Section 1: Enjoying Holiday (1/3)

I finished putting up a Bounded Field around the cottages, Master.

Well, I should say I finished helping... The Casters did all the work.

They said it was a combination of both Eastern curses and Lord Geronimo's completely separate line of magecraft...

...so it should be impossible for all but the most powerful spellcasters to break.

I'm afraid we may not be that lucky.

Geronimo?

I took a look around the forest, and this land's curselike contamination is quite powerful.

It's no wonder we haven't seen any other people.

To live here would mean living directly alongside curses.

Land contamination, huh. I don't know much about curses; I can't sense them as well as you can, so I'll take your word for it.

Does that mean these cottages are cursed, too?

...Strangely enough, no.

In fact, these cottages seem to be the only things here that have escaped the contamination.

Hmph, you call this a curse? The worst this could induce is a little light hallucination.

You may claim to have lived in tune with nature, but you sure don't sound the part.

...I suppose you've got me there.

You're right. I'll see what else I can do.

...So there. Much as I'd rather not, I'm going to do everything in my power to help you repair this Singularity.

Just know that the moment it's all wrapped up, I'm going to be heading back home as soon as I possibly can.

Oh yeah, it's gonna be explosion city for at least

Why'd you set me up like that!?

What do you think I am, some kind of ticking time bomb!?

Considering how your Noble Phantasm blew up during almost eighty percent of your simulator fights...

...you can't really blame him...

？！

Grrr...

N-now, now, you've made your point.

Personally, I think it's wonderful that you're so motivated to help.

...Well, don't expect too much from me. I'm just going to do what I have to. Nothing more.

So, what do we do first? Let's hurry up and get this Singularity resolved already!

Hmm. Well, I'd say the first order of business...is curry.

Oh yeah, curry. Of course.

... ...

Say what?

We've decided on these cottages as our base camp, and we've finished putting up a Bounded Field.

We've looked into the surrounding area, but so far, we don't have any solid leads.

That tells me we'll need to settle in for a long haul.

So in that case, our first step is to have Fujimaru take a load off and make sure he's refreshed and ready for what comes next.

？！

Of course. Anyone can make it as long as you follow the instructions...

...and as long as no one gets too creative with the ingredients, it's all but guaranteed to taste good, too.

The only things you need to be careful about are making sure there's enough for everyone, and that it doesn't contain anything it shouldn't.

Luckily, I brought several curry pots, so everyone can make different varieties to suit their own tastes.

I'm sure the vegetarians in particular will appreciate that.

Those who are really hungry can even try sampling a bowl from each variety if they want.

Well, I'm glad YOU'RE enjoying this...

Oh, right. I guess you humans do need to worry about replenishing your energy, huh.

All right, I can wait half a day or so.

(Can she? Really?)

...No, it's fine. I'm not that heartless.

Fine, you guys can eat first. I don't need any curry. I'm just going to go to sleep.

Got it. I'll put some aside for you in the fridge.

Huh? I just said I didn't need any!

Don't try to foist that stuff off on me as if I'm just not hungry yet!

？！

I hope we didn't upset her.

Right you are, Master.

If she were truly upset, she wouldn't so much as speak to us.

Not to worry, Master.

She may be consumed with her longing to see Lord Xiang Yu again right now, but she should understand what needs to happen once she calms down.

That said, she does prefer quiet, so it may be best if we keep some distance from her room while we eat.

？！

Hey.

!!!

Wh-what? Something wrong, Prince of Lan Ling?

N-no, nothing in particular...

?

Eh, whatever. Here, I almost forgot to give you this.

？！

Oh, hello, Master. What's up?

？！

Y-yes, it's me.

Lord Xiang Yu gave that to me, though I don't know why.

There's a lot we need to go over, Mash, but first things first: Were you able to get in touch with Chaldea?

No, I'm afraid not...

I tried contacting them with my communicator several times, but I just couldn't get through.

I see. Well, that sucks.

？！

Yeah, it's a real shame

Wait. Why'd you look at me when you said that?

What do you mean? Didn't you want to talk to Xiang Yu?

Ahh, now I see.

Now that she knows she can't, she's gone into her "whatever" mood.

Well, yeah, but so what!?

May I suggest you face your feelings honestly rather than pout about them, child of the earth?

I'm sorry about that too, Yu Mei-ren.

I'm fine. Don't worry about me.

Huh? It looks like we've got a problem on this end.

I think I'd better end the call and go see what's up.

Now that she mentions it, I'm hearing some commotion outside too

H-heeelp! Emergency!

Huh? What's up?

We have a strayI mean, a wildI mean... That's it! A Rogue Servant!

A-and it's someone we never expected to run into here!

!!!

So this is curry rice, huh? Hmm. I can't remember if I've seen it before or not.

Well, there's a first time for everything. Let's see what it tastes like.

Hmm, hmm. So it's not very sweet, and it makes my tongue tingle.

Hmm... It's good? Maybe? Especially the tingle? I'm not sure...

Maybe I should try making it sweeter by adding apples and honey?

No, no, on second thought, this is quite nice as it is.

Besides, if this is the normal flavor of curry, then I should learn that basic taste first.

It all begins with the basics. You need a solid foundation to nurture talent.

Uh... Are you the Rogue Servant?

Oh, me? Why, yes. I am.

Is something wrong, Fujimaru? Do you recognize her or something?

？！

No, it doesn't seem we have, unfortunately.

Oh, I still need to introduce myself, don' t I? I'm Sessyoin Lily.

Full disclosure, I'm a pretty little Rogue Servant who's lost both her way and her memories.

Teehee, I don't even know if I'm on your side or not.

I know I must seem incredibly suspicious, but I still hope you'll call me Pretty Magical Girl Lily.

Oh, and here's my catchphrase:

"Sunday morning is the first day of salvation. Is anyone in need of assistance?"

And that's my introduction! It's a pleasure to meet you all.

What beatific morality! For a moment, I could have sworn I saw a halo behind her!

True, she does seem to shine like the sun, and I can also sense her heart is as big as all outdoors...

But it frightens me that a girl so young could exude so much spiritual energy.

I can scarcely imagine what kind of training she must have undergone.

Why thank you. It's so nice of you to notice all the effort I put in.

？！

Oh, well, I do have someplace I'm staying right now...

...but when I looked out the window and saw you all having so much fun, I couldn't help but come out, too.

？！

I'm hungry, and I don't know how to get home, so I thought, "The heck with it!" and decided to join your group.

Hmm. Since we've never seen you before, I guess the Singularity must have summoned you here.

Sessyoin, huh... Never heard that name before. Where did you used to be a hero?

Oh, I'm no hero. I believe I'm what's called a Pseudo-Servant?

I do think I must have some connection to a Holy Grail War, since I'm a Servant and all, but that's all I know.

A Pseudo-Servant... A Heroic Spirit who materializes by using a human for a vessel since they can't do so by conventional means, huh.

...Well, you wouldn't be the first of those. Honestly, I'm kind of in the same boat myself.

B-by the way, um, Sessyoin?

Please, call me Lily. That other name is just too ostentatious for my liking.

C-could you tell me more about what you meant when you called yourself a, um, magical girl? I-I'm reeeallyI mean, kind of curious.

Hehehe.

... ...

Hehehehehe. Is anyone in need of assistance?

Hey! Don't use your strange catchphrase to change the subject!

Never mind that now. What's your True Name?

If you are a Pseudo-Servant, then the Heroic Spirit possessing you must have a name.

Oh my.

What a fiend you are, trying to pry into a little girl's secrets.

... Well, it's important.

Just because you're a lost amnesiac child with a halo doesn't mean I'm automatically going to trust you.

So what was the deal with that weird pause then?

Did you say something, Illya?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It wasn't me, but I'm sooo sorry all the same!

Still, it isn't really that big a secret, so sure, I can tell you my True Name.

As far as I know, my True Name is Yaobikuni.

Yaobikuni!?

I'm sorry. Who is Yaobikuni?

Good question. Do you happen to know anything about her, Master?

Oh, thank goodness.

Speaking as a Servant, I would have been quite shocked if nobody here had ever heard of me.

...

Hmph, well that's a shame. In that case

While I hesitate to do so, since of course you must know your own story very well, please, allow me to explain.

That would be great, beautiful grown-up lady.

...Yaobikuni is said to be a Buddhist priestess who once ate the flesh of a mermaid.

According to legend, anyone who ate mermaid flesh would become immortal.

While there are many interpretations of the circumstances that led to her doing so, all agree that she partook.

Afterwards, the legend says that she spent the next eight hundred years as a young girl, never growing a day older.

That is why she became known as Yaobikuni, which roughly means "eight-hundred year-old priestess."

There is no evidence that she actually existed, and her legend is almost indistinguishable from a fairy tale.

It usually goes on to say that she traveled far and wide to numerous lands and helped the people she met with their problems, albeit usually insignificant ones.

Oh, and the last notable part of her story is that, supposedly...

...she was meant to live for a thousand years, but gave two hundred years of her life away to someone else.

Well sure, why not? If you have a thousand years to live, what's wrong with giving away a couple hundred?

Right. What's more, we now know that Yaobikuni couldn't really have been immortal...

...since to be a Heroic Spirit, you obviously can't still be alive.

？！

Hmm. Do you have any memories of being Yaobikuni, Lily?

No, none.

I don't know if they're just shy, or if my Servant power is just too weak to recall them...

...but I don't have any memories at all from when I was still alive.

Then what about the body you're using?

Do you have any of that Sessyoin girl's memories?

No, none of hers, either. I woke up and found myself here. That's all I can remember.

I-I see. That seems like a lot to deal with... Um, are you okay, Lily?

Thank you for your concern, but don't worry. I'm fine.

Regardless of what may have happened in my past, the important thing is that I'm here now.

As long as I can recognize myself, all I have to do is reach an understanding with everyone else.

Hmm. I could be getting a little too philosophical here...

Maybe I just never had much in the way of life goals to begin with?

...Or, maybe you once swore an unbreakable oath that still holds, regardless of what may lie in your past or future.

Since you're a nun that once ate mermaid flesh, I'd guess you're most likely a Caster.

Yes, that's right.

For the moment, I can at least manage a few light charms.

But I'm afraid I might not be very helpful beyond that.

I don't suppose you know anything about this Singularity, do you?

Why yes, I do.

？！

I'd be glad to tell you, but first...

Would it be okay if I had some more curry?

？！

Oh, thank you so much! You're all so kind.

... ...

(Gasp!)

Hmm? What is it, Illya?

Are you thinking something along the lines of,

"Uh-oh. She and I have a lot in common, don't we? Does this mean I have a rival now?"

Hey! Quit reading my mind!

... ...

I see. Iiinterestiiing. Hehe, hehehe, hehehehe.

Oh Master, would you be so kind as to show me around the cottage?

Now she's even on the prowl!?

Hmm, forget rival. We might just be looking at your final boss.

All right, now that that's settled, I think I'd best get back to the investigation.

I'd try to get back before nightfall if you can.

Oh? And why is that?

Because this mountain gets really dangerous at night.

There are beasts, and demons, and other kinds of scary things that only show up then.

But above all...

...there's a rule on this mountain that nobody can break.

Oh? What kind of rule?

It's very simple: never go out at night by yourself.

... (On the surface, that sounds like common sense, but I get the feeling there's more to it than that...)

It's up to you whether you believe that or not, but personally, I hope you will.

The curry was very yummy, so telling you about the dangers here is the least I can do to repay you for it.

Hmm. What would you have me do, Master?

？！

Understood.

Then I'll go ahead and pass your orders on to the other Servants who showed up here.

Hmm.

(I don't know. There's a lot of headstrong Servants out there, and there's no guarantee they'll listen...)

I'm glad you're so wise, Master, and that everyone else is so understanding.

This is just how discussions like this should go.

After all, even though most of you are Servants, you still don't want to ACTUALLY die, right?