EP 0: Moonlight Hunter

Hmm-hmm♪ La-la-laaa♪

Whoa, Fujimaru. Why are you looking at me like that?

Mmm, it's like you're saying "I, myself, don't know, but this must be a form of happiness."

Your expression is like a mixture of spiritual insight, affection, and a little pity. Has something happened?

What, were you watching me?

And what do you mean by "finally?" I didn't do anything!

Yeah, that's the problem. I keep waiting and waiting, but Mash hasn't come back yet.

I asked her to grab something from storage for me, but I wonder if something happened...

？！

Hey, Romani, where are the dumplings? I'm about to show footage of the moon.

Let's hurry up and hit the booze. After all, we've been holding out for this day.

...Hmph, yeah right. That's what you say, but you've already started drinking like a fish, you lout...

Wait a little while longer, Da Vinci. Not all the staff members are here yet.

？！

Huh? Fujimaru, didn't you hear? The outdoor calendar shows it's almost the end of summer.

Meaning it's almost time for the Moon Festival. It's said the harvest moon shall liven up conversations between friends.

The date isn't exactly right, but as long as there's a beautiful full moon in the night sky, it's perfect for the Moon Festival.

There's not a lot to do for fun in Chaldea, so I prepared this thinking we could use a break, but...

Mash hasn't come back yet. She was getting the dumplings from food storage.

She said, "I'm powerful now that I've become a Demi-Servant, so leave it to me." Then she took off on her own...

I have a bad feeling about this. Fujimaru, go see what's up

The alarm? What's going on?!

This is serious, Doctor! Someone has raided our food storage!

As well as the offerings we prepared for the festival and everything else... Chaldea's food reserves are nearly down to zero!

Ah. Good morning. I'm happy to see you're as healthy as ever.

Is this the place for that kind of conversation? I'm impressed by how much you trust each other.

Ah... Thank you. My eyes are good so I don't really need them, but...

Okay, look around you. This is supposed to be a tense scene.

？！

No, this is not the time to discuss that. Somebody raided our food storage. Who could it be?!

The thing is... None of the surveillance cameras picked up anything... They're not broken, but...

...but it's like all of the recorded footage has been painted over with a heart mark, so we can't see anything.

The analysis team in the monitor room said...

"When we watched the footage, we got dizzy and fell unconscious, one right after the other..."

Hmm... I see. This is a real pickle.

A pickle?! Leonardo, have you gone bonkers, too?!

Ah, pardon me. I was just having a bit of fun. But anyway, Romani, take a look at this Singularity.

Three minutes ago, someone Rayshifted to France. That must've been the cause of the alarm.

Rayshift... With no authorization, and solo? You're saying the culprit escaped by Rayshifting?

I can't imagine a Servant capable of something like that...

Good point. Right now, Chaldea doesn't exist in normal dimension.

The only ones who can go outside are Master Fujimaru and his contracted Servants.

On the other hand, a Contracted Servant can do evil deeds.

But only special and extremely powerful Heroic Spirits could bend the rules of time and space.

...Um, did you make a contract with such a powerful Servant?

There are no records of it, as far as I know...

Yes, but the order of cause and effect would be opposite, you see?

We're talking about a Heroic Spirit that could bend time and space, and stretch the string of possibility for "eventually forming a contract"

into the "eventual outcome of a contract." It would be an incredibly powerful Heroic Spirit.

...If it finds the coordinates of Chaldea using nonsensical means like that, that's incredible...

But... I see,

if the culprit here is a Heroic Spirit who's willing to form a contract with Fujimaru.

Then the damage we suffer wouldn't be critical.

Because whatever the future, Fujimaru wouldn't form a contract with an outright villain.

No, Doctor. The problem is that we don't have any food left.

At this rate, Senpai's health management and tea time after a Grail expedition can't be guaranteed.

As the Master's Servant, I propose we take measures quickly.

Y-yeah, I guess this is not the time to be thinking, "If we're out of sweet dumplings, we can just have sweet bean paste instead."

Fujimaru. For the sake of Chaldea's future,

and our fun Moon Festival, would you go check out the situation for us?

I knew I could count on you. That's why you're the Master of Chaldea.

Well, of course. Sugar is indispensable to someone who works with his brain.

Actually, I was more of a pancake guy, but I got addicted to it when I went to Japan. Hahaha.

？！

All right, Doctor, please prepare for the Rayshift. I'll get every last sweet dumpling back!

(The culprit must be a Divine Spirit-class Servant that can Rayshift by itself...)

(Well, some things are better left unsaid!)

Rayshift is complete. This isthe France we're familiar with, right?

The one who raided Chaldea's storage is here? Huh? I hear something being fired nearby...

Oh my. What do we have here?

...Master. There's a woman in strange clothes...

She's holding a bow in an improper posture, firing not so effective arrows, and

Ghraaaaaa!

She's fighting a pack of werewolves! What's going on here?!

？！

Oh my! Are you here to give me a hand, stranger? Hehe, aren't you a decisive one?

I will take up on your kind offer. Let's fight together.

We can leave the fun conversation for after the battle. Right now, let's take out these bandits!

Combat complete. But, I still sense enemies nearby.

Doctor, let me know the status of the surrounding Doctor?

Seems like it... We can perform a Rayshift to return to Chaldea from here, but...

Huh? The doctor's being lazy, you think?

I can assure you that is not the case. Dr. Roman isn't the type to slack off at his job.

？！

The more pressing concern is this woman.

Um... Excuse me. You're not a normal human, are you? Are you...a Servant?

Hmm? Am I a Servant? Oh, you mean a Heroic Spirit! I know all about them!

Indeed! I am a Servant! The splendid hunter forever seen in the night sky

My name is Orion! That's me! Round of applause, please!

You heard her, Senpai. What do you think?

Hehe. Thanks for the applause. I don't know who you are, but I think we can be friends♡

Truth is stranger than fiction, you know.

They say that Orion was a fast-talking, no-good skirt-chaser who'd go after any woman he saw, but

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PGRYU!

Pgryu?

Hehehe. Sorry, I think that's my tummy rumbling. I haven't had anything to eat in so long.

Anyway, they say all kinds of mean things about Orion in the legend, but he's actually a pure-hearted, wonderful hunter!

And I've materialized to prove just that... Well? Do you believe me?

She's appeared in order to repair her reputation... In other words, to correct an incorrect history!

I know how you feel, Miss Orion. Your skills with a bow

I'm really confused as to how you could hit a target effectively with that stance,

but that was really impressive! You're as good as the Greek myths say!

The legendary hero who never misses, who seduced the Goddess Artemis!

Oh my. Oh dear. Never misses, you say? Hehehehe.

Pgryyyrururur!

Aww, that's bad manners, Senpai. You shouldn't ask a girl about her tummy.

Oh, that's true. More specifically, he made a goddess fall in love with him♡

？！

By the way, Miss Orion. Have you seen anyone suspicious around here?

We're looking for someone who stole a large amount of provisions from our base...

Suspicious people... Maybe that trio I just saw?

They were running that way carrying something strange.

But, they were a little out of it. All the food was falling out all over the place.

See those wolves gathering? They're here to get the food that fell out.

Senpai! That's good information! Let's hurry and follow them!

Oh, but we need to get those dumplings back... Especially those super rare dumplings. I have to defend them at any cost...

Ohthat's right. You don't know about it.

Mixed with the other dumplings are some special ones, made by a famous Japanese shop named Nanayabashiya.

Their taste rivals a 10,000 yen sukiyaki, and their value rivals a dozen Saint Quartz...

They're special. I'm not sure what I'm saying anymore.

Oh... Right. Sorry. I panicked. It's definitely not that I'm hungry.

Anyway, they're very special dumplings. They're humanity's greatest treasure, and must be defended at all costs.

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I see! I understand. Can I help, then?

I owe you for saving me, and I need to showcase my archery skills, too. You're a Master, aren't you?

If you saw Orion being useful here, I'm sure you would want to contract with her, right?

That would be great. Thanks for your help, Miss Orion.

？！

Right! We'll pick up the rare dumplings as we chase after the thieves!

This is a special mission, unlike any we've done before, but let's do our best!