Fate/Grand Order story · Events, White Day 2023

Section 6: Touchez pas au Saint Graal

White Day 2023. White Day 2023_For Chaldea Gate Display

1 scenes, 570 lines

1. Before the battle

570 lines

Life is like a lot of things.

It's like cards...video games... building blocks...marathons...

Take a random sample of people, no matter how many, and while they may seem alike in some ways, you'll find they all approach life differently.

For example, my life...is like a phantom thief.

...Or at least, it might be.

Amakusa Shirou

...Okay, we have an hour to go until the museum closes.

Which makes it two hours till the time the calling card said I would steal the Grail.

Sanson is already standing by on-site. Are the rest of you ready?

Jing Ke

Of course.

Voyager

Me too.

Your choice

All good here!

Voyager

?!

Amakusa Shirou

How did the thing with Shakespeare go?

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

No issues to speak of. Well, apart from him complaining about having to participate in a sudden double deathmatch.

Amakusa Shirou

I'll bring him a souvenir to make it up to him then.

I'm sure he'd be thrilled to receive a counterfeit of his own work.

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

You're sure about this?

I've never been good at holding back. All I can do is trust in my sword and cut down my opponents.

Amakusa Shirou

Yes, that's fine. In fact, that's exactly what I want. By all means, hold nothing back. One good swing.

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

...Understood.

Jing Ke

All right, Voyager and Master, we're up first. Let's go.

Voyager

Roger that.

Museum Curator

... ...

F:???

Hey, Boss.

Museum Curator

I thought I told you to stay at your post.

F:???

No harm steppin' away for a sec, right? 'Sides, I got something to tell you.

Museum Curator

Oh?

F:???

Y'know that phantom thief, Moriarty? The one who sent a calling card?

Museum Curator

Ah, yes. It said he would come today, didn't it?

F:???

Well, he's headed here now. I just sensed him.

Museum Curator

I see. Then I'd like you to go welcome him, if you know what I mean.

F:???

You're not my Master. I don't gotta listen to you!

Museum Curator

Then don't.

F:???

Huh?

Museum Curator

You won't have anything to do in that case, but if you don't mind being bored, that's fine with me.

F:???

... ...

Museum Curator

If you prefer to leave your post, please let me know so that I may prepare to fight in your stead.

F:???

...Ha. Don't get your panties in a twist. I was just kidding.

Museum Curator

Good. I'm glad to hear that.

Mordred

Anyway, just so you know, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna end up killing him this time.

Museum Curator

Do as you like. I have no right to stop you.

Mordred

All right, don't mind if I do then.

'Sides, just standing around keeping watch is boring as shit, anyway.

He can't even fight anymore though... Maybe his companions will pick up the slack.

Staff Member

Could I speak with you for a moment, sir?

Museum Curator

All right. Come in.

Staff Member

Thank you. ...?

Museum Curator

Don't mind them. Now, what is it?

Staff Member

Oh, right.

Mr. Voyager is here to see you.

He said he's completed his research and he thinks he should be able to appraise the dagger.

Museum Curator

I see. What about Lin Ziyu? Where is she now?

Staff Member

She's in the waiting room hoping to see you, as usual. Although...

Museum Curator

Yes?

Staff Member

Well, she was a bit more agitated to see you today than usual.

She kept asking me where you were, and when she might be able to meet with you.

Mordred

Haha, what, you havin' some lady trouble, big guy?

Museum Curator

No.

...What do you make of it?

Staff Member

I think she wants to sell the dagger after all.

I definitely got the impression she is in serious need of money.

Museum Curator

Then why wouldn't she put the dagger up for auction?

Staff Member

Right. I had the same thought.

Museum Curator

If she's that agitated, then there must be something keeping her from auctioning it.

I don't know if that something is a lack of time or something else, but

Mordred

(Yawn) Already bored. Mordred out.

Museum Curator

All right. Do take good care of the Holy Grail, please.

Then it's just as I thought. There IS something to that dagger.

Staff Member

Do you think it might be a counterfeit?

Museum Curator

If it were, she would have brought something a little more convincing.

Counterfeit paintings are typically Vermeers, Van Goghs, and Picassos. With poetry, you tend to see counterfeits from the emperor of China's Southern Song dynasty.

But to claim that a rusty old dagger like that was used in the attempted assassination of Qin Shi Huang...

There must be a hell of a story behind it, counterfeit or not.

...All right, I'll go meet with Mr. Voyager first.

Voyager

Good day, sir.

Your choice

Hello!

Voyager

?!

Museum Curator

Thank you for coming, Mr. Voyager.

Shall we adjourn to my office

Your choice

Actually, before we get to that...

Hang on. There's someone else here who wants to see you.

Museum Curator

?!

?

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

Are you the curator of this museum?

Museum Curator

Yes, I am. And who might you be?

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

My name's Watanabe. I'm here on behalf of Japan's Imperial Household Agency.

Tell me, is a woman calling herself Lin Ziyu here?

Museum Curator

...!

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

She is, isn't she? Then I'd like you to bring her here.

Museum Curator

...We've only just met, and you're already making demands? Not what I would expect from a Japanese officer.

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

I apologize for my bluntness, but I'm afraid the situation is more precarious than it may seem.

Museum Curator

...What situation is that?

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

She's suspected of selling priceless artifacts which she illegally obtained from Japan's Shousouin treasury.

I'm here to investigate those suspicions.

Museum Curator

...I see. This is quite a development.

Voyager

... ...

Museum Curator

Mr. Voyager, I trust you're here about the matter we discussed previously?

Voyager

That's right. Did you want to talk about it here?

Museum Curator

No, let's adjourn to my office.

Voyager

Okay.

Museum Curator

I'm afraid I can't be of any help to you, Mr. Watanabe.

Yes, Ms. Lin did pay our museum a visit a few days ago...

But I'm afraid I haven't seen her since.

I believe she said she was staying in one of the nearby hotels; perhaps you'll find her there?

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

I've already searched every hotel in the area.

Still, I can see you're busy right now, so I'll peruse the museum in the meantime.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

Museum Curator

... ...Phew.

Voyager

That was close, huh?

Museum Curator

I'm afraid I don't know what you mean.

Voyager

Right. Of course you don't.

Museum Curator

...Come, let's be on our way.

...I see.

So if what you've told me is correct, then that dagger may actually be

Voyager

Yes. I think it's almost certainly genuine.

Museum Curator

... ...

According to the boy appraiser...

The dagger Jing Ke used in the attempt on Qin Shi Huang's life...

...is confirmed to have been stored in the treasury at Xianyang, the capital of the Qin dynasty.

Voyager

The problem is what happened to it afterwards.

In the years that followed, Xianyangthe land known as Chang'anexperienced a great deal of tumult.

First, it was razed to the ground and plundered by Xiang Yu during the Chu-Han Contention.

Then, it was plunged into war again when Liu Bang renewed his efforts to wrest control of China from Xiang Yu.

Eventually, Liu Bang succeeded, and named Chang'an the capital of the newly formed Han dynasty.

This is where further concrete record of Jing Ke's dagger seems to disappear.

After the Han dynasty ended, the Xin dynasty was formed in its place, only to soon fall to ruin itself thanks to the Red Eyebrows' revolt.

The Red Eyebrows made off with every precious item in Chang'an's vaults, most of them never to be seen again.

From then on, throughout the Later Han, Three Kingdoms (Wei) period, Jin dynasties...

...there remains no surviving mention of Jing Ke's dagger.

But then, during the Sui dynasty, it resurfaced.

In the third year of Da Ye, Emperor Yang, the infamous tyrant of the Sui dynasty, left his capital city of Luoyang to take a trip to Chang'an.

During his trip, a family that had lived in Chang'an for generations presented him with a dagger...

A dagger they claimed had once belonged to none other than Jing Ke.

Voyager

And this is the old document I tracked down that proves it.

Mr. Voyager then took out a photograph of a wooden parchment that had been excavated near Chang'an.

It did indeed say that a dagger said to belong to Jing Ke had been presented to Emperor Yang during his visit.

But then, all mention of the dagger once again vanished from the historical record.

And there exists no record of it ever being discovered anywhere in Chinese history.

No matter how much Mr. Voyager searched, it was as if the dagger had simply disappeared after entering Emperor Yang's possession.

Even the histories taken from his recently discovered grave made no mention of it.

Voyager

...So I decided to approach it from a different angle.

Japan, then referred to as the nation of Wa, was one of the nations which engaged in trade with the Sui dynasty.

However, a problem arose with Emperor Yang during their second embassy expedition.

"From the Child of Heaven from the land of the rising sun, to the Child of Heaven from the land of the setting sun, I pray that your journey home is safe and uneventful."

Such were the words in the letter from the Japanese ruler to Emperor Yang. Theories abound as to what might have ignited the emperor's anger.

One says he took offense at the title "Child of Heaven" being used for someone other than himself; another, that he thought the phrases "rising sun" and "setting sun" made it seem as though Sui was being looked down upon.

Whatever the cause, history is clear about one thing: Emperor Yang was absolutely furious.

Yet despite his anger, the two nations continued to trade and interact.

According to Mr. Voyager...

...there is indeed a record of Emperor Yang presenting the Japanese ambassador with some manner of gift during their second embassy expedition.

But could that gift truly have been something as precious as one of China's national treasures?

Voyager

It may seem unusual, but considered from the emperor's perspective, it makes perfect sense.

The dagger had bested numerous challenges to come within centimeters of Qin Shi Huang's throat.

Given that it nearly succeeded in assassinating a former emperor, the current one was none too pleased to possess it.

Yet it was also too valuable to simply discard or destroy.

Not to mention that either option would require publicly explaining his reasons for doing so.

Could the emperor truly trust his subordinates with such a thing?

Could he trust them to take a dagger which came perilously close to ending the first emperor of China's life...and actually destroy it?

In the worst case, they may even find themselves entranced by the dagger, and decide to turn it against him.

Voyager

So I think that's why he chose to part with it like this.

It would have safely disposed of something he didn't want and couldn't destroy, and it would also serve as a type of revenge.

So then, how did Japan react?

The ambassador must have known the Sui emperor was furious, yet he had still been given a precious treasure.

He may not have known the dagger's story, but he must have known it had a sordid past.

But all the same, he couldn't simply discard it, either. It was still a gift from a valuable trade ally, after all.

So the ambassador had no choice but to preserve the dagger carefully and take it back to Japan.

Museum Curator

Japan?

Voyager

Uh-huh.

As proof, Mr. Voyager then took out several more photos and documents.

One of them was an ambassador's report from the second expedition which described what took place in Sui China.

According to the report...

The emperor of Sui had called for a meeting with the Japanese delegation, though he had been apoplectic only one day prior.

They thought the emperor was going to have them put to death, but instead, he smiled and gave them several valuable items from his treasury.

However, the envoy who wrote the report found it strange.

While he could accept that the emperor may have had a change of heart, he also couldn't help but notice the look of relief that crossed his face...

...as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Museum Curator

...So you're saying Jing Ke's dagger left China in the time of the Sui dynasty, made its way to Japan...

...and was eventually placed in the Shousouin treasury about a hundred and fifty years later?

However, since the record of offerings only refers to it as a short sword

Voyager

Right. I couldn't find conclusive evidence that it was actually Jing Ke's dagger...

Museum Curator

But given the Shousouin's history, I think it's very possible it could be.

Museum Curator

This is the curator. Tell Lin Ziyu I'll see her now.

Jing Ke

Finally. It feels like I've been waiting forever.

Museum Curator

I apologize for the wait. Now, about the dagger...

Museum Curator

Let me get right to the point. Will you sell it to us?

Museum Curator

That IS what you were ultimately after, isn't it?

Museum Curator

A man named Watanabe is here looking for you on behalf of Japan's Imperial Household Agency.

Museum Curator

I assume you would rather avoid him if possible?

Jing Ke

I... Well...

Museum Curator

Don't worry, I'm prepared to offer you a fair deal. I've taken the liberty of putting a number to that.

Jing Ke

...!

A-all right. I'll sell it to you.

Museum Curator

Excellent. Then let's

Hm?

P.A. System

Attention all visitors. The museum will soon be closing.

Thank you for coming. We hope to see you again soon.

Security Guard

Sir.

That Watanabe guy is still here.

Jing Ke

... ...

Museum Curator

Leave him be. Just don't let him come in here.

Security Guard

Yes, sir!

Museum Curator

Now then, Ms. Lin, if you could donate the dagger to us?

Jing Ke

Donate? But, that's not

Museum Curator

Don't worry, you'll still be fully compensated.

But for our purposes, we would like to remain a benevolent third party.

Jing Ke

...I see...

Your choice

I don't get it. Where'd the donating thing come from?

Jing Ke

?!

Voyager

A museum can't buy an item it knows is stolen. It's unethical.

But if they bought it without knowing that, then they can't be held responsible.

Museum Curator

We know nothing about where this dagger came from, and you never told us anything.

I assume that's acceptable?

Jing Ke

...All right. I'll trust you.

Here it is.

Museum Curator

Mr. Voyager, if you'd be so kind?

Voyager

Okay.

It's okay if I start with Japan's embassy expeditions to Sui China, right?

Jing Ke

Yes, that's fine.

Voyager

Big Brother, could you give me my tools, please?

Your choice

Here you go, Voyager.

Voyager

?!

Thanks.

...Hmm... Hmm, hmm...

Museum Curator

...Well?

Voyager

It's the real thing. No mistake.

The age of the rust... The makeup of the poison...

There are several factors that indicate its identity, but the one that clinched it is its styling.

I nodded in firm agreement.

This is the savage wolf fang that nearly pierced Qin Shi Huang's throat.

Of course there would still be something eerie about it, even if age had clearly taken its toll.

Jing Ke

So you agree that it's genuine, yes? Then

Museum Curator

Indeed. Here is your check. But first, I'd like you to sign this contract.

It's a contract that states you donated the dagger to us willingly, and that you forfeit all future claim to it.

And this is the dagger's history as you described it.

Some details have been changed, of course. Here, the dagger has been a secret family heirloom of yours for generations.

Jing Ke

I understand.

Museum Curator

And here is your appraisal fee, Mr. Voyager.

Voyager

...Isn't this too much?

Museum Curator

Consider it a little incentive to keep this transaction just between us.

Voyager

Hmm... Well, okay. I guess that's just how it has to be.

Museum Curator

Thank you for understanding.

Voyager

Okay then, the only item I appraised here...

...was Achilles's shield.

Museum Curator

I appreciate your help with that very much.

Voyager

... ...

Museum Curator

Is something wrong?

Voyager

Mr. Curator?

Did you know that shield was a counterfeit when you put it on display?

Museum Curator

...Of course not.

Voyager

Hmm. That can't be an easy way to live.

Museum Curator

... ...

Staff Member

You wished to see me, sir?

Museum Curator

I did. I'd like you to put this dagger up on display immediately.

It's the dagger Jing Ke used in his attempted assassination of Qin Shi Huang.

Staff Member

Understood. Where shall I display it?

Museum Curator

Let's make it Exhibit Room Three. It would draw too much attention in Room One.

Staff Member

Understood.

Museum Curator

...No, wait. I just remembered that calling card business.

I'll take it there myself, along with some of the security detail.

If you run into Mr. Watanabe, I want you to stall him for as long as you can.

We can't have him seizing it by force after coming this far.

Staff Member

Understood.

Voyager

Say, since my brother and I are already here, would it be okay if we came along and watched you put it on display?

Museum Curator

...Hmm. Yes, that should be fine.

Your choice

You hear that, Voyager? That's great!

Museum Curator

?!

Voyager

Uh-huh!

Jing Ke

Okay, if we're all done here, I think I'd better get going.

Security Guard

Squad A is here, sir.

Museum Curator

Good. Let's go.

Put it in that case, please.

Security Guard

Yes, sir.

Museum Curator

... ...

Are you three still there?

Mordred

Sure are.

Your choice

...!

Mordred

?!

Hm? Who're these guys?

Museum Curator

It's all right. They're with me. Now, what about the phantom thief?

Mordred

Yeah, he's still headed this way. He oughta be here any moment now.

Voyager

Mr. Curator?

Mordred

The hell? What's a kid doin' here?

Museum Curator

He's been assisting with our acquisition of this dagger. Don't worry about him.

Voyager

Hello.

Mordred

...Man, this is really throwin' me off...

Museum Curator

Now then... It's one hour past closing time. The phantom thief will supposedly be here soon.

Mordred

All right, you workin' stiff, get out here.

Just a Suit

Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.

???

Ooh, does that mean it's my turn too

Mordred

You shut up.

???

Okey dokey.

Security Guard

Okay, boss, go ahead and lock the case.

Museum Curator

All right.

Staff Member

Sir!

Museum Curator

What are you doing!? I thought I told you to keep that door shut!

Staff Member

I-I'm sorry, sir! I tried, but Mr. Watanabe

Jing Ke

Phew. Take it easy, will you?

Museum Curator

What's the meaning of this, Mr. Watanabe? I'll thank you to refrain from roughhousing in my museum.

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

Lin Ziyu just confessed that she sold you a dagger.

Museum Curator

You mean this dagger?

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

Yes. Now, please hand it over so I can return it to where it belongs.

Museum Curator

Where it belongs? Now that's a strange thing to say.

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

What was that?

Museum Curator

First of all, Ms. Lin didn't sell this dagger to us. She donated it.

According to her, it's the very dagger used in the attempted assassination of Qin Shi Huang.

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

That's right.

Museum Curator

May I ask why that's relevant?

Why would a dagger like that have been kept in Japan?

Surely you would expect to find an artifact like that in its home country of China, no?

If a dagger as valuable as this had made its way to Japan at some point, there would surely be some record of it.

And yet, as far as I'm aware, no such record exists.

Museum Curator

If you can't prove that this dagger was being kept at the Shousouin treasury, then I cannot simply take you at your word.

Mordred

...!

Never mind that shit now, big shot! He's here!

Museum Curator

Dammit! Of all the times...!

Mordred

So he's just waltzing in through the front door, huh!? Some phantom thief he is!

Hey! Where's the workin' stiff!?

Just a Suit

I do have a name, you know. But, eh, whatever. It's not important.

Anywho...

Let's kill him!

Mordred

What the...?

A:???

Firstly: a true phantom thief must be a lady and/or a gentleman.

Secondly: a true phantom thief must always be elegant in their every action.

And thirdly: a true phantom thief...never gives up!

And so, this elegant gentleman and lady has persisted in coming here tonight to take the Holy Grail.

Yes, it is I: Phantom Thief Moriarty!

Mordred

Yeah, uh... I'm not seein' the whole lady thing.

Just a Suit

Also, aren't you Japanese?

A:Moriarty (Imposter)

Well, yes, I am.

I suppose there's not much point in properly introducing myself now, but my True Name is Amakusa Shirou Tokisada.

Just a Suit

Really? No kidding...

Damn, this is actually kinda hard to believe.

Can I ask you something? Were you always a phantom thief?

Amakusa Shirou

Hehehe, only by circumstance. Yes, that's me: Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, phantom thief by circumstance.

Just a Suit

Ohh. Gotcha.

Mordred

I'll say this for the guy: at least he's entertaining!

Doesn't look like he'll put up much of a fight, though.

Okay, time to cut this punk thief down to size!

Amakusa Shirou

Don't you mean "phantom thief"?

Mordred

Ah.

I KNOW WHAT I SAID!

Mordred

Quit lookin' at me like that or I'll Clarent your ass!

Amakusa Shirou

At any rate, as a phantom thief, I'm afraid I won't be taking part in any battles today.

I've only come to steal the Grail.

Just a Suit

Is that so? Well, too bad for you, 'cause...

You're not stealing anything!

Amakusa Shirou

Whoa there!

Just a Suit

Damn!

Mordred

Stand still, will ya!?

Museum Curator

This is all getting out of hand. Let's get out of here, Mr. Voyager, Mr. Watanabe.

Oh, and Mr. Watanabe, I'd still like to talk to you about

Just a Suit

What was that!?

(I just sensed a surge of magical energy. There're Servants here besides Amakusa!)

(No, wait. Hang on. This can't be right!)

(I don't know if they were using Presence Concealment or some kind of magecraft or what, but I just realized something stupidly obvious.)

(This whole room is chock-freaking-full of Servants!)

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

...I'll take care of this.

Museum Curator

Huh?

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

Rin-Byou-Tou-Sha-Kai-Jin-Retsu-Zai-Zen...

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

Mt. Ooe - Bodhi Oni Slayer.

Mordred

Wh-what the...!?

Museum Curator

Mr. Watanabe!?

Just a Suit

Watanabe... That intense swordfighter's aura... No way. Is that Watanabe-no-Tsuna!?

Museum Curator

Tsuna?

Just a Suit

You've never heard of him? Watanabe-no-Tsuna's the greatest monster-slayeruh, oni-slayer?in Japanese history.

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

...It's a bit embarrassing, hearing that said out loud.

As you can see, just because I can kill oni doesn't mean I'm well-suited for fighting people.

Mordred

Hey, boss!

Museum Curator

Y-yes?

Mordred

What's the deal with this guy!?

Is he an enemy? An ally? What!?

Museum Curator

H-he's...

I didn't know what to make of it.

I understood that this man claiming to have come from Japan was a Servant.

But instead of attacking us, he went after the phantom thief.

As a Servant, I thought he would be allied with the thief, but if he was, why would he attack his ally?

I didn't know what to make of it.

I was so confused my head felt like it was spinning.

And so I didn't realize until it was too late that the confusion itself must have been what the phantom thief was hoping for.

Mordred

Either way, now that he cut down the thief guy, does that mean our job here's done!?

Museum Curator

...There's still the matter of Mr. Watanabe. For the moment, he

Your choice

I brought a doctor!

Museum Curator

?!

Mordred

Huh?

What're you talkin' about?

I mean, I'm sure the thief there would appreciate a doctor's help, but

Voyager

It's true. Doctors are very important.

Sanson

Let me see the patient. I'll do whatever I can to help.

Museum Curator

Who are you? A new hire? We don't need a doctor here. Get out.

... ...

No, wait. Why are you dressed like that? Are you really a doctor?

Sanson

Yes, I am. A doctor whose spell has apparently worn off.

Just a Suit

Oh goddammit! Not you too!?

Mordred

Another Servant!?

Just a Suit

Ugh, why couldn't I tell by looking at him!?

Sanson

You can thank my magecraft disguise for that.

Just a Suit

So then, does that mean

Jing Ke

Hm?

Me? Yup, I'm a Servant too, of course.

The curator there did seem to notice I was here while I was concealing my presence...

But I guess he never did catch on that I was also the woman who came to see him about a historic dagger.

Mordred

Gah, what the hell!? Where'd all these goddamn Servants come from!?

Where were you hidin' all this time!? How come we didn't notice sooner!?

You all looked like a bunch of regular humans until just now!

Jing Ke

Don't worry, security guard. Your eyes weren't playing tricks on you.

Our disguises were just that good.

On that note, let me reintroduce myself. I'm not really Lin Ziyu.

My True Name is Jing Ke. I'm the assassin with the poisoned fang who left on a journey from which she did not return.

Sorry for tricking you all!

Just a Suit

Oh come on. So you pawned your own dagger off on us?

Museum Curator

Then, you mean that dagger is the real th

Jing Ke

It's sure not a fake! It's as real as they come.

That said...

Well, it's not a relic meant for display. I'm still using it for killing even now.

Museum Curator

I-I can't believe it...

No, wait. Mr. Voyager, don't tell me

Voyager

Uh-huh. I'm a Servant, too. Sorry for tricking you.

Just a Suit

Hey. You're not a Servant too...are you?

Your choice

No, I'm not.

Just a Suit

Phew! That's a relief.

I was this close to losing all confidence in my ability to spot a Servant.

Your choice

Maybe I am, maybe I'm not.

Just a Suit

Oh for... Give me a break.

Up until now, I thought I had a pretty good eye for telling Servants apart from regular people.

Mordred

Don't worry, workin' stiff. That guy might not be right in the head, but he is one-hundred-percent human!

You can trust my Intuition on that one!

Just a Suit

Thanks, Mo.

?!

Man, I figured there were more of you, but I had no idea there'd be this many...

... ...

...What the...?

Mordred

So this is all of you, right? Awesome. Thanks for linin' your heads up nice and neat for us.

Now we can chop 'em all off at What? Something wrong?

Just a Suit

... ...They got us.

Just a Suit

Well, I'll be damned.

I guess that's what all this nonsense was building to.

Mordred

The hell're you talking about?

Just a Suit

Take a look at the case.

Mordred

The case?

... ...Huh!?

Museum Curator

What the...?

Mordred

Whoa, whoa, whoa! When the hell did that happen!? That case is supposed to be super tough, right!?

Just a Suit

Of course.

Not even you or I could break it unless we hit it with something powerful.

But we did see a powerful attack here just a moment ago, remember?

Mordred

...You.

Watanabe-no-Tsuna

Yes, it was me.

Though I honestly didn't know if it would work.

I can't take the credit. That goes to the great European wordsmith.

Shakespeare

... ...

Vlad III

...What is it, playwright?

I haven't heard half as many barbs from you today as I'm used to.

Shakespeare

Heh. Hehe.

I knew I might be in for a few rush jobs when I was first summoned as a Servant...

But I never dreamed I would one day be asked to come up with a script that would allow someone to cut through inanimate objects without harming living beings...

...and to deliver it within a day, no less.

Vlad III

I see. That does sound like quite the task.

You didn't fail, did you?

Shakespeare

Haha! Don't be absurd!

But, to quote myself: So quick bright things come to confusion.

Lamentably, I only managed to create a phantasmal strike that would work but one time.

Phew. I'm truly exhausted...

Vlad III

Hmm, I don't blame you. That certainly is an unusual request.

I wonder what our Master wished to cut with it.

Museum Curator

How is that even possible?

How could anyone cut through the case protecting the Holy Grail without harming the person standing in front of it?

Just a Suit

Mordred and I could never pull that off, but they obviously figured out a way to make the impossible, possible.

That IS what Servants do, I suppose.

Mordred

... ...

I dunno who I'm more impressed with: that Watanabe guy, or the phantom thief who stood there and took his attack.

Just a Suit

Huh?

Mordred

C'mon, you could tell Watanabe there was seriously trying to kill the guy, right?

That's why we didn't even notice the thief.

There ain't many Servants out there who could brush off an attack like that.

If they didn't just die, they'd definitely be knocked outta commission. Hell, some of 'em might even outright disappear.

Just a Suit

Hmm... Yeah, I guess that's true.

Mordred

The thief must've taken advantage of the one moment when none of us were payin' him any attention.

Just a Suit

So, what do we do now, sir?

Fighting these Servants now isn't gonna bring the Holy Grail back.

Museum Curator

...I suppose you're right. It seems we've been outmatched.

Mordred

Hang on. This might not be over just yet!

Museum Curator

What do you mean?

Mordred

It looks like that Caster bastard's gone after him. Maybe we still got a chance after all.

Museum Curator

...All right. Let's go.

Jing Ke

One moment, please.

Museum Curator

What?

Jing Ke

Since it seems this battle will decide how things end, do you mind if we go with you?

Just a Suit

Of course we mind. Why would you even ask?

Your choice

They're not going to help him. Just me.

What if I'm the only one helping him? Does that change anything?

Just a Suit

?!

Really? You're the only one who's gonna help him?

Museum Curator

...Do what you want.

Amakusa Shirou

...All right. Come out where I can see you.

Mephistopheles

Very well then! Hello, good day, and all that jazz.

Amakusa Shirou

Ahh, I see. So it was you, Mephistopheles.

Mephistopheles

Oh, you know who I am?

Amakusa Shirou

I know the you in Chaldea, at least. We get along quite well.

Mephistopheles

Really? You don't seem like the merry sort I usually befriend.

Then again, I suppose that outfit of yours says otherwise.

Amakusa Shirou

Hahaha.

I doubt you're going to let me get away, so I suppose we have no choice but to fight.

Mephistopheles

Then what are you going to do? Didn't you have your ability to fight taken

Oh, you have it back now.

Amakusa Shirou

Since it was the Holy Grail that took my abilities away in the first place, it makes sense that I could use it to restore them.

Though I can't say I like the idea of phantom thieves fighting. It's usually not our thing.

Mephistopheles

Hmm. I MAY be willing to let you go, depending on your motive.

Amakusa Shirou

That devilish grin of yours would seem to suggest otherwise.

Mephistopheles

This museum's curator has a truly wonderful motive for keeping the Holy Grail here, you see.

I'm a reasonable jester. If your reasons are more interesting, I'm willing to change my mind!

Amakusa Shirou

Then as a point of reference, may I ask what the curator's motive might be?

It's not simply collecting for the sake of collecting, is it?

Mephistopheles

Of course not.

No, this museum's curator...

Museum Curator

(Huff, huff, huff...)

Your choice

(Man, he's a lot faster than I would've guessed...) (Gasp, gasp...)

Museum Curator

?!

Why did you follow me? You must know it could get dangerous.

Your choice

As a Master, I figure I'm obligated to see this through to the end.

Museum Curator

?!

...I see.

Amakusa Shirou

Now I understand.

That definitely does make sense.

I'm afraid myno, our simple wish pales in comparison.

Mephistopheles

Oh? And what is that wish?

Amakusa Shirou

To save the world. No more, no less. Simple, right?

Mephistopheles

Hmm, hmm. And you say there's no self-interest involved in that wish whatsoever?

Amakusa Shirou

What do you think, Master?

Your choice

Huh?

Amakusa Shirou

?!

Do you think our wish to save the world is a selfish one?

Your choice

I do.

Amakusa Shirou

?!

Well now. Just like that, huh?

Your choice

I'm only trying to save the world because I want to try.

I'm doing this because I don't want to simply watch things happen.

Mephistopheles

?!

Hmmm.

That certainly is an interesting answer, but it's not one I could enjoy unless I stuck around for a long time.

So I'm afraid I'll have to stick with the curator this time.

Sorry about that, Master of Chaldea.

Amakusa Shirou

Shall we, then?

Mephistopheles

Oh yes, we shall, we shall! This should be fun!

The flamboyant phantom thief versus the most fearful jester!

Now then, are you ready to begin?

Amakusa Shirou

How about you, Master? Are you ready?

Your choice

(Nod wordlessly)

Amakusa Shirou

Then without further ado: I am Amakusa Shirou Tokisada the phantom thief.

Now, as a Servant, I am prepared to make my way through whatever obstacles lie ahead of me.

And I'm not leaving without this Holy Grail!

Your choice

I'm ready. Let's do this, Amakusa!

Amakusa Shirou

You got it, Master.

My arms are the very laws that open the gates. They are a gift from the heavens themselves.

Which is why I am ready to say here and now:

For my last act as a phantom thief, I'm going to steal this Holy Grail!

?!