Section 6: ECHO

What in the world just happened? I don't see Ex, or Medb, or anyone else anywhere.

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Okay, Senpai. I'll keep an eye out just in case!

Well, the city looks to be the same as usual.

Hey! You there!

Ah! You again!

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Huh? You've already heard of me? No way! Seriously!? Hehe, guess that just shows how popular I'm getting♪

But anyway, you two are totally FIN-less, right? Why don't you become my fans then♪

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Oh, gosh, did I meet you at a photo op or something? I'm sorry, I really don't remember seeing you two before.

I totally apologize if your names slipped my mind! Seriously, I'm so sorry!

It looks like she really doesn't remember us...

But to make up for that, I can give you guys lots of special perks if you join my fan club! So, what do you say?

Hold it right there!

？！

Hello, Master. Hello, Mash. I thought I recognized your voices.

I don't know how you ended up in this land of idols, but I can't abandon you to the vultures now.

Um, thank you, Ex, but...you were already with us just a few minutes ago.

Huh? What are you talking about?

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Amnesia...?

No, I definitely saved my prior experiences with you to my Alter memory banks...

It's not just us, Ex! What about AxXxS!? You must remember AxXxS!

Eh? Now what are you... Ngh... Ax...is...? I...I think I remember...something...

Senpai!

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(Gasp!) Sing... I can...sing...? Ah...

... ...Ohhh!

Wh-what the...? Why do you seem way more intimidating all of a sudden?

Master! Mash! I remember now!

I'm a member of AxXxS! And the UAAR (Ultra Amazingly Amazing Rare) idol, Ex!

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Unleashing super Altereactor. Initiating high-speed Idol☆Glo generation. Idolish Heaven, Stage Two!

Eeeeee!?

Wow. I easily defeated Girl A and Neon, along with all the other idols we randomly encountered on the street.

I had no idea I was actually such a mighty, unstoppable idol.

Right now, my heart is aflame with a sense of power that surpasses even the vigor of youth. I'm like the proverbial girl on fire. Yay.

Thank goodness. I'm so glad you remembered.

I'd completely forgotten everything. Even now, my memories are only coming back in bits and pieces.

...Ooh, here come some more. It's like seeing a whole bunch of cutscenes from a game I don't remember playing.

I can't believe I forgot all about this. Even our chance meeting was the same as before.

...Um, Master? It seems like we've been sent back in time, and are repeating the same events as before.

It almost feels like the whole world has been reset.

Yes... It does, doesn't it? It's as though someone undid all the progress we made and put us right back at square one.

At least, that's how it seems to me, though I don't know how such a thing would even be possible.

？！

A Holy Grail... That woman who looked like Miss Crane had one, didn't she?

Right. I remember at the end, she said:

"This concludes the latest Grail Concert. Stay tuned for the next one!"

So, maybe we're in this "next one" she mentioned right now.

Maybe, whenever the Grail Concert ends, she uses the Holy Grail's power to reset everything, including our memories.

Though for whatever reason, at least two people weren't affected by the reset.

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Right. I guess she didn't account for you two being part of this world's reset state, since you came here from the outside.

That would explain why we're the only ones who kept our memories.

Aww... This must mean Medb and Cat have forgotten all about the time we spent together as AxXxS then.

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Good point. Let's go see them right now.

Hey! What do you guys think you're doing here!?

We've got a big show coming up, and we need our private time. Get lost before I smack you with a cat punch.

Medb! Cat! It's me, Ex! From AxXxS!

Axis? What's that?

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Huh? We're ∞QUEEN, or as our fans call us, Inq. I've never heard of any group called "Axis" before.

!!!

I... I see...

Master, maybe you could use a Command Spell on them? Like you did with Ex?

... ...No, let's not do that.

He only has so many Command Spells, so if he's going to use another one, there's someone else we need to prioritize.

Someone we need to find before we do anything.

Man, you really are down in the dumps, aren't you? Why don't you stay and watch our show first?

I'll even pull some strings and get you good seats. Trust me, there's nothing like an idol concert to cheer you up.

Yes... I know. I know that very well...

Inq's show was definitely great. But...

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Exactly. Everything we cultivated in AxXxS is gone... (Siiigh)

I can't believe this is happening...

The only lead we have left is...Miss Crane.

That reminds me: Who was that woman who looked like her? The one with the Holy Grail?

Was she an Alter with a different Spirit Origin, like me? Or was it someone else disguised as her?

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If we really are repeating everything that happened before, we should have already run into her...

...Come to think of it, I just remembered something else she told us.

She said she wasn't called here by the Holy Grail, but had been active as a Servant for a while now.

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Let's go look for her, Senpai!

I have to get her to make me that outfit again. It's a key part of who I am now.

Excuse me. I couldn't help but notice how cute you are. Have you ever considered becoming an ido

I'll do it.

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Oh hey, if it isn't Puppy! Guess what? This nice lady just totally scouted me!

Just you wait! This is going to be the start of a brand-new Elisabeth legend!

I'm gonna climb the stairs to superstardom two at a time right to the very top!

Miss Crane, it's me! Mash Kyrielight!

I'm X Alter. Miss Crane, do you

Très bien!

X Alter, was it? You should definitely be an idol!

Hey! What about me!? Aren't you going to make me an idol!?

O-oh, yes, of course I haven't forgotten about you! I know! What if you two formed a group?

No way! Absolutely not!

Idols are meant to stand on their own. Everyone in this world knows that.

Um, that's not necessarily

I'm gonna be the world's most famous idol, and I'm gonna do it as a solo act! And no one, not even you, Puppy, is gonna get in my way!

So, on that note...!

Báthory Erzsébet!!!

Senpai! Elisabeth is more fired up than I've seen her in a long time!

I guess we have no choice then. We'll have to finish this with a sing-off, idol against idol.

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Noooooo! (Bawling her eyes out)

I can't stand it! I just can't stand it! I'm so mad my tail is twitching! I can't back down now!

I'm so gonna get back at you for this, Master! Just you wait! I'm gonna pull the meanest, dirtiest prank I can think of when you least expec

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Huh?

R-really? You promise you'll watch me perform solo for a WHOLE day?

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...Okay, Puppy, it's a deal! I guess I can let you guys have this one.

But just to be clear, I'm only letting you off the hook 'cause you're my special Puppy, got it!?

Anyway, see you later! I'm gonna go make the most of this Singularity!

...That may be the bravest thing I've ever seen you do, Senpai. Don't worry. I won't let you suffer alone!

Um... I'm sorry, this is all happening so fast that I'm still not quite sure what's going on...

Who are you people?

Oh... I guess this means Miss Crane's lost her memories, too.

Well, at least we managed to find her. Why don't we head somewhere else for now?

Um...

Please, come with us. Don't worry, you can trust me. You see...I'm an idol!

Eeeeee! Y-you're so cute! Oh yes, I'll trust you. I'll follow you anywhere!

That's...definitely the Miss Crane we know.

Eee! I can't believe I've been taken to an idol's home! This is a debt I'll have to repay!

I hope we can jog Miss Crane's memory, too...

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Yes. It's our only option. Listen to me, Miss Crane.

Master here is going to use a Command Spell to boost your Spirit Origin and hopefully restore your memories.

Um... Restore my memories?

That's right. It's not unlike running a program on a hard disk to recover deleted data.

Are you sure this is going to work?

It's a risk, no question...

But if anyone can tell us what's going on in this Singularity, it has to be Miss Crane.

So she should be our first priority when it comes to restoring memories.

Hm? Um, I'm sorry, but I don't have any idea what you're talking about...

Shh. It's okay, Miss Crane. All you have to do is relax.

Oh my, oh my! I've never been so close to an idol before! M-my heart is going to explod

...

Warning. Tampering with terminal unit is forbidden.

Huh? That's strange. Miss Crane just sounded like a robot. And what's this about a terminal uni

Look out!

A bolt of lightning similar to magical energy. That was close. Thank you, Mash.

That was an automated counterattack spell... And it came from one of Miss Crane's sketchbooks!

Why are those sketchbooks...floating? Aah! What the...!?

I can't believe these sketchbooks, of all things, are attacking us so relentlessly. I don't know what's going on, but for now, we need to neutralize this threat!

Right! Let's do it, Ex!

There! All hostiles have been silenced! Is everyone all right!?

Yes, I think so. Though the killer...something attacking out of nowhere came as a shock.

Anyway, that looks like it was the last of the spells cast on the sketchbooks, so we should be safe now.

...

Miss Crane is out cold, but she doesn't seem to be hurt.

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Miss Crane was very insistent about us not peeking, but given what just happened, we have to investigate.

I'm sorry about this, Miss Crane!

...There's nothing but text in here. "Terminal Unit Compulsion Application Conditions"...?

"Upon activation, compel terminal unit to support idols."

"Upon selecting an idol, compel terminal unit to provide selected idol with idol outfit."

"If terminal unit determines selected idol possesses sufficient talent, compel terminal unit to encourage idol to enter Grail Concert."

These aren't sketches. They're instructions...

So this sketchbook is actually a magecraft decree one designed to manipulate someone's mind.

Assuming the "terminal unit" it refers to is Miss Crane, then that would mean

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Ahh...

You're awake, Miss Crane?

Maybe it would have been better if I'd stayed asleep. That way, I'd never have to know the truth about myself...

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Yes. I remember everything now. I remember all the precious times we had together...

And now that I've been freed from the sketchbooks' spells, I remember what I really am, too.

... ...

The truth is...I'm just a copy of my true selfthe one who possesses a Holy Grail.

I'm what the sketchbook calls a "terminal unit." I'm just a marionette my true self can use as she likes.

!!!

...Assuming that's true, why would the owner of this Holy Grail do something so convoluted?

This world is a closed circle, designed to let idols shine brightly for all eternity.

What do you mean?

My main unitthe one who possesses the Holy Grailwants nothing more than to make outfits of her own design for idols and see them shine brightly as a result.

That is why she made this Singularity. It was meant to be a utopia for idols and idol outfits.

This process has gone through several cycles since this Singularity was first made.

Whenever an idol reaches the top, the whole world is reset, and a new idol is chosen...

So as a terminal unit, what's your role in all this?

The main unit has to focus all of her power on maintaining this Singularity.

But of course, that also means she can't fulfill her desire to love, clothe, and bask in the glory of idols.

So that's where I come in, even though I didn't realize it up until now.

Sounds a lot like a dungeon master playing a character in their own game. That's kind of impressive.

Yes, that's a good analogy. In many ways, this IS like a gameone where the player picks a favorite idol, levels her up, then starts all over again after reaching the end.

As a terminal unit, my job is to help reach that end. Those sketchbooks you defeated were controlling this world with curses.

In concert with the Holy Grail, they sealed my and every other Servant's memories and reset everything in this Singularity.

Though luckily, Ex and myself were able to escape our bindings thanks to the boost MasP's Command Spells gave us.

Though that said, I'm still impressed you managed to remember everything, Ex.

I'm a Foreigner and an idol. I'm used to being an outsider.

Unfortunately, while I may be freed from the curse's hold now...

...I will lose my memories again once an idol wins the next Grail Concert.

So, the sketchbooks' curse is going to ensnare you again the next time everything is reset?

Yes. Once this world is reset...the sketchbooks will no doubt trap me in their clutches again.

And once they do, I'll be compelled to find a new idol to stan, make an outfit for her, and encourage to aim for the top...

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Huh?

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Master is right.

Yes, you may have been compelled to look for a new idol...

But nothing in those sketchbooks' conditions said anything about how you were supposed to choose her.

Which means that back when you first chose me...

That was entirely your own decision!

...!

That's right!

I'm certain the sketchbooks couldn't have been controlling your every action, Miss Crane.

I know that time we spent together on AxXxS really meant something to you!

Mash...

No matter how many times you may have done this before...you're still the same Miss Crane who was part of Chaldea Productions with us.

There's no other version of you with those memories!

So, does that mean...I can stay with you all?

Ahh... I don't deserve your kindness.

It means the world to me that you still think of me as a trusted companion.

Very well then. I will stay, and I will do everything I can to repay your kindness. That is how I've always lived my life.

Ahh, those words. I've heard those words a few times before, when others have tried to stop me from leaving.

Up until now, I've always had no choice but to leave anyway. It's just who I am.

But this time, I think I can stay.

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I certainly don't want to part ways like this. In fact, I'd like nothing more than to stay together forever.

...Thank you, everyone. I swear I will serve you to the very best of my ability.

Glad to have you back, Miss Crane.

I'm glad that's settled, but... What do we do now?

I think I might have an idea about that. Let's go back to my atelier.

...Ahh, I knew it. Even my atelier has been reset to how it was before we formed AxXxS.

So it would seem. I don't see any sign of Medb's cosmetics or Cat's cookware anywhere.

This is...tragic. All those sweets I had in the refrigerator...gone...

So once the world is reset, everything goes back to the way it was. It seems there's nothing we can do about that.

So then, our only option is to wrest control of the Holy Grail away from my main self.

Though of course, that's easier said than done.

I'm sure my main unit has set up some form of insurance designed to maintain this Singularity.

Insurance?

My guess is that she's set the Singularity to automatically reset the moment she senses she's in any danger.

So it's like an auto-reset macro that kicks in right before the game over screen... Hmm, I guess our hands are more tied than we thought.

However, let's not forget that we also have a Caster of our own right here.

Though I may just be a copy who's managed to escape my main unit's hold over me, I'm still Miss Crane.

And my being the same as her means I should have a major advantage when it comes to using magecraft.

Hey, that's right. If you're her, then you can also use the same kinds of spells!

Exactly. So I'm going to hole up here in my atelier so I can weave together a real whopper of a spell.

I'll also be using plenty of tricks, so I'm afraid I can't share the details with you. As always, you'll just have to make sure you don't peek while I'm working. Hehe.

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Yes, I'm sure you won't. All right, we'll put the plan into action on the final day of the Grail Concert.

In the meantime, I ask only that you be patient while I work on my latest creation.

Got it. Then while we're waiting, I'll work on my skills, too. There's one song in particular that I'd really like to sing...

Phew...

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Oh, hello, MasP. I see you're burning the midnight oil, too.

Would you like some tea? I have some sweets Ex recommended as well.

Mmm, delicious... What a wonderful time to be alive.

Back when I first began weaving, both tea and sweets were luxuries that ordinary people could only dream of.

Though of course, it may be silly for me to talk about how things were in olden times, since I never really belonged in either the human or the monster world. Hehe.

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Maybe it's just because I'm still feeling good about being freed from the sketchbooks' hold on me, but yes. I don't feel like I need to hide that anymore.

Though I'm afraid I do still have to leave if I'm ever seen at work.

That's how the story of the grateful crane goes, yes? There's nothing I can do about that.

It's meant I've had to say many painful goodbyes to people I cared about very much.

I suppose it just goes to show how difficult it is for humans and nonhumans to remain together...

... ...

You know, MasP, Mash told me that you're a very distinguished Master.

She also said you've met lots of different people...and that you've also had to say goodbye to many of them.

So please, tell me. What do farewells mean to you?

Yes, I'm sure. Saying goodbye is a sad, lonely, wretched experience.

Once you decide to be with someone, it's only natural to want to be with them forever.

But...you say goodbyes are more than just that? Does that mean you think there's also something good about them?

I suppose there are a number of songs about how the pain of lost love can make you stronger.

People have said as much since ancient times. I suppose they can't all be wrong.

But personally, I could never understand that. When a relationship ends...

...everything you had with that person disappears...

Necessary? You think parting ways with someone you care about is necessary?

I can't say I've ever thought of it like that.

For me, separations have always been sad occasions, full of regret, tears, and pain above all else.

... ...

Oh, I'm sorry. These old memories still make me tear up.

You must be a much stronger person than I am, MasP.

I just don't have it in me to accept a permanent farewell as being...necessary.

Then again, it may be that you've had to suffer more than I can imagine to become that strong...

...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. As your Servant, I have no right to pry into your mind.

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Memories... So, those are stronger and more valuable than the peace of mind of knowing you'll be together forever?

You're not just saying that? You really, truly believe it?

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...Hmph. No fair, MasP.

Those eyes of yours have seen so many things over the course of your many journeys. There's simply no way I can look into them and argue with what you've said.

All right. I'll weave that answer of yours into my spell as the final, binding thread.

If there really is hope to be found even after parting ways... If there really is more than pain to be found in saying goodbye...

Then...I'd like to see it for myself.

I may never get that chance in this life...

But, even so...one day, I hope I'll get to see what you mean.

Hehe. Thank you, MasP. I don't think even my main unit has ever had a conversation quite this special...