A dimensional journey starting from the Dragon Clan

--so afraid.

——So scared, so scared, so scared, so scared, so scared, so scared. Don't don't don't don't.

The bones creaked, the depths of his abdomen felt like they were being burned, and he began to feel sick deep in his throat.

but--

Even so, she didn't stop.

"……Step aside."

Ayaka climbed up the stairs step by step with her feet that had reached their limit, while her joints and muscle fibers creaked.

While shedding tears, she raised her eyes and stared at "Little Red Riding Hood".

"Whether you kill me or curse me. You must have such a right."

The world within this barrier is filled with instantaneous and common death.

In terms of results, it may be that the excessive atmosphere of death paralyzed the fear of Ayaka, who had been fleeing from death.

"I'm scared of you, but..."

"——"

The part of the face that could barely be seen under the red cloak, that is, Little Red Riding Hood's mouth opened, seemed to be saying something to Ayaka.

However, Ayaka continued to move forward without any scruples, planning to pass directly by Little Red Riding Hood.

"Now, I'm even more afraid of running away from the swordsman."

In an instant——

Little Red Riding Hood opened and closed her mouth slightly, murmuring something only Ayaka could hear.

"...■■■■■"

"Eh……?"

Ayaka heard what she said and turned her face away without thinking, but Little Red Riding Hood was no longer there.

After a moment of confusion, Ayaka patted her cheeks with both hands and continued walking towards the broken wall in search of the swordsman.

"Ah...what? You're actually here, Ayaka."

Swordsman, right there.

Just like when we first met at the opera house, he stood there with an upright and majestic attitude.

However, unlike then, his figure was soaked in blood.

Although he did not fall to the ground like he did in the church, the claws of Cerberus tore his armor apart, and blood dripped from the torn parts of the armor.

"Swordsman...!"

"Don't make that expression, this kind of injury is just a minor matter——"

"Although this is the third or fourth time this argument has occurred, I have already come to my senses, so shut up and listen!"

"good."

The swordsman looked at Ayaka who was pressing forward with a frightening seriousness. He inadvertently forgot about his own injuries and nodded.

"Swordsman...you are hesitant to use my magic power and suppress your own power, right?"

"..."

"I have decided that I will never run away from you again, nor will I run away from the 'Holy Grail War' again. I have decided to fight with you! If you ask me when I decided, I can only say that just now ! Let me apologize first!"

"Ah, um... ok."

Be angry and apologize bluntly at the same time. Facing Ayaka who made such a difficult transformation, the swordsman nodded again reflexively.

Although this is something that she has been thinking about for the past few days——Ayaka already understands.

Afraid of everything, what lies ahead that keeps escaping?

The situation I am in is a question before this kind of question and answer is established - this is already the place I arrived after escaping.

If there is anything ahead that we can escape from, we can only look for it here.

"If I die after being drained of my magic power, it doesn't matter! No, it can't be insignificant, but it's much better than dying with a swordsman in a place like this without even knowing what happened! So, I Do what I can do!"

While listening to the sound of fighting coming from outside, Ayaka held the swordsman's hand tightly and pressed it on one of the command spell-like things engraved on her body.

"If you, a swordsman, want to pay the price for the magic power you receive from me, then I hope you can teach me how to fight. Even throwing rocks or something is fine. If it still hinders you, then teach me magic power. The amplification method or usage method can also be used!"

Facing Ayaka who said this to him with a serious expression, the swordsman briefly looked away - and then he answered Ayaka with a serious expression.

"I'm very happy with your affection, and you are also very strong. It's just... I'm on my side now, so I can't respond to you."

"?"

"Obviously you have made up your mind to fight, but I haven't obtained it yet. I need to risk my life and chivalry, and even trample on other people's wishes to find the reason for the Holy Grail. So, my life is not to win the war. It should be used to protect you. Until yesterday, I thought it might be able to coexist with my curiosity...I was taught a good lesson by that shining golden guy."

Hearing these words, Ayaka began to think.

As expected, the swordsman is still injured.

Not just physically. In that battle with the golden heroic spirit, his own heart was also wedged into a wedge.

A swordsman has no fear of others. So it was definitely not because he lost to the golden hero or was almost killed by that man that he was afraid.

Even Ayaka is aware of this and it has not changed even now.

However, the current swordsman who does not have "the wish for the Holy Grail" has no purpose in moving forward in this Holy Grail War, even if he is not afraid.

Therefore, it is impossible to completely burn your heart when it comes to fighting.

Although they had only been dating for a few days, Ayaka had already become disgusted with the swordsman's temperament.

"So, it doesn't matter if I disappear. However, the first goal is to let you survive who is involved in the dispute. After ensuring your safety, it would be best if I can use the remaining magic power to challenge the golden king again. .”

"It's okay if you don't have a wish! I don't care if you sell the Holy Grail to get money or something! By the way, didn't you say you wanted to take the music back to the "seat" or to heaven or something. Even if it's such a small thing, It’s okay for children to be willful!”

Hearing Ayaka's words, the swordsman looked away again and smiled bitterly.

"...Don't worry, I'm not in heaven."

"?"

"I am a heroic spirit, and after all, I am a shadow imprinted on the world, so the actual situation is unclear... If there is a heaven, if there is a heaven, then my soul... should be burning in purgatory until the end of mankind. That day."

"...?"

Just when Ayaka was about to ask what that meant, the wall of the building cracked further.

"!"

The two of them turned their gazes, and in front of their eyes were three giant beast's mouths juxtaposed.

At some point, Cerberus grew even larger, taking on a posture that reminded people of the three-headed beast from a tokusatsu drama.

The saliva dripping from the mouth fell to the ground, and immediately poisonous weeds grew.

"Die (sleep)"

The moment when the three songs were announced at the same time and ready to be chewed up together with the entire room in the building——

Faster than the movements of the swordsman and Ayaka, a small fragment spun between the two of them and the giant beast.

"?"

Ayaka tilted her head.

Suddenly, Cerberus's three heads stopped moving at the same time.

The giant beast's three eyes were all focused on the small piece spinning on the ground.

Ayaka, who realized what it was, murmured inadvertently because she understood the true identity of the thing that was too inconsistent with the life-threatening crisis so far.

"...Cookie...?"

It was, exuding the sweet aroma of honey, like a cookie bought from an unknown supermarket.

All beings in this space, including Cerberus, were silent.

But at this moment, an inappropriately brisk voice sounded as expected.

"Bringing Cerberus in was fun, but it was also a failure~"

"Obviously its weakness is very famous!"

The voices of the boy and the girl were too cheerful, as if they were watching the crisis that Ayaka and others had encountered so far as a slasher movie (a slasher-style horror movie, such as "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre").

In fact, the two people were not only nibbling popcorn, but also eating baked snacks and chocolates sold in the market while appearing at the scene.

A hole opened in the patio, and two figures holding umbrellas landed like characters in a movie.

"Ah, this is our first meeting, isn't it? Lord Lionheart and... a girl who, although I don't quite understand it, has very powerful magic!"

The girl wearing a gothic lolita-style dress smiled and twirled her umbrella.

Next to the umbrella that was spinning in circles, the boy who had a very similar face to the girl bowed respectfully.

"...Although there are many things I want to know..."

As if to replace the confused Ayaka's voice, the swordsman asked the two of them with an incredulous expression.

"Why are you holding an umbrella in a building?"

"No, that doesn't matter, right?"

Ayaka frowned unconsciously at the question that failed to replace her at all.

However, the girl twirling the umbrella puffed out her chest with sparkling eyes.

"Thank you for asking! You are really great! I love people who react like this!"

Following the girl's words, the boy spread his arms and said.

"The answer is simple."

"Because it's going to rain here next!"

The next moment - inside the building, a large number of cookie and candy packages began to pour down, and the originally gray ground was dyed in a fashionable color.

It was a scene that seemed to come out of fairy tales or comics and would never happen normally.

Compared to the atmosphere filled with death just now, it was an unreal space in a completely different sense. In such a changed scenery, Ayaka was really speechless this time.

Then, slowly, the snack packages that replaced the raindrops began to grow in size, just like the piles of scrap cars piled up in a car treatment plant. Aren't the snack packages piled up in the room with the high ceiling?

What surprised her the most was——

Because Cerberus stopped moving, after making a sniffing sound from his nose, he wolfed down the candy and wrapped it up.

"What on earth are you..."

Unable to understand the situation, Ayaka asked the boy and girl next to the swordsman.

The girl said while using her umbrella to deflect the candy rain.

"What I want to ask is that this is where we are -! Filia-chan, where do you find someone like you... or something like that?"

"! Are you acquaintances of that person!? Where is that person now?!"

The white girl who forced herself into this town.

After learning that the other party was someone who was destined to that woman, Ayaka became more vigilant towards her while questioning her. However, the answer she received was still unclear.

"Ahaha! I think you're gone. You still have your body! Please be careful not to talk to yourself. After all, I might turn you into a gem for disrespectful reasons. Not sure!"

"?"

"Well, it doesn't matter~ My name is Francesca, and the child here is Francois. In this Holy Grail War, I will serve as the true Caster, the shady, the boss, and the troublemaker... so to speak , you probably understand, right? Do you understand~?"

"????"

Ayaka became even more confused, and the swordsman nodded.

"I see, I didn't understand it at all, but I want to thank you for coming to help us. Although I know that Cerberus will be deprived of his mind by honey biscuits in the legend, but I don't have any on hand."

"It's amazing~ After all, even a watchdog like this, who would be bribed with snacks to let offenders go, can be praised to this day~"

Francesca chuckled and looked outside.

Ayaka was startled and looked out while wary of Cerberus who was greedily eating snacks.

And then - the same thing happened outside, the scene of raining snacks got bigger and bigger, and the Cerberus gathered together and locked them in this mountain of cookies.

"Ah, that's right~ You don't need to thank us?"

"After all, we are here to taint you."

The mysterious duo said this with a grin.

"Eh?"

Ayaka frowned and observed what the other party was planning.

Then, Francesca said while looking back at Ayaka.

"Huh~huh? Compared to the first day when you were almost killed by Khasura-kun, you seem to have become quite strong, right?"

"...Kasura...could it be said that you are the companion of the guy at the opera house?"

"That's right! You clearly had an expression like 'It's so troublesome to live' at that time. Did the hero Lionheart give you a hand, and then you yourself became stronger? ? Or maybe it’s because you’re surrounded by a strong person that you become more powerful? Which one are you?”

"Varied……"

Ayaka, who was suddenly asked this question, couldn't insist that it was not the latter and hesitated.

However, what replaced her was the swordsman's unabashed direct opinion.

"What are you talking about? Ayaka has been very strong from the beginning, and no matter whether she is strong or weak, there are trustworthy people to rely on. Isn't it natural that the momentum will increase? Also, although Ayaka does have a fox-like awe-inspiring Eyes, but she will never do things like ruin the yard or farmland, or pretend to be nice to confuse people."

"It's great that you can say that sincerely! You are really great!"

"I see, I see, indeed, such a person is really a good king! He only acts according to his own principles at that moment!"

It was clear that Francesca's sarcasm was completely useless, but the two of them said this with satisfaction for some reason.

The two looked at Ayakashi again, and said while making movements like a circle dance.

"That's great, I'm so enviable. Is your name Ayaka-chan?"

"You have met a great king! In this way, it is natural to become stronger and trustworthy!"

"That's why I have to apologize to you now? I'm sorry~ I'm sorry!"

"Well, it doesn't matter even if you don't forgive us. If you forgive us, let's get along well! It doesn't matter, this won't hurt your body, so you can rest assured! That's great!"

The two continued to speak as if they were provocative, and Ayaka, who started to get angry no matter what she said, was about to retaliate against them.

"Wait a minute, what are you talking about that is confusing..."

But, just the next moment.

"After all, the next step is just to crush the King's dreams to the ground a little bit."

Francesca's umbrella flashed past and the world turned upside down.

That is, a beautiful castle.

Although it is not being tidied up like a tourist attraction, the manor that can be seen from the surrounding doors or in the middle shows signs of being carefully taken care of. The ancient stone walls and other things also exude a solemn atmosphere, which is in harmony with the deep forest. The place forms a fantastic harmony.

"……Uh-huh?"

Ayaka's voice became high-pitched due to nervousness, and words that seemed to be shocked escaped from her lips.

Until a few seconds ago, he and the swordsman should have been in the building.

But now, both the inorganic cement and glass pieces, as well as the mountain of candy and the figure of the giant-jawed beast in it have completely disappeared.

It was as if such a thing never existed from the beginning.

However, the reason why Ayaka is nervous is not that the scenery of the world has been replaced.

If it were just a scene of the world being turned upside down, I would have just witnessed it not long ago.

The reason why her heart beat faster and she broke out in cold sweat was because she had seen this scenery before.

"Liar...this is...Fuyuki's castle..."

"?"

Ayaka was startled by the sudden voice beside her, and she turned to look.

In front of her sight was the figure of the swordsman who was standing in the same position just now.

"!...Great! Are you okay?!"

"Well, I was surprised, but this... seems to be a more powerful illusion than the 'projection mapping' that that guy from Saint-Germain showed me. Not only the gold, but also the breath of the wind and the earth. Together with the temperature, it perfectly deceives our cognition.”

"Illusion...? It's not teleportation or something like that?"

"Well, I'm afraid we haven't actually moved at all. Judging from the fact that the officers aren't here, it's not space they're deceiving, but our five senses. The magicians among my companions know this trick very well. "

"Oh, I'm very interested in your good friend the magician."

The voice of the boy named Francois sounded, and Ayaka looked around after hearing this voice.

However, the voice was heard but not the person, and like a provocation, this time it was Francesca's voice.

"Tch, I obviously want to trick you and make you think I'm teleporting. It's really boring."

"No, this is really amazing. I have never seen such a sophisticated illusion even when I was alive. It's really amazing. Do you want to be my court magician? That guy Saint-Germain who was originally responsible for this position no matter what I haven’t responded to my call, so I will reuse you instead, okay?”

"...Hey, I think I heard it wrong. You seem to have been saying a certain annoying name from the beginning."

"That name has appeared. Ah, that perverted and useless fraudster may indeed go to meet the King."

Francesca's tone, which had been obviously happy until just now, obviously dropped, but the swordsman just continued to respond calmly.

"No, no matter how you say it, the term "perverted loser fraudster" is too much? That guy is just a top-notch fantastic loser aristocrat."

"That's too much for you, right?"

Ayaka, who had seen the "Saint Germain" in her dream, couldn't make any more complaints about it, but Ayaka, who was originally nervous, was able to calm down and think.

"I see... What are you planning to do by letting me see the phantom of my hometown?"

"Eh? Yes, you are from Fuyuki."

"Eh?"

Since they seemed to know Filia's group, they thought it was an illusion targeting them, which seemed to be a mistake.

But in that case, why the scenery of Fuyuki?

While Ayaka was thinking this, something changed behind her.

I heard the sound of some huge object approaching - it passed by Ayaka and the two of them, and the thundering "that" ravaged the forest ground.

In this posture, preparing to rush directly to the gate that extended to the center of the city, was a carriage pulled by a huge ox.

Although Ayaka could only describe it as "carriage", Richard understood what it was at a glance.

"Was that... a chariot just now? A bull wrapped with thunder and lightning... Could it be that it was a flying thunder cow?! Then, that is the King of Gordias, no..."

The swordsman who loved the legends of many heroes instantly understood what it was and who was wielding it.

Riding in a chariot galloping through the ancient battlefield were two men.

One is a giant red-haired man with a thick beard. He looks like a man who exudes a bold and upright temperament.

"It's a lie... I've heard that the real person is a giant man who is different from the inheritance, but it turns out that Saint-Germain guy really didn't add any fuel to the fire...!"

"Do you know him?"

"Well...if my guess is correct...it is none other than the overlord who ravaged the continent from Macedonia, Alexander the Great...!"

--King Alexander? I seem to have heard it somewhere...

Although Ayaka is very unfamiliar with the legend of heroes, and like the Lionheart King, she only knows the level of "hearing the name", but when she saw the swordsman with sparkling eyes like a child, she understood him. He is a historical figure, and a hero who existed in a past era that is even more distant than the swordsman.

——So, he is also a Servant...?

Although Ayaka sensed an unusual aura—but when she thought of the figure of the young man screaming loudly next to the red-haired man, she felt a little relieved.

This may be because Ayaka felt a similar feeling towards the black-haired, boyish-faced young man who seemed to be the same as herself, "not like a magician".

············

The street in dreams, the top of Crystal Hill.

"You said it's raining snacks...?"

The confused voice of El-Melloi II came from the speaker of the mobile phone.

El-Melloi II, who listened to the surrounding situation from Flat, quickly grasped the situation and expressed his opinion.

"I see... Is it that the characteristics of Cerberus, who is a heterogeneous person, were used in the originally faceless underworld... However, no matter what kind of magic system it is, if it can cause this kind of joke in a wide range If so, he must be a very high-level magician... and the possibility of him being a servant is very high."

At the same time that calm voice sounded, Jesta's clone made an unhappy sound while frowning.

"Tch! Are you a genjutsu user? Please do some unnecessary things for me!"

——If a large number of dead people were actually sucked in, the divine beast would be closer to its original strength...

——Although this depends on the magic resources that the land where this ceremony is held can prepare, if it goes well, it may be possible to have the same combat power as a high-ranking servant...

Jesta thought about it, making a humming sound, and raised the corners of his mouth again.

"After all, it's hard to prepare to this level. Please give me a little more help."

"You guy, what are you going to do...!"

The assassin yelled as he cut off the alien coming in through the window.

"It's very simple. In short, kill all the police officers at the intersection first, and force their meat into Cerberus's stomach instead of candies. That's all."

"This kind of thing...well..."

The assassin rushed out, but as if to block her progress, countless alien shapes like black smoke stood in front of her.

"Oh, these guys... In other words, the world seems to have given priority to targeting Servants now. Be careful, and Mr. Watch over there too."

Jester said this while looking at the watch attached to Flatt. There seemed to be some kind of admiration-like feeling in this words, but only Bennett himself noticed this.

"…Thank you for your advice."

While dumbfounded by the exposure of his existence, Bennett spoke to Flatt in the form of a recital.

(What to do, Flatt. Can you?)

(Hmm--it's still a little short)

Jesta, who did not know what the Berserker camp was saying at this time, continued to challenge the assassin with an ecstatic expression.

"Haha, are you worried that I will kill that team of policemen? But didn't you also fight with those guys at the police station? In that case, why did you stop me from playing with their lives? To Kerr, who has increased his strength, Boros didn’t see you showing any disgust either?”

"...I won't condone you doing whatever you want. That's all."

"No, no, that's wrong! After you learned that the police team wanted to help Miu Qiuchun, didn't you want to show some respect to them as enemies? Ah, I understand, as long as I understand everything about you. It’s just that you haven’t understood what is called magicians.”

"Shut up!"

He threw the hidden flying knife at him, but just like before, it just grazed Jesta's body, and the result was once again confirmed that Jesta's body does not exist here at this time.

"The so-called magician is the ultimate rationalist. In the end, he will definitely choose to kill Minqiu Chun. But that is the right choice, assassin. The rampage in this barrier world will soon end It will connect to the outside world... and affect Snowfield City in reality! So, if you are a hero recorded in the history of mankind, shouldn't you quickly choose the path with the least sacrifice! But the sacrifice of a girl It can save 800,000 people, no, depending on the situation, it can even save all mankind!"

Having said this, Jesta's clone continued happily.

"Ah, maybe the male mercenary you are looking at will kill Tsubaki-chan earlier than any of us! That's not bad! I really want to see the betrayal of a trusted man. , you who show anger and despair!"

"..."

If it was anger, I would have shown it to him long ago.

The assassin looked at him with what he said was a murderous look, cut open the last alien wrapped around his body, and jumped out of the window.

The angry and silent assassin came face to face with the drunken and chatty vampire.

However, as if he couldn't understand the atmosphere that seemed to be a world where only the two of them were alone, Hansa, who had been silent until now, spoke.

"Hey, corpse."

"...What? Agent. Don't hinder me. This is a perfect situation."

Hansa continued speaking without paying attention to Jesta who was complaining impatiently.

"You said before at the police station that you wanted to deny the principles of humanity. You said it was because you wanted the Dead Apostles to pollute human history."

"? What? This is a matter of course, as the agent, you should be very aware of it, right?"

"Aren't you going to deny the assassin who is part of human history? It is indeed polluting - but it is not a derogation born from denial. It is precisely because you were charmed by her and became unable to deny her that you You want to use your twisted lust to completely pollute her and make her corrupt. Right?"

"...What do you want to say?"

Without answering Jesta's question at all, the expression on his face disappeared, Hansa simply switched to another topic.

"So, the only way to defeat high-level Dead Apostles like you is to find sanctified weapons or singularities, as well as high-level magicians... I seem to have mentioned these before, do you remember?"

"So what? What's the point of stalling for time like this? Rather, it's you who are pressed for time—"

A black key penetrated through Jesta's body.

Hansa said while the black key was inserted into the wall behind him.

"My holy weapon cannot touch the body of you who is not here, but..."

"?"

"Fortunately... I have the help of a high-level magician, Dorothea."

"————"

In an instant, time stopped for Jesta.

As if to fill the gap in that moment, Flatt activated his magic.

"Interference begins!"

In the next moment, magic power surged to all directions in the room, and the rituals held by the scattered and hiding nuns responded to it, creating a simplified version of the magic flow.

Finally, a magic trick was activated in the form of gathering into the black keys thrown by Hansa.

"Ahem!?...Wha...gu!"

In an instant, Jesta, who was just a separate body, shook violently all over, and groaned with a distressed expression on his face.

"!?"

It was the assassin who was confused by this.

Regarding that magic, it did not cause any effective damage to Jesta.

The moment the priest called Jesta "Dorothea", the vampire's eyes visibly widened, and he even completely shifted his attention to the assassin.

Jesta knelt down on her knees, staring at Hansa with wide-open eyes that were so furious that they were blood red.

"You bastards...what did you do..."

"Ah——... Flatt, please explain it to him."

"Okay! Because you said it was a clone, I was just tracking the flow of magic power, and just now, I attacked the main body!"

Looking at Flatt who said this in a nonchalant tone, Jesta said sadly.

"Impossible, I'm just a clone..."

"Yes! I understand, I understand! Should I say soul? You prepared each concept core separately as a gift and let it wrap around the main body to transform, right? So, let the clones think independently and let them go freely. Actions, right? Then, are you making complicated switches while spreading interference, or are you trying to confuse this side as if you are multitasking... Oh, it takes time to see through this pattern, it's really hard! But I’m also very happy!”

"See through...you mean see through? In such a short time...?"

The shock on Jesta's expression outweighed the pain.

"Who...are you? This is not what a magician can do...Ah, damn it, so did the mercenary who somehow recognized my transformation...It is indeed the Holy Grail War, which means that using only ordinary means is... Isn’t it possible..."

Being a separate person seems to be painful, which may also mean that his true body cannot move now.

Hansa, who had judged in this way, was also very concerned about what kind of magic Flatt sent into his body, but he regarded it as something that was not something that should be inquired about now and observed the situation silently.

Jesta turned his attention to Hansa.

"But, this kind of thing is fine no matter what...what's more important now is you, Father."

"What's wrong with me? I just called your name. It's so glorious to surprise you so much. Ah, you can admit it now. Are you a little arrogant?"

"Don't act stupid! How...how do you know that name...!"

Jesta yelled with a voice filled with hatred and wavering, while Hansa sighed and said as if he was troubled.

"Is this correct information? Is this really necessary? Is there a need to formally express gratitude... Although from my point of view, it would be very bad in every sense if it were exposed."

"...?"

The next moment, Jesta was surprised to hear another voice ringing in the room.

"No need to thank you, you are our enemy."

That voice came from the pocket of the Hanseatic priest's robe.

What he took out from there was a mobile phone.

It was a different mobile phone than the one that communicated with the Lord of the Clock Tower—it belonged to the Hanseatic people.

From the other end of the phone where the speakerphone was originally turned on, the voice of the caller who I thought would remain silent seemed to be heard.

The owner of that elegant, bottomless voice gave the reason for assisting Hansa.

"It's not about you, it's just about investing in the descendants of my ancient friends."

"That... voice..."

Jesta became stunned.

It contains confusion, instability, anger—and, despair.

"In return, I ask you to dispose of the waste, that's all. No need for thanks."

Regarding the "voice" that paid no attention to this side, Jesta murmured in a cold sweat.

"Why……"

In response to his whisper, Hansa followed up with a calm tone.

"Let me introduce to you, this is the 'assistance of a high-level magician'."

"Liar...why would you...be like this...!"

Looking at Jesta, who was groaning with a confused expression due to the pain flowing through his body, Flatt said with an expression that showed no tension at all.

"Ah, if you want to say why, it's very simple!"

"What……?"

"A strong vampire like you must be famous among other vampires. That's what I thought, so I decided to go find an acquaintance to inquire, and that's what happened!"

"……ha?"

In front of those words that were too cheerful, Jesta even forgot about the pain and made such a sound with a dull expression.

"And then, there is only one vampire acquaintance who exchanged phone numbers with me."

Flatt was delighted that his expectation had been met. He gave a thumbs up and announced the name of the caller.

"Then bingo! Sure enough, I know about you! Mr. Van Feim!"

············

at the same time.

"?...What? I feel like I'm smelling some kind of disgusting aura."

"Is it an illusion?"

Beside Francesca who tilted her head and said this, Francois said while eating candy.

In the barrier world of Jiuqiu Chun, there are two illusions activated by the Noble Phantasm "Luoyan City does not exist, so the madness in the world will never end (Grand Illusion)".

One is a deceptive illusion performed on this barrier world in order to lock the swordsman and others into an isolated space.

The other is an illusion performed in the form of deceiving the swordsman and Ayaka's five senses.

As if wearing VR devices all over their bodies, the swordsman and others are now looking at the scene in Fuyuki City.

The Planvatis, as the third party, looked at the figures of the swordsmen in Fuyuki City through the mirror and made sounds of joy.

"Come on, come on, will you eat popcorn or Latin nuts when watching a movie? Which one? If you want to prepare, you have to do it now! Donuts or hot dogs will also work! François (I ) think so too, right?”

"Wow, Francesca (me) is getting a sense of existence from me. She obviously knows that I don't have that kind of thing when I die."

"Popcorn seems to have existed in an era long before we were born——? It's on this continent."

"Hey, that's a lie. Didn't you reach the age of the gods by accident? Popcorn is so awesome! God!"

"It's really cool. The popcorn and so on... I really want to try such a historical dish."

The swordsman swallowed while the wound on his abdomen was healed by the healing magic of his "companion".

"I'll treat you to as much food as you want. But we have to get out of here first."

Ayaka could no longer complain about the swordsman and began to observe the surrounding situation.

The red-haired giant who rushed into the city and the black-haired young man who seemed to be his master showed no signs of coming out of the destroyed door.

Judging from the fact that the swaying of the surrounding flowers had stopped, it was probably the people calling themselves Francesca and Francois who had paused the playback of the "Illusion".

Then, a voice sounded again from above them.

"Well, it doesn't matter. Maybe it's better not to eat anything and concentrate! After all, for you, this is the best part that you will never see when you are alive!"

"Hey, this is really what I'm looking forward to! If it's just an illusion, do you want me to fight that Alexander the Great?"

"Although this is quite fun, the effect will be reduced by half if you notice that it is an illusion - but, I can guarantee that it is more interesting than this? After all, I want you to see what you have been doing. It’s something I’ve never seen before.”

As Francesca’s voice said this—the stopped scenery began to move again.

After only a short period of time, a big red-haired man appeared from the destroyed gate carrying a large wine barrel.

Then, after the young man who looked very familiar, another figure appeared from the city.

"That's...Filia?! No, it's different if you look carefully..."

Ayaka unconsciously raised her voice.

One is a beauty with silver hair as beautiful as snow, just like Philia.

Next to him was a woman who was shorter than that woman. She wore silver plate armor wrapped around a cyan dress and had a stern expression.

"? Who is it... It really does look like a heroic spirit... If it's a female knight... could it be Jeanne d'Arc?"

Ayaka asked the swordsman beside her while listing the names that appeared in her memory, but——

"Eh……?"

Unconsciously, Ayaka held her breath.

The calm smile that had always been on the swordsman's face disappeared - because what appeared on his face was a look of pure amazement, as if he was witnessing the beginning of the end of the world, without even the so-called emotions of joy and sadness. .

"...Is this...a dream?"

"No, so this is an illusion...eh? Is that...an acquaintance?"

——Is it a wife, a sister, a daughter...?

Facing Ayaka, who was nervous because she had a premonition that the other person might be someone very close to the swordsman, the swordsman nodded slightly while continuing to stare at the woman.

"No, that was the face I saw for the first time."

"???What's the meaning?"

To the confused Ayaka, the swordsman replied blankly.

"Wait... my companions are also confirming... ah... how could this happen... ah... ah..."

The swordsman stood there clenching his fists and said to Ayaka beside him.

"I haven't knelt down yet. There are two reasons why I'm still standing here."

"bow down……?"

"One is that I am a king no matter what. If I simply kneel down, I will be sorry for the people who praise me."

Ayaka was confused whether he was calm or not calm when he said something she didn't understand, but after hearing the next sentence, Ayaka was convinced that "the swordsman really didn't calm down."

"The other is... in order to bet on the legend that I have been pursuing all my life, even if it is just a second, it must be imprinted in my eyes as long as possible."

He couldn't even bear to lower his eyes to the ground for a moment when he knelt down.

Seeing the swordsman who said this, Ayaka also understood who the girl wearing the blue silver weapon was.

But even though I understood it, I couldn't accept it immediately.

Even the heroic spirit whose name she knew - in her remaining memory, should be a male.

However, Ayaka, who couldn't think of any other answer, said that name.

"Could it be...King Arthur...?"

In the dream, Richard's mother told various legends. The swordsman himself called her the "great ancestor", the hero who was the protagonist of the legend of the Round Table.

Although Ayaka couldn't believe it for a moment, she could indeed feel the majestic temperament from that woman. What permeated from her body was a style that was not inferior to the huge body of Alexander the Great walking in front of her.

"Huh? But, girl...why?"

As if answering Ayaka's question, a voice that only they could hear came from the air.

"Arturia Pendragon. This is King Arthur's real name? But if you write it like this in the history test, you will fail, so be careful~"

"This, could it be said that..."

"That's right. This is part of the Holy Grail War held in the Holy Grail. Although it was nearly fifteen years ago - oh, I am really lucky! At this time, I happened to meet That thunder chariot destroys the barrier in the city, and you can enjoy the wonderful scene of three kings gathering together!"

"three people?"

In other words, there is still one person, will there be a king coming?

While he was thinking this, the last person appeared in front of King Arthur and Alexander the Great with an unhappy look.

"hiss……!"

That was the golden hero who defeated the swordsman in the church.

Francesca just smiled at Ayaka who was on guard.

"Hahaha! Don't be afraid, it's no problem! After all, this is just a reproduction of the scene my familiar observed!"

"What...what is your purpose!?"

Facing Ayaka, who was staring at the sky, the voices of a boy and a girl answered her.

"We just want to enjoy it."

"That's right! Then, we want to see the King's reaction after that~! 50/50! It's a win-win relationship!"

"I told him in order to show my respect to Lord Lionheart, who has huge popularity among the people~ That is more famous than this King of Lionheart, and on top of that, Lord Lionheart himself regards it as the foundation of chivalry. The true appearance of His Highness 'King Arthur' who holds his own heart!"

In an instant, noise began to appear in the world.

Rustling, rustling, in the form of such an auditory hallucination, the scenery began to shake, and in an instant, the world was altered.

No, it is still being altered.

That is the scene of Fuyuki Ohashi Bridge.

The figure of King Arthur fighting with the spearmen at the port.

The heroic spirits fighting giant monsters in the river, and the figure of the knight who seems to be one with the fighter jet.

The figure of a magician who beats a man in a wheelchair into a honeycomb with a gun.

The scene of the collapsed hotel.

To Ayaka, various familiar scenery kept passing by, and various golden colors that were far away from reality kept switching within a few seconds.

However, no one among the humans or heroic spirits who appeared around them noticed the presence of Ayaka or Richard. Not only that, there were even people who passed by them directly.

I'm afraid that he and the swordsman are really just "bystanders" who can neither interfere nor be interfered by them.

The scenery changing at a dizzying speed only made Ayaka's heart become more and more uneasy.

Because among them, there was also the scenery around Xuanmuzaka that she didn't want to see at all.

Chancai's apartment only appeared in the corner of her vision for a moment. Just this made Ayakashi fall into the illusion of a cage that felt like her heart was being strangled, and her breathing became heavier naturally.

And from below, Francesca's voice sounded unexpectedly.

"What we have so far is a trailer! Very good! A trailer! Then I will show you the video of this chapter——! Although it is only a fragmentary record of the fourth time... we have compiled it into I made a documentary to bring you joy! Well, if it were a spoiler, it would be the Bad End~"

Then, the image switched again, but this time it didn't end in a few seconds.

A woman who looked like Philia got off the plane at the airport, and King Arthur in a black suit followed him.

In this scene, which is almost like the OP of a movie, there are words floating in the air in a form that Ayaka can see.

"Editor: Francesca Prelati." is a cute logo made up of Japanese and English.

Although Ayaka's face twitched due to the excessive amusement, she quietly glanced at the next door. The swordsman continued to look at the scene with a serious expression on his expressionless face.

——Swordsman...

——Is that girl really the King Arthur you respect...?

Ayaka, who regained her tension due to the swordsman's attraction, also stared at the illusion world.

"Enjoy yourself? Enjoy the true form of King Arthur whom you respect..."

I don't know if he was checking whether the audience was seated, but François made the opening bell ring in his hallucination with a malicious voice, as if on purpose.

"Enjoy the moment when she is betrayed by her Master and her wishes are trampled on."

············

The world of dreams, the top of the Crystal Hill.

"I'm interested. Just let me have a listen, Flatt."

Listening to the sound coming from Hansa's phone receiver, Flatt breathed a sigh of relief.

"Great! We were on the phone but didn't speak at all. I thought you were bored..."

"Being able to listen to the Clock Tower Lord's lectures is a worthless deal."

Then, from the phone placed on the altar, the voice of the clock tower monarch came out.

"Wait a minute, Flatt... Who was that voice just now? If I heard it correctly, it felt like there was a name you always heard when talking about your hometown... Could it be that, before me? Are you still in contact with anyone on the phone!?"

"Yes, I'm sorry! Teacher! Although I planned to explain it, the call with Monaco stabilized earlier than London..."

"Excellent lecture notes, Your Majesty. The students in your classroom and I always seem to have a close connection."

"...I'm causing trouble for you in this regard."

Putting aside Nisei, who had finally managed to squeeze out such a sentence and then fell silent, the man on Hansa's phone spoke to Flatt in his deep voice, as if he was remembering the past.

"But... I remembered the first time I heard a radio drama on the radio about eighty years ago. The theme seemed to be The Count of Monte Cristo. Compared with that, the villain here is too cliched. Yes."

"……cut!"

Just by relying on his voice, Jesta understood that the other person's last words were meant for him.

That was true if you considered the meaning of the words, but before that, Jesta did feel the sight of that person.

Although it may not be that he is actually watching, it should be easy for the other party to grasp the situation here. Jesta understood that the other party existed to this extent.

Such an opponent made a request in a tone as simple as asking for a cup of morning coffee in a hotel.

"Flat. This is a good opportunity. By the way, help me deal with the one over there."

"……hiss!"

Jesta's nerves froze.

Because he immediately understood what "that" he heard on the phone was referring to.

Then, his heart frozen with shock and fear dissolved, and he was finally able to speak to the person on the other side of the phone.

"Are you going to...are you going to hinder me...! Lord Vandelshodam!"

"..."

Bennett was quietly shocked when he heard this conversation.

--I see.

——Although I don't mean to question Flat's words...but it does seem to be a quite advanced vampire.

——Although the tone is like a smooth old gentleman, the pressure in it is like that of a powerful king.

Valéry Fernando van der Schüdam.

Commonly known as "Van Feim".

The "familiar vampire" that Flatt mentioned from time to time in his conversations with the berserker seemed to be a far more advanced being than Bennett imagined, a being who ruled the inner world.

According to what Hansa said, he was one of the less than thirty designated special superior Dead Apostles, and he was also a man who had the "human side" of being at the top of one of the few companies in the world.

It is not the ability of vampires or Death Apostles, but a special existence that builds a powerful communication network in human society through economic power and power. It is a terrifying vampire that possesses the power of both Death Apostles and humans.

But in the final analysis, for Flatt, it is just a simple understanding of "a super rich and super powerful vampire who runs a casino on a luxury liner in his hometown."

A Dead Apostle who could be given a nickname like "Demon King", after a temporary silence——

Rather than answering Jesta, a voice sounded from the speaker as if he was talking to himself.

"Are the Dead Apostles something that denies the history of mankind...?"

In fact, he might not be looking for value in his conversation with Jesta anymore.

As if he wanted Flatt and Hansa to hear half of it, he continued speaking in an indifferent tone.

"I see, that's how it is. That's why it's ugly. Even though I say nonsense like rejecting the human world, I'm still recording the ultimate realm of human history (Ghost·Liner)... Having love for heroes is what is called double standards."

"……Varied!"

"There is no problem with seeking satisfaction from human beings with malice. On the other hand, there is also love at first sight for fanatics with beautiful beliefs, and it is natural for different individuals to change their attitudes. However, standing From the perspective of a Dead Apostle...that is, if one's own existence changes with different objects, then it is already engraved in the world, and there is no need for a bug."

Hansa was convinced.

On the other hand, if Jesta does not say anything about "denying the history of mankind", but purely contaminates the assassin with his twisted desires, I am afraid that the dead disciple named Van Feim will not do anything in particular. Yes.

I don’t know what kind of actions Jesta would take if he took the stance of “sealing his existence as a Dead Apostle for the sake of what he loves”, but at least for now it is meaningless empty talk, so Hansa Put this doubt aside for now.

Before getting in touch with Lord El-Melloi II, when Flatt talked to him about Jesta, at first he friendly classified Jesta as a being of the same human affirmation as himself. . Although he is a little decadent and destructive, he should at least be a Dead Apostle who feels that he is worthy of being buried together with humanity.

However, the moment Hansa told what he had done at the police station - saying things like loving assassins while exercising his power to deny the history of mankind, the other party's attitude instantly changed to an extremely cold attitude.

Dorothea, it was also at this time that he said Jesta's real name.

From this incident, it can also be understood that this superior Death Apostle had strict rules for his own species, but Jesta broke them.

——In other words, if Jesta is not broken, is there a possibility that he will become our enemy in turn? So things like Dead Apostles are really troublesome.