Fifth Game: Togakushi Souryuden (1/8)

I see, I see. Sounds like this Erice girl's got a lot going on.

So she and Voyager used to be Master and Servant back in their original world...

...but she lost her Command Spells in Monde du Jeu, and is now fighting as a Rogue Servant.

And what's more, she still doesn't even realize she is a Servant, huh.

Um, Da Vinci, could you please keep your voice down? I think it's better if we don't rile her up...

Why's that? This could be your chance to finally hash things out. Open, honest conversation's the first step on the road to mutual understanding, after all.

Maybe so, but I think there are also some things people just aren't ready to hear, no matter how they're delivered.

It feels like her heart is completely closed off... Maybe even trapped, in a way.

Hmm, hmm. You do make a good point.

Okay then, just to make sure: I'm guessing it's her past that's dominating her heart?

...but she lost her Command Spells in Monde du Jeu, and is now fighting as a Rogue Servant.

And what's more, she still doesn't even realize she is a Servant, huh.

Um, Da Vinci, could you please keep your voice down? I think it's better if we don't rile her up...

Why's that? This could be your chance to finally hash things out. Open, honest conversation's the first step on the road to mutual understanding, after all.

Maybe so, but I think there are also some things people just aren't ready to hear, no matter how they're delivered.

It feels like her heart is completely closed off... Maybe even trapped, in a way.

Hmm, hmm. You do make a good point.

Okay then, just to make sure: I'm guessing it's her past that's dominating her heart?

Not her past. Her...now.

Erice wants to get back a world where she can be herself.

I see. That must be the world we caught a glimpse of in Akihabara, though with real people instead of Meeple.

A world where everyone's got a Holy Grail and a bond with a Servant, huh? Sounds pretty wild in its own right.

So that's where you and Erice are from.

Uh-huh.

...I see. Then if anyone here is trapped by their past, it's me. Sometimes I still see the face of the precious child I lost in my dreams.

You mean Louis XVII?

Yes. Oh, my poor little Charles.

(Louis...)

Dauphin Louis Charles. He was meant to be the seventeenth ruler of France, but he died miserably when he was only ten years old.

If his Spirit Origin was inscribed in the Throne of Heroes, he'd probably be an Avenger if he was ever summoned.

Dauphin Louis Charles. He was meant to be the seventeenth ruler of France, but he died miserably when he was only ten years old.

If his Spirit Origin was inscribed in the Throne of Heroes, he'd probably be an Avenger if he was ever summoned.

Khh...!

Maybe we shouldn't talk about this anymore.

...

I can tell Erice has someone she cares very much about.

...

Right. And as if losing something precious to her weren't enough, she's also been caught up in an incomprehensible situation, and she's doing everything she can to make the best of it.

It's the same for me. I want to help Erice.

That's why I came here with all of you.

？！

Hmm. So you're trying to get Erice to open up by fighting as hard as you can, huh?

Haha, that's so you.

All right, Fujimaru, if that's what you think is best, then you go for it.

And may Lady Luck smile on your dice!

Hmm. So you're trying to get Erice to open up by fighting as hard as you can, huh?

Haha, that's so you.

All right, Fujimaru, if that's what you think is best, then you go for it.

And may Lady Luck smile on your dice!

It looks like we've arrived at the next stage.

I wonder what kind of revue I'll get to see this time♪

...

No sooner did we get off the train than we found ourselves on a desolate mountain...

Desolate is a good word for it. I don't know why, but it feels kind of hostile here...

There's a reason for that. Look, over there. And right here, too.

All the local ghosts are coming out of the woodwork.

We're surrounded, Senpai! What are your or

Relax. They might be creepy, but they're not going to hurt you.

How can you tell, Erice?

Because I'm a player. Just like you, Fujimaru.

Everyone brought into Monde du Jeu falls into one of two categories: those who are incorporated into this world, and those who aren't.

You and I are part of the latter group...

...so our minds weren't stolen from us, like the Servants' were.

We still have wills of our own, and we can choose to playto fight here.

？！

That's right. You and I aren't like everyone else. And the reason for that...

...

...was probably you.

Those guys there are just here for atmosphere. They can't do anything of their own volition.

The only move they will ever make is one allowed by the rules.

So why not just smash that rule to pieces?

That's the whole reason I've been fighting:

To destroy this world and take back what I lost.

I was planning to accomplish that goal all on my own...

But now, I think that competing with you guys might not be a bad way of going about it, either.

？！

You know, you've been weirdly hyped about this from the beginning. Are you actually enjoying this? If you are, you're made of way sterner stuff than I am.

...As for how we win, I'm guessing this game's a race. And our goal...

...is that shrine you can see on top of the mountain, past the trail.

A race?

Yup. But one we run with dice instead of on foot. An old-fashioned board game, basically.

You know, board games are one of the world's oldest forms of entertainment. They go all the way back to ancient Egypt.

That game was all about death and rebirth, which is something ancient Egyptians cared about more than anything.

That's right, the world's first board game was about passing through the afterlife and emerging in a new world of life.

This is the fifth game... It might be an appropriate one to wrap this up.

Do you know anything about these kinds of board games, Voyager?

You roll dice in them right?

Yeah, you roll them a ton. As long as you know that, you should be okay. Why don't you give it a shot?

I know how. See?

？！

Never mind that! Just hurry up and gather around Voyager already!

After all, he's YOUR game piece right now! Okay, Fujimaru, let's play!

？！

We just moved approximately seven hundred meters! I can't see Erice anywhere anymore!

？！

This is fun. It's so fast.

Are we all present and accounted for? Anyone left behind?

Just Erice. Everyone else is here.

Then she must have let us take the first turn.

Hey. Looks like we've got company.

Haaalt! None shall pass!

If you insist on attempting to do so, then you shall have to defeat me first!

Benkei!? Does this mean you guard this square?

So what happens to us if we fail to defeat you?

Worry not; your lives will be spared. But you will need to sit out the next turn.

？！

Out of the way! I mean it now!

We did it, Senpai! We managed to defeat Benkei!

I guess these guardians don't turn into tokens when they lose, huh?

Must mean they're part of the game. Not sure they even qualify as Servants in that case.

Look, over there! A flash of light in the direction we came from!

Hmm. So that's how that works.

It looks like players can hear each other and see how the game is playing out. Well, that makes sense. There wouldn't be much tension otherwise.

Is that it!? Do better!

He really isn't going to let us by...

Look, over there! A flash of light in the direction we came from!

It must be Erice. I'm going to roll the dice again.

Huh? I can't seem to do it...

Erice just rolled her dice a second time!

Not a great roll, but it looks like things worked out.

Players can hear each other, and see how the game is playing out. I guess there wouldn't be much tension otherwise.

Erice just appeared about a hundred meters ahead of us!

There's an enemy in front of her! Maybe that square's guardian was waiting to ambush whoever landed there?

It does look that way. But it's odd They seem weirdly...indistinct, for a Servant.

Must be a shadow, a figure that wasn't able to become a full-fledged Servant.

Do you really think you have a chance against me?

Or...are you drawn to me because I'm, well, me? Do my evil spirits attract ghosts like you?

Evil spirits?

Begone, wicked spirit!

Wow, she's strong! Erice just defeated that Shadow Servant with a single kick!

So this is how we make our way to the goal, huh? That shrine on the peak looks to be some kind of sacred ground...

Is there something special up there? Maybe some kind of hidden treasure?

No, Queen Marie, there's nothing there that you would consider treasure. Besides, you should already know what it is.

I should? What do you mean?

You poor thing. Chaldea must have taken everything from you. Your will, your memories, your drive, your pride...

But I'm not like that. I have a will of my own, and the powerwicked though it might beto see it realized. I can fight all on my own.

And I'm going to get back everything I lost. Just you wait.

There's another dear friend of mine waiting for me up there. I'm sure of it.

Dear friend...?

All right, Fujimaru, let's get back to the game. Go on, roll the dice.

？！

Forget it. There's no point. Now hurry up and take your turn!

？！

Okay.