Epilogue: A Souvenir for You

...Ooh, there she is!

Yooo, Semirin! Over here!

"Semirin"!?

I-I'm so sorry, Lady Semiramis. I do hope you can forgive her rudeness...

Why are you apologizing for her? ...Bah, no matter.

I assume you have not stopped me for something trivial?

Haha! No way, José!

Here. It's not much, but I hope you like it, anyway.

What did I just say!?

Huh?

Oh! Er, if I may, saying a gift "isn't much" is a way of being humble where we come from! She does not mean it literally!

H-hmm.

Is this part of that wabi-sabi culture of yours? There is still much I do not understand about your customs.

All right, let's see what we have here... Chocolate?

Yup! 'Cause it's Valentine's Day.

We made 'em with lots of love and gratitude! Now we're handing them out to everyone at Chaldea!

The only reason we're able to celebrate Valentine's Day once again is because we have all worked together to overcome many hardships.

So, if it pleases you, I do hope you'll accept it.

Hmm. All right, I accept. I see. So it's Valentine's Day again, huh...

You two, enjoy it all you like. I myself have had more than enough Valentine's excitement to last a materialization.

(I mean, she says that...)

(...but I'd bet she's working on some super special chocolate for her bae! What do you think, Kaorucchi?)

(I-I would prefer not to comment!)

Hey. I can hear you, you know. One more word, and you won't live to see next year's

...Chocolate.

Aah!

I heard there was free chocolate being handed out. I have a mighty need. Gimme.

Heh, there you are, Exie. Don't worry, I came fully prepared.

You want chocolate, do ya!? Go ahead, Ms. Sweet Tooth! Have three of 'em!

Four, please. I am saving up for emergencies.

(Oh, now that I think of it, Lord Michinaga once said something similar...)

Hm? This is...dried fruit.

And it has an indescribable tang.

And this chocolate has nuts... What a comfortable, sublime texture.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I honestly cannot tell...

You rang!?

I absolutely did not.

Oho, you look like you are all having fun. What are you up to? Is there some kind of party today?

Oh, hello, Emperor Nero. Thank you so much for coming.

Hehe, now that you're here, you're gonna have to take this bad boy back with you.

Eat this, Nerocchi! Happy Valentine's Day!

Ahh!!

Nagiko, is this...Valentine's Day chocolate?

Hell yeah! I stuffed it bursting with love!

I-I see. I knew it.

Such courage! Even my dress gave you no cause for hesitation!

But even so... Umu...

Oh, to hell with it! What am I, if not a free emperor!? I have an abundance of passion to share!

Besides, I adore beautiful women!

I shall take you all as my brides!

Slow your roll, Emperor!

So this is Chaldea!

... ...

I have to say...it's not quite what I'd imagined.

I was picturing somewhere more...solemn, I suppose.

Like a hall of gruff, seasoned warriors bonding over stiff drinks or something.

？！

Ohoho!

So this is the latest addition to the Valentine's roster! Welcome to the team!

Hmm... Looks like you reeled in quite the catch this year. She might even give me a run for my money!

Theo Roman! You followed us here, too!?

Come on, Medusa, Astraea! This time, we'll destroy it for good!

All right, that's quite enough.

There's nothing to worry about here. This animal is harmless.

That's right, Bazett. She's a good Jaguar Warrior.

Or at least, if we absolutely have to classify her as either "good" or "bad," I'd like to think she's good...

Nyahahaha, damn straight I am! I am Jaguar Warrior, friend to good little children everywhere!

If you ever need help with anything, new girl, you gato consult this cat.

In fact...

Now that I look at you, you seem really tense! Is this a fight-or-flight response!?

Are mew okay? Need a friend to talk to?

Oh, uh...

...No, I'm all right, thank you. This is something I must face on my own.

But thank you. I really do appreciate your concern. If I ever do need advice, I'll be sure to seek you out.

Oh, yeah? You sure?

All right, I don't know what's going on with you, but don't worry! I've got a feeling everything's gonna work out!

All right, everyone, enjoy your Valentine's Day! Ciaooo!

A good Jaguar Warrior... I had no idea such a thing existed...

Come, never mind that now.

The man you're looking for...is nowhere to be seen.

Ugh, I swear.

Does he not know we're looking for him? How inconsiderate.

Who knows which woman he's gone off to "visit" today...

Maybe it's time we started keeping him under 24/7 surveillance like a death row inmate.

Hey.

You hear that outrageous stuff she just said? She ain't talking about me, right?

Well, I'm fairly certain she isn't talking about me.

Hello, Master, ladies. Congratulations on another mission complete.

Oh, if it isn't Lancer and Kiddy Gil. What a coincidence, running into you here.

Coincidence, huh? Yeah, sure it is.

Anyway, congrats on repairing another minute Singularity, Master. Sounds like you had it pretty rough, like always.

From what I heard, that woman who keeps insisting she's an angel messed everything up again this year, yeah?

Maybe she's the one we oughta keep under 24/7 surveillance. Wonder if there're any Heroic Spirits that're the embodiment of Alcatraz or something.

Anywho...this the new Servant you summoned?

Well damn, you're a real beauty, ain'tcha?

(Oh no. He has no idea what he just did!)

(I-I don't know if she can take that kind of intensity! Stay strong, Bazett!)

... ...

Nice to meet you, Cú Chulainn.

I've been looking forward to meeting Ireland's famed hero of myth, the Child of Light. It's a pleasure.

Oh, so you've heard about me.

Ain't the first time that's happened, but it's still an honor to have my rep precede me. Hope I live up to it.

Not to worry. You're exactly how I pictured you.

...Oh, right. I just happened to have this on me right now.

Here. I'd like you to have it, as a token of our new friendship.

Hey, no fair. Why's this guy getting all the attention?

I'd love to get chocolate from a pretty lady too, you know.

I-I'm sorry. That was the only one that came out wel

Er, that is, the only one I happened to have on me.

...Well damn, this sure is special. I can already tell from the way it's wrapped.

Thanks a bunch, redhea

... ...

Hey, uh...

...do I know you from somewhere?

... ...

Good question. If we've met, I forgot all about it.

Gotcha. Guess that's all there is to say then, since I don't remember, either...

But you know, for some reason, whenever I look at you, I feel an ache right here.

In your chest? ...No, now I see you're drawing a diagonal line from your shoulder to your waist. It looks a lot like a slash.

Slashed...

That's, um...how very bizarre.

Still, it must be a coincidence, since we've only just met. Could it be an old scar acting up?

A coincidence, huh? Well, yeah, I got my share of old wounds, but I don't think that's all it is.

I mean, just look how you've got your hair tied up. You sure you haven't been thinking about me a ton?

Hehe... I'll admit that's quite the coincidence too, but no, of course I wasn't.

Reaaally? You sure about that?

Somethin' just doesn't add up here. Even your smile feels kinda unnatural...

Ugh, give it a rest already, Lancer! How many times do I have to say I don't remember!?

That's it! There's the real you!

...Oh, damn. I just realized I still don't know your name.

So, what do I call you?

My name is...

... ...

Huh?

My name is...Manannan mac Lir, god of the sea.

Long time no see, eh, Cú Chulainn?

Wait... Whaaat!?

Grandpa Manannan!? Why the hell do you look like that now!?

Oh, you know this person, Cú Chulainn?

Yeah, you could say that.

For some reason, this geezer's been on my case big time for as long as I can remember.

(I wonder...)

(Just what happened between those two?)

(From what I've heard...)

(Manannan raised Cú Chulainn's father, Lugh the sun god, which makes him something like his grandfather.)

(But then, after Cú Chulainn had a long-running affair with Manannan's wife, who was said to be a woman of unmatched beauty...)

(...he drank a potion that made him forget the whole thing.)

(Oh wow. That's... What an awful story...)

Hey, ladies! Whatever you're whispering about me, knock it the hell off!

Dammit, Master, why'd you have to go and summon my gramps, of all people!?

？！

Oh... Hello, Master of Chaldea. I suppose this is the first time I've met you like this, isn't it?

Hehe, I asked my vessel if she wouldn't mind switching places with me for a bit, and she was kind enough to oblige.

I'm Manannan mac Lir, the Divine Spirit. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

？！

？！

Now then...

You obviously haven't changed a bit, Cú Chulainn.

The moment you see a beautiful woman, you still hurry over and try to seduce her.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" Really? That line was even cliché back in our time.

N-no, you've got it all wrong! I really did feel like I knew you from somewhere!

Well, I tell you what. We've clearly got a lot of catching up to do...

...so why don't we take some time to do so now?

N...

Nooo freakiiing waaay!!!

Oh hey! Welcome back, Fujimaru!

Looks like you did a great job repairing the minute Singularity...

...and tracking down the Rogue Servant!

Yeah...

I guess this was a whole lot to ask of you, wasn't it? Sorry to put it all on your shoulders.

Congratulations on a job well done, Senpai. I'm so glad to see you back safe and sound.

I still haven't heard the details about this latest Singularity, but, um...

... ...

I...remember something about a big plant revolution?

And vicious carnivorous animals? Um...suffice to say, it sounds like it was quite the spectacle.

I'd love to hear all about it.

Oh, but of course, I don't mind waiting until you've recuperated from the trip. I'm sure you must be exhausted.

Oho.

That does sound super interesting. Now I really can't wait to read the report.

Would you mind writing it up for me now, Fujimaru?

B-be reasonable, Da Vinci! Senpai only just got back from his Rayshift.

Hmm, good point. That's a lot to ask him to do alone.

So how about...

...you have Mash help you get it done?

Sound good?

I, uh... What do you

？！

A-all right. As long as you don't mind, Senpai.

O-okay, Da Vinci, we'll be back later with the report!

Great! Go ahead and take your time now, you hear?

Oh hey! Welcome back, Fujimaru!

Looks like you did a great job repairing the minute Singularity...

...and tracking down the Rogue Servant!

Yeah...

I guess this was a whole lot to ask of you, wasn't it? Sorry to put it all on your shoulders.

Congratulations on a job well done, Senpai. I'm so glad to see you back safe and sound.

I still haven't heard the details about this latest Singularity, but, um...

... ...

I...remember something about a big plant revolution?

And vicious carnivorous animals? Um...suffice to say, it sounds like it was quite the spectacle.

I'd love to hear all about it.

Oh, but of course, I don't mind waiting until you've recuperated from the trip. I'm sure you must be exhausted.

Oho.

That does sound super interesting. Now I really can't wait to read the report.

Would you mind writing it up for me now, Fujimaru?

B-be reasonable, Da Vinci! Senpai only just got back from his Rayshift.

Hmm, good point. That's a lot to ask him to do alone.

So how about...

...you have Mash help you get it done?

Sound good?

I, uh... What do you

？！

A-all right. As long as you don't mind, Senpai.

O-okay, Da Vinci, we'll be back later with the report!

Great! Go ahead and take your time now, you hear?

... ...

Oh.

I-I think I just realized something.

...Did Da Vinci mean...?

？！

O-oh, no, it's nothing.

Say, why don't I make some tea while we take a little break? And, um, to go with it...

...I made something this year, if you'd like to try it.

？！

O-okay!

Sweets are the perfect thing to enjoy when you're tired, right? So, here you go!

？！

？！

I, um...

I was looking forward to making some special Valentine's Day chocolate again this year...

...but then, I realized something.

I think I might have been so focused on improving my craft...

...that I forgot to consider how the recipient would feel when they actually ate it...

？！

So this year, instead of going for maximum visual impact, I tried making something that focuses more on physical condition.

Something even someone who came back exhausted would want to have at least a bite of...

Something that would help them feel rejuvenated, even just a little...

That's what I was thinking when I made these chocolate mini tarts this year.

S-so, um, what do you think...?

Would it have been better if I'd made something big and spectacular again after all?

Because if so, I've been practicing my candy-shaping techni

？！

？！

Ah...

Hehe... Thank you, Senpai. I'm so glad you liked it.

？！

S-Senpai!? Are you sure about this?

You just got back! You didn't need to tire yourself out even more just for me...

？！

Before you came back...?

Then, does that mean...this is Manannan's

？！

？！

Senpai...?

... ...

Um...

May I suggest we write about how you made this chocolate in the report, too?

Because I have a feeling...

...it will be a very precious memory for you.