Part 62: Update LVI - The battle of today's menu
Update LVI - The battle of today's menu
Before we hit up the cafeteria...
Music: Down to Dawn
We have this week's yellow chat! We didn't actually get one last week, what with all the other scenes we got.
Video: Tamamo Route Achieved (I don't normally do videos of private room scenes, but I made an exception here.)
Tamamo sits in ominous silence, occasionally glancing in my direction as if wanting to say something. It's unusual for her to be so quiet. Normally she's always talking, whether the subject's important or not. Once the sixth round started, Caster seems to sulk silently whenever I'm not looking at her. Her normally cute, perky appearance is now masked with a sullen, troubled expression. 
...Ho. Ho ho ho! So it hasn't dawned on you yet? Considering I've been unfailingly loyal, not to mention adorable, this whole subject angers me to no end. It'd really be great if you were to have some kind of really painful and humiliating accident right now. Then again, falling down a flight of stairs and breaking something would be inconvenient right now, so not that. Perhaps waking up as a potato bug would be more fitting...but way too gross, so that's out, too. I know! Nothing screams "divine punishment" quite like dysentery caused by eating moldy bread! That's exactly what I hope will happen to you! ...And there it is. Considering Tamamo's skills with maleficium, I'm not brave enough to assume she's just joking around. What is making her so sulky and violent? I honestly have no idea what it could be. 
I mean, it's obvious your mind is busy with other things, like thinking about that girl! I stare at Tamamo in amazement as she continues to voice her resentment with incredible vehemence. It can't be she's that unhappy that I've been speaking with Rani recently, can it...?
Oh no, of course not! Tamamo wouldn't be angry AT ALL about that! I mean, I'm used to such treatment, after all. I mean, you're a human after all, Master. Since time immemorial, humans have only played with humans. As for me, fox ears are fox ears! My fate is to have my body used until I'm skinned for my beautiful fur. So just leave me alone. Don't worry, I won't get in your way. So, please, go off and have your fun with your fellow human! Tamamo quickly turns her head away and continues to voice her displeasure to the ground. She seems very agitated. It seems that Tamamo thinks Rani and I are lovers, for some reason. ...I don't have a choice but to act. Whether it's just Tamamo being suspicious or just a huge misunderstanding, I have to do something to set things straight. 
Nice to see that Hakuno considers Tamamo breaking the SE.RA.PH as the lesser issue here.
The only thing I dare say is—
The first option here only shows if you asked Tamamo what she is last week.
Rani is the only one for me. Maybe...Rani might be the one for me? Though we started out as enemies, I'm truly thankful for the assistance she's given me. 
... Oh...this isn't going to end well. Tamamo looks like she's going to burst out in tears. 
N-No, I refuse to cry! I'm used to being treated so. But, it is I who will have the last laugh! Because... Because! Because I am legally your wife! That's right, no matter how much you struggle or how far you run, we're bound together FOREVER! The threads that tie us to one another cannot be severed, even with the legendary Tsumukari! With her fists clenched at her sides, Tamamo continues her tirade. If she has this much energy, she'll return to her normal self in no time. FYI, the Tsumukari, also known as Kusanagi, is a mythological holy sword said to have come from the tail of an eight-headed serpent. A bond that can't be cut by a holy sword is a bit scary.~
...I think I should save now. ... ...This isn't good. I have the feeling that Tamamo's Level of Affection towards me is sinking like a stone. Hakuno isn't kidding here. Picking this option locks out Tamamo's Level E Matrix.
I understand now. You are neither a carnivore nor an herbivore. In fact, you are not an animal at all.
You have to consume all before you, regardless of the consequences- Even if they're Giger-esque! ...Giger-esque? What's that supposed to mean? She's not making any sense whatsoever. He's the dude who made the Xenomorph in Alien!
If Giger doesn't work for you, how about something more along the lines of Verhoeven? Basically you're a giant bug, but your insides are about a billion times more disgusting.He's a director who made films like Basic Instinct, Total Recall, Robocop, and Starship Troopers!
Ah, I see. She's talking about aliens from sci-fi movies who come to Earth in order to slaughter and feast on humanity. ...Wow. I guess what I said was the worst possible thing you could say to a girl... But of course. I strongly suggest you try again from that save point you mentioned.
Why did Tamamo react so strongly to this? Simple, really. Tamamo is 100% devoted to Hakuno, and as such demands 100% devotion in turn. She can do some mental gymnastics if you pick Rani, but the quip about saving implies that you want to see both a Tamamo route and a Rani route, which in her eyes is the same as cheating on both.
TL;DR: Tamamo hates, above all else, harems and anything harem-adjacent.
~
Tamamo is the only one for me.
No, not "huh." I don't need to think about my answer. Rani has helped me several times, but that's beside the point. I could be asked the same question a thousand time, and my response would be the same each time. 
The joke here is that her voiced line says, 'One more, please?' in English
Fair enough. Tamamo is the only one for me. I tell Tamamo that I like her more than anyone else. 
Ee— Eeeeeeeeek! Yesyesyeeessss! M-My dear Master! It's safe to assume that what you meant to say was "be my wife," right?! I have the video to prove it! It's on a continuous loop and the play count is already over a thousand! The number of comments completely block out the picture at this point! It's the only video in my playlist, and as a memorial to myself, will be preserved there for all eternity! Tamamo begins to jump up and down in unrestrained joy. She can jump...really high. I don't feel like I've said anything momentous, but Tamamo's unfeigned elation makes me happy as well. 
Y-You are serious about this, aren't you Master? I mean, it's not like you can take it back later, okay?! I immediately nod in affirmation. The last thing I want her to do now is think I'm joking. Also, how do I put this... Now that I've regained my composure, I don't think I could summon the energy to repeat myself again. YEEEESSSSS! Husband, GET! All right! Now that this is all settled, we WILL survive until the end, even if it kills me! I won't let anyone or anything lay a finger on Tamamo's husband, no matter how powerful they are! With renewed vigor, Tamamo continues to declare her determination to be victorious. Her enthusiasm is infectious. For her to be so focused and determined is more than any Master could hope for. And above all, I think that our relationship is solid in every way.If you're wondering why I don't record these, it's because they're all so visually boring to watch. The entire thing is just Tamamo staring at you in the same idle animation.
Now, we aren't going to the cafeteria just yet.
Because she still has more to say!
As I mentioned yesterday, killing five rare enemies is a chat requirement. Week 6 Day 2 is the earliest we can kill that many Nephilim.
And no one can call me the weakest Servant now! Thanks to you, I was able to show my true powers. Please accept this token of my appreciation for all of your hard work, my dear Master.
And this one comes with a skill upgrade!
The upside is that Merciful Sky increases the damage boost from 250% to 400%. That's four Curses worth of damage crammed into two moves!
It might seem a tad battle fetish-y, but I'm sure you can appreciate it as a nubile young Master! Of course, I mean that in the biblical sense. I hope you continue to hunt down rare creatures. Let's show everyone who the alpha animals are!The downside?
Merciful Sky has double the MP cost of Bestial Sky, and there's no way to downgrade it if you want to save MP. Sure, it'll make Tamamo hit like a truck, but burning 90 MP on two moves will make her run dry before you can blink.
That's not to say that it's useless, however. It pairs beautifully with Blessings of Amaterasu, and if I have some excess MP on hand (or if I want to burn an Elixir) by the end of a boss fight I can eat the cost to finish them off ASAP.
After all that, Tamamo's default line for this week is:
Ah, are we leaving already? Could you wait just a little bit? I'll be ready in a moment.And as a small touch:
Music: School I
The crater
It almost looks like a crater... It's the result of the opposing Servant's Noble Phantasm. The power of runes scares me...Trying to enter the Arena right now results in:
I cash in my SP before lunch.
And finally break three digits!
Alright, now we can go eat.
Mmmmm, those are some PSP-quality images all right.
Music: Down to Dawn
As I enter the cafeteria, I bump into Rani, who seems uncharacteristically flustered.
Uh... I wanted to try my hand at creating food and...well... Would you like to try some? "...Creating food..." Why does that innocent phrase sound so...ominous...? Wait a sec... Rani said create... Did she use alchemy to make lunch...?! Uh, well...um...it took me a while, but... It was my first time doing this and all. No need to worry, though. All the ingredients are safe for human consumption...maybe. As much as that brief pause disturbs me, her simple gesture of friendship makes me happy. Her show of kindness reminds me of my life before being forced into this brutal struggle. Your life of three days during the prelims?
With a final polite farewell, Rani turns and walks away. It seems she's happier than before. It was surprising to see her act so kind, especially considering her normal formal demeanor. Well, I should head up to the classroom before Rani's lunch goes cold. I can't wait to try it.
To the classroom!
Music: None
Hello there! ...And you too, Rani.Oh no.
Take a wiiiiiiiiild guess at how this scene goes.
Rin Tohsaka, the school idol, making ME lunch? What's gotten into everyone? Music: Comical Life
A gesture of good will...? Fair enough, I can accept that. Why don't we all eat together?
Now, this scene only works because Hakuno and Rani are idiots, and the implication here is that Rin is going out of her way to have a nice time with everyone before either she or Hakuno dies.
...But honestly, it could still work even if the whole scratched out name thing was cut..
Music: Down to Dawn
Have everyone desperately pretend that nothing is amiss, just to have a few more peaceful days.
The thing that pisses me off the most about this week is that there could be some real potential here!
Like, Rin is a walking callback to Stay Night, so lean into that. The Fate route starts with Rin agreeing to team up with Shirou until Illya and Berserker are dealt with, at which point they go back to trying to kill each other, only for circumstances to force them to stay teamed up and avoid having to become enemies. Here, have Rin, Hakuno, and Rani look for some kind of loophole to get the same thing, only for the week to drag on and they all realize that, no, there is no way out, someone has to die.
Instead, we get everyone having to share the same two brain cells and a scene that could have come out of any harem anime ever made.
The screen blurs here, like normal, but the camera slowly rotates.
Rin proceeds to shove some of the shrimp in chili sauce she'd made into my mouth. It was...really, really, good.Rani storming out in three...
... *Stare* If you liked that, what until you try this! It's a spring roll. It was incredibly delicious. Words cannot adequately describe how good it was. Two...
Hey, you have to try this, too! She then hands me what looks like the perfect Chinese dumpling. Wow, everything tasted so good. Rani, why don't you try some? As soon as I said those words...One.
Music: Stops
Standing up with alarming speed, Rani began to hastily pack up the lunch she had made. Rani? Hey, is there something wrong? It's...nothing. I've had enough for now, so I should probably just leave.
I was just trying to get her to think things through a little, but I guess I went a little too far. Of course, my Servant decides that this is the perfect time to make their presence known. 
Though she may be my most serious rival, I can't help but feel a little sorry for her! ...What makes it even worse is that you didn't even touch the food she made for you! Jerk... If I had to sit there and listen to you compliment another girl's lunch, I'd be in tears! Did you even see the cuts on her hands? Her embarrassment? I hope she's not crying somewhere alone. After being thoroughly berated by my Servant, I found myself bolting out of the classroom. 
Music: School I
I wished I'd tried that.
You're really growing up. It warmed the cockles of my heart, even in the middle of this war.
If you don't find out within four days, including today, you'll be at a big disadvantage.
By, 'unable to find her that day,' Hakuno actually meant that midday. Finding her that evening is perfectly fine.
Music: Down to Dawn
... ...What ever do you mean? Rani looks displeased... Darn, I knew it. She's still angry. I'll still tell her how my Servant lectured me afterward, and what I realized. I didn't mean to slight Rani's cooking. It was inexcusable of me to brush Rani off like that. And it was even worse to have said such an insensitive thing. I will be more sensitive in the future, so if she can find it in her heart to forgive me... Having run clean out of ways to apologize, I await her response with baited breath. 
...Do you regret what you've done? Deeply. Next time... you'll eat what you have been given?
Of course. I promise. ... 
Thank goodness— Rani's smile soothes my nerves. Is there anything I can do as a token of my apology? ~
Sorry. That's not possible.
...I just wanted to see you get worked up, Rani. 
-It's true, though. I can't promise. I'm a participant in the Holy Grail War. I could die tomorrow. That's why I can't promise anything. ...Please promise me. —Rani? She raises her head, looks directly in my eyes, and speaks. Then promise me something else. I will forgive the incident today. So, please. Promise me you will try my food again some time. ... ...All right. I promise. Being pessimistic won't do me any good. I have to assume that I'm going to emerge victorious. Yes, that's the spirit. —Let's see... What can I do to apologize for cracking that bad joke? ~~
Yes... Or rather, I have something that I meant to talk to you about over lunch, so please listen up. Gotcha. Tell me whatever you want. There's no information on the enemy this time. We were able to dig up more on the scorpion than this. Yes... The sole clue remains the hole in the first floor wall. You have two choices. You know the enemy uses Celtic Runes. Rani knows Rin has a Celtic Servant!
I hate this week! I utterly hate it!
It is more important than ever that you do everything in your power to prepare for the upcoming fight. Actually, I have been preparing a Mystic Code for you. I can give it to you tomorrow. She's been...making me something? And meanwhile, I— That is all I wished to talk to you about. It would hinder your search of the Arena to talk further. Yeah, I ought to head to the Arena as soon as I can. Oh, but there's something I should say before I leave. 
I feel like a weight's been lifted off my shoulders! Time to go to the Arena.Music: School I
A quick scene starts up by the Arena. Today is a free day to finish off the floor or do some grinding.
Hurry and stock up on supplies! *Giggle* Then we can "train" together with reckless abandon!Music: Fourth Chimeric Lunar Sea - First Floor
I hop in.
Gain a level.
And hop out.
Music: School III
Hmmm, well, your darling little Tamamo isn't completely happy, since that means we might die... Let's use the heck out of that Mystic Code! That girl likes to be used. *Giggle*... We'll use her up and, in the end, we'll toss her away and Tamamo gets the last laugh!
Music: Duel of Fate
This is a Base Red Mystic Code... It contains a magic amplification mechanism built by Atlas.
It was the sole item bestowed upon me by my professor for this War. It's my trump card. Is it really okay for me to take something that important from her?
I understand. It will also be my honor to use such a generous gift to the best of my ability. Let's see... The Mystic Code was originally prepared for me. If you are to use it Hakuno, you will have to gain approval from the Mystic Code... Approval from the Mystic Code? She's talking like it's alive... That could be possible, considering that we're talking about alchemy. 
If you are not strong enough, it will reject you. You could say you must overcome its immune system. The Mystic Code will acknowledge you as its owner if you can prove yourself against a strong enemy.
Right! To the Arena, then...Sound: Phone ringing
What perfect timing!
My challenge is set before me. Okay, I'll head toward the Arena.Music: School I
If I find anything, I will contact you on the terminal.
But, that means you end up taking damage, so always keep a close eye on your remaining strength.
Speaking of work... Do you have a minute? Hakuno, you have time to help out your beloved teacher, right?
In for a penny, in for a pound. Penny? Pound? Pish-posh, I'm talking about food! Someone has been deleting food data! It didn't matter to me until I realized that those were some good recipes being deleted. But all is not lost! It seems the deleted data can be recovered from the Arena within two days. So would you kindly search the Arena and find the data for two dishes within the sixth round?
But something is...missing. If you can figure out what, ultimate power might be yours...
Speaking of, I should take a look at it.
A red shroud from a saint is a small nod to the Shroud of Martin in Heaven's Feel. As you might expect, Rin will be giving us the exact same thing in her route.
In so doing, it has accumulated a record of the creation of life, evolution, and civilization.
Alright, time to check out the penultimate unique dungeon.
Next time: This is actually getting insulting.