Prologue

...Whoa. What's with all the festive red an' green decorations here? I didn't even notice 'em goin' up.

Pretty sure this ain't one of Toto-sama's messes... This some kinda special Chaldea tradition thing?

Ohhh, yeah, I remember now. There's some holiday near the end of the year, ain't there?

I think it's

Door's open! C'mon in!

If you're here about a commission, I'm already booked through the year, so I don't know if I'll be able ta squeeze ya in, but I can at least hear ya out.

Who knows? Maybe you'll have a subject so enticin' it'll make me wanna push all my other jobs back!

Huh?

...

Damn, I may just be a painter, but even I can tell this is serious. 'Kay, pal. Whaddya want?

Isn't it obvious?

I want to give you a present. Here. Merry Christmas.

!?!?!?

My apologies for the intrusion. And once again: Merry Christmas.

...!?

I hope you're doing well. I'm here to bring you a present.

Aah! What do you care how I'm doing, assface!? You want a piece of me or something!?

Senpai, we've been accompanying Karna on his rounds for a while now...

So speaking as a seasoned C-Pro*, how do you think he's been doing?

I agree. Karna always takes everything he does seriously...

...so I had a feeling he'd make a great Santa.

But...I do think he may be coming across a little, um, somber?

？！

I am aware. Many people are understandably on edge when receiving an unexpected guest in their rooms.

Hmm. Maybe I should announce who I am the moment I open the door, so they don't find me suspicious.

Perhaps something like, "Nobody move. Santa Claus is here."

(He's on the right track, but that still sounds like some kind of raid...)

？！

Yes, I think so too.

That said...

Well, some of our Santas have been...more inclined to smile than others, so I think everyone's used to it.

So smiling could just be a bonus of sorts.

Smiling, huh. ...I'll give it a shot.

Even though I have officially inherited the position, I still have much to learn about the ways of Santa.

If there are areas in which I have room to improve, then I must pursue them aggressively.

To that end, I am prepared to endure any manner of training, no matter how difficult or strenuous.

I suppose that means I'll also need to spar against opponents who can provide an appropriate challenge.

？！

I agree, Senpai. In fact, that reminds me of something Aśvatthāman said earlier...

Yo, Karna! I heard all about it!

Sounds like you got stuck with a hell of a gig this year!

Heh. I don't know if I would describe it like that, but I am honored to be entrusted with such a rewarding task.

Now that I have, it is only right that I should endeavor to carry it out to the best of my ability.

I'm glad to see you're in high spirits as usual, too, Aśvatthāman.

？！

Hah, well look at you. Reminds me of the good old days.

I remember we used to be so eager to practice any new moves we learned that we'd spend the rest of the day beating the shit out of each other with 'em.

Duryodhana'd get tired of it and bail after a while...but you always stuck around till I was good and satisfied.

Thanks to that, I think I had more bruises than skin!

Of course. We didn't have time to rest; we were too busy bettering ourselves. Those were good days.

And now, we have all new good days.

On that note, I'd better start visiting rooms. I have presents to deliver, after all.

...?

？！

Oh, hey, Master. Didn't see you there.

Anyway, you wanna know what I think of him as Santa? I think it's godsdamn awesome. He seems like his old self again.

What do you mean?

Don't get me wrong, he's still the same guy at heart. It's just that... Hmm, how to put this...?

Now that he's become Santa, something new and unfamiliar to him, it's got him thinking he needs to train again...

...which has him thinking like he did back in the days he was training nonstop.

Back then, he was stoic, earnest as all hell...

...and so hell-bent on improving himself that he'd pull off the craziest shit before you even knew what he was doing.

Come to think of it, he even pretended to be a brāhmana at some point so he could learn from his old man's teacher.

Got his ass whooped for it something fierce, but he didn't care. I still don't know how it all went down myself, but I bet if you asked him about it, he'd just say something like:

"I never lied. I just never told them I wasn't."

Anyway, I'm guessing that kind of devotion to training is what made him like a boxer, since that's the closest analogue in the modern day.

？！

It'll probably change how he gets along with the other Servants, too. Hell, with Arjuna, he might just

...On second thought, never mind. I got no idea how that might shake out.

Anyway, that little workout made me hungry.

I'm sure I'll have plenty of other chances to spar with him now that he's back in training mode, so for the moment, I'm gonna grab a bite at the cafeteria.

...Anyway, my point is, he's still a Servant here at Chaldea. That much hasn't changed.

He might say some weirder things than usual, but don't worry about it. Deep down, he's still Karna. Later!

We've seen him deliver a number of presents since that conversation now, and Aśvatthāman was right.

Really, when you think about it, we shouldn't be surprised.

He's certainly not the first Servant at Chaldea to have a new Spirit Origin affect their interests and tastes.

Come on, Master and Mash. I still have a great deal of presents to hand out and roadwork for my training!

Be warned, I won't wait around for you if you can't keep up. You can always use a trainer bicycle if you need to.

It sounds like his training is about to get serious. Shall we keep following him, Senpai?

？！

Swish! Swish! ...Okay, here we are.

？！

Are you okay, Senpai? Here, have some water. Do you want some too, Karna?

Thank you, but no thank you. Water is one of the worst things you can have if you're focusing on weight control.

Please, give Master my share.

W-well, all right, if you say so.

Now, let's go in and deliver this present.

Let's see... I need to smile, and I need to explain what it is I'm doing here. Okay.

Freeze! Do you see this smile? Remain still and this will be over shortly!

Gyaaah! A burglar!!!

K-Karna, you forgot to say you were Santa Claus! That's the most important part!

...And that brings us to now.

Geez, you scared me. You can't just go barging into a delicate young otomaiden's room like that, you know?

I'm sorry. I guess that wasn't the right Santa move.

Well, I don't think I'd really know the chigai, to tell you the truth.

Anyway, we've got a guy Santa this year, huh? That's a breath of fresh air.

My understanding is that Santa has traditionally been a male figure...but yes, around here, it is.

Hey, as long as I get a gift, I don't care who I get it from.

In fact, I can already tell what it is!

That's the latest volume by Tentacle Iron Bar, isn't it!? It has to be! I put it on the wish list I stuffed into my stocking and everything!

Heh. Worry not. Santa's job is to make wishes come true, after all.

(Huh? It's pitch black? That doesn't look like any of the more Christmassy gifts he's handed out so far...)

Yaaay! Arigathanks!

...Huh? I can't get it open.

Seriously, what am I supposed to do with this thing!?

I've tried a box cutter, scissors... Gnnn! But I can't even make a dent in it!

What's going on here, Santa? What did you wrap this thing in!?

Hmm... Maybe if you tried holding it out at arm's length?

Huh? What, like this?

Santa Punch!

Aah! My present! My precious mangaaa!

What's the daidea!? What's the point in opening the box like that if it destroys the present inside!?

Um... I'm afraid you don't have to worry about that, Osakabehime.

Once you pick your present up from the wall Karna knocked it into, try taking a closer look at it.

？！

Huh? What's going on here?

That's what I wanna know! (Sniff) My manga... My sweet, sweet manga...

Goodness, it won't open. This is terrible!

A present that can't be opened is like a picture book with a lock, or a gingerbread house behind a glass display!

When did Santa become such a meanie!?

Neigh-heigh! I can't smell it, but my animal I mean, Lu Bu instincts are telling me...

...that this box contains some of the best carrots money can buy!

But even with Lu Bu's tremendous strength, I can't get it open! It's a fate worse than death!

This can't be right. I've been delivering presents just like I practiced. How did this happen to them?

Does this mean...I'm a failure as Santa...?

？！

Something definitely doesn't seem right about this. There may even be something nefarious going on.

Let's go talk to someone who can help us!

Welp, the other Santas and I did some digging, and we figured out what's going on.

Someone is interfering with your Santa Power remotely, yes!

Even though that sort of thing shouldn't even be possible, no!

Those Black Presents appear to be a side effect of that interference.

While my intent is not to console you, I can confirm you are not at fault for the anomalous presents.

...I see.

We cannot allow this outside malefactor to continue contaminating our medical supplies. They must be dealt with immediately.

As for the unopenable presents, I've been running some tests on the sample one you brought me.

Oh, I've also decided to call them "Black Presents," just 'cause it's easier.

？！

Yep. They've been conceptually cut off from the outside world.

They're essentially unbelievably tough conceptual Bounded Fields shrunk down to the smallest possible size.

That's not something just anyone who knows a little magecraft can do.

Which means these boxes have been tampered with using divine Authority, or something of equal power.

So then...there's no way they can be opened?

Unfortunately not. I just can't see a way to do it from the outside. At least not right now.

This kind of conceptual separation is just too powerful.

I'd like to think I could figure something out with enough time...

...but honestly, at this point, I have no idea when that might be.

Are you sure there's nothing we can do? I'm Santa now, after all.

If I let Christmas end like this, I will have failed utterly in my duty as Santa.

Ho ho ho. That's where plan B comes in.

We found the line of energy being used to tamper with your Santa Power...

...and have managed to track it to its source.

Yup, I was just getting to that. Take a look.

？！

They sure are. It turns out we've got a number of minute ones on our hands now.

And one of them is giving off the signal we followed.

Then that must be where the one behind this is hiding.

Yup, that's almost certainly the case, especially given the Singularity's unusual shape.

Its shape?

Take a look at the observational data, Mash. You'll see what I mean.

It turns out this minute Singularity has some clear and unusual characteristics.

Characteristics that make the connection between it and the Black Presents pretty much impossible to miss.

See, this Singularity is completely cut off from everything, too, just as though it was put in a box and sealed away.

If it helps, you can think of it as an occluded Singularity.

An occluded Singularity...

However, unlike with the Black Presents, we can actually observe what's inside it, at least to a point.

What's more, since it's so much bigger, its seams are actually just loose enough for someone to Rayshift inside.

？！

Now you're talking. Thank you, Master.

I'll go too, of course!

Let's see... It looks like it's in a cold climate, so we'll have to bring our snowsuits.

Well, don't forget, this is an occluded Singularity. The rules there are gonna be a little different.

Specifically, we'll only be able to conduct a bare minimum of Rayshifts...

...which also means we can only send a small, elite team.

I see... Then I guess we Santas will just have to hold the fort here, yes.

It's only right that this year's Santa be the one to settle this. I can handle it on my own.

Besides, the ring is meant only for one fighter on each side.

Bien dicho! With the exception of tag team matches, I couldn't agree more, yes!

Remember, there may be any number of anomalies owing to the nature of this occluded Singularity.

So stay alert out there, okay?

？！

Of course. I know I still have much to learn, Da Vinci, so your warning is unnecessary.

I will remain on my guard until I have become a true Santa.

Welp, the other Santas and I did some digging, and we figured out what's going on.

Someone is interfering with your Santa Power remotely, yes!

Even though that sort of thing shouldn't even be possible, no!

Those Black Presents appear to be a side effect of that interference.

While my intent is not to console you, I can confirm you are not at fault for the anomalous presents.

...I see.

We cannot allow this outside malefactor to continue contaminating our medical supplies. They must be dealt with immediately.

As for the unopenable presents, I've been running some tests on the sample one you brought me.

Oh, I've also decided to call them "Black Presents," just 'cause it's easier.

？！

Yep. They've been conceptually cut off from the outside world.

They're essentially unbelievably tough conceptual Bounded Fields shrunk down to the smallest possible size.

That's not something just anyone who knows a little magecraft can do.

Which means these boxes have been tampered with using divine Authority, or something of equal power.

So then...there's no way they can be opened?

Unfortunately not. I just can't see a way to do it from the outside. At least not right now.

This kind of conceptual separation is just too powerful.

I'd like to think I could figure something out with enough time...

...but honestly, at this point, I have no idea when that might be.

Are you sure there's nothing we can do? I'm Santa now, after all.

If I let Christmas end like this, I will have failed utterly in my duty as Santa.

Ho ho ho. That's where plan B comes in.

We found the line of energy being used to tamper with your Santa Power...

...and have managed to track it to its source.

Yup, I was just getting to that. Take a look.

？！

They sure are. It turns out we've got a number of minute ones on our hands now.

And one of them is giving off the signal we followed.

Then that must be where the one behind this is hiding.

Yup, that's almost certainly the case, especially given the Singularity's unusual shape.

Its shape?

Take a look at the observational data, Mash. You'll see what I mean.

It turns out this minute Singularity has some clear and unusual characteristics.

Characteristics that make the connection between it and the Black Presents pretty much impossible to miss.

See, this Singularity is completely cut off from everything, too, just as though it was put in a box and sealed away.

If it helps, you can think of it as an occluded Singularity.

An occluded Singularity...

However, unlike with the Black Presents, we can actually observe what's inside it, at least to a point.

What's more, since it's so much bigger, its seams are actually just loose enough for someone to Rayshift inside.

？！

Now you're talking. Thank you, Master.

I'll go too, of course!

Let's see... It looks like it's in a cold climate, so we'll have to bring our snowsuits.

Well, don't forget, this is an occluded Singularity. The rules there are gonna be a little different.

Specifically, we'll only be able to conduct a bare minimum of Rayshifts...

...which also means we can only send a small, elite team.

I see... Then I guess we Santas will just have to hold the fort here, yes.

It's only right that this year's Santa be the one to settle this. I can handle it on my own.

Besides, the ring is meant only for one fighter on each side.

Bien dicho! With the exception of tag team matches, I couldn't agree more, yes!

Remember, there may be any number of anomalies owing to the nature of this occluded Singularity.

So stay alert out there, okay?

？！

Of course. I know I still have much to learn, Da Vinci, so your warning is unnecessary.

I will remain on my guard until I have become a true Santa.

(Hmph. He should have just thanked her. I see he's still as stubborn as ever.)

(I know I shouldn't let it bother me...but it does. Why would he of all people be chosen to be Santa?)

(It looks like he's changed a bit on the inside, too. I just hope he's not making any trouble for Master...)

(Well, there's no point letting it get to me. I'll just have to stay away from anything Christmas-related.)

(Besides, it's not like it has anything to do with me, anyway...)