01x12 - At the End of the Rope

[bunniefuu]

I have a reason to keep living.

So that guys like us no longer...

So that these b*stards
stop robbing children

of their parents and
turning them into weapons!

I gave up everything for that to happen!

Even you, my close friend!

Why do this, Sigma?

Someone like you with no righteousness
or will of your own...

What reason will you
live for after k*lling me?

I need... a reason?

What?

For some reason, I don't want to die.

I don't particularly like pain, either.

That's why.

What the...

So, you had thought of me
as a close friend.

I can't laugh at that joke.

Sorry to make you wait.

You said you wanted to ask me something?

I know who you are, Mr. Yuukaku Kuruoka.

My boss is Francesca...

and Mr. Faldeus is among my clients.

Ah...

I had thought you were a spellcaster,
and sure enough...

Can you tell me what is going on?

What exactly is this world?

In my opinion,

this is a Reality Marble intentionally
created by Tsubaki's Servant.

That thing is a concept like death,

a void, or illness that has been
purposely given a personality.

A type of folk Magecraft that captures
phenomena into a shape with a will.

In that Servant's case, I'm sure it is
an existence that's recognized globally.

You don't want to try getting out of here?

Why would I?

Tsubaki is healthy and well here.

Perhaps your mind is dominated,
so you think that way?

Yes.

I believe that is the case.

However, what of that is a problem?

Who is it?

Where are you?

Try looking around, little girl.

It's hide-and-go-seek.

If you can find me, I'll give you
some sweet, sweet candy syrup.

Then, do you understand that your daughter

is being targeted outside
of the Reality Marble?

Oh, is that so?

That is quite an ordeal.

However, Tsubaki's Servant
is starting to become quite solid.

Solid?

A short while before you came to...

it sent us a wonderful guard dog.

Looks like your conversation
was overheard.

I will follow that thing.

The fact that it's on the move

means that it may have
an ally where it is headed to.

Got it.

I'll stay...

and do what I can do.

I'm counting on you.

Switch!

Ex...

calibur!

Saber!

Are you all right, Ayaka?

That's mine!

Sorry, I borrowed it!

This is an emergency situation,
so I'd be delighted if you let this slide!

Next time, I'll arrest you for robbery.

That's quite scary!

O guard dog,
the sentry of the bottomless pit!

If you have intelligence, listen up!

It is good if you deemed that I,

a Heroic Spirit, was
a soul avoiding death!

However, these ones here
are most definitely still alive!

If you are a disciple swearing allegiance
to the king of the underworld,

I wish for you to righteously carry out
that allegiance! What say you?

Can it be...

that it understands language?

The living.

Those who used to be...

the living.

A declaration.

Your bodies...

have no life in them.

This is...

Sink into caging darkness...

Zabaniya.

That's not so.

What I called "the underworld"
is the characteristic within that field.

Like how what is seen in a mirror
corresponds to reality...

Cerberus being activated makes me think

the location has an
aspect of the underworld.

In regard to Magecraft,

dreams are often
perceived as the afterlife.

Tsubaki Kuruoka's Servant uses
her comatose dreams as the catalyst...

to create an artificial underworld.

In other words, this is a dream world
that reflects upon the existing city?

The Servant who created that space
is quite a systematic being.

Something close to the underworld.

Likely something close
to the concept of death itself.

Its consciousness is continuing to learn

by dealing with the
reactions of its Master...

Tsubaki Kuruoka.

Brainwashing the residents of Snowfield
may be a result...

of making the girl's wishes come true.

But Professor...

we got taken into this world...

but we don't seem
to be brainwashed.

About that,

I can narrow down my speculations from
the perspective of why that didn't happen.

"Whydunit"! Right?
Like your signature phrase!

Oh, you almost sound like a detective.

It's not out in the open,

but you all are considered
missing persons in the real world.

It is likely you were drawn
into the barrier, physical body and all,

and that's why you were not brainwashed.

As to how that location can link up
to the outside world like this...

it is because something compatible
within that world...

exists in the same location
in the real world.

The most conceivable prospect
would be a corpse...

and not just any corpse,
but one under some effect of Magecraft.

Sir!

Something is climbing up from underneath!

What's wrong, Flat? What happened?

A woman!

She's likely a Servant!

You were over here, as well?

A foreign priest?

Whoa, there.
Today, I am acting as the Overseer.

By the way,

I'll let you know they have no
intention of engaging in warfare, either.

At least, not until we escape
from this Reality Marble.

Let me ask.

Huh?

Oh, y-y-yes!

Are you also one of the Mages
seeking the Holy Grail?

Huh?

At first, I thought I wanted it
because it seemed awesome.

But now...

my Servant is in trouble...

so I'd like to resolve that
with the Holy Grail first.

One question.

By k*lling the Master
who created this realm?

We just settled on avoiding conflict
as much as possible.

Who is that?

Someone like a guardian
for that young man over there.

Though it's probably asking for too much
to believe me as I'm not on the scene.

If you want to leave this realm
even if it means k*lling a young child...

I'd like to propose
that there are other ways to go about it.

I will at least listen.

That won't work, Miss.

Such a path...

How did you get such a Servant?

More importantly, why did you give
Command Spells to a comatose Tsubaki?

I found...

a guidepost.

Do you know how many bacteria
a human body hosts?

Huh?

Several hundred trillion.

Among them...

there's one that forcefully awakens
the Magic Circuits within the host human.

And to make its habitation
more comfortable...

it starts operating...

in the most efficient way possible.

What I sought after
was something to surpass them.

A symbiotic relationship with Magecraft
which must be harnessed!

You're a good girl, Tsubaki.

You're a good girl,
so you can endure this, right?

You put bacteria inside
your daughter's body?

I trembled when I harvested it
in those Latin American ruins!

With astounding values...

that bacteria adapts to humanity
through Magecraft.

It was a miscalculation
that it encroached up to the brain.

Oh, Tsubaki...

our dream!

Our precious...

child!

If I keep Tsubaki alive...

in due time this warped dream
will engulf the real world.

So, you have to k*ll her...

that pitiful child.

Hey.

You found me.

Here, I'll give you some candy syrup.

Um...

Oh, drats.

This is a bad habit of mine.

After all, it's been two thousand

and several hundred years
since I last talked to a human.

Are you all right?

You are a kind one.

I just want to know why
I have arrived here.

And to do that, I have a favor to ask you—

So, this is where you were.

Who are you?

You are not entrapped within this realm.

Let me confirm something.

Are you an enemy of this girl? Or an ally?

As of now, I intend to protect her.

Oh, wonderful!

I was a bit uneasy since
your eyes looked more

like someone who'd k*ll
their rulers, if anything.

But if that's the case, I am relieved.

Please, call me "Jiao."

Rest assured, I am her ally, as well.

I'll hear you out.

Oh...

I am so glad you are intelligent.

But how unfortunate.

I will sink down again soon.

Monsters are headed this way.

The incarnation of malady
will closely observe her, as well.

I can't hide all of my existence, either.

What's wrong?

It's fine.

I'm just going to play
a bit of hide-and-seek again.

Take that. Have yourself or someone
who is always with Tsubaki hold onto it.

It is something that was once called
"the God-Felling Crossbow."

What in the world are you?

Are you a Servant?

It's a long story to tell,
but if I'm going to keep it simple—

Why do I feel the
presence of that giant beast

that covers the sky from you?

You know about Watcher?

Oh no, I'm at my limit.

You should show that crossbow
to a clearheaded Mage!

That way...

Right! I entrust it to you!

Protecting Tsubaki...

You've decided to reveal
your hand this time around.

Quite the composure you have...

vampire.

This child is...

He can change form or soul,
but he can't change that warped smile.

I didn't think the same trick
would work twice against you, Executor.

That, and I eventually wanted to see

all sorts of expressions
from that pretty lady!

Right?

You're so cute, Assassin!

Did you think that
I'd be stupidly honest...

and show up in my actual form
before you, an enemy?

Huh?

Tsubaki, who is that guy there?

Oh, Jester!

Oh, this is amazing!

This looks like a secret hideout!

You're lucky.

I can't k*ll you in front of Tsubaki.

Don't get the wrong idea, okay?

I'm Tsubaki's friend, you see.

Hey, Tsubaki!

What is it?

I heard from my dad...

that your dad and mom
are really important Mages.

Yep!

Daddy and Mommy are both amazing Mages!

And you said you wanted to be helpful
for your dad and mom, right?

Yep!

What are your parents wishing for?

Stop it!

You know...

I...

I want...

to become a Magician...

for Daddy and Mommy!

I want to become a Magician!

Wh-What is this?

This is the path to death.

The underworld.

The passageway to Hades.

You are judgment.

You are gospel.

An eternal tranquility.

Flat!

Tell me what is going on!

Professor...

the world...

is turning black!

The passageway to Hades
will become my minion...

and protect my lord.

The Holy Grail.

To my lord.

To the hands of my friend.

The Holy Grail!

You b*stard! What did you do
to that young girl?

I merely gave her a supportive push.

Ex...

calib—

Saber!

You didn't fully heal your wounds!

Go!

Thank you!

Why someone like me?

No!

There's nothing that I can do!

No! No! No!

I'm not a Master at all!

I didn't become one.

I ran away again.

Because it was easier to run away!

I don't have anywhere to go to anymore!

Move aside.

You can k*ll me.

You can curse me.

I'm sure you have the right to do so.

I am afraid of you...

but...

Right now, I'm more scared
of running away from Saber!

Huh?

Oh, Ayaka.

You always manage to surprise me.

Saber!

Don't give me that look.

These wounds are trivial.

We've gone over this many times already.

But I've made up my mind,
so just shut up and listen!

Oh, okay.

Saber, you're still holding back
some of your power, aren't you?

I will no longer run away from you
or from the Holy Grail w*r!

I decided that I will fight
together with you!

Though, I just decided that right now,
and I'm sorry about that!

Oh, right. Okay.

If I die because my Magical Energy
is sucked dry, that's fine!

No, it's not fine,

but it's a whole lot better
than dying in a place like this!

I will fight, too!

Please teach me how to fight!

I don't care if it's
just how to throw a rock.

If you think
I'd just drag you down...

it can be something like
amplifying my Magical Energy!

I'm glad you feel that way...

and you are strong.

But...

I, in my current state,
can't answer your call.

I still haven't found a reason
to risk my life or chivalry.

Nor trample upon other people's wishes
to obtain the Holy Grail.

Saber...

That's why I don't mind fading away.

I brought you into this, so
keeping you alive is first and foremost!

The wish can be anything!

I don't care if you want to sell
the Holy Grail and make money off of it!

You know, you said you were going to

take music back to the Throne
or Heaven or wherever it was!

Throne aside, my place isn't in Heaven.

Cookies?

Incorporating Cerberus was interesting,
but that was a mistake!

Its weakness is so famous, as you can see!

Oh, I guess it's nice to meet you!

King Lionheart...

and I don't really get it...

but the girl with amazing Magical Energy!