Fate/Grand Order story · Events, White Day 2023
Final Section: The Phantom Thief's Satisfied Smile
White Day 2023. White Day 2023_For Chaldea Gate Display
1 scenes, 218 lines
1. Before the battle
218 lines
Got you!
D'oh... I guess you win this one. What a shame. What a pity!
Phew. He put up quite a fight.
Anyway, now that that's taken care of, I'll be leaving with the Holy Grail.
Whaddaya wanna do, boss?
We could probably get it back if we both rush him.
... ...
Don't bother. The Holy Grail's already been taken out of the museum.
Huh?
It's been stolen. ...I have to accept that.
It's only fair, seeing as I once stole it myself.
Huh? You stole that Holy Grail?
I did.
That's why I always told myself that I would let it go if it was ever stolen from me.
Thank you.
Tell me, what are you going to use it for?
This Holy Grail contains vast amounts of magical energy.
It could probably let us do just about anything magecraft is capable of.
But I'm afraid it's not quite enough when you have a world that needs saving.
So you want to save the world? I can't say that's a very inspired choice.
You, on the other hand, wanted to collect every artifact of every hero that has existed...
...so that you could raise the heroes of tomorrow.
Huh? The heroes of tomorrow?
It's a more modest wish than it may sound.
Every time a nation changes, or an era comes to an end, heroes disappear, and their relics are lost to time.
I only wanted to stop that from happening. To preserve their mementos, display them, and pass them on to future generations.
For ordinary people like us, heroes are the stuff of dreams. They are the light that gives us hope.
That's why you wanted to collect them, even if they happened to be national treasures that belong to other countries.
You were willing to give everything you had for this dream, even if it ended up causing problems abroad.
Of course.
Why?
Why would you go so far for that? Sure, there's a certain romance in those artifacts, but still.
Heroes can't save people just by being heroes. That alone simply isn't enough.
Huh?
We need to see their former possessions for ourselves to know that they were real.
To know that they weren't legends or fairy tales, but real, breathing, flesh-and-blood people.
Without that knowledge, our admiration for them can only take us so far.
The only thing that truly inspires people to become heroes themselves is seeing that other heroes really existed.
I've seen that happen time and time again. I've seen how brightly the remains of heroes gone by shine in the eyes of the people of today.
...I see. Now I understand.
You aren't human. And you're not a ghost or spirit, either.
You're a concept that used the Holy Grail to assume a physical form.
Say, for instance, the concept of the museum.
Wait. You're the museum!?
Yes, that's right.
I am the nameless curator of this museum...and the very concept of museum curators everywhere.
Museums are meant to display things someone found beautiful or inspiring.
And they're meant to do so in a manner that allows everyone to see them.
A painting one museum puts on display may directly inspire the next generation's artists.
A sculpture in another museum may inspire another budding artist to strike out into an entirely different field.
So the artifacts I've collected here...
...may just end up creating the heroes of tomorrow.
That is my wish, and this museum's true essence.
...But, it seems its time has come to an end.
Curator?
？！
It looks like I can no longer maintain human form, either.
Well, that's a shame.
A shame? If you truly think so, then would you consider leaving the Holy Grail here with me?
Without it, every work of art in this museum will disappear...and myself along with them.
A concept with a grafted-on personality like myself can never hope to survive without the Grail.
Have you no compassion? Have you no heart?
...No, I don't.
Your wish may indeed be a good one.
But the fact of the matter is, our needs outweigh your desires.
When two noble interests compete like this, the only way to decide which will win out is to fight.
...Might does not necessarily make right.
No, it doesn't. And I don't like to think of myself as being especially mighty, either.
But now that I've been summoned as a Servant, I have to win, no matter what.
What about you? What do you think?
...I'm sorry. I wish we didn't have to take this Grail, but we do.
？！
I see.
Hey. Do your eyes still work?
Jing Ke?
Then get a good look at this while you can.
This is my bladethe one that failed to reach Qin Shi Huang's throat.
...It's beautiful...
I'm sorry for tricking you like that. I really am. But the thing is, this blade still has some life in it.
Even now, I keep polishing it so that it can help me right the world's wrongs and rid it of evil.
I see... Then...it wouldn't be right...to put it on display...
This museum's collection... has to be of artifacts from the past...
How beautiful. How inspiring.
Art can only be created when our most basic needs have been met.
History is the time spun from our obsessions.
No matter how many eras pass by, or how stagnant the times may become...
...as long as there are moments that speak directly to our hearts, both art and history will continue to exist.
But, this museum can only display relics of the past...which have no work yet to complete.
Not works of art that are still taking shape.
It wouldn't be right to make exhibits from objects which are still being used.
I see. So that means...
The Holy Grail's role...is still...not complete...
No, it isn't. Our journey has yet to reach its end.
So we'd like you to wait just a little longer for us to finish it.
What he said.
I can't accept this. My attachments and obsessions refuse to allow me to let go.
But, then again...
If they are still in the middle of their journey, and their heroics remain as yet incomplete...
...then perhaps I simply have no choice.
...I look forward...to your next visit...
Tch. Guess that's that then.
This sure ain't the way I would've chosen to end this, but oh well.
You think? I had a lot of fun, personally.
Later, ya stiff.
Next time we meet, I hope it's on opposing sides.
That way, I'll get to give you the ass-kicking you so richly deserve.
Hahaha, good one. But I've always made a point of never getting into fights with people stronger than me.
Anyway, see you guys around. Make sure you put that stolen Holy Grail to good use.
I've confirmed the Holy Grail is safely in your possession. Initiating return sequence now.
Great job, everyone!
I guess it's over then. Way to go, guys.
I can't say I'm not a little disappointed that we really never got to fight anyone... But, oh well.
It WAS kind of fun pretending to be someone else. I hadn't done that since I was still alive.
I, for one, enjoyed being a physician and helping people.
Yes... This was nice. It just goes to show that not every problem need be solved by violence.
How about you, Watanabe-no-Tsuna? What did you think of this mission?
...Hmm. To be perfectly honest...
Yes?
I was a little scared to cut down an ally.
I really am sorry about that!
？！
It's nothing you need to apologize for, Master. If anyone owes us an apology, it's Amakusa Shirou.
Hahaha, sorry about that.
I also would have liked to spend a little more time perusing the museum.
There were many fascinating things here I would have liked to observe more closely.
But, those are ultimately of little concern.
As long as I was able to contribute to this brilliant heist, that is more than enough for me.
I'm just glad it all worked out.
Thanks for coming up with this, Amaku
All right, everyone, this is where we part ways!
Huh? Where'd that come from? What're you talking about?
Well, I AM a phantom thief right now.
Uh-huh... Huh?
Well, yes, that's true, but
And you'd never expect a phantom thief to make their getaway via a Rayshift, would you?
That's right.
So, on that note, Master, my fellow Servants: the Holy Grail is mine!
Hahahahaha, farewell!
The phantom thief's laughter echoed across the cold moonlit sky.
He leapt from rooftop to rooftop, as though he were dancing into the sky itself.
He seemed to fly, free as a bird; the entire world his oyster.
And as they silently looked up at him...
...the boy/probe/assassin/doctor /samurai all had the same thought.
(He'd better not try to keep that Holy Grail for himself...)
Hahahahaha! The Holy Grail is miiine!
The phantom thief continued to laugh, paying no heed to the suspicious looks aimed his way.
Hmm... What if we did something with the roof?
We could cut the whole thing off and jump down before anyone knew what's happening.
If we can't destroy the case without being found out, we can just take the whole thing, case and all.
I'm pretty sure they'd catch you in the act right away.
I must say, Professor, I expected you to come up with something a bit more...elegant.
I'm afraid heavily guarded places just aren't well-suited to thefts that call for physical spectacle.
No, such places are ideal for psychological traps, such as the one you employed here.
Still, even in my dotage, complete with my poor, much-based back, I am still the Napoleon of crime!
Somebody say my name!?
I didn't mean YOU!
Anyways, the thing you really gotta be careful about when attacking museums or churches is the aftermath!
Trust me on that one!
I still think we should find a way to eliminate the three Servants without fighting them.
They're the biggest obstacle in our way, after all.
What about a big net!? One big enough to snag the Grail AND its case!
Very well then, let's go over our options one more time!
Hey, Prof! Quit tryin' to seduce Voyager to a life of crime!
Come on, Brother Tsuna, don't you let him get away with it, either!
Oh, hello.
Is this...Shimabara?
What is this place?
？！
My mindscape. Or something like it, anyway. I know it's kind of a mess.
This place has always existed right alongside peace ever since the dawn of time. It was here when I was alive, and it's here in your time, too.
No matter the era or place, there will always be someone hiding and crying behind the illusion of peace.
But even so, coming here now never fails to help me to relax.
Why's that?
？！
Because I'm the only one here.
There's no one around moaning in agony, and no one trying desperately to leave something of value behind.
It's completely deserted, with only flames for company. That's why I can relax here.
After all, what could be better than a hell without people?
But, you're still here, right?
Do you think I should try to get used to it, too?
？！
...Good question.
There would certainly be pros and cons to it. Personally, I can't say I'm in favor.
Yes, once you get used to hell, you may be able to see gruesome sights without freaking out.
The ability to adapt to all manner of hardship is one of humanity's greatest strengths, after all.
...But the consequence of getting used to something is that, by definition, you become desensitized to it.
So once you get used to a hell like this, you may no longer see life as precious.
And that's definitely not a good thing.
There can't be anything missing from the ordinary times we're trying to take back.
We need to restore everything, or all your hard work will be wasted.
That's why only the dead should be here.
Now, wake up, Master. You still have a long journey ahead of you.
...Okay. I will.
There is good and evil in this world, and evil always wins.
One man could not tolerate this injustice...
...and so he tried to steal the happiness from the impossibly distant future.
He never managed to make it there...
But that didn't slow him down.
He cracked a wry smile at his lot in life.
No matter how he struggled, or how many defeats he faced, nothing could stop him from dreaming of a happier future.
And so, he would steal again.
He would steal happiness, peace, and love, and distribute them all equally.
He would travel the world, steal fate and retribution, and leave them to rot.
He would steal all the evil from this world, and in its place, share only the good.
For that...
...is what a phantom thief is meant to do.