Chapter 200: Doctor Kotomine
Caren is the victim of this Singularity?
Eikou was startled inside.
Good, I thought I'd have to scour the entire Singularity like a rampage, but it turns out finding the character to rescue is this easy?
"Calm down, Mr. Eikou…"
Holmes' deep, controlled voice transmitted quickly,
"Miss Hortensia, correct? What condition is this victim in that you have encountered?"
"She seems to be fine."
Not right…
Eikou suddenly realized that Caren's behavior just now was completely unlike that of a victim trapped in a Singularity.
On the contrary, she was exactly like Yu Ji back then — implanted with false memories and identity inside the Singularity, and would not doubt the setups around her.
Alright, it seems I'm a step behind.
This is just the beginning; I've only found the person who needs to be rescued.
"I've found her, but how do I save her?" Eikou asked.
"Try gauging her reactions, find a way to awaken her memories, then try to draw her over to your side," Holmes replied calmly, "Just like back then with Miss Yu Ji, you're quite skilled at doing things like that."
"Don't tell me I'm like some scumbag who pampers women."
"Cough…" Holmes cleared his throat. "In short, find a way to subdue her into becoming your ally, then reunite with Artoria Lancer. Next, the two of you work together to retrieve the Holy Grail of the Singularity and jointly resolve this disaster."
"I see."
Eikou nodded thoughtfully.
"Also, we discovered that both your and Miss Artoria's abilities are being suppressed by the Singularity. Before restoring combat strength, both of you must avoid risks and try not to cause trouble, understood?"
"I understand, I'll act carefully."
He wanted to ask a few more questions, but from outside the bathroom came Caren's familiar sharp voice, urging him to set out quickly.
Because today is the day to become a Servant Trainer, stepping onto the path of the Champion League.
[Under Caren's urging, you temporarily disconnect from Chaldea.]
[You cautiously try probing Caren, and just as you feared, her memories and identity have been completely altered by the Singularity.]
[Caren cannot remember the existence of Chaldea at all; it seems the rescue plan will be even more difficult than imagined.]
[You briefly observe your home environment inside the Singularity, noticing that no one is present.]
[After your mother received the Servantdex from Doctor Kotomine and began the journey, you stayed home, usually being cared for in daily life by Doctor Kotomine and his daughter, Caren.]
"Why is it my mom who starts the Trainer journey, while I'm left at home?!" Eikou complained.
"Isn't that very normal?"
Caren just smiled and replied,
"The mother of the protagonist receives the Servantdex and begins her journey, leaving behind the attractive and tasty son for the Doctor to conveniently take~? In the Pokemon setup, this is also a very normal plot point."
"Normal my ass,"
Eikou seriously retorted,
"The normal Pokemon plot should be the protagonist's mother staying home alone, then being taken by the Doctor, right?!"
[It seems both of them have some misunderstanding about the content of Pokemon.]
[The two argued the whole way, but neither could persuade the other. Eventually, Caren led you to the door of Doctor Kotomine's laboratory.]
[According to the custom of this Singularity, which is also the traditional start of Pokemon, as the protagonist, you have a privilege: you can receive one of three starter Servants from Doctor Kotomine to officially begin your adventure.]
"Alright, we're here."
In front of the laboratory door.
Caren's long, snow-white fingers rested on the doorknob, and she glanced at Eikou with a meaningful look.
Eikou felt slightly tense and couldn't help but take a deep breath.
"..."
At this moment, Eikou realized that letting that pleasure-chasing priest act as the guide for the Singularity really might be a problem?
Kotomine + Caren, this personnel allocation just doesn't look normal at all.
"Let me guess, next there surely won't be a proper plot… Doctor Kotomine will most likely kill a Shinx Chulainn right in front of me for a sacrifice, not let me choose any starter, and finally force me to take a 5-star Pikamesh with a very troublesome personality, right?"
Eikou speculated.
Such a comedic plot that could easily get Japan's strongest legal department sued in court, he felt he was getting used to it already.
No problem; actually, this chaotic style makes him more comfortable.
"Alright, let's not care about those details anymore…"
Eikou said, then together with Caren pushed open the lab door,
"This is the starting point of my path to becoming a Champion!"
The large door slowly opened.
What hit his eyes was a dark and cold funeral scene.
A portrait of Kotomine Kirei hung in the center of the laboratory hall, his face and smile visible the moment Eikou opened the door.
"..."
Eikou frowned, unable to believe it, silently stepped back, and conveniently closed the door again.
Then, he opened it again.
Still, what hit his eyes was the portrait of Doctor Kotomine.
"???"
Eikou couldn't help but take a deep breath, feeling an immense shock inside.
Doctor… why are you dead?!
Before this place could become the starting point of my path to Champion, it had already become the endpoint of Doctor Kotomine's life one step earlier?!
"Embarrassingly enough…"
Seeing Eikou's wide-eyed stunned reaction, Caren next to him tried to suppress the corner of her mouth from curling, her voice trembling as she held back laughter.
"Today happens to be the funeral of my dog… oh no, of my father."
"What… happened to him?" Eikou asked in panic.
"Hehe…"
Caren just smiled without answering.
"..."
Alright, he already knew the answer.
How else could Doctor have died, of course by being dealt with by his own daughter!
Even coming to a Singularity with a different setup, this father-daughter pair is still a fire-and-water relationship, huh?
Why, I haven't even left the newbie village yet, and I already have to witness such a horrifying murder upon entry? The Kotomine family is really heavy-handed!
"After Doctor Kotomine died, I am now Doctor Caren."
The beautiful white-haired girl smiled like an angel,
"Handling my own Doctor personally, then taking over his position — in the Pokemon story, this is also a very common setup."
Pokemon doesn't have this kind of plot, what childish and twisted stories has she been watching?
"If you have any problems, just come directly to me — Doctor Caren — for help. I am standing in for him, and will guide lost sheep like you."
Doctor Caren smiled and winked at him.
"...Alright, I won't ask about other matters,"
Eikou remained silent for quite a while, finally raising one finger,
"I only have one question. Caren, where is my Servant?"
"Umu umu, your Servant? I've already helped you pack them into a Servant Ball."
Doctor Caren smiled, taking out an urn from the altar,
"Yorokobe, Trainer. You are allowed to bring my father along on your adventure."
"What kind of Servant Ball is this? What the hell does it contain inside? Can you not use your father's ashes as a joke?!"