hmph!

Are those spells or something? I don't get it...

Oh, oh, oh, this roast beef is delicious! Delicious, so deliiicious!

Of course. When we get back, I'm planning on giving him headpats!

Hahaha, I can already see his face, looking like he hates it but fooling no one.

And I'll scold him too. Mister Emiya, quit stealing Noble Phantasms, okay?

Yes. I think I shall write a proper letter. Daddy Long... no wait, what should I call him?

...Dear Noble-Phantasm-Stealing Mister...

？！

Where did you hear that I stole things? I'm merely copying for eternity.

...What are you yelling about?

I just felt like I had to clear some things up right here, right now.

...Ahem, anyway, preparations are complete.

But... This seems kind of ridiculous. Why do we need to interfere?

...Well, simply put, if her heart can't change, there's nothing we can do for her.

For a wish-granter to try so desperately to avoid admitting her own wish... That's something of a paradox.

She's deliberately blinding herself to what it really means to grant wishes.

To even BE Santa Claus is to have the wish granted of being able to grant others' wishes.

Unless you're pure evil, the feeling of so performing so many good deeds fills the heart.

In a way, Santa Clause epitomizes that concept.

A nice child receives a gift. A naughty child receives a scolding.

I see. But Jeanne, she

Right. She lacks that. And that's the problem.

Left alone, she will lose sight of her reason to live, and maybe even lose her own identity.

...It would be fine for a Heroic Spirit whose name is engraved in history.

If someone has faith, and calls your name in awe, it doesn't matter if you have a wish or not.

However... That's not the case for Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily.

Nobody believes in her. Moreover, the world doesn't know of her at all.

Even if they know of Jeanne d'Arc, nobody thinks someone like her existed behind the scenes.

After all, she is a Servant born within Orleans. A fake given temporary life by the Holy Grail.

She barely managed to materialize as a Servant after slipping past several trials and causing a nightmarish commotion.

But even materialization is uncertain in the Lily state.

I see. That's why Altria Alter passed her the role of Santa.

But, even given the role of Santa, she still carries a burden within her.

Hopefully she'll come to understand it in the short journey to the sea

...By the way, what is the meaning of THAT?

Heh, I have to at least hide my face.

(So he is a bowman who knows nothing of disguises, I see...)

Reindeer Master, can't you sleep?

Jack and Nursery Rhymes both crawled into their sleeping bags.

...Aren't those two Servants? It shouldn't be necessary to sleep when they're materialized.

They are wasting needless magical energy. Aren't they bothering you, Master Reindeer?

They're not...? How come?

I'm going to take my spirit form so I don't cause trouble. I'm a good girl, aren't I? Ahem!

Y-you prefer it that way? But isn't it pointless?

I feel it's more proper for a Servant to stay in spirit form at times like this... So that's what I'll be doing!

？！

...But before that, I have a question. Have you ever seen the sea, Reindeer Master?

I see... You have.

Is it really so great for the two of them to get all worked up over it?

I see...

Does that mean no one in this party has ever seen the sea?

？！

...To be honest, I have never seen the sea. My grown self, I mean the other...

The original Jeanne d'Arc should have seen the sea in her lifetime...

But me, I have no memory of the sea.

Besides... If what I know is right, don't people usually go to the sea in summer?

Winter seas are just for looking and not swimming. So, um, what's the point in going?

？！

You really think so? I can't imagine that.

After all, unlike those two, I am an adult! Hee hee!

Waaah! Don't pinch my cheeks! Hey, stoppit!

Good morning, Senpai! It's snowing again today. Are you all right in the cold?

Physical and mental parameters are all normal, it seems.

To the seeea!

We'll reach the sea for sure today! Yaay!!!

Head straight west from there Please wait, Master!

Servants detected. There are two!

Wait, what, Fujimaru!?

Master, you're good at compliments. But I'm glad I can be of help with logistical support!

Hahahahaha, you're dissatisfied with an old man's voice?

Perhaps. Mister Roman's voice sounds somewhat silly. It warbles like a dying cat!

He sounds like a really sad person who gave up on everything, and can't do anything but laugh!

Really, is that what you think? I think that might be a bit much.

？！

May I finally make my appearance?

Wh-who's that!?

Ahem. Hem-hem!

Hehehe... I am the cruel contortionist, Hassan of the Cursed Arm. I will not allow you to reach the sea...

Why not!?

Why, you ask!?

...

？！

Ah ha! Yes, that! ...Hehehe, because the real Santa is right here.

Um, that sounded kinda like you just thought of it when Master Reindeer said it.

Hehehe... twist, twist. (Trying to dodge the accusation with suggestive contortions)

Time to make your appearance! The true Santa... Lord Santam!

Heh... I ask of you: What is Santa?

Who's that!?

And Santa is the granter of wishes! Someone who brings happiness by bringing gifts!

I...um, well, I may not be the best at that yet, though...

Then, I shall answer you.

Santas are faceless watchmen who wander from shadow to shadow, hidden from the world!

Take a look, this is the proper form of a Santa!

My name is Santam! I! We! Are Santam!

...Huh?

...Oh?

Emiya... What are you doing there, Emiya?

What!?

What are you doing? Are you playing dress-up? Should we join?

Oh, Mister Emiya. Playing make-believe masked heroes is embarrassing for adults, you know?

How did they figure it out...!? They couldn't figure out Santa Island Mask...

？！

I-I know. Hey, Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily!

I, Santam, was summoned to correct your mistaken view of Santa.

Mistaken...view of Santa...

Mister has it all wrong too. (whisper)

I know! (whisper)

You over there, shush! Here, have some candy.

(Nom nom)

(Nom nom)

If you hesitate or run from this, then you are no true Santa!

Come at me, Santa! But only if you truly believe you are Santa Claus!

I-I am...

...Yes! I am, without a doubt, Santa Claus!

As long as Reindeer Master doesn't abandon me, I'll always be the really real Santa Claus!

I don't know.

Perhaps Emi... I mean, Santam may be a better Santa than me...

I mean, he can copy anything and everything.

The nerve! First he copies Noble Phantasms, now presents!? He's the Counterfeit King!

...Forget about that! This way I don't need to buy anything, at least.

...But!

But, since Altria Santa has entrusted me with the bag, I am Santa!

Please step aside, Mr. Santam...!

？！

All right. Come at me, young lady!

By the way, I am an Archer, which doesn't really go well against a Lancer, but...never mind that!

Heh... And defeat for me.

...It felt like you were taking it super easy on us... But we won! And that's what matters!

Then move forward. Never forget that you are a true Santa.

And no matter who the enemy is... Do not forget your duties as Santa.

Don't worry, Jeanne is a great Santa!

Then we shall disappear as the defeated should.

...

Oh, nothing! We've almost reached the sea!

It's nothing! I'm fine, yes, I'll be fine...

？！

Let us hurry ahead to play the role of the final blockade!

You look like you're enjoying yourself, Ama... I mean, Santa Island Mask.

Well, it's been a while since I had a chance to play the villain!

And with this impending betrayal, I'm getting all fired up!

Hahahahaha. Are you sure you're a Ruler?

Heheheh, whatever do you mean? Right now I am just the mysterious Santa Island Mask.

A masked man can only be a traitor, a villain, or a hero that cannot show his face.

Oh, so you're not a hero?

I certainly will not call a man who gets in the way of a girl's dream a hero.

...Now onward! Santa Island Mask is coming...