Queen of Sheba

Harder Than Going Through the Eye of a Needle

David: Ooof. Oh hey, Fujimaru. Are you by chance looking for the Queen of Sheba?

David: Actually, in the hallway a few minutes ago...


Fujimaru 1: You ran into her?


David: ...I did not. Hahaha!

David: I had some business with her myself. She's the Queen of Sheba, after all.

David: She's the queen whose beauty was praised and noted in any number of texts and works of art. Even the Bible!

David: And now that beauty has come to Chaldea. I always meant to introduce myself to her!

David: I would start off with a brisk “hello” and a pleasant conversation starter. Then, I would lock eyes with her and seal the deal by taking her hand.

David: You have to meet a person to know if you're compatible with them, you know.


Fujimaru 1: I don't know what you're talking about.


Fujimaru 2: So you're looking for someone to abi-shag...


David: Hey, I'm passionate about this! It's very important to me!

David: With the help of a certain someone here (a fellow fan of bronze skin and fuzzy ears), I've done a bit of sleuthing.

David: First, I checked when the Queen appears in common areas. Then I looked into her favorite facilities and how she likes to get to them...

David: But not once have I managed to meet her. Hrmmm...

David: I try to get a few steps ahead, but she always seems to see just what I'm planning, and so manages to evade me. I have only failed so far!


Fujimaru 1: That's impossible.

David: I'm not exaggerating. It's all true.


Fujimaru 2: I'll just go report you for stalking...

David: Oh, no. I wouldn't recommend that, Master. I'll have you know that I'm always innocent. My good looks always help me beat the rap.

David: But, should the security personnel be male, he may falsely accuse me out of sheer jealousy. How sad.

David: Besides, I'm only acting on instinct. As a sheep herder, I'm inclined to gather any lost sheep–

David: Okay, fine! It's my fault! Just put your phone away!

David: ...But honestly. Big as this place is, failing to run into someone at least once seems odd...


David: Maybe it's because...she's using her power of looking into the future or something...


Fujimaru 1: Maybe it's annoying enough that going so far is all she can do...


David: You think it's annoying? But this handsome guy is so desperate!

David: I know my actions can be problematic, but don't you think it's funny when you think about it? That fact I, for once, am failing?

David: Don't you think that's a sight to behold? Oh, I hope the Queen of Sheba thinks so too.


Fujimaru 1: King David's optimism scares me.


Fujimaru 2: I wouldn't say anything if you weren't out of line.


David: Thanks for that uninspiring word of encouragement, Master. I'll just have to patiently wait for my encounter like a gentleman.


Fujimaru 1: So...we're back at the Command Room.


Fujimaru 2: Da Vinci asked me to search for her...



Fujimaru 1: Eh!?


Fujimaru 2: Where am I!? Why is there suddenly a desert!?


???: Meowhahaha!

Jaguar Warrior: Well, well...you fell right into my mousetrap, agent of the villainous universal genius!

Jaguar Warrior: There's no use squirming to get out! Not so much as a rat is gonna escape on my watch!

Jaguar Warrior: You'll get a punch! A kick! A body slam! Come at me! I've got moves like a jaguar!


Fujimaru 1: ...Eh!? Eh? Jaguar Warrior!?


Fujimaru 2: But you're not even from the desert...


Jaguar Warrior: Ha! Everyone knows cats and the desert go together like peanut butter and jelly!

Jaguar Warrior: And now, the winds of South America will blow CATastrophically in this desert! What I mean is, you're gonna die!

Jaguar Warrior: Ack!!! Ptttfttt! Sand! It's rough and coarse and getting everywhere! And drying out my famous toe beans!

Queen of Sheba: U-um...Jaguar?

Queen of Sheba: I'm sorry to interrupt, but I believe Master has some business with me...

Jaguar Warrior: Oh, I see... I understand. Except I don't! The only thing I know is that there are butts that need kicking for entering my territory!

Jaguar Warrior: I thought I made myself clear, lovely animal-eared girl! I can only remember and follow one command at a time!

Queen of Sheba: P-please wait! (Sigh)... I guess we have no choice.

Queen of Sheba: I'm sorry to ask this since you only just arrived, Master.

Queen of Sheba: But would you mind giving me a hand in calming her down? I will repay you generously.


Fujimaru 1: Anything for my Queen!


Fujimaru 2: Understood. I'll look forward to your reward.


--BATTLE--:

Jaguar Warrior: Oh gods! Oh gods! Have you forsaken me, Babylonia's–

Jaguar Warrior: ...Babylo-lo!?


Fujimaru 1: ...We're back in the Command Room!?


Jaguar Warrior: Ack...im...pawssible... So all this was just a desert meowrage...

Jaguar Warrior: Hahaha...it was a short-lived dream...the real me probably is asleep at a cat cafe...

Queen of Sheba: Whew...have you calmed down, Jaguar?

Jaguar Warrior: Yep, I'm awake, and I'm feline fine. Hm. I don't even know what a Babylonia god whatsit is...

Kid Gil: Wow. Amazing. (Clap, clap)

Kid Gil: That was an amazing illusion. So potent. It felt so real.

Kid Gil: I could even feel the burning heat of the desert sun, and it was making me thirsty.

Kid Gil: I'm sure that skill came in handy in protecting the kingdom of Sheba.

Queen of Sheba: Kid Gil...don't embarrass me... That illusion wasn't the one I wanted to use...

Kid Gil: Some of Chaldea's magecraft equipment on the fritz, right? It happens all the time, don't worry about it.

Queen of Sheba: That's a relief. That means there won't be any lawsuits... Anyway, this is bad!

Queen of Sheba: I really didn't intend for Master to get caught up in this!


Fujimaru 1: Kid Gil's here too? What's going on?


Fujimaru 2: Does this have to do with Da Vinci calling everyone over?


Queen of Sheba: Oh, my... Oh, my...

Queen of Sheba: Da Vinci was looking for me? I-I didn't even notice.

Queen of Sheba: I'm sorry. Kid Gil and I were having a business meeting–I-I mean, we were in deep conversation, so I didn't realize...

Queen of Sheba: And I asked Jaguar to stand guard and make sure no one disturbed us.

Jaguar Warrior: Yep. I accepted the task for an hourly rate of three tangerines. One to save for later, one for sketching, and one to freeze.


Fujimaru 1: Very suspicious...


Fujimaru 2: Are you hiding something?


Queen of Sheba: Ehhh!? N-no! Nothing...nothing at all!

Kid Gil: Oh, does it look suspicious?

Kid Gil: I suppose it does. I guess Da Vinci does have the upper hand.


Fujimaru 1: Oh, right. So Da Vinci was–


Queen of Sheba: Eh!? Tons of lost manuscripts unearthed!? THE Leonardo da Vinci's manuscripts!?

Queen of Sheba: And she's trying to figure out how to handle them!?

Queen of Sheba: Well then just give them to me so I can auction them off! I've got this!

Queen of Sheba: We can even leave my handling fee open for negotiation. I've already opened up some back channels and–Oh.


Fujimaru 1: “Oh”?


Fujimaru 2: “Back channels”?


Queen of Sheba: Ah...um...well... Oh, my... Oh, my...

Jaguar Warrior: Hm? What's wrong, my animal-eared amigo?

Jaguar Warrior: You just made this really devilish face that reminds me of another friend of mine.


Fujimaru 1: I get it now.

Jaguar Warrior: What do you mean, you get it now!? Explain, please.

Kid Gil: Okay. So you all know that my treasury is...you know...


Fujimaru 2: I see. Can't authorize that.

Queen of Sheba: Ehhhhhh!? Nooo, Master!

Kid Gil: Yes, exactly. It's widely known that my treasury is...you know...


Kid Gil: Of course, I do have a fine collection of weapons and armor as well, but not only that, I also possess a vast number of ornaments and rare metals.

Kid Gil: But to keep them all locked up is such a waste...

Kid Gil: ...That, at least, would be the modern take on it...and since we've had knowledge of modern norms granted to us, that is the conclusion that we came to.

Queen of Sheba: That's why...I've suggested Kid Gil try some investment ventures to fund a side business...

Queen of Sheba: It will serve as collateral to finance art exhibits for people to appreciate and admire. Growth industries where we can put his fortune to work for him!

Kid Gil: She has a great eye for appraisal... This arrangement would be beneficial for me as well.

Kid Gil: My treasury gets a bit more organized, and I get a chance to add some more modern treasures to it as well.


Fujimaru 1: I still don't get why you brought Jaguar Warrior into this...


Queen of Sheba: Actually...you see...

Queen of Sheba: I (discretely) approached some of the more...veteran Servants who have more experience in this modern world, seeking their cooperation...

Jaguar Warrior: Meow?

Queen of Sheba: U-um...do you have a moment? There is something I would like to discuss with you...

Georgios: Well! If it isn't the great queen of the southern desert nation!

Georgios: You cannot imagine how excited I was to learn that you were summoned to Chaldea!

Georgios: How reassuring! Ah, how holy! You, an individual full of knowledge and divinity!

Georgios: Together, we shall become the sword and shield of Chaldea and lead it down the path of righteousness!

Queen of Sheba: Uh...s-sure... P-pleased to meet you...

Queen of Sheba: Um...well...thank you for your time...

Queen of Sheba: Excuse me...

Martha: Oh, my! It is the Queen of Sheba! I am honored! Please, allow me to shake your hand!

Queen of Sheba: ...S-sure... Ooooucch! My bones! My poor hand!

Martha: You are the living embodiment of a miracle! Faith will surely take hold in this land now!

Martha: Should you need any help at all, please do not hesitate to ask me!

Martha: The fastest way to get a six-pack, the best bulking recipes...please leave all of that to me!

Queen of Sheba: Um...okay... If I ended up needing that...I guess... Really...sorry for your trouble...

Queen of Sheba: Tarasque...is so cute...I wish I had one... (Sob)...

Martha: ...?

Kid Gil: They are all great and reliable people, who hold the Queen of Sheba in the highest esteem...

Kid Gil: But they weren't the right personnel for THIS job...haha...

Jaguar Warrior: Heh. So you're looking for the right connections and market? It's not that I don't know a few...

Jaguar Warrior: But all my sources deal in shady and dangerous addictive substances... Like gourmet candy.


Fujimaru 1: So this is a business venture to earn you some spending money?



Fujimaru 1: Well, then I know the perfect person.


Queen of Sheba: ...

Queen of Sheba: WHAT!?!?!? It's not who I think it is, is it?

Queen of Sheba: Are you perchance thinking of an individual whose name starts with “D”? Specifically, a king whose name starts with “D”?

Queen of Sheba: Impossible!

Queen of Sheba: He's basically my chief business rival! A competitor!

Queen of Sheba: Were I to team up with him, it would ruin my profit margins!

Kid Gil: Oh, and don't forget that when the business takes off, I'll be taking my cut, too.

Kid Gil: I'll invest as much as you need until then, of course.

Queen of Sheba: Ack.

Jaguar Warrior: Something's bothering me...from a legal standpoint. Let me guess...

Jaguar Warrior: Sheba and Kiddy Gil...are you guys trying to get into some kinda shady business together?

Jaguar Warrior: Is this going to affect Chaldea's peaceful snack time situation?

Jaguar Warrior: I don't want to see Fujimaru and Mash with the expression of someone who's used up all their materials and embers.

Jaguar Warrior: Not in my Chaldea. I'd rather die than to have us eat only apple cores for every meal.

Queen of Sheba: Th-things would never come to that...p-probably...


Fujimaru 1: She's suddenly not so confident.

Queen of Sheba: I AM confident!


Fujimaru 2: Wasn't your future sight going to get you a pile of money?

Kid Gil: For one thing, if she did anything THAT flashy, nobody would want to do business with her.


Queen of Sheba: Master, are you trying to get in the way of my side business? I'll have you know, I am not giving up on this endeavor!


Fujimaru 1: Not at first, I wasn't.


Fujimaru 2: I kinda feel like I should stop this, yeah.


Jaguar Warrior: Hm! I agree with Fujimaru!

Jaguar Warrior: Time to boycat this plan! Losing out on three tangerines is tough, but it's gotta be done!

Jaguar Warrior: Start the simulator! Start the battle BGM!

Kid Gil: Oh? This is...


Fujimaru 1: A 3D image?


Fujimaru 2: A simulation?


Jaguar Warrior: Meowhahahaha!

Jaguar Warrior: Behold the high-techiness of My Room instantly turning into a small-scale simulator room!

Jaguar Warrior: It was so worth getting help from an anonymous member of Chaldea (a fan of fuzzy ears and big sister types)!


Fujimaru 1: Can't put anything past that half-god, half-human feline!

Jaguar Warrior: Heh. A couple squeezes of my toe beans, and she was all mine!


Fujimaru 2: How much did this renovation cost?

Jaguar Warrior: Don't ask about cost! You'll ruin our P&L!


Queen of Sheba: ...If brute force is what would make you listen...

Queen of Sheba: Then maybe it wouldn't be so bad to let my fists do the talking to introduce this plan to Master!

Kid Gil: Oh, wow. Looks like both parties are really fired up.

Kid Gil: Oh well, I guess I did get on this ride! I'll just have to do my share for our business.

Kid Gil: Shall we get down to it, Master?


Fujimaru 1: His eyes aren't smiling...!


Fujimaru 2: He's LITERALLY going to use body language, huh?


--BATTLE--:

Jaguar Warrior: Meowhahahaha!

Jaguar Warrior: We won! Chaldea's snack time is made safe at the paws of your faithful Jag–

Jaguar Warrior: Meow?

Emiya: Excuse me for interrupting your...uh, deep discussion.

Emiya: I received a report that the jaguar who's been looting our pantry is here.

Jaguar Warrior: Eh!? Oh crap!

Jaguar Warrior: H-hey! Lemme go! Don't just lift me up by the scruff of my neck like that!

Jaguar Warrior: ...A-air...can't...breathe...

Emiya: I got her. Target secured.

Emiya: Sorry to cause trouble. I'll take my leave now.

Jaguar Warrior: ...! Mrrroooooow!!!

Da Vinci: ...

Da Vinci: (Pat)


Fujimaru 1: Da Vinci...did you come to check things out?


Fujimaru 2: Is this...a note?



Fujimaru 1: (Is she telling me I need to deal with this?)


Queen of Sheba: ...


Fujimaru 1: Why did you want all that money, Queen?


Fujimaru 2: I'm sure we could give you an allowance that will let you could live comfortably here...


Kid Gil: Ah, yes. We did not get an explanation of why she wanted to start up a business in the first place.

Kid Gil: Not that I much care.


Fujimaru 1: You're always so rational about things like this, Kid Gil.


Kid Gil: Yes... That has been said before.

Kid Gil: But this is about her, not me.

Queen of Sheba: B-because...

Queen of Sheba: C...camels...!

Queen of Sheba: I want pet camels!

Queen of Sheba: In Chaldea! I want to keep camels in Chaldea!

Queen of Sheba: But...after I researched a few things, it sounded...so difficult...


Fujimaru 1: Camels? How many?

Queen of Sheba: At least...maybe one hundred... A-and I'm not kidding!

Queen of Sheba: If there was only one, it'd get lonely!


Fujimaru 2: Well, yeah, this isn't an environment camels thrive in...

Queen of Sheba: Why is Chaldea in a place like this!?

Queen of Sheba: Let's move to the desert! The desert!


Kid Gil: Ahaha...a full-scale camel zoo in Chaldea, huh?

Kid Gil: Yeah, a few million dollars wouldn't be enough for that.

Kid Gil: The cost to build such a facility, plus yearly maintenance...it'd be upwards of three hundred mil!

Kid Gil: After all, we're in such an isolated location that we might as well be trying to terraform Mars or something.

Queen of Sheba: So...it's impossible...isn't it? (Sob)... Camel...


Fujimaru 1: Oh...this is?


Fujimaru 2: Another illusion? Or a mirage?


Kid Gil: Oh? This is different than the usual simulator projection.


Fujimaru 1: Actually, according to Da Vinci...


Kid Gil: Oh?

Kid Gil: The Near-Future Observation Lens: Sheba keeps starting up because it synchronizes with the Queen of Sheba's mental state?

Kid Gil: And not just that, but it's affecting the other machines too, causing a bunch of problems?

Kid Gil: I see.

Kid Gil: I suppose I should expect as much from something Lev Lainur created...

Kid Gil: But, that's strange.

Kid Gil: With so many Servants gathered here in Chaldea, why did this happen now?

Kid Gil: ...

Kid Gil: Oh...I see...


Fujimaru 1: We need to take care of the Queen's homesickness!


Fujimaru 2: ...By the way, about my reward...

Queen of Sheba: ...Oh...okay...

Queen of Sheba: Would an assorted camel-shaped cookie box suffice? They're all broken, though.


Queen of Sheba: Camel... (Droopy ears)


Fujimaru 1: ...Queen of Sheba!


Queen of Sheba: What is it, Master?


Fujimaru 1: I will take you to the desert!

Queen of Sheba: ...

Queen of Sheba: ...You're not pulling my leg, are you?

Queen of Sheba: Then...make sure you always bring me along when you go on a quest to the desert!

Queen of Sheba: And even if it isn't a quest, just take me whenever I ask you, okay?


Fujimaru 2: I will be your camel!

Queen of Sheba: ...

Queen of Sheba: ...Really?

Queen of Sheba: Promise? I want one with one hump, okay?

Queen of Sheba: If you have two humps, I'll tan your skin and make you into a wallet.



Fujimaru 1: ...Okay!


Fujimaru 2: As you wish, my Queen.


Queen of Sheba: Heehee...

Queen of Sheba: Teehee...heehee! Okay!

Queen of Sheba: I'm feeling a bit better... Sorry to worry you all so much.

Kid Gil: That's great. By the way, Queen of Sheba...

Kid Gil: If you would like to tamp down this “power” of yours, I think I can offer some advice.

Queen of Sheba: ...!!!


Fujimaru 1: Does that mean...

Kid Gil: Yes. It's a side effect of her future sight.


Fujimaru 2: This was all caused by indiscriminate use of future sight?

Kid Gil: Yes. It appears so.


Queen of Sheba: I see...

Queen of Sheba: Got it. I'll allow Kid Gil to help me once more.


Fujimaru 1: Please help.


Fujimaru 2: Try to keep the mischief to a minimum...


Kid Gil: Master, are you going to go to Da Vinci to report your findings?

Kid Gil: Understood. Good work.


Fujimaru 1: See you.


Queen of Sheba: Aaack!

Queen of Sheba: ...Da...!

David: Hmmm...I see...


Fujimaru 1: Have you been waiting outside the whole time?


David: No. Absolutely not. This is just a really, really, really fortunate coincidence.

David: Besides, if I was going to hang around outside, I'd have just knocked.

David: I just so happened to pass by– (Fidget, fidget)

Queen of Sheba: Hnnnrrrrrrgh...


Fujimaru 1: Her fur is standing on end...


David: ...Hmmm. Ah! She truly is the unparalleled beauty of legend!

David: I am unworthy of the honor of being in your presence, Your Majesty!

David: ...But you know what? I'm a bit disappointed...

David: Just a liiiiiitle bit... She's not quite my type.


Fujimaru 1: —Eh?


Fujimaru 2: Okay, she's kinda tall, but is that really why?


David: Oh, how unfortunate! Unfortunate, but... Yes, I can move on.

David: The queen is a beauty, but not really my type of beauty. Let's just leave it at that.

David: Welp! Off to the cafeteria to enjoy some babka.

David: See you later, Fujimaru. I will let you take the role of the Queen's escort!

Queen of Sheba: ...

Queen of Sheba: ...Huh? WHAT!?

Queen of Sheba: WHAT IS WITH HIM!?

Queen of Sheba: With that face...that voice...saying things like that!

Queen of Sheba: I don't like him! I hate him! I want to go back to the desert!


Fujimaru 1: Don't let that vagabond get under your skin, my Queen.


Fujimaru 2: Looks like we're going to have equipment trouble for a bit longer...


Kid Gil: Ahahaha. Master, you really do have your hands full!