Overture

This is the story of a universe that existed once upon a time.

I know you may have more than a few things you'd like to say in response to that...

...but I hope you'll at least hear me out, even if you have to take this with a big grain of salt.

This might have all really happened in some other universe out there...

...or it may just be a myth that could never have happened at any time, in any universe.

Oh, hey. All done for today, Fujimaru? It's great that you never skip a training session even on your days off.

But you don't want to work yourself so hard that your body never gets the rest it needs.

On your days off, you should stick to some light exercise and give your mind a chance to unwind.

Then again, I guess Chaldea's not exactly awash with entertainment options, is it?

Okay then, here's an idea. What if you tried learning to cook? It's fun, productive, and anyone can do it.

I've even got a starter kit right here that can help get you on your way. Here you go.

？！

It's me, Senpai. Good job on your Master training today.

Oh, what's that heavy backpack you've got there? Some new kind of Mystic Code?

It's...what? Cookware?

Well, it might be a good idea to have some sort of survival kit like that with us on missions...

Hehe, that's just like Emiya to be looking out for you. I hope you'll make good use of it.

As a matter of fact, I'm here to deliver some food myself.

Today I have Russian-style black tea, thanks to Anastasia teaching me how to make it. Here you go.

？！

I'm told you make it fairly strong to start with, then add more hot water to dilute it to your tastes.

So we have sweeter snacks than usual to offset the tea's bitterne

I'm sorry, I just remembered I had a message for you too.

Ishtar mentioned she was going to come visit you in a bit.

？！

I believe her exact words were:

"I can't go anywhere anymore without everyone suspecting I'm up to something! It's wreaking havoc on my goddess rep!"

...followed by:

"So today, I'm going to pay you a visit in a way properly befitting a goddess!"

"And I'm gonna make this one of the happiest days of your life to thank you for all you've done for me!"

"I'll be dressing in my Sunday best for the party, so make sure you're wearing your best Mystic Code too!"

She sounded very concerned, and I can't help but wonder why she wants you to wear a Mystic Code...

Still, I can't wait to see what she has in mind, Senpai!

Well, I got the sense that she had more, um, formal wear in mind...

Especially when she said she'd been researching well-known tourist spots in preparation for this day...

That's right! She said herself she was going to make a bigger splash than ever!

？！

Was that an earthquake? I don't think we're in any danger, since the alarm didn't go off, but

...Teleportation complete.

Coordinates confirmed. Margin of error: X +0.00021, Y -0.00018, Z...

...No status abnormalities detected. I came here knowing I could die if things went wrong...

...but it hasn't been at all like I expected. Actually, it felt kind of good. I could get used to this.

Um... Ishtar?

I know you said you were going to dress up, but I wasn't expecting you to make yourself younger as well!

SenI mean, Master seems to be completely at a loss for words.

...So that's the Master, huh. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it.

Securing target now. Commence retrieval operation on my signal.

？！

Huh!?

(What does he mean he's not ready? Did they know we were coming!?)

(And why is this primitive life-form looking at me so...sympathetically?)

(I know I only came to this universe recently, so I shouldn't be that notorious just yet, but even so...)

(Anyway, if they knew I was coming, maybe I should abort...?)

(...No, now that I think about it, this works out better. No self-respecting evildoer would just skulk around in the shadows.)

(I wouldn't be a true goddess of evil if I didn't slaughter anyone who got in my way.)

...All clear. Securing target now.

Listen up, you primitive. I'm about to take you to my ship.

Don't bother trying to resist. Just do as I say, and nobody has to get hurt.

That goes for you too, girl. I'm only taking the Master with me, so don't you bother trying to resist either.

？！

I know. Have a good time, you two. I'll see you when you get back!

Huh?

You do realize I'll be taking Master with me, right!? And you're just...fine with that!?

Um, yes? I mean, we knew this was happening today, so it's not like it's a big surprise.

(She knew? So...she's some kind of double agent who's been spying for us?)

(Ugh. I guess Munenori was taking more of his unnecessary precautions.)

(I was expecting to have to make my way through a hall full of deadly lasers, or to have to break into a fifty-meter thick superalloy safe...)

(...or to cut my way through a ton of samurai guards yelling "Intruder! Get her!" without even batting an eye!)

(He should know I had over three thousand sessions in the simulator for those exact scenarios!)

(And now, all my hard work's been wasted yet again thanks to him and his darn spy... I'll have to give him a good beating once I get back to the ship.)

...?

...Hmph, all right. This was way too easy for my tastes, but never mind that now.

You're the Master, right? Here, put this retrieval beacon on your wrist.

...No, I don't care which one it goes on. Just put the damn thing on.

Got it on? Did you hit that button? It's nice and tight now? Good.

Beacon attached to target. Commence retrieval now.

A simple Rayshift!? No, wait. I don't think that was a Rayshift at all!

Hey hey, Fujimaru! Am I right on time, or fashionably early?

Ishtar!? Didn't you just leave here with Senpai!?

What do you mean?

Yeah, I was planning to take Fujimaru on a tour of the world's seven greatest gates, but we haven't gone yet...obviously.

W-well, if that wasn't you, maybe it was Ereshkigal!?

Did I just hear my name?

Huh!? Th-then who did Senpai just leave with!?

What are you talking about, Mash? Fill us in already.

Well, just before you two showed up, a slightly younger, well, youor at least, someone who looked like you...

...showed up out of nowhere, put some kind of retrieval beacon on Senpai, and then they both just disappeared.

What!? So he was abducted!? A-all right, let's just calm down here, Mash. Also me.

Ereshkigal, we're cranking our magical energy sensors to absolute maximum.

I'll check the northern hemisphere for signs of Fujimaru. You check the south!

A-all right! The other Divine Spirits probably won't be too happy about this, but desperate times and all that!

...Um, I'm not seeing him anywhere on the southern hemisphere! What about you, Ishtar?

...Nothing. So that can only mean

Fujimaru isn't on Earth!?

Th-th-th-th-this is terrible!

How did this happen, Mash!? What do we do now, Mash!!??

... (Collapsed with her eyes still open)

Oh man! Mash is usually unflappable, so things MUST be bad for her to freeze up like this!

...All right, I've got a bad feeling about this, but not a catastrophic feeling, so I do think he's okay...

...but I've also got a feeling that this new event isn't going to be much fun for either of us!

Slide Shift complete. Welcome to the Servantverse, Master.

Weep if you like. This is not the universe you know.

You are the only one of your kind in this whole galaxy. You know no one here, so don't expect to find any friends or allies.

As such, you cannot hope for any manner of rescue.

...I can see you don't know what I'm talking about.

I'm saying that no one is going to come save you. Now do you understand?

？！

Good. At least you understand that you've been abducted.

Heh. Now that you're in my custody, there's nowhere in this universe you can run where I can't find you.

You are a prisoner, friendless and alone, in a universe far from the one you know. How does it feel?

？！

...Indeed, this is a special room we use just for guests. I'm impressed you picked up on that.

But don't let a little perceptiveness go to your head. Remember, your life is still hanging by a thread.

...Huh? Even after hearing that, you still just want to know my name?

...All right, I suppose I can spare you that much. Besides, it's only right that a swordfighter introduce herself when asked to.

All right, then. Tremble in fear as I reveal my name!

I am the leader of the Space Shinkageryu, and the greatest swordfighter in all the universe!

I am the avatar of the goddess of war, fear, and desire. I am Ashtart!

...Ishtar?

No. My name is nothing like that. That one just screams problem child.

...You don't appear to be trembling in fear.

You do know that most low-level Servants would explode in shock just from hearing my name, right?

Yes. Space Shinkageryu.

We're an illegal Saber clan of good lineage named after a technique used by the great dual-wielding swordfighter...

...who proved themself the strongest of all Sabers with their God Shadow Stream technique.

？！

...Then again, I suppose there's no way you'd know this, since we always operate in the shadows.

...But enough idle talk. I don't have time to be chattering with you.

Master of Earth, or whatever your name was, you're going to be my stepping-stone to ruling this universe.

Your sacrifice will enable me to become the ultimate Saber.

The preparations will take another ten days by the ship's calendar, so you can hang around cursing your impotence, if that makes you feel better.

？！

Did you sleep well yesterday? Good. Glad to hear it.

I came to make sure you hadn't died of stress from the sudden drastic change in your environment...

...but it looks like you're handling it better than I expected. (Muttered under her breath)

...Hmph. All right then, let's get this interrogation started.

First off, what is a Master anyway? I'm pretty sure there's no other Servants of that class around.

？！

So you're not a Servant at all...?

Then, you really are just an ordinary human...

The Servantverse is a universe where all the people are Servants.

And not just our people. That goes for our gods as well.

So if you aren't any kind of Servant whatsoever, your universe must be pretty old...

Don't get it twisted, though. That doesn't make you special or anything!

I don't need YOU, specifically. I just need A Master, and you happen to fit that bill!

...All right, so what can a Master do, anyway? As far as I can tell, you don't seem to have any skills...

...Really? You can't even fight yourself? All you do is give orders to Servants?

Well, that's a relief.

Since you're just a waste of space, you won't mind sacrificing your life for me, right?

Wake up. You're a prisoner, remember? You're not on vacation, so you can't just spend all day in bed.

Space Shinkageryu shows no mercy towards anyone, even our priso

...And now you're just doing push-ups like it's a normal day...

You're handling this well. I'll give you that. You must have been through enough that you don't panic easily.

By the way, how's the temperature in here? You getting enough oxygen?

I've never captured a Master before, so I'm not real clear on proper upkeep for one.

...I see. So the room's perfectly fine, but you feel like you're dying of boredom?

...Fine. I'll let you use the terminal.

Just give the screen a little tap like so and you can surf the spacenet all you like.

I can spare up to five thousand QP per day, so feel free to spend that on Space Amazones if you want.

I recommend starting with this site that tells you how to avoid space phishing.

There's no end of unscrupulous scammers who make shopping sites that look identical to the official ones and only swap out the purchase links to their own back end these days, you see.

Luckily, this site will help you spot all of their tricks. It's useful, helpful, and even fun to read. I love it.

Oh, and if you want to livestream yourself, that's this button. Just be careful you don't end up the spacenet's punch line of the day.

Heh. Good morning. I see you fell straight into my trap.

You were so caught up in online shopping that you never stopped to think about escaping, did you?

Anyway, here's some water. You can use this if you prefer tea.

...What was that? "Thanks, Ishtar"?

...My name is Ashtart. Not Ishtar.

Normally, I'd just cut you down for your mistake. Luckily for you, I need you alive for your sacrifice.

Just make sure you don't repeat the mistake. I mean it.

...Force of habit? You just can't help but get my name wrong?

...Fine. I'll let it slide, but only while we're in this room.

Exactly! Everyone in the Servantverse wants to be a Saber right now!

But of course, not everyone is fortunate enough to be one.

Servants can't help the class they were born into, though. Until now, that is!

I worked my Divine Spirit Servant powers to the bone to come up with a brand-new item!

Check it out! This is a Saber Badge, a Simple Spiritron Dress that turns anyone who wears it into a Saber!

Heh, that's right. Now you get it? Me and the rest of Space Shinkageryu control the universe's hottest item.

We basically took over the universe with the power of economics and branding alone.

Now every Servant in the Servantverse is fighting to get their hands on my Saber Badges...

...and any semblance of order this whole universe had has gone right out the space window.

In fact, everyone's so caught up in trying to be a Saber that they don't even notice us breaking the law.

We plan to use the massive profits from the badges to finish building Dark Maanna, the very space fortress you're in right now...

...and then make our way to the Origin Universe, one of the zones declared off-limits by interplanetary treaty!

Hehehe... And your sacrifice will be the key to getting us inside.

Well? Are you honored? You should be.

...I think you have the wrong idea. You do know there's more than one type of sacrifice, right?

Now that I know you're not a Servant, I won't be cutting out your heart or tearing off your limbs.

If the legends are right, you'll just be a catalysta mirror that will reflect a galactic crap ton of magical energy right into me.

The ritual only calls for a Master. It doesn't specify whether they have to be alive.

Oh, but if we do end up needing your heart, I won't think twice about killing you.

？！

That's all you have to say, huh. You know, I think I'm starting to find your annoying little comments kind of amusing, really.

But, who knows how much longer that'll last?

We're getting close to the warp point. Try not to wet yourself or anything before we get there.

I finished today's inspection. What's our current status?

Khhh hoooh. (Translation: Welcome back, fair goddess.)

Take it off.

Kh hoh? (Translation: I'm sorry?)

I said, take off that damn mask! You could be making faces at me underneath it!

Oh, yes, forgive me.

Your wonderfully evil deeds have lit such a fire under these old bones that I simply couldn't help myself.

After all, I used to wear this mask all the time back when you and I went around attacking whole galaxies.

I still remember how it used to frighten you when you were little, and how you would shout, "There's a demon on the loose! There's a demon on the"

Spare me the trip down memory lane. I'm not a child anymore.

I'm now a better swordfighter than you, and I'm the heir to the Space Shinkageryu.

Whatever parent-child relationship we may have had is long gone.

...In fact, it never existed to begin with.

I see. Forgive me, Lady Ashtart.

This is your last warning, Munenori.

The next time I see you wearing that mask will be the last time you have a head to put it on. Is that clear?

Yes, my lady. I won't forget it.

...(Sigh) I've heard that one before. Several times just today, in fact.

Well, no matter. At Space Shinkageryu, we do evil right.

Our mottos are "Treat all others equally badly" and "Do one bad deed every day."

Ah yes, the new rules you came up with. If I may, my lady, they strike me as a tad...overzealous.

Might I suggest relaxing the quotas for the swordfighters we employ just a bit?

Don't you think requiring them to defeat a single resistance Archer per day or face expulsion is too much to ask of our low-end, fake Sabers?

Not at all. Evil is nothing if not diligent, so of course they're supposed to be busy. Nothing goodor, well, badcan come from an evil organization cutting corners.

Any Sabers who join us just so they can slack off and hang out will answer to my blade.

Remember, Munenori, the true threat to evil is not good.

The only thing required for good to triumph is for evil Servants to do nothing.

I see. So we are truly running a cutthroat operation, in every sense of the word. Hahahahaha.

Khh hooh khh hooh. (Translation: How careless of me. I raised her all wrong.)

Did I not JUST tell you to take that mask off!?

At any rate, Dark Maanna has reached the warp point.

Commencing warp to forbidden zone. Our destination is the center of the Origin Universe.

Once we arrive, I'll activate Dark Maanna's shrine functionality and become the ultimate Divine Spirit Servant.

I trust you have no problems with the plan, Munenori?

Of course, my lady. That is what Space Shinkageryu has been striving for over the last ten thousand years.

I was only able to master the blade and become a sword saint myself...

...but I have every confidence that you can fulfill my ancestor's greatest wish, Lady Ashtart.

Once you become the ultimate Divine Spirit Servant, you will be able to accomplish what every Saber has dreamed of:

Cutting the very universe itself.

...Or something like that.

...I know I asked you this before, but are you really sure that's what your ancestor wanted?

You're positive you're not misinterpreting anything?

Khh hooh. Khh hooh. (Translation: I may have left out a few crucial details, but in general, I am certain this is correct.)

...I see. You swordfighters and your dreams don't make a lot of sense to me...

...but if you're sure this is my destiny, I don't mind becoming your ultimate goddess or whatever.

I knew you wouldn't fail us, my lady.

All right, commencing warp sequence for Dark Maanna Space Fortress.

Oh, one more thing, Lady Ashtart. Entering a forbidden zone requires a tremendous amount of Altrium.

Once Dark Maanna warps inside, we will not have enough fuel left for a return trip.

So since we get a single chance, I would ask that you refrain from your usual gaffes during this process.

...I know. You don't want me to do anything when the stakes are at their highest, right? You don't have to remind me.

Well, I can't mess up if I don't do anything, so I'll just let you handle the warp all by yourself.

Thank you, my lady. Now then, all hands, brace for impact. Once Space Shinkageryu enters the forbidden zone, we

Huh? Hang on. Did you say "all hands"? That means the Master too, right?

Now that I think of it, I wonder if his room is designed to safely withstand the stress of warp...

Let's see, where's the console... There! Special room defensive field...

Aha, "VIP Safety Functions." This must be it. (Presses button)

Huh? An error? Why isn't it accepting my ID!? I'm the leader!

Okay, um, how about this then? Another error? Oh come on!

Why do you keep giving me errors!? Console! Explain yourself!

"Please see Help"? You think I'm the kind of goddess that needs help?

How dare you!? You're just a machine! You're supposed to do what I tell you, period!

If you can't even do that, I'll kill you myself!

Space Shinkageryu secret technique! Nendou Suigetsu Futatsu Dou!

Combat detected on board. Executing emergency measures.

Prioritizing VIP room guest's safety in accordance with evil organization operating procedure.

...VIP room jettison toward nearest inhabitable planet complete.

...Huh?

Ah, yes, that was the emergency escape pod designed to look like a guest room that I made for my own use.

No matter. A single missing room will not impede Dark Maanna's warping functionality.

T-minus three seconds to warp. Commencing Dark Maanna Touko Travel.

Stop! Stooop! That room isn't empty!

It's where I'm keeping the Master we need for the sacrifice!

...Lady Ashtart, why did you not put the Master in prison, like we do with all our other prisoners?

Well...you know... As the leader of Space Shinkageryu, I thought our special sacrifice deserved a special room...

......

Say something, dammit!

Welcome to the Dark Maanna emergency escape system. An executive emergency escape order has just been issued.

Prepare for mandatory emergency escape. Once begun, this operation cannot be halted.

？！

This pod room will navigate automatically to the nearest habitable planet.

Any expenses incurred upon landing, up to and including return trip fees, are the responsibility of the passenger.

This nonrefundable pod room will be jettisoned momentarily. Have a pleasant journey.

And may the protection of Planet Saber be with you.

？！