Act IV: The Sinking Beauty (1/4)

Welp, so much for wondering if there were still any Servants left on the rear side.

He must've been a pretty smooth-talking hero to have lasted this long.

Too bad for him that this kitty knows better than to take the obvious bait! My feline cunning is too...cunning to fall for any get-rich-quick schemes!

...Sorry, Caesar. Your fate was sealed the moment you brought up exchange rates to a cat.

You did great, Cat! It was really educational to see how you used your claws!

Hm? You like my paw power, Lip? If you think that was impressive, you should see how I cook.

Huh? You can cook, Cat?

She is...?

You're kidding!

Really!?

？！

Well, if you insist, I guess I'll just have to show you! Tamamo, it's maid morphin' time!

That's right! I picked up every one of the domestic skills that Tamamo-no-Mae dropped into that river! I'm a devoted wife is what I am!

Basicallywith the sole exception of chopping onionsanything a maid can do, I can do too!

Don't worry if your hands are a little on the large side, Lip. That's a gift all on its own. Not to mention they'll make cutting up eggs super easy!

Under my tutelage, you'll be a first-rate chef in... Okay, maybe that's too much to hope for.

But a two-point-five rate chef is still totally a possibility! What do you say? Are you up for it?

A-absolutely! Please allow me to train under you, Master Cat!

Hahaha, then I think I'll take a carrot as a reward! Welcome to Hell's Kitchen, Benienma-style!

...

？！

I am. It's rare for Lip to speak up without worrying about what other people might think.

At first, I thought your choice to let Tamamo Cat join us instead of killing her was a terrible, terrible mistake, but now, I'm almost glad you did.

I could never make Lip smile like that myself.

Ooh, I'm picking up some happy auras over here! Whatcha talkin' about, Melt!?

Edgemiya, why don't you give us some space; this is Alter Ego-only time! ...You can stay though, Master.

...Hang on. What did you just say?

"Alter Ego-only"? You mean...you're one of us?

Well of course I am. I'm one of the Tamamo Nine that split off from my sworn enemy, Tamamo-no-Mae.

...In other words, an Alter Ego. Maybe with a liiittle Berserker thrown in, but still!

...Stop that. Just shut up. I didn't need to know that!

So you really hadn't noticed, huh Melt. It's true; Cat's basically the same as us.

Of course, I was originally created with the intent of fighting the Sakura Five, but that's waaay too much exposition to get into right now!

Like, a could-fill-up-its-own-RPG level exposition! A Cursed Crazy Cat RPG! But you'll just have to find some other way to learn about that!

？！

I gotta say though, even though you two are sisters, don't you think you're both seriously unbalanced?

I get that Lip is all chesty and punchy and Melt is all leggy and kicky, but even taking that into consideration, your personalities are wildly different.

...Well of course.

I was based off of BB's aggressive personality, and Lip was based off of her defensive one.

In other words, I embody torment, and she, suffering. I am most alive when I'm hurting my victims. Lip is the complete opposite.

She's got very sensitive skin, so just the slightest bit of damage is enough to send her reeling.

Her reactions are so extreme that she inadvertently provokes others into wanting to torment her, even if they're not normally like that.

You should try it yourself if you ever get the chance, Fujimaru.

You'll start with just a little tap, and before you know it, you'll be beating her so severely that people will be staring in horror.

Th-that's not true!

Besides, Fujimaru would never bully anyone!

Yup! Master may like to tease, but he's a good egg!

So Melt, what'd you mean when you said you and Lip are opposites?

My sense of touch is really dull, especially in my hands. Fingers are meant for feeling things, right?

But while I can move mine okay, I can't feel my own body warmth, or anybody else's.

That's why I have no choice but to thrash my opponents.

I can't really feel my own joy very well, so it's only when I see how much pain I'm causing someone else that I truly feel alive.

I have to dominate them. To thrash them into a state that only I can see. To make them beg at my feet.

That's the point when I can finally understand...what it feels like to love someone.

It's true.

Both Melt and I have turned over a new leaf, but we can't change our essential nature... I'm so sorry.

Hardly. Have you ever seen me embarrass myself in battle, even once?

That said... I guess there are some parts of daily life that are a little less than perfect.

Since my fine motor control isn't the greatest...I'll never be able to assemble my own model kits.

？！

All right, no more pointless chit-chat. Is Suzuka Gozen the only Sentinel left on this side, Meltryllis?

...Yes. I don't know which area she's using for her temple, but I can make a pretty good guess: the very center of SE.RA.PH, the Spine.

She's also probably been given the strongest Karmaphage, so she's definitely the one in charge of the rear side.

Beating her will definitely open up a new route.

Then we'll head for the back next. Oh, and by the way, Fujimaru...

If you're going to take on another Sentinel, you should play along with BB's game. The key to her heart, was it?

That should negate the Karmaphage's effects. And you'll need to, because we can't beat a Sentinel like her in a normal Servant battle.

It's gonna be another hell of a Maiden Coaster. They may have hurt like the dickens, but at least those bullets were enough to get rid of mine.

Anywoof, it's always best to defeat your opponent without killing them! You should definitely do that!

First we beat her in battle, then we beat her in strength of character. That's just what that fake fox deserves!

Hm? Do you and Suzuka Gozen know each other, Cat? You sound like you kind of have a history...

Don't be ridiculous! I don't know that faux fox! When I'm done, she and her pointy ears won't know what hit them!

Although, I guess I kind of understand what it is she cares so much about.

Master, make sure you break that fox's spirit, okay? I'll take it from there.