Chaldea Assorted Games Night! 3

So I can draw anything I want this time?

Works for me. I always do whatever I want, anyway. This won't be any different.

Hmm...

Ibaraki-Douji.

Hm?

Maybe there's a difference in degree, but I can tell you're lost as to what to draw.

It's because we're in the same boat you are. Right, Irs?

...I guess so. We weren't made for art and culture.

We're just Einherjar retrieval units the Allfather made, with combat abilities thrown in as well.

Even the apparent differences in our tastes can be chalked up to the margin of error.

If we made our synchronization even purer, we would all stop playing games by tomorrow.

What?

Hang on. You guys are some kind of dolls from a foreign land, right?

So...what? You all looking different is a lie? Not that I can tell either way, since humans and dolls all look the same to me.

...In a sense, yes.

At our core, we're all the same.

Any surface-level differences you see are minor, unimportant things.

So I can't help but wonder...

...if it's worth focusing on those inconsequential blips...

...just so we can take part in ServantFes.

...That so?

Honestly, I don't really get what it is you're talking about, but I can tell something's bothering you.

...Hmm. Nnnn, I don't like this.

I don't like knowing where things stand one damn bit!

This feels like...like when I first met him...

Met who?

Oh, I see. You mean "him," don't you?

You know who I'm talking about, Irs?

Well, he is right over there. Along with...Alcas, it looks like.

Huh!?!!

Tsuna!

... ...

And if Alcas is here, I'm guessing Master and Mash aren't far, either.

They're on to us, Senpai! It's Ibaraki-Douji, Ortlinde, and Irs!

Aww, so the jig's up already?

You're so mean, Ibaraki. I'm disappointed.

Since I took all that trouble to hide, I wanted to pop out when it would surprise you most.

Shuten! It's you! This is great! Now that you're here, let's go raid something!

We can pillage and rampage all we

...Hm?

Hey, Shuten.

Yes?

Why'd you come here with Tsuna?

You have to ask?

He's a man, I'm a woman. Sometimes we just have to give in to our urges, right?

Enough, Shuten-Douji. Even as a joke, that is

!

Tsunaaa!

You're dead!!!

...You see, Master? I told you bringing Shuten-Douji along would make things unpredictable at best.

？！

I will do my best.

Tsunaaa!

I think we have a chance to capture some very interesting combat data here! Let's help her out, Ortlinde!

Dammit, Irs!

(Huff... Huff...!)

Ibaraki-Douji is growing less hostile. I believe it's thanks to Shuten-Douji's intervention!

Fufu, done already?

I haven't had that much fun in a looong time. It's nice to see you get all worked up once in a while, Ibaraki.

... ...

Your magical energy reserves are severely depleted, Ibaraki-Douji. I don't think you can keep this up...

...Hmph.

That's it. I'm done. I can't go all out against Shuten, anyway.

Especially now that I've noticed Master's here, too!

Ugh, forget it! This is stupid! Did you think you could cheer me up without so much as a single sweet!?

Ibaraki-Douji's mood doesn't seem to have improved! What do we do now, Senpai!?

Huh? That's weird. I thought that fighting would fix things, like it did before.

Not this time. Instead of helping her remember what she likes through sheer physics, we just made her even madder.

That's weird.

？！

Ahhh. Did you say something, Master?

？！

...Ibaraki.

(Huff, huff, huff...) What!? You want to laugh at me for making a fool of myself!? Go on, then!

I heard what you're up to, at least in part.

...

They say you're making a book in collaboration with Lady Tomoe and the Valkyries.

I'm impressed. I could never do anything like that.

The only thing I know how to do is swing a sword.

H-hmph! Quit it with the cheap flattery!

Besides, if Ortlinde, Irs, and I can't figure out what game to write about...

...we might not be able to make another book anyway.

Hmm.

Well, in my opinion, you should just write about whatever game you feel like.

Just like that, huh? Hmph! The whole problem's that I don't KNOW what game I want to write about!

No?

No!

Well, then...what is a game you have played recently that you enjoyed?

W-well

Altriacraft?

Th-that's right. Ibaraki-Douji says it's the best game she's played in a while.

Makes sense. It WAS really well-made. I guess that's why Ozymandias is the King of Kings!

Huh, no kidding? Maybe I'll, like, give it a shot too.

Why don't you go visit him in his room then? You might have to contend with a bunch of the kid Heroic Spirits, though.

Hell yeah! I'll totes go!

What a relief. I was worried about Ibaraki-Douji, but it sounds like all is well now.

Ortlinde and Irs said they'll go with Altriacraft too.

So now, Ibaraki-Douji is going to continue her Altriacraft Picture Diary...

...and Ortlinde and Irs are going to write and illustrate an Altriacraft column!

At least, that's what they're planning as of now.

I can't say I'm surprised. But, that sounds like it should also work just fine.

There's no rule that says you can't still make a book about Altria just because the Altria-only restriction is no longer in place.

？！

For sure. Though I have to say, it's still a little embarrassing.

But, all's well that ends well! Now let's keep going!