Conclusion! Illya's Karakuri Castle!

All right, folks, this is it! We're in the final stretch now!

Novum Chaldea's newest festival has been a nonstop series of death traps, killer karakuri, and obstacle Servants...

...all meticulously arranged by Kashin Koji, one of history's greatest sorcerers and karakuri masters!

Some contestants have fought admirably!

Some contestants couldn't go the distance!

But in the end, the first to escape the forest and arrive at this castle...

...was you, Lord Fujimaru!

Congratulations. Now, let's watch as his team makes it out of the final forest...

Can you see them, everyone? It should be any moment now...

Yup, I can see them. Master's team is just about to reach the goal!

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Allow me, Master. Enhanced vision activated.

...Heat source detected. It appears to be a hostile, high-density magical energy signal.

There's another enemy here!

Enemy? Now that's just uncalled for.

That sounds like Illya, only...different...

Sitonai! Wh-where could she be... Maybe she's beyond the fog!

Stay on your guard. It feels like something strong's hiding out there.

Me? An enemy?

Well, maybe you're right. I mean, I never said this would end when you reached the goal.

Since you all managed to conquer every obstacle along the way...

...I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't prepare a special welcome for you, don't you think?

W-what's that sound!?

It sounds like an engine! Master!

A new kind of karakuri!? It must be an especially huge Kashin Mystic Code to make a sound that loud!

Lord Kashin Koji's custom-made weapons!

Exactly!

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No way... Was that a Berserker's roar!?

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The fog is clearing up...

Eek!

Ow, ow, ow, ow...

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Uh-huh. I had Kashin Koji pull out all the stops to make him into that...

...but it was still just a temporary outfit designed to bring him back to normal if it breaks.

Right, Berserker?

It's quite the mystery, isn't it? Probably what I should say is "pure recklessness." I wonder how it works?

Oh, look who's talking.

Fujimaru!?

You're kidding, right? Right!? I don't ever wanna see a karakuri Fujimaru car!

...I kind of do.

Chloe!

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All right, since you were the first team to make it through, I guess I owe you a reward.

You there. Karakuri ninja.

You want to see Kashin Koji, right?

!

That's easy enough. It's okay Kashin Koji. You don't have to hide anymore.

... ...

Lord...Kashin Koji.

...

... ...

...I can't help but think that all the same.

Sapphire!? Now YOU'RE narrating!?

You just had to imitate Ruby, huh? Get back here, Sapphire.

Sorry about that. Go ahead, Lady Danzo.

...You have my thanks. Now then.

Lord Kashin Koji.

Can you hear me? It's Danzo. Katou Danzo.

I...

I was broken beyond repair.

Now, even as a Heroic Spirit, my chassis remains incomplete.

I am unable to scan my circuits. I can barely recall anything of the time we spent together.

So...

If I...disappointed you somehow...

If I did a job poorly, or failed a mission, or was in any other way an unsatisfactory karakuri...

Please...

Please, give me the scolding I deserve.

Please. Please, let this unworthy machine hear your voice!

Lord Kashin Koji!

... ...

...

(Whisper)

Uh-huh. I see. I think it'd be better if you told her yourself.

(Whisper, whisper)

Hmm. You're sure this is what you want? Okay, I'll give it a try.

???

What are those two talking about?

Here. Kashin Koji said to give this to Danzo!

(Nodding)

(Shaking head)

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I think it's some kind of karakuri box, Master. I don't think I could open it...

...but Lady Danzo is one of Lord Kashin Koji's creations, so I'm sure she could.

...Understood.

I will. I mean... Please, allow me.

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...Here goes.

First this, then this...

I see. Its basic structure is very similar to the drivetrain from the second-generation Kashin Mystic Code...

Aha, this is the same special mechanism used in my own joints. So then, this part should...

There! I can see it! Hup.

It's open!

Is that...a letter?

Yikes. The writing's so fancy, I actually don't think I can read it.

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Yes, Master.

Let's see. "Congratulations on..."

!!!

So you...you are happy, Lord Kashin Koji!?

...

Danzo.

!?

...Danzo, Danzo.

You did a GREAt job...making it THROUGH my obSTAcle course.

Danzo. Lord KoTArou.

I have neVER been as HAppy as I aM Now.

I MEAN it.

...And that was the look carved into that doll-like face.

Ruby! I TOLD you to cut that out!

...It's oKAY.

That WAND is COrrect.

Huh?

That's...

I'm sorrY, everyone.

All I wanTED...was TO tell Danzo and Lord Kotarou...

...how happY I was to see them Again.

And, if poSSible...to do so...with a smile.

Most of Kashin Koji's body has been replaced with doll parts.

They said if they go too long without smiling, their emotions and expressions become disconnected...

...and they can't smile how they want to anymore.

That hasn't changed even now that they've died and become a Heroic Spirit.

(Nodding)

Lord Kashin Koji!

Then, you weren't mad at me after all!

Ahh... If only I had known how you truly felt sooner.

Hey, don't feel too bad about that. I sure wouldn't have guessed this whole death game thing was about giving them a chance to smile and say hi.

And hey, at least now we know smiling isn't easy for them.

Um, I guess what I want to say is, please don't be angry with them.

I had the idea of building this obstacle course...

...so they could buy the time they needed to smile.

Really!?

Wow, so you've got a real mischievous side, huh? I can't imagine our Illya doing anything like that.

It basically went like this...

There you have IT, Lady Sitonai.

I WANT to...tALk to Danzo and Lord Kotarou...with A Smile.

I see. I think I know how you feel.

When you get to see someone you really care about again for the first time in a long time...

...of course you'd want to greet them with your very best smile.

That's a pretty modest ambition. Okay, I got it.

I'll help you.

Luckily, it looks like you have a small Holy Grail, too. I guess that's how you spontaneously materialized.

COrrect.

Hmm, how to help...

Hmm...

You said you're an expert on illusions and karakuri, right? And you have a Holy Grail, too.

In that case...

(Whisper, whisper, whisper)

And now you know.

While you were off trying your luck against all those challenges...

...Kashin Koji was doing their best to reconnect with their expressions and emotions.

And now, they can smile again.

Lord Kashin Koji...!

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That's... Yeah. I think I can, too.

Yeah. Me too.

Eh, I don't get it.

Hmm.

What is it, Ruby?

I just thought, in that case, wouldn't it have been better if Kashin Koji had just stayed out of sight until they were ready? Then Danzo wouldn't have worried so much.

W-well, yeah, maybe. But was this really the time to say that!?

Oh. I hadn't thought about that...but I guess you're right. Ehehehe.

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Well, I really did want to help you have fun too, Master.

So, what did you all think? Master.

Danzo. Kotarou.

Illyasviel. Chloe. Miyu.

Did all of you have at least a little fun at our festival?

Master, you're usually so busy, and it seems like the Servants are always fighting so hard...

...so I wanted to give you all a chance to really relax and cut loose for a change.

At least, that was my hope...

...So, how was it?

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