After defeating Rider, we set up a simple base camp around us. Calling it a base camp is... not much. It's just a place to rest while establishing a terminal point for smoother communication.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Growl...
"Um, sorry... I'm hungry..."
"Indeed, I'm hungry too. Perhaps it's because we used our power as Servants."
"Me too... I skipped breakfast today..."
[I'm the same.]
"You can eat there, Romani!"
[No, Director! The food warehouse is gone too! All that's left are dried goods, tasteless combat rations, and a little meat and vegetables in the dining hall!]
"Eh, you're lying... How much did those ingredients cost!? We always prepare the highest quality! What about the alcohol!?"
[... None.]
"Director, do you like alcohol?"
"No, Fujimaru... That alcohol was hard to obtain for a toast at the party after this mission! How much is it worth!? I barely got it at an auction, and there's no way to get more! I'm going crazy, the loss..."
Well... I did put a barrier on the food warehouse, but Lev, that bastard, caused an explosion strong enough to break the barrier I set up lightly to avoid detection... Then again, a demon pillar wouldn't hold back.
Not much food left... Well, I can procure it. For meat, I can just summon it. I can summon weak magical beasts. Scáthach can summon heroic spirits connected to her with runes, so that level is simple. For vegetables, if I have seeds, making them grow and multiply is no issue. For drinks, including alcohol... that's not my specialty.
"Sigh... Then will you send that at least?"
"No, that won't do. A low-quality meal is worse than not eating at all! It promotes further morale drop and loss of motivation!"
"Fergus?"
I immediately stand up and summon a monster boar with primordial runes.
"Oink!"
Slash!
And immediately behead it.
"Whoa!? What!? Fresh delivery!?"
"This is summoning magecraft, right?"
"Summoning a pig with primordial runes? Amazing~"
"(-_-)"
Ritsuka was surprised, Mash was impressed, and Solomon sneered! That girl won't let up. As expected of the Mage King...
"Everyone, please wait. In any situation, eating delicious food gives you strength! This is something King Arthur acknowledges!"
[Really?]
"Yes."
[But what's that sword...?]
"This? My Noble Phantasm, {Caladbolg} (Carving, Cutting, Dressing Knife)."
[Why do you have such a Noble Phantasm...]
Ignoring Romani's words, I immediately take out utensils with runes and start cooking. With runes, I can make simple seasonings. Butter and salt are enough. I cook steak on a small frying pan with fire ignited by runes, preparing it on the spot with magically drained and aged meat.
I place the steak, cut into easy-to-eat pieces, on plates made with runic magical energy and distribute them to everyone.
"Here are forks and chopsticks both~"
"Wow... steak you'd only see in a high-class restaurant..."
"As expected, Fergus's cooking is always amazing."
"That's right, he's my Servant."
"Heh... Well, I'll let it slide since it's been a while since Berserker's meal! Shirou's cooking was a bit lacking~"
"This smell... Indeed, among the mongrels I've seen so far, you're the best at cooking. Not that it can satisfy my tongue, though."
""What about us?""
I didn't give any to Merlin and Solomon. Why?
"One has no sense of taste, and the other is annoying."
"That's too mean!"
"Hmm, so you're petty?"
This Solomon, I want to beat him to death... I can see Romani facepalming on the other side of the screen. This is why Goetia goes rogue. It's frustrating...
Everyone eats the steak I made like that.
"Mmm...! It's delicious! JMT! I've never eaten anything this tasty before!"
"Hmm... You're quite skilled. Do you not want to become my chef?"
"Nope~ I won't."
Ritsuka, who was eating it for the first time, and Gilgamesh looked very satisfied, and others who had eaten before were also eating contentedly.
"I'm jealous... Even though I can't taste, I can enjoy the texture and smell! I only had potatoes, so I deliberately lived on just tea!"
"Quite... it looks tasty..."
"Have you heard of karma?"
"Grr...!"
"Foufou! (One more!)"
"Yes~ here you go. Eat a lot?"
"Fou!"
"Cath Palug...!"
Fou happily tears into the meat while mocking Merlin. For the first time, Fou looks evil. A beast is a beast.
"Phew~ I'm full..."
Ritsuka, who ate three additional servings, and Gilgamesh, who kept eating until the end. Others, being somewhat accustomed, ate one or two more?
"Hmm, quite an addictive taste. It rivals my divine wine..."
"I've received divine recipes from The Morrígan before."
"Indeed... You've not just recreated but surpassed divine food... limited to taste, that is. You're quite a hard worker."
The cooking tools are all made of magical energy, so if I erase them immediately, there's no need to wash dishes.
[As expected, it's delicious!]
Additionally, I caught a new pig and sent it to Chaldea. Everyone must be hungry.
"... Devil."
"Fairy-like Merlin."
"Too mean!"
Merlin is genuinely sulking because I didn't give him any. What did he do to deserve it... Solomon was silently patting his stomach and looking enviously at Ritsuka, who seemed satisfied. If you want to eat, behave well. No food for bad kids. I don't have mercy like Emiya.
"Well, we've rested enough, so shall we move? I was thinking that... but they're slowly arriving."
[Ah, I missed it because I was eating!]
"Romani, eat while you work!"
"The Doctor must be hungry too~ But, are they guests? Or are we in danger?"
"Senpai, behind me..."
The surroundings were surrounded by Hassan of the White Mask and other Hassans. These are individuals weak in personal melee combat, and they're coming head-on instead of assassinating. Plus, they're Servants weakened by contamination. How fearless.
"Think of it as post-meal exercise."
One Hassan throws a dirk (dagger), and Olga Marie skillfully uses magecraft to block it.
"Your reaction speed has increased? There's some merit in teaching you the basics at least."
"Th, thank you..."
"Then, let's handle this lightly──"
Swish!
At that moment, a shadow appearing from the void swings a giant scythe at me, and I quickly twist my body to dodge. This scythe...
"To think we'd meet like this..."
"Do you know me? Sorry, but I don't know a kid like you? Hehe..."
Medusa. Is she from this worldline... Even though she and I are strangers, our fundamental selves are the same... I'm a bit reluctant. But...
Public and private matters must be separated.
"Be careful with that scythe. The Mystic Eyes are..."
Crackle!
Sitonai freezes the atmospheric magical energy and cancels Medusa's Petrification Mystic Eyes. The weakened jewel-rank Mystic Eyes could be easily canceled by Sitonai, a goddess.
She's fast, so I'll handle her for now.
Clang!!!
"Gauntlet?"
"I'll handle you appropriately... Medusa. You're someone I'll kill if I have to kill."
"Ha! Little brat!"
Her mouth is harsh... Is it because she's closer to being altered? Feels more like a Gorgon...
Everyone handles the ordinary Hassans without issue, and Olga Marie, who has gained confidence, can win in a one-on-one at this level. She is, after all, a Lord of the Clock Tower. She can fight against Assassin-class heroic spirits to some extent.
"Hang in there~"
"Y, yeah, hang in there!"
Solomon, who can't use magecraft, and Ritsuka, an ordinary person, only cheer from behind. Seriously, that Solomon can't use magecraft... Isn't he too specialized in just magecraft? Nowadays, Casters can do things other than magecraft... Even Tamamo, who is weaker than an ordinary man, knows a bit of martial arts, but he...
[Sigh... I'm embarrassed for him.]
Romani was ashamed of his past self, who didn't even exercise in life.
Merlin is a master in swordsmanship, and Gilgamesh has basic heroic skills. Among the clairvoyants, only Solomon is lacking... I wonder what Zelretch, Solomon's disciple, would think seeing this.
"Guh!"
The monstrous strength, rivaling Beowulf, and the giant arm of Gozul press Mash as if overwhelming her. Merlin receives her attack and slices Gozul's arm with Caliburn.
"That shield isn't used like that, Mash. I'll teach you a bit later. I've seen it before, you know?"
"Huh? Do you know the heroic spirit who gave me power?"
"Well~? I probably shouldn't tell you... I'll just teach you how to use it. I was going to just watch, but... I've changed my mind a bit."
It's obvious he's just doing this because he wants to taste my cooking.
Now, time to finish off Medusa──
Bang!!!
At that moment, sensing a fist flying at me, I quickly guard to block it. This level of power... Why did this come out?
"Well, well, I thought you'd only be in the forest... Someone brought you here. As expected of the leader of the Assassins. You're quite clever, aren't you?"
Did Zayd, the foundation, and the main personality, Hassan of the White Mask, lure him here...
"■■■!!!!"
Berserker Heracles
To think he'd leave the Einzbern forest. At this level, it might be worth fighting. Even though he's nerfed by Servantization and further weakened... he's still at a level where I can fight.
Crackle....
At that moment, an intense chill is felt. I can feel cold to this extent? This is... Sitonai.
"I'll handle that."
"But..."
"I know. I have memories. The Berserker who helped me when I was me but not me, like you did. I know too. So... at the very least, I should finish him off. At the point where even I can't recognize him, that's what's best for Berserker."
Sitonai... no, Illya is serious.
She seems pretty pissed at the black hands. Even though it's the Illya who was with me in one route, she doesn't lack memories from other routes.
So, it's a natural reaction.
Not with twelve lives, but with only one life left. As a goddess, Illya should win without issue. Still... knowing their relationship, I feel bittersweet, I suppose...
Behind, Gilgamesh was avoiding eye contact.
Illya hardens her resolve and walks towards Berserker. The mindless Berserker raises his greatsword towards her...
KABOOM!!!!
"... Huh?"
"What?"
Then, a giant flame flies in, causing a massive explosion and knocking down Berserker...
Huh...?
"Ha, I came because you looked like you needed help... Was I too late?"
That man is a man I know. He is...
Caster Cú Chulainn.
You made a cool entrance, Setanta. The Setanta I know. But...
"Huh? What's up? I helped, so why the reaction?"
"Well... it's like this."
First, I subdue and defeat Medusa, and beside me...
"Waaaaah!!! I was going to defeat Berserker! Even if I had to do it, I was going to do it!!!"
Crash!!!
"Whoa!? Don't shoot ice! Looking closely, you're the young lady who was Uncle's Master back then, right!?"
"I'm Caster now!!!"
"This is something..."
Always the same Setanta. If you bother Illya, you're dead.
"What in the world..."
"Hmm, are you my brother?"
"From my side, you're the uncle, right?"
"ㄴㅇㄱ" (Note: This is a Korean internet slang, likely meaning "yes" or agreement, but kept as is for flavor, though in translation, it might be omitted or adapted. Since it's dialogue, I'll leave it as "ㄴㅇㄱ" but in context, it means "Yeah" or similar.)
"As expected... Fergus really is old."
"That's rude, Mash..."
The reactions from Olga Marie, Ritsuka, and Mash were more expected than fresh. Illya will probably sulk for a while...