Prologue

Good, no problems with the Rayshift to this latest minute Singularity.

We're monitoring all the data on our end as usual, but how're things feeling on the ground?

？！

Senpai is right. This is definitely the scent of chocolate. I've never smelled so much of it in one place before.

It's not quite enough to be overpowering...

...but I think you should still try to avoid breathing in too much of it just to be safe, Master.

... ...

Um... What's your expert opinion? Do you think Master will be safe?

Hmph. From poison, you mean?

Well, at the moment, I do not sense anything toxic. But I cannot speak for what may happen should it get thicker.

True, at the moment, we're not detecting anything physically harmful, either.

And with his Mystic Code's simple filter functionality, he shouldn't have anything to worry about for a while.

Now, on a different subject, are you upset about something, Semiramis?

This makes no sense. If I am here, then poison should be involved in some manner.

These two should be struggling for breath from the foul air, leaving me as their only hope for survival.

Then I could reluctantly save their lives, in exchange for having them lick my boots with utmost enthusiasm.

I thought that is how things would turn out, but so far, there has been nothing of the sort. How dull.

Yeah, we only know that Trismegistus chose you. It didn't say anything about why.

？！

What are you looking at?

If you have even the slightest notion that my presence here is related to the chocolate, then get rid of it right now.

I have never made chocolate for anyone, nor have I ever caused a riot. Understood?

？！

At any rate, this smellor rather, whatever is emitting it, would seem to be the largest anomaly in this Singularity.

？！

I don't see any other way to describe it. I can also understand your disbelief.

There's no possible way this could have occurred naturally.

Most major Singularity anomalies like this are related to a Holy Grail that's causing them.

Which means

For this mission, we need merely do something about this chocolate river.

The same can be said for this air. I cannot tell which came first.

Hmph.

This air seems as though it is trying to cover the very world, or to dye everything the same color.

It is so...dark, and quite literally sickeningly sweet. How dreadfully unpleasant.

？！

How should I know? It is your job to find out what to do, and to do it.

You laggards should know better than to try and get an empress to work.

I wonder, though... Why chocolate?

Could it have anything to do with Valentine's Day coming up soon?

(What's more, with so much rich chocolate aroma all around me...)

(...it's very hard not to think about my own personal chocolate problem I've been trying to ignore.)

(What kind of confection should I make for Master this year...?)

Oh! I'm sorry! I'll make sure to focus on the mission!

？！

I-it's nothing. Well, personally, it's a matter of great importance...

...but it in no way takes priority over repairing the Singularity, so please, don't worry about it.

Anyway, um...do you have any ideas for what our next move should be, Da Vinci?

You bet! As a matter of fact, I just finished scanning your vicinity...

...and it looks like there's a Servant signal nearby.

...!

I can't tell from here if they're friendly or hostile, so the fastest way to find out is to try making contact.

If nothing else, it should get you some new information.

？！

Understood. Then we'll try approaching the signal, while maintaining proper vigilance.

Good grief. If doing something about this Servant is enough to finish this job...

...then I can simply bestow upon them a poisoned chalice or two from my travel stash.

So let us hurry and get this over with.

？！

Me too. It sounds like

A war cry? Or is it more a shout of excitement?

Hmph, how barbaric. Such outbursts would never have a place in my beautiful garden.

Hmm. It looks like the voice you're hearing is coming from the Servant signal up ahead.

...It's coming from inside the chocolate river!

Raaah! Maximum speed!

Followed by a one-eighty! Go, go, gooo!

？！

It appears to be someone surfing atop the chocolate river at high speed.

They seem to be whipping up chocolate foam and driving it back and forth in all directions.

What is more, they appear to be using some sort of reins... No, wait. Are those chains?

I believe they are riding on something rather large just underneath the water, chocolate's surface.

Damn, it doesn't seem to have made any difference... Hm?

Looks like they noticed you guys. Keep you guard up, just in case.

Hup!

Hi there! I'm Andromeda!

I'm a Servant who was summoned here automatically to do something about this!

How about you guys? Is that why you're here, too?

If it is, great! If not...

Hmm. What then...?