Act II: The False-Stepped Coppélia (1/5)

We may be some distance from the central area now, but SE.RA.PH's connections cannot be measured by standard means.

Furthermore, there are sure to be areas accessible only via this route. I believe it would be wise to explore it.

Lady Meltryllis, do you know what this place held before it became SE.RA.PH?

Well, seeing how it's near the Hair, I'm guessing it was for operating and repairing the robotics.

Hands and feet are the appendages that react the most strongly to touch, after all.

So it must have been made into an Arm because it acted like hands in the seabed investigation.

This appears to still be the upper part of the arm, but if we can reach the Thenar, we should find the Arm that was used to examine the soil.

Obviously things are messed up now, but usually, this oil rig never dips below the water's surface.

So they need some type of robotic appendage to find out if there's oil in the seabed below, right?

...Good question. Legs are of course stronger than arms.

The arm robotics were likely used for investigation, but the leg ones are for more destructive purposes.

？！

This evil fanfare...!

Hello, all you naughty children!

Have you been using all your AP? You're not compromising with bronze apples, are you?

Never mind the consequences. Just go ahead and use up what you want, when you want!

That's the epitome of consumer culture! A sign of how much humanity loves to compete!

Now then, it's time for everyone's favorite in-game entertainment!

That's right! It's BB Channel time!

I'm your hostess with the mostess, everyone's favorite Ruler of the Moon: BB♡

Our poor victim/guest today is our old standby, Fujimaru and Co☆

Thanks for the warm welcome☆ I loooved your miserable-looking reaction.

Looks like I made the right choice in picking you for my scapegoat. You're clearly getting used to taking it in the shorts!

No you can't! Previous episodes aside, I made sure to account for low-angle shots this time!

Look. You can't see below my waist with this portrait, right...?

？！

Don't let her lead you astray with that nonsense, Fujimaru.

So what kind of rules did you come to add this time, BB? Nothing helpful, knowing you.

Heh heh heh. I don't like this rebellious phase you're going through, Meltryllis, but I appreciate that you can cut right to the heart of things.

No wonder you're the smartest of the Sakura Five. Though of course, that's also exactly what alienated you from humanity, so...

...Is that true, milady?

Don't listen to her. I never cared about humanity.

I'm just doing as I please. I didn't like the idea of being one of BB's pawns.

I don't get it. Passionlip is such a good little girl, but you just refuse to listen to me.

Maybe it's got something to do with your tiny bust and high-and-mighty attitude. Scrapping you clearly wasn't harsh enough punishment...

This is NOT about bust size! You hear me, BB!? IT'S NOT!

ONE MORE word on that subject, and I'll kill Fujimaru before you get the chance!

？！

Wow, look at you, Melty! Talk about a temper tantrum!

Still, breaking my favorite toy WOULD be the worst thing you could do to me, so...

If you try that, I'll have to retaliate by making SE.RA.PH disappear, and all of you along with it.

...That is quite the threat. Can you really do such a thing?

Uh, yeah? All I have to do is shut off the power, and it's curtains for everyone.

Some Servants might still be able to survive that, but Senpai sure wouldn't.

You're currently 4,000 meters below surface level, you know? SE.RA.PH's the only thing keeping the humans alive☆

Huh? How do you already know about the planetarium!? Aww...I was saving that reveal for the next BB Channel...

Now I'm sad... Still, that'll save me some exposition time, so no more planetarium talk, 'kay? Tee hee☆

No, not at 4,000 meters. You'd either freeze or drown first.

I'd have liked to see what you look like in 2D though, Senpai! I've always thought that boys are best enjoyed as JPGs!

？！

...Whoops, look at me go right off on a tangent again. That always seems to happen when I talk to you, Senpai.

I just wanted to let you know that I've got some new stock. Gate keys for each area, various items...

Even a new Sentinel.

Hahahaha! You expected a cat to show up on time for her cue!? Never!

This beastly beauty only shows up when she's good and ready!

Now gimme time off! With pay!

Caster!? What is the fox lady that accompanied me here doing on BB's side!?

Uh, Fujimaru? I...really hate to ask this, but...is that another one of your Servants?

？！

Hm? What are you talking about, strange Master? The last thing I remember is waking up here in SE.RA.PH. I was just an abandoned cat in a box.

Now I just run around to pay BB back after she took me in and put this total subjugation collar on me.

As you can see, I can't control myself right now, so try to keep that in mind during the battle, please.

？！

...How is that girlI mean, catstill able to talk? Not even Lip was able to resist that geas...

Oh well. She's still a tough Servant! Go on, kitty, dinner's served!

Why don't you show Senpai what you're capable of to celebrate him making it all the way to this Arm!

...Here she comes, Fujimaru! Don't hold back just because she's your Servant!

Now that she's been made into a Sentinel, there's nothing you can do for her except put her out of her misery!

Owww! BB, they're too strong! A single fish gauge isn't going to be nearly enough!

Um... Cat? You didn't even bother to use that Karmaphage I went to the trouble of making for you even once, did you?

...Karmaphage...?

Ah, right. I don't know what I was thinking, trusting you with an important job like this!

Dammit, if only my Matcha Robot plan had panned out in time!

Hahahaha! You should've seen this coming the moment you asked a cat for help!

Hm? I just felt something move under my feet... Is this a trap door?

Damn straight it is! Now get out of here and wait at your designated position!

Yooou gooot iiiiiiiiit!

？！

O-okay, that's all for this episode! BB, out☆

Wait. I won't say anything about that whole embarrassment with Cat. Just answer my questions.

What's the story with the "128 new Servants" that Mable woman mentioned?

Are you moving the game to another table, even though this Holy Grail War isn't over yet?

Oh, those? I summoned them, of course!

I mean, naturally Lip went and accidentally crushed them all, but I expect I'll summon more once the next stage is ready.

After all, there's only around thirty Servants left on SE.RA.PH right now. Where's the fun in that?

There's no point in a SE.RA.PH without any danger. When it comes to Servants, the sky's the limit.

I want to fill all of SE.RA.PH with them, so that we get more intense infighting and more violent resistance.

Otherwise...it won't be a proper recreation of the Temple of Time. What SE.RA.PH needs right now is thousandsno, tens of thousands of Heroic Spirits.

The Temple of Time...!? You know of that battle!?

...Who, me? I don't have any record of things that have happened outside of the universe.

I'm just a game master. It's your karma, your actions up until now, that leads you viewers to draw connections between disparate events.

All right, that's enough Q and A time. Oh, but one last thing before I go!

There's only one real-world hour left until you hit the seabed, which means you're well into the second half of the Great SE.RA.PH Escape Game! Enjoy!

？！

...My apologies. I'm afraid I do not yet know myself.

Merlin might be able to grasp the entirety of this situation, but as we ourselves lack Clairvoyance, we can see no more than what is immediately before us.

But that is no cause to despair. We have a clear purpose, and hardy legs to carry us toward it.

？！

My thoughts exactly. I am grateful to have you as a Master.

Let us continue on our way, Fujimaru. I shall accompany you no matter where you lead.