In the end, we dressed up in cosplay to attend the Halloween party. Well, not me, Ibaraki-douji, and Jeanne Alter, that is...
Mash, who has turned into her Dangerous Beast form, walks while covering her body as much as possible with her shield. Due to the Scarecrow's words that we can't wear anything else, we head to the party venue in these outfits.
"Mash... are you uncomfortable?"
"A little uncomfortable... but not covering up is also a bit..."
"But, but I think Mash looks sexy and it suits you!"
"... Senpai, it suits you too."
Ritsuka is also a bit embarrassed in her bunny girl outfit, but compared to Mash, it's... Mash is practically in a swimsuit. No, actually, thinking of it as a swimsuit might make it easier... Still, walking around the night streets with no water in sight, she'd only look like a streetwalker.
We continue walking forward along the eerie, gloomy dark forest path.
"Really, what kind of amazing party is this that they make us go through this... If it's nothing special, I won't let it slide."
Olga Marie, irritated by the scary atmosphere, complains about the party. Let's see... the distance to Château d'If still seems quite far, and according to the Scarecrow...
There are three gates on the way to Château d'If, he said. Each gate has its own test or condition, and you can pass by overcoming or fulfilling it... I wonder what kind of fun awaits us?
"Somehow... maybe because my stomach is cold..."
"What, is your stomach hurting, human?"
"No, that... can I go pick some flowers for a moment...?"
"Why flowers? What are you suddenly talking about? Where are there flowers here?"
"No, not that kind of flower..."
"Ahem...! Then, Senpai and I'll be right back..."
Jeanne Alter, who didn't understand the euphemism for going to relieve oneself. Is she pure or something... taking it literally like that.
We stop for a bit to wait for Ritsuka and have a light conversation.
"Am I really not weird?"
"That outfit of yours, if it were my mother, she would have laughed and liked it. Compared to my mother, you might not suit it, but it's decent enough."
"Scáthach definitely has that kind of personality. I think she probably wouldn't want to."
"My mom would be a bit shy, but if Dad asked her to wear it, she probably would."
Well... surely Aífe would be a bit shy, right? Hmm... by the way, I can see a small castle gate that looks like the first gate in the distance, but somehow... the air flow feels strange?
======================
"Why is there so little grassy area..."
"I think this is enough, Senpai. It's not good to go too far away."
Ritsuka and Mash walk to a slightly distant spot to find a suitable grassy area, and soon Ritsuka goes behind some bushes. Mash keeps watch while Ritsuka quickly takes care of business.
"What kind of situation is this... relieving oneself outdoors... the dignity of a high school girl... By the way, Mash, are you okay? Mash is human too, will you be fine until we arrive? ... Mash?"
After finishing, Ritsuka stands up adjusting her clothes, but Mash, who was supposed to be behind her, is nowhere to be seen.
"M, Mash...? Mash!?"
Left alone in the dark forest, Ritsuka trembles with fear and calls Mash's name, but there's no response. Even after looking around, Mash isn't visible.
Rustle... rustle...
"Eek!?"
And then, the sound of leaves being stepped on from somewhere. Scared by it, Ritsuka hides behind a tree and scans the surroundings...
"Coo coo~!"
"A, a pigeon!?"
But, a white pigeon flies towards Ritsuka and startles her. She falls down, landing on her butt. Grimacing while rubbing her sore butt, she hears footsteps right in front of her.
"Oh my, are you lost?"
"Huh... who are you?"
"It's dangerous for a normal person who can't use magecraft to enter this forest. You probably didn't come alone, and you've entered a different zone from your companions."
"D, different zone...?"
"You can think of it as a barrier. This forest is designed to give trials to those who stray from the path as punishment. For a Servant, it wouldn't be a problem, but for someone like you who can't even use basic magecraft, escaping is impossible. I'll let you out."
"Th, thank you... but, who are you?"
"Me, you ask..."
"Just a passing magician. For whatever reason, if you enter the gaps of the boundary again... unless you meet me then, you'll become food for the fairies."
"Ehh..."
"Well then, goodbye."
The silver-haired boy, with his peculiar odd eyes, his left eye glittering, and in the moment Ritsuka blinks... the boy who was in front of her has vanished without a trace.
"Senpai? What are you doing?"
"Huh...!?"
And from behind, Mash is calling Ritsuka, having appeared out of nowhere.
"Huh...?"
"Did you finish your business?"
"... Yeah."
'What was that just now...? Was I possessed by a ghost? Somehow, it was an incredibly handsome boy, rivaling Fergus... More than human, he felt like a Servant. I have that预感. At least, he seemed like a good Servant, right?'
Ritsuka decides not to mention the incident where she almost got into danger by going to relieve herself, since she was helped anyway, and returns to the group with Mash.
And... in the world of the forest's boundary.
"Hmm... the first trial was just rock-paper-scissors after all. Even if you lose, the penalty is just a prank... This is a pity for the Shadow Servant in charge. They probably prepared to have fun playing pranks."
The silver-haired boy looks at the first gate beyond the boundary with his glittering left eye.
"... Using it for too long still hurts my eyes."
The boy tightly closes his eyes, and when he opens them again, they turn into the same faint blue as his right eye. He takes eye drops from his pocket and puts them in his left eye, then with a silver-clad sword, he slashes through the air... and disappears somewhere beyond the boundary.
Meanwhile, Fergus's group arrives at the first gate.
"Are you... the supervisor?"
"Wow... the atmosphere is completely different from before. It's an amazing costume, isn't it?"
"I agree, Director."
Fergus is surprised to see the woman guarding the first gate, while Olga Marie, Ritsuka, and the others just think she's done a realistic cosplay.
"Vive la France~ You all know who I am, right? I'm Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France~ Nice to meet you~ Welcome to the first gate!"
Marie Antoinette.
She was the same Marie Antoinette that the Chaldea group met in France.
However... Fergus was seriously wary of her. Not only him, but Connla and Uathach were the same, and Ibaraki-douji also feels a魔 power similar to herself and wonders about it.
"The first gate is simple! Play rock-paper-scissors with me, and if you win, you pass! Everyone must play rock-paper-scissors with me without exception, and those who lose can pass after receiving a penalty!"
[The penalty of the French Queen... what kind of penalty could this be?]
Romani is also curious about what kind of prank the penalty of Marie Antoinette, the most famous French Queen, might be, and she grins and says.
"The penalty for losing is simple! The loser gets beheaded! I'll cut you cleanly with the guillotine, just like a song!"
"Ah... that's the concept, right?"
"Ooh, even thinking about pretending is scary."
"Pretending, I see..."
Olga Marie and Ritsuka, knowing her personality, naturally think it's just black comedy and pretending... Mash looks at the guillotine (beheading device) nearby and feels an inexplicable chill.
"So then... who wants to go first?"