Tremble Before the Second and Third Eli-chans!
The night deepened over Chaldea—a night unlike any other. Beneath dimming lights, pumpkinesque ghosts and floating spirits wandered through the corridors, conjured by the resident spellcasters.
"Alright, step right up! Costume hand-outs over here! There's enough for everyone, so no pushing!"
"Props are down here. Don't crowd; we have plenty to go around."
Servants and staff members alike received bespoke costumes tailored just for them. Draped in their new attire, everyone succumbed to the heat of the festivities.
When autumn deepened and turned toward winter, there was only one tradition to observe: a holiday rooted in ancient Celtic harvest rites, though in modern Japan, it had become an excuse to dress up and beg for sweets.
""""Trick or Treat! Happy Halloween!""""
It was Halloween—a festival of pumpkins and confections. Led by the child Servants, the crowd threw themselves into days of celebration, patrolling Chaldea endlessly in search of candy.
"Uncle Ferdiad. Give me candy, or I'll disembowel you."
"Alright, alright! Take it! Coming from you, Jack, that sounds way too real! Just stay away from my lower gut!"
"Brother Loig! I want candy!"
"...Take the whole bag."
"Th-Thank you."
"Old Hag! Give us candy!"
"If you want it, take it by force! Scáthach shows no mercy!"
"Hell yeah! Let's go, Connla! We're cleanin' this place out!"
"Yes, Father!"
"W-Wait! Hey, this isn't the place for you to step in—!"
The Celtic contingent took the initiative in driving the event forward. Ferdiad broke into a cold sweat before Jack, Loig tied off his sack tightly, and Cú Chulainn, his son, and Scáthach engaged in outright combat over sweets.
"Hmm... Is there no lonely maiden out there left behind by the party's cheer? I'd be more than happy to share a drink or two..." Fergus mused, glancing about suspiciously as he carried out his security patrol.
Technically, Halloween originated with the Celts as a genuine festival. Yet, in Japan—famous for its cultural blend and general secularism—the common consensus amounted to little more than "wear a costume and hand out candy." After all, as long as it was fun, that was all that mattered.
"My, how wonderfully made all of this is. Hehe."
"A foreign festival... Now that's rock 'n' roll...!"
Orange lanterns cast a warm glow, and pumpkin-headed spirits floated gently through the air. Swept up in the merry atmosphere, the Chaldea crew was no exception to the fever. Even today, everyone had gathered in the Command Room for a briefing.
"Now that everyone is here, let's begin the briefing," Olga Marie opened crisply, taking the lead.
Her outfit was a hybrid creation—a suit paired with a witch's cloak and hat, giving her the air of a dapper witch.
"Director, it suits you remarkably well! I've never participated in an event like this before..."
Mash wore a formal dress—at least, formal for normal occasions. The white fabric and flower embellishments accented her purity and charm, highlighting her natural beauty and innocence in a way that effortlessly captivated any onlooker.
"It suits you, it really does! Quality raw materials always yield a fantastic result," Romani chimed in. "Though, if I do say so myself, I didn't do too badly either!"
With his hair slicked back and wearing a lavish, aristocratic suit, Romani had transformed into an utterly dashing nobleman. So far removed from his usual hopeless self, anyone who laid eyes on him whispered in disbelief, "Who on earth is that?"
"Is the image change really that drastic...? Do people honestly think of me as that much of a pushover...?"
"It just means you're adorable~♥ Rawr~♥" Sheba-nyan purred, clinging to Romani's side as his countess. Dressed in an equally splendid gown, the beautiful, dusk-skinned lady drew plenty of attention at the count's side—along with her twitching beast ears.
"Yes, yes. Everyone here is prime material," Da Vinci-chan added, perfectly pulling off the look of a Grand Archmage—a master witch soaring through a moonlit sky, a grand sage among sages. The oversized hat and cloak were designed specifically to sell that grand concept.
"...Where is Rikka?"
Noticing the presence behind the heavy curtain—assumed to be Gil—Olga Marie was the first to spot Rikka's absence.
"Perhaps Senpai is still getting fitted? It requires careful coordination, given who she is."
"I wonder what she'll wear? In a way, she's completely unpredictable..."
"She might show up in something that blows our minds. Types like her really transform when they dress up."
As everyone offered their theories—
"Sorry to keep you waiting~! Man, there were so many options, I couldn't decide what to wear today!"
Rikka stepped into the room, tugging slightly at her sleeves. The moment they saw her, everyone's eyes went wide.
"Fine clothes make the woman! What do you think? Jeanne helped dress me!"
Rikka's outfit was a battle dress that somehow managed to be cool, beautiful, and sinister all at once. Picture an evil commander, or a formidable rival black knight, or a dreadful dragon in human form.
The top exposed her shoulders and chest, while the skirt offered full mobility. Adorned with dark dragon motifs—anklets, bracelets, a chestplate, and black chains—the ensemble was imposing yet enchanting. It was a combat outfit suited for a whip or a sword, but thanks to flawless makeup and styling, it retained a noble air. Coupled with Rikka's shifting, cheerful expressions, the overall look was wildly dynamic—a true masterpiece of versatility that seemed to change with every second.
"I asked for an Escadrille style, and Jeanne, Carmilla, Suzuka, Medea, and Vlad got it done overnight!"
Created around the concept of a Dark Dragon Princess Knight protecting her princess, Rikka looked like a walking nightmare for enemy soldiers. The group stared at her in utter awe.
"You look so cool, Senpai! Though... you really can't resist adding a bit of edge over pure beauty, can you?"
"Look who's talking, Mash! Don't act so demure—unleash that Dangerous Marshmallow of yours! What a waste!"
"Whoa, that's awesome! You look like a knight from a line that's served our count family for generations!"
"When I asked if I could say 'Kill me now,' they told me I was definitely the one doing the killing and shut me down. By the way... who are you supposed to be?"
"How harsh!"
"Yes, yes. Be sure to protect us on the front lines, alright~? Though honestly, you could probably handle everything on your own!"
"Leave it to me! They'll be dead before they can blink!"
"Oho, this will sell! A gathering of such beauties and handsome gentlemen—we simply must take photos!"
"We'll take commemorative photos later. It suits you, Rikka... Though neither of us can really claim to be proper young ladies, can we?"
"True! Ah, Marie, are you a magic professor?"
"Something like that."
As the group lively exchanged thoughts on their costumes—
"It seems everyone has gathered. Excellent! Let us proceed to punish the fool who got swept up in this delightfully absurd farce!"
All eyes turned toward the throne as the curtain rose dramatically. Standing there was a figure in golden armor and a pitch-black cloak—wearing a lion mask and holding a pumpkin cushion.
"I am the Lion Hero of Uruk—Masked Ramassu! Bwahaha! Is there any costume more fitting for someone of my stature?!"
The King swept his cloak back as he made his entrance. The majesty and presence were unmistakably Gilgamesh, adapted into a male version of Masked Ramassu.
"Masked Ramassu! I can't believe you'd show up even in Chaldea!"
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