A woman lying collapsed with a complex, somehow familiar-looking expression. Ritska shakes the woman, who is wearing Japanese clothing and has collapsed.
"What is this, is she dead..."
"......."
Ritsuka confirms she's breathing. Then she taps her cheek...
"Hungry....."
"Hungry?"
"I'm hungry...."
Grrrrrrrrr....
A tremendous growling sound. Ritsuka became sure she was weak from hunger. Of course, she had no food herself, so she immediately returned to the group and told them about the woman's presence. Everyone comes to see...
"Ho, Hokusai...?"
Humpty immediately recognizes her and quickly takes out food.
Chomp chomp...!
Hokusai devours the food ravenously. Finally, as if she'll live, she makes a satisfied smile.
"Phew~ I thought I was gonna die~"
"Why are you out here?"
"Hmm? Hahaha! So, I surprised you a bit? Well, I didn't come here on purpose either~ An accident, shall we say? Haha."
"An accident...?"
Her identity is Hokusai, Humpty's Servant. He never summoned her, and it wasn't a case of pressing the wrong button when summoning Mandricardo or anything.
"Ah, I think I roughly understand. I discovered Ms. Hokusai collapsed in front of the door and touched her shoulder to check her condition, and then I was summoned."
"Ahh... So, you tagged along?"
"That seems to be it~ Maybe? Perhaps because I'm a Foreigner?"
It's not certain, but no other Servant has had that happen, and only she, currently a Foreigner, has tagged along. It's a question whether she's special or if other Servants could do it too.
"Hmm... But why were you half-dead?"
"Well, you see... this time Oki's deadline was late, right? I helped a bit, and I had a commission for a painting too~ So I got absorbed in painting, and especially this time, Oki is publishing an adult doujinshi, right? So I put in all my strength~! and worked, lost track of time, worked for several days, and when I finished everything, fatigue and hunger hit me all at once, you know? I tried to get out somehow and collapsed."
"Are you really a Servant?"
"Yep~"
"..."
Even for a Servant, getting so absorbed in work that you forget to eat and nearly starve to death... Even for Humpty, it was absurd.
"Sigh... Take it easy while you work. You'll collapse."
"But I did collapse?"
"... Right."
Humpty shook his head side to side and sighed. Then, saying he'll go elsewhere to organize his thoughts a bit. Everyone follows him, and Hokusai eats the remaining food.
"... Hey, you said Hokusai, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. I'm Katsushika Hokusai...! To be precise, Katsushika Oui."
"I see... By the way, there's something I wanted to ask."
"What is it?"
"That... Humpty, you know. By any chance... is he a regressor?"
"Hmm? ... Ah~ Talking about the current situation. Well, roughly that's right?"
"....."
Hokusai answered casually without much thought. It's not completely wrong, but... strictly speaking, it's not. Because he's a veteran, it's like a second playthrough where the first is the game and the second is reality, but...
To Ritsuka, he seemed like an extraordinary person doing the Human Order Restoration for the second time.
"I see... Perhaps..."
"?"
"Thanks for answering."
From Hokusai's words, Ritsuka became convinced he was a regressor. And, she started to think that perhaps he was still hiding his power...
========================
"... What do you think, Shiki?"
"Probably because she's a Foreigner. Foreigners are unknown existences that can't be clearly explained, even if they're a country. In cases like Abigail, who crosses dimensions on her own power, she might come directly."
"That's a bit scary."
Crossing dimensions to come to me... Hmm, makes for a good song.
No no, that's dangerous. Dimension-ripping girl. Abigail rips dimensions.
"Well, someone like Hokusai is harmless."
Among Foreigners, she's not particularly insane from an Outer God, and her Bond Level is a stable 7. That level is fine... Well, the Saint Quartz is saved. I wasn't planning to summon her anyway...
"Even if another Foreigner comes, I'm here~"
"That's true."
There's Kiara, who is Alter Ego, right? No, but does that compatibility apply in reality too? Still, Kiara is that strong, so...
"So Master, what will you do from now on? Going to catch that guy?"
"Have to catch him... Well, it won't be that easy."
Even with this lineup, it's that Gilgamesh. If he goes all out, it'll be tough. Of course we'll win, but Ritsuka's party could take damage too. Especially something like Ea. The members are more than enough for him to use Ea, you see.
"Then~ shall we do it, Onii-chan?"
"That's right, the fastest and the biggest. No matter who he is, he won't be scared, will he?"
The fastest Melusine and the biggest Bunyan. Well...
"He has divine constructs of giant gods like Ig-Alima and Shul-shagana. Even Bunyan would just be prey to him."
"That's a shame..."
"I don't want to see you get hurt, that's why, Bunyan."
I comfort her by patting Bunyan's head. Even if she's a child, I can't go easy if she's an enemy.
"Hehe..."
"Master is indeed kind to children. The others have a lot of complaints."
"What...?"
"They want to be praised too... that sort of thing? I feel the same way."
Hmm, hmm... Is everyone affection-deficient? What, always wanting praise... They're not cats. Really, it's troublesome.
"You're all not children, really... Anyway, I've decided Hokusai's treatment."
A moment later, Hokusai comes with Ritsuka, patting her stomach.
"Hokusai. I didn't summon you. Right?"
"Right? ... By any chance, are you going to abandon me for that...!"
"No way. You help Ritsuka as a Friend Servant."
"Ah~ That's it~"
"Friend Servant...?"
"In short, in games, there are cases where you take a representative character you friended as a support, right? Hokusai is in that role for now. Ritsuka, you guys still lack experience and power. Hokusai will surely be a great help to you. And there might be another case where we get separated like this. So, stay with Hokusai."
"But will that work? The Master is different..."
Poof~
Using Shiki's power, she forms a temporary contract with her.
"Now it's done. We'll be living in the same facility anyway~ So, please take care of me?"
"... Yeah, please take care of me."
Ritsuka also seems quite relieved, so it seems to have worked out well.
"One thing, I want to ask..."
"What is it, Alter?"
"Alter... Anyway, I want to get stronger."
"Huh?"
She's being abrupt again. Well... It seems she's quite frustrated about not being able to protect Ritsuka. Since the shop isn't complete yet...
"Okay, feeling motivated. I'll give you service when we get back. When we return, I'll strengthen your power tremendously."
"Really...?"
"Why only that cold-blooded woman!?"
"She's the weakest, isn't she."
"... True."
"You guys..."
Well, it's an undeniable fact. A disappointing story, but~
"By any chance, what about me?"
"Mash is a Demi-Servant, a human, right? So it probably won't work. Mash has her own way to get stronger. That... I'll help with later."
"Yes, I understand."
Mash looks the most dejected. What should I do with these rookie kittens? FGO, who would come if it's like this!?
Well then, shall we slowly go catch Giyagoshu?
Moving like that and going to where Giyagoshu is...
"What is it, only now you come, mongrels. An army led by a clown is truly slow."
Getting insulted right away... Well, I am a clown.
"Take back those words."
Mandricardo...?
"Hmph, calling a clown a clown, what is the problem with that, mongrel."
"Well, frankly I don't care if you call me a mongrel... But I can't tolerate you calling Master that."
"Oh ho~? Are you saying that relying on the monsters behind you? Or, do you think you can defeat me and that's why you speak so?"
"That's simple... There's no way I can beat you. But, you insulted Master. Then it's natural to get angry."
"Why is that?"
"Because..."
`We're already friends, right?`
"Because he called someone like me a friend."
"I see... That so. Getting angry no matter who the opponent is because they insulted a comrade. Righteous anger, and a fine belief, mongrel."
"... You saying that is touching. Then, I shouldn't tolerate you either, who called my friend a mongrel."
"That is a good sight. However, it is recklessness, mongrel. You come out like that trusting in the Servants who follow you. In truth, you yourself are an incompetent mongrel."
Snap...!
Everyone seems pissed, but I raise my hand to stop them.
He's right...
"He's right. I have no special abilities. Definitely incompetent, can't use magecraft, can't fight. I'm not a human with anything special. A man with no ambition, a petty commoner. But you know? Even someone like me has one thing I can boast about."
"What is it?"
"That is... the way to paint the big picture."
Out of 14, I used 3 to summon Manbun-kun, leaving 10. I can use them comfortably about 2 times. Since the opponent is none other than AUO, I can use them without regret...
Fwoooosh!!
"... What? This future, I didn't see...?"
"Hi, Gil."
"I wanted to say this... Your friend is so cool!"
"Sorry, Gil. I've become a body that can't live without a Master..."
"..........."
Just seeing AUO's utterly pissed face makes me feel incredibly good. Ah, so satisfying.
"I will definitely have you drawn and quartered..."
"Huh? What can you do even if you're angry!"
KABOOOOOOM!!!
Immediately after, Noble Phantasms from the Gate of Babylon shoot out rapidly. But... they're useless.
"Violence towards this child, not allowed."
"Wha....?"
"My, child, you see."
"You..."
"AUO, I cannot forgive you who mercilessly killed Illya! Apologize to Illya fans worldwide! Until you shed tears, I will not stop this violence!"
"Honor...!"
Humanity ain't going home today! I'll show you what happens when you mess with a madman, you trash who did maiden-breaking with your chastity rights!