Life doesn't usually go according to plan.
Because reality isn't a game. There's no walkthrough, and it's a world made of variables. Nature, people, coincidence, etc. Countless unexpected things happen.
Because nothing is set in stone and you don't know what will happen—that's reality. That's the world we live in.
Yeah, I never expected something like this to happen suddenly.
Really... It doesn't flow as easily as I thought.
[Will you start the game?]
I answered her voice coming through the comms.
Yeah, it's not flowing as predicted. So...
It's getting more exciting and fun.
"Yeah, I'll do it. It looks fun, doesn't it? That. I'll play along as you wish. But... if you lose, a corresponding punishment will be waiting, okay?"
[Is that so... Then, let's have each side decide the penalty for the other. Gets exciting, doesn't it?]
"Right... Should I call this sudden intrusion a blessing or a curse... It's heating up the boring Rome into a game version."
For some reason, let's rewind time a bit.
About 30 minutes ago.
After locking Nero in a Roman castle, I tried to leisurely move and leave Rome. I wanted to sightsee because Rome itself was interesting, but since the Singularity's range was so vast, it was important to move and catch the hiding Lev.
But...
"Master, it seems an unexpected guest is coming."
"Right. I wonder why they're coming."
Before leaving Rome, Enkidu and Melusine sensed something. I saw it too from afar—a motorbike that didn't fit this era speeding toward us. Some woman with a swaying pink tail speeding over.
That's...
"Ko, Koyanskaya...?"
Screeeech~!!!
And then, she stopped in front of us and parked her bike.
"Yeees~ Are you ordering a rabbit?
"... Yeah, self-proclaimed Ms. Rabbit."
"A rabbit, right? A fox and, at the same time, a rabbit. After all, I'm the grudge of the Tunguska beasts, right?"
Appearing suddenly and talking about ordering a rabbit. That's so old... More than that, this reaction, could it be... Checking the Servant list, Koyanskaya appears in a summoned state even though I never summoned her. How... No, could it be?
"NFF Service that comes even without being called~ The incomplete pet secretary, it's me, Koyanskaya~? I've come to assist Master~"
"I came too, you know."
"Shiki..."
And on top of that, Shiki too... These people, seriously. Koyanskaya is one thing, but Shiki came even though I told her not to. What to do with this " "?
"This makes the reason for choosing members pointless... Kiara isn't coming, right?"
"Yeah, she's not coming."
At least she listens the most. Probably... If I called, she'd come immediately with Independent Manifestation, I bet.
"So why did you come?"
"I want to be by Master's side."
"Ah, yes... And you?"
"Well~ You always took me along, but now you don't summon me... I'm hurt, you know? And if it's about business, then it's me, Koyanskaya, CEO of NFF Service! To think you'd call the Queen of Sheba, who has no presence. Are you saying she was just the roulette attendant?"
"She did that in New York."
"That's right. The pauper who even got all her tacky clothes from back then stolen!"
"So I'm a credit delinquent who even got a loan from you?"
"I might get hit by the Doctor later if he finds out."
"Don't worry, Master. I'll just cut that lifeline then."
"Wh, where...?"
"The male lifeline?"
Just kill me... Shiki really says cruel things so casually.
"But that won't do. Reproduction is important, right?"
"Hmm, that's true. But Master is more important, right?"
"No fighting..."
Tiamat stopping them is cute. Tiamat, with her small body, stopping Shiki. Shiki finds such Tiamat cute too and playfully fights back. Playfully, right...?
"Your reaction is a bit cold, Master... Even though I brought~ a present for you like this...?"
A summoning ticket and Saint Quartz. In the old days, I would've loved them, but...
"No, I don't need them..."
"Huh?"
"Shiki said she'd make them if I wanted, and I don't really have the will to summon more here... Or should I summon Fergus or Teach instead?"
"..."
Koyanskaya puts the summoning ticket back into her chest and hurriedly gathers the Saint Quartz. She doesn't like that, huh? Unexpectedly, they're all gentlemen.
"Manbun-kun, what should we do at a time like this?"
"You're asking me!? Well... umm... a welcome party?"
"... The idea was good."
"My apologies..."
"No no, it's my fault for putting pressure on you. Anyway... So, welcome?"
Honestly, my feelings are a bit complicated... But it means they missed me that much, so I can't just reject them and tell them to get lost.
"Ahem...! Anyway, our NFF Service provides the be~st service for Ma~ster. In that sense? I've prepared a recreation with a cooperative body to satisfy Master~?"
"What are you planning...? Nemo, any idea what it might be?"
"Probably an event, I guess. An event held within Rome."
"Correct~ As expected of Captain Nemo? This event takes place in the Rome Singularity."
"That's very sudden. Is it okay to proceed with something like this out of the blue without any foreshadowing or anything?"
"Not everything has foreshadowing, Master. Like a professor who suddenly starts class and gives a project introduction right away?"
"Damn, PTSD incoming. The memory of almost being dragged to grad school..."
To bring up past trauma, that's no ordinary example...! Damn, I'm convinced!
Koyanskaya then gave me some small device. What's this? The moment I fidget with it, it lights up and a hologram appears in the air. And in the center of the noisy screen, cherry blossom petals are spinning...
Wait, this is...?
[Did you really think I'd just sit quietly sucking my thumb and waiting?]
This Shitaya Noriko voice, could it be...!
[Now everyone together~? Se~no!]
"Sonnant ja dame~"
[That's not it!? Once more... BB~Channel!]
"Wow, Kamidai."
[Please respond properly! Anyway, starting now!]
"Yuruyuri Hajimaru yo~"
[... Sigh.]
BB, perhaps tired of the one-sided talk after taking out my brain, let out a sigh, and then the screen turned on normally, showing the words "BB Channel," followed by her appearance.
[Still looks stupid as ever, huh? Senpai~?]
"And we concluded that leotards, being mere scraps of cloth, aren't fundamentally different from panties."
[If it's Senpai, you don't mind if I show you my panties?]
"No, unlike stupid rom-com protagonists who care about panties or whatever even after seeing swimsuits, I'm an adult man! I have no interest in mere scraps of underwear!"
[That would be troublesome in reverse... To think I'd have less material to tease Senpai with.]
"Tease me...? Chief~ She's teasing me."
"I'll sterilize her when we meet later."
[Oyaoya~? BB-chan isn't a virus, you know... Anyway! The conversation keeps going off track! Then~ Ms. Koyanskaya? Please explain the extra details!]
"Yeees~ As a secretary, I'll explain. This game? It's an event prepared by me and a few other members. Of course, Ms. Shiki only found out when she came here. Anyway, to put it simply... You can think of it as similar to a Holy Grail War?"
[Then I'll explain! Current Rome is a Singularity set in Western Europe, a veritable Warring States period...! In such a situation, there are four major factions! Senpai and Fujimaru-chan, and the Emperor Alliance, and us! These four camps. You've each secured a base now, right? So to explain~ It's territory capture.]
"So land is a sexual target too."
[... For a moment I thought, what kind of insane talk is that.]
"Heh."
AI, you still can't beat humans...!
"Ahem, Master? Please keep such targets to living beings."
"With Servants who are houses around, what..."
"... I concede. Anyway! The main point is we'll play a game in a territory capture style. Defeat opponents and take their land? After that──"
"That's enough, I get it up to here."
Isn't it just the same gameplay as Remnant? How did they come up with such a troublesome thing?
"But what's the reason for suddenly appearing out of the blue and proposing this?"
[Simple... Because I want to make a bet?]
"A bet?"
[Yes. Honestly, I'm hurt? To never call this BB-chan... Even Mash-chan in Chaldea is mentally exhausted? Saying she lacks Senpai nutrients.]
Umm...
[So, Servants whose identities cannot be revealed will fight Master. Master? Just defeat our troops or the remaining two teams and come to our main base. Our main base is a substantial island. Until you take all other regions? The gate will never open.]
Hmm... Suddenly intruding and proposing a game like this. The explanation is actually a bit lacking... But I can hear the details from Koyanskaya later. It's basically a territory capture game. Not much different from a Holy Grail War. Just defeat the enemies that appear, right?
"Then what about Lev?"
[Did you forget that such Demon God Pillars are our meal? Is Senpai the type to count the number of Demon God Pillars caught so far?]
"No way. I see... I get it."
In short, instead of doing the boring Septem, do an event, right? I get it, I get it.
[Will you start the game?]
"Yeah, I'll do it. It looks fun, doesn't it? That. I'll play along as you wish. But... if you lose, a corresponding punishment will be waiting, okay?"
[Is that so... Then, let's have each side decide the penalty for the other. Gets exciting, doesn't it?]
"Right... Should I call this sudden intrusion a blessing or a curse... It's heating up the boring Rome into a game version. So, what's my penalty?"
[Simple. Living with me forever in the cyberworld... Not that? Forever with the other Servants~ whispering love to you.]
"... Fine. I'll keep the penalty I give you a secret."
[I'm looking forward to that~ After all, we'll be the ones who win.]
Then, BB, showing a meaningful expression, disappears.
"You really plan to win this?"
"Can I really win against Master? I'm just provoking to make things more fun for Master~ Of course? I'm on Master's side?"
"Hmm..."
I'm a bit confused by this sudden turn of events, but...
It's gotten quite exciting and fun, hasn't it?
"Alright, shall we get moving then?"
A territory war in Rome, huh. Then shall we go enjoy the game?