Sargasso Abyss II

Nnn, still no sign of them ordering anything. I really thought these guys might be different, but I guess they're just as gutless as the rest.

Too bad for them that my Cat Curse is only going to pick up more furuh, steam then. I knew I should've grabbed that lawn mower when I had the chan

Wait. What's this? Is that a straight line of pleasingly evenly spaced Saber Badges I see sparkling on the ground?

I can't help but think they were placed here with some ulterior motive in mind...but, no sense leaving them just lying around! Besides, it's a lovely day for a walk, woof!

Oho, what's this one? No sooner do I come to the end of the badges than I see lunch placed on the ground as well.

A glittering white plate of shiny rice topped with some kind of scrumptious sauce... Mmm...

Oh yes, I know what this is. It's curry roux or I'm not a cat. Do they really think a little lunch like this is enough to stop me in my tracks? Why, that's downright insulting!

That said, I've never been one to turn down a free meal, and I'm sure not about to start now! Hahaha, hope you left the onions out, suckers!

Mm? ...Hm? Hmm? Mmmmmm!?!?!?

This delectable depth of flavor...! It's sweet and spicy all at once, goes down easily, AND it's got all the carrots I could ask for!

This is no ordinary curry! Why, this flavor cuts to the very truth of the universe!

Yes, this is universe roux! I'll call it...Univeroux, woof!

Report: Cat's quantum uncertainty has been resolved now that she has consumed food from this world.

Now's our chance! Okay guys, let's all hit her with everything we've got! But just enough to teach her a lesson!

Mmm, that was delicious, Professor Tokiomi! It's been ages since I had such a catcellent meal!

Huh? Did you just say Professor Tokiomi?

You knew my father!?

Of course I did! Though not well! I just remember that was the name of a gentleman who happened to pass through here.

I also remember him twirling around a real fancy-pants cane and telling me...

"I have a hunch that my daughter will come here one day. If and when she does, I would like you tell her this for me:"

"These ruins were a bust. Try your luck somewhere else."

"But don't lose hope. This is the way of things for an archaeologist."

Oh, he also told me...

"I only wish I could do something to help you pass on to the next world. That may be beyond my ability now, but I promise I will learn how and return one day."

"When that day comes, I will prepare the tastiest meal you ever had to stave off your loneliness. In the meantime, I hope you can wait here secure in the knowledge that I will return."

Aaand that's all he wroteer, said.

Cat! Are you starting to disappear!?

Ayup! All thanks to that delicious lunch I had!

Ahh, I'm so happy the meal I've been waiting an eternity for has finally come!

My five billion years of being hangry finally comes to an end. Thanks, Professor. And thanks for the curry, Master!

Now that I don't have anyone to curse or any reason to curse them, consider the debt you incurred for beating up all those cats paid in full.

Welp, smell you later, young and innocent goddess of Venus! Make sure to play nice with the humans this time!

？！

You know...I think I've heard about this.

One of the stories I heard working with Tokiomi was about a group of cats who got left behind on some planet when the Origin Universe disappeared.

It's said that all the humans from that planet managed to escape on spaceships, but also that all the cats went extinct because they were too busy napping to catch the flight.

This must be what remains of the planet where that happened...

Aw, Cat, I can't believe you had such a tragic backstory...

Maybe you and I are more alike than I thought...

(Goddess of Venus...? Play nice with the humans this time...?)

(Ugh, why does my chest feel so hot? It feels like I've forgotten something important...)

Oh well, we can worry about the details later! Right now, the important thing's that we can keep moving!

Should we get back into space and start making up for lost time, Ishtarin?

Oh, yeah, sure. But just give me a sec. There's no harm in making a little grave for her before we go, right?

This would never have happened if Father hadn't gone around making promises he couldn't keep, so the least I can do is pick up his slack.

？！

...All right, Munenori, let's hear it. Why do I still not have my catalyst?

Does this mean my Space Shinkageryu's vaunted Six Blades are not all they're cracked up to be?

Forgive me, Lady Ashtart. I have no excuse.

Even in my wildest dreams...

...hahaha, I never would have guessed that the earthling would hire bounty hunters that were capable of defeating Anastasia.

Time to start dreaming wilder dreams, dammit!

...Hmph. I think that's enough kicking your shins for the moment.

Now then, tell me where the catalyst is now. Surely you know at least that much, yes?

While I am afraid we lost track of his whereabouts after he left Anastasia's planet, it is very unlikely that he has gone into hiding.

If he had, we would surely have received eyewitness reports from one of the nearby planets.

So I suspect he is on the move. At first, we thought he may be taking the sort of ghost lanes bounty hunters usually prefer.

But of course, our Space Shinkageryu controls all such routes. So the fact that we still have not located the catalyst can only mean one thing.

He must be making his way through an area that is impossible to navigate on autopilot. For example, this asteroid belt all the local space nomads generally avoid.

What!? That area's really dange

My lady?

...Never mind.

It hasn't been that long since I abducted the catalyst and brought him here. I can't imagine he would choose such a dangerous route of his own accord.

I bet it was the bounty hunters he hired who came up with that one. Jerks...

What would you have us do, my lady? Shall I put up a dragnet around the Terminal Line?

...That area is part of the Darkened Sword's territory, right? Contact him.

But this time, don't bother telling him to capture the catalyst. He should focus on the bounty hunters.

I see. Indeed, once the bounty hunters are out of the picture, the catalyst will be easy pickings.

Being an utter mad dog even among the Six Blades, the Darkened Sword should be perfect for the job.

And that is why I really must ask: Slim though the odds are, what will you do if he kills the catalyst?

I will cut his head off myself in the most gruesome and excruciating way Servantkind has ever known!

Assuming the guy still has two brain cells to rub together, tell him not to kill the catalyst.

Oh, and send one of our latest observation drones along to keep watch, just in case.

Cunningly thorough as always, Lady Ashtart. Consider it done.

Yes! We made it out of the debris field AND the black hole danger zone!

Whew, I'd say we're well and truly out of the space woods! Great work all around, guys!

？！

That was some fancy piloting. I might have to borrow those moves the next time I'm in a race.

Right!? I knew Maanna and Ishtarin were in perfect sync!

Aww, stop. Actually, don't. Keep it coming☆

Anyway, that ought to make up for the time we lost. Now, as long as nothing else gets in our

Aaand there's that other shoe dropping. I knew it couldn't be long!

Jane!

We've got a single-passenger craft approaching us rapidly from directly ahead! It hasn't shown any signs of aggression yet, but

What was that about signs of aggression!? That blast just grazed our shields!

Huh!? But they're not even locked on to us! I can't imagine they could actually hit us like that...

So whoever they are, they're just firing wildly, huh. Though they sure are coming in fast and furious!

We should have visual on them pretty sooHuh!?

The hell!?

？！

Raaaaaaaaaaahh!!!

Now he's coming in right on our tail! He's been running into debris left and right, but he's just shrugging it off!

I've never seen anything like this guy, not from the Space Shinkageryu or space pirates. What do you guys make of him!?

I think we'll have even less luck trying to reason with him than we did with Cat!

Same here! Then our only choice is to fight him off!

Aah! Don't turn just yet! Now he's pulled up right alongside us!

Raaaaaaaaaaahh!!!

Ah dammit, he boarded us! And he's wasting no time

Raaaaaaaaaaahh!!!

He's banging away at our hull with a steel pipe like the Maanna is some giant space drum! It's just like something my idiot cousin would pull!

Wait, hang on. Does he really not realize he's attacking the very ship he's standing on!?

We'll just have to stop him before he can do any more damage! Come on, let's go fight him up top!

Gaaaaaaaaaaahh!!!

There, we knocked him off the hull! All right Jane, get us out of here now! Full throttle!

You got it!

Raaaaaah!

He's firing at us again!

So he still hasn't had enough!? Ugh, I wish he'd just give up already!

What was that!? Are we hit!?

No, we're okay! The shields took it! But there's another volley incoming!

Aah! Seriously, would it kill him to just give it a rest!?

Oh for... I can't take this anymore! I'm going out there to give him a piece of my mind!

Oh, the rest of you stay here, please! I'd also really appreciate it if you let us talk in private!

Raaaaaaaaaaaah! Hraaaaaaaaah↑↑↑!!!

Don't you "hraaah" me! What do you think you're doing here, Lancelot!?

When I heard you'd been thrown into space after you lost a duel with Ex, I never expected to find you acting like a thug out here in the boonies!

Don't you have a home and family to go back to, you deadbeat!?

A... Arrrthurrr!?

I mean, uh, I'm sorry, you have the wrong man. I'm sure I have no idea who this Knight of the Lake could be, handsome as he sounds.

I am but a humble knight of darkness who was recruited by the Space Shinkageryu after they found me wandering the galaxy with no memories.

Of course, I've never met you in my life, hahahaha. ...That should work, right?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd better take my leave. I've a family to get back home to, and a son who's at a difficult stage in his life, so... Hahahaha...

Good! Get out of here! I swear, what's the Round Table come to these days!?

Hey, he's heading off in that direction...! We lost him!

？！

(Exhale) Glad that's over with. You okay, Fujimaru?

I have to admit, that was a close one, even for me. I've never sensed anything quite like that black knight's bloodlust.

I'm back! Don't worry, that good-for-nothing shouldn't give us any more troubHm?

Is it just me, or are we starting to slow down?

It's not just you. He got us good with that last shot.

Now our engine's all out of commission♡

Wha

？！