Wall 20: And Now to the Giant Tree

...There's someone here.

I'm going to ambush them. There's no sense giving them a chance to fight back.

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Hm? Oh, it's you. What a coincidence running into you out here, Master.

I do get the feeling I would've lost my head if I'd stayed in the tall grass any longer.

But that's probably just my imagination. Hope we didn't get off on the wrong foot!

Oberon! What are you doing here?

What do you mean? I'm a Chaldean Servant, too. Of course I'm going to do everything I can to help out in an emergency.

Especially in a case involving a forest. I can't miss an adventure in the woods now, can I?

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Oh yes. I've learned this is the worst forest I've ever been to! I even ran into a spring goddess that talked me into buying a hammer!

I didn't actually have much cash on me, though, so I signed up for a payment plan...

...and as my Master, I expect you'll be sent the bills!

So when they come due, I hope you'll remember what you and I have been through together and pay them for me!

...I should've struck while he was still in the grass.

Oh, hello. And who might this lovely young lady Ah, I see.

You've already got all the dependable companions you need. I'd just slow you down if I were to tag along.

I'll just get out of your hair and leave the forest expedition to you, then. Besides, today's clearly not my lucky day, if that weird goddess I ran into is any indication.

But don't worry. You wouldn't want to be in the forest at night. It's safe during the day, though. As long as you don't run into any strange faeries like me, anyway.

Even with obviously unnatural tree walls that need to be kicked open continuously blocking our way?

Hmm, so you kick them open. With what kind of shoe? Boots? Heels? Sneakers?

Um, I don't think the kind of footwear you have on is important...

Incidentally, my melee strikes are fundamentally based on karate, since judo is focused on grappling.

Ah, of course. Karate kicks, then.

Come to think of it, AA did say the gallant knight was a master of British karate.

Well, anyway, if these walls can be kicked open, then you can just think of them as knobless doors.

All right, good luck with your search! I'll be cheering you on through the Command Room monitor!

Who was that? He didn't look or sound like a bad guy.

That was Chaldea's Faerie King.

He usually claims to be a noncombatant who avoids dangerous places whenever possible...

...but it looks like he still came here to look into what's going on.

Didn't give us any useful advice, though. Still, I appreciate him coming despite the danger.

...Okay, let's just forget what he said and keep moving forward.

The forest ahead isn't like what we've seen so far. It feels like the wind and air flow differently.

Understood. Let's proceed carefully then.

Huh? Wh-what in the world...!?

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It's like it just sprouted out of nowhere! I can't even see the top of this tree! It's enormous!

I see a hollow that looks like an entrance. Almost seems like it's inviting us in.

I can't help but think the sense of symbolism here is somehow related to the anomaly...

For now, we'll just have to go in and check it out. But be extra careful!

Okay, we're inside the giant tree. It does look like some sort of entrance.

We can even see clearly thanks to sunlight coming in from the outside. I can't really tell how it's getting in here though.

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I agree. It seems like you could take a very pleasant nap here.

So, it's just a plaza? Is there nowhere further in to explore?

There, in that corner. Another one of those tree walls.

There's an incline in the floor leading up to it, so it probably continues upward on the other side of the wall, too.

Hmm. I wonder if that means we'll be able to make our way up this huge tree once we kick that wall open.

...Wait. There's someone here!

Rider Medusa!

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Let's just say there's a reason I might look different right now, so please don't worry about it.

The same kind of thing could happen to other Servants too, but it won't affect their capabilities.

Just be aware that this kind of thing can happen.

Anyway, it looks like we might have a problem on our hands.

I don't know what the problem is, but I agree that it doesn't seem like a good situation.

First I run into my cursed self at a spring. Now you show up?

I see. So you met Gorgon.

...What did you think of her?

Not much.

She might look a little different from me in various ways, but she was still connected to my fate.

The only difference is, she was connected to the process, while I'm connected to the result. That's all.

Do you disagree?

Not at all, no.

When you get down to it, it's not just Gorgon; we're all the same.

Then why are we on different sides right now?

Why am I trying to do a job...and why are you trying to stop me?

The answer to that is also, "Because we're the same being."

...?

I don't get it. Quit being coy.

You know what? I think we've wasted enough time talking.

Is talking to other versions of yourself the latest trend in Chaldea or something? We should probably warn people that it's actually pretty boring.

I see. That's too bad. I was hoping you'd spend a little more time here.

You too?

Gorgon also didn't want to let Fujimaru's team go on ahead yet.

What's waiting up ahead, anyway?

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Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to answer that.

Don't bother. There's only one thing to do about interlopers who refuse to talk.

Make them understand. Forcibly.

I don't especially want to fight you, but seeing what you're capable of wouldn't be the worst idea.

If you want to fight, I'm happy to oblige.

I think we're about to have another Servant fight, Master!

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Really? Thank you, Master.

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(My Rider self...)

(The rider of Pegasus, an abomination born at the same time as Chrysaor.)

Without any animosity, this feels like nothing more than a sparring match.

Still, it was nice to get some exercise in for a change.

I guess having an opponent you don't have to hold back against is a rare and valuable thing.

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I know I can't keep you here forever.

Besides, if we keep going, it won't feel like a friendly sparring match anymore.

...Head for the top.

Huh?

This enormous tree is the heart of the forest.

And the...heart of the heart, so to speak, is at the very top.

Either way, you're going to have to make your way there.

Once you do...I'm sure you'll understand.

...Understand what?

I no longer have visual on Rider Medusa.

Ugh, I swear. I still can't tell if she wanted to keep us here or let us pass.

(Apart from all that...Pegasus was awfully cute. I hope I get the chance to pet him someday...)

I guess she wanted to let you pass, just not right away.

Which means she was waiting for something about the situation to change first... Hmm.

Oh well, we can always worry about that later!

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That's true. For the time being, it seems like our best course of action is to head for the top of this tree.

The roots and branches that make up the stairsor rather, slopethat lead up to the top...

...are probably just like the ones in the walls we've seen so far.

Which means we'll need Servants to kick open the way forward, and we'll need to give them time to recover from the exhaustion that follows.

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Oooh! Love that confidence!

Then you already understand that on missions like this, where Servants face frequent and unavoidable exhaustion...

...securing areas for Servants to rest and recover is crucial.

Luckily, this place already seems perfect for napping, so it should make a good rest spot.

Good point. This also seems like a perfect time to refuel...

...so why don't we get out a blanket and enjoy the food we brought along?

Oh, right. Daikokuten made some delicious looking rice balls for us today, so

...Wait. Eating a meal? Outside? On a blanket!?

Senpai, is this...a picnic!?

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I knew it!

This is so exciting! I never thought I'd get to go on a picnic today!

Wait right there, Senpai! I'll have everything set up in no time!

And Medusa, please be ready to take your shoes off at a moment's notice!

Why?

Because sitting barefoot on a picnic blanket should make it feel like we're in the kind of nice house you should take your shoes off before entering...

...and in my analysis, that touch of the extraordinary should be crucial for the complete picnic experience!

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Hmm. Well, it's no big deal. I can handle taking my shoes off.

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True. They're tough, durable, and useful in combat, but I guess that does also make them hard to take off.

I could change their magical energy composition, but that seems like kind of a hassle too...

...so I'll just untie the laces while we wait for her to get back.

(...Hm? I'm getting a vague sense of déjà vu... Have I been through something like this before?)