Fate/Grand Order story · Events, Valentine's 2021
Section 6: Night Travels
Valentine's 2021. Valentine's 2021_Chaldea Gate
1 scenes, 192 lines
1. After the battle
192 linesY-you'll never get this book from me, you hear!
Blackbeard, the legendary pirate, had apparently borrowed someone else's biography...
The hell business is it of yours what I read!?
It remains unclear exactly what Jeanne d'Arc Alter was trying to learn from her German dictionary.
You have me all wrong, Master... I was merely curious to see what contemporary poets were writing about...
I assure you, I had no intention whatsoever of making my own modern debut in the hope of finding romance... (Strum)
Even while clearly holding a book titled "The Überbeginner's Guide to Singing" in his hands, Sir Tristan still found a way to play his harp.
(Huff, puff...)
Am I just seeing things...
...or did I just watch a library book I borrowed turn into a giant snake then get beaten to a pulp?
Fou fo.
Gah! What was that all about!? If that had been a book about man's prowess in the boudoir, we'd have a fight to the death on our hands, you know!
Lucky for you that it was just a biography of Captain Kidd!
I don't give a rat's ass what you dipshits think. Besides, I was just brushing up on my German with that dictionary.
Indeed, I too was pursuing a course of study, albeit one more focused on modern culture. What's more, my motive for doing so was chivalry itself...
I merely wished to gain new wings so as to surpass my fated rival, Sir Lancelot... (Strum)
Fou. Fou, fo fooou? (Special Translation: Maybe we should just off Tristan now and be done with it?)
I do hope you can all forgive me. I promise I will take great care not to let anything like this happen again!
Sorry but it's so we can save the chocolate for Valentine's Day!
We had to do this to save Valentine's Day, so...
What's that? Did you say Valentine's?
Fou fou.
Oho, why didn't you say so sooner! Of course I understand! Hell, I'll even help you out myself!
Besides, I see you're accompanied by a Servant who's got a mind for the fine arts, and an even finer body...
Once I show her what I've got, I bet I'll be rolling in chocolate!
Maybe I'll get enough chocolate to make a trophy out of it! Neeheehee!
You're a good egg sometimes, Blackbeard.
I'm counting on you!
？！
Woohoo! You just leave it to me, Master!
There, you've been through the whole library now. Great work, Senpai.
The only place you haven't visited yet is the archive that's usually kept off-limits.
Everywhere else has been thoroughly checked.
Guess this means those three were the last Servants to return here with checked-out books.
We've got a good number of Cursed Books now, but we still haven't found the original.
That's the one that made off with all the magical energy resources that were meant for Valentine's chocolate, right?
That's right. We've recovered a good amount of it by now, but we still don't have as much as last year.
... ...
Hmph. All things considered, it doesn't sound like there was that much magical energy involved.
Come to cases, I could just spin a sob story for one of the really rich ancient kings and get them to cover the difference.
I guess that would work, but...
I don't know...
？！
...Okay, yeah. That would be sort of an anticlimax, especially given all we've done...
Problems like these should be overcome by a protagonist who's aware of their failings and is motivated to face them.
Isn't that right, Murasaki?
Yes! Absolutely!
If we can't find the original Cursed Book in the library, I'm prepared to go back and search the rest of the base.
Well, if that's what you want, I can reopen the hall at any time...
...but let me try scanning the entire library first, just to make sure the Cursed Book isn't hiding in there.
Good idea. It'd be a real pain if this scoundrel were to flee the moment the shutters were opened.
Thanks, Mash!
No problem!
Just make sure you don't push yourself too hard, okay?
I won't, Senpai.
？！
It will take about thirty minutes for the scan to finish, so this should be a good opportunity for you to rest.
Oh, then why don't we go to my room behind the reception desk? It should be perfect for a break.
A-as in, your private room? Oh wow, I've been to this library lots of times, but I've never seen inside there!
This is kind of doki-doki, isn't it, Ma-chan?
I...guess?
As long as I get to sit down and rest my poor aching feet, I couldn't care less where it is. Now come on.
There is something cool about having your home attached to your workplace.
It's right this way. Please, follow me.
Fou fou, fooou!
It looks just like a hotel room.
...Specifically, a fancy luxury suite!
This looks like...the rooms we had in Luluhawa...
Exactly! Considering how much time we spent there I know that room like the back of my hand!
What's going on!? I don't wakarunderstand!
？！
D-d-do you not like it? Oh no, maybe I should have gone with tatami mats after all...
This room seemed so nice when I found it in Chaldea's database...so I thought I'd try to recreate it myself.
R-recreate it!?
Wow, I never knew onmyoudou could be so handy! It must be so nice being you, Senpai.
I'm afraid my techniques are my take on Lord Seimei's teachings, so it isn't very representative of true onmyoudou...
...but I hope it will suffice to let you all rest for now.
I don't have many fond memories of my bed in Luluhawa...but at least it's all top-notch stuff.
Ahh...
I'll go make some tea! You're all good with hot tea, right?
Sounds good to me.
You got it!
I'd actually prefer cold...
Hmm, I don't know how to use chilling magecraft... Is it okay if I take a peek in your refrigerator, Senpai?
Yes, by all means. I think I still have some cold barley tea in there.
Is everything okay?
You look like something's bothering you.
？！
O-oh, I'm sorry.
You see...
...there's something I wish to recover more than anything else.
Back when I first encountered the original Cursed Book in the archive...I had a letter taken from me.
A very precious letterfull of beautiful expressions of love...
I kept it close, but even so, it was taken from me so easily...
... ...
...I'm sorry. I know I don't have any right to be concerned about this.
The only thing I should be focusing on now is bringing this situation under control.
We can be concerned about more than one thing at a time!
If this letter means that much to you, we'll just have to get it back.
？！
Thank you, Lord Fujimaru.
Your words have lifted a tremendous weight from my shoulders.
Fou, faaau.
...Thank you too, Lord Fou.
Shikibu. I don't have enough energy to bother sitting up right now, so I'm just going to lay down while we talk. But let me ask you this:
Why would this book want to eat a letter?
These Cursed Book monsters haven't had any problem defending themselves, but I've never seen one go out of their way to attack anyone.
There's got to be some connection here.
So we've got your letter. The Cursed Book.
And...magical energy resources meant for producing chocolate.
... ...
I...I am a Heroic Spirit whose focus has always been putting feelings into words.
Especially feelings of one person caring deeply for another.
So all the books I have created are sensitive to feelings as well...
I'm not entirely sure, but I think that must be what caused this mess.
That is why...I believe the Cursed Book eats feelings.
Okay, I'm awake! Now we're getting somewhere!
Master. What's the main thing you know about the Cursed Books?
They feed on nearby information.
They feed on nearby magical energy.
？！
Right. They consume both nearby information, and nearby magical energy.
But they don't do so indiscriminately. There's a condition that needs to be met first.
To borrow Shikibu's words...the Cursed Books focus on information laden with emotion as well as magical energy.
The former explains why one ate her letter, and the latter explains...
The Valentine's chocolate resources!
？！
Exactly.
Of course, that doesn't help us track down where the original Cursed Book is now, but at least it all makes sense.
These Cursed Books may be a pain in the ass, but they're not going around eating anything and everything.
So we don't have to worry about one eating, say, a Magical Reactor, or a Holy Grail, or even a Heroic Spirit's Spirit Core.
Hell, compared to the other shit we've been through, this is hardly a blip on the radar.
So no one is really going to mind that you're worried about your precious letter or whatever.
...!
Hey, you look like you're feeling a little better now.
I am!
Thanks, Andersen.
Don't thank me. I was just laying it all out.
？！
Still... Of all the things it could have been, it had to be feelings, huh. What's the deal with that?
What, are you one of those types who bares your soul in letters, but can't actually bring yourself to give them to the person they're meant for?
Ah well, it doesn't matter either way. Besides, it's a fitting story for Valentine's Day.
Pardon the intrusion. I see... This explains a great many things.
Despite the fact that these books consume magical energy, we have yet to hear of them attacking Servants.
Nor have they flocked towards the Magical Reactor, or tried to break into storage area for Holy Grails.
Haha, did you say Holy Grails? Do you...know where they're being kept?
Fou, fooou!?
Go away.
I'm back! Who's ready for some tea?
I'll have some. Heh, just as I thought. You have good taste in tea leaves.
Ah, yes, that reminds me: I have a message for you.
That Mash girl is hard at work on her scan, and says she will be done shortly. That is all.
Thanks for telling us, Semiramis!
It was nothing. Truly.
Would you mind, um...keeping an eye on Amakusa for me?
Okay, tea, please!
You got it!
Hm.
...Thank you.
...
...Ahh, this is so nice and warm.
...You are all so kind. So very warmhearted.
... ...
...My place in the world:
...Why should it bring me grief? Mountain cherry...
Blossom in my sight, Were it ever so...
Ooh, ooh, I know that one! You wrote it yourself!
Yes. That's one of the tanka poems included in the Goshui Wakashu, from Japan's Heian period. To elaborate, it means
"Why should I feel bad about the world I live in? If I could just look at it the same way I do flowers..."
There are multiple interpretations, as with any renowned poem. Some consider it a reflection on the fragility of one's own life...
...but in this case, I think yours has the right idea.
It's a lovely poem.
？！
Not at all. If it seemed that way to you...
...that is only because it reflects what lies in your own hearts.
Ugh, you fools are far too emotional. Haven't I been telling you not to wring your hands over every little misstep?
As for you, Osakabehime, how's a writer supposed to get any writing done if they keep bawling their eyes out with every line they write?
Or do you just plan to go your whole life and manifestation without ever finishing a single book?
Fou, fooou. Fou.