180 Method to End the Nightmare
"Shirou, hey! Shirou."
"Hm...?" The young man slightly opened his eyes. What met his gaze was the outside light, a blinding white expanse. After a moment, Shirou realized he was lying on an airplane seat.
"Shirou, are you okay? You look pale. The plane has arrived," Hiratsuka Shizuka leaned over and asked with concern, looking at the young man.
"No..." Shirou began to speak, his mouth feeling dry, his voice a little hoarse.
In a daze, he followed Hiratsuka Shizuka off the plane, and the roaring sound of the plane taking off reached his ears. Shirou was trying to organize his thoughts.
In that world, the black mud monster suddenly appeared, a truly awful abnormality. At the last critical moment, Merlin opened a rift, and he was pushed in by Jeanne and Tamamo Cat, so he escaped that dream world?
How long had it been since he left that dream world and returned here? And what happened to Jeanne and the others after that!
As soon as he thought of this, he couldn't stay put any longer. After passing security.
"Sensei! I need to go to the restroom!" Shirou said, not caring about anything else. He immediately pulled out his phone to contact Chaldea and ran off.
"Wait! Shirou, don't run off!" Hiratsuka Shizuka shouted.
His phone connected to Chaldea. Shirou didn't have time to worry about the people nearby, finding a secluded corner with few people, and anxiously asked:
"Da Vinci-chan! What is the situation over there?"
"Shirou, calm down. They are all fine. Thanks to Astolfo's Noble Phantasm, he carried them away to escape. That monster stayed there, causing chaos, swallowing every creature it could find to continuously grow itself. Now it has finally calmed down and stopped moving," Da Vinci said.
"Then have you found a solution?" Shirou asked.
Da Vinci shook her head and said seriously:
"No. Everything is too bizarre. If Merlin hadn't reminded me, with his deep expertise in dreams, I still wouldn't fully understand what that monster is. Despite its appearance, it carries a divine nature, mixing ugly things with beautiful things. It seems to be a product of blending human dreams together."
"Then let me go back! What good does it do for you and Merlin to bring me out?" Shirou shouted.
"No, until we find a way to counter that monster, I won't let you risk going back in, Shirou. Merlin feels the same way," Da Vinci firmly refused the young man's request, counter-questioning:
"Even if you enter now, Shirou, do you have a way to defeat that monster in the dream world? In the world created by that black mud Servant, even if you are killed, you might just resurrect again after a while."
"Then what good am I doing by staying here? Should I just let those girls face that monster alone?" Shirou asked. To be honest, even he only wanted to distance himself from that monster, not get close at all.
If Jeanne, Tamamo Cat, and the other girls were harmed by that monster, and he had escaped to the outside world alone, his conscience would trouble him for the rest of his life.
Da Vinci looked at him very seriously through the screen and corrected him:
"It's necessary! This is something only you can do. According to Chaldea's monitoring, the soul-sealing ability has been nullified because the balance of the dream world was broken. The Black men, palace maids, and guards who were swallowed by the monster, while indeed consumed, some of them reappeared in the ruins of the palace when dawn broke.
"And judging from the news in your world, quite a few people have woken up, but their condition is very strange. They seem to have suffered some kind of shock, their temperament has drastically changed, and they are mentally depressed."
"What? So some of the people trapped in the dream have already escaped that world?" Shirou asked.
"It's not that simple. Even if they temporarily escape, if we can't stop it, they'll easily be sucked in again the next time they dream. You were protected from being sucked in because of the magical energy provided by the Holy Grail and the protection of an expert like Merlin. However, this is still speculation; it shouldn't be difficult for that monster to absorb humans," Da Vinci said.
"Damn it. Have the people in this world become food for that monster to feed on? We have to find a way. That monster should absolutely not be allowed to exist," Shirou gritted his teeth, still shuddering when he thought of that twisted appearance.
"The specifics of the problem will depend on further investigation. In any case, until Chaldea figures out the exact mechanism, I won't allow you to enter that world again. What you need to do now is rest properly. Afterward, you can try to contact the people who have woken up from the dream to see what the situation is like. Perhaps you'll find a breakthrough," Da Vinci warned.
"......" Shirou was about to speak but heard the sound of footsteps running towards him. Da Vinci actively terminated the connection.
"Hey! Shirou, are you okay? Why did you suddenly run off?" Hiratsuka Shizuka ran up, panting, and asked.
"I'm sorry, Sensei," Shirou looked at his Sensei, realizing he had worried her. Hiratsuka probably ran all over the place looking for him.
"What? Did you do something to offend me? Forget it! But if there's any problem, you must tell me, okay? Otherwise, even if you don't say anything, I'll find out by other means and follow you! Don't try to shoulder everything by yourself," Hiratsuka Shizuka scrutinized Shirou and stopped asking further questions.
"I understand. When necessary, I will ask for your help, Sensei," Shirou promised. He was calmer now. Encountering that monster earlier had kept his mind in a state of tension and confusion.
Hiratsuka Shizuka agreed with a cheerful laugh, and led the way out. "Alright, let's go! Grab your things. The Sensei here has already contacted me and said he's waiting for us in the parking lot."
"Thank you, Sensei. I can't believe we're troubling you to pick up the two of us." Hiratsuka Shizuka walked up to the Chiba branch school Sensei and said.
"It's no trouble at all. We just happened to have a car. Today is also a holiday. We originally planned to take Hiratsuka-Sensei and Shirou-kun on a good tour of the sights in Paris, but unfortunately, this happened," the driving Sensei said helplessly.
"What's going on? Are all of you sick?" Hiratsuka Shizuka asked, looking at the students around her, who all looked spiritless with half-closed eyes.
"Hiratsuka-Sensei , it's not just us. Even the Senseis and locals are like this. Recently, for some reason, many people here seem to always be underslept," a female student explained.
"I had another strange dream last night, racing with a group of talking strange birds, and everyone won a prize in the end."
"Ah, speaking of that, I think I had a dream like that too."
"Those dreams are the good ones. I heard that some students here in France had nightmares of being eaten by some monster. Apparently, when they woke up, their skin had turned black and didn't fade for a long time."
"Don't say anymore! That's terrifying!" said a girl who was easily scared by such topics.
"That student was already dark-skinned, though. Who cares about these superstitious things? Anyway, even the experts don't know what's going on, but it is true that we get sleepy easily after coming to this country. Haaaah~" A student yawned and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Yes, even sleeping fifteen hours a day doesn't feel like enough. I thought it was because I was getting older, but I didn't expect the students around me to be like this too," the middle-aged team leader here said with a laugh.
"Come to think of it, many people on the plane today were sleeping very soundly. That's strange. Is it because of the climate? Or is there really a contagious disease that causes drowsiness?" Hiratsuka Shizuka looked outside and wondered.
"It's the upperclassmen being lazy! If humans allocate their rest time reasonably, seven hours of sleep a day is enough to stay energized!" At this moment, a blonde girl said, arms crossed, with her usual overbearing demeanor.
"Ah, Erina, you're here too, after all," Shirou greeted her.
"Why are you so spiritless too, Shirou? Don't disappoint me!" Erina looked at the young man and said unhappily. When she first arrived here, it was quite nice. She met talented young chefs and had reservations at all the nearby Michelin-starred restaurants.
But as time went on, the city became stranger and stranger. People became lazy, and eventually, her upperclassmen seemed to have been infected as well.
Wouldn't her own reputation be dragged down by these people?
She thought Shirou, her lifelong culinary rival, would be different, but he also looked like a spiritless fool. What was wrong? A cold?
Erina looked at the young man and asked, "Shirou, quickly pull yourself together. If you're sick, go to the hospital immediately for a check-up. If Komachi knew that I was next to you but let you act foolishly and not treat your sickness, I wouldn't be able to justify myself."
"Thank you, Erina. I'm fine," Shirou said, looking at the girl.
Erina still spoke with a lot of pride, "Hmph! Don't misunderstand! I'm only doing this because I don't want you to infect me. It wouldn't be acceptable if my culinary exchange had to be terminated because of a cold!"
If she weren't blushing right now, someone might actually believe her.
"Heh." Shirou's lips curved into a smile. This interaction with the girl, in a way, pulled him back to reality from the shock of the dream. Yes, at least reality wouldn't simply blend the beautiful and the ugly into a disgusting mass of flesh like that monster.
Great joys and sorrows in life were ultimately rare; most of the time was spent in peace.
"That's right! Shirou, since you're in Paris, why don't you also join the cooking class! We can have the cooking showdown we promised!" Erina suggested.
"I'm sorry, I really don't have the mood for that right now," Shirou refused. Indeed, he had to pull himself together. The urgent task was to find a breakthrough to defeat that black mud monster. Since he had been staring at the monster at close range, perhaps he was the one
who understood the monster's essence the most, even more than Chaldea and the hidden Merlin.
Although he had also suffered a greater mental shock than anyone else because of it.
The commercial vehicle carrying the students drove slowly forward. The conversations between people gradually diminished, and many students in the car fell asleep right in their seats.
After that, Shirou separated from Hiratsuka-Sensei , who went to the girls' dormitory. Under the guidance of the team leader Sensei, he completed various procedures and checked into the French dormitory. Normally, a warm welcome party would be held for new members in welcoming France, but now the whole of Paris was somber, and this Paris branch school was no exception. He only encountered listless students, either pale and mentally depressed or suffering from hypersomnia, looking perpetually underslept.
Although there were many inconveniences living in a student dormitory, the accommodation here was a Western-style mansion, where everyone usually had their own room. Although the space was not large, it was sufficient for studying and sleeping as a dormitory.
The next day, Shirou used his free time to inquire about the condition of the students in the school who had nightmares. He then went to the hospital to check on the patients who had been sent there after falling into a deep sleep and then woke up from their comas at different times.
As expected, the patients who had slept again for one night woke up once more. Some were mentally alert, with no other issues besides the weakness from prolonged deep sleep, which their bodies hadn't fully recovered from.
But there were also those who woke up again in great pain. This time, they seemed to have had even worse dreams. Some were crying and shouting that they dared not sleep again.
There were also incidents where people woke up with bloodshot eyes, remaining in a state of extreme excitement, nearly attacking the nurses.
This time, the Black French boys who had been sucked into the black mud monster all looked unwell, some not even daring to sleep.
Meanwhile, the White French boys who were supposed to be ministers would be sucked into the dream once they fell asleep, then tormented and killed by the strange monster, only to wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night. If they went back to sleep, they would be found again and continue to be tormented and killed.
There were also those who slept and never woke up. They had smiles on their lips, but no one could rouse them.
Others woke up crying, looking as if they had experienced the most tragic events and were on the verge of depression.
Shirou knew that he was protected by Da Vinci and Merlin with magic, preventing him from being sucked into the dream world. Would he have experienced the same things otherwise? The only consolation was that Jeanne and Tamamo Cat, with Astolfo's help, had escaped the monster's pursuit, but they were only hiding in a castle outside the city and couldn't make a move.
He had to find a way to stop this endless cycle of providing negative energy to the black mud monster.
But how?
Erina walked over, arms crossed. She looked at the spiritless young man and just felt irritated.
"Shirou! You look terrible right now. Are you also suffering from depression like the people here in France, looking all gloomy and suicidal?"
"Erina." Shirou looked at the girl. At the moment, the only people in Paris who were safe were probably him and this young lady who was shielded by a Possessed Servant.
"Seriously, hmm? Hmm! Bá! You should also talk some sense into this blockhead!" Erina sensed the words transmitted from the Possessed Heroic Spirit within her, and handed over control of her body.
The golden-haired girl's demeanor instantly changed from an overbearing young lady to a reserved yet heroic girl. She was the warrior Tomoe Gozen, who had once been with the young man.
"Shirou, I think Erina is right. If you, as the commander, can't pull yourself together, others won't be able to trust you. Regarding this matter, we've talked to Da Vinci, and I actually have an idea I want to share with you."
"What? Tomoe Gozen?" Shirou looked at the warrior girl in surprise.
"Let's go somewhere else," Tomoe Gozen said, and walked outside on her own.
The two left the hospital room and walked to the rest area with vending machines. The variety of vending machines here was extensive, almost like a mini-supermarket, selling raw meat, oysters, fruits and vegetables, caviar, and even luxury goods.
After walking for a while, they finally found a machine selling hot drinks. Shirou bought two hot drinks and handed one to the girl.
Tomoe Gozen took the hot drink, turning it in her hands to warm her palms, and began to speak to the young man: "You must know a bit about my past, right?"
"Mhm." Shirou nodded slightly.
She was a warrior who made great achievements in the tumultuous times of war, thus earning the name of a Heroic Spirit, recounted with relish by later generations. But for the people living
at the time, with wars raging everywhere and blood staining the battlefields, it was certainly not an era suitable for living.
A single general's success is built upon ten thousand dead men. This type of Heroic Spirit is forged from blood and flesh, mostly that of enemies, but partly from their own lifelong scars and suffering. Only they knew the dangers and cruelties they endured. Furthermore, very few of these Servants had a peaceful end.
"I have also experienced a very sad dream. My husband died on the battlefield, and only I was commanded to break through the encirclement, escape, and live in seclusion.
The regret of losing my husband and the hatred for my brother's killer stayed with me for my entire life, until my death, never to be forgotten. I still cannot forgive Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune, even after becoming a Servant.
But at the same time, I also hoped to pull myself together. If I could meet my husband again, I hoped to live a simple country life with him.
Every day, I would make delicious meals for him and enjoy a cup of sake with him. If he was willing to play some games with me on other occasions, that would be the greatest happiness," Tomoe Gozen said these words with a sincere, lovely smile full of longing and anticipation.
"So, you didn't forgive Yoritomo or Yoshitsune. You simply had more important things you wanted to do and happiness you wanted to pursue, so you let go."
"Exactly! Shirou! Now is not the time to be dejected. While I've said I don't want to get involved in these strange things, if the opponent comes knocking, I won't back down! So this time, I'll help too!"
Erina said with her arms crossed, looking at the young man, then corrected herself.
"Of course! Don't misunderstand! I'm not doing this for Shirou! It's just that everyone around me is sighing and looking gloomy, and even the food I make will become less delicious! Did you hear that clearly? I, Nakiri Erina, have already said I will help you, so at least show some enthusiasm!"
"Ah, thank you, Lady Erina. You are truly dependable!" Shirou nodded, his spirit fully revived now. Yes. Even a little girl the same age as his sister had come to comfort him. It would be unacceptable if he didn't try to find a solution.
"What's with that? You were so down in the dumps just now," Erina complained, looking at the young man.
"Thank you, Erina, Tomoe Gozen," Shirou looked at the blonde girl and thanked her with heartfelt sincerity.
"I didn't need you to say it twice, did I!?" Erina squeezed her hanging hands, calling out in a shy, slightly flushed tone.
Yes, the only thing that could counter the dream was reality! If one suffered misfortune in a dream, they should fight back with even stronger happiness in reality.
If they felt empty in the dream, they should fill it with love!
This was the only thing he could do. Yes, cooking—delicious food that made people feel happy and satisfied.
It would reawaken people's longing for happiness in life. Even if life was unsatisfactory, the people around them were cold, and family often failed to understand them.
Even if it was just for this one bite of deliciousness, this one cup of wine, they could keep striving.
"Erina, can the kitchen here at the school be borrowed?" the rejuvenated young man asked the girl.
"Hmph, you finally look a little like you did during the archery competition!" Hearing the young man's words, Erina gave a lovely smile and agreed, "Of course! This is a school that has trained Michelin three-star chefs."
"That's perfect! Let's put the cooking challenge aside for now. Erina, can you do me a favor now?" Shirou asked the golden-haired girl.
Erina crossed her arms, giving the young man a disgruntled side glance, "Shirou, at this point, what more do you have to say? If I wasn't going to help you, I wouldn't have come here in the first place. Of course! If it weren't for the fact that you're Komachi's older brother, I wouldn't bother with a boring man like you."
"Oh! I'll treat you to something delicious as a thank you later," Shirou agreed with a smile.
"Hmph, if it's not delicious, you can expect my most scathing critique," Erina gave the young man a haughty look, then also showed a cute smile, "So what do we do now?"
"First, let's borrow a computer and some cookbooks to research the local recipes, then contact Hiratsuka-Sensei for help." With a plan in mind, Shirou no longer procrastinated and quickly began to organize everything efficiently.
If the black mud monster fed on the strong emotions generated in the dream, then what he needed to do was soothe those emotions.
In that case, there was only one thing he could do, and that was to use delicious food to comfort the wounded hearts of the people. If his hypothesis was correct, the black mud monster's power should also be weakened as a result.