Chapter 97: Master GO
"Didn't expect it to be Love Sleeping..."
The moment he saw that game cartridge, all the terrible memories instantly came flooding back.
That "Lancelot" game just couldn't stay quietly in its own case — it even sneaked into another game's box. Are you trying to embody the "Lancelot spirit" to the very end or what?!
What's worse… a game like "Lancelot" is absolutely not something you can play at a family party!
"Ah…"
Seeing that the cartridge had been swapped, Tristan, sitting on the sofa, suddenly remembered something.
"Sorry, I think last time I borrowed it from Sir Lancelot, and after playing, I must've accidentally put it in the wrong box."
"Perfect… I can already imagine how pissed off Lancelot must've been when he tried to open his hentai game at midnight only to find it was Servant Brawl instead." Eikou muttered irritably.
"Why not try playing it a bit?"
Tristan asked with an eager expression.
"Play your damn head! We're having a family party, and you bring out this 'incest party' game? Do you even hear yourself?!" Eikou roared furiously.
Eikou put the cartridge back into its box, then turned to grab the other party games he had prepared.
No worries, he still had several backups — "Super Red Hare Party" and "Red Hare Kart 8," both perfect multiplayer party games.
However, when he opened those cases… he discovered that inside, they had been replaced one by one with "Love Sleeping 3 Portable" and "Love Sleeping 3 FES."
"..."
Tristan, Tristan, Tristan, you damn bastard!
You swapped all my game cartridges — just how many cuckold games did you and Lancelot play that night?! You're clearly messing with me on purpose!
Also… doesn't this game series have way too many expansion versions already?!
That company's milking habit is downright disgusting!
[...Due to Tristan's blunder, the number of family-friendly games you could play together has been significantly reduced.]
[You and Gawain searched everywhere, but still couldn't find any other game suitable for group play.]
[However, aside from the "family game" genre, Gawain had recently bought several new titles — such as "Master GO" and "Rune Ring: Shadow of the Fantasy Tree."]
[So everyone decided to change things up — each person would take turns playing different games.]
[After a round of rock-paper-scissors, it was decided that you would play first — trying out the current hot title, "Master GO."]
[Next, Baobhan Sith and Artoria would play "Shadow of the Fantasy Tree."]
[And just like that, your game night began.]
"Hmm…"
Eikou looked at the game cartridge in front of him suspiciously.
"Be honest, what the hell is this 'Master GO' thing anyway?"
"Sir Eikou, you've been so busy studying lately that you've fallen behind on what's trending,"
Gawain patiently explained:
"In this game, you play as a rookie Master. Under the guidance of Dr. Ash, you'll receive your first Servant, Artoria, along with your Servant Dex. Then, on your journey, you'll collect all kinds of unowned Servants, challenge the seven Gym Singularities, and finally become the Holy Grail League Champion. Got it?"
He got it, but still…
Isn't this basically Pokémon?! And what the hell is that 'Dr. Ash' supposed to be?!
[From Gawain's explanation, you learned that this game was developed by Chaldea Academy and is being heavily promoted.]
[It supports multiple platforms, and most of your friends are already playing the mobile version — some even have their own teams fully built.]
[...A bad premonition began to stir within you — just what kind of nonsense is Chaldea up to this time?]
[Still, since the atmosphere was already so lively, you decided to just give it a try.]
Under everyone's eager gazes,
Eikou nervously inserted the cartridge into the console slot.
After plugging it in, he powered on the screen and connected the controller.
Pressed any button to start the game.
"Master GO" — start!
Following Fou running at the bottom-right corner, the game screen gradually lit up.
It had a classic pixel art style; both the visuals and the music perfectly recreated the nostalgic atmosphere of the GBA era.
「Loading game...」
「Detected first-time player — activating tutorial mode!」
「This game will change depending on your real-time experience. Please enjoy the adventure~」
The game officially began!
On the screen, the image of a female doctor with a black ribbon appeared — her expression calm and intelligent.
Wasn't that Morgan?! So she's actually the "Dr. Ash" Gawain's talking about!
Female Doctor: 「Hello, my name is Ash.」
「Nice to meet you, new Master from Chaldea. You're also a rookie aiming to become the Holy Grail League Champion, aren't you?」
「If you wish to embark on this journey, you must first have a Servant compatible with you. The two of you must support and understand each other — only then can you seize the title of Holy Grail League Champion.」
As she said this, several classic Master–Servant pairs appeared on the game screen:
Kotomine Kirei and Cú Chulainn, Director Kayneth and Diarmuid, Sajyou Ayaka and Arthur Pendragon, Matou Shinji and Gilgamesh.
"None of them got along! They were literally ripping each other's hearts out! Just how exactly am I supposed to treat my Servant properly?!"
Eikou couldn't help but complain.
At that moment, three Holy Relics of different shapes appeared before Ash.
"Could it be…"
Gripping his controller tightly, Eikou felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
"That's right!" said Gawain. "You've reached the stage of choosing your 'three starter Servants' — pick whichever one you like!"
Ash: 「I have prepared three suitable Holy Relics for the new Master.」
「Saber – Artoria, Lancer – Parvati, and Archer – Ishtar.」
Three classes that counter one another, three symbolic colors — indeed, a standard "three starters" lineup straight out of Pokémon!
Behind Ash stood a beautiful girl with crimson hair.
Ash: 「This is my daughter, the second-generation Witch of Ash. She will be your rival and will begin her journey toward the League Championship alongside you.」
"Oh, I see now…"
Eikou thought to himself — so this is the classic Pokémon setup.
If I'm holding Ash Ketchum's script, then this daughter of Ash must be filling the role of Gary.
"Based on my experience with Pokémon… no matter which of the three starters I choose, her daughter will definitely pick the one that counters mine. If I pick Saber, she'll surely choose Archer."
He instantly saw through the familiar trick!
Since that's the case, he might as well pick randomly.
Without overthinking it, Eikou moved the joystick and chose Artoria.
「You have chosen Artoria – Saber.」
「Ash refuses. She doesn't want any female Servant in your team.」
"???"
Wait a second…
Could it be that even in the game, Morgan knows how to get jealous?
「You have chosen Ishtar – Archer.」
「Ash still refuses.」
Why the hell does she want to monopolize me even in-game? If you didn't want me to choose the other girls, then why include them in the selection at all?!
Just as he was about to move the cursor to Parvati——
「Ash refuses!」
Oh, great — she even responds preemptively now.
Ash: 「A man with no morals like you — do you really intend to parade other girls around right in front of me?! You truly are a shameless, debauched man!」
「Affection of Ash toward you has decreased.」
"You're actually jealous?!"
Despite the game having such an old-school interface, why did the NPC's reactions feel so lifelike and realistic?
Don't tell me that damn Servant Mochizuki interfered again?!
Damn it, in real life I'm already being haunted by Morgan, and now she's chasing me inside the game too — what's even the point of playing this anymore?!