3: The Alliance Strikes Back (I) 2/4

A doujin battle between the Normalization Committee and the Anti-ServantFes Alliance?

Aw man. I thought we were gonna go to war, not compete to see who made the more popular doujin.

What's wrong with that? A popularity contest's just what we need! Man, this reminds me of all the fights I got inta with the Utagawa school!

So, the committee wants to fight this battle not with force, but through ServantFes itself... How very like them.

Yeah. It's rare for rulers to recognize rebel elements as foes on equal footing. These conditions seem pretty fair, too.

Did you hear that, Senpai!? It sounds like everyone's on board with this plan!

Well yeah! Nothing but the best of the best here!

All right then, does that mean we can count on you to have doujin ready for the finale in five days?

Ahahahahaha!!!

Not a chance.

I guess we've stumbled right out of the gate... Well, I suppose less stumbled than fell flat on our faces.

Well, they do make a good point. I get where they're coming from.

Honestly, I don't see how they could hope to beat Yaraändoo's obvious passion for the...Altria genre when they're totally unfamiliar with it themselves.

(Yikes. These people are all so experienced with making doujin, and they're still intimidated by Yaraändoo's book? Just how good IS it?)

Is there really that much of a difference? I would think any book singing my king's praises would be a masterpiece.

Hell yeah there's a difference. Every creator's got their own strengths and weaknesses, right?

I mean, just imagining an Avenger like me making a book about King Ar

Shit. That's just crazy enough to work. And the thought alone made me throw up in my mouth a little.

I'm pretty sure any club would be happy to try their hand at making an Altria book...

...but making one exclusively about a pure and virtuous King Arthur is a whole other can of worms.

All right, the shock's worn off and I'm done playing with crabs on the beach.

Sooo, now Blackbeard and I are gonna go back to the hideout and see if we can't figure out another way to beat Yaraändoo.

You've got your own stuff to do, right, Fujimaru? Well, let us know if you make any headway. C'mon, Blackbeard.

A brainstorming session, is it? Then I suggest we visit Hawaii's otaku holy land: the Ala Moana Center!

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No, we've been walking all day, so you should take an hour or so to rest at the beach.

I'll go ask around and see what I can find out in the meantime.

When I get back, let's fill Mash and Lancelot in on our real mission!

Real mission? What is she talking about, Senpai?

I'll be damned. I remember hearing you had a duty to fulfill back at the hotel...

...but I never would have guessed it involved stolen ServantFes authority and a Singularity that could threaten all of human history if left unchecked.

I am truly ashamed of my behavior thus far.

I know I used For Someone's Glory at the airport to match the tropical atmosphere, but from here on, I will treat this mission with the utmost seriousness.

So that's why we didn't hear BB's usual excited announcements this time.

In that case, I can definitely understand why the Normalization Committee would be a suspect.

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Yes, you could say that. I visited their headquarters once when they tried to recruit me.

See that big building over there on the coast? That's the Normalization Committee's HQ.

The exterior may be distinctive, but the inside is just a typical office building. Everyone who works there was really nice, too.

So, while I feel kind of bad for the alliance saying this, the committee just doesn't strike me as bad people.

If that's how you feel, Mash, then trust yourself. Never feel bad for following your gut.

Besides, I agree. I sense nothing evil from that building whatsoever.

...Thank you, Lancelot.

Still, I can't just forget about the alliance and the committee's competition.

I just hope someone can come up with a good idea that will let them venture into an unknown genre... Hm?

Do you know that person over on the beach, Senpai?

They've been watching us for a while now.

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Uh, sorry, you mistook me for someone else. Anyway, I need to get going now, so

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...Ugh. I only meant to stop by this side for a little while. Of all the luck, running into you here.

Well, at least Altria isn't here now, so I guess that's good. All right, I guess the jig is up then.

Hi there, everyone! It's me, Oberon the Faerie King, appearing incognito!

Gosh, don't you just love summer? It's great. All this heat really makes you feel different. It even makes ice pops taste better.

Oh, this? It's a cheap melon bar I bought at that shop over there. You can have some if you like☆

I'm surprised to see you here too, Oberon. I thought you hated summer.

Hm? Who told you that?

Summer is the season when life shines brightest. Even the insects have been looking forward to this festival for a long time.

As the king of the faeries, I'd never publicly declare that I hate it...

...Oh, wait. Was it Morgan? She's not exactly my biggest fan.

Well, that's okay. No need to trouble myself about clearing up the misunderstanding.

More importantly, I overheard you talking about something pretty unsettling. Something about this Singularity being a threat?

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Hmm. Work, eh? So that's why you're here.

Man, you just can't catch a break, can you? It's downright bizarre how much trouble seems to love dogging your every step.

Well, I suppose it was fate that we ran into each other like this. I'm your friend, so it's only right that I help you out.

You said you were looking for a way to motivate these clubs, right? Then I might be able to offer some advice.

Really!?

Really. But first, let's have some fun☆

You know how a picture's worth a thousand words? Well, experiencing this for yourselves won't just be faster than listening to a lecture, it'll also be more fun!

Wow, you didn't even try to hold back. So this is how workaholics with no sense of humor fight...

Oh well. I guess this was always meant to be. The bigger a flower blooms, the faster it wilts...forever...

O-O-Oberon's Spirit Origin signal has vanished!

Why did you have to hit him with your Noble Phantasm so hard, Lancelot? Stupid, stupid father!

That can't be right. I'm sure I held back! Please, can we just forget this ever happened!?

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Huh?

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Aw, you figured it out? Man, you're no fun, Master of Chaldea.

Sorry about that, Mash, Lancelot. I was just jesting. As you can see, I'm totally fine. Thanks for holding back.

Still, you might be a little too earnest for your own good, Mash. Don't let any bad faeries deceive you next time.

Th-thank you... I'll be careful.

Hmm. When you say "bad faeries," do you mean like the one who attacked the city?

I believe she called herself "Cait Cú MikoCer."

Oh, yeah. I was only using faeries as an example, but I guess she is the biggest, baddest faerie around here, isn't she?

But, that's a different problem. Right now, you're wondering what to make for ServantFes, right?

Right. Everyone says they don't know what to draw because they're so unfamiliar with this genre.

Oh, there's nothing hard about it. They're all just taking it far too seriously, not unlike you often do, Mash.

This code restriction isn't limited to a focus on King Arthur of Britain. It just has to be about Altria, right?

Then all you have to do is explore all the possibilities. Come up with all sorts of different hypotheticals.

Like, what if she had stayed a squire instead of becoming king? What if she were reincarnated as a modern-day mage?

Just take what you think would be fun and try it with Altria.

Take the faeries who were just talking to me. You don't have to really dig deep and try to find some "real truth" behind Altria.

Though of course, if you have any clubs that love doing deep dives into their subjects, you don't have to stop them.

My point is, people should be free to create whatever they like. As long as it's not baselessly slandering or defaming anyone, of course.

Oh, but maybe keep Shakespeare out of this. He'd just go right back to picking fights with Jeanne d'Arc!

I see... So we should think about this theme as an anthology, rather than having to focus exclusively on original works.

...

Just explain that to the clubs; I'm sure they'll understand. I could even talk to them myself, if you like.

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Well, that's a strange question. Do you really need to know that now?

Even so, it's very like you to ask. Okay, since you won our battle, I guess I can tell you.

I see ServantFes as a way of continuing tales after they've ended. To make failed dreams come true in new and different ways.

Just imagine a true never-ending story. Who wouldn't want that? The only problem is, it's so bright I can't quite get close to it.

Hi guys! I'm back! And I didn't have much luck!

Oh? Did something happen while I was gone? Mash looks much more optimistic, Lancelot seems lost...

...and you seem incredibly conflicted about something, Fujimaru.

Oh, no, we're fine. We just ran into a kind stranger who helped show us a way forward.

He suggested we...

Oh, okay. So you don't just have to stick to King Arthur then. As long as Altria shows up, it still follows the rules!

Right. It may still not be anything goes, but I think this gives us a fighting chance.

Indeed. For example, we could make a story about the King of Knights who is also a socialite, a noblewoman, and a casino owner.

Well, I suppose a version of her like that already exists, but still.

Y-you don't say... A socialite Altria, huh...?

The time has come. The alliance must strike while the iron is hot!

Let's head back to the Chunchun-tei right now!

We'll tell everyone this new idea, and help them create lots of wonderful Altria books to share with the world!

Huh? That's what you're talking about? Um, were you always like this, Mash?

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