Chapter 199: Caren Hortensia
[June 5th.]
[Today is the important day you carry out the conquest of the Master GO Singularity.]
[When the rayshift begins, you and Artoria Lancer are transported into the Singularity together.]
[The objective is to seize the Holy Grail, and at the same time search for and rescue the lost Servant inside the Singularity.]
[Master GO, start!]
[Rayshift initiating.]
[Just like that, you were successfully transferred into this strange Singularity...]
Morning, in some unknown room.
"..."
After the Rayshift ended, Eikou felt an unprecedented drowsiness wash over his body.
His vision was blurry, his eyelids heavy, only feeling that he was lying inside a soft and warm blanket. The overwhelming sleepiness made him unable to think, only wanting to curl up in the blanket and continue sleeping, as if being pinned down by some supernatural force.
"Wake up, Eikou, how long are you planning to sleep?"
A girl's voice drifted into his ears through the haze, sweet like honey.
"Mm..."
"You really have such an adorable sleeping face, just like a little piglet."
Her voice rang out again.
Slap!
Before finishing her sentence, a strong slap landed on Eikou's cheek, forcibly dragging him out of his dream.
"But if you still refuse to get up, then don't blame me for giving you a sweet little slap~☆?"
The girl said tenderly.
Before warning him, she already did it!
Eikou thought silently, why was she using such a sweet voice to say something so violent?
"Hmm..."
But that slap did wake him up quite a bit, pulling him instantly out of that sleep-paralysis-like state.
He slowly opened his eyes, hazily surveying his surroundings.
[A tidy and clean room, bright sunlight pouring in from the window, a warm and thick blanket...]
[And, the beautiful white-haired girl sitting on top of you.]
Her white hair shimmered under the sunlight, like sunlight touching fresh snow atop a high mountain — cold, beautiful, and untouchable.
This white-haired girl wore a neat red uniform, with an academic cap on her head, just casually sitting on Eikou without any hesitation.
The pure and beautiful face of the maiden filled Eikou's vision — clean and immaculate, as if angel wings were unfolding behind her. Her golden eyes were fixed directly on him.
If not for the lingering pain on his cheek from the slap, Eikou would've thought he was seeing an angel.
"So you finally decided to wake up, Mochizuki Eikou?"
The white-haired girl smiled at him.
"..."
Eikou immediately realized — this was the daughter of Father Kotomine.
Caren Hortensia.
He put a hand to his forehead, wearing a complicated expression.
[You quickly understand that the Singularity has assigned you a completely new identity.]
[This Singularity was created by simulating a famous IP game by Nitendo, and you — who have entered the Singularity — naturally become the protagonist of this game.]
[...]
[Just like that famous IP game, in this Singularity there are countless Servants without Masters, who can be captured or battled, leveled up, learn skills; using class affinity charts to suppress enemies, traveling alongside allied Servants, and stepping onto the path to become the Champion of the League.]
[And you, Mochizuki Eikou, a novice Servant Trainer, have the goal of clearing seven Gyms and becoming the Champion of the League.]
[And the girl before you, Caren Hortensia, is the biological daughter of Doctor Kotomine Kirei — a researcher of Servants — and also your childhood friend.]
[But those days are over, today is your coming-of-age ceremony, the time has come to step onto the journey of a Trainer.]
Oh, so I have to start conquering this Singularity as the main character of the game?
The core of this Singularity is the basic setup of Poké… ehem, of some famous IP game.
I hold the script of Ash, and Caren is my childhood friend, also the script of Gary?
From this perspective, the current situation makes sense.
"Why are you spacing out? The slap from earlier stunned you that much?"
Your childhood friend in name, Caren, with that adorable face, is trying to act concerned yet unconcerned.
"I'm fine, but to wake someone up you don't need to lie on top of them, and slap me too?"
After arranging his thoughts, Eikou politely replied.
"Ah, so you don't like me using such a rough method, sorry about that…" Caren said with slight regret, "I thought you liked that style, because all these years I've always woken you up that way."
What kind of setup is this? Could it be that the Ash version here is some kind of masochist?
Caren obediently nodded, adding:
"Next time I'll use small candles and ropes to wake you from your dreams."
"Why does your game keep getting more twisted? My 'I'm fine' isn't because the game level is too low!"
"So that's it…"
Caren nodded thoughtfully,
"You don't like 'being violently forced to wake up,' but rather the type of 'pretending not to like it, then being forced to be beaten and humiliated.' Although it's hard to express, if that's the preference of your childhood friend, I'll satisfy you properly~?"
"???"
Damn it, she's clearly just satisfying her own whims, right?!
Even though her tone is very cute, there's always this feeling that this woman has no actual emotion.
"In short… get off me first."
Eikou hurriedly said.
Being pressed by that soft, warm, and beautiful body without any shyness — especially since she's such a stunningly beautiful maiden — it's hard for Eikou not to feel slightly flustered.
Caren smiled lightly, a very subtle smile.
"Are, why's your face red all of a sudden? You pervert, already starting the morning unsatisfied with your childhood friend?"
"?"
Caren looks like an angel, yet her words are even sharper than Baobhan Sith's?
...
[You put on clothes, brush your teeth and wash your face, preparing for this Singularity adventure.]
[You rearrange your thoughts, clarify the situation, and quickly realize two very important things.]
[You notice Artoria Lancer is nowhere to be seen. It seems that during the rayshift, you two were not transported to the same location. But she must be nearby.]
[Then, you discover that your personal attributes have dropped sharply, becoming the protagonist of the game at only level 1.]
[Most skills and stats have decreased by at least three ranks, and the few remaining usable skills are only "Disaster With Women," "My Love is Eternal," "A Knight Does Not Die with Empty Hands"… because their starting level was very high, so even when lowered they remain usable.]
[The situation is not very optimistic; you need to contact Artoria as soon as possible.]
[Fortunately, the basic communication channel between you and Chaldea Academy has not been cut off.]
"Hello, Da Vinci, Holmes, can you hear me?"
While brushing his teeth in the bathroom, Eikou secretly began contacting Chaldea.
"I'm already inside the Singularity, but it seems things aren't going too well. Can you help me locate Artoria Lancer?"
Holmes' voice quickly came through: "We have already helped you locate her, Mr. Eikou. Miss Artoria is running toward you; we believe the two of you will reunite soon."
"That's good." Eikou immediately felt much more relieved.
After a moment, Holmes' voice came again: "Also, we have found the victim of this Singularity…"
"Where?"
"The victim this time is right beside you."
"You mean… Caren Hortensia?"
Damn, already found the key target just upon entry?
So this means a direct, fast approach is possible?!
...