Shining Queen

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Fujimaru? You okay?

I'm gonna hit the sack myself. ...I didn't think I needed to sleep as a Servant, but maybe it'll help me get my head straight about some stuff.

Go ahead and spend the time however you want.

If you don't have anything to do, you could always go outside for a while.

Good idea. We've been doing nothing but work and sleep ever since yesterday.

Why don't we go to the beach, Master? A little dip in the ocean should help you loosen up.

I'll go with you then.

I think I'll join too. I'm sure you're fine with Ushiwakamaru around, but in my role as Hawaii Hood, I'd feel better keeping an eye on things just in case.

...Yeah.

Yeah, yeah. See you when you get back.

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Oh? There seems to be quite a commotion over there...

Fou?

Looks like a bunch of overworked men to me. Maybe there's some kind of event happening today.

I see they're not Servants.

Some of them look to be Lord Blackbeard's men, while others are

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...Then, that would mean

Hehe... You guys just can't take it anymore, huh? Didn't I tell you to wait here like good boys?

I knew it! It's Medb!

Fou fou!

Great, her again. Whatever it is she's doing here, it can't be good...

Take a look around. Beautiful beach, beautiful sea, beautiful sky...

Starting to notice a theme by now? Maybe the word "beautiful" has started to lose all meaning?

Well you're in luck! This queen's about to personally remind you who the word "beautiful" suits best!

Rejoice, my poor little worker bees! Let me see you cry in joy at my unbridled generosity!

Mmm, yes, that's the stuff! Now then...

Announcing the Medb Contest!

A Medb production brought to you by Medb, for Medb!

You rock, Medb! ...Wooo! I always wanted to say that!

Here's this month's tribute! I risked life and limb to bring it back for you from the Bering Sea!

Look this way, Your Majestyyy! Please! I'll do anything you want!

The hell is this!?

Well, knowing Medb...I can't say I'm too surprised that she'd do something like this...

Never mind that now! Take a look at that!

That was Entry No. 1: the strong, noble, adorable, and unquestionably beautiful Medb!

Thank you, Medb! Thank you for these irreplaceable summer memories!

Heh... Never mind summer. You're gonna want to remember those for the rest of your lives.

Now, let's move on to the scoring portion. What say you, Judgment Boys!

Unbelievable! It's a perfect score! Medb's invincible! She's mythical! She's a living legend of beauty! Nobody else even comes close!

Oh my, this is so expected! What can I say? I can't help that I'm just so gorgeous! Sorry not sorry!

What a farce! They're all obviously in cahoots... Or rather, they're all even bigger idiots than she is!

Fou fo kyu, fou fou! ...Fou, fou fou...

Yeah. She admitted it when she said it was all made by her, for her. No way this is on the up-and-up.

If it were only a question of her embarrassing herself, we could simply ignore this self-serving exercise in shamelessness. But the problem is...

...her ability to get all these men so worked up. Remember, our fate rests on the popularity contest that is ServantFes.

The more she gains from this travesty, the more we stand to lose.

As such, I believe it would behoove us to stop it before it goes too far, Master!

Oh...? I thought I smelled some horrendous yokel from out in the sticks. If it isn't the mountain mutt, coming to play in civilization.

Did you really not know that beautiful people get more votes? It's like a law of nature.

Do you ever shut up? You remind me of nothing so much as a hapless cow, stranded on the shore, showing off her flabby flesh.

Is this some sort of barbecue? Are you trying to make amends for your many crimes by offering yourself to the grill?

Hmph. I should've known a dog wouldn't be able to stop herself from barking incessantly.

I'm not trying to drum up attention to give me an advantage at ServantFes. Why bother?

My photo book is going to sell more copies than anything else there no matter what!

This contest I whipped up is just a way to further spread the glory of my beauty throughout the world.

Don't be preposterous! This is obviously a ploy to drive up sales!

You even came up with a fake quote for your ad copy: "Queen of the Beach, now Queen of the Books!"

How unspeakably rude. Fine then. If you've got that much of a problem, why don't you compete?

You don't want me taking the crown when you don't think I deserve it, right? Then beat me.

I'm always happy to accept new entrants. Unless...you don't think you're up to it?

You Japanese warriors don't like to fight battles you know you can't win? Just going to roll over and go belly-up like the cowardly dog you are?

Ohhh, I get it. That's why you run around with your midriff exposed.

Gee, I'm sorry. I should've been more considerate of your well-deserved lack of confidence in your looks. Heh. Oh, I do hope you can forgive me?

...! Very well then, I accept your challenge!

You want to do this thing!? We will do this thing!

P-please calm down, Ushiwakamaru! There's no point in competing with Medb in her own contest!

Worry not!

I am told that exposure is the greatest weapon of summer, and I am baring at least as much as she is!

I'm not entirely sure why that is, but regardless, I have the matter well in hand!

Get a hold of yourself! The only contests where outfit design matters are French fashion ones!

Your, uh, sporty good looks aren't gonna be nearly enough to win this thing!

Save the lectures for later! You are reminding me of my brother!

At this point, I am no longer Ushiwakamaru. I am the Tengu Woman of the Beach!

In the name of Mt. Kurama, I refuse to lose to city trash like that!

Now, on to the swimsuit competition! You've heard of a catwalk? Well, get ready for a tenguwalk!

She's certainly very sporty, but...

Yeah. She just doesn't have the same...flair that Medb does...

We're at a beach resort, not an athletic meet. If we wanted to watch amazing physical feats, we'd go to the summer games.

...She fits my type to a T, so normally, I'd be all over that...but since we're in Luluhawa, I have to give it to Queen Medb this time.

Well, well. Color me impressed, Ushiwaka. You did better than I thought you would.

But hey, don't feel bad. You could never have beaten beauty like mine!

In fact, you should be proud. I thought you'd be walking away with straight zeros!

Grrr!

...I mean, forget that! This so-called competition, and the way it's scored, isn't the point at all!

The point is that holding it in the first place is wrong! As far as I can tell, you don't even have any other contestants.

There's no point in holding a sad, meaningless contest like this where you're the only one competing and your victory is assured.

Oh? Who said I was the only one competing?

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Of course not. Entry No. 3 and 4 will be along any moment.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my sponsor seat. Enjoy the show, everyone.

My victory is definitely assured, but now it's going to be clinched after a white-hot battle with other contestants!

Oh, but you won't be one of them, Fujimaru. This contest's for Servants only.

So stay on the sidelines where it's safe. Of course, if you insist on being my rival, I won't stop you.

Well, I guess that makes sense. She's nothing if not supremely confident in her looks.

She might not be above cheating in war, but I don't think it'd even occur to her to cheat when it comes to a beauty contest.

Hmph, is that so? You certainly know a lot about her, don't you, Lord Robin?

Nah, I'm just observant. Look, here they come.

Oh my, this seems like fun.

Oho. I take it this is some sort of battle to determine the queen of the beach...?

Did someone say "contest"? A contest means prizes, and in summer, prizes mean watermelon and shaved ice!

What the hell kind of stage is that!? Wait a minute... This is it! Hawaiian rock 'n' roll legend, here I come!

It's the other swimsuit Servants! They're all here too!

Attention all contestants and spectators. We have an announcement from Medb.

"There's room for more than a single flower on the beach. Why settle for only one?"

"So I hereby decree that the top three contestants will all be crowned first place!"

...This concludes our announcement from Medb.

Woohoooooo! That's the spirit! You rock, Meeedb!

Wha...

Well I'll be damned. I never thought she'd be that willing to share the spotlight.

Who knows? Maybe Hawaii's rubbing off on her.

Now then...

Next up in the Diamond Medb Contest, we have Entry No. 3, handpicked by Medb herself!

One of our dear spectatorsMash Kyrielight!

According to Medb, she was picked because "anyone wearing a swimsuit" is her rival!

Are you there, Mash? We know you are. Come on up to the stage!

A-aaah! Wh-wh-what should I do, Senpai!?

Is this Medb's way of being nice!?

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A-all right, I guess I'd better go then! I'll do my best to show off how nice my shield is!

Pretty sure they're not here to see your shield...

But then again, that sort of thing is what makes Mash so great. Anyway, let's go find some seats, Master.

I got a feeling we're gonna be here for a good while, so we might as well see how it all turns out.

Ahh, that was great! A veritable festival of fifteen bathing beauties!

Let's have another round of applause for all our contestants!

Hahaha. Considering how dangerous most of them are, I'm impressed you can say that with a straight face.

But you think so, huh? From where I'm sitting, you could be right up there with them, Master.

I'd agree with that. Visually speaking, that was just what the doctor ordered.

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...Hmph, so this "contest" is finally coming to an end, huh. If the top three are all taking first place, I guess the ones besides Medb are

Oh, wait a minute! We have a new, last-minute entrant!!!

This contest isn't over yet! Come on up, Entry No. 16!

With a thundering crack of her whip, it's... It's...!

It's Medb in a leather swimsuit! Ooh, how risqué!

Now, let's get to scoring! This is going to be a close one, folks!

I don't believe it! Another round of perfect scores!

But don't go just yet! We have a final, FINAL entrant! Last one of the day, we promise!

It's Medb in her usual swimsuitlike outfit! Now, on to the score!

Another full set of perfects! Incredible! We're witnessing history in the making, folks!

In an unprecedented turn of events, all three Medbs win with perfect scores!

I'm so moved I can't stop crying! What an amazing, incredible, legendary contest!

The top three contestants are: Medb, Medb, and Medb!

Our queen sweeps the contest with a grand slam hat triiick!

You rock, Medb! You rock, Medb! You rock, Medb!

I'm back, Master! It's too bad I didn't place higher, but it was still a lot of fun!

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Heh... Sooo, what'd you think?

What do I think!? I think you're fifty-one short of a full deck!

I can't believe it... Even in my wildest dreams, I never thought she would stoop this low...

Why, whatever are you talking about? Did I say contestants couldn't enter multiple times?

Don't blame me for this, poochie. Blame your own lack of Spirit Origin variations☆

Oh, before I forget... I'm not thinking about how my victory here might affect my ServantFes sales, but...

...since Holy Grails are all about giving people what they want...and if what the people want is me, well... You do see where I'm going with this, right?

I should thank that BB chick sometime for giving me this perfect opportunity.

Like they say, third time's the charm. This time, I'll finally take the Holy Grail for myself and use it to turn this island into my ideal Slaveland.

Well, see you at ServantFes, I guess. Obviously I'm going to grab the most sales by far, but who knows?

Maybe you guys'll do really well and manage to sell almost a tenth as many books as me. Ahahahaha!

That little...! Master, quick, give me the snack bag! I'm sure we still had some string cheese in there!

It's my duty as a tengu to punish the wicked! I must pelt her with cheese until she repents!

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That impertinent wench! Very well then, I will simply pelt her with all manner of other snacks!

Please calm down, Ushiwakamaru! That won't accomplish anything besides feeding the seagulls!

Good grief. Well, technically, this was still a change of pace. 'Course, whether it was a good change or not is debatable.

Debatable!?

Well, maybe not for you. My condolences.

...Anyway, I say we head back to our room, Master. Sleeping Beauty oughta be waking up soon.

... ...

She's still fast asleep... Maybe we should wake her up?

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Nn...

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Don't wanna... Too sleepy...

Just five more minutes... Puhleeease.

Aww, that's adorable. But, I'm afraid we can't let her stay in bed all day.

Reece, would you be so kind as to wake her up?

Hm? What's that smell? Smells like...rotten fish...

... ...

Gah!

Good morning! Sorry to wake you like that.

Wha!? Heh!? Huh!?

Hang out!?

Oh, uh, morning.

Wait, no!

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What! Is SHE! Doing! HERE!?

We're supposed to finish our drafts today, so I just wanted to see how yours was coming along.

And since your other club members were having trouble waking you up...

...I thought Reece and I could help.

You call that helping!? No wonder it literally smelled fishy in here!

ServantFes is tomorrow. There's only one day left to go!

We're going to have so much fun once we both finish our final drafts!

Grr... Sounds like she already finished hers.

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Yeah, true. All right...this is the last day. Let's draw us some doujin!