While walking down the street, I saw an Artoria wearing a school uniform.
She looked like a foreigner to anyone. It didn't seem like she was just similar. She was a girl who reminded me of her whom I met in Fuyuki.
"... Oh, sorry. I thought you were someone I know."
I let go of her hand and leave as if running away. Ugh, how embarrassing, what am I doing on the street...
"Sigh... this is complicated."
After running near the Sajou residence, I lean against the wall of an alley and sigh. This is really...
"... Should I summon a little early?"
I open my status window. To think it's judged as a Noble Phantasm. Cheats are the best~ Without hesitation, I decide to summon the Servant I was planning to call soon anyway.
By the way...
Why do I only have 15 Saint Quartz? Is it because the kids kept coming out? I'm sure I filled it up plenty.
Well, it's not a problem. With 15, it should be just about right.
Whoosh!
The light of summoning rises, and in a corner of the secluded alley, a quaint girl appears, out of place with the location.
"You... it's good that you summoned me, but in a place like this?"
"Sorry, Bavanshee."
"Fine, I'll generously let this slide."
"Thanks. How about having a tea party with Morgan at Chaldea later?"
"Good sense."
"So... you've learned a lot of magecraft from Morgan and Tonelico, right? Can you surveil someone without being noticed?"
"You're asking me, not an Assassin, to do that?"
That's a fair point. It's an Assassin's job. But...
"It's a hunch. And as an Archer, you can handle it, right? Or are you worried about getting caught?"
"No way! I'm mother's daughter and the witch's disciple! No problem!"
"Confident and proud as Morgan's daughter... so call me dad."
"What nonsense are you suddenly spouting?"
"Morgan keeps calling me husband. Anyway, I'm counting on you for surveillance. A girl who looks like Artoria, probably in high school."
"... Got it for now. Prepare to have your head blown off since I'll charge by the hour."
Saying that, Bavanshee turns into spirit form and leaves. Show me your competence. I believe in you.
I head back home for now. There's no sign of anyone inside, so I head further in... and what I see is a garden.
Manaka was sitting at a table in the garden, drinking tea.
"You're back. How was the town?"
"Good. It's a nice town. There's just one thing that's bothering me, though."
"Something bothering you?"
Manaka put down her teacup and stared at me intently. As if curious about what's bothering me. Her sky-blue eyes shining dimly.
"There's a person who looks too much like someone I know, even down to the voice. It's a little unsettling."
"What's that, how trivial."
As if immediately losing interest, she picks up her teacup again...
"King Arthur."
Manaka flinches and stops moving.
"She resembles King Arthur so much that it's why. Of course... not the King Arthur you originally met, but the female version. Mine is female, you know?"
"..."
Putting down the teacup again, Manaka looks at me with a smirk, her eyes curved like crescent moons, as if amused.
"Interesting. Do you know my future too?"
"There's probably nothing I don't know. Of course, it's unlikely you'd feel love just by seeing her. You never know. I'm the Beast class. Perhaps, I'm the eighth, and the seventh Saber hasn't been summoned yet."
"So... she might be the seventh Master? That's an interesting hypothesis."
"Honestly, I'd prefer if you didn't meet Arthur."
"Why?"
"Because unattainable love is painful. In the end, you won't be able to be with Arthur, and you'll die. A bad ending, though for the world it might be a happy ending, for you it's the worst ending."
"You speak frankly... is that my future? I haven't seen such a future, that's interesting too."
Manaka chuckled as if even that wasn't bad. A common trait among those with vision reaching the Root and a mind.
Life itself is pain. They don't know emotions, they don't know human life. Merlin was like that before meeting Artoria, and Solomon chose to become human by abandoning everything.
They live in a colorless world with no reason to live, bored. Looking at it this way, Gilgamesh is really amazing.
"You desire stimulation, don't you?"
"Stimulation, maybe? I long for a fantasy like a fairy tale. In this trivial world."
She has no preferences, nothing she likes. Since she was born with everything, she's twisted.
She's a girl with no particular desires or dreams, to the point that if she doesn't meet Arthur, she'll end up a NEET.
Honestly, if she awakens as a yandere, it'll be a disaster... I don't want to see that.
"By the way, it seems the Beast summoned a Servant. Is that your Noble Phantasm?"
"You saw?"
Clairvoyance that sees through others or the future is blocked, but literal far-seeing clairvoyance seems to work. This is really...
"Yes. There are some limitations, but it's my Noble Phantasm."
"Isn't that cheating? In the Holy Grail War."
"And your existence isn't cheating?"
"Hehe."
Well, I must be hungry too... I decide to show my Noble Phantasm simply. When I tap the status window floating in the air, Manaka tilts her head. It seems invisible to her eyes too.
I consume Saint Quartz and summon a Servant.
Whoosh!!!
"You called... Master."
"This is... amazing? Even for me, summoning a Spirit Origin freely is difficult. Plus, she's not human. A fairy...? Something interesting?"
"... Who is this child, Master? Somehow, that worm comes to mind."
"The danger level is similar~ Anyway, she's my Master, so treat her well."
"M, Master's Master... isn't that too dangerous?"
"What's dangerous?"
"... It's nothing."
Barghest had an expression of concern, but then shakes her head and smiles gently. That gap moe is good, I must say.
"Can you make something to eat, perhaps?"
"Beast, you really never do anything yourself, do you?"
"It's better to have an expert do it than an amateur. Of course, Barghest isn't an expert, but she's a Servant I trust and was planning to summon this time, so I'm asking while summoning. If you don't want to, it's a pity, though."
Manaka looked at me with a pitiful expression as if thinking, 'What kind of guy is this...' Ignoring that, I clasp my hands together, sway my body softly, and look up at Barghest.
"Please~ Barghest~"
"... Ahem, ahem...! I'd do it anyway, but if you ask like that..."
Easy.
"The worst."
"Originally, survivors know how to survive. This is just my survival strategy, Manaka."
"Hmm."
Heh, this is the life of the weak. There's a theory that cats evolved to be cute because otherwise, they would have gone extinct. Of course, that's my brain speculation.
A short while later, Barghest returns.
"It's better than I thought..."
Manaka seems a little hurt in her pride.
Time passes, and evening comes...
"Well, well, Bavanshee... is this for real?"
"Yes, it's real. How do you feel, Master?"
"What should I say..."
Clang!!!
"Not bad, Lancer."
"You too, Saber."
Oh my... should I say this is as expected, or is it a problem because it's as expected?
"Go, Saber!"
"Leave it to me, Master!"
Really... I never thought I'd see such a combination in my life.
Saber Artoria and...
Master Artoria. What kind of world line is this?