A minute or so passes while the two of you remain mostly still, getting your wind back. Eventually, Lucroy begins moving, and motions for you to follow. You pass through the hole Berserker created to head down the front stairs - or, more accurately, what’s left of them. The foyer has been all but obliterated. Tiles on the floor have been reduced to fragments and are mingled with the remains of the banister. Individual steps have been hacked or crushed to bits, and the wall next to them has been almost completely torn down, exposing the adjacent rooms on both the first and second floor. It’s a miracle that anything remains standing, and what’s left isn’t safe for humans to descend. Your ability to speak returns on the long, limping journey to the other staircase.

“Why did you call me here?” you ask in spite of your throbbing torso. Damn, that smarts.

“Because I felt I could trust you.” Alceste’s tone is cordial, and his wind is back despite his pained movement. “Based on my close observations, I deduced that you, of all Masters, would be least likely to manipulate this situation into yielding a brutally optimal result.”

That’s... not what you wanted answered, and you’re certain Alceste knows it. And on top of that, he’s been ‘observing’ you quite intently. You’re getting pretty sick of people watching you while you remain in the dark. Coming face-to-face with your most dedicated voyeur has only amplified that frustration. Agitation begins to take hold, spurred on by the pain in your torso and arm. Your mind shifts gears; you’re currently talking to a magus, and one notorious among his peers for unsavory conduct at that. You’re certain Alceste Lucroy is flattering you because he wants something from you. You just don’t know what.

“But why did you call someone to begin with?” you question further.

“Well, I knew that our foes tonight would be coming to attack me, and even Lancer has trouble taking on two Servants at once. To reveal his Noble Phantasm while so many other Servants are still alive would be foolish, so I planned to avoid it by calling for backup.”

That stings. You had Saber use her Noble Phantasm just last night, and as far as you know, no Servants have fallen yet. Alceste Lucroy, who has obviously been keeping an eye on you, certainly saw, and he just took a jab at you for it. You refuse to let it cloud your thoughts; figure out what he’s after, that’s most important. You’ve hardly realized it, but you’re on the first floor now, heading to some location in an unmarred section of the mansion.

“So,” you search for your next words, your tone frigid, “you called me because you needed bodies to take hits for Lancer?”

“Oh, come now,” Lucroy says, offended, “I never said that. I needed someone’s aid, and could only turn to you to provide it.”

Only you, huh… that doesn’t make sense. You’re an Executor-in-training, and there’s no way he isn’t aware of that; shouldn’t he have considered you a mortal enemy when deciding who to contact?

“And why the specific time?” your interrogation continues.

“I’ve watched the movements of our opponents for a while now. Based on their usual departure time and average speed, I predicted when they would show up to attack me. To have reinforcements here too early would simply scare them off; in the hopes of scoring a kill, I scheduled you to arrive just after they’d been drawn into combat. I must commend you again for your punctuality,” he says in a placating tone. “It proved most helpful.”

His efforts to calm you fail; the cold with which you treat hostiles quickly burns into a vexed heat. What, you’re supposed to believe everything tonight was the work of some genius ploy on Alceste’s part? How stupid does he think you are? Surely, there was no guarantee that you or the attackers would have appeared precisely according to his calculations. Either Lucroy is full of shit, or he accounted for that possibility. But what was his backup plan? Does he know his enemies well enough to devise one? Hell, this tight-lipped jackass hasn’t even told you who you were up against!

You’re steaming, but you can’t blow your top yet. Cool it, you tell yourself. There’s no point trying to solve the mystery of what happened tonight with the information you currently have. Focus on what’s happening now. Remember: what is Alceste trying to get out of this? The two of you finally stop, and Lucroy begins to interact with intricate, glowing seals on a magically locked door, bloody arm hanging limp at his side.

“Let’s move onto the future, shall we? I was hoping we could discuss our next move…”

Cooperation. Is that really all he's after? Lucroy’s been careful to flaunt how much he knows without revealing any information, and is already speaking like you’re a team. He probably hopes to use you and Saber as willing, clueless tools like he did tonight. However, if you put up with him and his scheming, it could be beneficial in the long run.

>>Swallow your rage whole and agree to work with Alceste Lucroy. You can’t pretend you like him, but as it stands you have no other Servants to work with. A temporary coalition might prove fruitful.
>>Turn Lucroy down, suppress your anger and leave. Regardless of what he has to offer, he’s ultimately a danger to you, and engaging a wounded man rubs you the wrong way.
>>Kill Alceste once the door is unlocked and search his house. Whatever secrets he has, he’s a threat, and worth more to you dead than alive. Saber will be happy to chalk up a win, anyway.
>>(Write-in)

I'm almost certainly not going to get out an update tomorrow, so I pushed out two today. My schedule will also be in flux for the next week or two. Sorry. I'll keep you all posted.

>>3793041
>Kill Alceste once the door is unlocked and search his house. Whatever secrets he has, he’s a threat, and worth more to you dead than alive. Saber will be happy to chalk up a win, anyway.

>>3793041
>Turn Lucroy down, suppress your anger and leave. Regardless of what he has to offer, he’s ultimately a danger to you, and engaging a wounded man rubs you the wrong way.
Lancer's probably right there anyway.

>>3793041
>>Turn Lucroy down, suppress your anger and leave. Regardless of what he has to offer, he’s ultimately a danger to you, and engaging a wounded man rubs you the wrong way.
>>Demand to know what information he's gathered on the other Masters and Servants. He owes us something for saving his life.

>>3793041
>>Kill Alceste once the door is unlocked and search his house. Whatever secrets he has, he’s a threat, and worth more to you dead than alive. Saber will be happy to chalk up a win, anyway.

>>3793041
>>Turn Lucroy down, suppress your anger and leave. Regardless of what he has to offer, he’s ultimately a danger to you, and engaging a wounded man rubs you the wrong way.
Please don't fight the man on his own turf.

>>3793041
>>Turn Lucroy down, suppress your anger and leave. Regardless of what he has to offer, he’s ultimately a danger to you, and engaging a wounded man rubs you the wrong way.

Only because his calm around us tells me that hes confident we cannot take him on his own turf.

>>3793041
>>Turn Lucroy down, suppress your anger and leave. Regardless of what he has to offer, he’s ultimately a danger to you, and engaging a wounded man rubs you the wrong way.
We should at least go for a truce, while we can. We haven't got enough information about him to blindly trust him.
I'm willing to bet he had an alliance lined up with the dickhead that tried to kill us.
Possible he even gotnthe catalyst.

As for me I want to nurse Berserker's wounded master back to health.

And die.

>>3793041
>>>Kill Alceste once the door is unlocked and search his house. Whatever secrets he has, he’s a threat, and worth more to you dead than alive. Saber will be happy to chalk up a win, anyway.
Oh I do not like this guy one bit. Have Saber NP immediately.

>>3793086
These

>>3793041
>>>Turn Lucroy down, suppress your lustand leave. Regardless of what he has to offer, he’s ultimately a danger to you, and engaging a wounded man rubs you the wrong way.
While his offer is highly appealing in multiple ways he has missed a single thing
Edgar is still straight!
Walking over him works only if yo are a girl!

>>3793029
>>Kill Alceste once the door is unlocked and search his house. Whatever secrets he has, he’s a threat, and worth more to you dead than alive. Saber will be happy to chalk up a win, anyway.
Honestly, it's not even worth the bro-op chance at this point. Just get rid of him and his Servant and be done with it.

>>3793041
>Swallow your rage whole and agree to work with Alceste Lucroy. You can’t pretend you like him, but as it stands you have no other Servants to work with. A temporary coalition might prove fruitful.
I have to say, he's reminding me of a more competent Shinji.

>>3793905
>a more competent Shinji
Yep, we have to kill him.

>>3793966
People like you are why we didn't get the Wakame Paradise route, anon.

>>3793968
Based fellow Wakamefag.
Shinji had a hard life.

>>3793987
>popular
>athletic
>rich
>hot stepsister he gets to bang
How is his life hard? Oh, because he couldn't be speshul magic boi.

>>3794118
Context is everything. From the perspective of a mundane, Shinji's got it alright, but remember that his father and grandfather drove into him that the only thing worth doing was magic, and consequently he was utterly worthless. That kind of upbringing isn't something one can easily shrug off.

>>3794173
he was too far up his own ass to see that he had it good and that the people who told him otherwise were pieces of shit. Does he deserve the chance to make something better of himself? Yes. Does he deserve sympathy and people making excuses for him being the scummiest piece of shit he could be? No.

>>3794183
It's always difficult to argue this point, because his mistakes are in my view part of what make Shinji such a tragic character. He's not just a passive victim, he continues to drag himself into worse situations by trying to get out of the shitty position he started in. The things that make me pity him seem to be the same aspects that provoke hate from a lot of the fanbase, and I just don't get it.

>>3794196
He isn't dragging himself into worse situations he actively creates them. His shit with Sakura, mindfucking other people because he's insecure, driving away and trying to kill the only person he could ever call a friend, trying to sacrifice an entire school of children, he did all that. It was his will that created the horrible things he did not some horrible choice where he made the best of a bad situation. That being said he was a great character and the series would be lesser if he wasn't in it. I'm not saying he shouldn't be there, just that he deserves hell.

>>3794210
See, again we're talking at cross purposes. I'm not denying that those things were the consequences of his actions, that's why I say he isn't a passive victim. However, a person can be a victim of their own mindset. This is why he's a tragic figure; like a blind man stumbling, he can't see any path forward but the evil. Ultimately, the fault lies with the one who cultivated that psyche (and Zouken did deliberately raise Shinji to be the way he is, he as much as says so). Shinji never becomes truly free or in control of his situation, and so is ultimately a victim. An active victim, who takes part in his own tragedy, but a victim nonetheless.

>>3794220
And let's not forget that Shinji's mother was literally killed for giving birth to a failure.

“There is no ‘next move’,” you say icily, cutting Lucroy off. His fingers stop, and his torso turns just enough for him to look at you.

“Pardon?” he asks, clearly surprised by your reaction.

“I said I’m not going to work with you,” you declare, “but taking you down in your current state unprovoked would be pathetic. I’m leaving. Good night.”

“I see.” The response you get is suddenly curt and dismissive. Any trace of Alceste's amiability has vanished. He returns to fiddling with the locks, speedily finishing his work and opening the door. Within is a dark stairway to a basement floor. “Then I must accelerate my plans.”

Lucroy swiftly steps through the door and slams it behind him. All the symbols on the door rapidly revert to their locked positions. Your business finished, you turn around and begin to exit the mansion. On your way out, you see that you’d been so caught up trying to get an answer out of Lucroy that you failed to notice the contents of this chamber; it’s a family room of some sort, with a few chairs, a couch, and a countertop surrounded by stools. It’s nice, but you just want to leave.

Once you're halfway across the room, you feel something begin to... tickle you. The bell-like ring of your amulet broadcasts the presence of a magical attack on you. Muffled and some distance away, you can faintly hear Saber’s animalistic howl announcing the start of a new battle. Damn! You should have killed Lucroy when you had the chance!

You whirl back around, unsheathe a Black Key, and slash the gap between door and jamb to destroy the latch. A brief metallic snap proclaims your success. You grab the knob and try to rip open the door, but it remains firmly shut - those magic locks must hold it in place. Another chime suggests that a trap had been on the knob you just yanked.

If that didn’t work, it’s not worth trying to get to Alceste. Once again, you pivot and head for the exit, only to stumble and use the counter for support. Even when you’re injured, running isn’t this taxing. Your amulet, though useful, isn’t impenetrable; whatever spell Alceste is using is powerful enough to overcome your defenses. Again, you try to move, but the tickle has morphed and amplified into some kind of pressure on you, like increased gravity, that’s incredibly tiring to fight through. You succeed only in slumping down against the counter, facing the locked door. Its sigils glow as though staring at you. Alceste must be holding you down somehow.

Quickly, you think through your options. Killing Alceste doesn’t seem possible while he’s holed up in his magic bunker. Since even walking has become difficult, it’s probably not possible to leave on your own, either. You could use a Command Spell to call Saber and haver her carry you, but there’s still a Servant to contend with who could use that opportunity to kill you both. Try as you might, you can’t seem to find a good solution to the problem. If Lucroy intends to stall you, then he’s confident that his Servant can beat Saber. In that case, it’s only a matter of time before Saber is defeated and you are killed. Is this really how it ends?

Your thoughts are interrupted by two well-placed gunshots. The symbols on the door are struck in as many places, and the whole system begins to dissolve. You hear someone running, closing in from behind you. Then, a familiar man in a three-piece suit slides directly across the counter and over your head. In his hand is the same massive revolver you saw at his hip several nights ago. He takes up a position beside the door, opens it from the side with a method similar to yours, and heads down the stairs gun barrel first.

“Hey there, tiger!” Charlotte, apparently unaffected by whatever magecraft is harming you, has approached you silently while you were marveling at the melting locks. She sits down beside you in the hoodie and yoga pants from your first meeting. “You’re pretty ballsy, walking right into an ongoing battle! Be glad I owe you a favor.” She playfully squeezes your thigh. You don’t have the energy to react.

“Hey…” you say, struggling to speak between your wounded torso and the spell affecting you. “...Sight for sore eyes.”

“Aw, thanks! Good to see you, too. Shall we let my partner handle this, or do you want a piece of the action?”

>>Ask Charlotte to help you leave the house. It’s most important that you escape tonight with your life. If that means sparing Alceste, so be it.
>>Ask Charlotte to bring you into the basement. You can’t afford to have Alceste coming after you in the future. Make sure he dies.
>>(Write-in)

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What do you anons think the chances are that spyguy Fuckroy will reveal something dark about Charlotte that'll make everything go from bad to worse? I mean we know she's a naughty girl but what dark depths lay beyond that sultry smile?

Though I really want Edgar to get in touch with how Cold he can be.

>>3796756
>>Ask Charlotte to bring you into the basement. You can’t afford to have Alceste coming after you in the future. Make sure he dies.
>>Ask Charlotte if she can help with whatever magecraft is harming you, since she doesn't seem to be affected.
Fuck it, Saber has MR and this is the best time to kill Alceste.

>>3796790
>Though I really want Edgar to get in touch with how Cold he can be.
t. Kirei

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>>3796813
You telling me you don't want Edgar to punish this asshole when he brings up Charlotte is maybe kinda using us?

>>3796818
He's our friend, anon. That's not a very nice thing to do to a friend.

>>3796756
>>Ask Charlotte to bring you into the basement. You can’t afford to have Alceste coming after you in the future. Make sure he dies.
Well then, I can see now that mercy is off the table.
Prepare to suffer.

>>3796790
>3796756 #
>>Ask Charlotte to bring you into the basement. You can’t afford to have Alceste coming after you in the future. Make sure he dies.

At a minimum alceste is an enemy and Charlotte is amused by us enough to not murder us. We have the numbers let's end the threat.

>>3796914
>Charlotte is amused by us enough to not murder us
She seems to trust us a little bit too, if that moment of vulnerability wasn't a sham. What are the odds it was?

>>3796756
>>>Ask Charlotte to bring you into the basement. You can’t afford to have Alceste coming after you in the future. Make sure he dies.

>>3796756
>>Ask Charlotte to bring you into the basement. You can’t afford to have Alceste coming after you in the future. Make sure he dies.
>>Ask Charlotte if she can help with whatever magecraft is harming you, since she doesn't seem to be affected.

>>3796918
I wouldn't even mind if she was ridiculously evil. That would just make her more appealing.

>>3796756
>>>Ask Charlotte to bring you into the basement. You can’t afford to have Alceste coming after you in the future. Make sure he dies.
As much as it pains me to say it, we need Charlotte here. We must clean out the alcyst.

>>3796756
>Ask Charlotte to bring you into the basement. You can’t afford to have Alceste coming after you in the future. Make sure he dies.

Should we get a telepathic sitrep from Saber on what she's seeing too?

Is thread 3 archived? I don't see it on suptg

>>3797480
I made a mistake during the archival of thread 2, instead archiving the newly created thread 3 under the label of thread 2. As far as I know, I have no way to change that. As a result, 2.2 is the actual archive of thread 2 and the thread 3 archive remains improperly named.

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>>3797283
Reread what was going on and yeah, Saber has to be running on empty after all this fighting. Fuckroy needs to die quick.

Sorry everyone, no update tonight. I'll get one out as soon as I can tomorrow.

While freedom from this place would be great, leaving now might give Lucroy the chance to escape, regroup, and come back with a vengeance. Given how much he knows about you and the obvious extent of his resources, that’s not a risk you can take.

“...Bring me down.” Normally, you would ask more politely, but talking is hard enough right now that you settle for a command.

“As you wish!” Charlotte cheerfully helps you up, putting your arm around her shoulders to support you. You think you’re pretty heavy right now, but Charlotte doesn’t seem bothered.

With some care, the two of you descend into the basement together. While the stairwell itself is dark, the cellar below is illuminated with an ominous blue glow. Gunshots, impacts and shatterings echo loudly in the concrete enclosure. The room you enter is a large, impressive workshop that extends out in front of you for some distance. Walls are covered in materials, jars, and books. A large number of stone altars are placed in columns and rows save for an open space in the room’s center, and their surfaces are likewise populated by magic paraphernalia. Portions of the miscellaneous items are fallen or shattered.

In between the tables, the combatants zip to and fro, exchanging fire in the form of the revolver’s bullets and the contents of the workshop. Suddenly, the man in the trench coat rolls across the gap in the center and darts behind a slab several columns to the side. Charlotte quickly pulls you down beside one of Alceste’s rocky tables. An explosion shakes the room and stings your ears, and the weight pressing down on you evaporates.

No time to lose. Free of Lucroy’s artificial burden, you draw Black Keys and begin advancing up one side of the room to flank him. Alceste notices you and does his best to avoid becoming exposed. He’s pushed further and further back to the far wall until he has nowhere else to run.

“Lancer, come here!” In a last-ditch effort to survive, Alceste summons his Servant with a Command Spell. A bright light accompanies the appearance of the imposing figure in this cold stone room. Almost immediately, he addresses Lucroy.

“You piece of shit!”

Lancer yells and throws his Master into the wall, breaking several jars. Lucroy opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, Lancer is there, gripping Alceste’s cheeks so hard that pleas for mercy are distorted into awkward, panicked moans.

“I oughtta kill you AND your sister for what you’ve been trying to pull! Like hell I’m saving you now that it’s blown up in your face!” A swift movement of the lance cleanly severs Alceste’s left hand. The Master shrieks in pain, and his Servant tosses him carelessly over an altar. Lancer starts walking towards the exit. “I’ve got stuff to do. Be seein’ you, kid.” His brief outburst concluded, the Servant fades.

>>3799185
>“You piece of shit!”
>Lancer yells and throws his Master into the wall, breaking several jars. Lucroy opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, Lancer is there, gripping Alceste’s cheeks so hard that pleas for mercy are distorted into awkward, panicked moans.
>“I oughtta kill you AND your sister for what you’ve been trying to pull! Like hell I’m saving you now that it’s blown up in your face!” A swift movement of the lance cleanly severs Alceste’s left hand. The Master shrieks in pain, and his Servant tosses him carelessly over an altar. Lancer starts walking towards the exit. “I’ve got stuff to do. Be seein’ you, kid.” His brief outburst concluded, the Servant fades.
Wow.
So his sister was Charlotte?in this too?

Coming around the corner of a slab, you catch renewed sight of Lucroy. He clutches his stump with his remaining hand to stem the bleeding. Terror contorts your enemy’s face as you ready your throw.

“W-Wait, please! Spare me!” Alceste desperately cries, holding out his stump to ward you off while still covering the wound. “You can’t trust that man! He’s a-”

A final gunshot splatters Lucroy’s brains against the hard gray. Whatever he was about to say, someone didn’t want you to hear. The Master slain, his killer begins poking around the workshop, examining the many items left behind by the deceased. You sheathe your Black Keys. Tonight has certainly been an adventure, but before you can give its bizarre ending much thought, you feel Charlotte’s familiar softness coil around your arm.

“What now, handsome?”

Frankly, you’d like to go home and sleep. But before that…

>>Search Alceste’s workshop. What has he been hiding?
>>Press Charlotte and Assassin for answers. What did Alceste's death prevent you from hearing?
>>Go check on Saber. How is she faring after all that fighting?
>>(Write-in)

>>3799194
Well.
That sure was something.
I
I think we've made a bad decision.
>>>Search Alceste’s workshop. What has he been hiding?

>>3799200
>>Press Charlotte and Assassin for answers. What did Alceste's death prevent you from hearing?
Probably best not to poke any defences, mundane or mystical, that may or may not be there.

Come to thing about it
>BERSERKER
>Viking-looking Norseman
>Mind’s Eye (False) C
>Battle Continuation C
Viking from the Battle of Stamford Bridge? It would make sense about this comment from Kotomine
>“Oh, one last warning for a neophyte: there is a certain circumstance at play that makes attacking Berserker right now exceptionally dangerous. Choose wisely.”
Since he could be getting bonuses for fighting multiple opponents and one of the options was to double team him.
>>3799200
>Search Alceste’s workshop. What has he been hiding?
Sweet loot.

>>3799233
>Since he could be getting bonuses for fighting multiple opponents and one of the options was to double team him.
He definitely has Dignity of the Rear Guard.
His NP definitely relates to the battle itself -- maybe a Reality Marble?

>>3799200
>>Go check on Saber. How is she faring after all that fighting?

We need to know if we still have some fight in us, God knows what's in this workshop.

>>3799200
>Go check on Saber. How is she faring after all that fighting?
Gonna grind these flags

>>3799240
>Noble Phantasm: A
Perhaps. He might be able to activate it versus multiple targets to trap them in that bridge situation and force to fight him head on while having his stats buffed.

>>3799200
>>Search Alceste’s workshop. What has he been hiding?
>> Check in with Saber, what is happening above?

So, I'm guessing Lancer has Independant Action? He sure as shit made it seem like he wasn't planning on returning to the throne any time soon. Does he have a backup Master in mind?

>>3799200
>>>Search Alceste’s workshop. What has he been hiding?
>Mentally ask Saber how she is.
Jeez what was this guy up to that provoked that reaction. Also Lancer seems to be [something] special?
Counter Guardian?
With how FUBAR this grail war seems to be I wouldn't be surprised.
>>3799190
If Charlotte is his sister I'm sure Lancer would have said something in his little fit.

Inb4 that girl that we penetrat4d in front of him is his sister

>>3799508
>Does he have a backup Master in mind?
Well, Rider is ostensibly AWOL, so that's a possibility.
>>3799200
>>Search Alceste’s workshop. What has he been hiding?
I bet he has dossiers like Brigante, plus some other cool shit.
>>3799185
>Be seein’ you, kid
God I want to work with this badass emo

>>3799701
His Luck must be E rank. The E stands for Emo.

>>3799701
Well if he does hook up with Rider's master they'll both be at our school.

“Now,” you say, “I’d like to take a look around. Lucroy must have something of interest in his workshop.”

“I was hoping you’d say that!” Charlotte quickly gives a farewell stroke to your arm and trots over to the wall.

You move through the stones, glancing across the tables and many shelves, but you’re not sure what even half of this stuff is. Squatting as you reach the wall, you peer closely at some of the materials, but can’t make anything of the arranged items beyond that you’re looking at a section for rocks. Rather than examine anything closely, your eyes slide across the wall to Charlotte, who is investigating some jars in the corner on the wall perpendicular to the one you’re facing.

She’s bent over at the waist, blonde hair reaching down to the floor. The angle of her torso has pulled up her hoodie to expose her butt, its form fit perfectly by her black yoga pants. Your current position provides an excellent view of her behind. You’d never gotten a good look before, but now it’s obvious that she has a really nice ass. As soon as that thought crosses your mind, Charlotte’s mischievous grin appears upside-down in the gap between her legs.

“Wanna touch?” She asks teasingly.

Well, this is mortifying. You’ve been caught staring. Sun Tzu can’t help you now. Charlotte’s going to have a field day if you don’t think of something immediately.

“Are you offering?” You respond despite your shame, thinking you might be able to throw Charlotte off her game. She likes to get a rise out of you, and you doubt she’d expect you to play along.

Charlotte pauses in surprise for a moment and laughs. She returns to an upright position, whipping her golden locks in a wide arc to their proper place behind her back.

“You haven’t earned that yet, but… you’re getting there.” Tonight’s savior walks away to inspect something else further down the wall. Soon, it becomes evident that your counter was insufficient to put a stop to Charlotte. Pale blue eyes throw you a smug sidelong glance while she bends over again, purposefully exaggerating every curve she has in the process. The answer you gave earlier burned completely through the miniscule fragment of pluck you could muster. Thoroughly embarrassed by your indiscretion, you turn away with a reddening face.

After some seconds, you manage to recover and refocus on your search. Unable to glean anything from this room, you turn to the three gaps in the shelves along one wall which house doors to other chambers. Cautiously, you open the first expecting a trap, but nothing is triggered. Perhaps Alceste didn’t expect to fight anyone in his inner sanctum, or he wanted easy access to side rooms in the event that he did. Not that it matters anymore.

Inside appears to be a private study. The shelves are filled with books on magecraft and stacks of paperwork, all of which surround a singular desk with several drawers. You open each container, finding that most of the contents are of no interest to one with as little magical knowledge as yourself. There are, however, a few files relevant to the War; a stack of documents labelled “MASTER” followed by the initials of the subject.

Topping the pile is a folder marked “LM”, which you soon discover stands for Leon Marshall. The information within is nearly identical to Agrippa’s, with the exception of a handwritten note: “Why so inactive?”

Second is “MASTER EH”, a detailed file on a woman named Elizabeth Howell. She comes from a family of magi who possess Magic Circuits of remarkable number and quantity given how young the line is. The specialty of the Howell family is wind elemental magecraft; their technique isn’t refined, but the power they generate is substantial. About a month before the beginning of the Holy Grail War, Elizabeth’s younger brother Andrew - ignorant of magic, as non-heir children of magi typically are - was hospitalized with an unknown illness. Perhaps of greatest interest is a comment that the Howell family is infamous “among certain circles” for its role in “a previous Grail War”. The folder ends with a simple entry, again by hand: “Master of Archer. Targeting me.”

Next are papers on the Einzbern, the only dossier not marked with initials. While it contains far more than what meager scraps of intel Brigante could gather, it provides more questions than answers. Detailed is the hotel she uses as her base, her skill with transference of power and healing magecraft, and the class of her Servant, but her name isn't listed. It also notes that she is “likely built with the product sold in T.98-3”. You don't know what that is in reference to, but suspect the answer is hidden somewhere in the many documents you’ve ignored. It’s getting late, so you’ll have to come back some other time if you intend to uncover the message's meaning. The note in this file reads: “Possession of Lady’s Rest? Avoid attacking base.”

Then, you reach the last file, “SB”.

“NO!”

Just before you can open it, the dossier is torn from your grasp with astonishing speed and strength by Charlotte. She clutches it protectively to her chest, hastily staggering back from you, eyes pleading.

“You can’t read this one! Please.”

You don’t get the chance to try. Charlotte’s partner appears in the doorframe to retrieve the documents from her and swiftly walks away. The golden girl’s head hangs. After a moment or two, her face turns back up to yours, all smiles.

“I know! Let’s play a game. There are two doors left to open. You pick one, I’ll take the other, and we each get to keep whatever is on the other side!”

Without waiting for a reply, the blonde grabs your hand and drags you back into the larger chamber. Once you leave the office, it’s impossible to miss the orange glow that cuts a swathe through the workshop’s blue light. The suited man has already set fire to the SB folder. Charlotte takes you to a position where you can see both remaining doors clearly. The entrances themselves look nearly identical. In fact, from here and in this light, you can make out just one visible difference. On the right portal, the handle is clearly worn, indicating frequent use, in contrast to the left whose lever is in relatively pristine condition.

“So,” Charlotte leans into you, “which one do you want?”

You guess that this is probably Charlotte's way of trying to split the loot. In that case, you ought to play along.

>>”Left.”
>>”Right.”
>>”Why don’t you choose instead?”
>>(Write-in)

>>3802364
>>”Why don’t you choose instead?”
What women desire most is sovereynté.
Also, Assassin making it so we can't read that file means that it definitely had compromising info on Charlotte, maybe a name or a dark past that she didn't want to share. Maybe it just says "FATHER MCMANUS WAS RIGHT", but we'll never know

>>3802364
>>”Left.”

>>3802364
>>>”Right.”
Hoho, either Charlotte gave us a fake name or she's trying to protect someone. If it's the former she must really be playing a dangerous game.

>>3802364
>>”Left.”

>>3802364
>>”Why don’t you choose instead?”

>>3802364
>>”Left.”

>>3802396
For all we know SB could also refer to either Rider or Berserker's Masters. I admit, Charlotte potentially giving us an alias seems like the stronger possibility, though. If it is the former case, however, that would mean she has some deeper connection to the other Masters that she's trying to hide.

>>3802848
Also, I think we can confirm based on what we've learned that Leon Marshall has the Caster Servant.

>>3802364
>”Why don’t you choose instead?”

>>3802852
>second owner
>magecraft based on growth
>his servant is caster
Do you suppose he and Caster are making an army of some sort?

Left
>>3802378
>>3802626
>>3802848

Provide sovereynté
>>3802372
>>3802815
>>3803297

It's been two weeks since our last tie.
In the interest of quest progress, the next vote cast will be deciding.

>>3803674
>>”Left.”

>>3803674
Let her pick

>>3803961
Fuck off lmao.

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>>3803674
I'll change my vote to Left if I can.

>>3803674

Let her pick Left

>>3803674
>In the interest of quest progress, the next vote cast will be deciding.

For fucks sake, would you people read.

>>3804453
In my defense I am drunk as hell. But also curious. Why do people want to give her the choice when she is doing this for us? Deferring to her when it's her treat is rude and spinless as hell.

“Left,” you say, feeling drawn to the entrance less traveled.

“Then the right belongs to me!” Charlotte departs your side to investigate her prize, fingers gliding along your muscles as she leaves. Eager to discover what awaits you, you move to your own treasure chest, grip the handle, and turn. Your ingress unveils a chamber about the size of the study, but if feels much more spacious because it’s barren. Vacant shelves line all four sides of this desolate square, save two objects on the far wall.

The smaller of the two items is a chunk of metal. It fits in your hand, but it’s rough on most sides, like a piece of something larger that was broken off. However, it does have a single smooth, concave face, and carved into that surface is a rune. You probably won’t get much use out of it, but you decide to take this trophy anyway in case it can offer you some information.

The bigger of the two is huge by comparison. It’s a large, metal canister, nearly the size of your torso. A heavy-duty exterior design is topped by a tightly-sealed spinning lid. The entire case is covered by sigils quite similar to those locking the door to this workshop. You could ask the others to help you open it, but then you risk damaging the contents. Maybe instructions for opening it are in Lucroy’s sanctum somewhere.

Unfortunately, time doesn’t permit you any further searching tonight, and this house is no longer safe to store anything that you intend to keep. You grab the container and immediately regret your attempt to hoist it. Damn, that’s heavy! You decide to ask Saber to carry it back to school for you.

~~~

You’re elsewhere again tonight. Conifers and mist surround you once more. The presence is here, too. Is it just your imagination, or is it closer than last time?

“Does it upset you?” a breeze inquires.

“Does what upset me?” you respond.

“The fact that you did not kill them,” the whisper returns. Is it talking about Berserker’s Master and Alceste Lucroy?

“Well,” you say, “Berserker and his Master were repelled, and Lucroy is dead now. It may not be an optimal victory, but it’s a victory regardless.”

“That is not what I asked,” the voice insists. “Are you upset that you did not kill them?”

“...Where is this coming from?” You evade the question, uncomfortable. It’s not asking about the outcome of the battle - it’s asking if you’re disappointed that you didn’t take human life!

“Where is your answer?”

“Generally, killing people is wrong if it isn't necessary, so-”

“I care not for your morals,” the forest adamantly cuts you off, “only your desires. Tell me!”

>>“...Yes, I’m upset.”
>>“...I’m upset about Berserker’s Master, but not about Lucroy.”
>>“...I’m upset about Lucroy, but not Berserker’s Master.”
>>“...No, I’m not upset.”
>>Refuse to answer.
>>(Write-in)

>>3805250
>Your ingress unveils a chamber about the size of the study
Aw, I was hoping there'd be a goat behind Door #2.
>“...Yes, I’m upset.”

>>3805250
>>“...No, I’m not upset.”
No use crying over spilt milk.

>>3805250
>The smaller of the two items is a chunk of metal. It fits in your hand, but it’s rough on most sides, like a piece of something larger that was broken off. However, it does have a single smooth, concave face, and carved into that surface is a rune. You probably won’t get much use out of it, but you decide to take this trophy anyway in case it can offer you some information.
Lancer's catalyst.
>The bigger of the two is huge by comparison. It’s a large, metal canister, nearly the size of your torso. A heavy-duty exterior design is topped by a tightly-sealed spinning lid. The entire case is covered by sigils quite similar to those locking the door to this workshop. You could ask the others to help you open it, but then you risk damaging the contents. Maybe instructions for opening it are in Lucroy’s sanctum somewhere.
Whatever's in there must be valuable if he put so many traps on it. It might also release magical energy if they work after his death.
...We should have Saber protect whoever opens it, just to be safe.

>>3805250
>“...I’m upset about Lucroy, but not Berserker’s Master.”

>>3805250
>>“...Yes, I’m upset.”

Kill them all. This is a Holy Grail War.

>>3805250
>>“...No, I’m not upset.”

You know that it doesn't have to be all or nothing, right? We have a reason to dislike not killing Lucroy after his treachery.

>>3805456
Edgar can be the better man.

>>3805456
I don't think that this is a vote about Lucroy. I think this vote is deciding, "How does Edgar feel about performing the act of murder?" because every response has, in my mind, different connotations. The "yes" and "no" cases seem pretty easy to see where they're going, but I think the other responses mean as such:
>“...I’m upset about Berserker’s Master, but not about Lucroy.”
Edgar is disappointed that an enemy escaped, but not that he didn't personally execute Lucroy. It implies that he doesn't mind killing when it's necessary, but that he himself doesn't have the desire to kill, only the willingness to do so. This regret is really less about the act of killing than it is about defeating the enemy.
>“...I’m upset about Lucroy, but not Berserker’s Master.”
Edgar decided that Lucroy had to die. To be upset about Lucroy implies not that Edgar is unhappy with what occurred to Lucroy but with how his death came about, which is necessarily that Edgar did not himself kill Lucroy, indicating that a wrathful side to Edgar is uncovering itself. In conjunction with his newfound appreciation of the sensuality of violence, this has somewhat grim implications.
>Refuse to answer.
This implies that Edgar has some kind of realization, but doesn't want to vocalize it because that would crystallize his desires, meaning that he can no longer lie to himself about what he wants. As long as he doesn't admit his desires, he can still fight them earnestly and have the drive to change; the refusal to answer, which here is a refusal to self-incriminate, is his last defense against the self.

>>3805250
>>>Refuse to answer.
I think this one leads to the most interesting path for character growth, so that's what I'm gonna choose.

>>3805498
That's an interesting analysis.
One that convinces me to delete >>3805277 and switch to:
>>3805250
>>Refuse to answer.

>>3805501
aaaaaaaaand i can't delete it because my id changed

>>3805250
>>>Refuse to answer.
Lucroy was a shit and it's a shame he went out so easy but it is good that matter is settled.
Berzerker's master was awe inspiring and beautiful but holy shit she needs to die before getting healed.
It's a new and exciting time in Edgar's life and he doesn't know how he feels.

>>3805250
>>>Refuse to answer.

Huh, I assumed that catalyst was the one that summoned Shielder .

>>3805537
I see two possibilites:
1. Lancer is also a Norseman or a Celt.
2. Lucroy originally summoned Ferdia, but subsequently lost him to the Einzbern girl.
Neither is good.

>>3805539
>Integer would never let us have a Servant as bullshit strong as Ferdiad. In fact, it's impossible for anyone except an Einzbern to cheat a hero into an extra class.
>If Cu wasn't happy about being stolen by Kirei, Ferdiad would be similarly unhappy about being stolen: they were best friends and likely have similar views about things. However, he seemed to have no problems with the Einzbern girl when we first met him.
>Lancer is a spear-using gay space ninja who can dispel thaumaturgy with his spear (might be a property of the NP or just his Magic Resistance).
I feel that Lancer was Alceste's Servant from the beginning.

>>3805250
>“...I’m upset about Lucroy, but not Berserker’s Master.”

>>3805574
>Integer would never let us have a Servant as bullshit strong as Ferdiad.
You state that with such confidence...

>>3805574
>it's impossible for anyone except an Einzbern to cheat a hero into an extra class.
Citation needed.
>>3806021
lmao

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>>3805574
Any major mage family can cheat the system. For example during the third war(I believe) the Edelfelt twins summoned the same heroic servant under two separate classes. They still lost though.

>>3806021
If we missed out on a truly borked servant in the beginning and it doesn't affect the plot can you tell us who it was?

>>3806582
Well, let's not forget that our Servant is self-nerfing and should she get over her issues will be a fucking monstrously powerful Servant.

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>>3806585
Oh my yes. I remember the one Fate quest where we were a Dead Apostle with Ibaraki and feeding her mana meant she could overpower Karna. Phantasmal Beast blood is a hell of a drug.

>>3806616
Man, that quest was kinda terrible.
Far too memey for my taste.
The QM kept dropping quests till one day they just upped and vanished, too.

>>3806631
Is that what happened? Fuck. I haven't been able to quest for a while and that was on my backlog. Course I knew it would be bad when he said we were using an actually game system but the interactions were fun.

>>3806640
Yeah they dropped it and immediately started running another Fate Quest too iirc.
Except this time the main character was uh.
A plane?
Like, a sentient plane?
And their Servant was Kingprotea.

I might be getting my wires crossed here though.
I didn't follow it.

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>>3806644
Oh that sounds awful. Now I am sad.

>>3806644
That was made almost immediately after a Fate quest experienced a Lolicaust, wasn't it?

You remain hesitant. Killing people? That’s just something you’re trained to do. Your mother has been very clear about how to handle your feelings in combat. In a battle, as with life on the whole, what you want is secondary to what you need. Cold is paramount. Acting on the heat of emotion leads to poor decision-making when the stakes are life and death. You’ve never wanted to go out of your way to kill anyone because it would be pointless.

“Speak.” The trees are unrelenting. “Are you not a human? Surely, you have a wish. Let it be heard.”

But, now that you’ve stopped to think about it, maybe it’s okay to consider your own wants in a fight sometimes. After all, Mom doesn’t always follow her own advice on the matter. In the past, you’ve seen her use incredibly excessive force, often against those who tried to do you harm. What’s more, you even told Saber that you like it when she lets loose on the battlefield. And, well, if there’s anything you’d hate to be, it’s a hypocrite. You suppose if you’re to be perfectly honest, then you would have liked to…

…

No. Your instincts warn you against speaking it aloud. The primordial form of your response is dragged back into the depths from whence it came.

“I don’t need to tell you anything.” You’re done dodging the question. Now, you offer defiance.

“Why? Do you not trust me?” The wind seems saddened. You remain silent. After a moment, the airy inquiry resumes, colored by a hint of realization. “No, that is wrong… you do not trust-”

~~~

“Look, Ed, I know you like how you met that girl, but…” Damien pauses. You sincerely hope he’s not going to suggest you stop seeing Charlotte, because you might have to slug him if he does. That would send him straight off this bench and into the carefully cultivated flower bed, crushing a good number of plants. “You’re not supposed to make girls pick you up. You’re a man, you know?” Oh, so that’s his gripe. Crisis averted. “I get it, you like the aggressive types, but you gotta take the initiative sometimes. You get complacent and she’ll think you’re taking her for granted.”

“Well, she showed up as a surprise yesterday,” you counter, “so it’s not like I had the option.”

“Fair enough, but don’t forget what I told you. The girl you have now is a goddamn masterpiece; you’d be insane to let her get away.”

“Right,” you say, ready to move onto a different topic. “What’s the word on the world outside? Anything juicy?”

“Sadly, nothing exceptional,” your friend replies. “The most exciting thing I have for you is that I’ve received a higher than average number of daily fatigue complaints from my friends in the city.”

“Slow news day, then.” Since Damien doesn't have anything new, you’re on your own for ways to spend the afternoon.

>>See Father McManus for work.
>>Visit your mother. A lot has happened over the past two days.
>>Go to the Einzbern’s hotel for a face-to-face meeting with Shielder's Master.
>>Return to the Lucroy estate and continue your search.
>>(Write-in)

>>3806582
>If we missed out on a truly borked servant in the beginning and it doesn't affect the plot can you tell us who it was?
I won't comment on Servants that Edgar has little knowledge of. That said...
You could have summoned Ferdiad.

>>3806644
>Except this time the main character was uh.
>A plane?
I'm not sure how to react. How did that strike someone as a good idea?

>>3806973
>>Go to the Einzbern’s hotel for a face-to-face meeting with Shielder's Master.
He knows Saber's name, so he has to die.
>>3807042
>spoiler
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

>>3806973
> Talk to Mom about the status of Rider's Master. Have they sought asylum?
> Ask Saber if she learned anything from her fight with Berserker, or if any of the other Servants confronted her.

>>3807042
Did we see enough of Assassin or Lancer in action to get an entry in the pastebin on them?

>>3806973
>Visit your mother. A lot has happened over the past two days.

>>3806973
>>Visit your mother. A lot has happened over the past two days.

>>3806973
>>>See Father McManus for work.
>>3807042
>missed out on celtic bro-ops
well darn

>>3806973
>>Visit your mother. A lot has happened over the past two days.
Maybe she can help clear up what the hell's going on.
>>3807042
>could've been yeeting thots with Ferdia
Why live?

Since it seems like we'll be seeing mamabear soon i gotta ask. Do we tell her we met a girl? Or wait for McManus to spill the beans?
>>3807042
How do Mom and the good Father get along?

>>3807300
I assume Mom and DADDY get along pretty well, given how familiar McManus is with us. If not, we'll find out eventually.

>>3806973
>>Visit your mother. A lot has happened over the past two days.
>>3807042
Well I found the quest in question
Their Servant choices were Assassin, Lancer or FUCKING SAVER.
Then the QM called THE FUCKING SAVER class shitty (what the fuck?)
Choices for Saver were
Buddha(?)
Muhammad (???)
Jesus (?????????????)
Rasputin/Stalin combo (??????????????????)

For some reason, the meme russian combo was picked.

The MC was like, a plane girl, with split personalities or some retarded shit.

The character with Kingprotea was the next main character.
That character was the personification of the Cold War.

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>>3807368
pls no more

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>>3807368
>reading this

>>3807347
>yfw mom is the Charlotte to McManus's Edgar

Can't wait until Edgar and Saber embrace their bloodlust together and we get epilogue where we fight Arcueid and Shiki
>Inb4 Edgar can become Crimson Red Vermilion

>>3808711
>epilogue where we fight Arcueid and Shiki
Oh boy, I can't wait to die horribly.

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>>3808711
>Arcueid and Shiki
I get the feeling we just missed an opportunity to awaken our origin so this may be a ways away.

The shadow of your residence hall creeps ever closer to the bench. It’s time for you to take care of afternoon business. After the chaos of this weekend, you feel like a visit to your mother is in order.

“Well, I need to get moving,” you say, rising from your seat.

“Oh, wait,” Damien stops you, “remind me, what’s that Scandi country you visited a few years back?”

“Finland,” you reply, puzzled. “Why?”

“Crap,” he sighs, slightly disappointed. “I’ve got an essay to write on Sweden. I was hoping to ask you about it, but no dice. Oh well. How about we play chess tomorrow at lunch?”

“Works for me.” Conversation finished, you depart.

It’s a brief walk to reach the church from the garden behind your residence hall. In fact, it’s so close that it’s faster to go through the church’s back door. When you enter, the walls of the sacristy are soon penetrated by the sound of your mother’s fury from the church proper. You slow down to listen as you reach the door to the chancel.

“Don’t give me that! You and I both know he can’t stay involved! ...What? No way! That doesn’t make any sense! How could this be in their best interest!?”

The conversation isn’t terribly interesting with its abundance of pronouns, and you feel bad about eavesdropping. You open the door and enter the church, silently waving hello to your mother, who paces in frustration and holds a cellphone in her hand. Mom stops walking and ranting when she sees you.

“This isn’t over,” she growls into her hand. She hangs up, puts the phone down next to her laptop on a pew, smiles, and walks over to you for a hug. “My little ladykiller returns! How was your date?”

“You know about that?” you ask, embarrassed at the memory of how Charlotte picked you up.

“Are you kidding?” you mother laughs. “A blonde bombshell invaded Saint Longinus Academy and walked out arm-in-arm with its most mysterious student. The whole damn school knows! Who is she, anyway?”

“The Master of Assassin.”

“...That’s weird.” Mom looks down, countenance pensive with a furrowed brow. After a moment, her head rights itself. “I guess you have something to tell me, then.”

You relay the weekend’s events to your mother, including your second run-in with Shielder, your conversation with Charlotte, and the subsequent chaos at the Lucroy mansion.

“So that’s how it is,” your mother says. She doesn’t seem as surprised by anything you’ve just told her as you expected. “I may be the overseer, but I can tell you this, at least. There’s no Berserker registered with me as a participant in this War.” So Berserker is the anomaly? It’s a starting point, at least. Perhaps you can find a way to investigate him in the future.

“There’s one more thing,” you say. “I found a large metal canister in a nearly undisturbed room of Lucroy’s workshop. I’ve taken it as a trophy, but an incredible amount of effort has gone into locking it with magecraft. I don't know if I can open it.”

“A canister in the possession of Alceste Lucroy that he clearly didn’t want anyone getting into,” Mom confirms. You nod. “Would you be willing to turn that over to me?”

“Would you be willing to tell me why you want it?”

“No.”

That’s a thoroughly unhelpful reply.

>>Agree to turn over the canister.
>>Refuse and keep the canister for yourself.
>>(Write-in)

>>3809086
>>Agree to turn over the canister.
>>Question her about Rider's Master

Idk, maybe we could use the canister to bait another Servant Master pair, but I don't see any other real use for it right now.

>>3807082
>Did we see enough of Assassin or Lancer in action to get an entry in the pastebin on them?
Unfortunately, you didn't see enough of either.

>>3807300
>How do Mom and the good Father get along?
I'm hoping to address this in-quest eventually. I think it will be more fun to show than to explain.

>>3807368
Wow. I bet that QM likes Apocrypha.

>>3809086
>Agree to turn over the canister.

>>3809086
>>>Agree to turn over the canister.
>>>Question her about Rider's Master

>>3809101
>I bet that QM likes Apocrypha.
Well iirc, one quest was set in the Great Grail War of Apocrypha.
So yes.
Also Illya just randomly shows up kind of out of nowhere.
>>3809086
>>Agree to turn over the canister.
Mom please.

>>3809086
>>Agree to turn over the canister.
>>Question her about Rider's Master

>>3809099
>>3809102
>>3809471
>>3809500
>>3809508
Are you guys all nuts? Turning over the canister is an incredibly naive move. Let's think about it:
1.) We found this canister in an enemy Master's Secret Lair.
2.) This canister has magic markings on it that keep it sealed.
2.a) These markings remain after the Master has died, indicating that he didn't want whatever is in there accessed NO MATTER WHAT.
3.) The Overseer has asked for us to hand it over to her, not "Mom". She is acting in an official capacity by asking us to hand this thing over.
4.) She will not tell us what is in the canister.
Ergo, whatever is in there is powerful stuff, and we need power. Likewise it has a material impact on the Grail War, which is why the Overseer is trying to remove it from play (and she's not just telling us, "give me that right now, young man!"). I think we need to keep it for ourselves and bust open the container, then move on from there. What this requires is a firm "no."
>>3809086
>>>Refuse and keep the canister for yourself.

Mamabear is taking this whole thing better than expected. I was expecting to at least get chided for letting another master get so familiar with us.
Mom abuses her position as overseer to have a "talk" with Charlotte.
Charlotte's face when she actually didn't know we were the overseer's son.
"Charlotte Quest:The most dangerous game" continues.

>>3809606
She's obviously read the Sunny Day ending.

>>3809086
>>Refuse and keep the canister for yourself.
Not unless she's willing to tell us.

>>3809605
I felt the same but the problem is Edgar doesn't have the magical talent to open the thing. Maybe that one executioner does, the one who made the pendant, but she answers to Mom doesn't she? Even if she doesn't if whatever is in there is really important she won't keep it to herself.

>>3809617
We don't know if Edgar has the talent or not. People just saw sigils and went "FUCK IT, let's give it to Mom." It seems to me that there's enough potential gain that we shouldn't hamstring ourselves. I don't know if Sister Gloria is under Mom's thumb or not. She seems like the kind of cool wine aunt who'd help us break into this thing.

>>3809617
Also, this:
>>3805250
>Maybe instructions for opening it are in Lucroy’s sanctum somewhere.
If that doesn't say, "go back, there's more!" then I don't know what does.

>>3809625
Straight up Edgar doesn't know any useful magic beyond making shit out of ice. But still it would be cool if we could get into the thing and see what it is, and it would be just awful to go through that whole thing at Lucroy's and have nothing left to show for it.

>>3809637
Yeah I'm being a coward.
>>3809086
Going to change my vote to
>>Refuse and keep the canister for yourself.

>>3809605
Fair enough, you've convinced me.

Switching from >>3809099 to
>>Refuse and keep the canister for yourself.

>>3809500
Fuck it
I'm sorry mom.
>>3809086
Switch to
>>Refuse and keep the canister for yourself.
If you want it, tell us why.

>>3809086
>>>Agree to turn over the canister.
I wouldn't be surprised if we meet Berserker the second we go back

“Then I’m not either,” you say. “As far as I know, it’s a spoil that belongs to me. Unless, of course, you’d like to explain.”

“I was afraid you’d say that,” Mom sighs. She looks downcast for some reason, but she still won’t unveil her reasoning. After a few seconds of silence, her face reverts to normal and she scans the room while changing the subject. “Anyway, where’s Saber?”

“I am here,” Saber says as she materializes at your side, ever upright. Your mother turns to her.

“How do you feel about Edgar’s new lady?” Mom smirks. “You’re not gonna let some homewrecker slut steal your man, are you? Ah, or maybe you’re relegating yourself to mistress in the face of a better woman?”

“Nonsense. I am a far more capable companion in battle,” your Servant states confidently.

“And how do you compare in bed?” your mother grins.

“Given the opportunity, I would prove a vastly superior partner,” Saber declares, totally unfazed. Her unexpected response leaves both you and Mom dumbstruck. Your own face is the only one that flushes. Before you can ask why the swordswoman responded in such a manner, the hourly toll of the church bell fills the building. It’s time for you to go. Familiar with your schedule by now, Saber vanishes.

“Leaving already?” Mom asks. “This damn Grail War is too time-consuming. I want to spend my evenings with my son, you know?” You’d be lying if you said you didn’t share the sentiment. Mom’s work as the overseer has eaten away nearly all of the time you usually spend together. It’s unfortunate, but you also know that the Holy Grail War must take priority if you intend to survive.

“I have to eat now if I want to head out tonight,” you say. “Thanks for chatting with me.” Mom ruffles your hair.

“Stay safe, okay?” she says softly, a look of concern on her face. “Don’t let this war tear us any further apart than it already has.”

“I don’t intend to,” you reassure her. For now, however, it’s back to the grind. For tonight...

>>Go to the state park and bring down Archer.
>>Hurry to the hotel and track the Einzbern and Shielder.
>>Search the Lucroy mansion for any answers it can provide.
>>Remain at school for the night and do something else. (What?)
>>Patrol an area. (Which?)
>>(Write-in)

In the future, when changing your vote, please be sure to link both the update and your previous vote. It's a struggle to keep tabs on switched votes otherwise.

>>3810232
>>Search the Lucroy mansion for any answers it can provide.
Now that we've determined that it's worth doing, let's do it ASAP.

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>>3810232
>>Search the Lucroy mansion for any answers it can provide.

>“Given the opportunity, I would prove a vastly superior partner,” Saber declares, totally unfazed.
Jesus Christ, Saber

>>3810232
>>Search the Lucroy mansion for any answers it can provide.

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>>3810232
>>>Search the Lucroy mansion for any answers it can provide.

Oh my, Saber. My my my my my.

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>>3810232
>>Search the Lucroy mansion for any answers it can provide.
>Given the opportunity, I would prove a vastly superior partner

>Right after sex scene with Assassin and Charlotte we can honestly say that Saber was better
>In fact thanks to our truth obsession we will be more than likely to say so

>>3810764
This is why we need to do her first.
>sex scene
>with Assassin
fgt

>>3809880
If we do meet anyone chances are it'll be that sister Lancer mentioned. Better be ready to throw down.

Also isn't Edgar's arm jacked after that last encounter? Thought it was broken.

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>>3810884
>I forgot Edgar's arm is injured
Oops. That's on me. Conveniently, you happen to be with someone who can heal you at the moment, so I'll take care of it at the beginning of the next update and pretend that I remembered.

>>3810232
>Search the Lucroy mansion for any answers it can provide.

“Oh, before I leave,” you say, “could I get you to take a look at my arm? It got injured in the fighting last night.” You’re hardly finished speaking before your mother is taking your jacket off. Soon enough, the massive bruise reveals itself.

“Hold still.”

~~~

You step carefully through the ruins of the mansion and make your way into Lucroy’s basement. Much remains as it was when Alceste was slain, including the strange blue lighting, but Charlotte’s door has been left open. Inside, you can see that the room has been cleaned out. Drawers have been pulled entirely out of file cabinets and now lie on the floor, devoid of their contents. The stone is badly scratched, like something heavy has been dragged over it, and a relatively fresh blood stain covers a drain in the middle of the room.

Returning to the chamber where you found the profiles on Masters, you begin to probe for any mention of the strange identification number from Alceste’s file on the Einzbern. At the same time, you direct Saber to look for instructions regarding the canister. Upon closer examination of the shelves, you find that the stacks of paperwork and some of the boxes in which they are stored have a very simple pattern to their positioning. Papers identified as T.58 start in the top left corner of one rack and end in the bottom right of another with T.20, looping around to T.00 after T.99. Once you figure that out, it isn’t hard to find the documents of T.98 and the specific file you’re seeking, T.98-3.

Within is the record of a specific transaction undertaken by the Lucroy family in the year 1998. The Lucroys, it would appear, do more than just steal from other magi; they sell the fruits of their larceny at luxurious prices. That explains how they’ve managed to afford so much despite being a weak magical lineage. This particular file claims that its record is incomplete, as it had to be retroactively created in the absence of an original. Even so, it tells quite the tale.

Then-head of the Lucroy family, Bernard Lucroy, accepted a job from the Einzbern family to steal an important magical secret from the prominent Edelfelt family. It was a high-stakes deal carried out with the utmost secrecy; the reward was more than generous, and both buyer and seller took great pains to cover their tracks. Bernard succeeded in his theft and transferred the stolen knowledge to the Einzberns before cutting all contact with them. However, the Edelfelts knew they had been robbed as well as the identity of the thief. It wasn’t long before Bernard met his end at the hands of an assassin. Interestingly, the Edelfelts never traced the heist back to the Einzberns. A signature at the end purports this record to be the handiwork of one Ghislaine Lucroy.

“Master,” Saber calls, causing you to look up from the folder you have in hand, “I have found something of interest.” She walks over and gives you one of Lucroy’s notebooks, already opened to a specific page. It’s full of diagrams and large amounts of scribbled notes. The images reveal that this is some form of blueprint or instruction manual for the operation Lucroy’s door. Naturally, it includes a large amount of information about the sigil locks. If you spend enough time looking through this or enlist someone’s help, you might be able to translate the information within to the seal on the canister. As you ponder your options, Saber audibly draws her blade, and with it your attention.

“A Servant is coming.”

Obviously, you knew this was a possibility. To keep your hands free, you tear out the relevant pages of the notebook, fold them up, and put them in your pocket. The two of you rush up to the family room at the entrance to the basement. Black Keys drawn, you follow Saber’s gaze towards the direction from which your enemy approaches. Unfortunately, you can’t see anything past the wall. You wait for a moment, hoping her line of sight will drift towards one of the doors to the room. Instead, the swordswoman shoves you hard, sending you tumbling behind the room’s lone couch. A split second later, the wall is decimated by the explosive entrance of Shielder, who smashes into Saber and forces her halfway across the room. Saber refuses to stay on the defensive, and once her momentum has diminished, she launches her usual vicious flurry of strikes. The familiar clang of steel on hard skin echoes throughout the house.

This guy haunts you and Saber like a recurring nightmare! Experience has taught you that there’s no time to waste. You need to act now!

>>Search for the Einzbern girl! She’s the one vital point that Shielder’s skin can’t protect!
>>Use your magic! You can’t hope to harm Shielder, but maybe you can slow him down!
>>Order Saber to use her Noble Phantasm! Twist Shielder beyond recognition!
>>Order Saber to unleash her hidden power, with a Command Spell if need be!
>>Use the power of a Command Spell to close the gap between the Servants’ abilities!
>>(Write-in)

>>3811953
>>Search for the Einzbern girl! She’s the one vital point that Shielder’s skin can’t protect!

>>3811953
>>>Order Saber to use her Noble Phantasm! Twist Shielder beyond recognition!
>Use Command Spell to make it hit true
Good luck fighting without arms sucker

>>3811953
>Search for the Einzbern girl! She’s the one vital point that Shielder’s skin can’t protect!

>>3811973
You really want to use the twisty fire tornado right next to us?

>>3811953
>>Search for the Einzbern girl! She’s the one vital point that Shielder’s skin can’t protect!

>>3811955
>>3811973
>>3811976
>>3812136
Okay, team, how stupid do we think Ferdia is? He wouldn't seek us out if he didn't think he could win. He learns from his mistakes, as does his Master. He also used another Servant as a weapon, so we'll need to keep that in mind. We've seen before that once we do something, it fails the next time we try it (e.g. finding the Einzbern girl, which killed us).
1. Target the Einzbern girl: she won't expose herself to us again
2. Use magic: we haven't done this yet, and we have terrain alteration (remember running away from Archer)
3. Noble Phantasm: he has now seen Saber's NP, and can work around it. NPs aren't unbeatable, and if anyone can do it, it's the man who performed 1,000 feats before his combat with Cú Chulainn
4. Hidden power: complete unknown, but Kirei's "not all bad choices will kill you" stands heavy in front of this choice.
5. Command spell: probably not good enough tbqdesu, because her problem isn't power, but stamina.
Therefore, we ought to try and trip him up; I think that's why "slow him down" is an option.
>>3811953
>>>Use your magic! You can’t hope to harm Shielder, but maybe you can slow him down!

>>3811953
>>Use your magic! You can’t hope to harm Shielder, but maybe you can slow him down!

>>3812285
Fuck. I'm >>3809610.

>>3811953
No hesitation even though they now know Saber can hurt him? They may have something up their sleeve.
>>3812281
Even if we trip him up only Saber's NP can harm him sow e'll have to resort to that anyway, which is bad if they have thought up some counter measure.

Instead of going after her what if we brought the Einzbern to us? Act like we're fleeing but only enough to spring some ice magic on her? Or use it on Shielder if he pursues and it would still trip him up.

Shit, I just realized that Berserker's master is probably homunculus

>>3812310
>Instead of going after her what if we brought the Einzbern to us?
Bold of you to assume that she'd follow, and not her Servant.

>>3812346
She was willing to face us with her little trap and from that and her earlier appearance I doubt she has any actual tactical know-how. Yes, we walked right into it but most anons have all the tactical knowledge of a sheltered princess.

If we make ourselves too good a target she, confident in whatever she has to counter our NP, will come rushing for the glory.

On the other hand what do you propose we do once we've merely tripped Shielder up?

>>3812390
>I doubt she has any actual tactical know-how
>who is Shielder

>If we make ourselves too good a target she, confident in whatever she has to counter our NP, will come rushing for the glory.
She doesn't need to counter the NP, neither of us are Servants. Also, when has she ever seemed interested at all in glory? She's an absolute disinterested ojou.

>On the other hand what do you propose we do once we've merely tripped Shielder up?
The point is to prevent him from acting in the manner he desires. When we trip him, there will be a time between when it starts and when he recovers. It is in that intervening instant that he won't be able to focus on countering Saber and then she can ice him.

>>3812411
Shielder may be the brains and brawn of the duo but that doesn't stop princess from making hasty battlefield mistakes and that is the best option we have.

>disinterested ojou
Who wanted to look us in the eye and kill us slowly instead of finishing things. A fire has been lit under her pampered butt.

And I meant them having a counter to Saber's NP, or some preparation otherwise rushing her like this is beyond stupid of them.

Can't Ferdiad counter any attempt to turn the place into an ice rink with a single rune?

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>>3812491
>Who wanted to look us in the eye and kill us slowly instead of finishing things
IRL strangulation takes a couple minutes, it's not like the movies where you grab and then -- BAM! -- dead. I think we have very different interpretations of how that fight went down.
>rushing her like this is beyond stupid of them
I mean, they really just need to get Saber so that she's tired. Ferdia is the superior combatant in every way, barring a trap.
>>3812500
Runes aren't instantaneous, they're a "written" magic; one needs to physically draw the sigil. And they weren't present when we played the bait for cHARLOTte, so they don't know that we have Territory Creation D-. Pic related.

>>3812519
...no I didn't mean just strangle us like a movie I meant do anything else to finish us. A familiar, which that construct was, only needs to be fed mana and given telepathic orders. She was free to stab us or blast us or anything. Also they don't know about Saber's stamina problem since the timeline reset anytime that became a problem.

>>3812500
We don't know what his magic capabilities are.

>>3812554
>She was free to stab us or blast us or anything.
Was she? Einzbern homunculi are, in general, non-combat models. Illya isn't actually strong, and Iri isn't either. Strangulation was the safest method.
>We don't know what his magic capabilities are.
>Rune Magic B
(I get what you're saying, though, we don't know the extent of his powers)

>>3812560
Both Illya and one of her maids were combat monsters. Illya easily overpowered Rin and Shirou when they clashed. I seriously doubt that was all this Einzbern master could have brought to the table.

>>3812560
>>3812597
It seems you two are looking to different sources on this matter. In the original Fate/stay night VN, Illya is all but toothless in battle, and relies wholly on Berserker for both offense and defense. The UBW anime gives her a massive buff, granting her power with familiars exceeding even what Irisviel displays in Fate/Zero. Leysritt, on the other hand, is an example of a homunculus designed with combat in mind.

Regardless, Edgar doesn't know for sure how far the power of Shielder's Master extends.

>>3811953
>>>Use your magic! You can’t hope to harm Shielder, but maybe you can slow him down!

>>3811953
>>>Use your magic! You can’t hope to harm Shielder, but maybe you can slow him down!
In the hopes that a good opportunity presents itself from us doing the unexpected I'll vote for this.

>>3812560
>>3812652
If I recall correctly, she attempts to blast Gilgamesh with some sort of magic when he shows up at the temple in the Fate route and almost gets killed after he just reflects it. I think Rin has to save her.

Anyway, it makes sense that she would have greater capabilities than Iri, considering that Illya is both superior in make and is quite a few years older than Iri was in Zero by the time of SN.

>>3812732
No, Caster tries to run away when Gil first appears and gets absolutely deleted. Illya never has a meaningful interaction with Gil in the Fate route (she's strung up behind Kirei during the final battle).

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>>3812790
Wrong.
Illya attempts to attack Gil in the Fate route after he fucking obliterates Caster.

Here she is about to die from it being reflected.

>>3812818
Ah, you're right. I forgot about that bit.

>>Search for the Einzbern girl! She’s the one vital point that Shielder’s skin can’t protect!

Search for the Master
>>3811955
>>3811976
>>3812136
>>3813078

Use your magecraft
>>3812281
>>3812285
>>3812669
>>3812716

Same deal as last time. Next new or switched vote is deciding.

>>3811953
>>Use your magic! You can’t hope to harm Shielder, but maybe you can slow him down!
They'll have prepared for everything else. This will be unexpected, at least.

>>3813315
RIP Us

Shielder is no fool. He and his Master won’t repeat their mistakes. There’s no way he would come back to finish you without some way to counter Saber’s Noble Phantasm, either. In that case, Saber alone is inadequate to bring him down. You need to get involved and do something he won’t expect.

An idea strikes you; use magecraft. That’s the one trick you have left up your sleeve that the Einzbern has yet to see. Hurting Shielder with your ice is impossible, but you don’t actually need to harm him. You just need to slow him down.

‘Saber, I’m going to give you an opening,’ you command telepathically. ‘Be ready to take advantage of it!’

‘Yes!’ Her reply is simple, focusing all her energy on her foe. Each stroke of her blade is parried by Shielder in the same manner as the last. As observant as Shielder is, he might catch on if you make a false move. Instead, you choose to make use of the fallen position Saber was so kind as to put you in.

The dam bursts, and magical energy is free to rush through your circuits. You whisper your chant, Saber’s battering and breathing blocking your words from reaching Shielder’s ears.

“Stretch out thine hand over the sea,”

Saber’s blade comes dangerously close to Shielder’s eyeball.

“that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians,”

Shielder grabs a chair and swings it at Saber. It’s cut like butter.

“and the sea returned to his strength,”

Saber tears through the ceiling with a descending slash.

“and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.”

Shielder opens his hand to grasp his enemy's sword.

“Circle Nine!”

Ice skitters across the floor from your palm. Since you are both contained in the close quarters of a home, your spell can reach him quickly. It forms a circle under Shielder’s feet as wide as his eyes become upon realizing what you’ve done. Funny thing about ice: unlike most solids, increased pressure causes it to revert to its liquid form, resulting in its characteristic slipperiness. No matter how seasoned the warrior, they’re sure to struggle with their footing on a surface that denies traction so completely. A rune could melt the ice in an instant, but during that brief moment, Shielder will be all but powerless to dodge. Saber takes her cue, and her hair floods with crimson power.

>Ice powers
>Circle Nine
I knew Edgar was a baka.

“Onda no Hachiro Moroshige!"

“Congancnes!” Shielder covers his face and lets himself fall, but it’s not fast enough. One of his arms is caught in the murderous vortex. The metallic sound of bending space is accompanied by the crunching and squelching of bone and flesh. Shielder doesn’t make a sound. Fighting through the pain and for his life, he swiftly draws a rune with his remaining arm that evaporates much of the ice. Supported by a hand and a leg, he wastes no time in kicking Saber from his low stance. She blocks it, but is forced back a few steps. Shielder uses that moment to pounce backwards and create even more space between the two.

“Ehwaz! Ehwaz! Ehwaz!”

...Unbelievable. Shielder is drawing runes on his useless left arm! With each symbol, the appendage becomes stiffer and stiffer until it’s as hard as a club. Even down a limb, he has no intention to give up.

Saber’s hair fades to black, but her eyes still glow. Her breaths are deep, as though a predator inhaling the scent of a kill.

“Master,” Saber speaks aloud, “I want to use my hands.”

>>Let Saber engage Shielder unarmed.
>>Order Saber to continue fighting with her blade.
>>(Write-in)

>>3815022
>>Let Saber engage Shielder unarmed
If that's what she wants.

>>3815022
>>Let Saber engage Shielder unarmed.
If that's what she wants.

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>>3815027
Fuck, I should've scrolled further.

>>3815027
Impossible! It's the same type of 「Post」!?

>>3815036
I didn't mean to.

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>>3815022
>>>Let Saber engage Shielder unarmed.
Unleash the beast.

>>3815037
God damn it, you ruined it, Apologetic Jotaro.

>>3815022
>>>Let Saber engage Shielder unarmed.

>>3815022
>Let Saber engage Shielder unarmed
>Order Saber to bring you his head
Gonna stack these legend buffs

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>>3815022
>>Engage unarmed.
Let them fight.

>>3815132
Support

>>3815132
Will back saying this.

>>3815022
>>Let Saber engage Shielder unarmed.
If that's what she wants.
>>Order Saber to bring you his head.

>>3815132
This.

You have no reason to deny Saber a hand-to-hand battle. To be honest, you’re surprised she bothered to ask for permission in the first place. The superhuman armor of her opponent is immune to any blacksmith’s art. In fact, her bare hands may be her only real hope of bringing down her opponent. No weapons, therefore, for either this night. You issue your command.

“Bring me his head.”

Saber catapults toward Shielder, sword disappearing. Shielder heaves his impromptu bludgeon, but Saber, no longer using her sword techniques, simply ducks under it. A powerful blow to Shielder’s gut sends him careening into a door jamb. Saber isn’t far behind. Shielder twists away from Saber’s driving fist, and pushes her away with a backhand to her cheek. Your Servant wheels back around, spits blood from her mouth into Shielder’s face, and relaunches her assault.

You watch intently. Saber is sacrificing the hallmark of her class in favor of unarmed combat. She relies entirely on her own strength to snuff out Shielder’s life through his impenetrable skin. This is Saber at her most brutal, her most beautiful.

One of Shielder’s eyes is blinded by sanguine and saliva, but he can still hold back Saber. Her repeated punches are disordered and savage, and her wild flurry is skillfully repelled with precise strikes of fist, elbow, knee and foot. Suddenly, Saber drops to the ground and kicks out at her opponent’s feet. Shielder, who had kept one leg raised for defense, is swept off of the other. In the air, Shielder reacts almost immediately, and twists his torso to strike Saber in the head with his hardened arm.

From her low position, Saber’s hand launches up and snags Shielder’s hardened wrist, preventing it from gathering its full momentum. With a roar, she swings her enemy in a wide arc, smashing him face-first into the wood floor. Wasting no time, she rolls across the splinters to straddle his back and pins his arms with her knees. She grabs his head with both hands and wrenches with all her strength. You hear a familiar, sickening, wet crunch as Shielder’s face is twisted into view. His limbs go limp under Saber’s weight. Ferdiad is slain.

The victor struggles to remove your requested trophy from Shielder’s corpse, but the skin just won’t separate. Eventually, she simply drags the rapidly-fading body over by the throat and presents it to you, holding only the skull, letting the rest of the cadaver hang lax from the flimsy tube of skin that was once his neck.

“Regrettably, Master, I could not completely sever the head.” You’re impressed by Shielder’s ludicrous structural integrity. The congancnes is a remarkable defense.

“That was a gorgeous display, Saber!” you praise your Servant. “This is our first real victory. Thank you.”

>>3817043
>No weapons, therefore, for either this night
You scamp, you.
>Eventually, she simply drags the rapidly-fading body over by the throat and presents it to you
Aww, she's like the world's most fucked up cat. That fight was absolutely metal

“No, please, I should thank-” Saber cuts off her modest response and turns her head slightly to the side. You’re about to ask what the matter is when she suddenly drops what little remains of Shielder and takes off down the hall. A far distance away, she rockets through the ceiling as the fallen soldier disappears entirely. Shortly thereafter, a faint scream reaches your ears, and abruptly stops. Some seconds more, and Saber drops back through the hole she created. Under one arm is a girl with silver hair and a black dress, and in her other hand is her freshly-materialized sword, pressed to the throat of her captive.

Saber strides over to you and drops the girl where Shielder’s body had been just moments ago. The Einzbern curls up on her knees, emitting stifled sobs, clutching herself and trembling in fear. Saber walks around to her side and uses her blade to raise the defeated Master’s chin. A terrified, tear-stained face looks up at you.

“State your name,” your Servant demands.

“Please-”

“Your name!” Saber shouts.

“Ilonasviel!” the Einzbern screams in desperation “Ilonasviel von Einzbern! Please don’t kill me! I don’t want any of this!” Her crying red eyes plead for your mercy. Saber leaves her weapon in place and looks to you for direction. This girl’s life is in your hands.

>>Spare Ilonasviel. She may have been a threat before, but right here, right now, she’s completely helpless. You can’t kill her. (What will you do afterward? Take her to the church, back to her hotel, or leave her here?)
>>Kill Ilonasviel. So long as an enemy Master remains alive, they pose a significant danger to you. End her before she can come back for revenge. (Who will finish her off? You or Saber?)
>>(Write-in)
If she is to live...
>>Take her to the church for protection.
>>Take her back to her hotel.
>>Leave her here to fend for herself.
>>Ask her where she would like to go and take her there.
If she is to die...
>>Order Saber to execute her.
>>Kill her yourself.

>>3817071
>>Spare Ilonasviel. She may have been a threat before, but right here, right now, she’s completely helpless. You can’t kill her.
>>Ask her where she would like to go and take her there.

>>3817071
>Spare Ilonasviel. She may have been a threat before, but right here, right now, she’s completely helpless. You can’t kill her. (What will you do afterward? Take her to the church, back to her hotel, or leave her here?)
>Take her to the church for protection.
Do not kill the adorable!

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I hereby present the second character portrait of the quest, featuring Ilonasviel von Einzbern!

>>3817071
>>Spare Ilonasviel. She may have been a threat before, but right here, right now, she’s completely helpless. You can’t kill her.
>> Interrogate her for what she learned of the other Masters and Servants first.
>>Ask her where she would like to go and take her there.

>>3817077
Actually I'll switch to taking her to the Church.
Killing a (mostly) defenceless terrified crying girl is just a little too heartless.

>>3817085
I was gonna say kill 'er, but we can't well do it after seeing that she's a bonny wee Christian lass.
>>3817071
>>>Spare Ilonasviel. She may have been a threat before, but right here, right now, she’s completely helpless. You can’t kill her.
>>>Take her to the church for protection.

>>3817071
>>3817096
>>> Interrogate her for what she learned of the other Masters and Servants first.
Also this

>>3817085
Oh, she looks so docile and sweet! I bet Liliesviel would trample all over her.

>>3817071
>Spare Ilonasviel. She may have been a threat before, but right here, right now, she’s completely helpless. You can’t kill her.
>Interrogate her for what she learned of the other Masters and Servants first.
>Take her to the church for protection.
Nice one, Saber.

>>3817107
She was unlucky enough not to pull Alberich from her gacha.

>>3817111
Obviously.
Alberich is a Limited SSR.

>>Interrogate and then kill her
>>Kill her yourself.
Good job Saber!
Soon we will get our DAA designation thanks to your efforts!

>>3817085
Aw, that's cute.

>>3817071
>>Spare Ilonasviel. She may have been a threat before, but right here, right now, she’s completely helpless. You can’t kill her.

>>Take her to the church for protection.
For interrogation, that she seems willing enough to cooperate with.

>>3817062
>You scamp, you.
Wow. I'm surprised anyone noticed that at all, let alone so quickly.

>>3817107
>I bet Liliesviel would trample all over her.
I don't doubt that Liliesviel would try.

>>3817122
Alberich rate-up when?

>>3817167
>Alberich rate-up when?
Not till Easter.
Be careful not to get spooked by JUSTinian

>>3817167
Personally, I find that one of the more potent lines in Heaney's translation. It really sets the tone for how brutal the contest is going to be.

>>3817071
>>>Spare Ilonasviel. She may have been a threat before, but right here, right now, she’s completely helpless. You can’t kill her. (What will you do afterward? Take her to the church, back to her hotel, or leave her here?)
>>Take her to the church for protection.
She is nothing now. Her blood means nothing, her life and death mean nothing.

How hard is Saber fighting the urge to kiss us right now?How much does she desire being taken right here on the floor?

>>3817123
Buddy, what?

>>3817279
I think she desires to take, dude.

>>3817306
She is far too into the whole dom/sub thing to ever truly give in and just take it. She wants to be possessed, to be taken, she craves being bound by the invisible bonds of another and being bent to the will of one who would make her happy.

>>3817306
"Down, Saber. Bad! Not in front of the loli! Don't make me get the spray bottle!"

>>3817071
>>Spare Ilonasviel. She may have been a threat before, but right here, right now, she’s completely helpless. You can’t kill her.
>>Take her to the church for protection.
We pretty much established we're fine with killing in self defence and if it serves a purpose, without Shielder she's just a defenceless girl.

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>>3817310
umm
>>3817314
>she's just a defenceless girl

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>>3817317
So we should do Saber while using the Einzbern as a mattress?

>>3817330
Holy shit is that Xiaolin Showdown? And no, we need to keep Ilonasviel pure so we can introduce her to Fr. McManus as our new betrothed.

>>3817345
Hell yes it it. Gong yi tanpai.
Oh that would cause all kinds of mayhem after everyone just confirmed Charlotte was our sweetheart. How would she feel about the new girl? Jealous? Doubtful. She is going to help us dom this poor little homunculus into the most obedient little fuckpig.

>>3817345
>Introducing McManus to the girls
>Charlotte
>Mana stealing THOT
>Saber
>Undead heathen from the East
>Ilonasviel
>German
We're cruisin for a Catholic brusin

>>3817345
We already have a love interest pure as the driven snow and her name is Charlotte

>>3817371
Saber>>>Charlotte
Einzbern placing unknown yet.
Probably also >>Charlotte

>>3817366
>everyone just confirmed Charlotte was our sweetheart
Citation needed. The floozy just appeared on campus, like a stalker.
>>3817369
There are German Catholics; Pope Benedict XVI is the most recent notable example.
>>3817371
cHARLOTte is a conniving hussy, and we can finally have an adorable, sweet, supportive partner in Ilonasviel.

>>3817394
>adorable, sweet, supportive partner
>Ilonasviel
Citation needed.

>>3817401
Can I cite Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night?

>>3817401
>adorable
See >>3817085
>sweet
My imagination
>supportive
Ibid.
Also >>3817408

Can't wait until Edgar jumps onto bloodlust train with Saber
Also can't wait until we will tell mom how cute Saber was when apologizing about being unable to fully rip off Shielder's head

>>3817394
Confirmed by us not denying it when asked. Oh yes we have pointed out why we were together but we never said No we aren't a thing.

>>3817401
It's been scientifically proven that Einzbern homunculi can be developed into Best Girls.

The same results are possible with Kotomine's as well.

>>3817436
>Charlottefags are this desperate already
They never stood a chance, Saberbros.

>>3817436
We've never actually affirmed the idea, though. We said "right" to "cHARLOTTE is a masterpiece" and that we'd be insane to let her get away. That means that Damien assumes that we're an item, but we've never actually had "are you dating her" come up in conversation. Likewise we only asked Fr. McManus to let us settle our own affairs, never said that she was our girl.
>>3817445
>already
>implying this is new
People have tried to meme a cHARLOTte ending into existence since her first appearance.

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>>3817445
>>3817462
Considering that over the course of this thread i have advocated a sex competition between those two girls while using a defeated enemy as a mattress I'm not sure where to take this shitposting.

>>3817535
>Banging 2 girls on top of another defeated girl is shitposting
>When F/SN literally had you bang 2 girls to keep one in existence while your future self fought off a Demi-God so you could bang his summoner
You're nowhere near Nasu tier yet Anon

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>>3817535
You must take it beyond shitposting, to something greater, something sincere. You must truly believe what you say; not only is a sex competition on top of this poor girl a way forward, it is THE way forward. Rise above irony. Make the jump.

>>3817593
>>3817626
Well I wouldn't mind if Mom and Father officiated the competition...

Maybe gave some training along with the color commentary.

>>3817071
>Spare Ilonasviel.
>Take her to the church for protection.

“Defeated Masters have the right to protection at the overseer’s church,” you say. Without her Servant, this girl poses no threat. You can’t kill anyone so defenseless, let alone one begging for her life. “We’ll take you there.”

“Wha…?” Ilonasviel’s eyes widen. “You mean it?”

“My Master never lies,” Saber declares. With a flourish, she pulls her sword from Ilonasviel’s throat and sheathes it. “He has guaranteed your safety, and safe you shall be.”

The silver-haired girl wipes the tears from her face with her wrist. She’s still quaking. That will make it hard for her to stand. You offer your hand to help the girl to her feet. For a moment, Ilonasviel stares blankly at your gesture, as though baffled that you would literally reach out to an enemy you’ve bested. Then, hesitantly, she takes it, and shakily rises with your aid. However, she remains unsteady, and her hands continue to grip your arm, leaning on you for support.

“...Can I walk like this for a bit?”

“Sure,” you reply simply. It’s best that you leave before anyone else shows up, and since her hold on you is far less invasive than Charlotte’s, you don’t really mind. Saber doesn’t seem to share your opinion, though she remains silent. It’s a good thing looks can’t kill, or Saber would be making you into a liar right now.

~~~

“How do you do it?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Christ, Edgar, this is the third girl you’ve been with in the past twenty-four hours!” your mother exclaims, pointing at the Einzbern girl to your side. Thankfully, she stopped holding your arm long ago, which would have made this much worse. Saber looks pointedly away from you, turning her attention to the unlit stained glass windows of the church. “You’re turning into a regular Casanova!”

“Mom, please, it’s not like that,” you sigh, trying to stop the mess before it starts.

“Yeah, yeah,” Mom says, her tone relaxing. “You beat her Servant, and now you’re delivering her here to be guarded until the War’s conclusion, right?” For as silly as your mom can be sometimes, she’s pretty quick on the uptake. “I’ll handle things from here. You get some rest.”

~~~

Your battle is over. Shedding your armor, you ride at full speed. Your goal is Shinano. It is his last wish that you bring the story of his final battle to his home province.

But it stings.

You don’t think it will ever stop stinging.

Maybe he just meant to protect you. But maybe he was serious. He said…

He said i̸̱̞͛̉t̷͎̰̽̐ ̸̗̊͛ŵ̶̬̳̾o̸̥͋͊ú̸̟̀l̸̦͈͐̈d̶̤̮̈͊ ̶̟͙̊s̶̪̯̏̂ḩ̵͙̎͝ḁ̸̧̋͊m̸̻͕̈̕ë̶͎́ ̵̳̓h̶i̴̺̓m̷̥̍ ̵̬̺̀̚t̷͚̬̉͝o̷̤͗͝ ̷̣͕́d̶̖̀͠i̶̥̐ȅ̶̛͇̹ ̶̪̄à̷̘l̴̮̋͗o̶̳̙̔́n̶̘̊g̸̨̦̊s̷̛̭̈́i̶͍̙͝d̸͎͙͠͠e̶͍̐̔ ̵̬̇̿y̷͑ͅó̷̳̣͊u̷̠̯̽.̴͇̌

~~~
{interlude 7-1}
~~~

It’s a quiet night in the overseer’s stronghold. A young girl lies on a pew, lazily kicking the air. The hem of her dress rises each time, its black sheen contrasting with the matte of the Executor’s frock.

“That look in your eyes,” the overseer teases, “says you’re interested in him.”

“...I suppose this feeling could be described as ‘interested’.” Certainly, she felt a great deal of curiosity. That boy - Edgar, as she recently learned - perplexed her. Thrice did she try to end his life. Yet, when her Servant had been brought to heel and she was at his mercy, he spared her and took her to the church. Who in their right mind escorts a mortal enemy to safety? That, at least, she wanted to know.

“You have some serious competition, you know,” the brown-haired woman says playfully. “If you want him, you’re gonna have to fight pretty hard!”

“Fight, you say…” The conversation trails off. Silence fills the house of prayer. After a minute or so, the young one speaks up again.

“May I make a call?” she asks. “The maids will want to know that I’m okay.”

“Hm... I don’t see why not,” the woman says. “There’s a phone in the the back that you can use. I’ll get your room ready in the meantime.”

In accordance with the woman’s directions, the girl with the red eyes located the phone. She dialed the hotel, asked for the appropriate room, and waited.

“Who is calling at such an hour?” a woman’s voice answers angrily on the other end.

“It’s me, Angela.”

“L-Lady Ilonasviel!?” the voice responds, all traces of irritation melting away. “Are you well? We have been terribly worried since you did not arrive on time! Where are you? Why have you not returned?”

“I’m at the church. Shielder has been killed. I would like to speak to my sister.”

“At once, Lady Ilonasviel!” Hasty footsteps fade away. Shortly after that, slower, more relaxed strides gradually rise in volume until someone else picks up the phone.

“Sister! You live.” This new, self-assured voice belongs to a young woman, though one audibly more mature than her sibling. “Shielder is dead, and you are safe in the church, yet you sent for me. Is there something you need?”

For a few seconds, the girl in the narthex says nothing. On the other end, patient waiting for a reply. Eventually, it comes.

“Sister, I want you to give me Rider.”

~~~
{interlude out}
~~~

“I swear, they paid this dude by the letter!” Damien moves his knight to take your pawn. “How many times can you write ‘physiognomy’ instead of ‘face’ or any other synonym?”

“While I sympathize with your distaste for our assigned reading,” you say, sliding your bishop into Damien’s freshly repositioned piece, “if you don’t focus on the task at hand, I’m going to win again. Check.”

“Come on, man, give me a break,” Damien complains, moving his king out of harm’s way. “Not everyone reads ‘The Art of War’ for fun.”

Well, it wasn’t exactly pleasure reading in your case, either. Once your mother assigned it, you had no choice but to push through the text in addition to the rest of your schoolwork.

“Given that you maintain an ever-expanding information web as a hobby, you shouldn’t be telling people what to do with their free time,” you retort, using your rook to claim one of Damien’s pawns. “Still nothing good from town?”

“All quiet on the western front.” A rook of his own retreats to buy a precious few turns. “Well, I know a bellhop downtown who reports an uptick of attractive foreign guests in recent days, but that doesn’t really concern us.” Well, that actually might concern you, but Damien wouldn’t know that. “Fatigue too, but overall, it’s been a slow start to the week.”

Again, no ideas from Damien. The afternoon is yours.

>>See Father McManus for work.
>>Visit Mom and Ilonasviel in the church.
>>Spend some time trying to open the canister.
>>Take a stroll in the state park to clear your head.
>>Go for a walk in some other sector. (Which?)
>>(Write-in)

>>3818935
>>Visit Mom and Ilonasviel in the church
Hmm

>>3818935
>>Take a stroll in the state park to clear your head
Bench?