Section 5: A Melodious Answer

That's right. And luckily for us, it hasn't been touched since that Assassin ran off.

If we take the Assassin at his word that he didn't abduct the pianist, and given how little time M or Shakespeare would have had to abduct him...

...then this is the only place that the pianist could be.

？！

I knew it! Another scrap of paper with Mnemosyne written on it!

？！

It's simple once you figure it out. Remember what I told you about how Pseudo-Servants like me...

...are made by having a Heroic Spirit possess a human vessel? Well, it's the same principle at work here.

This automaton was given a specific person's memories, causing them to behave as if they were that person.

I'd guess this piece of paper is infused with magical energy designed to facilitate that.

The queen, M, and Shakespeare knew that, but they all forgot as well.

？！

So, you were here too. How much of that did you overhear, M?

...

That's right! I remember now!

Salieri wasn't able to become a Servant here!

He didn't have the Spirit Origin he needed!

So he ended up wandering around the Tower of London as a ghost...

Yes... That's why Iah, Shakespeare and I decided to create him ourselves!

I came up with the plan, and Shakespeare wrote it out. That piece of paper we happened across even provided us with the magical energy we needed!

When we were done, we introduced our Salieri to the queen, and she accepted him as he was.

So then...how could we forget? How could I have forgotten?

The rest probably comes down to plain old wear and tear.

There's a reason why you need to tune delicate instruments before and after using them, after all.

When you all forgot the truth about your automaton pianist, and stopped tuning it...

...its interior workings must have deteriorated, culminating in it actually trying to harm us.

What a farce this turned out to be... Still, I suppose I should be grateful to you two.

If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't even be around to see this little show come to an end.

Where did you get this automaton in the first place?

It's been around for a long time. I believe it was built by a puppeteer from the Far East.

As I recall, it was a failed creation of theirs that was only ever useful as a prototype.

...Hmph. I can guess who that might be.

？！

You wound me! Do I look like a villain to you!?

？！

Oh... Well, I can't say you're wrong.

But I truly did love that piano. It was beautiful.

Good, evil, none of that matters in the presence of true beauty. Even if we measure such things by different standards, they cannot be ignored.

For there is great worth in beauty...

...That's why I wanted to let Salieri's music echo across this patchwork, even as a ghost.

I wanted everyone to hear it, and to see them dancing in delight.

That's all I ever wanted.

？！

Intuition, really. But, if I had to elaborate...

It's because the music we heard at the masquerade ball reminded you of Antonio Salieri.

When asked to name a musician Servant, most people would think of Mozart.

But in this case, you thought of Salieri, an Avenger. There must have been a reason for that.

That's the whydunit.

I'd guess you thought the music was incomplete somehow. And not because Salieri isn't as good as Mozart.

This isn't about skill, or talent, or even the performer's particular habits.

Rather, this is owed to the fact that the music was being played so expertly that it gave you a peek into the performer's soul.

And what you saw was no doubt incomplete and unstable...just like Salieri once was.

From there, once I got the hints about forgetfulness, ghosts, and Pseudo-Servants, the rest was easy.

We knew forgetfulness was a big thing here, thanks to the last patchwork...

...so it wasn't hard to guess from there that this automaton was a vessel for our pianist, whether it was indeed Salieri or not.

Hmm... That doesn't make much logical sense, but I suppose that sort of deduction flies when one is braving the world of Mystics.

Trust me pal, women's intuition is a force to be reckoned with!

Anyway, I'd like to collect this paper and be on our way, but...

That's twice now.

...Then you WERE spying on us!

I let you off with a warning the first time. Now, I'm going to have to break out my scales.

Scales!? And that outfit... I knew it!

It's time to pass judgment. I trust that won't be a problem, Kerry?

You're the boss.

Whoa, whoa! This has taken a rather abrupt turn!

You're a Rogue Servant too, right!? Then you can thank us for solving this case by helping here!

Wait. You lured me out just to get me to fight, didn't you!?

Hahaha. I considered just asking for your help, but I figured you'd be much more likely to show up this way.

？！

Try to at least keep the Assassin busy! Come on, pupil, let's do this!

Damn, she's strong! Did she line her abs with steel or something!? I wouldn't put it past Luvia...

Report: our current forces are insufficient to penetrate the enemy's spiritual defenses.

I can see that! Dammit... Her Spirit Origin's on a whole other level. If only we had one more fighter on our side, I'd be able to put together a strategy...

...

I'm afraid I've got my hands full over here! Not to mention the strain this is putting on my poor back! Ow ow ow ow!

I speak no evil. Hand over that Mnemosyne paper, and this will all be over.

Evil, huh? So it's that sort of

Huh? Who are you lot!?

El-Melloi II located. Commencing capture.

Dammit, as if we didn't have enough problems! What's with these automata, anyway!?

...

OOOHHHhhh...

Reines! Over here!

？！

No way. Gray!?

Heeheehee! We finally find you, and you're fighting Luvia, of all people!?

？！

Now's our chance! Grab the paper and run!

Hey! Get back here!

？！