A Fight to the Death! Beach Volleyball!

'Sup, all. Today's the last day we've got to polish everything up. How're things coming along?

Not bad. Though I'm still not sure it'll be enough to snag first place.

As for our rivals...they're all still in the running.

I'd say Medb's the favorite to win, followed by Jeanne.

Only one day left. Let's give it everything we have, Senpai!

Ahh, another beautiful day. A day that's practically begging for my victory.

Hey hey! If it isn't Queen Medb!

I'll be rooting for you hard in today's contest!

Oh, and could I get your autograph too!?

...I guess the autograph's okay, but there's no way I'm shaking your hand.

...Why, if it isn't Lady Medb.

Would you honor me with an autograph?

Uh, sure, okay.

Autograph please!

Huh!?

...So! I know this is short notice, but I'm changing the rules of the Medb Contest!

Huh?

What do you mean...?

See, I was thinking.

A beauty contest might prove how beautiful I am, but it won't help me prove how strong I am!

Besides, when it comes to my beauty, everyone already knows there is no contest.

So, if I'm going to stand atop the rest of the Servant world, I'm going to have to get more aggressive.

Which means, you guessed it... Beach volleyball!

Go on then, give it up for your queen's brilliant decision!!!

I said, give it up!

Now then, I need to go prepare for battle, so the rest of you, listen up.

When I get back, I want to see this place turned into the best beach volleyball court ever! Got that!?

Dammit, now I know I'm going to be late. Here's your autograph!

Aw, this is great. Thanks so much.

Okay, neeext!

Wait, what? I know I'm gorgeous, but this many people lining up for my autograph...!?

That just doesn't make sense. If this keeps up, I'm going to need to bring in a manager.

Well anyway, I'm getting bored, so I'm gonna head back for a bit. You'll just have to wait a while for my autograph, my pathetic little honeybees♡

...Hmm. Ahem, ahem. This is Agent DC.

The queen has returned to the nest. I repeat, the queen has returned to the nest.

This is Agent Steam. The situation has been contained.

The nest has been destroyed. I repeat, the nest has been destroyed.

Now then, let's strike it rich!

Three thousand Gil Bucks on Queen Medb!

Put me down for thirty thousand Fluffy Bucks!

What about sixty-six trillion, two hundred billion BB Bucks...?

You just wanted to try saying that, didn't you?

I did.

Any takers on the long shot, Ushiwakamaru!? Now offering odds of ten thousand to one on her victory!

？！

I see we've got a risk-taker in our midst!

A-are you sure about this, Master!?

'Course he is. This is our only chance of beating Medb, remember?

If we don't make her lose miserably here, she'll end up selling the most books at ServantFes again.

Exactly.

If our opponent means to fan the flames of her popularity before the contest, all we need do is prevent her from doing so.

But, what if Medb declares she's going to go back to the original beauty contest...?

I'm back. Don't worry, that's not gonna happen.

How can you be so sure?

Queen Medb's most defining trait is that she must be the most beautiful woman in the world.

At least, that is what her pride tells her.

Whether her Spirit Origin is wearing a swimsuit or not makes no difference.

At the same time, she is incapable of betraying her fans.

She may be more than happy to sneer and walk all over those who would defy her...

...but those who swear loyalty to her? Her Good-Looking Braves?

For her, their ideals are sacrosanct.

They are her pride, and the source of her power.

...Yeah, that's right! That's it exactly!

...Oho. You got here quicker than I expected, Medb.

You guys made a real mess of things...

You knew I would never abandon my queenly responsibilities.

It would be an amateur move to bring down my soldiers' morale right when they're all excited.

And now that you've got someone taking bets, my hands are tied.

...Especially since that affects my own sponsors.

Stupid professor bookie. I can't believe he went and bribed them!

Dammit, Moolah!

Very well then, decide who your teammates will be. We have already chosen our lineup.

Oh I will. You better believe I will.

If that's how you want to play, I'll change this contest into something more appropriate for summer.

But in that case, I'm going to use my ultimate trump card...the royal mead authority I almost never use!

Super Good-Looking Brave!

As a woman of fairy blood, the Queen of Evil, and the Queen of Connacht, I order you to help me!

The hell...? Why am I on the beach!? I thought I was finally getting some handicrafts done!

Aw crap. Medb!

Hey, Cú. Sorry to pull you out here on such short notice, but there's too much riding on this contest.

Can I count on you to defend Connacht's honor?

...That serious, huh. Guess I can't say no in that case.

So, what're we doing here? Competing for cows?

Nope. We're going to take on Fujimaru's team in beach volleyball.

Cú Chulainn, as a man and warrior of the Celts, I want you to help me fight for the Celts' pride.

Beach volleyball! That's way more peaceful than I was expecting!

But all right, this oughta be interesting. Guess the tropics've made you soft, too.

Well this took an unfortunate turn. Is this what they mean by, "Let sleeping dogs lie," Teacher?

Indeed. Let this be a lesson, Alexander. If you are going to wake a sleeping dog, be ready for its fangs.

Very well then, Fujimaru, the rest is up to you now.

？！

All right, let's get this volleyball game started!

Eat this...!

Ah...

？！

Aaaaaaaaagh! I can't believe I looost!

Haaaaaahahaha! It seems thathowever narrowlywe beat you, Medb!

You were a fearsome opponent, as good as you claimed! But it seems my training carried the day in the end!

Grrrrrr! Don't you talk to me like that!

I work out every morning and night too, dammit!

Haha, good game, good game! It's a nice change of pace, working up a sweat on a court instead of a battlefield!

Why'd you have to be such a good sport out there, Cú!?

You were supposed to play rough and dirty! You know, get all spiky and fill them full of holes!

Hey, come on. You really think I'd do something that crude?

You're the one who brought me here to play sports. Why would I go and ruin that by cheating?

Ulp... I guess...you've got a point...but... I hate losing just as much...

Haha, true, I believe that coming from you. But hey, it's good to lose every now and then. Keeps you on your toes.

Well, see ya 'round. Next time, I think I'd like to try baseball!

Ugh, Cú, you big dummy! Thanks for everything!

...Now then.

Ushiwakamaru! Fujimaru!

？！

As humiliating as this is, I'm going to let you off with a third-rate cliché: don't think this means you've won!

In fact, you haven't won yet! See you at ServantFes!

...Good grief. Well, at least this should greatly reduce Medb's popularity.

Now it's all up to your doujin, and how many people it can attract.

I know. ...From here on, it's all up to us.

We're gonna work together as a club to make a book that'll sell way better than Medb's photo album.

Then we're gonna claim the Holy Grail, and slam it into Fujimaru's hands ourselves!