Section 6: Finding Hortensia

All right, I've got it mostly figured out now!

？！

That chocolate Medea gave you was the key to cracking this whole case.

So, here's the deal.

This chocolate contains a spell that makes any Servant who eats one...

Yes?

...feel really, really happy.

What are you? Drunk? And yes, I mean you, not the Servants who ate the chocolate.

Hahaha. I can see why you'd think that, but no, I'm not. Just hear me out.

You know how eating something yummy can make you feel really good?

It's basically a mild state of euphoria, right?

Well, when a Servant eats this chocolate, that state is heightened considerably.

I'd guess they probably become very easygoing and content.

That by itself isn't a problem, of course. I mean, you like having a drink after a day's work too, right?

Well, yeah. I definitely enjoy fighting, but sometimes, the thing I look forward to the most is the victory drink after.

Exactly. No matter what our culture or environment, we all feel revitalized by a good meal.

Anyway, this chocolate is kind of turns that concept up to eleven...

But in addition to its euphoric effect, we also know now that it causes a Servant's Spirit Core to give off an unusual kind of magical energy.

Magical energy... So then, is that

Yup. It matches the data from our analysis perfectly.

That very magical energy the chocolate induces is what's responsible for these Bitter Shadows spawning in Chaldea.

I see. Caren said that something was drawing the Bitter Shadows here...

But in fact...

They spawned from Servants who ate this God Love chocolate without the Servants realizing.

Do I have that right?

You've gotta be kidding me. So you're telling me the chocolate didn't so much have something to do with all this...

...as it was the cause of the whole thing!?

Looks that way. Anyway, now that we know, we should probably try to stop anyone else from eating it.

All right, I've got it mostly figured out now!

？！

That chocolate Medea gave you was the key to cracking this whole case.

So, here's the deal.

This chocolate contains a spell that makes any Servant who eats one...

Yes?

...feel really, really happy.

What are you? Drunk? And yes, I mean you, not the Servants who ate the chocolate.

Hahaha. I can see why you'd think that, but no, I'm not. Just hear me out.

You know how eating something yummy can make you feel really good?

It's basically a mild state of euphoria, right?

Well, when a Servant eats this chocolate, that state is heightened considerably.

I'd guess they probably become very easygoing and content.

That by itself isn't a problem, of course. I mean, you like having a drink after a day's work too, right?

Well, yeah. I definitely enjoy fighting, but sometimes, the thing I look forward to the most is the victory drink after.

Exactly. No matter what our culture or environment, we all feel revitalized by a good meal.

Anyway, this chocolate is kind of turns that concept up to eleven...

But in addition to its euphoric effect, we also know now that it causes a Servant's Spirit Core to give off an unusual kind of magical energy.

Magical energy... So then, is that

Yup. It matches the data from our analysis perfectly.

That very magical energy the chocolate induces is what's responsible for these Bitter Shadows spawning in Chaldea.

I see. Caren said that something was drawing the Bitter Shadows here...

But in fact...

They spawned from Servants who ate this God Love chocolate without the Servants realizing.

Do I have that right?

You've gotta be kidding me. So you're telling me the chocolate didn't so much have something to do with all this...

...as it was the cause of the whole thing!?

Looks that way. Anyway, now that we know, we should probably try to stop anyone else from eating it.

Yup, I agree.

Which means we need to find this mysterious paper bag woman selling it as soon as possible.

？！

We should know that soon, too.

We've been detecting intermittent power losses in Chaldea over the last few days...

...but they were so minor that we couldn't tell where they were occurring.

But today, all of a sudden, we're seeing a lot more power being consumed.

The power here is also what's supplying us with magical energy, right?

And now you're saying it's being used for something else?

If the electricity here is tied to magical energy, that pretty much clinches it.

Someone must be using it to make that chocolate.

The only question is, where is this stolen power being sent?

We should hopefully know soon. I'm having Mash run a trace on it even as we speak.

How's it going, Mash? Find anything yet?

Yes. I've been checking each of the energy supply lines one by one, and I found where power's being siphoned off.

It's the unoccupied staff room at the end of the western corridor in section B.

It didn't look like there was anything out of the ordinary there on the security camera...

...but when I looked at it with Sheba, it said the room's interior was impossible to measure.

...I see. Then like Kid Gil said, that pretty much clinches it.

All right! Nice work, missy! All we gotta do now is sneak in there

Capture this paper bag woman, and shut down her illicit chocolate operation.

？！

？！

Hm? What is it, Master? Come on, let's get going.

？！

Um...

Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her since we got here.

Eh, she's probably just wandering around 'cause she couldn't keep up with all this technical talk.

She's harder to pin down than a jellyfish at high tide

!!! Everyone, take a look at the monitor!

This is the security video from the corridor in question!

... ...

The paper bag woman!?!?!?

Wait, hang on... That's obviously Caren!

We probably should have seen this coming...

Hm... I've got a feeling we're in for another unpleasant twist this year.

Anyway, I hate to ask...

But would you guys mind heading down there and just putting an end to this whole thing already?

？！

Oh no. Now even Senpai's getting so fed up he's sounding ready to shirk his responsibilities!

Oh, right. Now that we've finished our analysis, you can go with him, Mash.

In fact, at this point, you're my only hope. Try to get the others to shape up, would you?

O-okay, I'll try...

I mean, understood! Rest assured, I'll do everything I can to help Senpai solve this case!

All right, it's just past this corridor. At least we haven't run into any trouble so far...

Just don't let your guard down now that we're almost to her base.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if she's set a trap or tenor even twenty, to surprise us.

... ...

？！

Well, um...

I was just thinking how we still don't know why Caren came here in the first place.

What could her goal be in spreading that chocolate around Chaldea?

？！

Good question.

All I know for sure is, she was serious about getting rid of the Bitter Shadows.

She wasn't interested in that God Love stuff, either. Gotta say, it doesn't seem to add up.

True. I only spoke with her for a short while, but she really did seem to be acting with good intentions.

She wasn't lying when she said she was going to protect Chaldea, either.

？！

(That said, just because someone isn't lying doesn't necessarily mean they're a good person...)

!!!

Be careful, everyone!

Someone's waiting for us in front of the door at the end of the hallway!

Is that...?

？！

Nope! It's me!

What're you doing here?

Oh. I see...

A-Artemis!?

Um, may I ask why it is you're here?

Hehe, that's an excellent question, Mash!

As for the answer...

I'm here because it's my job to prevent any rapscallions from going past this point.

I'm a bodyguard!

？！

Nnn...

I don't know if I'd call it "teaming up" per se...

Let's just say...

I had my reasons for making a deal with her.

A-a deal!?

What kind of leverage could Caren have to make Artemis of all Servants agree to a deal!?

I'm pretty sure I know.

Come on, that's an easy one. It's gotta be about the bear guy.

Let me guess: You fed him some of that chocolate to make him the nice bear you always wanted?

I'll have you know my darling has always been nice, Lancer with the dulcet voice!

Go on, Darling, show everyone how you're just as great as you always are!

Me am Orion.

Me am strong, kind. Me am brave, dashing.

Me love Artemis. Me love Artemis.

No more cheat.

He's brainmashed! I mean, washed!

All of Orion's wild nature, gone without a trace!

Khh... This is horrible. I can't even look at him!

So this is what it looks like when someone messes with your love to suit their agenda... Goddamn, I didn't realize how terrifying Amor's power was till now!

Teehee. Personally, Master...

I don't care at all about what Amor is trying to do.

What Amor is trying to do...?

It's great that she has lofty ideals and all...but all I want is for Darling to have eyes just for me.

Really, that's it! That's my one, humble wish!

？！

B-but Artemis! You and Orion are... Well...

I guess I thought you two had an unbreakable bond, even if you couldn't always see it.

But can you really deepen your l-love for each other while he's effectively brainwashed?

Can you really be happy with that!?

Absolutely!

Yikes. Didn't hesitate for a second.

I'm a goddess, after all! My idea of love is very different from an ordinary human's!

Gah! I swear, are there no goddesses out there with their heads screwed on straight!?

Amor's just beyond this door, but I'm not going to let you pass.

If you insist on going in there, even if it means tearing Darling and me apart...

...then we'll face you with all the might of our combined love!

Me love Artemis. Me love Artemis.

It looks like we'll have to defeat her before we can progress any further.

All right then, let's get this over with!

Hang in there, bear guy. Don't worry. I'm gonna set you free.

If he could tell us how he really felt, I'm sure he'd be begging us to kill him and put him out of his misery!

Let's try not to kill him if we can help it, please!

Nooo! You beat meee!?

？！

Oh well. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, what with Darling being a little out of it.

You bounced back already!?

Anyway, that fulfills the terms of our contract, so I don't care about what happens next.

You can go right ahead if you want.

You're, um, certainly a good sport about losing, aren't you?

At any rate, now there's nothing stopping us from investigating this secret room.

Wonderful. I'm glad to see you're so determined.

Here, let me give you a little advice before you go.

I know you all probably think Amor has more than a few screws loose...

(That's rich coming from you.)

(Yeah, she's throwing stones in a glass house...)

But she's still definitely a god, with all that entails.

So whatever you do, try not to let her set the terms of your battle, no matter what she might show you.

O-okay. Um, thank you, Artemis.

All right, I'm off. Good luck!

Wait, Artemis. Artemis, wait.

I see Orion hasn't gotten any better yet.

Assuming it's Caren's power making him like that...

...maybe he'll go back to normal once this is all resolved?

All right, this is it. You ready, Master?

？！

All good here.

Come on then, everyone. It's time to stop Caren!

？！

The smell of chocolate is almost overpowering...

I think we can be pretty sure this is our problem factory.

... ...

Ah!

Hehehe... Welcome to my chocolate factory.

By the way...

Do I still have to sign for the package, or can you just leave it by the door?

We're not delivery people!