Amadeus's condition is quite a difficult one...
Indeed, satisfying a once-in-a-century genius is no easy feat. But I suppose I have to try...
"I'll do it."
"Ah, Father is going to sing...!"
"Here comes something big...!"
When I readily step forward to sing, Uathach looks surprised and Connla looks expectant. What else can I do? If anyone's going to satisfy that guy, it's me. I immediately use runes to construct a speaker and a microphone.
"I'll sing my favorite song for you."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
Everyone watches with anticipation, and it looks like Romani hit the record button immediately. Sigh... it's like a public execution.
"The song is called 'A Stain.'"
It's the song I liked most in FGO. It's also the Paper Moon theme song. I used to listen to it every day...
I tap the microphone to check the audio, then play the accompaniment through the speakers.
♪♪♪♪
"Oh, it's modern music? I thought it would be a traditional Celtic song."
Ritsuka's comment stings... It's basically calling me an old-timer. Sigh. Well, let's show off my skills for the first time in a while.
"White light flickers♪ A faint darkness at the bottom of the gold~♪ I want to feel the hesitation~ A self-interrogation that cares not for truth♪ If it's an unchanging providence not even worth doubting, I'll just live leaning on it with body and soul...♪ That's all♪!"
The highlight of the first verse arrives, and I pour my heart into the singing.
"A world falling apart♪! Too unreasonable a retribution♪! A repeating destiny~♪ A dizzying scheme that never runs dry♪ Snatch it away, seize it♪ If I trace the threads of fate, destiny, and causality♪ The resonance of indelible memories♪ Stains reflected on the Paper Moon♪"
I finish the song exactly at the end of the first verse. Will this be enough...?
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
"I have to acknowledge this. The song itself is ordinary, but the caliber of the singer is extraordinary. You pass."
Amadeus claps and admits defeat readily. He's actually acknowledging it that easily...?
"Incredible..."
"Right, right!? My father's singing is the best!"
"Objectively speaking, that is correct. Even Mother said Father's singing ability is among the best in human history."
Except for Olga Marie, Uathach, and Connla, everyone is cheering and clapping wildly. This is exactly why I didn't want to sing... Even in my own opinion, my singing voice is on the level of Elizabeth Bathory's—a voice so beautiful it could make even a Siren weep.
Elizabeth's serious singing is a heavenly sound that even Gilgamesh acknowledges. I'm on that same level. But it's embarrassing to be praised for something like this, so I usually try to avoid singing...
I immediately clear away the microphone and speakers. As soon as Amadeus pulls the lever to open the door, we pass through the gate.
"You sang better than Shuten, Blue Guy! For the first time, I've been moved by something called a song!"
"You... you're amazing..."
"Fergus, can't you teach me how to sing!?"
"There's really nothing you can't do, Fergus."
I hate this kind of reaction... It's embarrassing.
"Fergus... that song... if someone heard it directly in their ears through AirPods, they might reach their limit regardless of gender..."
What are you talking about, Olga...?
"I felt a sensation like my womb was vibrating..."
"Did Merlin give you an aphrodisiac or something..."
"No, it was just... so good... hehe."
Has she been influenced by the others? Olga's grown quite scandalous herself... Or is it because of that wild night before...?
"Because of that, I'm going to go pick some flowers for a moment..."
"I'll go with you then."
"No, well... even if you're my husband, it's a bit embarrassing..."
"What about Uathach or Connla?"
"Doing that in front of Fergus's daughters is also... You! Come keep watch for a second!"
"Why me?"
After saying something weird about her womb vibrating, Olga Marie suddenly needs to relieve herself and drags Jalter along. Since Ibaraki is unreliable, I guess she took Jalter. Well... I suppose I wouldn't want to go in front of my wife's daughters either.
"She should have gone when I did..."
"Haha, I suppose so."
Ritsuka, who had already gone before the first gate, sighed as he watched Olga Marie rush off after the second gate was cleared. If we pass the third gate quickly and reach the castle, the real party will begin... that would be the best scenario.
"Hmm... I wonder if she'll be okay."
Ritsuka mumbles something while watching Olga Marie's departing figure. Why is he acting like that?
=================================
"Make sure you keep a good watch!"
"Fine, fine... just hurry up so we can go. I'm actually looking forward to the party."
"Me too..."
Olga Marie quickly loosens her cumbersome magical girl outfit to do her business. Since the forest away from the path has an eerie atmosphere, she feels a sense of dread. Even with Jalter there, she's scared, so she quickly pulls up her underwear and adjusts her clothes.
"Phew..."
Relieved that nothing strange appeared, Olga Marie walks back toward Jalter, who is standing with her back turned keeping watch.
"Alright, let's go."
Olga Marie speaks as if telling her to lead the way...
But Jalter doesn't move.
"...What are you doing?"
Olga Marie asks, puzzled, but there is no response.
"...."
Olga Marie stares at her. Servants, like humans, breathe. If they are breathing, there should be at least a slight movement—shoulders rising and falling slightly—even when standing still. But she is completely motionless. As if she were a doll...
Olga Marie feels a silent terror and takes a step back. Then, Jalter slowly turns around.
The face and appearance are definitely Jalter's. Her expressionless face suddenly cracks into a grin... and then, her jaw begins to slide downward... and simply melts away.
"Ugh...!"
The face continues to melt, followed by her entire body, revealing the true form of the entity that had been imitating Jalter.
"What... is that?"
The mysterious entity stares at Olga Marie, smiling without a word.
Olga Marie gulps nervously. She slowly pulls a gem from her pocket and grips it, preparing to defend herself...
Swish!
"!?"
The entity suddenly spins its body and lunges at Olga Marie. Its fully turned face is covered in multiple eyes, and several branch-like arms extend from its torso.
Olga Marie quickly throws the gem to deploy a barrier, but the moment the entity touches it, the barrier dissolves into black slime and scatters.
Grit her teeth, Olga Marie tries to use a Command Spell, but at that moment, something appears and slices through the entity.
"....A sun, flower...?"
What had cleaved the entity was a giant sunflower.
The petals of the giant sunflower spin like a chainsaw, shredding the mysterious monster, which then vanishes into black ash. Behind the remains of the creature, a girl holding the giant sunflower comes into view.
"A-A-Are, youuu o-okay.... hehe."
The girl looks incredibly nervous. Her peculiar aura is enough to make the equally nervous Olga Marie relax in contrast.
"Ah... thank you."
"Th-That's good... hehe."
"Um... who are you?"
"Ah... I'm Gogh. Vincent van Gogh.... hehe."
"Eh..."
Olga Marie finds it hard to believe, but she decides to trust her for now. She figures that since the sunflower is her symbol, it could be a case of being a female Gogh from a parallel world like Gilgamesh, Merlin, or Solomon, or a case of self-gender-swapping for personal taste like Da Vinci.
"I see. But are you also a Servant participating in the party?"
"A party? N-No... Gogh wasn't invited... I'm just a painter, cleaning up the remnants of the boundary..."
"Remnants of the, boundary...?"
"Whoa!? I said it out loud...!"
Gogh is startled by her own slip of the tongue regarding the 'remnants of the boundary' and gets flustered.
"Ahhh, I said it... I was told not to say it... but I did...!"
"Hey, calm down! I won't tell anyone else! Besides, I don't even know what it is!?"
"...I-Is that so... hehe, that's a relief... Please, keep it a secret..."
"Sure... but did you see anyone else? That monster earlier tricked me by looking like my companion..."
"Ah... It must have crossed between dimensions of the boundary... This world is very incomplete, you see. In places like this, simply stepping into an unfinished Texture can lead you into the boundary line... Since you're human, it seems you entered alone... It's also called a Changeling phenomenon..."
"Changeling... you mean that phenomenon where humans get taken to the fairy realm? So it's similar to that? Then how do I get out!?"
"Gogh can't open a door for you. You have to cross through the dimension... but Gogh is still inexperienced, so it's hard... I need help from others... Gogh is so useless...! Sob, waaah!"
"Why are you crying!? You really are the real Gogh!"
Watching her fall into a fit of depression due to low self-esteem, Olga Marie becomes certain that this is indeed Van Gogh. She calms Gogh down and comforts her.
"Then... I'll call them... There are two others here..."
Gogh takes out a small sunflower and presses on it with her small hands. A moment later, a woman wearing glasses appears in the air accompanied by a purple light.
"What is it, Gogh-chan~? Calling me so suddenly. Oh my? Is this a drifter? And a Master at that? What an interesting visitor."
"Who are you?"
"Me? I'm Jacques de Molay. The last Grand Master of the Knights Templar~ but right now, I'm just an innocent witch! Should I put it like that? Just call me Molay~ Anyway, you're cute. Want to hang out with us?"
The woman carries a sword engraved with a cross and holds a strange stuffed bull doll.
"Jacques de Molay...? The Templar from the Crusades?"
"I was~ So, I just need to open the door?"
"Yes... she says she wants to go back... Let's open the door! Let's Go-hgh!"
"A Gogh joke? Then let's open it~"
Just as Molay is about to do something by drawing her sword, someone walks out from the forest. Olga Marie turns around, sensing a strangely familiar presence, only to find a boy she has never seen before.
"What's this? Another drifter? Wandering off the path even after being warned... Hmm? You are... well, that would usually have been the last time, but I suppose I should help you once more."
"...Excuse me, have we met somewhere before?"
"No, we haven't. This is our first meeting. Though we will likely meet again someday... let us not meet in this boundary world again. Goodbye then."
The boy slashes through the air with his sword, and a rift in dimensions opens up.
"...Thank you."
"Don't mention it. There won't be a third time. So..."
"Don't ever leave his side. As long as you are with him, you will be safe anywhere."
As soon as Olga Marie passes through the rift, it closes behind her.
"...What was that?"
"What, are you done finally?"
"...Yeah."
Jalter is grumbling as if she's been waiting for a long time. Olga Marie starts to tell her what happened, but...
"...Wait? What was I doing just now?"
"What's wrong with you?"
"No, it's nothing... let's hurry back."
Olga Marie tilts her head in confusion as she and Jalter head back to the group.
"...Then, we should go too. I have to head back soon, so you two keep taking care of the remnants."
"Leave it to us~"
"Um, well... I've overwritten her memories... She won't remember... hehe."
"Good job, Clytie. Still, she'll remember the words I left her subconsciously, so she won't leave Father's side anymore... I'll take my leave now."
"Wait! Before you go... you have to do 'that.'"
"..."
In the boundary dimension, the boy gives Molay a kiss on the cheek as she offers it to him.
"♡~~~~! This is the only way~ Now I actually feel like working!"
"G-Gogh too... hehe."
Smooch.
"Thank you!!! Ahahaha! My sunflower is spinning round and round!!!"
The two leave laughing, and the boy soon disappears into the forest with a slight blush on his face.
========================
The website for reading paid chapters is available on my Patreon. The number of chapters on Patreon: 205
Link: patreon.com/UltraMagnus_T