Section 2: But It Did Happen

Heh... Hehehehe...

Mmm... Mmmmmmmmm...

... ...

Go on. Say something.

Me?

Yeah, you.

You're my aide and tactician, right? So go on, make yourself useful.

Hmm, I'm afraid that's easier said than done.

While I certainly agree I'm well-suited to serving as an aide and tactician, I'm also something of a malevolent, austere Servant.

I'm hardly so far gone as to start "slinging gags." Why, the very idea is as preposterous as pigs flying.

Aw, don't worry about that. You have much better gag potential than you realize. Anyway, how're our soldiers coming along? Are they done yet?

Naturally!

Why, just see for yourself how daring and dashing they are! How unbelievably astounding!

Ooh!

Mmmmmm! I yam a pirate, I yam!

...Are they supposed to talk like that?

Oops, my apologies. Let me just tweak this... And adjust that...

Mmm... Fa... Fa fa fa... Do re mi fa so la ti do...

Not that way! The other way!

Oh my, this won't do. Let me just put a few of these knobs back in place, and...

Haha! Haha! Haha!

What do you think?

Eh, it'll do. All right then...

Mass-produced Columbuses, move out!

Haha!

Mmmmmm, how lovely! How magnificent! By...some definition of the word, however strange...

I heard that! But honestly, I'm finding myself a little creeped out by these things, too!

Haha...

Be that as it may, we can finally begin our efforts to plunder the secret pirate treasures in earnest!

Huh. We should be coming up on the cave pretty soon, but...

Yeah. I don't see anything that looks like a cave around here.

Phew... I'm getting tired, Master. Would you mind carrying me for a while?

Very light, thank you very much! Now shut up before I make you into an ice sculpture!

I'm not heavy at all. In fact, I'm feeling lighter than ever now that I've slimmed down by sharing my Spirit Origin with Rengoku.

Right, Rengoku?

Huh? Yeah, sure...

Hm? Why are you being so quiet, Rengoku? Are you sleepy or something?

No!

Just what do you mean by THAT!?

Anastasia! Please, try to calm down!

All right, all right. Here, I'll carry you mysel

No thank you.

So that's how it's gonna be, huh. In that case...

I'll just carry Master while he carries you!

I think you're missing the point...

？！

...?

Hey, Fujimaru? Mash? Can I talk to you two for a minute?

Sure, what is it?

？！

Have you two noticed anything unnatural about this place?

？！

Like here.

Huh?

What?

？！

Waaaaaah!

Eeeeee!

Foooooou!

Master!? Dammit! Hang on!

Oh no! Master! Here! Give me your hand!

？！

...You all saw them just fall into a hole in the air too, right?

Yes, but to where!?

Master just stuck his hand into an empty space, and they all got sucked in out of nowhere!

Maybe we're under attack!? Viy, perimeter scan! Now!

Hmm... I don't think it's that. An enemy would've probably just tried to attack us instead of...whatever that was.

Besides, Master wasn't the only one that fell in. Da Vinci and Mash are there with him.

I'm sure they'll figure something out.

I-I hope you're right...

What do you think, Rengoku?

...It was just for a moment, but I sensed magical energy coming from that dark hole.

Magical energy?

That would explain why the pirates couldn't find it no matter how hard they looked.

That door those three just fell through probably only opened because it reacted to one of them.

What do you mean?

...I'm guessing it was the entrance to where one of those secret pirate treasures is kept.

Whatever it was, it's gotta be somewhere underneath us, yeah? Then we've gotta look everywhere until we find it!

Master!

？！

Of course, Senpai. I'm just glad you're all right.

... ...

O-oh, I'm sorry. I'm in your personal space, aren't I?

... ...

O-oh, right. Da Vinci? Fou? Are you two okay?

Fou!

Oh good! I'm glad to see you're safe and sound, Fou.

？！

Oof.

I'm fine, too! Hehehehe. Man, that was a hell of a surprise, wasn't it!?

？！

Well sure.

Watching over you guys' adventures from a distance is great and all, but there really isn't anything quite like experiencing one firsthand.

Things can change at a moment's notice, and you never know what might happen next.

I mean, who would've guessed we'd all end up tumbling into a hole in midair of all things!?

Oh man, this is so much fun! I can't wait to see what we run into next!

？！

Hehe. Thanks, Fujimaru. I appreciate your concern.

Okay then, let's all go together. Looks like a pretty straight shot from here, anyway.

I wouldn't be surprised if it took us right to one of these secret pirate treasures.

？！

Hmm, good question.

It doesn't look like a natural cavern or a man-made path. If anything, it feels like it's made out of magical energy.

Maybe it reacted to your magical energy then?

Or to Fujimaru's. He does have Command Spells, after all.

Fou fou.

？！

Hell yeah! Now come on! This cave's not gonna spelunk itself!

It's fairly cool in here, isn't it?

？！

Oh yes, I'm fine. What about you, Master? You're not cold, are you?

？！

We might be near the ocean, or a river. Or maybe there's an underground stream flowing nearby.

Either way, there's still just one path forward, at least for now. I wonder if we really will find pirate treasure at the end of it?

Whup, looks like we've got something else to take care of first! Yaaay!

Maybe they're summoned Demonic Beasts? Or local Phantasmals?

Either way, I'm definitely not gonna let them stop us now!

... ...

... ...

Fou...

I-I think I'd rather just go ahead and say those were figments of our imagination...

Yes... Bipedal sharks...

Maybe it's just my imagination, but I could've sworn I sensed Jeanne nearby having the time of her life...

Wooo♡

？！

Whoa! Way more spacious in here, huh?

I see light over there. Could that be the exit?

？！

Fou fou!

Huh? Fou? Fooou!

Maybe he found something?

？！

Fou fou!

This way, huh? Hey! What's up?

It looks like he found something. Is that...

An egg?

？！

I wonder what kind of egg it is. Can you tell, Da Vinci?

Hmm...

Ostrich, maybe? ...No, it's too big for that. Man, what could it be?

Fou fou!

Ah! Stop that, Fou! If you poke the egg too hard

？！

Whoa, it's viable! And it looks about ready to hatch, too!

Which probably means one of its parents is around here somewh

Ah! It's a huge Demonic Beast, Master!

Understood!

I doubt it. That sounded like a serpentine Demonic Beast to me...

And this definitely isn't a snake egg!

？！

Either way, we're gonna have to fight our way out of this! All right, let's gooo!

The hostile Demonic Beast has vanished! Phew...

...Hmm. What could this egg be?

Is it from a bird? ...Or maybe a reptile?

Hmm... Ah! It's cracking!

Oh gosh, it's gonna hatch!

Ooh!

Huh?

Fou?

？！

Whoa!

We made it back to the surface, Master!

？！

Right! Heeey! Are you all theeere!?

Fou fou!

？！

You're right, I hear them too! It sounds like they're not far off. Thank goodness.

Hi, everyone. I'm sorry we

Open sesame!!!

Gaah! No, no, you've got it all wrong!

Yeah! Can't you think of any a halfway decent password!?

Okay, Miss Grand Duchess, why don't YOU show us how it's done?

Fine then, I will! Hmm... Let's see...

...Are you going to give a password?

Yes, yes, I will, I will! ...Right! This has to be it!

Uchchai...

...hshravas!!!

Dammit! It didn't work!

Uh, what did you just say? "Uchchaihshravas"? What's that?

Is that some new comedy duo or something?

I'm not sure myself, but doesn't it have a way of really sticking in your mind?

I know I haven't been able to forget that word since I first learned about it.

... ...

...Huh, you're right. I think it's stuck in my mind now, too.

It's got some serious supercalifragilisticexpialidocious energy.

Oh, Master, you're back. That's great.

Glad to see you safe and sound.

But now what do we do? All I can come up with is that we all just shout out our true feelings for him.

As entertaining as that sounds, I'm gonna take a pass. My interpersonaler, interServantal relationships are hard enough already.

Yeah, I'd just as soon avoid the mushy stuff if I can.

Wow. Hearing that from a Greek hero really puts it in a whole new light...

What's me being Greek have to do with it!? I'm just a regular guy who simply... Okay, maybe not really regular...

... ...

Wait, how did we get so far off track!? We still have to find Master!

You! You are how we got off track! I certainly wasn't the one who wanted to turn this into a relationship talk!

Okay, Blackbeard. You're up. What've you got?

Hmm, what to try next...

Open sesame didn't work... Uchchaihshravas didn't work... Hmm...

What we need is a single word that will really grab Fujimaru's attention... Wait, I've got it.

QP!!!

？！

Woo! It worked!

No way!

I'm afraid you're mistaken, Blackbeard, Anastasia. We've been here for a while now.

Huh? Really?

It's true. I saw them.

Took you guys long enough to notice.

？！

... ...

... ...

...Well... I'm glad you made it out of there...

Master? Do you think you could just forget everything you overheard?

Phew...

(Kinda late if you ask me...)

No. That word is cursed to never be forgotten, no matter how hard you might try.

Damn, seriously?

？！

So where were you guys, anyway?

Oh, right. We fell into a hidden cave beneath the ground here.

I'm still not sure why we were the only ones who did, though...

？！

R-right. We do, don't we?

Everyone, I know this may be hard to believe, but

？！

Dinosaur?

Dinosaur?

Um... What about dinosaurs?

Ta-daaa! Check it out!

Say whaaat!?

Huh, gotcha.

So this little guy was all you found in that mysterious cave, huh. So much for the secret pirate treasure...

Well, maybe this, um...dinosaur IS the treasure?

Hang on. Are we even sure it's really a dinosaur? Couldn't it just be an overgrown lizard?

No, Teach. Definitely not.

O-oh.

This little cutie is definitely a stegosaurus, an herbivorous dinosaur of the Stegosauria family.

Damn...

Wait. Hang on.

Didn't dinosaurs die out millions of years ago? What's one doing here?

Exactly! It's a huge mystery, right?

That's why I want to head back to camp now and examine him...or her? more closely.

...

...

... ...So cute...

Stop that. He's still just a baby.

O-oh. Right. I just couldn't help myself...

I was helpless in the face of his overwhelming cuteness.

Hehe. I think you can get away with petting him a little bit!

See? He doesn't mind at all.

Fou. Fou fooou.

Fou and the stegosaurus are talking to each other!

This is so heartwarming! I'll have to record this for the database!

All that aside, Da Vinci, why are you cradling him in your arms like that?

Well...

Whoa. A stegosaurus...

... ...

...Huh? A stegosaurus?

That's a kind of dinosaur...right?

It sure is.

Hm? There's something else in its nest...

I-is that a treasure map!? What's it doing here!?

？！

No, it's not that. This is definitely a real stegosaurus.

Huh? What is it? What's it doing? A-aah! It's coming towards me!

Wh-what do I do, Mash? Fujimaru!?

？！

Yeah?

？！

You mean, like when a baby bird thinks the first thing it sees is its mother?

Oh man, oh man! I know there is a lot to support the theory that dinosaurs were actually the precursors to birds, but still!

Aah! It's nuzzling me!

Oh geez, what do I do? What do I do!?

(Obviously flustered)

...Well, I don't think we should just leave it here.

？！

Huh? Huh!?

Th-then...does this mean...?

I'm...its mother...?

Now I gotcha!

So you're a mommy now!

Sooo touching!

Don't call me "Mommy"!

Well hey, come on. What other word is there?

There, see? The dinosaur agrees with me.

...Maybe it's just hungry?

Now that you mention it...

The dinosaur, Wielder. Not you.

...I knew that. I was totally talking about the dinosaur, too.

...I was!

Sure you were.

？！

It's true, I am. Besides, it's almost dinnertime. I can't wait to see what's on the menu!

I see you're very forthcoming to your Master, aren't you, Wielder?

...Then again, I guess you're always very forthcoming.

Well, for the time being, why don't we head back to camp and decide what to do about this thing later?

Besides, Dad should know about this, too.

You're right. That's a good point.

Oof. I'm not too keen on telling DadI mean, the director about this...

Put that back where you found it!

I knew you'd say something like that!

Of course I would! That's a goddamn stegosaurus!

Dinosaurs like that haven't been seen on Earth for more than a hundred fifty million years!

So what in the world is one doing here peeping like a newborn chick!?

That's really the question, isn't it? Hmm...

Maybe dinosaurs have actually been alive all this time?

I mean, you still hear rumors about Nessie sightings even to this day, right?

There's also the Mokele-mbembe... The chupacabra...

You know, on a different note, I just had a thought:

Wouldn't "Mokele Chupacabra" be a great band name?

？！

Don't get us sidetracked again, Blackbeard... Anyway, I guess it just goes to show that anything goes in a Singularity.

Besides, there's still a lot humankind has yet to learn about the earth.

For example, I've heard there are Phantasmals hidden deep in unexplored wilderness, even in the twenty-first century.

So maybe it's not impossible that there'd be at least one dinosaur still alive today?

Hmm...

Well, hang on. I don't think that makes sense.

How so?

I mean, think about it.

We found this dinosaur in a place that was supposed to have pirate treasure, right?

So wouldn't that mean the dinosaur itself is that trea

Oh, hey there.

...I-I guess you're right. Although, you also said you found a second map there, right?

That's right. Strangely enough, it was in the nest, right next to the dinosaur egg.

Here, this is it.

Hmm... It certainly looks like a treasure map...

There's even a message written on it.

？！

You can't see it? Ah, right, of course.

It's because it's written with magecraft. Here, try putting these glasses on.

？！

I still don't know what this message could mean, though... Well, let's just forget about this map for the time being.

Right now, we need to decide what to do about the dinosaur.

Ah.

Yes, Grand Duchess?

Well...

You know that I'm originally a Caster, right?

Indeed. Very strange how merely putting on a swimsuit alters a Servant's class like that.

？！

All right...

Well, I just borrowed Viy's Mystic Eyes to take a closer look at the dinosaur...

Go on.

It has a magical energy signal.

Hmm, I should have guessed. So it's a Demonic Beast then?

No. It's a Holy Grail.

Ah, I see. A Holy Grail.

... ...

Wait, a Holy Grail!?

Really? Let me see that thing real quick.

Okay, but be gentle.

Huh, she's right. It does have a magical energy signal. In fact, it feels like it's nothing BUT magical energy.

Too bad we don't have Teacher or a Caster with us. They could probably tell us more about it.

I'm sorry. I'm a Caster now, but I'm afraid I still don't know much about magical energy...

O-oh, gotcha. You, uh, might want to brush up...

So, you're telling me this...dinosaur...is actually a Holy Grail?

Then, does that mean we may be able to use it to repair this Singularity?

I don't think it's gonna be that simple.

It's a little weak as far as Holy Grails go, so there isn't much power there for us to use.

Right now, it may as well just be an ordinary dinosaur.

Aah! Hey! Don't bite my hair!

Well, it IS an herbivore...

What!? Are you saying my hair looks like a damn salad!?

Yup.

It does.

I, um... No comment!

I think your hair looks lovely. And nutritious.

It's important to eat three balanced meals a day.

Ouch. Well, I did ask for it... All right, here, little guy. Why don't you play with Tarasque for a while?

(Good to meet you, pip-squeak. Just stick with me, and I'll show you the ropes around here!)

(That's what I like to hear. Okay, here's your first lesson:)

(Whatever you do, don't talk back to the saint woman with the long hair and the killer punches!)

(Good answer! Assuming you even understand me at all, anyway!)

？！

... ...

Oh, all right. I guess we don't have any other option.

If it has the power of a Holy Grail, we'll have to hold onto it for safekeeping.

Yaaay!

But I expect you to be completely responsible for it, understood!?

I will!

It's okay, Father. We'll all help out, too!

I'm. In. My. TWENTIES!!!

Aww, what's the big deal? You'd make a great dad.

Just stop!!!

Okay, now what to call him...

I know! Steggy!

Hey, I think he likes it!

Then again, maybe that's a little too simple...

How about you guys? Got any good ideas for names?

... ...

Oh no you don't. No naming it!

Aww, come on.

But then, what are we going to call him?

What's wrong with just "Dinosaur" or "Stegosaurus"?

Come on, Gordy! It's not every day you get a chance to name a freaking dinosaur!

I said no!

Tch.

Okay, how about this? Since he seems to like the name, why don't we call him "Steggy the Stegosaurus"?

That should be fine since it's basically the same as just plain "Stegosaurus," right?

Fine, fine. I can live with that, I suppose. Oh, whoops. Almost burned the meat.

Someone set the table while I finish up here.

？！

Yes, sir! Senpai and I'll set the table right away!

？！

Mmm, this is really good.

Man, everything tastes better grilled! Meat, fish, veggies, you name it!

I thought these were bananas, but they're not sweet at all. They taste more like yams than anything.

And they're absolutely delicious when paired with this meat. My compliments to the chef. Three stars.

Wh-why thank you...I think.

Mmmmmm! Everything's so good I can't stand it!

Now this is what I call buonissimo!

You know, I had this thought back when I was alive too, but not even pirates can survive on rum alone.

There should be a cook or two on every ship worth its sails.

Actually, now that I think of it, I believe I did employ a French cook at one point. Can't remember his name, though.

This is great. It's way tastier than the jerky I used to live on back when I was adventuring.

？！

(Munch, munch) I know what you mean, Master.

(Munch) I feel the same way. I even prefer to have rice with oden.

I couldn't get ahold of rice for this expedition. You'll just have to make do without it.

How about you? Aren't you going to have anything?

No thanks. All I need is my wielder's magical energy.

Now, now, don't be like that. It doesn't feel right to have only one person sitting at the table with an empty plate.

As long as you don't dislike what we're serving, you should make an effort to eat. Consider it a team-building activity.

Hmm...

Come on, Rengoku, eat with us. Eating meals together is so much fun!

...It is?

All right, I'll have some food, too, then.

Great! Here, I'll load up your plate for you!

Stop that! I can get my own food!

...Hm? What is it, Wielder? Why are you looking around like that?

Oh, I just remembered something. Master?

Is the Servant with the really cool swimsuit here, too?

？！

Yeah, what really cool swimsuit?

You know, the one we saw before.

She was dressed all in black, and she controlled these marvelous, mysterious magical words...

I wonder who it could be.

She was so cool that I just had to talk to her. She told me:

"You want to know my name? Very well, you may call me..."

"Schwarzwald Jeanne. Yeah, you can call me that. It's fine. I'll allow it."

？！

So she didn't come along then? That's too bad.

Um, are you aware that Schwarzwald is the name of a place?

It's so cool, isn't it?

You're very impressionable, aren't you, Wielder?

I see. I guess that altered saint girl's just at that age right now.

What age is that?

(I can relate.)

Here you go, Steggy. Veggies and fruit. Enjoy!

...Hey, Fujimaru?

Do you think I should teach Steggy proper table manners?

？！

Wait!

Whoa...

He really stopped.

Maybe he's smarter than we thought?

I thought dinosaurs were supposed to have been fairly unintelligent due to their tiny brains, but...

Hmm, I don't know.

These days, most scientists don't believe there's much of a correlation between brain size and intelligence.

Hmm.

Okay, Steggy, you can keep eating now.

Whoa, he's got quite the appetite, doesn't he? Guess it makes sense, since he's a newborn!

Fou fou...

Hey now, leave that bacon alone, fur ball. It's not a competition.

You should take a page from his...her? ...Um, the stegosaurus's book and eat more vegetables. Not to mention that's MY bacon you're chowing down on.

Fou.

He just outright ignored me! What's going on with the fur ball, Kyrielight!?

I know, it's great!

I'm so glad to see Fou's taken such a liking to you, Director!

I guess you could see it that way, if you squint hard enough!

Hehehe.

Looks like you've got some competition for the mascot position now, Fou.

Fooou!?

Oh, are you all done? There's a good boy.

Ahh, that was a good meal.

All right, I think it's only fair that today's field team takes care of the cleanup.

Whoa, that's so considerate of you. I wonder if all Greek guys are like this...

Oh, it's okay. We'll take care of it.

Oh no you won't. You guys just sit back and let us take care of it!

？！

All right, if you insist.

Da Vinci, would you keep taking care of Steggy?

Sure thing!

Okay, now that your tummy's nice and full, I guess you'll need a bed and a place to go to the bathroom, huh?

Steggy, come!

That's it! Right this way.

I'm still getting my head around all this, Senpai.

I've never seen Da Vinci so, um...excited before.

I mean, she was always bright and cheerful, of course, but...

？！

...Right. I do, too!

All right, a little magecraft to compress the food waste, and... There, all done.

All right, everyone, don't forget to freshen up and brush your teeth before you go to bed.

Servants don't need to sleep, but I guess it does help us feel more rested.

So which tent is for the men?

That one.

Though I won't be joining you there myself. I have my own, private tent.

Aww, no fair.

Man, I'm jealous...

It's completely fair! As the leader of this expedition, I am entitled to my own tent!

All right, all right.

I honestly expected you to just stroll right into the ladies' tent.

Hahahahaha.

Achilles, let's say I did go into the ladies' tent.

Okay.

They'd all see me there, right?

That's true.

And what turn do you think I'd die on?

The first. No Guts could bring you back from what they'd do to you.

Right? So when bedtime rolls around, this pirate's sticking strictly to the corner of the men's tent.

All right, but I don't know how well you'll fit. You're kind of a tall guy...

？！

Nice to have you here.

Hey, Master. Welcome to the squalid world of manly men!

It's too bad Astolfo, d'Eon, or the Prince of Lan Ling aren't here.

I'm sure they could've added a few more floral touches!

Eh, I don't mind. Least this way, we can just relax and take it easy.

So, these are our beds, huh?

Don't mind us, Master. You can just wear earplugs and call it a night whenever you want.

？！

...Yeah, I guess we can do that, at least on the first day. So, what do you want to talk about?

(Aw man, I have no idea what to talk about...)

How about...romance?

I'm good for that...but I'm worried it might make things awkward with the other Servants.

It would. It definitely would.

It would be hell in the truest sense of the word. At best.

No one else has to know as long as it doesn't leave this room! Er, tent!

...Yeah, no, I'd totally spill the beans if anyone grilled me.

Me too.

Same.

？！

All right, here's an idea for a topic that shouldn't get any of us into trouble: most hated weapon ever!

For me, it's the sling.

I still remember this one bastard who used his sling to throw everything but the kitchen aqueduct at me!

I can deal with spears and swords and stones. Those are all fair game.

But I almost blew my top when he started throwing Demonic Beast heads and entrails!

Yikes!

I guess...I'd say demonic swords.

No, actually, I think I hate all demonic weapons; spears, bows, axes, anything.

It's always a huge slog to figure out their deal, and you have to spend the whole time thinking out every detail.

Man, I'm glad I didn't run into Gáe Bolg or anything like that when I was alive.

If I had, I'd probably have been forgotten. Just another nameless hero.

How 'bout you, Blackbeard?

Gunpowder.

...Didn't you use to weave fuses into your beard?

Hey, I'm not like you guys, remember? If I get blown up with gunpowder, there's no coming back for me!

I hate it!

I'd rather face a good old blunt cutlass any day of the week!

I guess you've got a point... Gunpowder seems pretty dangerous, too.

Aw, don't be silly! You'd be fine! Just use your Guts to power through the blast!

What, you think Guts works on the power of positive thinking!? Well, it doesn't!

That's a good point!

？！

Come on in, Master!

Yes, please do! Would you like some cocoa?

？！

There you go. There's a good dinosaur.

Fou...fou...

You seem exhausted too, Fou. Here, get in the sleeping bag.

Fooou...

Nagooo... Nagooo...

？！

She was chatting up a storm not too long ago, but then she just...passed out.

Maybe she ran out of battery?

What is she, twelve!?

Look, Viy's sleepy too. He's already closed his eyes.

？！

True. You actually don't want to know what happens when he opens them.

That's a little Romanov humor. Laugh. You're supposed to laugh.

I'll be honest, Grand Duchessno, Anastasia: it wasn't very funny.

Oof.

That really hurts, coming from you. I mean, you're always so serious about everything.

Being straightforward and honest is kind of my thing. Not that it did me much good when I was alive!

...And that, was Corday humor.

Char, I'm going to be honest with you, too.

Neither of us is very good at telling jokes.

Gah.

I guess we both put the "brutal" in "brutal honesty"!

Exactly!

？！

Urk.

Say, Senpai? Since we still have some time before bed, would you like to play cards or something?

Ooh, that sounds like fun!

Can you deal us in too, then!?

You'd like to play too, right, Anastasia?

Sure. In fact, I've even got an idea to make it more exciting.

Let's make it so the loser has to confess an embarrassing secret.

？！

Hehehe... Hehehehe!

Nnn... Nnnnnn...!

Viy, I give you permission to use your X-ray Mystic Eyes.

How is that not cheating? Come on, just pick a card already!

I-I know, I know! ...Umm, this one!

Gaah!

Hehe, thanks for taking the old maid off my hands.

Curse you, Baba Yaga!

...Okay, Master, your turn.

That's it. Right this way...

？！

How did you know!?

You're being way too obvious. We can all tell when you're trying to trick us.

But how? I have the most perfect of poker faces!

Maybe, but because of that, just the slightest change in expression makes it easy to tell when you're feeling pleased...

I'm afraid you lost yet again, Anastasia...

Oh, very well.

Then here's my fourth embarrassing secret of the evening:

There exist pictures of me online wearing false teeth and making funny faces.

？！

Hehehehe. It's okay. You can laugh if you want...

Oh, that reminds me, Char.

Yes?

You seem like you're more of a stage magician than a Caster.

You're right, I am! I'm not actually sure how that happened, though.

Do you know any card tricks, then?

Hehe.

Okay, now that we're done playing, let me gather up the cards.

Next, I stack them nice and neat...

Shuffle the deck...

And presto chango, there are now cards flying every which way!

？！

Ehehe, this is so embarrassing...

Even though I know magic tricks now, I'm still just as clumsy as ever.

At least I can do them consistently in battle, though. Maybe the pressure helps?

Hold on. Then, does that mean those magic tricks you do during combat are

Yes. Even I don't understand how I'm able to perform them. It's very strange, isn't it?

That...doesn't inspire a lot of confidence...

No, it doesn't...

？！

Thank you, Master!

It's eleven, so we should probably get to bed.

Agreed. Good night, everyone.

Good night.

Night.

Good night, Senpai.

？！

Oh, hey, Fujimaru. What're you doing up?

？！

You too, huh? Hehe.

Me, I was just too excited. Not to mention Steggy here kept bleating.

？！

I know, right? Hehe. Everything about him is just adorable.

I never would have guessed he was actually a Holy Grail.

How much do you know about dinosaurs, Fujimaru?

I see, I see. I'm not surprised. There's just something inherently fascinating about them, isn't there!?

Really?

Would it help if I gave you a quick rundown on stegosauruses then?

？！

You sure?

Okay, no problem. You can always look them up in the library once we get back to Chaldea.

？！

Not at all! Okay, here are the highlights.

Over a hundred million years ago, dinosaurs were the planet's dominant life-forms.

These massive reptiles ruled everything, land, sea, and sky.

There were plenty of differences between species of course, but never mind that for now.

Anyway, stegosauruses, whose name means "tiled lizard," were one such species. Their suborder, Stegosauria, is even named after them.

See these plates sticking out of its back? Those are the "tiles" in the name.

？！

Well, no. They're actually not nearly as durable as they look.

That's part of why paleontologists today believe stegosauruses probably used these plates to regulate their body temperatures.

No, their real weapon was back here.

Once they mature a bit, they begin growing spiky spines on their tails.

That's what they used to fight.

Apparently, their bodies developed low to the ground to help them eat low-growing foliage.

And they lived in herds to better ward off attacks from carnivorous dinosaurs.

Of course, no matter how fearsome dinosaurs may have been in their heyday, it did nothing to prevent their extinction.

It could've been the huge asteroid that struck the earth back then, or the resulting drop in temperature it caused.

Incidentally, the asteroid causing the extinction event impacted the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico...

...which isn't too far away from the Caribbean Sea we're in right now.

Anyway, when it fell, that was the beginning of the end for the dinosaurs.

Not long afterwards, they all disappeared, and early primatesyour ancestorstook over as the dominant species.

？！

That's right, Steggy. I was just talking about you. There, there.

...Hmm, I wonder. Does the fact that you're alive now mean you have living parents somewhere, too?

Or...are you the only one of your kind in all the world?

Hehehe. I wish I knew what you were saying.

I can tell you're a major cutie-pie, but that's it!

？！

Hmm, I don't know.

Even if we could use magecraft to communicate with him...I don't think we'd really be able to understand him.

I mean, he's still a newborn. I'm not sure he can think about anything besides his immediate needs.

Ooh, but I understood THAT!

Hehe, you're getting sleepy, aren't you?

？！

Yeah. Besides, we've got a busy day of searching for the second treasure ahead of us tomorrow.

Good night, Fujimaru. Sweet dreams!