Section 4: Critical Tourist City, Babylon (1/2)

What a glorious city! I can see why you're so proud of it, Lady Nero!

This is NOT my city.

It's definitely a surprise, that's for sure.

This is not the kind of surprise I intended.

？！

Stop. Stop immediately or I will start crying! Is that what you want!? I am warning you, once I begin sulking, I become incredibly high-maintenance!

She said, as if she weren't already...

Ugh, how blind can you be!? Do you not see that Lady Nero being high-maintenance is one of the most adorable things about her!?

Ohhh, great. You're one of THOSE fans.

Seriously though, what's going on here? How'd the Seventh Singularity become a tropical tourist trap?

There is only one explanation. The Floor Guardian must be behind this.

？！

Accursed king! How dare he malign me!

He will pay dearly for this! I will tear him limb from limb!

But Lady Nero, where is this Floor Guardian, anyway?

If this Floor Guardian truly is the King of Babylon, he should be in the grand ziggurat's throne room...

You think that's it?

It's gotta be.

Why that insolent little...! Come, Fujimaru!

？！

Hell yeah! Let's raid the bastards who messed with our turf and throw 'em into the Babylonian Gulf to feed the Sea Fiends!

Hello there. Welcome to Hotel Ziggurat.

I'm so sorry. I'm afraid we're fully booked at the momen

Who made this city!? Tell me!

Gaah!

Quiet, please! We can't have you disturbing our other guests!

Hahahaha! I'm gonna turn you all into a mushroom seedbed!

Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to calm down! Ma'am!?

Man, the mushroom witch here's kinda a loose cannon, isn't she?

Aaah! Look out, men! These women are crazy! Stop theeem!

Crap, there's a shit ton of them! Dammit! C'mon, Master, let's do this!

What's all this racket? What's going on here?

Owner!

So, you must be the Floor Guardian.

Today was supposed to be my day off... Good grief.

Nebuchadnezzar II? ...No. You are

？！

So, you've come, Chaldean. And I see you're once again caught up in some absurd nonsense.

Well, don't expect me to bail you out. This may not be your fault, but you're still the instigator.

Even if another Chaldea is responsible for this mess, it's still only right that you be the one to clean it up.

Don't fret. Nothing in this latest mess is new to you. Just be your usual, idiotic self and all will be well.

Gilgamesh? What happened to Nebuchadnezzar II?

Ha. Nebuchadnezzar may be a fool of a king, but he's not so shameless as to stick around for this kind of nonsense.

Not that I'm happy about being stuck as a Floor Guardian either, mind you. Watching over dumb animals is a job for shepherds, not kings.

So you did this to Babylon? Are you mocking me!?

Of course I am, you fool!

What kind of ridiculous farce is this, Beast!? Are you trying to embarrass me to death!?

Wha... Wha...!?

...

The only way to respond to a farce is with one of your own. Now then... Fujimaru!

If you wish to free this floor's Incarnadine Demonic Beast, you will need to complete a mission of my choosing!

A mission?

Of course. And it will be completely pointless, meant to do nothing more than waste your time and aggravate you!

Guy doesn't mince words, does he?

I have to do something to offset my boredom. If nothing else, you can distract me by serving as my court jester.

If you are truly a worthy Master, Fujimaru, then you will teach that dumb Beast a new trick! The discussion is over!

？！

...

Hey, what's wrong with her? She hasn't said a word for a while now.

Maybe she has another headache? Lady Nero, would you like a mushroom?

...Are mushrooms good for headaches?

I looked it up on Servantgram.

...Without fact-checking it?

Oh, be quiet. I was simply so furious as to be at a loss for words.

Hey. These Servants are all here to defeat you, right?

Then what was all that? The Floor Guardian obviously wasn't taking any of this seriously.

Do not ask me! Believe me, I would like to know more than any of you!

？！

Regardless, if he is this level's Floor Guardian, then his rules are no doubt ironclad.

Which means our only hope of proceeding is clearing this mission.

Do these Floor Guardians really have that much authority? Where do they even get their magical energy from?

？！

The Spiral Proof World is vast. There is most likely something supporting this world besides the Holy Grail... And I think I know what it is.

It is probably my sealed Incarnadine Demonic Beast. That way, they can both deplete Sodom's Beast's power, and use it as a resource for this very Singularity.

Much as I am loathe to admit it, it does make sense. As such, it will be difficult indeed to free the Incarnadine Demonic Beast unless we obey his rules.

But how do we complete this mission of his then? I don't remember him even telling us what it was.

Hehe. That's where I come in!

Hm? Is that

Hey there, Big Brother! Long time no see! It's me, Lady Avalon, everyone's favorite little sister.

？！

What're you doing here?

Hmm?

I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong person. I'm quite sure you and I have never met before.

What're you talking about? We met at the same Chaldea. You're Mer

Lady Avalon.

Huh? But, you're Mer

I'm Lady Avalon. Everyone's favorite little sister, here from paradise.

Huh!?

Ah, screw it. Never mind. Master, this one's all you.

Are you tired? Want a toadstool?

Why would I want anything like that?

You know, in case you're tired of living.

If that ever happens, it'll be your fault.

Have you never heard of death as salvation? Come on, accept my poiser, love, already.

You're one of those complex villain types, aren't you?

The king gave you an impossible challenge to complete, right? At least, that's how it seems from the looks on your faces.

...

Oh? You're awfully quiet, little girl. Are you shy?

...What are you doing here, Beast of the Stars?

Hm? What are you talking about?

Are you mocking me too?

Where is the Beast-hunting sacred sword wielder? I am certain you brought him here to kill me.

No, I didn't. Why waste a perfectly good sacred sword on a Beast that's already lost its power?

Even I'm only a spectator this time around. I just happened to arrive at this Singularity before you.

But, I suppose I can at least show you around. Here, follow me.

Hey! I never agreed to this!

I do not have time to play with you now. I need to put paid to this nonsense as soon as possible, or

Now, now, Draco. You shouldn't try skipping to the end like that.

...What do you mean?

I mean that the finale is still a long ways off.

Surely you can take the time to enjoy a fleeting dream while it lasts, no?

Well, not that there's much difference between dreams and reality as far as I'm concerned!

？！

You know, Big Brother, I'm really glad you're my companion on this journey!