Section 5: The Galactic Meteor Appears in Arctic Summer World!

I can't believe I convinced myself to get off the ship again...

What's more, I'm still trying to process the bomb you three new Valkyries dropped on me.

Are you, um...are you positive about what you said?

I'm afraid so!

Fou! Fooou!

？！

Why me...?

This area is only notable for its castle.

It wasn't originally designed with its own ways of earning revenue.

R-really? Then, um, does that mean

There's nothing we can do to increase sales here?

That can't be!

N-no fair! How're we supposed to break this area's seal if there's no way to reach its sales goal!?

Now we'll never be able to get to that tower!

...

It's much too soon to give up.

There are still plenty of things you should try before you become so overwhelmed that you can no longer act.

Am I wrong, my sisters?

Ah...

H-huh? No way. You're kidding me. Isn't that...?

Playing voice file from synchronized records. Match found. Playing voice file from synchronized records. Exact match.

Voice match confirmed. Target designation...

I will say it once more. It's too soon to give up just yet, my sisters.

I know we Valkyries are prone to despair, but we needn't be slave to it now that we are Heroic Spirits.

I myself had to learn that very lesson.

You have your Master here, and many other Servants who are willing to help you.

Surely you can't yet say you have tried everything you can.

Isn't that right?

？！

!!!

Sister...Brynhild...?

H-huh? I... I...

What!?

!?!?!?

Sister Brynhild!

You came! Oh...am I glad to see you, Sister!

And of course, wherever my beloved goes, I go, too.

What's more, I have a surefire plan to break the seal!

？！

？！

"One of"? You mean there's more than one?

？！

...Achoo!

Bless you.

Bless me? Oh, right. People say that nowadays to ward off evil spirits, don't they.

You know, Kriemhild, in the Far East, some believe we sneeze when others are talking about us behind our backs.

Huh, is that so?

Well, I suppose I must get a lot of that, since I stand out even among all of Chaldea's other heroes.

That is true! We are one of a pair of couples now!

Never mind that now, though. Attention, my beloved's newly arrived sisters.

As I said, I have a plan! Please, just hear what I have to sa

...

All units, beginning combat synchronization.

Sensory linkage. Spatial detection...prepare for high-mobility combat. Prepare to deploy.

Huh?

Sisters!

Their magical energy readings are rising... No, they've become completely hostile now! Senpai!

The three new Valkyries mean to kill Sigurd!

According to legend...

...Brynhild, eldest of the Valkyries, was betrothed to Sigurd, the great hero of Scandinavia.

I know we often see them being romantic around Chaldea, but that is itself a greater miracle than you might realize...

...because in the legend, the two lovers came to a truly tragic end.

In essence, the Valkyries, who adore their elder sister, still see Sigurd as their mortal foe.

I've heard Chaldea's Valkyries used to treat him the same way.

Not seeing a peaceful solution here. Stand back, Master!

So you want us to go easy on them? Got it!

No killing! Got it!

？！

...Brynhild, my beloved, you should join your sisters.

The best thing I can do now to heal this rift is bear the brunt of their anger with my body.

But if you stand at my side, they won't be able to unleash the fullness of their rage upon me.

So please, my beloved. Let me do this on my own.

Sigurd...

...All right. Then just for now, I'll stand with them.

Are you freaking kidding me!?

I, uh, guess that makes a kind of sense. Not gonna make our job any easier, though!

Forgive me, my friend! I promise I will take everything they have on my own!

So please, let me do this!

Ugh, fine. If you're gonna be that insistent, I guess we'll just have to go along with it!

Rindr.

Ölrún.

Geirskögul.

It's been so long. I'm so happy you still care for me so deeply.

So come, let us fly together. Just like old times.

Yes, Sister!

Commencing high-mobility combat. Objective: Kill Sigurd!

Understood!

I'm fine!

Are you sure!?

My beloved's love shines through in all she does, which is why I can take whatever she gives me!

Oh, Sigurd...

Are you...sure you're okay? Really, really sure?

Hahahaha! Love keeps me on my feet!

Wow! Now that's some love!

Man, love is scary...

？！

He's strong!

And he's still not fazed, even with Sister on our side!

Damn. I don't think there's anything more we can do. So this is his true strength...

...There we go.

Have you calmed down now, little sisters?

？！

...Yes. We feel better now that we've gotten that out of our systems.

We understand now that we Valkyries can't possibly kill him.

How could we? Sister Brynhild fell for him...

No wonder he became such a great hero!

I hate to admit it, but it's true.

I couldn't understand before how the other three Valkyries didn't seem to have a problem with him, but now I get it.

We can't kill him.

Yup. It's just not possible!

I see we didn't even have to synchronize to come to the same conclusion. Oh well.

We won't just automatically go into combat mode anymore.

Sigurd, Master of Chaldea, we're sorry about this.

Looks like the battle is over!

Yeah. I'm glad nobody died.

I'll say. Hehe, this is great. Brothers and sisters SHOULD get along.

...Yeah.

Good, you're finally done. Now, what were you saying before, Sigurd?

You mentioned something about having a surefire plan, correct?

That I did. And I do. In particular, I have a plan to reach this area's sales quota.

First, take a look at the area in front of the castle gates.

？！

That's right. Just look at how much space there is here in front of the Arctic Demonic Ice Castle. One could certainly call it a public square if they wished.

Now, what might we do with all this space?

Um...

There's something we Heroic Spirits can do with this space right now, and it's guaranteed to draw in customers.

I'm of course talking about...

A hero show!

Here's the plan.

We will put on a hero show at the public square in front of the castle gate. It's guaranteed to attract customers.

Sales won't only come from the show, though. We'll also set up plenty of stands to give customers more things to buy.

That's the long and short of it!

Damn! Love that confidence! I think it's a pretty solid plan.

Is that all it will require? While we're on the subject, what exactly does a hero show entail, anyway?

Hm, how can I explain...? Think of it as a theatrical performance.

Action, fantastical heroes who're popular with kids...

Actually, I think some adults enjoy these kinds of shows too.

I see.

I still don't really get it, but nothing that involves heroes could be bad!

(Imagining)

...Yes, I think this might just work. I suppose this sort of thinking is part of why you became a great hero.

Then I guess that just leaves the question of what exactly the show should involve.

Even with humanity currently bleached away, we should probably still avoid any blatant copyright infringement.

Which means this would have to be an original story, correct?

Indeed it would. Fortunately, I already know what role I will play.

...Hehe.

？！

I think...I could pull off a part like that, too... Hehehehe!

Woah, that's scary!

(How can Sister be so cool?)

(Everything she does is pure awesome!)

Are we sure this is a good idea? We want to entertain our customers, not terrify them!

W-well...setting that aside for now, since it looks like Brynhild and Sigurd have the villainous roles covered...

...I think the Valkyries may make for perfect mooks.

Yes, I think so, too.

Mooks? What do you mean? Wait. You know what he's talking about, Ortlinde?

I don't see that information synched to our database. Ortlinde?

Oh, uh, it's nothing sinister. I just happened to see some visual records in Chaldea's library last week, so...

Oh, did you now?

If one of you already gets it, then I'll let her explain to the others. Anyway, this should take care of the bad guys.

But now... Hmm... Who should play the all-important hero?

Oh?

Oh, I know who you mean! That's a great idea, Senpai!

？！

？！

You think so?

There were a bunch of them in the first area. One of us should run down there and see if we can bring some here!

Sounds like a job that'll require a lot of stamina. I'll go!

Come on, Aned!

Bowwow!

Hang on. I'm coming, too. I also want to stop by Raikou's area first.

Um... Oh, I see! You want to talk to Murasaki Shikibu!

Yup. She's a Rider now, right? So if we can borrow her Noble Phantasm, that'd make bringing the stands back here real easy.

Not to mention if we're gonna do this, we might as well have 'em sell those hot spring manjyu here, too.

You're right! That's a great idea!

Okay Master, see you later!

...Hmm?

Something smells really good here. Ooh, what's this?

Aha, I see. Squid skewers in the North Pole, huh? Very nice.

Hehe. Now this is what I call a summer food stand!

Curry in an everlasting summer... Squid in the North Pole... Everything's special in its own way.

Take seafood, for instance. I never used to like itespecially octopus...

...but strangely enough, I tried my very first squid skewer the other day and it really hit the spot.

This aroma... It feels like it's launching a direct attack on my empty stomach... It even sailed right through my Anti-Enforcement DEF!

And it's all because my salary still hasn't been wired to my Space Bear Bank account!

Damn the Galactic Police Accounting Department's negligence! They can't even be bothered to pay me on time in this universe, let alone all the others in the multiverse where I'm due for a paycheck!

And for that matter...

...how come I still have the same job even though it's a different season!?

There she is, Senpai! It's XX!

Well I'll be. The food stands really did lure her here... But that's one heck of a grim backstory she's got!

S-still, I see what you're getting at here. She's a true hero, in profile and Spirit Origin both!

Well done, Fujimaru!

？！

You got it!

Hey there, (obviously exhausted) girl. Nice summer we're having, isn't it?

Oh, hey.

Running into each other like this... It must be fate, huh? How 'bout it? Want a squid skewer?

Huh? You mean it!?

I bought two by mistake. I can't eat 'em both, and it'd be a waste to let the second one go cold.

Taking skewers from strangers probably isn't the best idea, but it WOULD be a waste to let a good skewer go cold!

Don't mind if I do, then!

Enjoy.

(OM NOM NOM NOM)

Ahhh. Man, I love squid skewers!

That perfect mouthfeel... The overflowing umami... The aroma of lightly toasted soy sauce...!

I almost never see any squid in space, but even if I did, they wouldn't hold a candle to these delicious Earth squid!

？！

They sure are! ...Wait. You're

？！

Wh-what're you talking about!?

Wait. Is this entrapment!? Are you trying to trick me into working!?

How could you drag a poor, innocent hero like me into this mess over one admittedly precious squid skewer!?

C'mon, don't be like that. Just hear me out. We'll buy you another squid skewer!

？！

...I'm listening.

Man, when you get down to business, you really get down to business.

Hehehe.

Listen up, guests of Summer World! I am Deathsword Fire!

I am a remnant of both Dark R.O.U.N.D.S. and Space Shinkageryu, two of the most evil forces in all the Servantverse!

I found myself on this ancient planet in the remote reaches of the Servantverse...

...where I discovered a long-sealed demon, who I then freed!

Come to me, Demon Chainsaw Girl!

Chaaainsaaaw.

Come to me, my automated combat machines...the Evilkyries!

Eeevilkyrrriiies.

Eeevilkyrrriiies.

E-eek! Bad guys from the Servantverse! What do we do!?

Come on, kids! I need your help! Let's summon a great hero to kick some bad guy butt!

All together now... Help us, Heroine XX!

Mysterious Heroine XX!

Mysteriously Mysterious Heroine XX!

You're actually enjoying this? Guess you really are as childish as you look.

It's exciting! I saw something like this on Day-Day TV before!

(Well, I suppose I can't only focus on pure beauty for them. A dumbed down kiddy show with obvious good guys and bad guys might be a nice change of pace.)

(Besides, how would you ever recognize high art unless you've experienced low art as well. So, I'm going to make sure they experience the whole emotional spectrum!)

Are those children's voices I hear on that distant frontier planet?

This must be a job for...the Galactic Police!

Mysterious Heroine XX is here to save the day! Hyaaah!

Avalon, suited up! You have the right to choose your method of execution!

So cooooool!

So exciting! So cool!

(Huh? They really think THAT'S cool?)

(All right then, just like we rehearsed! Let's go!)

(Right on!)

Chainsaaaw!

...Well done. Well done, Galactic Police. Your brutality has left us no choice but to retreat.

Fall back, Demon Chainsaw Girl! Fall back, Evilkyries!

Eeevilkyrrriiies.

Faaall baaack.

Galactic justice is North Pole justice! Evil cannot hide in the Arctic Circle!

Sh-she did it, everyone! Summer World is saved!

Thank you, Mysterious Heroine XX!

Thanks!

Thanky thanky!

That was a huge success, Senpai! You drew a huge crowd, and they all loved it!

The food stands are doing great too! It shouldn't take you long to hit your quota if you keep this up!

The space effects being done so well sure helped make it something everyone could enjoy!

Thanks for your help, um, Merlin's...little sister, right?

That's me: Merlin's, and indeed everyone's, little sister. (Sigh) And here I was supposed to be on breaker, Douman guard duty.

But, if all you needed were a few illusions to provide the special effects, I suppose that wasn't much to ask for.

？！

I second that. Those special effects were amazing!

They were, weren't they? Anyway, don't worry about it.

That hero was one of the...erm, Altrias, right? Anyway, it was fun helping her out. It felt a bit like aiding my king.

All right, now that the show's over, I'm heading back to the ship. Besides, I don't want to keep Gareth waiting too long since I had her trade places with me.

Bye now!

All right everyone, prepare to move on to the next phase of our plan!

As soon as we reach the target sales number, the seal should be broken, and the castle gates will open.

Once they do, we're going to head inside and take Scáthach-Skadi into custody!

？！

We can't let her overexert herself any longer! Not on Goredolf Musik's watch!

The castle gates are opening!

I'm only seeing one magical energy signal inside. No sign of hostiles.

I believe Scáthach-Skadi is the only one there!

？！

Yeaaah!

...So, you've come.

？！

Aha, now I gotcha. Last time I saw you in that outfit, I figured it was just your loungewear or something.

It's actually helping you conserve magical energy though, isn't it?

... ...

Wow! I never thought of glasses as a thing that could help you conserve magical energy!

？！

Oh come now. Divine Spirit or not, there's no way just putting on glasses could help her do that!

Just because someone SOUNDS confident when they say something doesn't mean they're right!

...That's right. This outfit is a bit more comfortable for me.

(Wait, what?)

Perhaps it's the constant stress of it, but I do tend to use more magical energy when I'm in my more revealing Ascension.

(Is that really a thing? I-is she sure it's not all just in her head?)

Please, Lady Skadi, stop this!

Please stop trying to preserve this Singularity for eternity. All six of us are begging you.

If you keep pushing yourself like this, you'll disappear forever!

All that will be left when you're gone is a Singularity with magical energy that's all out of whack!

Yeah, and that's the opposite of what you're going for!

Please, Lady Skadi! Just forget about this Singularity already!

I understand where you are all coming from. You're right.

I know that there is nothing to be gained from digging in my heels here.

But, even so, I... I can't bear to lose another worl

Senpai!

...His vital signs are crashing! Please help him, Asclepius!

...You're giving me a Holy Grail?

Indeed. That is what she desires.

Ah, and to be clear, "she" does not refer to the Foreign God.

Please don't think otherwise.

Now, although she obtained a Holy Grail...

...her heart is a tad too...elevated to create a proper human paradise.

That is why she ordered me to find someone who truly loves people.

No, to find someone who doesn't just love them, but who feels as they feel.

It took me the better part of a year to find a suitable candidate, but find her I did!

Scáthach-Skadi! Goddess of a Lostbelt! Lover of humankind! A rare example of a divine being absent even a hint of cruelty!

Or perhaps that is your temperament as a god from Scandinavian mythology?

Well, no matter. I don't actually care either way.

At any rate, Lady Scáthach-Skadi...you are the one who deserves to wield this Arctic Holy Grail.

B-but...what about Chaldea? If I make a Singularity, that would be

Bad for Chaldea? That it would. However!

The Chaldeans are themselves the last remnants of humanity. There are precious few left. What of their happiness?

Well...

Do you know what else she said?

"If the world is to disappear, we can just make a new one."

!!!

If the world is to disappear...we can just...make a new one?

Indeed.

... ...

...This worldProper Human History, is not the world I call home, but...

...I see. So whoever this person is, that is what they wished to say to me.

They are saying that this world...will be lost!

Then...yes! I cannot stand idly by!

Bring me the Holy Grail!

As you wish.

Now...

Go on, goddess! Go on, queen! Use the blank canvas of the far north to paint an eternal summer paradise!

Yes, Chaldea will surely attempt to interfere! They may even erase it before hardly any time has passed!

But even so, you must stand strong, as though you were prepared to hold your ground forever!

For who could blame you for wishing for eternal, everlasting peace!?

Eternal...summer...

Did you hear that, Holy Grail!?

Now grant the summer goddess's wish!

...Master?

Whoa there. You okay, Master?

Ah... We're too late.

No problem at all.

N-not at all!

？！

You don't seem like you're doing too bad... What do you think, Doctor?

He experienced a temporary flux in his magical energy, but his readings appear to have stabilized.

Dammit, Master, don't worry us like that.

I can confirm his vitals look fine on our end as well!

S-so you're all right?

？！

？！

!!!

I see. So you dreamed of Skadi's memories. Such things only happen between a Master and his contracted Heroic Spirit.

Then did you see the real mastermind behind all this? The Holy Grail's true owner?

Trivial matters.

The mastermind. The Holy Grail's true owner.

Far too trivial to concern yourselves with!

Mmnmm, much too trivial!

？！

Lady Skadi, are you saying that you did not, in fact, desire this summer paradise in the North Pole from the bottom of your heart?

No. No, I refuse to believe that, Lady Skadi. You wanted this very much indeed.

And is that not all that matters? Who cares about trifling things like where the Holy Grail came from?

He's not in his yukata!? A-and I thought Lady A was keeping an eye on him!

Something's not right. I didn't sense his presence at all. What're you pulling here, Douman?

？！

Yes?

？！

I did.

？！

？！

First, let me pose a question of my own, Master. In fact, I would like to ask it of all of you.

Mmnmm, is it my imagination, or is not one of you surprised to see me here?

I see. So at least a few of you are indeed surprised.

Well I, for one, am most certainly taken aback! I have been looking forward to this moment for quite some time!

This is your second time pulling this kind of thing during summer, isn't it? You never learn, do you?

Oh, I'm well aware. That is, in fact, precisely why I am doing this.

Last time, I lacked a summer outfit of my own! It was that very chagrin which drove me to act once again!

Mmnmm! I thought, as I am wearing a different outfit, the second time wouldn't count! Or, so I hoped.

Do you not think we've had more than our fill of your absurd laugh by now? Unlike you, I DO learn, so I came prepared.

What!?

I am no master of magecraft, but Circe and Medea gave me a little something, so I needn't be.

Now stay put and stay quiet while we put you in your place. Last year it was a jar, as I recall? What should it be this year?

Oh my. This is quite the impressive spell indeed.

Not even a priest onmyouji of my caliber could hope to break free from this.

...Which is exactly why I will be taking my leave now. Until next time!

Aah! Did he just explode into a puff of smoke!?

And he left a bunch of candy behind, too! Ah! Stop that, Aned! Those aren't for you!

Bowwow!

So he was literally stuffed with candy...? Was...was he using a piñata puppet?

A puppet... Dammit, that's different from his usual shikigami shtick! Ugh. How aggravating!

So you expected his betrayal, but he expected you expecting his betrayal...

I guess this means he was a step ahead of us. He is a bit more experienced with deceit.

...Tch.

Dammit! I can't believe he got one over on me!

Hmm...

Something's been nagging at me. He didn't seem quite like his usual wicked self.

So...are we certain Douman is the mastermind here?

？！

？！

？！

？！

...That's true.

Back when he was Limbo, he was so excited about even the most menial task that he'd keep laughing that stupid laugh of his...

This time, he didn't seem quite as excited. Though, I suppose that is a rather fine distinction to be making.

So not even you can tell the difference for sure. I guess that means you're no longer a Douman expert?

Well, even I could tell something was off. He didn't seem like...like his heart was in it, I guess?

And then there's the whole "mmnmm" thing. He didn't say "mmmmm." He said "mmnmm."

What?

Huh?

So I wasn't hearing things then? He actually said "n"?

That's right! He said "n"!

...Hehe.

Hehe. Hehehehehehehehe.

Ahh, you are all such a strange lot. I'm quite impressed.

... ...

Ashiya Douman, huh? I was once overwhelmed by the force of whoever it is that stands behind him.

Even if they were taking advantage of a moment of weakness, they still managed to overwhelm me, a god.

So before one capable of such a feat as that...

Hehe. "N," huh. I see! "N!" Hehe, hehehehehe!

？！

...Right.

What a brave young man you've become, Fujimaru. Or perhaps you were always this way.

Regardless, I admit defeat. You are free to do as you wish with me. The Singularity as well.

Lady Skadi

Wh-what was that!?

Aah! The castle doors were just thrown open! Someone's headed this way at an incredible pace!

Caster Cú Chulainn informed me there was a medical emergency here!

Where's the patient!?

(Locking on)

(Flinching)

Patient located. Doctor!

What is it, Nurse?

Oh, hello, Doctor. I'm sorry, I meant the other doctor.

Hello.

Paracelsus. I see. So you and the nurse have been running this Singularity's medical program?

We have indeed. Congratulations on joining the team. As of now.

Hm?

Dr. Asclepius! Please give us a hand.

I-I can't move! How is she so strong!?

As there is a patient in need of urgent care here, this place will have to serve as a temporary medical facility.

I trust that's all right with you?

...Yes. Good idea.

I-I'm fine, really. I have just lost some magical energy, that's all.

Magical energy? I have no time for occult nonsense! The patient is already in a debilitated state, I see.

Just maintaining her Spirit Origin is taking all of her focus and effort. She needs complete rest to recover. Prep the patient for magical energy transfusion.

Understood. I'll get started right away.

You heard the nurse, Master! I'm staying here!

？！

I'll stay too. I'll do anything you need: nursing, errands, odd jobs, whatever.

Me too! I wanna help!

So you both want to be nurses as well? All right, then. Hurry up and get changed!

I'm staying too!

Me too.

...Rindr, Ortlinde. I'd like you two to go with Master and help put an end to this.

And Ortlinde, don't hesitate to sync up with us in battle. We'll always relieve you if necessary, even if we have to do so remotely.

Okay!

...All right. Take good care of Lady Skadi, okay?

I hate to ask this of you, Yan Qing, but I'm counting on you to take care of Douman.

You got it!

All right, then for the time being, we'll let the medical Heroic Spirits look after Skadi.

The rest of us will set off to break the last two seals and reach that tower first thing tomorrow morning!

？！

Yeaaah!