Day 4

Phew. Great work again today, Master! You laid down that infrastructure absolutely perfectly!

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Master? Mash? Are you there? May I come in?

Y-yes, we're here! Please come in!

Ehehe. Don't mind if I do then! Hi, you two. I hope you're both doing well?

I know it's almost dinner time, but I wanted to bring you this turkey I roasted☆

Oh!

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Right? My name may be Baker, but baking's not all I can do!

Since it's Christmas, and I'm wearing a cute Santa outfit, I wanted to make as many yummy dishes as I could!

Be that as it may, we don't want to encourage overeating. Try not to get carried away, Baker.

Anyway, here's today's report. Once you're done reading it, we can go to the cafeteria toge

...You look really worn out. Were you fighting in the simulator all day or something?

O-oh, do we? That's...that's strange. We've just been lounging around, relaxing all day. You know, taking it easy...

I see. Then maybe you've just been eating too much. Straining your stomach from overeating and not exercising can actually make your face sag.

I'm afraid the turkey will have to wait till another day, Baker. Go get some antacids for them from Nurse, will you?

Okay. That's too bad, but you're right; they do look really worn out.

Sorry, you two, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow for the turkey. Tonight, you're just going to have some nice, easily digestible porridge.

(Ah! Come back, turkey...) U-uh, I mean, okay. You're so thoughtful, thank you.

Hehe. Oh, and here. This may not make up for the turkey, but at least I can give it to you today.

What's this?

It's a gift for Master from a very hot-blooded Servant. He said it's to help him beat the cold.

Yeah. It's yet another thing we were asked to bring you after we made our delivery.

Man. I expected as much heading in, but I still wasn't prepared for just how hot-blooded this Servant was.

Whoa, what the hell? Nemooo! It's you! Oops. Sorry 'bout attacking you. My mistake.

But hey, can't really blame me when this whole damn place just suddenly turned into a tundra outta freakin' nowhere, yeah?

I'm sorry about that. Definitely an oversight on my part. I'm just glad you didn't singe my outfit.

Oh, yeah, you're dressed differently than usual, huh? I like the red! It's a great color.

I wouldn't say it's THAT big of a deal...

So anyway, what're you doing here? I'm just waiting for that Santa bastard to bring me a pres

... ...

Hm?

Hey, YOU'RE Santa! You look so ordinary that I couldn't tell at first!

What's that about looking ordinary?

Y-yeah, I mean, you definitely look like Santa(...ish).

You've piqued my curiosity. Now I have to come out to see what I look to you.

A reindeer.

Aww, I was kind of hoping for a bigger reaction.

So hey, if you're Santa, does that mean...you've got my present!?

Of course I do. It's Santa Claus's job to bring good children what they want.

If I got it wrong, feel free to return it. As a consummate professional, Santa Claus also offers a cooling-off period.

Awesome! All right, lemme open it now just to make sure it's right.

Oil, huh. Am I supposed to use it for cooking? Like, uh, deep-frying potatoes and stuff?

No.

This oil is for your weapon...your chakram. You're always rolling it along the ground, right?

Yeah. I kick it whenever it's Noble Phantasm time.

I know. I think you'd make a great soccer player, actually. Anyway, though, it must get pretty dirty from all that, right?

Sure does! I usually give it a few good whacks to knock all the dirt off. Does the trick just fine.

That's not fine at all! I guarantee there's still a bunch of dirt on it!

Stubborn grime is the bane of engineers everywhere! That's where this stuff comes in!

Oh, I gotcha! This oil will make my chakram nice and smooth again!

Exactly! You gotta take good care of equipment as cool as yours!

You're sure fired up about it!

And since it's super oil, it won't just get the grime off, it'll send it flying at incredible speeds.

Damn, even the grime's gonna fly!? Awesome! Did the gods themselves make this oil or something?

It's just a factory product.

Gotcha. So this god's name is Factory Product, huh...

Well anyway, thanks! This is just what I wanted!

You're very welcome. On another note, I don't want you to think what I'm about to say is me setting a condition on you receiving this gift, but...

Hm?

...there's something I want to ask you, Aśvatthāman.

And with that, our mission was complete. Aśvatthāman wanted us to give you that box when we got back, so here you are.

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I see... It appears to be some kind of accessory. Maybe it's an armband?

Oh, while you're here, take this with you when you go, okay? It's a gift for Master.

I thought I'd have to wait until after Christmas before I could give it to him...

...but if you can bring it to him today, I'd really appreciate it.

...I see. So you have a gift for Master as well. I guess you all had the same idea.

Let me just check the contents first. Knowing you, it could be something explosive, even if that wasn't your intent.

Don't worry. It's just a rock I had left over.

...Is this a ruby?

Yup.

After a war I fought a long time ago, I got cursed to wander the Earth for three thousand years.

I don't even remember where I went. All I know is it was a really long, really harsh journey.

It makes sense. There was nowhere specific I was trying to go. I was just walking to walk.

Honestly, it was pure luck that I even remembered I needed to atone for my sins.

...I don't actually remember if I succeeded or not, but I do know I had every intention of making things right.

So, since I've walked a path like that before, lemme just say this:

Remember how you felt when you took that very first step. Remember it each time you look at how this rock shines.

You made a real important promise, right? So I hope you find good fortune throughout your journey.

That armband is blessed with good fortune. Oh, it's got a little extra magical energy as well.

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I see. I think he's trying to encourage you to not let the winter cold get to you.

Thank you, Nemo. This could be just what Master needs in winter.

Don't thank me. Thank Aśvatthāman.

All right, that's all from me for today. There are still three days left of winter vacation. Try not to overdo it.