EP 6: Escape! Murderous Mirror House!

..., reporting in.

I have returned with all the information I was able to gather about our target, the house of mirrors.

The most notable bit of information I have to report is that this will be the first time we will have to deal with an indoor attraction.

Hmm. So we gotta go inside this house then?

Indeed. Next, I shall explain how the attraction is meant to be enjoyed.

Its interior is something of a labyrinth, and every wall is lined with mirrors.

Visitors are meant to go in as a group and search for the exit as the bizarre environs cause them to grow more and more lost and confused.

I wish I had been able to learn something about the manager's identity, but regrettably, I was not.

Still, according to the gossip I overheard among the oni...

...it seems the manager hides within this house of mirrors in order to keep an eye on any potential troublemakers.

So they're probably a copy of an evil Servant then, assuming the pattern we've seen so far holds true.

Indeed.

The attraction manager is sure to attack us the moment we set foot inside.

Hm...hm. So, is this one of those escape room game thingies I've been hearing about lately?

The ones where stupid humans actually PAY to go inside, get lost, and then scream and cry about how they'll never see the light of day again?

I've never heard of anything like that. Do you mean a giant hedge maze?

Hedge maze? What's that?

You're from Japan, right? Don't they have hedge mazes out in the suburbs... Oh, wait, maybe things are different now. Hmm.

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Master is right. Once you see it for yourself, there will be no doubt how it lives up to its name!

Then it sounds like it's time to go get the fourth gold fragment! Please be careful, everyone!

Sooo... This is a house of mirrors, huh?

Hmm...

Yep, I get it. It's a house. Everything is mirrors. Makes sense.

At first, I thought it was kind of fun to see so many different reflections of myself...

...but I think it's gotten old.

I've seen enough of my reflection to last a lifetime. This place sucks.

Actually, I think I'm starting to get dizzy. Yeah, that's enough of this.

I'm outta here...

Uh... Where's the exit?

？！

Ngh...

Master, I believe Lady Ibaraki's disorientation is a result of the magical energy that permeates the halls of this attraction.

I am afraid...my own sense of direction has also been growing duller since we came here.

That said...I do think we will find the exit if we keep heading in this direction...

is right, Senpai. Some sort of spell has been cast on the entire building! One powerful enough to even affect Servants!

You might be able to overcome it with a high-ranked Magic Resistance skill, or

Don't worry. I'll handle this.

You don't have to push yourself so hard, . I've still got my sense of direction thanks to Louhi's magecraft, so I'll lead the way.

...Thank you, Lady Sitonai.

No problem. You'd do the same for me. ...Just keep an eye on our surroundings, please.

There's no telling when the attraction manager might show up, and we don't want to walk into an ambush.

？！

Very well then, Lady Sitonai will take the lead, followed by Lady Ibaraki, then Master, and I shall bring up the rear.

This formation should allow us to

Haha, they did a great job with this place! I'm really, truly lost!

If only there was a pretty oni or two waiting at the exit as a reward...

...then I could use my superior sense of smell to lead us straight to them!

Haha, maybe you could.

But I'm pretty sure this place was designed more for families, you know?

The whole point is to walk around inside and enjoy the feeling of getting lost.

Yeah, yeah, I know you're right, but a guy can dream, can't he?

Hahaha!

(Master!)

(They're coming towards us. And I think...)

(Yes, we're reading it here too. There's a Servant headed your way!)

(I can sense a Heroic Spirit too. But then, why do I hear two voices?)

(Hm? Is that a Heroic Spirit and a human walking together?)

(...They're here!)

!

Master? Well this is a surprise. I never thought to find you here of all places.

Woohoo, we're saved! What luck! God must not have forsaken me after all!

I knew you had it in you, you sly fox! Just look at the entourage you've got fawning all over you!

A pretty Asian warrior, an oni from the Heian period, and even a girl with beautiful red eyes who I've never seen before!

Thank you, Master! Thank you!

Ah, Blackbeard Oni! ...Oh, wait. That's just normal Blackbeard.

And you're that guy whose name I can never remember... What was it Mordred called you again? Hmm...

Bean Sprout! That's it!

Hey, how come I don't sense any Heroic Spirit aura from you? Oh wait, maybe you do have a tiny bit...?

But, yeah, I almost mistook you for a human!

Oh, sorry about that. That's my unique skill at work.

Yes, it's part of Jekyll's Spirit Origin. He never exudes the signs of a Servant until he uses his Noble Phantasm.

In fact...it even makes him feel human.

So it is a sort of Presence Concealment, but in an entirely different sense. Such class skills are essential for letting Assassins remain undetected.

Right. I'm basically disguising myself as a human, even though I'm still a nonincarnated Servant.

But I guess that makes it even more confusing in a place like this... I'll be more careful from now on.

I just ran into Jekyll a moment ago while I was trying to find my way out of here, and now look how many of us there are!

And so many are girls...

Speaking of which: Master, could I ask who that bewilderingly beautiful girl with the red eyes is?

With looks like that, she must be a goddess. If she's not, I can't imagine what else she could be.

？！

Aha, I see! Wonderful, wonderful! I'm Blackbeard, Ms. Sitonai. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Nice to meet you, Real Blackbeard.

"Real"?

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Huh? What are you talking about?

Master, I hear more footsteps up ahead!

You two hear that commotion? What do you say we see what all the fuss is about?

I didn't want to turn around and head back, anyway! This is a great chance to keep moving forward!

Forward, backward, up, down, it's all the same! But it does sound like something is going on ahead.

I can smell it! Oh yes, I can smell it!

It's like...the scent of gunpowder in the air right before a huge fireworks display goes off!

Christine... Christine...

I cannot hear your voice... I cannot hear your song... Where are you, my beloved...

？！

Male, male, male... Blech!

Now, now, no need to be crude...

Hey, if it isn't Master! Guess this means we weren't the only ones that got pulled in here!

No, no, no, I'm quite sure he Rayshifted here on purpose. This does seem to be a Singularity and all.

So you're all here as well. But why are you in the house of mirrors?

Oh, that? Well, you know, I just sort of ended up here.

Heeheeheeheehee! What a silly question! When have I ever needed a reason for anything I've done?

Ahh, Christine...! Christine...

I have heard you sing, so now, I must write a song for you...

Sounds like love.

How afraid of love are you?

Very! Love is scary... It still is!

I am relieved to see they all appear to be Chaldean Servants. That said, I am afraid there may now be a few too many of us to all make our way through this house together...

I concur. It might be better if we split up at the next crossroads.

It looks like there's a four-way intersection right over there. Why don't we take this chance to go our separate ways?

I'm guessing you're all here to investigate this Singularity, right? We'll try to find out everything we can to help as well.

Aww, but I wanna stick togetheeer. Simping doesn't actually get girls, Jekyll.

Hahaha.

It's been some time since you said goodbye to the other Servants at that intersection...

...and it doesn't seem like the attraction manager has taken an interest yet.

If that continues, you may be able to make it out without any trouble. As great as that would be, I just can't believe they would make it so easy...

I'm pretty sure the manager knows we aren't the Servants that were invited here, so it does seem strange that they haven't tried anything. Hmm...

Maybe we need to cause some sort of trouble to get their attention?

...We didn't have to do that at the food court though, did we?

Indeed not. They attacked us without any provocation whatsoever.

Well I'm just getting sick of all these mirrors everywhere... This isn't actually some sort of reflective Bounded Field or anything, is it?

Ah, who cares! I'll just do whatever I have to so I can get out of here at this point!

Come on, Master, let's keep moving!

All right, I'll keep leading the wa

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Huh? What was that!?

It sounded like Blackbeard!

It came from behind us...near that four-way intersection we saw before! Master!

？！

Yes, Master!

Wh-what the...!?

Lord Blackbeard...has collapsed!

It looks as though he was stabbed in the back...with a very sharp blade of some kind...

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...No...I'm not dead.

I thought I might be at first, but the blade just barely missed my heart. Ow ow ow ow!

I'll cast a healing spell on you. Hang on.

Phew! I live! ...Uh, figuratively speaking.

？！

Well, the wound WAS pretty deep, but I think I'll survive thanks to Ms. Sitonai's spell.

Survive? You're the picture of health!

Hey, it really hurt, you know!? I had a hole all the way through me!

What happened?

So many pretty girls worried about me... This was totally worth getting airholed...

But seriously, I can't believe someone managed to sneak up on me.

After we parted ways at the intersection, I was walking along with Jekyll...

...but he vanished the moment I took my eyes off him, and I was left all alone with no clue what to do next.

Well, they say you're supposed to stay put when you get lost, so I was standing around, minding my own business

And that's when someone snuck up on you and stabbed you in the back.

Bingo, Mash!

Teach! Was that you screaming!?

Ah, I see Master's group made it here first. What happened? How did you get that wound?

Ah, I'm sure you can figure it out. Ugh, I'm so ashamed.

What's going on? I heard someone dying and figured people were starting to turn on each other, but you're all alive.

Goodness me, how unfortunate! Everyone's all in one piece, then! And only a little bit of blood on the ground!

I swear, I can't tell if you're happy or sad about this.

So? What happened?

Stabbed right in the back, eh? Haha, guess there was no popping back up for this pirate!

I knew someone was gonna say that. Ugh, now I feel like crap. No way am I getting up after hearing that.

Think I'm gonna take a little nap now... G'night...

Oh, if any of the girls wanted to offer up their lap as a pillow, I'd be more than happy to accept... (Thud)

Looks like his Spirit Core's fine. He'll wake up on his own eventually.

And just to be clear, we didn't do this to him, all right? All three of us've been making our way through the mirror maze together.

That...wasn't a concern. Especially since you're all Chaldean Servants.

Besides, none of you would have any motive to attack Blackbeard like tha

Heh heh heh. I know who did it!

This might explain everything! What if...Blackbeard was actually the attraction manager again!?

...Um, I am afraid I do not follow.

He must still be an attraction manager! He showed his true colors, and tried to murder somebody!

But then his target managed to turn the tables and wound him instead!

Hmm. But, wasn't Blackbeard stabbed in the back?

Oh. Right.

Also, if that were true, I'm not sure why Blackbeard's attacker would be hiding now...

Hmm, guess I was wrong. People do stupid stuff all the time, so I thought it could happen.

Guess that's what I get when I try to do something outside my area.

... ...

...You three.

Yes?

Yeah?

How do we know the three of you didn't conspire to attack Teach? Assassins specialize in sneak attacks like this, after all.

I don't trust you. Any of you.

I'm told that attraction managers are only made from copies of evil Heroic Spirits...

...and that definitely applies to all of you. Am I wrong?

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Me? But I don't know the first thing about handling a blade. Oh wait, yes I do.

I'm a Rider, remember? You really think I could conceal my presence and sneak up on someone like that?

...Ahh, Christine. These claws always seem to find their way into others' flesh.

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Well, well, so that's your game, huh? I never took you for one to play detective, Doctor.

None of us could've managed to sneak up on Blackbeard without the others noticing...

So, as far as you are concerned, the three of us are working together, huh!? Well that's certainly convenient for you, isn't it!?

Ahh, that's the stuff! I looove this kind of tension!

Very well then! If you insist, I will be more than happy to come under suspicion!

There, now all three of us are suspects! None of us actually did anything wrong, but we're suspects nonetheless!

That said...

...you understand that just because we're now suspects doesn't mean we're going to come quietly!

And a three...two...one!

Khh...! What do you think you're doing!?

I could have easily blown off a limb or two if I'd felt like it...but I thought I would go easy on you to start, as a sign of respect!

Master, I don't think we can reason with them! We've got no choice but to fight!

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Christine...

Tch.

Okay everyone, take a good long look! This is what happens when alliances fall apart and friends end up at each other's throats!

Right then, all together now! Three, two, one!

...Kaboom!

Ghh, all this fire and smoke is making it difficult to see... Master!

Fujimaru! Behind you!

...I'm sorry, Christine.

Senpai!!!

...My claws...

My claws must never be used to harm Christine. My claws must never be used to kill Christine.

...What's going on? That guy in the mask had his claws right up in Master's face, but then he just...

He retreated without harming him... Wh-what does this mean...?

... ...

What's this?

Do my eyes deceive me? This doesn't seem right at all! Why, I'm baffled! Stupefied! Flabbergasted, even!

As I live and breathe, I never thought I would see the day!

Mr. Jekyll! Mr. Jekyll! Poor, pitiful Mr. Henry Jekyll!

I distinctly remember you being the type of Heroic Spirit who couldn't bear to lose his Master...

So please, tell me. I don't understand.

Why would you simply stand idly at Master's side as claw-tipped death came his way?

Aha, I see. Just how long...

...do you intend to keep up this farce?

... ...

...Dammit, guess I can't bluff my way out of this one!

Heehahahahaha! That's right! It's me, Hyde! Everyone's favorite murderer!

And now! I'll kill...all of you!!!

Jekyll... No...

Jekyll may be a good Heroic Spirit, but Hyde is evil! He still fits the criteria to be an attraction manager!

And if he used Jekyll's unique Presence Concealment skill when he transformed, he could have snuck up behind Blackbeard...

...Hmph.

Guess the jig is up then! Thought I was doing really well up till now too.

I do apologize for getting a little rough back there. Unfortunately, none of us are exactly masters of rhetoric or elocution!

... ...

Well, maybe not Rider, at least when it comes to making sensible arguments.

At any rate, I could tell you wouldn't be especially interested in talking things out, so I decided to take bombsI mean, matters, into my own hands!

'Course he's not gonna be interested. He's been trying so hard to keep his mouth shut because he knows he won't be able to stop talking once we pry it open.

It's always the third-rate villains that can't stop themselves from monologuing, after all. Isn't that right, Hyde?

Shut up!

Ugh, this is such a pain! Do you know how hard I've been working to keep up the Goody Two-shoes shtick!?

Heehahahahaha! Fine then! Bring it! All of you! I'll kill you myself! Right here! Right now!

Come on, oni! We've got people bothering other guests here!

You're bothering the other guests! You're bothering the other guests!

That's right! They're a real bother! Everyone who gets in my way should just DIE!

...A bother, huh.

Perhaps that's how the soul you copied felt too, seeing how stained and dirty yours is.

I really don't care for that sort of thing. I'd be happier if I never saw it again, in fact.

Gee, so sorry, but that's just how I am! Heehahahaha, I don't care who I kill! Women, kids

...Well, you're a real piece of work, aren't you?

If your soul's really that filthy, then it would go nicely with my wine.

？！

Magifender Girl is on the scene!

A human Heroic Spirit who's even more of an oni than oni, huh. These Anti-Hero types are fascinating.

But, fascinating or not, he's still in our way. Take him down!

Yeah, yeah. You're starting to get really bossy, you know that, Haku?

Woohoo! It's Oni Cure! She came to help us again! Can I watch her fight from here, Master!?

Oh, okay! That sounds good too!

O-oh, right! You know, every once in a while you say something pretty smart!

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...Oni are oni. We wreak havoc wherever we please.

...Magifenders are no different. Once we set our sights on someone, we don't stop until we've devoured every last bit of them.

Anyway! It looks like Magifender Girl has one more job to do!

Bring it! I'll make mincemeat out of all of you!

...!

Well, how about that...

I knew it'd be tough taking on a bunch of Servants all at once...

Figured it'd be easier to take you out one at a time... Dammit.

Maybe there was something wrong with the guy I picked to imitate.

...No, that's not it. It was me. I should have known better than to try and imitate him in the first place.

It's over now.

Come here. It's okay. You can take it easy now.

...There you go. Good night. Nobody's going to wake you up anymore.

The battle is over, Senpai. That takes care of the fourth gold fragment.

All right then, I'm off. Don't forget to scrape Blackbeard off the floor and take him with you, 'kay?

Only one more fragment left, besides the Great Oni's. Don't let me down now, losers.

Thank you, Magifender Girl Oni Cure! I hope we can see each other again someday!

I hope we can share sweet dumplings someday... Or maybe macarons, if you don't like dumplings...

Then again, you can't go wrong with chocolate either...

Well done on your amazing winning streak, Master.

Still, there is one thing I do not understand... Why did you gentlemen refuse to take part in the battle?

Ahh, Christine... I have no right to listen to your beautiful singing voice...

...'Fraid we just didn't have the magical energy, much as I hate to admit it.

Oniland... This place is odd. Just going around enjoying the attractions drains your magical energy.

We'd go back to Chaldea, but now we're bonded with this place, so we can't even do that.

All I can do now is ask you to hurry up and fix this mess, Master.

Not to mention we already fought you when we were low on magical energy to begin with, so now we have nary a bit to spare!

We'd have been in quite the pickle if Mr. Not-Hyde had come after us now! Ahh, what a shame! We're saved!

Hah. And that's a shame why, exactly?

Gehehe... Gehehehehe...! Gaaahahahaha!

They've really done it now! Those fools have finally forced my hand!

The time has come to send in the scariest attraction manager of all!

My manager of Oniland's most popular attraction...the legendary Ferris wheel!

Now go forth, my most terrifying manager, and give those rude guests a suitably hellish reception!

When they have come far enough to lay eyes upon Chitose's glorious true nature...they will find it to be the last thing they ever see!

Ah.

Oh, by the way, you know that thing I told you to take care of a while ago? Is it ready yet? ...No?

Well that's weird... Ohhh, wait, duh. Silly me, I must have gotten you mixed up.

I didn't ask you, I asked the REAL you to handle that! At least, I think I did! Gahahaha! It's all good!