Just a Summer's...

Hmm, I see. So that is what happened this summer.

However, you still managed to overcome the adversity in your path, and did so brilliantly. Isn't that right?

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Good. That's what I like to hear.

Still, all that aside, I can't help but think about what a difficult path this Xu Fu must have had to walk.

In the meantime, you should get plenty of rest, my fluffyI mean, mischievous Master.

So that Mystic Code you're wearing now is a kind of youth scouting uniform? It looks very good on you.

At any rate, I know you were originally supposed to relax by the lake, so you should use the remainder of summer to recuperate as planned.

Hmm?

That's right. I'm Santa. I would have liked to show up more, but I know there isn't much room for me in summer.

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Um...

Excuse me, Master?

Could I...have a moment of your time, please?

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... ...

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...Thank you, Master.

I asked you here because, um... there's something I have to tell you.

Something I've been keeping secret all summer...

Master, do you recall when Sigurd was attacked in the apartment building and mansion?

Well, I want to speak to you regarding his attacker.

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...It did. And those weren't the only ones.

The truth is...

...the same thing happened every night. The incidents you heard about were only the tip of the iceberg.

And every time he was attacked, he... Sigurd ended up dying.

And for reasons that had nothing to do with the events that took place by that lake.

... ...

...Every night, this despicable killer would come and try to kill him.

No, not just try. TheyShe, succeeded every time.

And now, I must come clean.

It was me.

I'm the despicable killer who slew my darling Sigurd every single night...

I'm the one responsible for his deaths!

!?

I-I can't believe it... Our sister did that?

Whoa, whoa, hold on. I thought this Xu Fu lady from the East was the one behind everything!

But, Sigurd's scars

It's true. The scars on his body could easily have been made by our sister's new Noble Phantasm.

Oh, you mean that big jagged sword?

Hmm. Now that you mention it, you might be right. B-but, why would she do such a thing?

... ...

In her usual Spirit Origin, our sister would always end up killing Sigurd no matter how much she tried to resist.

She might be able to withstand her urges for a short while, but the longer they were together, the more inevitable it was that she would try to kill him.

However...that hasn't been the case ever since she changed her Spirit Origin.

...You're right. I thought it was strange.

All that time they spent together, and she never said a thing about killing him.

Hey, I just had a thought.

What if she's been able to stabilize her Spirit Origin...by killing him at regular intervals?

!

...I used runes.

Multiple Primordial Runes stacked atop one another to cast a powerful spell.

I knew there was nothing I could do about my compulsion to kill the one I love. It's a core part of who I am as a Heroic Spirit.

So instead, I tried to nudge it aside just a little bit. I used runes to bend it as far as it could go...

Now, although Sigurd and I are able to spend our days together lovingly, when night comes...I kill him.

I become even more murderous in my intentions than in my normal Spirit Origin, and kill him each night.

...Over and over again.

That is how I have been spending this summer. That is what this Spirit Origin entails.

...I'm so sorry for the trouble I caused you. My actions only made it harder to get to the bottom of the mystery.

I really can't apologize to you enough, Master.

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...?

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Ah...

Master... So, you knew it was me all along...

And...you were kind enough not to say anything...

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So, you had figured it out after all, Master.

Sigurd...

However, my beloved has not quite told you...everything.

This was all my idea, Master.

I was the one who thought to alter my beloved Brynhild's Spirit Origin in this way, and the one who came up with the rune spell we used to do so.

My beloved wished for us to spend time together peacefully once again, even if only for a few days this summer.

Naturally, I agreed, and so formulated and enacted this plan.

Of course, I knew it would also result in my bloody death taking place every night.

And while I may not have been in any danger of losing my Spirit Origin, I was also well aware that this plan could end up causing you and the other Heroic Spirits needless confusion.

But I carried it out all the same. What's more, I did so without informing anyone.

I was sure that, even if you might understand our reasons, Master...

...telling others would inevitably result in our being barred from coming along on this vacation.

All of this is to say that I am solely responsible for what happened!

My beloved did nothing wrong whatsoever!!!

Oh my...!

...Thank you, Sigurd. My Sigurd.

But I was the one who originally asked to do this, and I'm the one who has been killing you.

This is my sin to bear.

No, it's mine. The absolute most I am willing to concede...

...is that we may bear the responsibility for it together. For it is something we did "in cahoots."

...D-don't say that, Sigurd. It's not fair.

If you speak of us as accomplices, then how can I ever

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Master...

So, our sister's summer Spirit Origin requires her to kill the one she loves...

...but also allows her to stay close to him in the meantime?

...

I thought they looked so happy together, but...

...They both knew the time they had together was finite...

Sister...

...!!!

O-oh no...

My magical energy...is building. Why...?

Brynhild!

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Oh no... Master. Sigurd.

I... I...

I'm so happy and full of love right now that...

...I'm compelled to love you both to death!!!

And I have to do so right this instant!

...I see.

I thought that letting her kill me each night would be sufficient to pacify her, but it seems I was mistaken.

Clearly, I was just too manly for my beloved's poor heart to take! Now her feelings are more out of control than ever!

And if that weren't enough, I think your compassion might have driven her further over the edge, Master. At any rate

Aaah!

Ah, ah, ah, aaaaaah...

P...

Please...stay away.

I... I... I can't...!

I...can't...control...my...self!!!

Get behind me, Master! That blade she wields is the physical manifestation of her love!

If we don't do something, it will cut through me and everyone else she holds dear!

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I must say, I never thought my plan would lead to this. She must care for me even more than I thought.

Perhaps I should have made better use of my wisdom before we did this, but I could never stand to bring that gaze to bear on my beloved!

Forgive me, Master!

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Stay away!

Behold! This is my final embrace of the summer!!!

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...!

Huh...?

What...did I...

...Sigurd? Is that

Yes, Brynhild. It's me. Your Sigurd.

... ...

Oh no. Don't tell me I

It's all right, my beloved. I stopped you this time, and I will stop you as many times as it takes.

We may have already died and become shadows inscribed in the annals of human history...

...but it is precisely because we are now but fleeting dreams ourselves that I can do now what we could not in life.

On my honor, I will never let flames take you again.

Sigurd...

You are truly my beloved, Brynhild. My everything.

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Yes, Master. Her magical energy appears to be stable now.

I came as soon as I heard the commotion, but fortunately, it seems the situation is already well in hand.

Indeed. I'm still not sure if this is a good long-term solution...

...but for the moment, discharging the more violent aspects of her love does seem to have calmed her Spirit Origin.

I'd say they should both remain stable until at least the end of summer. Ho ho ho.

I believe you mean "Santa."

That's right. It's me, Santa.

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Hm? You're

Sister Atli!

It's Santa.

Santa!

I see. Now there is another role that would suit my beloved well...

S-Sigurd! You can't be serious! Don't you realize all the trouble we've just put everyone here through!?

You can't be talking about changing my Spirit Origin yet agai

It would suit you magnificently, beloved. Of that, I am certain.

Please! You mustn't!

You may not be able to help thinking that, but that doesn't mean you should say it!

Ho ho ho. It's wonderful to see you two getting along so well.

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Sister's sister!?

If Sister's sister Atli is here, then... Um, what's going to happen now?

I don't know!

For the time being...

We should wait for a good chance to introduce ourselves. Besides, we also need to celebrate our sister's Spirit Origin finally stabilizing.

Got it. Sounds good to me!

Me too. Celebrations are very important.

I know. We should ask the Servants in the kitchen to make something for the occasion!

Maybe something like...

...a cake taller than we are?

I know Sister's new Noble Phantasm is meant for battle...

But I think cutting a cake would suit it even better!

Agreed!