0. Santa Claus the Transporter

Servants are going home for the holidays? Even though Earth is still bleached?

That's right. Even Servants were human once. (With...a few notable exceptions.)

It's perfectly understandable that they'd want to visit home now and then. It can even repair their damaged Spirit Origins.

So it's our policy to give every Servant who wants them seven days off each year, which they can use to visit home.

Besides, if we have a summer vacation, it's only fair to have a winter one too, right?

Granted, it's not always easy on both parties, since it also pretty thoroughly depletes Chaldea's magical energy supply.

Do you have an issue with this, Captain?

...No. As long as the Servants on leave keep in touch, I have no objections. Keeping their Spirit Origins in good shape will only help us in future battles.

And reconnecting with a part of yourself you either lost or lost sight of can only be a good thing.

In the event the Border is attacked, we will have to summon them all back, which would place a huge load on the Triton Engines...

...but since there should only be a small number of Servants who want to go home, it shouldn't be an issue.

Chaldea has reached a point where we could lose ten to twenty percent of our forces and still come out fine given all our knowledge and experience.

...

Da Vinci?

Uh, yeah, ten to twenty percent is right. Just not in the way you think.

Eighty percent of our Servants are on leave now. We only have twenty percent of our usual roster here aboard the Storm Border.

But don't worry. According to Sheba's observations, we should be perfectly safe for at least the next seven days.

So as long as we know the Storm Border won't be attacked, everything should be fine. Professor thinks so, too.

Professor... I can't believe she didn't report to the captain. When did she get so lazno. This is outright dereliction of duty.

You'd better believe I'm going to follow up with her about this later...

But right now, we have bigger fish to fry. How can THAT many Servants be going home for the holidays?

Has life at Chaldea been so difficult, they've all grown homesick?

Fou. Fou. (Special Translation: Maybe.)

That's one reason, but it's not the only one. This might be exclusive to Chaldea, but...

...by this point, people expect Santa Claus to bring them presents every year at Christmas.

So they probably think they'll get what they want if they just wait patiently at home☆

This is crazy. Completely absurd.

They really think Santa Claus is going to show up on Christmas? When the world is still bleached like this?

It's madness. I can't believe Da Vinci of all people would make so simple and obvious a mistake.

It's not just waiting at home that's important!

You also need to have been a good person all year, or you won't be nearly as happy when you get your gift!

Yes! Exactly! A Christmas present is proof that you did a good job throughout the year!

I can see why children admire you all around the world, why Captain Nemo is viewed as such a romantic hero! You really understand Christmas!

I knew I needed to pick this year's Santa, but I didn't know how I could narrow down my choices!

But then, just as I was thinking I'd prefer a Rider who's tough and hardworking...

...you showed up! What luck!

Rider class, check! Hard worker, check! Tarasque-level toughness, check!

I knew it! The Lord must have guided me to this meeting.

Oh, but where are my manners? Hello and good day, Heroic Spirit Nemo.

Would you be this year's Santa, please?

Me? Santa? Wait. Is it really that simple?

Yes! They say each Santa Claus chooses their successor!

That's how every other Santa Claus besides me was selected!

I-I see.

But, I'm a sailor, not a sleigh driver. I'm not cut out for making children's hopes and dreams come true.

And then there are my duties as captain...

Oh, right. Hmm. I guess I'll just have to choose someone else then.

I'm sorry for making such an unreasonable request. I'll go find someone else to

Hold it! This is Santa we're talking about, right!? The gift giver of all gift givers, right!?

We have to do this, Captain! We just have to! It'll be an absolute blast!

Yeah, let's do it! We wanna be Santa, too!

H-hmph. Christmas, huh? Well, I guess it'd be a good excuse to give the Storm Border a break.

Now's my chance. I thought something like this might happen, so I equipped the Nautilus's landing craft with four-wheel drive.

I don't see any reason to refuse. If we're not doing any fighting, I don't need to keep the infirmary running.

Besides, knowing how wise you are, I'm sure you've already thought of something you want to do as Santa. Right, Captain?

I'm sorry for making such an unreasonable request. I'll go find someone else to

Of course I'll do it. In fact, I was just talking to Da Vinci about this.

"This entire discussion occurred within Nemo's mind, over the span of half a second, demonstrating Thought Acceleration prowess on par with any Atlas Institute alchemist."

Oh good! Then I'll give you the Santa Spirit Origin right now.

Close your eyes, concentrate, and imagine the kind of Santa Claus you'd like to be.

It's really difficult, so it might take you some time, but I'm sure you'll get there inwha...!?

This ought to do for Santa Claus.

Thank you for choosing me, Saint Martha. I promise I won't let you down.

As of this moment, I am both Captain and not Captain. I am Nemo Porter, the leader of Team Nautilus!

My motto will be: Punishment for bad children, presents for the good ones.

Don't worry, I'll take it from here. Once I agree to do something, I always see it through to the end. I'll be a successful Santa, or my name isn't Captain Nemo!

(Hmm. I'm starting to wonder if I may have made a mistake...)

That's right! Da Vinci had it specially made as an end of year bonus!

You've handled so many Christmas holidays so masterfully, Senpai! I can already see you wearing this warm, fluffy suit as you gallivant around town...

An outfit like this is guaranteed to make this year's Christmas a merry one. In fact, I think you might be the greatest Santa Claus of the century!

？！

Sorry. I hate to rain on your new Santa outfit parade, Master, but you won't have to go anywhere this year.

Save that Santa outfit for a party, or maybe for next year's deliveries.

Huh!? Is that

Merry Christmas, Mash and Fujimaru. As you can see, I'm this year's Santa.

I'm not big on fancy names, so please, just call me "Nemo Santa."

I guess you could also call me "Nemo Porter," since I'll usually just be transporting exactly what was ordered.

...

？！

Is there something strange about this? It's just me, Nemo Santa.

N-no, not at all. That red hat looks very good on you. As does the, um, mustache.

Just the kind of distinguished mustache I'd expect to see on Captain Nemo. Is it a disguise?

？！

It's more an expression of my feelings than a disguise. My head and heart both agree: Santa needs a mustache.

Anyway, we're getting off topic. I just stopped by to say hello before I head out.

Apparently, Santa Claus has a skill that lets him know when people want him to come to town.

I wrote all the names down, and it came to a total of over three hundred.

And now, there are Servants scattered all over the world.

This job is too hard for you two. You've both been good kids all year.

As your captainno, as Santa, I can't put something like this on your shoulders.

So this year, I'm going to handle Christmas myselfor rather, my selves.

I'm not like the other Santas. I have a four-wheel drive, a GPS that'll calculate the most efficient routes...

...and an anchor that can reach anywhere in the world. My latest gear will make my deliveries simple.

So whatever you do, don't try to come with me. Got that?

Let's see... Seven days should be more than enough to take care of this. I'll check in every day to keep you abreast of my progress.

So you can just relax and enjoy your winter vacation with Mash. Keeping yourself rested is an important part of your job, too.

The only thing I want you to do is wait here in Chaldea and have a cake ready for when I get back.

Oh, I'll also run the shop and the gift exchange, of course. I've heard that exchanging gifts is especially a lot of fun for Christmas.

Rest assured that Nemo Porter will be a perfect Santa. Nothing will slip by me.

All right, I'm off. Merry Christmas.

？！

I know what you mean. It was just so distinguished that I didn't know what to say.

Now that I think about it, I'm a little worried. I'm glad Captain Nemo became Santa, but

You said it! Talk about having the sleigh pulled out from under you!

I can't believe Nemo's the one who got a Santa Spirit Origin.

How can I face all the senpais around the country who were eagerly awaiting the year of Santa BB!?

？！

BB!? When did you get here!?

Also, it's not the Santa Spirit Origin I'm worried about.

I know that. That was just a little BB humor, of course.

You're worried about how Nemo Porter's planning to handle his new Santa duties, right?

Specifically, the part about him making all those deliveries by himself.

Right. I know Nemo is very capable, but I still think this is too much for him. Especially given how far away some people's homes are.

？！

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...

Me too. Part of me would like to go after him right now and offer to help...

...but he seemed like he already had a plan, so maybe that wouldn't really be much help.

？！

All right, then let's look at this from another angle.

I distinctly heard Nemo Porter only say, "Don't try to come with me."

But what he DIDN'T do was say anything like, "Don't engage in any Santa-related activities."

Sooo, if you two insist on helping him out, I can think of a way to do that.

？！

Well, what if you made sure his route was safe?

He said he was going to carry out his deliveries over the course of seven days, which means he's going to cover seven separate routes.

He's bound to run into obstacles and even hostiles along those routes. He'll run himself ragged before he can make his deliveries if he has to do all that himself.

Which means

We can make his routes safer by removing the obstacles before he reaches them!

You're right. That way, we can help him without trying to accompany him!

？！

Then it's settled. I'll handle the area demarcation.

Given what Nemo Santa's like, I figure his routes will be pretty focused. All business, no nonsense.

So once I've got those calculated, I'll whip up some missions for you to clear out the obstacles before he ever sees them♡

It'll be the greatest snow shovelingor rather, sand shovelingjob ever seen on the bleached Earth! Now it feels like a proper Chaldea winter!

And I have to say, Senpai, as your adoring and adorable kouhai, seeing you work so hard even on Christmas is veeery satisfying!

Thank you so much for the advice and the missions, BB!

Come on, Master! Let's go shine a light on Nemo Santa's path!

？！

？！

Huh? Um, good question...

Part of it is that I'm annoyed I didn't get the Santa Spirit Origin I was so looking forward to, and part of it is that it's just been too long since I was in the limelight.

But it's also because, as another Servant with close ties to Void Space, I can't help but sympathize with Nemo!

And speaking of Void Space, to get to the target areas ahead of him, you'll need to do a fair bit of Zero Sailing. Beats walking though, doesn't it?

All right, let's get Operation Winter Roadwork started.

Seven days may seem like a long time, but they'll go by in the blink of an eye. So please make sure you give every day your all, Senpai♡