Section 15: Final Explosion Coaster

There we go, it's finally time for the explosion I promised. Sorry it took so long.

Uh...I'm sorry? When you say explosion, do you mean...kaboom?

That's right. Every evil underground lair goes out with an explosion. Everyone knows that.

I designed this one to explode pretty spectacularly in case I ever lost.

The logical end of sloth is decay and death. To be clearer...

The reactor has been filled to capacity with all the Elisa Particles gathered from Elisabeth and all of you.

Unless giant Mecha Eli-chan Mk. II goes on a rampage and uses that energy up, it will overload the reactor until it goes critical and explodes.

Why did you not add some sort of pressure release valve or something along those lines!?

Rampages are a mecha's bread and butter. Doing something to impede that would be...unethical.

You're not even sorry about this!

The explosion will be on par with a hydrogen bomb. It's more than enough to completely reduce Csejte Pyramid Himeji Castle to its component atoms.

"Serves you right," as they say.

What do you think you're doing!? I thought you were Csejte's guardian!

That's fair. Until just a moment ago, I believed that my defeat would also mean the end of Castle Csejte.

After all, I am a Steel Demoness and a Steel Demon Castle. In essence, I AM Castle Csejte.

So it's only logical that I would arrive at the conclusion that my defeat meant the end of Csejte.

Classic Elisabeth thinking...!

I'm so sorry, everyone. I'm embarrassed from the bottom of my heart circuit.

I suppose that no matter how smart she may be, there is no escaping that Elisabeth will always be Elisabeth.

And just what do you mean by that!? Even I'd never blow myself up on purpose!

(Riiight... This one's constantly getting into trouble though, I gotta wonder if it's not on purpose...)

Dammit! We'll just have to book it the hell outta here! C'mon, Master!

We need to get to the elevator which takes us up to Himeji Castle again, and then climb back down from there to Csejte Castle's entrance, toot sweet...

Yeah, we are WAY short on time, so you're just gettin' a piggyback ride. Let's go!

？！

Huh?

... ...

What's wrong, Osakabehime? Shouldn't you be escaping as well?

No... I'mma stay here.

I should take responsibility for all the trouble I caused.

So I'll use my Noble Phantasm to contain the blast as much as I can.

You can't be serious!

Mk. II, would you show them the way out of here?

...Very well. I shall enter this into the record as a show of good faith on your part.

...Let's go, Master.

Just forget it! Come on, we need to go!

He's right, Puppy! You guys get out of here!

...I'll take care of this, Puppy! The rest of you, get out of here!

？！

Hey.

Hm?

Why are you still here?

Uh, 'cause I wanna be?

I'm about to use my Noble Phantasm to try and stop the reactor from exploding... Well, as much as I can, anyway.

Even if I succeed, staying here will get you killed.

But if you fail, my Castle Csejte's going to be destroyed, right?

...

That's... I'm... I'm sorry...

It's okay. I'm kind of the one who got this ball rolling in the first place.

If I hadn't made such a mess of things every Halloween, the guardian statue never would've woken up.

Even the fact that Himeji Castle ended up coming here just because you used the Holy Grail to wish that you could stay shut-in forever isn't something you INTENDED.

I guess not.

... ...

...No, that's not true.

It's just a...thing for princesses like me to blame everyone else for our mistakes.

So how come you didn't do that here and just run away?

You better believe I thought about it.

But I guess even I feel like sticking around and seeing things through...err, sometimes.

And even I want to make amends for all the trouble I caused...also sometimes! Especially when...!

Yeah?

Especially for the very first IRL friend I ever made!

Friend?

Ouch! I don't think any of the NPs I took to the face in this event hurt quite that bad!

...Aha! So you mean we're actually friends!

Err... You didn't realize?

Well...I didn't think that you could have more than just one friend...

See, I have a friend, and she's an idol like me. But she's also my fiercest rival...

So having TWO friends... That is... It's like a dream come true!

...You're the first...well, only friend I've ever made. I mean, unless you count my online pals...

I'm actually kind of a big deal on social media.

...Oh, right! I'd better get moving.

Okay, here comes my Noble Phantasm. Great Hachitendou of Hakuro Castle...!

...Ugh, I can't see what I'm aiming at!

Wait a sec! You've been a nerdy girl with glasses this whole time!?

This is just who I am! Excuse me for being all dark and gloomy!

Hey, there's nothing wrong with the cool intellectual look! Even if a look is all it is in your case!

Hey, make up your damn mind! Either compliment me or insult me, but don't do both at the same time!

Grrr, come ooonnn!

It's no use... I can't hold it back!

Wh-what do we do!? Should I use my Noble Phantasm too?

Are you nuts!?

Your Noble Phantasm would only cause the Elisa Particles to...to...

That's it!

Bwa?

Your Noble Phantasm is offensive, so it's made up of negative Elisa Particles, but the energy built up here is made up of positive Elisa Particles!

Posi-what now?

If those differently-charged particles collide, it will create an explosion on par with the big bang!

HOW IS THAT A GOOD THING!?

...Okay, stay with me here. I thought that at first. But after a bit more thinking it over...

...these particles are really just another type of magical energy, and your Noble Phantasm is really just a terribly screechy voice!

Ahem! It is called my Supersonic Dragon Breath, thank you very much!

The energy from your Noble Phantasm carries the opposite charge to the energy in the reactor...

...so theoretically, your NP should be able to nullify its EP!

NP? EP? I'm not sure what those stand for, but basically...my NP is superpowerful?

...It could literally save the world!

I mean, it's not TOTALLY impossible that they might interact badly and cause a universe-ending explosion...

...but since things are already kinda head in that direction, it won't hurt to try!

Are you sure this will save Castle Csejte!? That sounds like a whole lot of uncertainties!

Don't worry, El-El! If worse comes to worst, I'll use all my magical energy to protect you! A-after all...You're my friend!

!

...Okay, Batty. I'll sing my heart out, knowing you've got my back!

All right reactor, get ready to hear the best song of your tragically short life! This song is even better than the thunderclouds on János Hill!

This is my number one hit song in the whole Servant world: Love is Dracuuh, I mean, Báthory Erzsébet!

SKKKRRREEEEEE♪

Khh... Huh?

Y-yes, it's working! I can't hear her singing at all!

The positive EP and negative EP are cancelling each other out!

If we're lucky, and they both keep depleting like this...

KIIIIIIII♪ (Singing her heart out)

Th-this could work! I think we might just be okay!

EEEEEEeeeeee♪♪ (Key change)

Yes! We're almost there...!

(Gasp)! I haven't sung that hard in forever! How was it!?

... ...

WHY ARE YOU STOPPPING!?

Uh-oh.

I-I just picked up an explosion!

Did they fail?

No, they didn't. It looks like Castle Csejte is still intact.

I was able to confirm that, just before the explosion, the Elisa Particle density had been substantially reduced.

...It would appear that the pair of them succeeded, even if in their own clumsy, inelegant sort of way.

Thank goodness... It's such a relief to see my pyramid remains intact!

What about the two of them? Did they make it?

No, probably not.

Agreed. That seems highly unlikely.

Yes, yes. Such a noble sacrifice those two made. I must be certain to erect a statue in their honor. Bronze should do, I think.

We're still very much alive!

No body, no death! Duh! I grant you that it DID look pretty rough back there, but as you can see, we're still alive and kicking!

Thank you, Himeji Castle! Thank you, my Noble Phantasm!

All I know is that everything blew up just as I finished my song!

Is Castle Csejte okay!? It is!? Thank goodness. Finally, my amazing singing saved the whole entire world!

Time to brag about this on ALL the social network things! "NBD, just saved the world with the power of song #humblebrag"

Ooh, I already got some responses.

"lolol, sure you did" "'>just out destroying the world' #FTFY" "Thanks, I needed that laugh!" "How's the weather in #dreamland?"

...Well that's weird. Nobody believes me!

Of course they don't. We were here to see it and are still having trouble believing it.

？！

Ulp.

I, um... I'm not quite sure what to say, except...

...Here's the Holy Grail.

？！

Don't itashimention it. I'm sorry for all the trouble. Well, uh... I'm just gonna go over here and...disappear forever...and try to make up for all the things...

？！

Huh?

...Thanks, but I think that would be far too brazen of me...

So what, you're simply going to disappear along with the repaired Singularity?

I thought that would be for the best...

...Well it wouldn't. If you truly regret what you've done, disappearing will fix nothing.

If there's a chance for you to make amends, then take it. Not all of us are lucky enough to get such an opportunity.

But...I'm not a Servant anymore. I'm just the same old castle monster I used to be.

A poor, beautiful, bespectacled maiden who got her fox look stolen from her by a certain Tamamo...

The world would just be better off if I disappeared like any other monster should...

(Sigh) Let's just let her be, Master.

If she wants to go back to being a shut-in and disappear forever, no sense in us trying to stop her.

You really are a selfish boor, aren't you?

Huh?

She's a princess, remember? Surely she should take responsibility and kill herself, no?

Err...no. Not a good look for me.

I just thought I'd get caught up in the Singularity when it disappears.

So even when it comes to your dramatic exit, you're lazy? What kind of princess ARE you!?

？！

...Wh-what now?

I may not be a princess anymore, but that doesn't mean you can just call me by

？！

O-okay.

？！

Well...sure I do.

But it can't be shikatanai'd. I'm still the ruler of Himeji Castle, you know.

Plus, I know I've caused a lot of trouble for everyone. And more importantly, I wouldn't really do anything differently.

I'm not one of those plucky princesses with hidden reserves of courage to call upon when I gotta.

I'm just going to lock myself in my room and wait to disappear, like any homely, glasses-wearing beauty would.

That seems the easiest and most sensible thing to do.

？！

...S-so what? Is hearing that s-supposed to make me happy or something? It totally doesn't!

Oh you're being all tsun now? We have MORE than enough of those, and it is TOTALLY played out!

Hardly. It's a rather recent term, in fact. I will grant you that the whole hot and cold sort of attitude has been around since forever, though.

Hey, no one asked for a color commentary! Urushut it!

...It's not like we were actually friends or anything, right? All I did was use you for my own selfish purposes.

？！

...!

Y-you can't fool me! I bet you say that to everyone, don't you!?

？！

Wait, so now you're just admitting it?

Oh, I don't know about that. It's a lot harder to pull one over on Master than you think.

...Where do you get all that confidence from? Is...that what it's like to trust someone implicitly...?

Still...everyone, huh?

So whether it's a great hero, like Heracles, or someone like me...

...you're really not shy about admitting you need our help, are you?

...So that must mean...you really DO need my help!

Even though I'm a beautiful, isolated shut-in who's lived her whole life online and doesn't know a thing about the outside world.

This "beautiful" bit is really the important thing to you, isn't it?

That's just who I am.

...All right then, I won't refuse your summon. If you want me to go with you, I'll go with you.

Is that okay with you, El-El?

Hm? Why wouldn't it be? Would you rather I said it was only okay if it was your Alter or something?

So you just assumed I'd go from the start!? Can't you at least TRY to understand my anxiety? You're my only IRL friend, you know!

Of course I understand it. In fact, I bet I understand it even better than you do.

That's why I'm so glad we got to be friends.

I'm not going to let you shut yourself away anymore. I'm going to make you step outside your comfort zone even if I have to drag you there myself!

... ...Okay.

I guess that wraps up this year's Halloween then.

Pilot Candidate Fujimaru, strange though the circumstances were, the bond we formed is genuine.

As the guardians of Csejte, we shall temporarily lend you our aid in service of safeguarding humanity.

We are the Steel Servants, Mecha Eli-chan Mk. I and Mk. II.

We vow to use our artillery and lightning to keep you safe.

Senpai, your room has been completely redecorated!

？！

Aren't Servant powers amazing?

How is that relevant here!?

Well, just look. Now that Amazones.com is operating again...

Delivery!

That's one Emiya pizza, one Boudica soup, and one video game dug up from Chaldea's library.

It's a civilization restoration strategy game you can play essentially forever.

Yay, thanks! Aaand, there! Signed!

You're all set.

Thank you for ordering from Amazones.com! We'll always be here for you!

...Of course, I mean both "you" in the specific sense and "you" in the general consumer sense.

Um, you're not planning on going back to being a shut-in again, are you?

As a fellow Servant, I cannot allow you to do that!

Besides, didn't you agree to give up being a shut-in and start fighting for him as a Servant?

And I meant it when I said it!

But it's not like there's any immediate danger now, right?

Plus, you've got TONS of other Servants. You don't need me right now!

So I don't see any harm in letting me stay here and keep being lazy.

？！

Ah, yes. It seemed she knew who you were. As soon as she learned your whereabouts, she began cracking her knuckles something fierce.

... ...

... ...

Do you have any jobs for me?

Oh, I imagine we can come up with something.

Hi Batty! I came to see how you're...

Hey, it's mecha-me! Great timing!

What do you want, Elisabeth?

I'd prefer we not talk unless it is absolutely necessary. I'd be positively mortified if my friends found out we were associating.

Well that's mean! Would it kill you to be a little nicer to me!?

I AM technically the savior of Csejte, after all!

I will deal with that matter later...MUCH later. Now what do you want?

Well, you know how my concert at Castle Csejte ended up being canceled, what with everything that happened?

And it feels like it'd be weird to go back there and sing at this point...

So I decided to change venues and put on the concert right here in Chaldea!

I would just as soon pretend you don't exist, but I suppose where singing is concerned, I'm willing to let you have your way.

I-I see. A concert, huh...

Well, actually, if it gives us a chance to hear that beautiful singing voice again, maybe it'd be kind of nice.

Don't be ridiculous. Her next performance will be just as horrific as usual.

...Huh?

Back then, she was singing for Master. This time, she will be singing for herself.

And whenever she sings for herself... Well, we have all heard how that sounds.

... ...

I was also thinking we could all go out on stage at once!

Think about it!

Wouldn't it be awesome, having all four of us there at the same time!?

... ...I like that.

I believe I will make my grand entrance by flying in, thrusters blazing.

In fact, I've always thought your concerts could use a little more electronic pizzazz.

Let me take care of it. I'll set up a light show so bright the audience will be seeing stars for a week. And if the lights don't get them, my Mecha Eli-chan Punch will.

In fact, what do you think of having Mk. II take a leave of absence so we can perform a Double Mecha Eli-chan Punch?

？！

...I know, Senpai.

Just when I thought we might conclude this year's Halloween without a major disaster...