Section 1: Renouncing Violence

No problems with the Rayshift.

The place is packed...

Our transmission is audio only for now. Sorry!

Your Mystic Codes' charm spells should make you all seem as though you're just a group of normal visitors.

I see.

So then, we should be just fine as long as we don't act out of place?

That's right.

(So that must mean everyone here sees my sword as a walking stick or something...)

...I don't see the Holy Grail here. It must be in a different room.

That aside, there's something about this museum...

？！

Hahaha, right you are, Master.

If we were to conduct a summoning ritual here, I imagine we'd end up with a random Servant.

Let's see, Holy Grail, Holy Grail...

I guess our first order of business should be to find out whether it's on display, or if it's hidden away somewhere.

Then how about we all split up and look for it on our own?

Good idea.

There doesn't seem much chance of a fight breaking out here.

All right, I'll start over there.

...Um...

Oh, no. Don't worry. It's nothing.

Not really. It's a surprise...seeing so many people.

Hmm, what should I do...?

？！

Oh, not big on crowds, huh, Voyager? Here, why don't you hitch a ride on my shoulders, then?

Really? Yes, please!

Upsy-daisy!

Thank you. This is a little embarrassing though...

Don't worry, it'll only be for a little while. All right, let's get going!

...All that aside...

(Master is right. There are too many relics that seem like they could be used as catalysts in a summoning ritual here for it to be coincidence.)

(Plus, they're all lined up with no regard for their time period or country of origin.)

(As far as I can tell, the only thing they have in common is that they could apparently be used to summon Servants.)

(...Hmm. I don't think I like where this is going.)

I'll check the permanent exhibits.

Voyager and I are good here.

Engage traction. Deploy.

Master, why don't you and I investigate this hallway? It seems relatively quiet.

？！

All right, let's all meet up in an hour, at the forest we first Rayshifted to. Good luck.

Right!

I knew it. Most of these paintings feature heroes, too.

But, there's no discernible rhyme or reason to how they're arranged.

Look at this. They've got a painting of Heracles next to a picture scroll of Minamoto-no-Raikou and the Four Heavenly Kings.

？！

This museum seems to focus entirely on heroes, with little regard to where they are from.

I can respect that, in a way.

Do you read me, Master? This is Mash.

Neither Sanson, Jing Ke, nor Voyager had any luck...

...so they all left the museum for the time being.

Then it would seem we're on the right track. Unless it's in storage or something.

...Hm?

I don't see a nameplate on this one, even though it's definitely an exhibit room.

？！

...No need. I think we just hit the jackpot.

Come on.

？！

That's a Holy Grail all right. I'd recognize that immense magical energy anywhere. It seems unaltered as well.

It's hard to believe they have it up on display, as though it was just another work of art.

？！

True enough. Now, how do we go about getting it...

Master? Amakusa? Is everything okay?

？！

Well, the moment you entered that room, our magical energy sensors started going haywire.

We may even lose connection. I think there's more than just the Holy Gr

？！

...Hmm.

I don't know what Mash was trying to tell us...

But while we're here, there are a few things about this Grail I'd like to double-check.

Excuse me. Do you work here?

You could say that. I'm the curator of this museum.

What can I do for you?

Well, rumor has it that this chalice you have on display here's a genuine Holy Grail...

...and I was just wondering: Is it authentic?

I'm actually a man of the cloth myself (or something close to it, anyway) so I can't help but be curious.

Of course. I understand completely.

Rest assured, you look upon the very chalice which caught the blood of Christ.

Its presence here ensures that this museum will always be safe and secure.

I see, I see. In that case, let me ask you this.

While I'm sure touching it would be out of the question, could I arrange for a closer examination?

I'm afraid not.

We've had many similar requests ever since we put it on display...

And I'm afraid there seems to be something about the Holy Grail that drives people mad with desire.

The last time we let someone near, they quickly became so frenzied that they tried to shatter the glass case.

You don't say.

Furthermore, the Holy Grail is the symbol of this museum. It is worth far more than any other relic we have on display.

As such, our security detail has been given orders to kill anyone who gets too close rather than risk losing it.

Hmm, I see. Thank you. This has been very helpful.

Not at all. We appreciate your cooperation.

Oh yes, one last thing.

Have you ever considered putting the Holy Grail up for auction?

The publicity benefits of donating the proceeds to help fight poverty would be incalculable.

Hahahahaha. Good one, sir.

...All right, Master, since it seems we've been under surveillance ever since we entered this room...

...I suggest we take our leave for the time being.

？！

(Whatever you do, Master, please don't turn around. There are two Servants in the back of this room.)

？！

(I'm guessing the museum summoned them here.)

(And of course, I'm sure they're both well aware that I'm a Servant as well.)

？！

Hmm.

Excuse me, you two. I don't suppose you'd mind showing yourselves?

!?

... ...

If that's too much to ask for, could you at least tell me your names?

...Shut up and get lost. We've got nothing to say to you.

What my colleague said. We're just guards, nothing more.

... ...

I suppose that's that then. Very well, until we meet again.

...Creepy bastard. Feels like he just shoved his hand down my throat and grabbed hold of my stomach.

He wouldn't have noticed us if you hadn't been so openly hostile. You need to learn to keep your cool, like me.

Shut up.

(Sigh...)

Well, at least now he knows there are two of us, right?

Idiot.

You didn't take a good look at his smug face, did you?

That was the face of a smart-ass ticking time bomb just waiting to go off.

One that blows up in your face if you try to mess with it, and at the worst possible time even if you just leave it.

Also, he already knows about the other guy.

(Sigh...) I can already tell this is gonna be a pain in the ass.

So, long story short...

They have three Servants standing guard. Two are in the open, one is hidden.

I'm guessing the other two don't bother to hide their auras to make it easier to hide the third.

Hmm. How did you figure that out?

Their positioning.

Given where their voices were coming from, they had to be positioned in areas that would inevitably leave a gap in the Holy Grail's defenses.

A hole?

That's right. A gap that simply can't be covered with only two Servants.

If Master and I had made a rush for the Holy Grail back then...

...there's a good chance we would have gotten it, though likely at the cost of my life.

Wouldn't that be a problem for you?

Remember, this is a Holy Grail we're talking about.

Most Masters are ready and willing to sacrifice their Servants to attain one.

Though of course, for better or worse, our Master prefers to avoid that whenever possible.

Hmm... I guess that's true.

However, judging by how the two Servants spoke, they didn't seem concerned about the gaping hole in their defenses.

The most plausible explanation is that there's at least one other Servant there with them.

？！

Hahaha, sorry about that. I thought it would be fun to see the looks on their faces if I said that. Well, hear the tone in their voices, in this case.

You and I would seem to have very different definitions of fun.

Hmm. I see. I understand your personality now, Shirou.

If something seems like it'll be fun, you can't help but try it.

Hahaha, I suppose you've got me there.

At any rate, it sounds like we're gonna have to fight those other Servants at some point.

And we'll have to do so at night, once the museum has closed and all the patrons have left.

Though of course, once the museum closes, I'm sure they'll have a security system in place.

We will have to be stealthy rather than simply charge in.

Hmm.

All right, I'll conceal my presence and go check it out.

That would be a big help, Jing Ke. My own Presence Concealment is just barely better than not having any at all.

Hey, don't worry about it. You can make it up to me by using that big, beautiful brain of yours.

This is great. With Jing Ke here, we should be able to find out what's going on at the museum.

Master, I suggest you try and get some sleep now. I have a feeling this caper is going to take us all night.

？！

Good night, Master. Sweet dreams.

All right...now we just wait for Jing Ke to get back.

Good morning, Master.

I'm sure you're hungry, so I got you something to eat.

？！

No, I got it from a food stand in front of the museum.

I already tried it, so I can tell you it tastes good, and there's no poison.

By all means. As for Jing Ke, she should be back anytime now.

No, not particularly. We're expecting Jing Ke to get back any time now.

？！

Hope I didn't keep you guys waiting too long.

Welcome back.

So, Jing Ke, what did you learn?

Here's the scoop.

Magical energy detectors went online about an hour after the museum closed.

They didn't react to the security guards and Demonic Beasts that had been registered in the system...

...but I doubt any Servant without Presence Concealment, to say nothing of Master, would be able to get around them.

What sort of detectors were they?

They are similar to a laser grid.

They put up a whole bunch of invisible beams, and the moment you break one, the alarm goes off.

Hmm... Simple, yet devious.

We might be able to get past if we could all use high-rank Presence Concealment, but barring that...

And that's not all. You know all those glass cases they use to display the exhibits?

What about them?

I took a closer look at them, and it turns out they're not made of ordinary glass.

It looks like they're reinforced using something like melted down Octuplet Crystals.

I'm sure we could still destroy them if we hit them hard enough...

The trouble is that to break them we HAVE to hit them very hard.

I see. Then we should assume that the glass case containing the Holy Grail is made from the same material.

Which means we wouldn't be able to steal it even if we could all use high-rank Presence Concealment...

...That sounds very bad.

They also have security guards making regular patrols, and get this: they have Soul Eaters instead of guard dogs.

What the hell are they thinking? You don't just slap a leash on those and call them pets.

True. You'd expect the security guards to have been eaten alive. Then again, maybe they have so many magical energy resources it's just not a problem...

I mapped out their patrol routes, but the room with the Grail is completely sealed.

It looked like the door to a bank vault, only it had markings from some sort of spell.

I copied them down, just in case it might help.

Thank you, Jing Ke, it should. Can you show it to us so we can analyze it?

Got it. Here you go.

...Aha. Now I see.

It's a timed spell that only lasts until morning, but provides extremely powerful protection while active.

It can only be broken with a spell of equal power.

Figures.

...Wait a second. It only lasts till morning? So what happens to the spell once morning comes?

It disappears.

Then they cast it again after closing the museum. It's not very cost-effective, but it offers powerful protection nonetheless.

They are, in essence, rebuilding the door to a magecraft workshop every day.

Anyway, all you really need to know is that it's a very sturdy door.

Fair warning, Master: once this latest incident is over, I'll be assigning you some homework on the elements that go into spells like this.

That's all from me.

...There you have it.

？！

Cheer up, Master. At least we have a good idea of the situation now.

So to get this Holy Grail, we need to make our way past a lot of security, pry open a super sturdy door...

...and then, deal with the twono, three Servants guarding it.

How are we going to do that? It sounds all but impossible.

Hmm... This is going to be fun.

Fun?

Between the security guards, the magical energy detector beams, the incredibly tough glass case, and the Servants acting as the last line of defense...

...this museum's security is absolutely riddled with holes.

All we have to do is find a way through them, and we should have no trouble reaching the Holy Grail.

Hmm. I guess there are holes here and there, but

I can't support that.

You plan requires five consecutive instances of us working flawlessly AND being incredibly lucky.

True, but I think I can pull it off.

...What do you mean by that?

Hahaha.

Don't bother, Sanson. He's too good at keeping his cards close to his chest.

All right, everyone, would you mind waiting here for a while?

？！

I'm going to make my way in alone and, in the modern parlance, get my ass handed to me.

H-huh!?

What?

Oh...

？！

I'll explain soon enough. In the meantime, I really need to go now, before they suspect something.

See you later.

He actually left!

Wh-what should we do now? Should we go after him and try to meet back up?

No, no, it's okay. Don't worry about him.

He's trying to get captured on purpose.

All right then, time to get myself captured!

Whoa there!

Open fire! Open fire!

Seriously? You're just...opening fire? What about all these priceless works of art?

Don't you lecture us about the value of art, thief!

Heh. You've got me there.

Aah!

Dammit, he's gone! Find him! Don't worry about the Holy Grail room; there's no way he can get that door open!

(That's true, I can't. But, I don't have to.)

(They'll open it themselves...)

(...because they'll want to know how far we can go.)

...Oh? Just one of you?

Oh, hey, we don't need to bother with introductions or anything, right?

All you need to know about me's that I'm just your everyday suit. You can tell just by looking.

Oho, I see. So you won't even reveal your True Name, hm?

You think that's a cowardly move or something?

Hahaha, not at all.

I can tell you're a Japanese swordsman. That's all I need to know.

...You're a nasty one, aren't you?

Pot calling the kettle black. Shall we get to it?

I can't go home without even a souvenir after coming this far, after all.

It just wouldn't be worth the trouble.

...So you're here to sacrifice yourself? Is that it?

Damn, that's cold.

Your Master must be a real slave driver, huh?

Well, I guess a more charitable way of putting it would be that he's focused on victory.

Oh no, I'm here entirely of my own volition, I assure you. Now then, let's fight, shall we!?

Man, this is all really throwing me off my game... But, oh well.

Gotta work for that paycheck!

...!

All right, that's enough.

Khh...!

So, what do you wanna do with him, Boss? Probably better if I just finish him off now, yeah?

No, don't kill him.

You're the boss, Boss.

Well now. That's very kind of you.

Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that. Caster, use the Holy Grail to steal his power.

...I'd keep my mouth shut if I were you.

...!

Don't worry, we're not going to harm you. We are just going to strip you of your ability to fight.

You're gathering power...? Why? What are you...going to do with it...?

Don't you know anything about museums? Their sole raison d'être is to collect.

All right, Saber, show him out of here.

... ...Hmm.

I still think it'd be better to finish him off now...

But it's up to you.

Alley-oop!

For my part, I hope you're dumb enough to try your luck again.

Oh, and give my regards to the others as well, will you?

Are you still alive, Amakusa?

Looks that way.

I knew I was right to go alone. This turned out to be very informative.

You can tell us about it after we get back to Master. He was pretty upset about you putting yourself in danger like that.

Ulp.

I know we've had to send Servants off alone before, but that call was never the Servant's to make.

...Well, for what it's worth, I'll do my best to smooth things over with Master.

Thank you...

...And now, I can't fight anymore. Sorry about that.

Forgive me, Master. I'll never do it again.

Now I feel twice as guilty. I really am sorry about this.

？！

It's not like you ran off completely half-cocked, right? You had good reason to believe you'd make it out alive, no?

Yes. I was pretty sure that if all four of us went together, they'd be more inclined to kill us...

...but I figured they would treat me with proverbial kid gloves if I went there alone.

I even guessed that losing my ability to fight would be one of the possible outcomes.

At any rate, there's one very important thing I now know for certain.

Oh? What's that?

Well, "certain" may be overselling it a bit, but...

I am reasonably sure that that Holy Grail simultaneously impedes its enemies' actions while enhancing its allies' capabilities.

What's more, if anyone attempts to fight over the Grail itself, it will reject the conflict.

As if that weren't bad enough, it grants our enemies an overwhelming advantage.

I very much doubt we could win a fight under those circumstances, even with multiple Servants.

Maybe we would have a fighting chance, pun not intended, if our Magic Resistance was high enough, but that wouldn't help with how it enhanced our opponents.

Is that why you went alone? To see what we're up against?

Yes.

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Yeah. I don't see how we can help.

It sounds like all we can do is float around uselessly, like space debris.

Hehehe.

It's simple. If we know we'll lose any direct confrontation, then all we have to do is avoid one.

Huh?

Well, yeah, I guess that's true...

But then, how ARE we supposed to get the Grail? Are you saying we should just give up?

Not at all. I'm saying...

We should steal it!

Say what!?