Somewhere in the vast American wilderness. A desolate plain stretched out endlessly.
It was so barren that you'd half expect a timid puppy to appear.
"Hey! How rude to go ahead without me!"
"Don't expect manners from trash like me, Demon King."
"Yeah, yeah. If you're the real deal, start acting like a Demon King."
"Sigh... I don't want to hear that from an impersonator!"
Kama, who had followed along earlier, was furious at being left behind, while Nobunaga chuckled and shook his head.
"But it's America, right? Plenty of places to pioneer~!"
"That's America for you~ If we film in this wasteland, the possibilities are endless."
Bunyan was excited to be back in her homeland, America, and George, true to his role as a film director, seemed in high spirits. With a wasteland like this...
"You summoned a shark before, right? Can you summon movie-related things?"
"With a Holy Grail, anything's possible? Of course, whether it works on Servants is another matter~"
"I see."
That sounds fun.
"But Master, what about these kids?" Ereshkigal asked, glancing at the resistance.
Hmm, with members like Nero and Báthory from the start, it's pretty much a lost cause. Robin or Billy, Geronimo might be different...
"Hmm... let's just leave them."
Bringing them along wouldn't be much help, honestly. Báthory and Nero aren't that strong as Servants. They get protagonist buffs or main character treatment as extras, but not really. In Chapter 5, they got wiped by the Lion King without dealing any damage.
Ultimately, they're not that strong. Sure, the Lion King is powerful, but they're not a good fit for this war setting. Geronimo might be different...
As a ruler of three colors who gets sidelined, it's not very appealing.
"Huh? Can't we go together?"
"Ritsuka. Your mind might break."
The combination of Báthory and Nero makes a nuclear bomb look cute.
"That's a shame... okay."
Honestly, it'd be nice to just exclude Nero and Báthory, but those three have their own sense of loyalty, so leaving them out feels awkward. I'd rather avoid unnecessary discomfort.
"Once we're far enough away, return their souls then."
"Got it~"
"Ereshkigal is reliable as always."
"Ugh..."
"Well, among the many lords of the underworld in myth, she is the cutest."
"Don't say that!"
"But it's true."
Anubis-certified, the cutest underworld goddess. As expected~ Of course, when she's angry, she's genuinely scary too.
"An underworld goddess~ You really have all sorts of Servants, huh?"
"Isn't she a bounty hunter?"
"Ah, that's not her, Alter-chan. Though the real one is in Chaldea..."
Boudica reacted as if it wasn't surprising anymore, and Mysterious Heroine X explained to Ereshkigal that she thought she was Ishtar, not X. Well, Space Ishtar is in Chaldea.
"Hmm... I thought I'd seen her somewhere. Saw her on a broadcast before."
"What broadcast?"
"Ah, it's nothing, Master. Just watching something called ServantTube, and she was eating curry udon in a mascot suit."
Ritsuka and Nobunaga explained... oh, that one.
"Honestly, I found it fun and ended up donating."
"Where'd you get the money from, Nobunaga?"
"...."
"... Nobunaga?"
"Borrowed a wallet."
"Hey!!"
Well, Ritsuka has it rough. Getting your wallet stolen by your own Servant.
"Was she a YouTuber?"
"Eh... it's nothing much. Just a hobby, a hobby~"
Kirei showed interest in Ereshkigal's broadcasting, and their conversation drifted to the Doctor's Magical Mari story. Romani, what are you influencing the kids with...
While chatting idly, we moved to another location. Enkidu followed quietly. Since I've got him contracted, it's fine, but... what to do? His abilities are too vicious, so using him in battle feels a bit off.
For now, I'll keep him around, but using him in combat is a bit much.
"Excuse me, Master. I'm still not used to Chaldea, but which of the two is our Nobunaga?"
"Ah... um, the one who looks a bit more laid-back?"
"I see."
"Hey!"
Danzo whispered a question to Ritsuka, and Nobunaga interjected, maintaining the usual atmosphere. Danzo wasn't a Servant but the actual person from that era; I hope it's okay.
"Kama, so where should we go?"
"Why are you asking me that?"
"Wanted to get a recommendation from you."
"Heh... then let's go straight to Washington~"
"Okay, let's head the opposite way."
"....."
Kama frowned and glared at me, pouting. Cute. But in reality, I hope Sakura doesn't grow up like Kama.
As we moved along, my throat started to feel dry.
"My throat's dry..."
"Here you go."
"Ah, thanks.... Huh?"
A water bottle suddenly appeared from beside me. And a voice that shouldn't be audible here. Looking over, Kiyohime was standing there with a bright smile.
"... Why are you popping up from there?"
"Because a true wife always watches over her husband."
"... Yeah."
What should I do with this stalker?
I'm such a fool for letting it slide because she's cute.
"Typical Dumpty. Having such a young bride~"
"..."
Ritsuka teased me with a grin. Well, it doesn't matter anymore. From the moment I messed with a five-year-old, I'm just scum.
But really, where should we go?
===========================
After rescuing Sita, we left the prison and moved to another place.
Thanks to Sakura's shadows, we moved as if riding a surfboard. The combination of imaginary numbers magecraft and shadows is incredible. Makes you wonder if the Lords of the Clock Tower have any meaning...
Whoosh~~
After moving like that, we discovered a certain base. So, this is the period when America gained independence, right? Why does it feel like war?
A woman walking out of a medical tent treating wounded soldiers. That person, is that Nightingale?
"... Not the commander."
"You, from Chaldea...?"
"Yes, that's me."
What the hell...
"Did you, um, do a Noble Phantasm level-up... or something?"
"Yes. I absorbed the me from here."
"Why are you even here in the first place?"
"To be with the commander, of course. Since I'm a main character in this Singularity, isn't it better for me, the original, to come rather than another version?"
"Well, that makes sense."
It makes sense, but it's scary... How did she even get here? Maybe there's a collaborator...
"I've finished treating the current patients. Can you brief me on the situation?"
"We don't know much either... Mr. Edgar?"
"Yeah, yeah, leave it to me."
Through Edgar's profiling, he briefed us, saying the closest faction currently is the United States. A war between the U.S. military and the Celts—just hearing about it makes my head spin.
"But the problem is, the U.S. president is a lion-headed lunatic."
"Eh..."
Wasn't it Edison? But why a lion...
"Don't worry. The treatment is simple."
"What is it?"
Click...
"Just one shot to the head will do."
That's why Berserkers are...
"I see! A true professional nursing officer!"
"Sakura..."
This kid too... what is she trying to learn...
"Good. Lunatics need a dose of reality."
"Yeah, yeah, interrogation with a bullet is the way to go~"
"Uh... is that how it is in modern times? If that's the modern way..."
Is this party really okay...