Section 1: The Melancholy of the Trilogy

This is Halloween!

Hit it!

BLAAahhh♪

I forgot it was Halloween!

Thank goodness I brought it all together in time! Hit it!

AAAaahhhhHHH♪

It's Halloween!

I'm not going to depend on Uncle Vlad or Tama Cat Maid this year. I'll show them all what an amazing Halloween I can make all on my own♪

Lady Elisabeth, what do you think of these plans for the parade?

Lady Elisabeth, the candy for the town's children has arrived.

...Not bad. This should make for a fine parade. Make sure the band knows what's up.

And you, candy guy. There's plenty of space in the flour storehouse, so keep the candy in there.

It'd be a huge waste if the rats got to it before the big day. You know how they are; they'll nibble anything they can get their grimy little paws on.

(I didn't know milady hated rats so much.) Yes, milady. Oh, and I hate to be the one to report this to you, but...

Your subjects have been complaining and asking about when you are going to get rid of that pyramid.

Hey, I'm the one who should be complaining! I keep on telling Cleopatra to move it, but she just says:

Give it up. I have never given the order to have one of the pyramids moved.

"And if you're planning on destroying it, you'll need to fill this out first. That pyramid is on loan from Lord Ozymandias."

"If you try to demolish it, I will have to bill you for the cost of repairs or reconstruction. Ohohohoho."

Ugh! If I had that kinda money just lying around, I'd long since have used it to upgrade Castle Csejte!

(She means turning the castle into a concert stage! Talk about a living hell for her subjects!)

(Thank goodness for Lady Cleopatra. She prevented such a terrible tragedy in such an impressively circumspect way.)

So the pyramid will have to wait. Besides, that's WAY too big for me to get my subjects to move it.

So until I find a Heroic Spirit with a giant golem, or a giant crane, or a construction company...

...we're just gonna forget about it.

Plus, I haven't even heard of any Heroic Spirit with golems, but I bet I've got connections to at least one Heroic Spiritno, an academic who can get their hands on a giant crane!

Phew, that was some great administrative action on my part, if I do say so myself. I could've done even better if it weren't for this dumb headache...

Now I just need to send the invitations to Chaldea, and it will be all systems go for this year's Halloween bash!

Aaand...sent!

Ahh...I can see my little Puppy's face glowing already!

Huh? An earthquake...?

Is something crashing my party again!? What is it now!?

？！

Yes, Senpai. I'm afraid it's that time of the year again...

？！

Autumn.

Back in your hometown, this time of year may well have been known for wonderful weather.

There, perhaps one could choose to spend time enjoying the brilliantly colored leaves, or mourning the leaves that had died and begun to fall.

？！

I know that Chaldea is locked in permanent winter, so it may not really feel like fall here...

But we can't ignore the reality of our situation forever, Senpai.

Whether we like it or not, it's still Halloween!

To make matters worse, we've detected a tiny Singularity we need to deal with. And you received a third invitation from Castle Csejte...

...and it says the same thing it did two years ago.

"You are hereby invited to Castle Csejte to hear me sing"!

But don't worry, Senpai. You won't have to suffer alone.

I'm afraid I can't go with you in person, but I'll still join you for the concert!

I know we can do this, Senpai! And once this year's Halloween is over

？！

...Senpai?

A Craft Essence decoy!? Who are you!?

I had a bad feeling about this, so I turned on the comms gear remotely!

Mash, you weren't able to convince Fujimaru?

I have the whole staff on standby just in case!

I'm afraid Senpai swapped himself out with this...

A Craft Essence decoy! Impressive! Kotarou must have taught him how to do that!

Curse you, Evil-wind! Messing with Master is MY job!

(Evil-wind... That's the translation Kotarou insisted upon for his clan's name...)

At any rate, we need to hurry and find Senpai!

Then I guess we have no choice. Mash, we're going to Code Red.

We have to find Fujimaru and make him repair the Singularity, no matter what it takes!

...Um, Acting Director, if I may...

Since Senpai went so far as to master advanced ninja techniques just to get out of this, maybe forcing him to do it in the first place is...?

Yes, I know that forcing him to fix a Singularity is wrong. But think about it.

Let's say he doesn't go to the concert. What do you think Elisabeth would do?

...She would cry. A lot. I understand. If I were in her position, I'm sure I would be terribly sad too.

That's right. Dragon or not, she'd bawl her little eyes out. And then Castle Csejte would radiate sonic waves that are so much worse than even her singing.

Granted, I imagine that's par for the course for the people of Castle Csejte, but the problem is Fujimaru.

Anti-Hero or not, troublemaker or not, Elisabeth has been a big help to Chaldea.

So if Fujimaru saw her crying like that, it would break his heart.

But, if he DOES go to her concert, it'll be his ears that break, but his heart...his heart would remain whole.

And what could be more important than that?

That's a good point!

I'm glad you agree. Now, let's get this search underHm? This signal...!

？！

Fou, fooou?

What's up, Master?

？！

What the hell kind of nickname is that!? Well, whatever.

At any rate, is it just me, or are there a lot fewer Servants around than usual?

I don't know if they're all in their spirit forms or headed for the simulator or what, but...

Fou. Fooou.

？！

Is there something about Halloween that makes Servants disappear? Oh, I did see Robin Hood, though.

I think he said he was going out to make sure he could get enough candy for all the kids or something.

？！

Oh, you were looking for a scout? Well, whatever the job, I'm your man!

Or do you doubt that I'm up to the task?

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I am, right?

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You bet! I'm real good at it, too!

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Huh!?

I see. So that little dragon girl is putting on a concert, even though her singing is nightmarish.

So much so that all the big-name Servants decided to shift into spirit forms to avoid listening to her...

And even the ones who are still around are, well...

"A Rayshift? Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid my sciatica is acting up again..."

"I'm too old for Halloween. Sorry, but you'll just have to ask someone else. I only just got a new oven delivered."

"Uh! (Thanks, but no thanks.)"

"I'm not here."

That last one performed such an elegant and convincing dogeza that I completely believed her!

Ah! There you are, Senpai!

I'm sorry, Senpai, but I'm told Halloween is the one time of year we are not allowed to take days off.

Are you serious? Who the hell made such a cruel rule?

...Elisabeth...

Ulp.

...It's...not fair for you to use your puppy dog eyes on me, Senpai. But I'm afraid it still won't work.

Harsh...

？！

At any rate, something awful has happened!

？！

That is too true, Senpai! But I'm actually talking about that very Halloween!

Please, just come with me.

Otherwise, the concert might be the least of our worries!

？！

Man, when you get down to business, you really get down to business.

Fujimaru! Thank goodness you're here!

We have ANOTHER Singularity at Castle Csejte on Halloween! It's causing it to transform

Err, that is, it's actually very rapidly growing to MASSIVE proportions! It's progressing even faster than it did in 2018!

Um, Da Vinci?

Isn't 2018 when that pyramid smashed into the top of the castle?

That's right.

If the situation is even worse than that, what can we possibly do about it!?

I understand your concern, but we've already received a distress signal.

We're still not sure who sent it...

But the smart money is on something having happened to Elly again.

？！

Puppy!

Puppy!!!

？！

Senpai...!

Looks like fun. I think I'll tag along! What do you say, Mrsuh, Ms. Da Vinci?

How 'bout letting me in on this Rayshift action!?

Okay, mysterious Assassin of Shinjuku. I'll feel better knowing you're there helping Master out.

But whatever happens, please try and roll with it. Explaining would be too complicated and a huge pain. It's best if you just go and see for yourself.

Good luck, Assassin of Shinjuku!

Throwing himself right into the dragon's lair when everyone else refuses, huh... No wonder he's such a model Master.

You said it. He's got nerves of steel...stainless steel, even. They never tarnish, no matter what happens.

If only I were still in my prime...

Eh?

Oh, don't worry about that, Master! Well, good luck with everything!

Oooh, my back...

Hahaha, he just up and ran away.

Hahaha. Don't worry, Master. I have faith in you.

When you get back, I'll make sure you have a big Halloween feast waiting for you.

So...you planning to Rayshift with us, or what?

Oh, no. I couldn't possibly. If I did, there'd be no one to prepare Chaldea's meals, and then the sacred sword and oni would be at each other's throats.

Man, you've got an answer for everything, huh.

？！

...Um, Master?

Once all the dust settles on this year's madness, I think we should have another Halloween party.

You, me, Fou, and Elisabeth can celebrate your exploits and the fact that Castle Csejte is at peace again, just the four of us.

？！

That's the Senpai I know!

And I will do everything I can to support you from here!

Right. Are we all on the same page now? Then let's get this Rayshift started!

Eh, forget the formalities this time! Just go on and enjoy this third Halloween!

One Rayshift later... Huh, so this is what Halloween looks like!

This place is really hoppin'! What do you say we stop by the bar for a drink, Master?

Hm...?

Da Vinci, are you sure the Rayshift coordinates were correct?

They sure weren't. I could have sworn I set them to the graveyard first, just like the last two years.

So ordinarily, that dragon girl would be waiting for us, huh? ...Hm? What's all the commotion?

You mean all those voices out on the street? Halloween is always a little noisy.

No, not those. Look. Is someone being chased?

Oh, no! Even MORE of them! HALP!

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Eep!

Gomenasorry! I'mma princess, and I'm being chased!

Is that so. I take it those knights there are the ones doing the chasing?

W-well... I...

Senpai is right. For the moment, you should get as far away from him as you can!

？！

Heeelp! HEEELLLP MEEEEE!!

Another one!? Who is it this time!?

Save me, Puppy!

？！

This way, El-El!

Batty! Crap, they caught up to us! What're we gonna do!?

I dunno! I'mma princess!

I'm gonna ask this rando stranger I just ran into for help like princesses do!

Puppy! That's MY Puppy!

Huh? You mean he's from Chaldea?

There you are! In the name of our new ruler, you're under arrest!

Go on Puppy, help me out here!

Y-yes, I beg of you, too! Please, help us!

？！

You got it. Let's have some fun with these guys!

I have my reasons for keeping my True Name under wraps, but my fists and feet can still serve my Master faithfully!

Let's see if you European knights have what it takes to keep up with me!

Be warned, ruffian! We Halloween Knights swear loyalty to our great mechanical queen, Mecha Eli-chan!

You shall find no tricks and even fewer treats in our swords!

Sorry to interrupt, but remember, these guys used to work for me, so make sure you don't kill them!

Guh... Fall back! Fall back!

All hostiles either defeated or in retreat. Well done, Master.

...Now then, princess, may I suggest you give Master a little space?

Or perhaps a lot of space!

Oh, whoops!

Ahaha, sorry. I was just so scared.

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Puppy! What am I gonna do!?

Someone stole Castle Csejte from me...AGAIN!

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Yes, again!

So this is the Master from Chaldea... Hmm. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Right?

Of course, he's still nowhere close to what I consider to be an ideal Master.

My standards are super high, after all. At least, I think they are.

So what, you mean you prefer 2D to RL? You know you're asking for the impossible, don't you, El-El?

I'm very much a realist, thank you! I just know my perfect someone actually exists somewhere!

So, who are you, anyway?

Given who was chasing after you, I'm guessing you've got quite a story of your own.

...The new ruler here is after me.

New ruler...?

I'm still lost.

It is rather confusing. I take it those knights we just saw are no longer loyal to you, Elisabeth?

No! They all got brainwashed by some weird kind of mind control ray or something!

Aaa! Just the thought of brainwashing squicks me out. This is exactly why I don't like machines.

Machines? Come to think of it, those knights did mention something about a mecha, didn't they?

That's right. They said they swear allegiance to a mechanical queen called "Mecha Eli-chan."

...

Yes, well, to make a long story short... Uh, look up.

Do you see that jumbled-looking fortress?

... ...

WhaIhuh!?

Fou.

Whoa there, you okay, Master? Man, this sure took a turn!

This is...a whole new level of grotesquery.

It's Western, Middle Eastern, and Asian style all rolled into one.

The architectural equivalent of stacking sushi and ice cream on a burger and topping it off with hot sauce.

？！

That Japanese castle there is my home.

It was my sanctuary...and now it has been taken away from me.

I know how you feel, Batty... It sucks, having your castle stolen.

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Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?

Ahem, ahem.

My remote abode is a castle of the heavens, stark and snowy as a heron. I am an incarnation of the bat, one whose favorite time of day is twilight.

I am known far and wide as the Hachitendou of the Hakuro Castle. My True Name is Osakabehime.

I am, of course, a Servant. An Assassin, to be exact.

Oh, Master of Chaldea! Please, I beg of you; take back my beloved Himeji Castle.

And don't forget my Castle Csejte while you're at it!

Please, I implore you. She's the embodiment of all that is evil...

You have to defeat Mecha Eli-chan!

Mecha...

Eli...

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