Section 5: Smiling (2/2)

And where might you be off to, hmm? Oh no, you don't.

？！

I refuse to let you avoid facing reality. Especially by escaping into a dream!

Run all you like, but you can't escape reality. There's no shortcut to make life easier, and you can only deceive yourself for so long.

The false joys you indulge in so much... The primal fear that wells up from the chaotic abyss... All of that is reality.

No matter how far you run, reality is always waiting for you when you wake.

So it's better for all of you if you just stay right in the palm of my hand...forever.

As long as you stay there, you'll be safe forever, and ever, and ev

Ugh, shut up already. What is this place, anyway?

Huh?

Is it morning already? I kind of hope not, since mornings aren't usually so dark.

Hmm, I see. So you all slept at the same time, huh?

Too bad it won't work. You're in my land now. And since I can come and go between dreams as I like, there's nothing you can do to stop me.

Besides, do all you Servants even need to be here?

Deep down, you know I'm the only one you really need. Isn't that right, Master?

？！

It's all right, Master. Don't worry. I'm on your side. I'm the only one who is.

Don't lump me in with all those other Servants.

All right, bitch, I've heard enough!

(What the!? It felt like it went right through her!)

I already told you. It won't work. Just give in already.

Yikes, she's growing even bigger! Even shadows shouldn't get that big, no matter how you position the lamp!

Sh-she's right, there's no way we can beat her! Let's get out of here, Fujimaru!

It looks like we can't beat her here, so I think our only choice is to go somewhere else.

Hang on. Is this a dream? It is, right? How are we supposed to escape a dream?

Maybe we just have to wake up? But how do we do THAT!?

Pfft. You should see your face when you're pinching your own cheek like that, Illya. It's adorably childish.

Actually, never mind. I just saved an image to my Illya Fun Folder, so you'll be able to see it no problem!

Wait. Come to think of it, what am I even doing here with you?

How should I know!?

？！

Where are you going? That way only leads to false dreams.

This is my land. This dream IS my reality. Where else will you find an abyss as sweetly comforting as this one?

So please, relax. Enjoy yourselves all you like. But whatever you do...don't you dare gorge yourself on dreams until you forget reality!

Mister, look! There's a light over there!

I don't know what's up with that, but it's got to be better than staying here.

...No, don't. You mustn't go that way.

No! Stop! Come back! Come back already!

She's not chasing us anymore! We just have to keep going!

？！

Beats me. It looks like the Singularity, but I think we're still in the dream.

Be careful. Whatever this place is, it can't possibly be good news for us.

Is that girl still following us? ...No, I think we lost her. Phew.

Aaah! What's that!?

Senpai! I thought I heard voices! So this is where you were.

Mash! It's you!

Illya! I'm so glad to see you're all right.

Fou, fou!

Fou! I missed you so much!

This is a surprise. I didn't expect to find you here, Master.

As strange as it is to run into you in a dream like this I'm relieved to see you're all right.

Yes, we did. As hard as it is to believe... I think we're all in a dreamworld right now.

That's right. Based on everything we've been able to put together, that seems to be the only explanation.

？！

I can't put my finger on anything specific, but everything about this place feels hazy and ill-defined.

Were you guys running away from something, too?

No, we were

...!

We are discovered! Everyone, prepare for battle!

What in the world are THOSE things!?

I think...those creatures are from this world.

Wow, they're drooling a lot. Does that mean they're hungry?

Oh well. They don't seem to be in need of assistance, so they don't do anything for me.

Not really the time for analysis. They've got us surrounded.

Hmm. While we do match their numbers

Our abilities may be limited while we're in this dreamworld.

We'll have to be very careful.

？！

Understood! This shall be my opportunity demonstrate what Shinkageryu VR is all about!

(Huh. I just realized I don't know what "VR" stands for...)

Khh! We may no longer be surrounded, but there are still a lot of beasts hot on our tails!

Is there anywhere we can go to escape them!?

Ooh, look, over there! What about that big building!?

？！

This is just what we needed. We may have our differences, but right now, we all have a common cause.

The hotel looks sturdy, so I think we should be able to take shelter there, no?

That would be my recommendation as well. My beloved and I will bring up the rear.

？！

Phew... It looks like those beasts can't make their way in here. We're safe.

What is this place? It sure looks like a hotel, but

Hehe. That's 'cause it IS a hotel, young miss.

Who are you!?

Oh, of course. Where are my manners?

My name's William. I'm the manager for the Smiling Hotel here.

I'm guessing you don't have a reservation, but can I assume you'll all be spending the night with us?

That's right.

I named it that 'cause I wanted a night here to leave my guests with a delighted smile. Great branding, right?

(I don't know. If you ask me, it sounds old-fashioned and more than a little creepy...)

The caretaker, if you like.

Point is, this hotel belongs to me.

？！

So...you're William Tell then?

Nope, no Tell here. Just William.

Now here, come with me. We haven't had this many guests in a long time, but I'll go ahead and get your rooms ready as soon as I can, okay?

(What do you think we should do, Senpai?)

？！

Oh, yes, we have two types of rooms for large groups: suites, and singles.

Which would you prefer?

(Master, I think it would be safest if we all stay together as much as possible!)

？！

Very good. Then in the meantime, let me show you to the lounge.

You're all more than welcome to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee there while we prepare your room.

I don't much care for coffee. It's so bitter, even with three lumps of sugar.

Though I have gotten pretty good at making it, since Mr. Sourpuss likes to guzzle it while he's writing.

I don't like it either. Maybe they have hot chocolate, too?

Oh, Illya. Still as childish as ever, I see.

Aren't we getting ahead of ourselves? I mean, is it even possible to eat or drink in a dream? I swear, this world is so weird.

Oh well, in the meantime, we may as well check it out.

And hey, at least we shouldn't have to worry about dying, since this is a dream and all.

(Oh no! Why did she have to say that!?)

(In movies like this, the trope is very clear: if you die in your dream, you die in real life!)

(Then again, Lady Yu Mei-ren doesn't seem to be all that adversely affected by death, so maybe...?)

Here we are. Go ahead and make yourselves at home.

Oh, and please don't mind the other guests.

Other guests?

Well hey there. Quite the assortment of guests tonight, William. Must be nice to have a booming business. (Hic)

Well hello there! How nice to meet you all! It just goes to show, you really never do know when or where the next business opportunity will present itself!

Come, we simply must exchange business cards! Here's mine!

Um, hang on. Let me make sure I've got everything straight.

Your name's not "Columbus," but rather, just plain "Christopher"...

Damn straight. I'm just your average everyday merchant-slash-sailor.

Mmm, this red wine they got here's not half bad. Care to join me? (Glug, glug...) Ahhh.

(Hic) Dammit all. How's a guy s'posed to get by in an economy like this without a stiff drink?

And if your business card is anything to go by, you must be Spartacus PX.

Indeed, indeed! I most certainly am.

Do you need any more business cards? You don't? How genteel! I daresay you have the makings of a star!

It would seem this Lord Spartacus is not the Lord Spartacus we know, either.

I'm not quite sure what a producer-slash-talent scout does for a living, but I suppose we know that is apparently his profession.

？！

Hmm, good question. Now what was it again...?

Damn, that's right. I just remembered. I... I...

I couldn't make it!

There was a place I knew I wanted to get to a place I HAD to get to...and I failed.

I just didn't have what it takes, in all sorts of ways... Dammit. Dammit!

All that bowing and scraping I did to convince those royal vultures of the merits of my expedition, and they still refused to sponsor me... Dammit all...

All I can do now's drown my sorrows in wine. (Hic) Still...I'm not giving up...

As for myself, I'm here on business, of course! My job is to uncover new talent wherever it may be hiding!

No matter how difficult my task may be, I will throw myself at it with aplomb! Indeed, there is nothing I would not do for my beloved company, Imperial Inc.!

I will gladly accept any pain or punishment they have in store for me. I will sacrifice myself for them body and soul if I must!

Now then, do you all have résumés listing your measurements with you? You don't?

Not a problem. In that case, you can just tell me yourselves.

I think...it's safe to say...

...these are almost certainly not the Servants we know.

The Columbus and Spartacus we know would definitely never say anything like that, after all.

It could be we're seeing a different side of them than usual, but I suspect that isn't the case, either. I wonder what's going on?

Hey, this is all a dream anyway, right? I don't know or care much either way, but it can't be that surprising if things are a little different here than they are in reality.

You are right, I suppose, but there is still something...bizarrely unpleasant about all of this.

It is hard to explain, but everything feels so out of place here, it is almost unnerving.

Maybe we should try to learn more?

Why don't you all keep talking amongst yourselves while I go make coffee?

Oh, there's an ordinary watercooler here, too. I know what I'm having.

I'll just have some water too, please. I'm really thirsty, for some reason...

Hm? Huh? What's that smell?

E-eeeeee!!!

What is the matter?

The water... It...it looked like blood!

...Huh? Now it just looks like regular water...?

Sheesh, Illya, what's gotten into you?

(But, I'm sure I saw it. Heck, I even smelled it... What's going on?)

What's the matter, girlie? See somethin' spooky?

Take it from me: times like that, the best thing you can do is wash your worries away with wine.

Deep, deep red winethe kind that almost looks like blood. Hehe, hehehehe...

Oho! I sense great talent in that frightened expression of yours! You'd be perfect for prank shows. They never go out of style!

And on top of that, you're a sweet and pretty little thing, too! How would you like to change the world with me?

You only need two things:

The will to rebel against who you've been up till now, and the will to follow the script and the company's instructions faithfully, no matter what!

I-I... Huh?

Oh drat, the carpet's all soaked where you spilled your water. Is there anything here I can wipe it dry with?

Something the matter here? Ah, I see someone spilled some water.

Well, don't you worry about that. I'll take care of it later.

Anyway, your room's all ready. Here're your keys. Shall I show you to it now?

...No, that's all right. I'm sure we can find it ourselves. Besides, we're still admiring your magnificent hotel.

I love the design work here. Would you mind if we took a look around?

Not at all. When you are ready to go to your room, there's a map by the entrance that will lead you right to it.

In the meantime, by all means, feel free to walk around.

But do keep in mind that the other rooms are reserved solely for our other guests, so please be careful not to disturb them.

And while I trust this goes without saying, I must ask that you stay out of the hotel's staff areas as well. That includes my office and the boiler room, too.

There are a few dangerous areas, and I cannot vouch for your safety if you wander where you oughtn't to be, you see.

So be careful now...

Heh heh heh...

Hahahaha! Hahahaha!

This is the room number written on our keys, so our room should be right around...here.

All right, now that we know where our room is, what shall we do next?

？！

Right.

This hotel must somehow be important in this world.

Agreed. I suspect the key to our escape lies somewhere within this building. No, I am certain of it!

That is always how it works in video games, so I am sure it applies here as well!

For example, in one game, you must find and play an enormous grand piano to

Hmm. This place is so big, I don't even know where to begin.

What do you mean? It's easy. We just start walking around...

Find whatever door stands out to you...

And open it!

Um, shouldn't we at least knock before

Ahhh... Ahh ahh ahh... (Mumbling into a fan)

... ...

Um...

I'm so sorry for bothering you...

... ...

...Yes, I think I'll go ahead and kill you. That way, I can be sure my secret stays safe♪

？！

It's too late for that.

Besides, you can't just put a lock on someone's lips. Certainly not this many someones!

Yeah, exactly.

There's almost zero humans out there who can actually keep a secret for their whole lives.

I must ask, Lady Yu Mei-ren: Have you ever seen a bad situation you did not immediately try to make worse?

Everyone enjoys nice, cold popsicles in summer. Now you'll get to become some yourselves!

D'oh.

Hmm... For the time being, let's at least put her in her bed, yeah?

Now will you consider knocking next time?

Yeah, yeah. Message received.

Okay, Senpai, I'll do my best.

Yeees?

Come iiinnn♪

...Senpai.

One voice sounded both cool and cute, and another sounded both grown-up and childish, so maybe...

Oh.

？！

Hi there, Master!

Yaaay! It's Master♡

？！

What's this? Room service? Nice, nice. Very nice.

I can't believe we ordered a pizza and got Master instead. This hotel really is a dream come true!

Woohoo!

Of course, we can't cut this sweet treat into pieces, so I guess we'll just have to eat him whole...together♪

I'm sorry, but that will have to wait until another time. We're in the middle of an investigation.

Aww, you're here too, Mash? Damn.

Furthermore, I regret(?) to inform you that Master is not on the menu, delivery or otherwise.

Phooey.

I didn't know the goody-goodies were here, too. Guess this is as far as we go today.

You guys really need to learn to tone it down. Anyway, you okay, Kouhai?

？！

(Putting her story idea notebook away with a slightly disappointed expression.)

A question, if I may. Are you two staying at this hotel?

Yeah, we are. You got a problem with that?

No, we're not paying for the room, but the manager guy said we didn't have to!

There's nothing better than ordering a pizza and lounging around a free hotel room♡

Sounds like lounging is about all you're good for right now...

Well, it would seem this line of questioning has not been productive. Thank you for your time, but I think we'd best be on our way.

Whaaat!? You mean you're not gonna drink with us!?

I'm as fond of drink as the next person, but I'm not fond of drunkards getting "in my face," as they say.

Aww, don't worry. We only get in Master's face♡

Oh. Perhaps it would be all right then...?

No, Sigurd, it wouldn't. It would set a terrible example for Master.

R-right. You're right, my beloved.

Aw maaan!

Ugh, I swear, those two are just always doing whatever they want, aren't they? Be careful they don't end up eating you alive, Kouhai.

U-um, Yu Mei-ren? I just wanted to say thank you!

... ...Oh, uh, sure. No problem.

All right, let's keep going and see what we find in the next room!

Come on in.

Hello! Pardon the intrusion!

Raaaaaaaaah!

They're attacking us in a rage! We'll have to subdue them!

What happened to, "Come on in"!?

I'm sorry. I should have been more careful...

？！

But Mr. William explicitly told us not to cause any trouble with the other guests...

And how do you think we'll get anywhere if we don't investigate everything we can?

Just go wherever you feel like. If a place turns out to be a dead end, then at least we've crossed it off the list.

And if we find someone we can talk to, we get whatever information we can out of them. Simple.

Besides, this is all just a dream, so nothing that happens here really matters anyway. Like gambling.

Now come on, let's go take care of this already.

I can understand your position on dreams. I can even approve of your rather rough approach to dealing with them.

But as I am in this dream with my beloved, I'm in no particular rush to wake.

Say, here's an idea. Why don't we split up again? My beloved and I can go off on our own, while

Just make sure you don't make the same mistake again. You don't want to tempt fate when you don't have to.

？！

I see. You do have a point. All right, let's continue to search for information together.

I agree. Something tells me dispersing our fighting forces would be a very bad idea right now.

Still, this is a very large hotel...

If we're all going to move about as a group, we'll need to be prudent about resting when necessary.

I agree too.

However, there is one thing I must insist on from all of you.

If any of you should happen to encounter another occult phenomenon, like we did just now...

Please make absolutely sure to tell the rest of us about it!

If you think you may have seen something strange, but think it might have just been in your head...

...don't you dare go off to check it out by yourself!

Right, Senpai.

It's hard to figure out what we should do next, especially since we can't leave the hotel.

And we're not even getting hungry, presumably because this is just a dream.

Well, if you're looking for something to do, might I suggest going for a dip in the pool?

!!!

S-sorry about that. You have a pool here, Mr. William?

Oh sure. It's an underground pool. It's really quite nice, if I do say so myself.

There we go, Senpai. Why don't we go check it out?

All right, let's go see this pool!

Oh wow, it's amazing! Although

？！

Yes, it is.

This seemingly endless blue sky is entirely artificial.

But of course, the pool is real, so that's a relief.

Did you come here to swim too, Murasaki?

No, I thought I would just relax by the poolside...

...and read the book I brought with me.

Fujimaru! Mash!

Illya!

Can you believe this is all fake!? It's amazing someone went to all this trouble!

Feels like Las Vegas all over again.

You know, the one you couldn't go to 'cause you're basically a child.

Who asked you!?

...Ahem. Okay, I'm gonna go swimming!

Come on, Mash and Fujimaru, let's all go together!

What do you say, Senpai?

？！

Got it!

I'm glad to see them so happy.

Aren't you going to go swimming too, Sigurd?

No, Beloved.

I'm afraid the flames burning within my chest would turn this pool into a hot bath.

O-oh. I see...

Yes.

I suppose that was an odd thing to say, wasn't it? Please, forget I said anything.

Phew. That was a great book.

Take that! Haha!

Oh no. I just realized I don't have my shield here!

Fooou!

Fou! You look like a wet cat!

Fou fou... Fou.

？！

Here, Fou, let me wrap you up in this towel until you dry off.

... ...

(Fidgeting nervously)

What're you waiting for? If you want to go swim, go swim.

D-do you think I should?

I feel like it wouldn't quite match the image I've made for myself here...

I don't know what that's all about...

...but if you want to do something, you should. Least, that's what I think.

What about you, Lady Yu Mei-ren? How come you aren't swimming?

I have no interest in swimming in some fake human-made ocean substitute, that's all.

But that's not how you feel, right? So go for it. Swimming's fun.

Yes, I suppose you're right. Thank you, Lady Yu Mei-ren.

Besides, all your nervous poolside fidgeting is getting annoying.

Hehe.

All right then, I'm off to go swimming! See you later!

Don't run by the pool! You'll slip and break your neck!

...(Sigh) ...Although, it's weird.

Even though this place is artificial, I don't feel like I immediately want to leave. Maybe because we're still in a dream?

...Hm? What's that over there?

Is something wrong?

Oh, nah. I was just thinking how something seems out of place over there.

Oh, so it does. Isn't that sign from your homeland?

I don't have a homeland. But I know what you mean, and you're right.

That's a yin-yang tai chi diagram. What's something like that doing here?

It looks like it has some connection to this land as well. Perhaps it's some sort of symbol?

Yeah, maybe...

(Is that thing why I feel so at home here? Is it reminding me of China somehow?)

(...Ah well, I guess I don't have to worry about it. At least for the time being.)

(Gasp!) Okay, that's the best I can do.

What did you think of our contest to see who could hold their breath the longest, Illya?

That's right. Mash came up for air a little before you did.

Darn. I really thought I had you beat, Senpai...

That's right. You came up for air a little before Mash did. Way to go, Mash!

Thank you, Illya!

？！

The water feels wonderful, doesn't it? It's so nice, just floating around here.

There are other kinds of pools too, like wave pools and current pools...

...but it looks like this place just has a plain old pool. Too bad.

All that aside...

I'm kind of surprised nobody else is swimming here. Especially considering how big the pool is.

？！

Here goes!

Aah!

Wah!

Teehee. Did I surprise you?

I decided to see what the water was like as well.

？！

That's right. I'm ready to have some fun!

Oh, okay. I'm sorry I won't have a chance to swim with you, but we do need a lifeguard, don't we?

Come on then, Illya, let's see how the water is!

Okay!

...Very nice.

That innocent expression on her face is just what a child her age ought to have.

？！

You could say that.

My own childhood was hardly something to write home about...

...so it does my heart good to see a child playing so happily.

Hey, Prince of Lan Ling, get me something to dri

...Oh, right, he's not here right now. Okay, Kouhai, you do it.

？！

Oh! W-well that's considerate of you. Thanks.

...But you don't have to just stand around while the rest of us are lying down.

Go on, put your feet up and relax. It's not like you'll get sunburned, since we're still indoors.

？！

(Yaaawn...) You know, I know this is a dream, but I'm feeling weirdly sleepy all the same...

Fou...

？！

Hm?

...Was someone here just now?

？！

Who did they look like?

Kind of like... Uh... Like that Sessyoin girl we met here...

Well, she kind of looked like her, but she also looked really different...

？！

In pretty much every way. Maybe they're related or something.

That can't be right.

Sessyoin is a Pseudo-Servant. I can't see any way that a relative of hers would be summoned along with

Did I just hear my name?

Aah! Cripes, you scared me!

？！

Umm, I'm not sure. My memories are still so hazy that I really can't say either way.

That figures.

All right, never mind then. I probably just imagined her.

Don't be so quick to give up. I'm sure there's something more to it! It could be a sign!

I, um, don't know what exactly what it could be a sign of just yet...but I'm sure there's something!

Then let's just leave it be for now.

(Sniff)

I'm positive there's some kind of clue here, but I just don't have the head for these things that Lord Holmes does...

Well, if you don't know what kind of clue you're looking for, the best thing you can do is forget about it for now and relax in the pool.

This hotel doesn't seem to be anywhere near as dangerous as the other kinds of places we've seen...

...so if you have a chance to enjoy yourself here, I think taking it would be the best thing you could do.

Y-yes, maybe I should do that...

On a different note, Mr. Fujimaru...

...would you mind helping me put on some sunscreen?

？！

W-wait! Just a moment please, Lady Sessyoin!

Oh, did you want Master to help you put some on too, Murasaki? Here you go.

!!!

？！

Wha... I... But...! (I-I can't seem to put my thoughts into words!)

W-well, um... ...Would you mind...?

Th-thank you. I suppose it would be better to put some on, just in case...

Oh, I see. Sorry to have bothered you then.

？！

... ...

You do know we're still indoors, right? There's no sun to burn you in here.

Ack! You're right! I forgot we're not outside!!!

Th-this is so mortifying, I'm going to go stick my head in the pool until I forget it ever happened!

Aww. I was going to wait until after you were done putting sunscreen on before saying anything.

...So, did you still want some lotion for yourself?

No? Aww.

All right, now that we've refreshed our spirits at the pool, let us continue with our search.

I feel a little bad about messing with that manager guy's hotel, but this is an emergency, and it's all a dream, anyway.

If we're gonna escape from here, we can't be choosy about how we get it done.

？！

Very well then, let's begin with this room.

OPEN UP!!!

Ruby, shush! Keep your voice down!

...Huh, it looks like no one's here. I guess this room must be unoccupied.

No, I'm sensing faint signs of activity. I'm certain there's someone staying here.

Then let us see what we can find.

Um...

What might this be?

It looks like a notebook. Is there anything written in it?

Hmm. How very bizarre.

？！

This writing is all strangely contorted. I can only assume it is from another country I know nothing about.

And yet...I can still read it.

Most Servants are given knowledge they didn't possess while they were alive during their materialization...

...but I don't think that explains this notebook. Oddly enough, I can read it, too.

So can I. As far as I can tell, it appears to be Spanish.

And while I usually only know enough Spanish to make an educated guess as to what a piece of writing says...

...I'm somehow able to read everything in this notebook perfectly. Maybe because this is all a dream?

？！

Um, let me see...

The next few pages are a little too torn to read, so I'll skip ahead to the next passage I can make out.

I think...this notebook might belong to

？！

Well, Lord Christopher here, if we take what he said earlier at face value.

But something doesn't add up.

I've read his biography from our library before, and putting aside the moral worthor the lack thereof, as the case may beof his actions...

...there is no denying that his voyage left an indelible mark on human history.

However, there is one significant contradiction in this notebook from the events of his biography.

Wh-what's that?

He never turned back. He completed his first voyage successfully.

And while he may not have arrived at the continent he sought, he did make it to the Caribbean islands.

Which means this notebook here is based on events that never actually happened.

It's as though it was written by a Lord Columbus who failed, rather than one who succeeded...

So what's that mean?

I don't know. It may have something to do with the fact that we are still in a dream, but beyond that...

Hmm. It would seem that notebook is the only clue here.

Then can we hurry up and get out of here? I'm starting to get chills...

Good point. If there's nothing more to find here, there's no point in sticking around.

Hah! Hah hah haaah!

Eep!

I saw it. I caught you lot red-handed.

You just came out of my room, didn't you?

Looking for something to steal? Trying to bump me off 'cause I ruffled too many feathers? Can't say I blame you.

I've been going around asking a whole bunch of big shots for support, so if I happen to meet with an "unfortunate accident" before I get to Asia, it could end up tilting the balance of power in some nation somewhere, after all.

But never mind that now. Ahh, thank you, God! Thank you for sending me the boon I needed!

...!?

I knew it! You lot are evil! Evil! And that means...you owe me money!

Reparations! Deposits! Damages!

I own you all now, body and soul!

I'm not giving up! I'll sell, steal, make all kinds of dealswhatever it takes to keep my voyage going!

Khh! His spirit is overwhelmingly powerful!

I cannot see a way to effectively fight him in this hallway, either... I think we need to retreat and regroup!

？！

Fooou!

(Huff, huff) Is this room empty too? ...Phew, thank goodness.

It doesn't look like he knows we're in here. I think we lost him.

It's probably best if we stay put here for the time being.

Oh? It seems there's another handwritten note here in this room.

Let's see what it says...

And this is clearly something Spartacus wrote. But

？！

Right. Spartacus wouldn't be who he is without his focus on rebellion.

And while he does mention rebelling here, on the whole, it still reads like the polar opposite of

Huh?

Did anyone else just hear that?

I did.

？！

Could it be an earthquake? No, it didn't last long enough for that.

？！

Oh, I see. That makes sense...

Wait. Footsteps? Um, wouldn't that mean

Oh? What's this?

If you're here ransacking my room... then you must be rebels, no?

？！

Y-yes, we're very sorry about this, Spartacus!

Sorry isn't good enough.

Rebelling against your corporate superiors...

...is a very, very, very, very bad thing. Do you get me?

(Uh-oh.)

(His values may be completely different from his normal self, but he clearly remains a Berserker at heart.)

(He may no longer be capable of listening to a word we say.)

However...if you are willing to submit as I have, maybe we can reach an understanding.

(Hm?)

I will accept your apology...if you become idols under my management and lick my shoes as a sign of obedience.

...

Huh? You want us to be idols?

Is THAT the part that stood out to you, Illya?

？！

...I see. Well, that's going to be a problem. A big problem. I'm a dutiful corporate servant, you see.

So I absolutely cannot tolerate rebels.

？！

... ...

Fuhahahaha! Then it seems you leave me no choice.

I will just have to squash you rebels into submission like the ants you are!

I'm not opposed to singing or dancing if it would really help make everyone else's lives easier...

But somehow, I don't see that happening with this man.

Let's get out of here! We should be able to make a break for the hallway now!

Hahahaha, you're not going anywhere, rebels. Now throw yourselves at my mercy!

S-sorry for the intrusiooon!

Great! Now we've got two scary guys coming after us!

Not to worry. We are still safe.

This hallway is long and unobstructed, with no sign of the enemy anywhere nearby.

？！

Master, look! Over there! Is that

Guests or not, I can't have you running in the halls. For that matter...

I've been getting complaints about you barging into other guests' rooms, even after I explicitly told you not to.

Any villains like that are... Villains... Ngh...

Right. That's right. Back then, I fired two arrows under that tree.

After shooting someone I never should have, I shot someone wicked who needed to die.

So I've got to keep going. I can't change who I am now.

The sin of killing can only be absolved with more killing, so I'm going to keep shooting those who need shooting!

...!

That was close. Even I was only just able to defend against his bolts.

Indeed. They were both deadly and accurate. Please keep your guard up, everyone!

We're at a huge disadvantage here! We have to find somewhere we can fight on equal ground!

Hehehe, just you wait, son. I'm gonna go back to being a father you can be proud of...

You can't fail as long as you never give up, so I never will. My voyage is still underway!

I'll use your money, your jewels, your blood, flesh, your power...anything I can to make my dream come true!

We'll start you off as backup dancers for a more popular group before seeing how you do on your own! Oh, and when we put you on stage, make sure you smile for the cameras!

I see, I see. I think I get what's going on here now.

My guess is that those guys are the real William, Christopher, and Spartacus's nightmares.

They represent things like the death of their pride, or the death of their souls...and now, in this dream, those representations have taken on a life of their own.

？！

Probably not. I think the caretaker person was probably just assigned to that role, like an actor.

That's probably what happened to all these nightmares they were forced to fit into roles of people you'd find at a hotel.

And if that's true, then it could have been anyone's nightmares playing those roles, not just them.

Maybe the real William, Christopher, and Spartacus are already safe and sound back at Chaldea.

？！

I agree. Even for nightmares, these memories seem far too painful.

Hehehe. Then again, if they haven't woken up yet, maybe it's because they don't want to?

Maybe they prefer this dream over their reality, even if it's a nightmare.

？！

Right. A dream where he ended up killing his son would be an unendurable nightmare for him.

Hehehe.

I don't know. I guess I can sort of understand where they're coming from.

I know whenever I have a scary dream, I always try to realize it's a dream and wake up as soon as possible.

After all, it's a lot easier to wake up from a scary dream once you know it's a dream, right?

I don't love waking up to sleep paralysis, but that's definitely true.

Of course, sometimes, you wake up from a bad dream only to find yourself inside another one.

Oh my gosh, tell me about it! You know when you're all like "Oh no, a bad dream! I've gotta wake up!"

So you try your hardest to wake up, and then you do! But just as you're starting to relax because it was all a dream...

...you try to get out of bed, only to find you can't move a muscle.

Then you hear the front door creaking open on its own, and you think "Oh no, a bad dream! I've gotta wake up!"

So you bite your tongue in a desperate attempt to wake up, but just when you think you've succeeded...

You're still stuck in bed unable to move, and just like that, you're in a whole new bad dream!

Man, don't you just hate when you get stuck in an endless sleep paralysis loop!?

Illya, I think you're more tired than you realize. Maybe you should consider seeing a therapist?

I-I didn't mean me specifically! I just meant in general!

More importantly, where exactly are we running to now, anyway!?

There's only one place here with a door we know we can lock and unlock. That is our best bet.

You mean the suite the manager prepared for us? True, he did give us keys to it...

He may well have another copy of the key...but it should at least buy us some time to regroup.

Come, let us be on our way!

？！

Okay, the door's locked. Let's move some heavy furniture to block it. That should give us a chance to catch our breath.

Oh my, this room really is spacious! We may have enough room to fight the enemy here.

D-do you think they'll make their way past the barricade?

Yes, they will.

Thanks to Lady Sessyoin's observations, I can finally see what's going on here.

What do you mean?

Similar to the slasher movie from the first day and the ghost girls from the second, I suspect we're in another kind of horror movie now.

Unfortunately, this one is a little difficult to explain. Let's see...

Ghosts are not a key part of this subgenre. While it's similar to a slasher, its villains aren't so indiscriminate.

Huh???

What are you talking about?

Imagine a situation where someone close to youa friend, perhaps, or a family membersuddenly changes into someone you don't recognize.

In some movies, there is an external force causing the change, such as a dead spirit possessing them, or a strange meteor from outer space...

But whatever the cause, these stories revolve around an ordinary person who, whether suddenly or gradually, experiences a total breakdown...

...and becomes a psychotic murderer who goes on a gleeful killing spree.

Th-that sounds terrifying! I don't even want to imagine it!

Indeed. This is the psychological horror genre.

Unlike slashers, which pit the protagonists against an inhuman, monstrous force of nature...

...the psychological horror genre consists of stories where very human villains use fear and violence to corner and harm people too weak to fight back against them.

Psychological horror has been a mainstay of horror films for almost as long as they have existed!

At any rate, one of the key differences between slasher villains and psychological horror villains...

...is that the latter often has a clear reason for why they are committing their murders.

And since they're ordinary humans at heart, the audience is able to understand their motives, at least to an extent.

But whatever the villain's reasons may be, they ultimately go too far, with horrific results.

Perhaps it would be better to say that most such villains end up breaking down in extreme ways.

At any rate, it's that thin line between understandable and incomprehensiblethe idea that any ordinary person could snap and turn dangerous under the wrong circumstances...

...that makes this subgenre so realistic, and thus more believably terrifying.

？！

And in this case, I suspect the ones who are most vulnerable...

...are you and Lady Mash, Master.

The terror of having the villain kill people they're close to is one of the core aspects of this subgenre, after all.

I can certainly see that.

The idea of being attacked by Tell, Spartacus, and ColumbusServants we see at Chaldea all the time...

Well, it's genuinely frightening to think about.

And now that they've been defined as nightmaresbeings that exist within the rifts of madness...

...I'm afraid the only way to save them is to make them vanish.

Understood!

If they are not the same Servants we know at Chaldea, then I believe dispatching them quickly is our best option!

R-right.

It makes perfect sense, but it still sounds really bad when you say it out loud.

Just to make sure, we ARE still the good guys here, right?

Lady Scepter, may I remind you that we are already in the midst of a battle for our lives.

As such...

...it is not at all uncommon for yesterday's friend to be today's enemy, and vice versa tomorrow.

If one is to survive tumultuous times, one must be willing to forgo mercy when necessary.

I cannot disagree.

So we just gotta kick all their asses? Got it. What're their weaknesses?

Hmm. Let me think...

Eep! They're here!? Well, at least they'll have a hard time getting in, right?

...They seem to have decided to destroy the door outright rather than open it.

Ha haaa. Nooow, where's my money...

Aaah! Why's his beard twitching like that!?

I think he's using it to sense his way around the room, like a shrimp's antennae! Fascinating!

？！

Something no magical girl will never need.

Never mind that now! Let's get him while he's stuck in there!

Can you use your spear on him, Yu Mei-ren!?

I'm not sure I want to get Lord Xiang Yu's spear entangled in that guy's beard...

THAT'S what you're worried about!?

Heh heh heh. Now I've found you.

......! (Trying and failing to scream)

All this pressure on me is truly oppressive! But there is no door an idol's smile cannot literally open!

(Soul leaving her body)

There, there. It's okay. Just relax and take it easy.

I'm hesitant about this myself, but those men are victims in their own right.

Now that they've fused with their dream roles so completely, we can only exorcise them forcibly.

These poor souls have been transformed into dead spirit nightmares.

So as magical girl Yaobikuni, I'll make sure they pass on peacefully!

...Just as soon as I figure out how.

These unfortunate evil spirits might have suffered extreme mental breakdowns...

...but I suspect that, unlike monstrous slashers, they can still be affected by ordinary physical means.

Which means

We need only chip away at them without letting their madness lead us astray.

Strange as that may sound in the context of a dream.

Please, allow me. I know just what to do.

For the best way to fight bad dreams... is with good dreams!

This VR Shinkageryu sword fighting style Lord Tajima taught me was originally developed for use in digital battles!

Huh, good point. I guess VR games are kind of like dreaming while you're awake.

Yes! Exactly!

Let me see...I believe Lord Tajima's exact words were:

Indeed. At times, one's sword and one's dreams will be inextricably linked.

One need look no further than the large number of styles with the word "musou," or "dream," in their name.

Indeed, Itou Ittousai, the founder of the Ittouryu school, is said to have had his Musouken technique come to him in a dream.

Furthermore, some warriors are said to have encountered the gods and the Buddha in their dreams. In other words

This is exactly what my VR Shinkageryu was meant for! At least, that is my understanding!

Be warned, I won't miss... Never again.

This is it! I'm finally going to make my dream come true! I'm not giving up! I'll never give up!!!

Next, I'll be giving you muscle toning pointers for swimsuit competitions! And of course, as another sign of my submission to the company, I will join you in training!

You just wanted to change into a swimsuit yourself, didn't you?

Possibly...

Three powerful nightmares all together!

Perfect! I could not ask for more worthy opponents! Now, let me show you what my dream swords can truly do!

Ahh... Ahhhhhh... My regrets... My regrets are fading...

？！

I didn't...huh... Good... I'm glad...

Fuhahahaha!

I lost, so I am prepared to spend the rest of my life as your slave...

？！

I see! So I was actually a rebel all along! Very well then!

In that case, I will be glad to disappear, as it seems I am no longer needed!

So...I didn't kill my son after all?

Thank goodness. ...There's one thing you should know.

This battle helped me realize that we were collected.

Collected...?

That's right. A collection of fear, death, and murder...

You all be careful out there. These enemies you're up against now are even more dangerous than you think...

...Rest in peace.

Regardless of what sort of dreams those men may have been having...

If this helped them forget their false selves and regain their true ones, I think it all worked out for the best.

I feel even more purehearted now than I did before.

But now, we have new concerns. A collection of fear, death, and murder, hmm...

And that's not all. Did you notice what else William said, Master?

？！

Right.

If he was telling the truth, that would mean we have more than one enemy here.

Well, in the meantime, at least this hotel's weirdness is all taken care of.

True. All we have to do now is find a way to escape it.

Then let's go do that!

None of these would seem to be right. Hmm...

No luck here either, huh.

I'll go take a look over there.

We'll come with you.

Okay!

(Yawwwn...) Hey, Kouhai, I'm gonna take a quick shower.

Huh? But, Murasaki said we should never go off on our own

Oh, I'll be fine. It's just a shower.

？！

Great, thanks.

W-well, at least we're here, too.

Are you sure about that?

Huh?

We're back. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any

Hm? Where's Lady Yu Mei-ren?

？！

... ...

A shower!?

O-oh no, this is terrible, just terrible! Lady Yu Mei-ren! Please, come out from there right

Aaah!

S-somebody get the light switch!

？！

Something killed me the instant the lights went out. What the hell's going on?

？！

Lady Yu Mei-ren...taking a shower in a horror movie is, for all intents and purposes, a death sentence.

But there wasn't even anyone else there!

As I told you before, the subgenre we are in now is psychological horror.

And psychological horror films are all about the terror that comes from someone we're close to breaking down.

In this movie's case, I suspect this hotel has something to do with that breakdown.

Essentially, this hotel is either a kind of supernatural phenomenon, or an evil spirit is haunting it.

While we may have defeated those three gentlemen, the influence of the hotel itself still lingers...

I therefore believe we are not yet safe as regards this particular movie's rules.

Aha, gotcha. So in what's fast becoming her go-to move, Yu Mei-ren kicked the bucket again 'cause she played right into a standard trope.

That's right. Ever since the dawn of horror movies, there have been some things a character should never say if they wish to still be alive by the movie's conclusion.

"I'm not staying here one minute longer"... "We can't afford to be dragging dead weight with us"...

"I'll be right back"... "When we get out of this, dinner's on you."

...and, of course, "I'm going to go take a shower."

Poor Yu Mei-ren...

？！

Ugh, this is so unfair. I just want to go home already!

Anyway, it looks like we're out of the woods now.

I thought we would wake up from this dream on our own, but maybe that's not the case?

Then I suggest we go investigate our last lead here: the manager's office.

The manager's office?

Indeed. We found something strange in his safe.

Sigurd was right, Master! There's a safe here! And it doesn't seem to be locked...

？！

What the...? Is that...a lit candle?

While there are a number of things I could point out here, such as the dangers of leaving a lit candle unattended, or how a candle should quickly burn itself out when left in a sealed space...

For the time being, this candle would seem to be very significant.

I agree. I bet it's the key to this whole place. Shall we try blowing it out?

？！

Look!

The illusory world is fading. We should be able to wake up now.

Ugh, this is the worst dream ever. There's no Lord Xiang Yu here, I keep dying in weird ways...

Yeah, if I never have another scary dream, it'll still be too sooHuh?

？！

There's still something inside the saf

Illya just vanished... Does this mean she woke up?

I guess it makes sense that not everyone would wake up at the same time.

I didn't even notice that Sigurd and Brynhild were already gone. Oh, I think I'm waking up, too...

I'm glad we were able to be together even in this dream, Senpai.

It was very strange in a lot of ways...but in others, it almost felt safer than real life.

Oh, uh, I guess that's kind of strange itself, huh? We know the outside world is full of dangerous abnormalities in its own right, after all...

At any rate, um, together, I know we can figure out how to repair this Singularity!

？！

Master, I know you must have a lot on your mind right now, but I think you should take a look at what Lady Illya was talking about before she woke up.

？！

？！

I see they all managed to leave the hotel. They really do value reality more than dreams, don't they?

...Now then.

I've had a feeling something was off here for a while, but now, I'm finally seeing the whole picture.

So, there may be more than one mastermind behind this, huh... Hehe. Hehehehe.

Come to think of it, that sort of thing was a popular trend in horror movies for a while, wasn't it? "So-and-so vs. So-and-so."

Well then, I'm perfectly happy to face these masterminds directly.

There are all sorts of dreams, after all. Good dreams... Bad dreams... Nightmares...

But...hehehe...

...there's nothing better than a dream from which you never wake up, right?

？！

Fooou...

Morning...

Welcome back, sleepyheads. You all look like you're doing much better.

？！

It's 9:00 p.m. You were all asleep for over twelve hours.

But now, it seems you have fully awakened.

If this is our nightmare, then our rising from slumber tonight should be happy indeed.

I took turns standing guard with Prince of Lan Ling and Phantom, but we didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

...Hm? Why're you spacing out like that? Did you actually have a nightmare, like Phantom said?

？！

I see. So you remember what happened in that dream too then, Master.

You'd better. Otherwise, I'll have died for nothing. ...So? What's our next move?

？！

Abigail Williams, huh.

She seemed like a shy, but perfectly nice girl when I met her in Chaldea...

...but I guess getting a swimsuit either knocked a screw loose, or brought out another side of her.

Either way, I understand we have to do something about her, and I'm fine with that, but

Oh, right, I almost forgot. What did you see at the very end of the dream, Master?

？！

Like the one we saw before?

Do you remember what the characters looked like? ...You do. I see.

In that case, let me see if I can reproduce them...

Here, and here... Oh, can't forget the stroke here...

？！

Hourai...?

Could it refer to Mt. Fuji? I'm told that it used to be known as Mt. Hourai some time ago...

No, wherever we are, it's definitely not Mt. Fuji. Trust me, I've been there several times.

It might be safe to assume that this once unnamed mountain was at one point called Hourai...

I see. It's certainly hard to believe there was a bus line here...

... ...Hourai, huh.

Is something wrong, Yu Mei-ren?

...No, it's nothing.

Hmm. By the way, what's all this about a dreamworld?

If we're going to make any sense of what just happened, I think we'll have to start there.

Then allow me to explain.

Though if you and Lady Sessyoin could help me, Lady Illya, I would greatly appreciate it.

Oh, sure, no problem. Let me just wash my face and

Wait... Hang on. Where's Lily?

...!

I could have sworn she was just sleeping on that mattress over there!

Well, she's gone now. Where the hell'd she go?

Guess we'll just have to look for her.

I can assure you that not a single suspicious person entered this room.

In fact, I didn't sense anything suspicious at all.

Damn, so we don't have a single lead then. Where could she have disappeared to?