"I made mapo tofu, so I've gotta try it first! If it's inedible, it's a failure! Gotta test it before troubling Arash-san!"
'Spice-Overloaded Mapo'
"Here goes! Nom, chomp, huff! Nom, chomp, huff! Nom, chomp, huff—!!"
Great Victory!
"DADADADADA!!"
Eric roars like a beast, swinging his pulsing Bloodaxe in a storm, battering Mash. The air fills with raw bloodlust and killing intent.
"Haa—!!"
Mash stands firm, parrying, deflecting, pushing, and pulling, fending off the bloody tempest.
"I've fought plenty of Berserkers in Rome…!"
"NUUU—!! KATAI, MEZAWA, RI! DADADADADA!!"
His roars intensify, attacks growing fiercer, a lethal storm raining on Mash.
"—!!"
Gritting her teeth, Mash braces for more impact.
"DADADADADA!!"
"Come, Leonidas!"
Snowflake shield meets fiery guardian, halting the blood-fueled onslaught.
The dual shields sap Eric's momentum, weakening his assault.
"NUU!?"
"Leonidas-san!"
"We'll push back, Mash-dono!"
"Yes—HAAA!!"
Mash slams her shield, bulldozing Eric back with a spirited yell, creating distance for Master.
"NUGUUUU!!"
"Senpai!!"
"(Eric's swinging that axe. No other weapons. Neutralize it, and he's done—then!) Come, David!"
Her right hand glows, summoning Israel's great but flawed patriarch.
"My turn?"
"Throw a stone! At him! That'll settle it!"
"~♪ Leave it to me."
David casually picks up a stone, humming as he readies his sling.
"You should repent… Nah, even with that head, it's just formalities, right?"
"GUUUU!!"
"No choice then—"
Channeling power through his stance, David reenacts his giant-slaying legend—!
"Five Stones Hamesh Avanim!"
A comet-like stone rockets forward, closing the distance to Eric's skull in an instant—!
"Mash-dono!"
"—!"
As they leap clear of the stone's path—
"GAGA—!!?"
The stone smacks Eric's temple at the same moment.
"Nice shot!!"
"Whew, worked out nicely."
"… … …"
Eric collapses, unconscious, his axe falling from his grip.
"Got it! David felled Goliath with a stone, then used Goliath's sword to behead him. His Noble Phantasm, refined from that tale, disables the enemy's weapon!"
"Well studied. Read the Bible?"
"Study pays off. Right, Rikka?"
"Yup! I've learned all the myths of the heroes we summon!"
"Senpai…! Amazing!"
"Not yet, Mash! We haven't pierced his spiritual core—Servants don't fall that easy! No complacency! Time to finish it! Come, Cú Chulainn!"
Her right hand shines again, summoning Ireland's great hero.
"While he's down! End it with your spear!"
"Damn, no mercy… Reminds me of Master Scáthach."
"…"
"Sorry, Viking. Time to play checkmate—!"
Twirling his spear, Cú unleashes immense magical energy.
Rippling muscles—a spear of causality-defying death!
"Your heart's mine! Gáe—"
The spear aims for Eric's heart—but in that instant—
"…Ga…"
Like a shadow, Eric and his Bloodaxe vanish.
"—Bolg—! Whoa!"
Cú yanks his spear back, stumbling.
"He's gone? No way a stone to the head killed him…"
"Someone recalled him, likely. Either way, the threat's gone."
"Combat over, then. Good work, everyone."
The group lowers their guard.
"Cú-nii's spear missed."
"Vanished, so it doesn't count. Keep it quiet from Goldie."
"My stone was more accurate. Sorry, sorry!"
"Alright, I'll stab ya."
"Wait, wait!"
"Mash-dono, you've grown stronger."
"Thanks to your training, Leonidas-san!"
"Looks like it's over! As expected of the heroines I picked!"
Drake joins them, grinning, holding a logbook and a map.
"Big Sis!"
"Rejoice, you two! Found treasure! The good stuff!"
"That?"
"Yup! Vikings record every detail of their voyages—island shapes, coastlines, weather. This log's got it all. And this fresh-inked chart? Points to another island! For sea-dwellers like us, that's prime treasure!"
"…Wow. A value only a captain like you could spot, unfamiliar to sea novices like us…"
"Big Sis, you're awesome! So cool!!"
"Easy, it's just what I do. Though I bet you pictured gold and jewels—"
"No worries! I've got that covered!"
The King returns, right hand hauling a giant beast's corpse, left hand brimming with fruits and gold.
"Gil! Welcome back!!"
"Indeed! You're safe, Master, Mash! True power outshines any forgery! The flag's meant to be broken! Fwaha! Well done!"
"Yeah! Mash was awesome! …Though we let him slip…"
"Safe is enough! Your fight without my aid? Superb!!"
To reward their effort, I went a bit overboard.
Felled a six-meter boar, the island's master. Harvested edible fruits, appraised and collected. Dug up hidden gold for good measure.
"…Yeah!"
"Yes! Glad you're both safe!"
"Naturally! Here, Pioneer, split it! Half's yours—no grudges that way!"
"You get it! That's some prime loot!"
"Hmph, I'm the Governor-King and collector! I enrich my coffers just by walking! It'll take a bit to the next island—cook this, eat, and recharge!"
"Got it! I'll break out the rum! Tons of it! This is why you can't quit being a pirate! Tonight, we sing! To the west, for the great voyage!"
"Oh!!"
"Understood!"
"Back to the ship! Praise, laud, and worship me, your Gorgeous Governor-King! Fwahahahaha!!"
"Man, you laugh a lot!"
Back on the ship, a grand boar hotpot party kicks off.
"Leave survival cooking to me!"
"You're lively, Cú Chulainn…"
"Seconds? Fine. A feast fit for a king. Farewell, boar, return to the food chain."
"You louts!! Got your glasses!?"
""""Oh!!""""
"Next island's west! Ten hours, eight with good wind! Till then, drink, eat, sing, and make noise!!"
"""""YEAH!!"""""
"Mash, cheers!!"
"Senpai, cheers!"
"…A pun?"
"…N-No, it wasn't!"
"Good work, Gil."
"Hm. Appreciating me? You're thoughtful."
The Golden Hind sails to the next island amid the raucous party…
Nom, chomp, huff… huff…
"—Thank you for the meal! Yes! It's edible! All good!"
Ugh… how did I even…
"The variety of spiciness… Thanks to everyone's spices, my mapo's grown deeper! Gratitude to all! For the King of Heroes, I'll keep improving!"
How can she eat that—!?
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