Chapter 6: No Regrets, This Is The Only Path

They say the land is named "Septem Montes Romae" for the seven hills surrounding the glorious city. But now, it was starting to resemble seven circles of hell rather than Rome.

"AHAHAHAHA! YES! YES! KEEP IT UP, FAFNIR! BURN IT ALL TO HELL AND BACK!"

A certain Avenger was having ludicrous amounts of fun with her mount, who had long given up restraining his Baja-Blast breath. He was actually enjoying it? Well, anything to keep his mistress pleased.

Ritsuka looked up at the Avenger with a squiggly smile. "Are ya winning, Jeanne?"

"HELL YES. I AM WINNING."

The Director could only hold back her own set of fiery ire. "Fujimaru. We need. To get. The Grail."

"Spartacus! Spartacus Spartacus Spartacus," Spartacus spartacussed, even though he was 100% braindead at this time. He promptly skipped off to go destroy Rome by himself, not caring if the rest of them followed. Because that's what a Spartacus would do.

"NIIEEEEEECEEE! YOU MADE IT! WE'RE ABOUT TO BEGIN THE FESTIVAL!"

A man dressed in gold and crimson approached them merrily, but stopped upon seeing Boudica's treatment of Nero. "Let go of my dear, sweet, precious niece this instant," he growled. "Queen of savages."

"Oh? You don't like the way I treat your loved one?" Boudica smirked sadistically and squeezed Nero even tighter, making the poor chibi turn as red as a tomato. "You Romans [Derogatory] should know better than anyone–"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," snapped the Director. "We need that Grail. You there! Roman Emperor Caligula! We have your niece and we defeated Emperor Caesar. Hand the chalice over and no one gets hurt." She glanced at the Iceni Queen, who was holding onto a blueberry at this rate. "Well, more than anyone has to be."

"...not enough."

Ritsuka scratched his head. "Err, what?"

Caligula frowned. "Not enough. IT'S NOT ENOUGH! UOOOOOOOOOOOGHHHHHH! YOU BASTAAAARRRRDSSSS! RELEASE MY NIECE AT OOOOOOONNNNNNNCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEE! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Caligula arched back in a pose very reminiscent of a certain vampire from a famous manga, and the moon above began to shine with increasing magnitude.

"FLUCTICULUS…..

DIANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Not this shit again," cursed Director Animusphere as she activated her Magic Circuits to make….magecraft-projected sunglasses for herself and Ritsuka. They resembled ones one would wear when witnessing an eclipse. Totally uncool, but practical. She grabbed onto Ritsuka's arm and began to sprint past Caligula, who was currently fending off a VERY unhinged Sader from eating his exposed flesh.

Ritsuka resisted, looking back at his partner in concern. Sure, she was doing well for now– too well, there goes Caligula's face, ugh– but how long will Sader stay like that? "W-wait! Director, I don't wanna leave Sader alone by herself–"

The Director gave him a serious glare. "We are escaping! I suggest you leave your worries about your Servant behind and follow the path of destruction that Queen Boudica is creating!"

Which was conveniently leading to a certain building in particular. Yes, this is definitely where the Grail was located. With a sad face, Ritsuka fondly regarded his Sader one last time before sprinting after the Director.

The throne room was as lavish as one could imagine. Crimson and gold banners. An immaculate floor that reflected the visage of the uninvited. And of course, an opulent throne where a regal regent resided, golden cup in hand.

Or would have been. Instead, an empty-handed woman decked in gold chains and a weary expression greeted the Chaldeans and one pissed-off Iceni Queen.

Ritsuka took one look at the empress and tried very hard not to stare too hard at her…clothes. Or rather the lack of them. This can't be real, he thought uncomfortably, This is the third time today. I swear I'm starring in a historical fiction hentai.

"Queen Boudica," regarded the chained woman respectfully. "I see Caligula did a number on you. But despite that, I am impressed you have Emperor Nero at the palm of your hand." She meant it literally.

"Empress Zenobia," hissed the Queen. She brandished her sword with her free hand. "I will be taking Rome."

The Empress stood up slowly and held her hands up in shame. "Alright, you win. I failed to defend Rome from that Dragon. I am a failure. Rome is yours."

Ritsuka chewed on some popcorn Chaldea sent over a nearby leyline, anticipating this long, sad cutscene between those bullied by Rome. "...am I supposed to feel sad for her?"

"Never mind that, where's the GRAIL?" The Director got in between the two women, getting angrier by the second and ignoring common sense. "We're not here for a freaking PITY PARTY! Where is the Grail, Empress Zenobia?!"

"Oh the Grail," replied Zenobia, annoyed. "You mean this?" She pulled out a golden statue of a Roman man in a Y pose. At the base of the trophy it said one word in bold letters:

ROMA

The Empress sighed. "Only a Roman can use it. I can't get it to work."

It was at this moment that chibi Nero had enough of no screentime (attention) and bit Boudica's hand, hard. The surprised Queen instinctively relaxed her grip, only for Nero to make a jump for Zenobia's Grail. Unsurprisingly, the Iceni Queen thrust her sword and cleanly pierced Nero in the torso.

"U….U-umu…."

Her emerald eyes went dull and her tiny form went limp on the Sword of Boudica. Ritsuka cried, his salty tears spilling into his popcorn. "NEROOOO!"

Director Animusphere cursed and threw a tantrum. "Damn you! NOW how are we going to stabilize the Singularity?!"

"Oh my Umu," cried Da Vinci from the comms, "The Emperor is dead!"

"Catharsis," said Boudica dryly, still holding the sword out. The chibi's blood dripped to the floor, staining the golden tile with crimson splotches. "But I want more."

Zenobia set down the Grail where the blood was spilled. "Fuck Rome," she declared, holding her bejeweled hand out to Boudica.

"Fuck Rome. All of my kin despise Rome," agreed Boudica. They shook hands over the bloodstained Grail and a magic circle manifested below them.

Da Vinci over the comms crackled to life as the two Chaldeans simply stared agape at the mess with their shades. "What the– Director! Ritsuka, get away! They're summoning a powerful Servant by their sheer hatred!"

"But the Grail–" The Director reached for the light, only to grasp nothing. Ritsuka pulled her away, both of them tumbling and rolling to a stop near a column.

When the light finally settled, the women, the Grail– everything was gone. All that remained was the bloodstained, smoking floor. For some reason, the ground shook periodically.

Ritsuka rubbed his eyes hard and looked around. "What in the world? Where did the Servant signal go, Da Vinci?"

"Er…it's coming from a distance, actually. Hmm. Did the Grail mistake its coordinates? Wait a second, there's another powerful signal right in front of you! No way, this is–"

A figure stepped out from the ruined throne room. Under the light of the moon from the hole in the ceiling, Ritsuka recognized the Harry Potter reject with the Speedwagon hair almost immediately.

"It's uh…erm…." Ritsuka squinted hard at the man. He knows this guy! "...who are you again?"

"LEV! Oh my god it's LEV! I MISSED YOU! I KNEW YOU WOULD COME THROUGH FOR US!" The Director came running to the man's arms with the pure innocence of a girl greeting someone they love.

But Lev wasn't having any of it. He gave an unassuming glance at the incoming woman and….pushed her away coldly. "Don't touch me, trash. I never had hope for any of you in the first place."

Director Animusphere fell flat on her ass in slow motion and started to tear up. "L-Lev? But why?"

He glared down at her in disgust. "Bitch. I did not send you to die on a spicy meatball just to see your hideous face again!" The Director started to ugly cry on the ground, inconsolable.

"Eh?" Ritsuka tilted his head. "But you didn't?"

Awkward silence ensued, save for the muted rumbling of the ground and the white-haired woman's sobs.

Lev stood frozen as if a buffering signal was directly above his head.

Ritsuka coughed.

Finally it disappeared and he resumed gloating.

"Never mind that. Humanity is a mistake and deserves to be destroyed. To ensure that is the mission given to us by [REDACTED]. And I can't believe you managed to save Olga after I specifically went through all the trouble to NOT have that happen! You're ruining the plan by [REDACTED]!" When Lev said [REDACTED], his mouth literally manifested a black censor bar.

"...how are you doing that with your mouth?" Ritsuka asked.

"NEVER MIND how I am doing it!" He thrust his arm out, preparing a magecraft attack. "You are all dying here NOW. What do you have to say for yourself, idiot Master?!"

The rumbling was getting louder. The Director was still suffering from the apparent betrayal of her confidant. It was getting hard to think.

Ritsuka clenched his fist with the Command Seals. With a desperation only found in people without any dignity, he cried out for the one person he could trust to take care of this.

"SADER! HELP MEEEEEEE!"

Lev cackled as he began to turn into a giant magenta tentacle. "You fool, a mere Servant has no power over a [Demon God Pillar] like me–"

Suddenly the throne room walls burst and a VERY HUNGRY Sader pounced on Lev's monstrous form with the ferocity of a tiger. OH YEAH!

She was looking worse for wear with her blue dress's hem being extremely tattered and stained in various shades of red and gray, but the glint in her eldritch sea green eyes had yet to fade. Sader licked her bloody lips upon seeing the fully formed Demon God Pillar. She latched her arms and legs onto the trunk and began to sink her teeth wherever she could.

"AAAAUGH! AAAUUUGHH! YOU IDIOTIC SERVANT! STOP TRYING TO EAT ME! AAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGHHHHH!"

"RAAAAAAAAAAAUUUGHHHH!" Sader brandished her kitchen knife out of nowhere and began plunging it repeatedly into the writhing demonic tentacle with the passion of a horror film serial killer. She wasn't just randomly hacking away, she was chopping him up into edible pieces!

By this time the Master wasn't fazed by the extremely gory scene unfolding itself in front of him. "Go, Sader, go," he cheered, pumping his fist in the air. "Eat him out!"


[DENIAL]


Olga Marie Animusphere jerked her head away from the horrible sight. That was Lev. Her friend, the only one who cared for her even when she went 100% Maximum No Chill, he was being treated like a meat free-for-all by that voracious Sader!

No, this is some kind of illusion. The moon was out, wasn't it? Maybe her glasses didn't work. They had long disappeared anyway. Surely that had to be it. Lev wasn't a giant ugly tentacle spewing death threats. She was just…under the influence.

"It's a lie," she whispered, shaking her head. "I'm just dreaming. That's all. I'm going to pinch myself now and this will all go away."

She pinched herself. Hard.

Nothing changed. Lev was still an immobilized tentacle. He was still being mauled to death by that feral woman.

Then—


[BARGAIN]


"Fujimaru. Fujimaru, please. As your Director, I am explicitly asking that you cease in encouraging Sader."

Ritsuka shook his head. "No can do, chief. Sader finds him very tasty, and besides, he said mean things about you! Can you really call him a friend?"

He had a point, but– no! "Fujimaru. I am no longer asking." She gave him her best pained look. "Lev is a dear friend of mine! Just get her to stop! I can talk it out with him, he will surely listen to me!"

Again, the idiot boy refused. "No, Director. He literally told you that you should be dead. And on a spicy meatball. And he called you a bitch. I don't think you two are that close."

Olga turned to face the struggling Demon God Pillar that once was her friend. "Lev! Hang in there! I'll figure something out! I'm going to save you! I promise, I'll do anything!

The Demon God Pillar ceased its moans to cough out something coherent. "ANYTHING, OLGA?"

Olga inexplicably grew cat ears and a kawaii accent. "Anything fow yew pwofessor Wev!" (OWO)

"THEN PERISH."

Only one option left. She stomped towards the one responsible for this pain, this nightmare– only to remember that this particular Servant operates on a "No thoughts, stomach empty" principle. With an abrupt stop, she spun around to face Ritsuka once more.


[ANGER]


"Fujimaru," seethed Director Animusphere as she held up a finger gun. An extra-strength Gandr spell was fully locked and loaded. "I am no longer asking. Get. Her. To. Stop."

"Director no! You're violating OSHA," cried out Da Vinci. "More than you already are by turning the rest of the Master Candidates into popsicles!"

"SHUT. THE FUCK. UP," yelled the Director, hyperventilating and still aiming at the boy. "I HAD NO CHOICE!"

Then it happened. The ceiling collapsed as an earthquake rumbled the ground to life, forcing Olga Marie to shoot upwards at the falling chunks of stone. Unfortunately, this had the consequence of slamming a bright beam of moonlight directly onto the Director.

She looked up…and saw something no mortal should ever see with naked eyes from a down-up perspective.

A giant woman.

A giant, tan woman. The thicc tan thighs of the giant, tan woman. Her white panties. Her exposed stomach. All the way to her chest and her face.

The gargantuan entity stared down back at her with emotionless crimson eyes that reflected the madness of the moon. Luminous, radiant, almost like a spotlight.

"Bad Civilization," said the giant to her.

"G-Goddamnit…" The Director squinted at the blinding skylight. She aimed poorly and shot a stray Gandr at the voyeuristic entity. It fizzled uselessly against her exposed skin. "Just die already!"

"Saber-class signal," stated Da Vinci. "Director, Ritsuka, do you copy? That's a HUUUGEE SABER! Her power levels are over 9,000 and climbing! Its Saint Graph surpasses a regular Servant– this is a massive threat to humanity! Database identification reveals her name to be HSID-008-V02, Attila the Hun–"

But Ritsuka wasn't listening. He wasn't even looking at Sader anymore. No, the boy watched in horror as the Director gripped her head with two hands and collapsed onto the broken stone floor, thrashing about like a poorly coded video game character.


[d e s pa i R]


"Daddy, when I grow up I'm going to be the best Animusphere mage ever! I'll make you so proud of me! You'll see!"

"Sure you will, my little biological experiment," he said. "I totally believe in you," said Marisbury Animusphere, ruffling her hair with affection (false).

Stop.

The report grew wrinkled in her trembling hands. Why. Why was this paper such an eyesore? That report was a GODDAMN LIAR. What the hell did "Zero percent Aptitude" mean? She was Marisbury Animusphere's heiress. This paper was not going to stop her, because she can't read.

Her father didn't seem to care. "I wonder, why is that…?"

Stop it.

All around her are familiar faces. Those acknowledged by her father. That idiot chosen by sheer luck. Her only friend. AND HIM.

"Eyesore. Hysterical Woman."

"Talentless."

"Please, get her out of here ASAP."

"Dude, she doesn't even have Rayshift potential. She's even more normie than a civilian!"

"Peepee poopoo"

"Bitch. You should have died on that spicy meatball!"

"Y̵̜͓̦͗̕ͅǫ̷̮̰̬͔̬̐͌͑͘͝u̵̼̙̲̘̮͚̻̓̂̃̌̂̚͜͝r̷̨̩͒̓̌̓͐̕̕͠ ̸͖͓̟͈̺̇͛̎̔̿̕̚f̴̨̧̢͎͕̭̟̈́̃̃͋̈́̉̒̿ạ̵̗̱̉ͅt̷̡̹͍̫̟̽̃̎̆͘̚ͅh̴̙̙̠͉̥͗̿̀e̸̟̞̤͕̓͐̈r̶̖͙̯̈́́̇̉͛̈́̾ ̴̥̗͖͈́̐͑̚l̴̨̢̛͉̝̲̩̭̳͒̏̚ò̴͖͇̋̂͌́̒v̵͕͈̅͒́̎ē̸̻̱̆ͅd̷͔͉̩͚̯̀̈́̏ ̵̹̰̍̔̔̔͒̍m̵̢̦̼̯̮̅̓ẹ̸̝̩̜̿̏̌͂ ̵̺͎̤̯̱̰̑m̵̩̓̉ö̵̺̳̞̲́̓̆̀̑͗͐͠ͅr̵̡̺͇̼͍̹̖̄̂͑́͗͐͐͘ē̶̙ ̵̜͂̂̿̍ţ̶̹̗͓̗̙̠̽̇͆h̶̝͎̅̅̈́̚a̸̗̹̻̖̼̩͑̈́̒n̷͚̜̜͎̝̩̲̻̔̈́̒̒ ̴̣͕̝͔̋̔͛͠h̷̙͎̹̺͖̿e̸͎̼̙̺͛̀̿͛͂ ̷̧̛̻͛̆̂e̸̫̞͇̜͙̦̒́̽̈́̇͜͠͠v̶̗̹͇̩̀͆͊ͅe̴̡̢͔̟͕̻͗̌̕r̸̨̭̝͎͇̍̓͛̓̽ ̷̝̙̠̭͎́̒̈́͛̏̊̐c̸̡̦͑͂̓͠o̶̫̗͌̍͛͆ͅǘ̴̝͒͑͊̓̕l̵͇͖̹̙̘̪̘͕̒͑̍͒̕d̶̼͙̭̽̈͌̂̕ ̶̳͕͎̙̎̄͛́̂̈́̆͗l̸̨̲̱̦̽̓̓̄o̷̞͕͙̼̱̒̍͛̐̌v̷̢̬͓͉̯̯̼̆̀̋̕̚͜ẽ̶̲̪͉͔͚̩̣̀̈́͛̆̀͒ ̸̦͚̗̟͔̅͐̐͆̚ỳ̵̪̤͇o̷̘̦̹̤̲͂ų̷̩͚̒͆́̔̒̊̉.̴͙̳̆́͒̆"

GET. OUT. WHY ARE YOU HERE. GET OUT. THAT BLONDE MAN. WHAT AN EYESORE. YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME. YOU DON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME. ACKNOWLEDGE ME. NOBODY LOOKS AT ME. THEY ALL LOOK AT YOU. TO YOU. YOU. YOU. YOU. YOu. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. That blonde man. W̴̥̯͎̰̼̾̿̍̂̕̕ȍ̷͉̹̰̪͒̈́͝͝ď̵͚̞̖̮͉ͅi̵̧̬͍̩̩̤̎̔̆͐̀̚ḿ̸̟̻͉͍̰̳̤̊͘͝ḛ̴͕̌̇̏̀͜͝W̶͙̏̓́͋̿̉̒͘ͅǫ̵̹͈͇͕͠d̵͙̙̈́ͅi̷͍͙͇̬̯͐̽̆̈́ḿ̷͉͈͌̈́̿̓́̓ḙ̷̞̖̱̪̃͐̎̋͌͑͌̕W̸̨̨̱̪̣̳̑͑̌̓͌͒͘̚͜ͅo̶̯̮̟̲̭͖̎̀̎̃̔d̶̢̦͝ḯ̵̝̱͛̓̄̑̔m̷̝̈̽͆̐͊̀ẻ̴̠̘̹̫̒̓̑̇͜W̶͙͓͋̏ǫ̸̪͎̓̀̂͆͋̈́͘d̶̙͖͒͆͜ị̶͉̖̭̼͍̉͝ͅm̵̡̙͓̥̹͙̞͆̑̋͝e̶̖͇͑͜W̶̛̖͖͌͐o̶̡̪̩͍̘͛̕ḑ̸̯̦͓̈́͝i̵̦̝͌̓͊̑̿̐m̴̢̼̜͑͆͗̅͑ẽ̸͇̿̾̇́W̶̧̧̻̳̤͍̊̉́̋̈́̾̎͝ͅo̷̜̥̤͎̮̞̲͊͆͑̃̂̎̂͜͝d̵͔̻͉̋̎̿͊ḭ̷̢̀̊̋́̄̕̚m̵̙͔͇͕͛̆̔͜e̵̠̍̂̓̽̽̊͠W̵͉̼̓̋͝ó̸̧̖̝̾͛̑͋̓ḍ̷̯̆͗͊͜͝i̸̢̥̦͛̂̃͐͐̓̉͜m̴̦̰̦͒̈̑͑̊͝ë̶̱́̂́̅̓̍́͠W̵͇͋ó̶̡̳̺̜̲̙̭̈́͛̇̅d̴̤̣͓̦͋͗̚i̵͓͓̫͒̆̀̌̄̂͘͘m̴̨̻̰̣̲̆̃̋̔̈́̕͜ͅȩ̸͚͉͕̣̃̌̅́̓̍͠W̴͕̲̦͐̊̾͆́̀̒ö̶̡̘̥̞̖͕̋́ͅd̶̗̭͇͚̔̇̚í̴̗̝̣̈̌m̶̧̮̩̣̣̮͎̺̎͑̚e̶̢̘͎͎̯͇͑̒̉̆̂̎̏̀Ẃ̴̢̝̖̥͎̠͠ơ̵̡̟̦͕̞̘̙͛̏́̔̈́̈́͒d̶̹̗͋̓̒͒i̸̗͊̑̿͋m̴̛̺͕̲͇̭̠̾̆̿̀̓̚͠é̵̪̤̯̰͆͒̅̈̓̋̂Ẇ̶̱̬̩͉̫̺͒̌͛͆̑o̵͕̯̬̍̒̓̚d̴̢̧̙̗͇͇̤͊̔̓ͅì̶̢̝̩͎͊͗̂̀̉̈́͠m̶̡͖͙͔̺͌́̔̅͂̑̒ê̸̛̹͚͒̀͊́W̵̧͎͖̉ô̷̠̟̺̏̒̒̚͝d̷͎̦̠͖̜̩͑i̵̧̫̩̅̽͗͋̉̈ṃ̴͛ę̶̀̌̽̇͌̆̚W̵̨̲͓̲̉̇̓̊͌̄͜o̸͈̳͈͕̠͕͕̓̀̈̈́̓d̴͈̎́́̈́͛í̴̢̯̙͍̗͓̠̅̈́̀͝m̸͎̘̓̈́́͐̋̕͠͝ë̶̙͕̞̈́W̶̢͎̟͙̜͕̦̻̽͗̅̌ọ̴̪̭̮̊͊̊̋͌̾ͅd̵̛̹̼͈̣̰̻͌̒́̔̔̕͠i̶̢̻̙̪̻̿̉̎͝m̴̡͍͖̩̦̐̃̐͋e̷̡͚̟̝̩̱̦͓̓̍WodimeW̴̥̯͎̰̼̾̿̍̂̕̕ȍ̷͉̹̰̪͒̈́͝͝ď̵͚̞̖̮͉ͅi̵̧̬͍̩̩̤̎̔̆͐̀̚ḿ̸̟̻͉͍̰̳̤̊͘͝ḛ̴͕̌̇̏̀͜͝W̶͙̏̓́͋̿̉̒͘ͅǫ̵̹͈͇͕͠d̵͙̙̈́ͅi̷͍͙͇̬̯͐̽̆̈́ḿ̷͉͈͌̈́̿̓́̓ḙ̷̞̖̱̪̃͐̎̋͌͑͌̕W̸̨̨̱̪̣̳̑͑̌̓͌͒͘̚͜ͅo̶̯̮̟̲̭͖̎̀̎̃̔d̶̢̦͝ḯ̵̝̱͛̓̄̑̔m̷̝̈̽͆̐͊̀ẻ̴̠̘̹̫̒̓̑̇͜W̶͙͓͋̏ǫ̸̪͎̓̀̂͆͋̈́͘d̶̙͖͒͆͜ị̶͉̖̭̼͍̉͝ͅm̵̡̙͓̥̹͙̞͆̑̋͝e̶̖͇͑͜W̶̛̖͖͌͐o̶̡̪̩͍̘͛̕ḑ̸̯̦͓̈́͝i̵̦̝͌̓͊̑̿̐m̴̢̼̜͑͆͗̅͑ẽ̸͇̿̾̇́W̶̧̧̻̳̤͍̊̉́̋̈́̾̎͝ͅo̷̜̥̤͎̮̞̲͊͆͑̃̂̎̂͜͝d̵͔̻͉̋̎̿͊ḭ̷̢̀̊̋́̄̕̚m̵̙͔͇͕͛̆̔͜e̵̠̍̂̓̽̽̊͠W̵͉̼̓̋͝ó̸̧̖̝̾͛̑͋̓ḍ̷̯̆͗͊͜͝i̸̢̥̦͛̂̃͐͐̓̉͜m̴̦̰̦͒̈̑͑̊͝ë̶̱́̂́̅̓̍́͠W̵͇͋ó̶̡̳̺̜̲̙̭̈́͛̇̅d̴̤̣͓̦͋͗̚i̵͓͓̫͒̆̀̌̄̂͘͘m̴̨̻̰̣̲̆̃̋̔̈́̕͜ͅȩ̸͚͉͕̣̃̌̅́̓̍͠W̴͕̲̦͐̊̾͆́̀̒ö̶̡̘̥̞̖͕̋́ͅd̶̗̭͇͚̔̇̚í̴̗̝̣̈̌m̶̧̮̩̣̣̮͎̺̎͑̚e̶̢̘͎͎̯͇͑̒̉̆̂̎̏̀Ẃ̴̢̝̖̥͎̠͠ơ̵̡̟̦͕̞̘̙͛̏́̔̈́̈́͒d̶̹̗͋̓̒͒i̸̗͊̑̿͋m̴̛̺͕̲͇̭̠̾̆̿̀̓̚͠é̵̪̤̯̰͆͒̅̈̓̋̂Ẇ̶̱̬̩͉̫̺͒̌͛͆̑o̵͕̯̬̍̒̓̚d̴̢̧̙̗͇͇̤͊̔̓ͅì̶̢̝̩͎͊͗̂̀̉̈́͠m̶̡͖͙͔̺͌́̔̅͂̑̒ê̸̛̹͚͒̀͊́W̵̧͎͖̉ô̷̠̟̺̏̒̒̚͝d̷͎̦̠͖̜̩͑i̵̧̫̩̅̽͗͋̉̈ṃ̴͛ę̶̀̌̽̇͌̆̚W̵̨̲͓̲̉̇̓̊͌̄͜o̸͈̳͈͕̠͕͕̓̀̈̈́̓d̴͈̎́́̈́͛í̴̢̯̙͍̗͓̠̅̈́̀͝m̸͎̘̓̈́́͐̋̕͠͝ë̶̙͕̞̈́W̶̢͎̟͙̜͕̦̻̽͗̅̌ọ̴̪̭̮̊͊̊̋͌̾ͅd̵̛̹̼͈̣̰̻͌̒́̔̔̕͠i̶̢̻̙̪̻̿̉̎͝m̴̡͍͖̩̦̐̃̐͋e̷̡͚̟̝̩̱̦͓̓̍W̴̥̯͎̰̼̾̿̍̂̕̕ȍ̷͉̹̰̪͒̈́͝͝ď̵͚̞̖̮͉ͅi̵̧̬͍̩̩̤̎̔̆͐̀̚ḿ̸̟̻͉͍̰̳̤̊͘͝ḛ̴͕̌̇̏̀͜͝W̶͙̏̓́͋̿̉̒͘ͅǫ̵̹͈͇͕͠d̵͙̙̈́ͅi̷͍͙͇̬̯͐̽̆̈́ḿ̷͉͈͌̈́̿̓́̓ḙ̷̞̖̱̪̃͐̎̋͌͑͌̕W̸̨̨̱̪̣̳̑͑̌̓͌͒͘̚͜ͅo̶̯̮̟̲̭͖̎̀̎̃̔d̶̢̦͝ḯ̵̝̱͛̓̄̑̔m̷̝̈̽͆̐͊̀ẻ̴̠̘̹̫̒̓̑̇͜W̶͙͓͋̏ǫ̸̪͎̓̀̂͆͋̈́͘d̶̙͖͒͆͜ị̶͉̖̭̼͍̉͝ͅm̵̡̙͓̥̹͙̞͆̑̋͝e̶̖͇͑͜W̶̛̖͖͌͐o̶̡̪̩͍̘͛̕ḑ̸̯̦͓̈́͝i̵̦̝͌̓͊̑̿̐m̴̢̼̜͑͆͗̅͑ẽ̸͇̿̾̇́W̶̧̧̻̳̤͍̊̉́̋̈́̾̎͝ͅo̷̜̥̤͎̮̞̲͊͆͑̃̂̎̂͜͝d̵͔̻͉̋̎̿͊ḭ̷̢̀̊̋́̄̕̚m̵̙͔͇͕͛̆̔͜e̵̠̍̂̓̽̽̊͠W̵͉̼̓̋͝ó̸̧̖̝̾͛̑͋̓ḍ̷̯̆͗͊͜͝i̸̢̥̦͛̂̃͐͐̓̉͜m̴̦̰̦͒̈̑͑̊͝ë̶̱́̂́̅̓̍́͠W̵͇͋ó̶̡̳̺̜̲̙̭̈́͛̇̅d̴̤̣͓̦͋͗̚i̵͓͓̫͒̆̀̌̄̂͘͘m̴̨̻̰̣̲̆̃̋̔̈́̕͜ͅȩ̸͚͉͕̣̃̌̅́̓̍͠W̴͕̲̦͐̊̾͆́̀̒ö̶̡̘̥̞̖͕̋́ͅd̶̗̭͇͚̔̇̚í̴̗̝̣̈̌m̶̧̮̩̣̣̮͎̺̎͑̚e̶̢̘͎͎̯͇͑̒̉̆̂̎̏̀Ẃ̴̢̝̖̥͎̠͠ơ̵̡̟̦͕̞̘̙͛̏́̔̈́̈́͒d̶̹̗͋̓̒͒i̸̗͊̑̿͋m̴̛̺͕̲͇̭̠̾̆̿̀̓̚͠é̵̪̤̯̰͆͒̅̈̓̋̂Ẇ̶̱̬̩͉̫̺͒̌͛͆̑o̵͕̯̬̍̒̓̚d̴̢̧̙̗͇͇̤͊̔̓ͅì̶̢̝̩͎͊͗̂̀̉̈́͠m̶̡͖͙͔̺͌́̔̅͂̑̒ê̸̛̹͚͒̀͊́W̵̧͎͖̉ô̷̠̟̺̏̒̒̚͝d̷͎̦̠͖̜̩͑i̵̧̫̩̅̽͗͋̉̈ṃ̴͛ę̶̀̌̽̇͌̆̚W̵̨̲͓̲̉̇̓̊͌̄͜o̸͈̳͈͕̠͕͕̓̀̈̈́̓d̴͈̎́́̈́͛í̴̢̯̙͍̗͓̠̅̈́̀͝m̸͎̘̓̈́́͐̋̕͠͝ë̶̙͕̞̈́W̶̢͎̟͙̜͕̦̻̽͗̅̌ọ̴̪̭̮̊͊̊̋͌̾ͅd̵̛̹̼͈̣̰̻͌̒́̔̔̕͠i̶̢̻̙̪̻̿̉̎͝m̴̡͍͖̩̦̐̃̐͋e̷̡͚̟̝̩̱̦͓̓̍W̴̥̯͎̰̼̾̿̍̂̕̕ȍ̷͉̹̰̪͒̈́͝͝ď̵͚̞̖̮͉ͅi̵̧̬͍̩̩̤̎̔̆͐̀̚ḿ̸̟̻͉͍̰̳̤̊͘͝ḛ̴͕̌̇̏̀͜͝W̶͙̏̓́͋̿̉̒͘ͅǫ̵̹͈͇͕͠d̵͙̙̈́ͅi̷͍͙͇̬̯͐̽̆̈́ḿ̷͉͈͌̈́̿̓́̓ḙ̷̞̖̱̪̃͐̎̋͌͑͌̕W̸̨̨̱̪̣̳̑͑̌̓͌͒͘̚͜ͅo̶̯̮̟̲̭͖̎̀̎̃̔d̶̢̦͝ḯ̵̝̱͛̓̄̑̔m̷̝̈̽͆̐͊̀ẻ̴̠̘̹̫̒̓̑̇͜W̶͙͓͋̏ǫ̸̪͎̓̀̂͆͋̈́͘d̶̙͖͒͆͜ị̶͉̖̭̼͍̉͝ͅm̵̡̙͓̥̹͙̞͆̑̋͝e̶̖͇͑͜W̶̛̖͖͌͐o̶̡̪̩͍̘͛̕ḑ̸̯̦͓̈́͝i̵̦̝͌̓͊̑̿̐m̴̢̼̜͑͆͗̅͑ẽ̸͇̿̾̇́W̶̧̧̻̳̤͍̊̉́̋̈́̾̎͝ͅo̷̜̥̤͎̮̞̲͊͆͑̃̂̎̂͜͝d̵͔̻͉̋̎̿͊ḭ̷̢̀̊̋́̄̕̚m̵̙͔͇͕͛̆̔͜e̵̠̍̂̓̽̽̊͠W̵͉̼̓̋͝ó̸̧̖̝̾͛̑͋̓ḍ̷̯̆͗͊͜͝i̸̢̥̦͛̂̃͐͐̓̉͜m̴̦̰̦͒̈̑͑̊͝ë̶̱́̂́̅̓̍́͠W̵͇͋ó̶̡̳̺̜̲̙̭̈́͛̇̅d̴̤̣͓̦͋͗̚i̵͓͓̫͒̆̀̌̄̂͘͘m̴̨̻̰̣̲̆̃̋̔̈́̕͜ͅȩ̸͚͉͕̣̃̌̅́̓̍͠W̴͕̲̦͐̊̾͆́̀̒ö̶̡̘̥̞̖͕̋́ͅd̶̗̭͇͚̔̇̚í̴̗̝̣̈̌m̶̧̮̩̣̣̮͎̺̎͑̚e̶̢̘͎͎̯͇͑̒̉̆̂̎̏̀Ẃ̴̢̝̖̥͎̠͠ơ̵̡̟̦͕̞̘̙͛̏́̔̈́̈́͒d̶̹̗͋̓̒͒i̸̗͊̑̿͋m̴̛̺͕̲͇̭̠̾̆̿̀̓̚͠é̵̪̤̯̰͆͒̅̈̓̋̂Ẇ̶̱̬̩͉̫̺͒̌͛͆̑o̵͕̯̬̍̒̓̚d̴̢̧̙̗͇͇̤͊̔̓ͅì̶̢̝̩͎͊͗̂̀̉̈́͠m̶̡͖͙͔̺͌́̔̅͂̑̒ê̸̛̹͚͒̀͊́W̵̧͎͖̉ô̷̠̟̺̏̒̒̚͝d̷͎̦̠͖̜̩͑i̵̧̫̩̅̽͗͋̉̈ṃ̴͛ę̶̀̌̽̇͌̆̚W̵̨̲͓̲̉̇̓̊͌̄͜o̸͈̳͈͕̠͕͕̓̀̈̈́̓d̴͈̎́́̈́͛í̴̢̯̙͍̗͓̠̅̈́̀͝m̸͎̘̓̈́́͐̋̕͠͝ë̶̙͕̞̈́W̶̢͎̟͙̜͕̦̻̽͗̅̌ọ̴̪̭̮̊͊̊̋͌̾ͅd̵̛̹̼͈̣̰̻͌̒́̔̔̕͠i̶̢̻̙̪̻̿̉̎͝m̴̡͍͖̩̦̐̃̐͋e̷̡͚̟̝̩̱̦͓̓̍

DISAPPEAR!

The glass shattered and Olga found herself face-to-face with herself in the void. Or rather, a child version. The Father's Daughter.

"Enough already," said Olga Lily. "Nobody likes you when you start ugly crying. That makes people even more eager to get away from you."

"Shut up," said the older one hysterically. "Just shut! The fuck up! Nobody asked for your opinion! W-without the Animusphere name, you're nothing!"

"No u," replied Olga Lily without skipping a beat. She came closer and gave the sobbing woman a good, hard slap across the face.

SLAP!

"You….hit me." Olga winced as she touched her cheek.

"You father wouldn't. So someone had to," replied a male's voice that totally wasn't hers.

Olga suddenly felt wet and cold as she was mercifully wrenched out of her nightmarish headspace.

Did someone…finally pay attention to her?


[acceptance…?]


Olga slowly let her eyes flutter open to see Ritsuka suspiciously looming over her. His jacket was off, revealing the black undershirt of the Chaldea uniform. Normally she would yell about it, but a heavy tiredness pinned her to the ground.

"You were having a seizure and then whatever trauma you were going through was so cringe it made the giant Servant– Altera or something– outside actually shed one single tear, which was actually really REALLY big, and it fell right on top of you and you started drowning so I had to pull you out and–" Ritsuka gasped and took deep breaths to recover. "Are you okay?"

"I'm never okay…."

She stared straight ahead, a thousand-yard stare to the night sky. But oddly enough, her Mage Crest was glowing. A seedling popped out from it, growing into a golden five-petaled flower made from pure magical energy. It hung on her forehead like an antenna of light.

"Da Vinciiiiiii! Director turned into a pikmin! What do I do?!"


"Um, hello? Is this thing on? There's still some things unresolved here, you guys! What about that massive Saber-class signal terrorizing Rome? How is Avenger and her dragon holding up? Are we going to sit here and just watch? Seriously?"

Da Vinci sipped coffee from her place in Chaldea. "Don't bother, Sylvia. They're having a moment."

"A moment, my ass," snapped the blonde staff member. "They all need to put the mission above personal matters!"

"Mages, am I right?" An engineer sighed and shook his head, swiveling his chair lazily as he turned towards the Fourth Wall. "You ran out of runtime too, didn't ya, you bastards."


TO BE CONTINUED


[a/n]: "I'm not gonna waste time on the next chapter" - so that was a fucking lie. By the time this posts, AnimeJapan will be a thing, so uh, happy Collab announcement! I swear, every new chapter gets longer and longer. Anyways the real end is near for the Nero Show. Guess it wasn't really about her after all. Isn't it sad, Nero? But then again it's not- there's still Arcade! Finally, the real Mother Harlot design is coming!

As always, there will be more fanservice~!