Prologue: Master of Dún Scáith

...Sen...pai?

This... Looks like Fuyuki city... But I don't remember Rayshifting...

I'm having trouble remembering much of anything. I took some medicine and laid down...

But now I'm in this form... I'm armed as a Demi-Servant.

Fou, fofooou!

Fou!? When did you get into the carrying space in my shield?

Fou, kyaau?

...I can't contact Chaldea's control room. So the doctor can't analyze our situation or bring us back.

One possibility is... That this is a type of shared memory between the Servant and the Master... A type of dream.

Yes, Senpai. I can feel the heat as if it's real.

This is the same Fuyuki city we traveled to with the director. But whether it's the same era, or if we're dreaming...

...? You don't feel the heat? Maybe it's because I'm a Demi-Servant...

I may be different than you. ...That makes me a little sad.

？！

I see. So this is how you "perceive" this place.

I know your names already. Fujimaru, and the girl is Mash Kyrielight.

You are inside a dream, sharing a memory of an intense experience you both had.

Perhaps I should say this is how the "system" works. Still, this is quite an interesting phenomenon.

...Who are you?

Your magical energy... It does feel like a Servant's, but...

...Something seems very different somehow...

You're not one of the Servants we saw in Fuyuki... Not only that, but I don't think

we've ever met you before. I don't...think so, anyway. My memory's hazy...

Hmm. Of course not.

It's been 2,000 years since I've shown myself to anyone. We couldn't have met.

...If you said you had seen me, then we'd have a bit of a problem.

You're not an escapee from my realm, are you? You're not a ghost either, correct?

...We're not ghost-type monsters, no. But, you said 2,000 years, right?

That would be around the birth of Christ... Do you mean that's when you were alive?

...Hmm. So drawing a clear line to explain my existence, huh?

Hmm, I feel a passionate gaze upon me.

Oh, it's not me, but my spear you're looking at? It's good that you can assess weapons at your age.

But this isn't what you are expecting. It's not a Divine Construct, forged by The Sea God, Manannan.

Sadly, it's just a spear. A stick, made from the skeleton of a sea creature.

...Or perhaps you were pretending to look at the spear, but were actually looking at me?

Heheh. You've never met an Ulster woman, have you?

Senpai, I know how you feel, but please restrain yourself for now.

It's true that her proportions are... just about perfect, but...

Foou!

？！

Hmm. How should I put this? Thinking back, I haven't given many people my name.

The warriors knew my name when they visited my home. The beasts and fallen gods challenged me out of fear.

They all feared me because they knew who I was.

It's been a long time since youno, people like you have asked me what my name is without prejudice.

And so I have no choice but to answer honestly.

I am a being which exists outside the world.

Something which was to exist forever, without getting old or dying.

My name is Scáthach, the ruler of Dún Scáith, the Land of Shadows. Although it does make me a little uncomfortable announcing it like that.

!!!

Kyau!?

Scáthach! The god-killing superhuman who's said to practically be a divinity herself?

？！

Yes, Senpai! She's mentioned in the Celtic myths of the first century, particularly the Ulster Cycle!

An invincible warrior, the ruler of a supernatural realm similar to the underworld. She even trained the great hero Cú Chulainn!

And she's also a "great magus," one of the best ever... But she shouldn't "exist in the Throne of Heroes," so why!?

？！

Oh, so the girl knew? You're correct, points for you. Hmm...

You did talk a little too fast, three stars!

Huh? Oh, right. Thank you very much.

It's all right. In your case, it's more effective to speak quietly. Keep it all within you, and be like a silent burning flame.

...Sorry, that's an old habit of mine. We don't have time for long chats.

As Mash said, I was never meant to be here. Since I retired from the battlefields.

I won't get into too much of why I've been summoned, but

I've shown myself for a good reason. To solve the problem occurring within this dream.

Master of Chaldea and you, new Servant, calm yourselves and open your eyes.

Witness what was brought forth by all the abnormality. Something is out of the ordinary here.

AAAAAA...

AAAAAAAA!

I saw them as soon as I sensed their magical energy! Enemy approaching, Senpai!

？！

Right! Beginning combat!

Now this is worth traveling through the eras. An impressive response, and pleasantly high morale.

Hmm... I had decided myself to an easy retirement, but seeing you has made me change my mind.

Here we go...

Wah!? Scáthach!?

Yes, I'll be playing too, Mash. Fujimaru! Save me a seat!

It's time for battle! First, fight. Fight before you think. Worrying comes after, as a privilege of the living.

So fight, fight, fight, and win! That's the Celtic way!

R-Right... It's like violence is a necessity for them...

Senpai!?

？！

Now that was an easy fight, I couldn't even remember what they looked like. I guess they weren't that tough, huh?

Now, tell me, Fujimaru. What did those enemies look like to you?

We've fought them several times before... Did they look different to you, Scáthach?

They looked like a smoky haze. To me, they seemed to barely exist.

And that's because, not once have I perceived the idea of death.

Fo-fou, fou?

Death?

Indeed. What you're seeing isn't memories of your past...

...Nor some kind of symbolism from your dreams.

Those are remnants left behind of a miserable death. They should not exist within you at all.

To be more precise, they are the "remnants left behind even by death."

These flames you see. The ones you fought.

They are the remnants left behind by the death you witnessed as you fought to protect humanity.

There were many others around. Ten thousand or so moving corpses and skeletons.

But I took care of all of them. They weren't worth teaching anything. They were far too weak.

T-Ten thousand?

Hahaha, I'm pleased that you're surprised, but you could've just laughed it off, Mash.

To a Celtic warrior, numbers mean nothing.

We're all idiots who fight until we're dead, or there's no one left to fight!

No, no, that's not it. That's not it at all.

That's fine. That's how you should be. You probably haven't grasp the concept of death yet.

？！

"This place" is overflowing with remnants "abandoned" by death.

This is a dream I'm sharing with Senpai, right? So why would it be filled with something like that?

I don't think the Heroic Spirit I got my power from had the attribute to interfere with death...

I'm sure. A Heroic Spirit who brings death wouldn't suit you at all. This phenomenon is taking place inside you...

...But the causal factor is outside. It's a touch unfair, but, it can't be helped.

That's what it means for all of human history to be incinerated.

A normal extinction would cause death to overflow. Purgatory, underworld, anywhere souls can go would be overflowing.

But this is different. Incineration of Humanity is a "great deed" that doesn't just burn away life, but death itself.

Fou... Fooooouuu...

A great deed...that burns away death?

Yes. Miracles that humans use are things like magecraft, rituals, sacraments, and curses.

And then there are the "Authorities" the gods are said to possess. But the Incineration of Humanity doesn't belong to any of those.

Thus, it is a great deed. A human "feat" which surpasses even the "gods."

...Though not even I am certain what that truly is.

And so what you're seeing here are the remnants abandoned by death, the direct result after many eras being incinerated.

Then, some of them leaked into this place.

You don't... You don't mean inside Chaldea?

That's correct, in a sense, but also not. Those remnants exist even closer than you imagined.

What do you mean?

Here. Put your hands up here.

...My chest?

Indeed. But not those marshmallows. It's the warm "heart" that's pulsing inside of you with life.

!!!

D-Do you mean... Those remnants have already been corrupting us!?

That's... What you mean, right? That's why I'm suddenly with Senpai in these flames...

？！

...Yes, Senpai. You're right.

Hehe. I thought you'd get scared, but you're holding on to hope. I can't believe how pure you are, but those purest are often the strongest.

Fujimaru's optimism and Mash's pessimism. I find both equally worthy.

Even after two thousand years, you humans haven't changed a bit. So fragile and ephemeral, but noble and beautiful.

It's time to go. Follow me.

R-Right. ...No, wait. Where are we going?

To destroy all the remnants that threatens to overwhelm you.

As my Land of Shadows no longer exists, normally I wouldn't waste time on ghosts abandoned even by the wheel of reincarnation.

But I do not think I can just let these things overflow.

...I know how frustrating it is to want to die, and not be able to.

If the gods will not save them, I will. If they want a fight, I have no reason to refuse.

Y-Yes, Senpai... This violent but dependable power is the Celtic way...

Senpai! Is the Celtic way getting to you?

？！