Shot 25: Resting Scene at My Room

Hmm. I just threw my name into the lottery system on a whim. I didn't actually expect to win.

Nor did I have any strong desire to rest here as opposed to anywhere else.

In fact, I didn't have any desire to rest here, period.

But, oh well. Now that I have been given a chance to use this room, I may as well make the most of it.

Hmm... So this is where Master comes whenever he's not busy working.

I wonder what he thinks about when he's in here, how he spends his time.

... ...

(Fidgeting)

Hold on! Master went out of his way to offer his own room to us as a rest spot.

All I need to do in return is accept this gift with gratitude and make the most of my chance to rest here.

This is no time to be concerned about anything else at all.

So I'm just going to lie down on his bed, and that's that.

...So this is the ceiling Master sees every night before he falls asleep...

... ...

I think...I can smell his scent. I can't tell if it's coming from the pillow or the bed, but it's not a bad smell by any means.

No... I must just be imagining it. My mind is convincing me I smell things that can't possibly be there.

But then again, on the small chance this really is his lingering scent... No, no, that can't be right.

... ...I can't sleep.

No! Don't lose heart, Zenobia! You need to sleep, no matter what! Don't let the scent get to you! Treat it as if it doesn't exist!

One camel... Two camels...!

...(Sniffing)...

(Zzz...)

Huh? It's not locked. Does that mean it's okay to go in?

Whoever's in there should be done by now, since it's time for the changeover... Eh, I'll just go in.

Knock knooock.

Huh!?

Oh. I'm sorry.

Th-the queen of Britannia.

Is it time for me to leave already? Forgive me, I overslept.

If we had time to spare, I would love to discuss strategies to employ against the Romans with you over tea...

...but right now, I need to let you have your turn, don't I? Just give me a moment to tidy up.

I don't want you to be distracted by any smells. Er, not to say they're bad smells or anything, just

Oh, no, don't mind me. Please, take your time.

Although, you know, Zenobia...

Hm?

I didn't have you pegged for the type to cuddle a pillow while she sleeps.

Nnn! I, uh, hope you can just forget you saw that...

Also, it said in the user agreement...

...that the pillows and other bedding are automatically cleaned with magecraft during changeovers.

So I'm pretty sure you don't have to worry about any lingering smells.

...

I-I knew that! Of course I knew that!

Hmm, I wonder if I'll win. The odds are definitely stacked against me.

But I'll never get a chance if I don't at least put in my name...

'Scuse me, little lady.

Yes?

I can see you're in trouble, and I've got just the thing to help you. Care to buy it?

Yikes. No thank you.

Hey now, hold up. I can understand your suspicion, but just hear me out.

Any Servant would love to get a chance to sleep in Master's own room.

But the odds of getting that chance aren't pretty.

But you already know that, which is exactly why you're looking so down. Am I wrong?

Well...no, you're not.

That's where I come in!

I tell you, it's a damn shame how many people have given up on dreams that could've come true if they'd just stuck with 'em.

I want to support everyone still out there chasing their dream. AND I want to give them the nudge they need to make it come true.

So with that goal in mind, and after a lot of hard work...

...I discovered a secret way to boost your odds of getting chosen!

Seriously!?

Oh yeah, dead serious. This one little trick will boost your odds beyond your wildest dreams!

But of course, I can't tell you for free.

I had to break a few of my own eggs, so to speak, to verify this discovery worked.

So I need a reasonable amount of QP to compensate for

Huh? Hey! Why'd you already write your name down!?

Well, come on. You said your trick will improve my odds, right?

So I'm guessing it's just, "We both enter our names and I'll give you my slot if I win, doubling your odds."

Then something like, "Hey, I wasn't lying. I said I'd improve your odds, and I did," right?

Ghh. I'm impressed you figured it out.

Well, I know you're not a complete con man who'll lie about anything to make a cheap buck...

...and I also figured the Queen of Sheba would never cast a spell that could be exploited so easily.

...Which pretty much left that as the only remaining possibility.

But that's a gray area tactic at best, and it doesn't meaningfully change your odds, so it's not worth paying QP for.

Whoa, whoa, hold up!

Looks like I had you figured all wrong, girlie.

I see now you don't need my help to make your dream come true someday.

It's clear as day that you've got the guts to stick it out, that you aren't going to give up.

I see... Well, yes. I am planning to keep trying until I get lucky.

Right? So then, how would you like to learn about the secret menu?

Secret...menu?

That's right. I'm talking about premium services known only to a select few.

See, the Queen of Sheba might not've gone public with this...

...but she embedded a hidden command into that room contract spell of hers.

This isn't some backdoor exploit like the kind you doubted before. It's just a little extra thrown in for some...added possibilities.

Oh come on. I find that hard to believe. Why would the queen even do something like that?

Fun and profit.

...Okay. That, I believe.

So, what does this command do, exactly?

Right. Get a load of this.

If you sign the contract with a special mark, and pay a bundle in extra fees on top of that...

...you'll get to sleep side by side with everyone's favorite you-know-who right in this very room.

Wh-wh-wh

What did you saaay!?

(Fidgeting nervously)

(Sigh)...

It's great that I got lucky with the next slot...

...but now I'm wondering if he was tricking me about this extra option...

I had to pay a lot just to find out what it was, too. Stupid, toothy, dream-chasing demon...

Haha! Pleasure doing business with you!

C-come in...

H-hi, Maste

Huh!?

(Bleeeaaat)

... ...

... ...

It's a camel!

Ooh, so you're going with the secret option to sleep side by side everyone's favorite you-know-who: the camel!

It's so great to see the camel's getting more fans even out here in Chaldea.

You have nooo idea how happy this makes me!

Now I can charge extra for access to something I've already got on hand!

Haha! Hey, I wasn't technically lying!

GIVE ME MY MONEY BAAACK!!!