Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Saber)
Arrival of Twin Swords
Kiyohime:
A killer...you say?
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
Indeed.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
I know little about the workings of the “simulator,” but I do know that a mysterious killer has been appearing there as of late.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
It is fortunate that this began during Master's absence, as they were quite a formidable foe...
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
At any rate, we must remain on the alert.
Would you be so kind as to inform Master?
Kiyohime:
Y-yes, of course.
Kiyohime:
Although, um, why did you choose to
approach me about this, Lord Tajima?
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
Now then, if you will excuse me.
Kiyohime:
W-w-wait! Just a moment, Lord Tajima!
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
Is there a problem?
Kiyohime:
Well, um...
Kiyohime:
I just wanted to make sure...
Kiyohime:
You say this killer appearing in the simulator is not what they call an “NPC”?
Kiyohime:
Do I have that right?
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
That is correct.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
This person possessed the aura of a true
swordsman...to an extraordinary degree...
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
It was just yesterday that I encountered them.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
I was taking a walk in the simulator when...
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
...Who goes there?
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
Show yourself.
I can tell you are no mere enn-pee-see.
Mysterious Swordsman:
...
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
So, you are bereft of speech.
Or perhaps, you were born without a mouth.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
I am trained in Otomeryu. Ordinarily, it is not meant to be seen by the eyes of commoners...
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
...but now that the Tokugawa shogunate no longer holds sway, and I am a mere shadow of the true Tajima...
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
...I see little point in letting
such concerns stay my blade.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
So be warned.
Draw nearer, and I will cut you down.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
...!
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
Impressive.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
I must say...
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
...your swordsmanship is a sight to behold.
No human could make use of such a technique.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
You must be some manner of monster.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
Or perhaps...a curse that has gained consciousness.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
...Regrettably, I was unable to
settle our duel before they left.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
It appeared they were dissatisfied with my swordsmanship.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
Yes... I had the distinct impression
that one blade is not enough for them.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
It was as though they were searching for an opponent who wields two blades instead.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
I imagine they were taking the form of a dead man's essence, much like we Heroic Spirits.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
But now, they must have lost sight of who they are, and so have turned on those of us who carry blades of our own. What a pity.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami:
...And so they have devolved into some
mindless killer wandering the simulator.
Kiyohime:
...So it is basically rogue data that is
similar to a Heroic Spirit. Understood!
Kiyohime:
I'll go tell Master right now!
And I'll let Da Vinci and Mash know, too!
Kiyohime:
...And that's everything Lord Tajima told me!
Fujimaru 1:
I see. Thanks, Kiyohime.
Kiyohime:
You're welcome, Master!
Fujimaru 2:
He could've just told me himself...
Kiyohime:
He said it's because he doesn't
know much about the simulator...
Mash:
So...does this mean there's a bug in the simulator...?
Da Vinci:
Our scans haven't picked up anything, but the main point of the simulator is to project Heroic Spirits' Spirit Origins.
Da Vinci:
With all that intricate data in the registry, it's entirely possible that a bit could have gotten scrambled somewhere and caused a problem.
Da Vinci:
Besides, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's one of the best swordsmen who ever lived, right?
Da Vinci:
If he felt like this thing wasn't just a normal NPC, I'm inclined to take him at his word. Something must be wrong.
Da Vinci:
Hmm. Welp! Guess we'll just have to run some comprehensive emergency system diagnostics!
Diarmuid:
...Master.
Kiyohime:
Oh, hello, Lord Diarmuid.
What brings you here?
Diarmuid:
If I may, I would ask that you
please take me to the simulator.
Diarmuid:
I think I might have an idea
as to who this miscreant may be.
Mash:
Okay, Senpai, Diarmuid.
The simulator is up and running with no trouble so far.
Mash:
I'll be monitoring the entire system from here in real time, but please let me know if you see anything amiss.
Mash:
There aren't currently any NPCs in that area, so there shouldn't be anything unusual happening.
Fujimaru 1:
Got it.
Fujimaru 2:
Thanks, Mash.
Diarmuid:
If my instincts are correct...
Diarmuid:
...we should encounter our target soon,
even if this place is meant to be deserted.
Mash:
Are you sure, Diarmuid? I've confirmed that your area is cut off from all external access...
Diarmuid:
Yes, I'm sure.
Diarmuid:
Whoever this is, they won't pass up their chance to find what they're searching for.
Fujimaru 1:
...Can you tell me?
Fujimaru 2:
What are they searching for?
Diarmuid:
...Me.
Mash:
What do you mean?
Diarmuid:
You were wondering why Lord Tajima didn't tell you about this yourself, right, Master?
Diarmuid:
I can answer that.
Mash:
...
Diarmuid:
It's because our miscreant must be some kind of curse. Or rather, feelings that have degenerated into one.
Diarmuid:
I just never thought it would look for me in the simulator, tracking me through the bonds we share.
Diarmuid:
...Lady Kiyohime.
Kiyohime:
Yes! I'm here!
Diarmuid:
There is the faintest trace of this curse still lingering on your shoulder.
Diarmuid:
It is from when you spoke to Lord Tajima,
after he encountered it here.
Diarmuid:
That is almost certainly why he tried to distance himself from Master. To keep the curse away from [♂ him /♀️ her].
Mash:
Really!?
Mash:
But, our sensors didn't pick up anything when she entered the Command Room!
Kiyohime:
Now that you mention it...I do think my shoulders feel a little heavy...
Kiyohime:
I'd better burn that curse
away later, just to be safe.
Diarmuid:
Impressive.
Diarmuid:
Lord Tajima must have come to you because he knew you would have been able to handle it without difficulty.
Fujimaru 1:
That...makes a lot of sense.
Kiyohime:
?
Fujimaru 2:
Kiyohime and curses do kind of, uh, go together...
Kiyohime:
Master?
Diarmuid:
That curse...
Diarmuid:
No... Those feelings are directed at me.
Diarmuid:
I can still detect the scent of Danaan on them.
I have no doubt that it is searching for me.
Diarmuid:
I considered trying to quietly handle this myself,
so as not to trouble the rest of you...
Diarmuid:
...but that is not a decision I can make on my own.
Diarmuid:
I am sworn to serve you now, Master, and cannot take up my spear without your permission. That is why...
Fujimaru 1:
That's why you came and told me.
Fujimaru 2:
Thanks, Diarmuid.
Diarmuid:
You are too kind, Master.
Diarmuid:
Please be careful. This scent...
The curse is drawing near!
Mash:
I can't see anything on our monitors...
Mash:
No, wait! I'm picking up a hostile headed your way!
Mysterious Swordsman:
...
Kiyohime:
Oh my, he just radiates animosity!
Mash:
There is no way this is NPC data!
These numbers shouldn't even be possible! Senpai!
Fujimaru 1:
I'm going to give it a shot.
Fujimaru 2:
I'll do my best to be careful!
Diarmuid:
Worry not, Master! Virtual space or not,
I will make sure no harm comes to you!
Diarmuid:
I, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, shall be your opponent!
--BATTLE--
Diarmuid:
Damn! I can't finish him off with this Spirit Origin!
Mash:
Senpai! Diarmuid!
Kiyohime:
Master!
Mash:
The hostile shows no signs of disappearing! It's going to be fiendishly difficult to defeat them in battle!
Mash:
I think you should–
Fujimaru 1:
Hold on.
Fujimaru 2:
They're trying to say something...
Mash:
!?
Mysterious Swordsman:
...You are not the one.
Mysterious Swordsman:
You are not the one.
Mysterious Swordsman:
Your spear is not enough.
Mysterious Swordsman:
Show me your true power. Show me the power
of a knight raised by the sea-god Manannán.
Mysterious Swordsman:
Show me the sword of Manannán!
Diarmuid:
Master, stand back!
Diarmuid:
Hraaaaaahhh...!
Diarmuid:
Gáe Buidhe!
Mysterious Swordsman:
...You are not the one.
Diarmuid:
(My demonic spear didn't work?)
Diarmuid:
(No, that's not it...!)
D：Voice:
...That's right.
He wishes to duel with swords alone.
D：Voice:
No other weapon will lay him to rest.
Diarmuid:
!!!
Mash:
I'm picking up a powerful magical energy reading!
It doesn't appear to be hostile, but...
Diarmuid:
Are they here to fight too?
No, wait. This feeling...
Voice From The Shadows:
...I'm sorry for the trouble. He is indeed looking for you, but he is also looking for me.
Diarmuid:
You're...
Diarmuid:
Now I see...
Mash:
Diarmuid!?
Kiyohime:
You're lowering your spear...?
Isn't that dangerous to do in the face of an enemy?
Diarmuid:
It's fine. This shadow is different.
Diarmuid:
If anything...I would say he's here to back us up.
Voice From The Shadows:
Indeed I am.
Voice From The Shadows:
However, I currently lack a corporeal Spirit Origin, and thus would like to make use of yours.
Voice From The Shadows:
If that is acceptable to you, Master.
Diarmuid:
...Master, I would ask you to grant his request.
We must do this if we are to defeat this opponent.
Fujimaru 1:
I trust you, Diarmuid.
Fujimaru 2:
(Nod)
Voice From The Shadows:
Understood!
Mash:
They're resonating with each other...!?
It looks like Diarmuid's Spirit Origin is changing!
Diarmuid:
...Servant, Saber. My True Name is Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, of the Knights of Fianna...
Diarmuid:
...and my two demonic blades are at your service!
Diarmuid:
Now! Curse who has taken form in our simulator!
Diarmuid:
No... You are a pure, honest giant–a Giolla Deacair! But I also know you as the Fairy King Ábartach of the Danann!
Diarmuid:
Why have you come to Chaldea!?
Mash:
Fairy King Ábartach of the Danann!?
Kiyohime:
Wh-who's that!?
Mash:
He's a king who ruled over one
of the fairy kingdoms in Erin!
Mash:
In the Fenian Cycle of Celtic legend, he was said to have formed an alliance with the Knights of Fianna...
Mash:
...and in the process of forming that alliance,
Diarmuid ended up fighting one of his knights...
Mash:
Although some accounts of that legend say that Diarmuid actually fought the Fairy King himself!
Mysterious Swordsman:
Yes... Yesss...
Mysterious Swordsman:
That is the knight of Fianna I have been searching for.
At last, you have shown yourself before me.
Mysterious Swordsman:
I saw your swordsmanship in my dreams. I saw your swords shining brightly atop the earth once again.
Mysterious Swordsman:
Thus did my consciousness cross time and space to arrive in this digital domain...
Mysterious Swordsman:
...At last, I have found you again, Diarmuid!
Mysterious Swordsman:
Not the invincible knight Fionn,
with his demonic sword Móralltach and demonic spear Gáe Dearg!
Mysterious Swordsman:
Nor the figure of the Lancer with two demonic spears! No, at last, you have become a Saber wielding two demonic swords!
Mysterious Swordsman:
A far cry indeed from the Diarmuid I saw at the spring on that fateful day...
Mysterious Swordsman:
...who was the only one able to leap
beyond that precipitous cliff!
Mysterious Swordsman:
Ahh, I want nothing more than to defeat
you and your two swords, Diarmuid!
Diarmuid:
...What a self-centered king you are.
Diarmuid:
Nonetheless, I understand how you feel,
and I accept your challenge!
Diarmuid:
I am Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, First Spear of the Knights of Fianna! But now I stand before you armed with two swords, not spears!
Diarmuid:
Now, you shall know defeat!
--BATTLE--
Holmes:
Fascinating.
Holmes:
So two different versions of the same Heroic Spirit now coexist in one Spirit Origin? Hmm...
Holmes:
I suppose it is not totally dissimilar from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde's case, though for you it seems to be a more temporary phenomenon.
Holmes:
Especially given how the Saber version seems to have made his way here via the connection he made to Ms. Miyamoto in a parallel world.
Holmes:
That particular Spirit Origin has, of course,
been registered in our database by now...
Holmes:
...but I'm afraid that your current self can only maintain its manifestation for so long.
Holmes:
Therefore–
Da Vinci:
You might as well enjoy yourself while you're here. This should be fun!
Da Vinci:
So, I'll put a little more in the way of resources into the simulator while you're here.
Da Vinci:
After all, we're Chaldea, the Security Organization for the Preservation of Humanity. You won't find this many Servants anywhere else! Ever!
Da Vinci:
There ought to be plenty of badass heroes here for you to cross swords with!
Diarmuid:
I, um... Are you sure about this?
I never belonged to this world, after all.
Diarmuid:
Are you certain it will not be a problem
to keep me here, even temporarily?
Fujimaru 1:
It's fine! Don't worry about it!
Fujimaru 2:
What's Lancer Diarmuid think?
Diarmuid:
...Oh. Well...
Kiyohime:
Go on. What's he saying?
Diarmuid:
...The Lancer within me says we
should accept Master's generosity.
Kiyohime:
Then listen to him!
Please, enjoy yourself.
Diarmuid:
...
Diarmuid:
You are all very kind. Very well then, I shall
do my utmost to enjoy what time I have here!
Fujimaru 1:
Great! Then let's get started!
Fujimaru 2:
Four consecutive battles coming right up!
Mash:
Go!
--BATTLE--
Diarmuid:
...I almost feel as though I am dreaming.
Diarmuid:
Yet I doubt even the gods or the Fairy King could ever have conceived of something so wondrous as this.
Diarmuid:
Truly, I could ask for no better parting gift.
Diarmuid:
You have my deepest thanks, Master of Chaldea.
Mash:
Senpai... Diarmuid's Spirit Origin is forcefully reverting to its Lancer form!
Fujimaru 1:
...Did you enjoy yourself?
Diarmuid:
Of course, Master.
Fujimaru 2:
I wish you could've stayed longer.
Diarmuid:
It would seem this is it.
It won't be much longer now until I disappear.
Diarmuid:
But please, do not worry about me.
My Lancer Spirit Origin is perfectly capable.
Diarmuid:
I am still me, whether I carry sword or spear,
and I will continue to wield them for your sake.
Diarmuid:
Now then, I–
Diarmuid:
...!
Diarmuid:
That golden sword!
Are you...the King of Knights?
Altria:
Forgive me. It would seem you no longer have time to spare for a duel.
Altria:
Perhaps we can remedy that some other day,
Sir Diarmuid.
Altria:
As I see it, it may be best simply to summon your new Spirit Origin here...
Altria:
...but it is only through fate that we may have another chance to duel.
Altria:
And so, while I cannot give you my word,
I can at least say this much:
Altria:
I hope we will meet again some day,
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne of the Knights of Fianna.
Diarmuid:
...Yes. I'd like that very much.
Diarmuid:
Should that day ever come, King of Knights...we will have a battle for the ages!