"Monster of Team A" Speedrunning the Simulation Battle

"Simulation battle?"

Another unheard-of term, Ian couldn't help but feel a little more confused.

Fortunately, he had a thick enough skin, and had already revealed his predicament and Mash's hints.

So now, even if he encountered something he didn't understand at all, he could just ask.

"Mash, what is a simulation battle?"

"Um... it's a bit complicated to explain."

Mash glanced at the time display on the corridor, and suddenly exclaimed.

"Oops!"

"I was so busy looking for Fou if we don't hurry, we'll miss the simulation battle!"

"Eh, ah?"

Before Ian could react, Mash grabbed his hand and ran.

And so, the two of them ran hand in hand down the Chaldea corridor.

Without exception, all the staff on the road were watching them.

It's not that they were rude—after all, Mash looked so impatient, anyone who didn't know would have thought she was taking Ian to some half-price love hotel.

After running like this for a while, she finally stopped.

"That—"

As soon as Mash was about to speak, she noticed Ian's helpless eyes.

As she wondered why, she suddenly saw her and Ian's hands clasped together.

"Eh—!"

Mash retracted her hand as if electrocuted, and then apologized with a blushing face.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it!"

"I just wanted to bring you here quickly, otherwise, we'll miss the simulation battle's opening time!"

Looking at Mash bowing and apologizing to him, Ian felt like he was the one who took the initiative.

He hesitated for a moment, and finally chose to reach out and hold Mash's head, stopping her movements.

In the other person's surprised eyes, Ian said:

"Don't apologize, I know you didn't mean it."

"Ian-senpai..."

Mash, whose forehead was held, showed a smile.

"Well... that's great."

"Fou-Fou-Fou? Fou-Fou-Fou (Still saying you didn't have that kind of thought? You're a sinful man)." Fou-Fou's comment came on time.

Ian glared at Fou-Fou and decided not to bother with it for now.

"Mash—"

He retracted his hand from the girl's forehead.

"Does this simulation battle have time restrictions?"

"Yes!"

Mash nodded very seriously.

"Because it's not simply performing some basic calculations, but completely controlling the entire process to achieve an effect like an actual battle."

"This process puts a heavy burden on Chaldea's system."

"So—"

"Only people like Ian-senpai, who have the potential to become Masters, can have the right to conduct simulation battles at specific times!"

Speaking of this, Mash looked up at the time display above.

"Right now, there's about an hour left."

"Uh..."

Ian hesitated for a moment, and still said:

"Mash, although it might be a bit of a blow to you, since there's still an hour left, there was no need to rush just now, right?"

Mash shook her head.

"Senpai, you can't understand it that way."

"In order to allow Masters to cooperate with Servants as much as possible, the simulation battle is set as a very long process, and just loading it takes a full ten minutes!"

"...Are you sure it's not a configuration issue?"

"What?"

"Nothing!" Ian dropped the topic, "Then Mash, let's hurry up, it'll be troublesome if we don't make it."

"Okay, okay."

Ian followed Mash through the door in front of him.

Behind it was a dark, straight corridor.

The girl's voice sounded from the front.

"Then before we go in, let me explain to Senpai what a Master is."

"It's actually not a complicated concept."

"In Chaldea's case, it's measured by the degree of adaptability to spiritual particle transfer to determine whether you have the qualifications to become a Master."

"But Senpai doesn't have to worry about not having that ability—"

"Because if Senpai can come to Chaldea, it means that in this regard, you are far superior to ordinary people!"

"The reason why Chaldea is located in Antarctica is to protect people like you!"

"...Antarctica."

Ian couldn't help but gasp.

Chaldea can be opened in this kind of place, it has some skills.

"Yes! So as long as we can stay here, we don't have to worry about the dangers outside affecting us!"

"Indeed... who would be willing to run to Antarctica to cause trouble." Ian couldn't help but whisper.

"Almost there."

"Ian-senpai, please grab my hand, otherwise I'm afraid you might not be able to adapt later."

"Okay."

Ian never procrastinates.

He directly held Mash's hand, causing the other person to blush.

The light was ahead.

Through it.

Ian felt a buzzing sound in his ears.

Then, the scene in front of him gave him a little Chaldea shock.

The surroundings were no longer the metallic walls of just now, but a pure white scene.

Countless particles floated around the two of them, rotating and rising, forming a ring like a light band.

It has to be said that this was indeed a scene that Ian had never expected.

"Senpai, are you okay?" Mash asked cautiously.

"It is said that most people who see this scene for the first time will feel uncomfortable."

"I'm fine."

Ian looked at the light band in front of him.

"I don't feel any discomfort, if I have to say, it's just a feeling of 'not matching the picture in my head'."

In fact, a more specific statement should be similar to the "picture for reference only, please refer to the actual product" label on the instant noodle packaging bag.

But now it's much more positive.

"That's great!" Mash's voice sounded very happy.

Ian replied:

"Mash, you're too kind, this kind of thing can make you so happy."

"Is, is that so?"

Mash was a little embarrassed.

"Thank you for your compliment, Ian-senpai."

"But we have to continue now."

"Next—"

Mash used her other free hand to fiddle with something.

In the case where Ian hasn't been assigned permissions, only she can control this place.

"Then let's explain what a Servant is!"

"Senpai, you should know that there are many powerful heroes in human history, right?"

"Of course."

Ian answered without hesitation.

"The 'Pendragon' in my name comes from King Arthur, right?"

"Yes!"

Mash nodded.

"They are all owners of glorious moments in human history, so they are part of history itself."

"This connection makes them rooted in history."

"The physical body may dissipate, but the soul is forever engraved on it, and through the influence of magic and other means, a servant relationship can be formed with them."

"Uh... Senpai, do you know what 'magic' is?"

"I know." Ian smiled slightly, "It's something that can do a lot of things, right?"

Ian didn't intend to show off in front of Mash.

In the memories obtained in the simulation, Morgan had used magic more than once.

Although it may not be the same as the current one, there must be parts that can be interchanged in essence.

"That's good."

Mash smiled slightly.

"The body of the Servant is long gone, so if you want to bring them back to the present world, you must have a concept like a Servant that can be operated."

"Ian-senpai, can you understand what I'm saying?"

"..."

Ian thought for a while and answered:

"Does it mean that it's the same bottle of water, but it needs a new bottle to hold it?"

"Well... although this understanding is a bit biased, it's not a big problem."

It has to be said.

Mash's explanation of things is still very good, Ian can probably understand a series of terms such as Servants.

He realized another thing.

"Then Mash, will our next battle use the Servants that appear because of the Servants' manifestation?"

"Yes!"

Mash's hand swept across the space in front of her.

Three different lights appeared in front of the two.

"Senpai, we're going to use them this time!"

Ian took a closer look.

Three star-shaped objects were suspended in the three light pillars in front of him.

He reached out and touched it.

Some explanatory concepts appeared in his mind.

The three light pillars are:

Artoria Pendragon (Saber);

Arash (Archer);

Cu Chulainn (Lancer).

Feeling the information from his fingertips, Ian felt very strange.

"Mash, is this the so-called Servant?"

"Yes." Mash nodded to confirm Ian's statement.

"This is the meaning of the simulation battle—to allow us to adapt to the Servants in a relatively safe environment."

"In this way, when we really summon the Servants that are transformed from the corresponding Servants to the present world, we can cultivate tacit understanding at the fastest speed!"

"Of course." Mash smiled awkwardly.

"Due to technical problems, only they can be simulated at present."

"And compared with the real Servants, their strength is also greatly reduced."

"But for people like senpai who want to familiarize themselves with Servants, this situation may be better!"

The starting three Servants?

Ian didn't find it difficult to understand the situation where only three Servants could be used.

After all, if there were no restrictions, it wouldn't be called a simulation battle, it would be called a real battle.

And speaking of which—

Isn't there a name that he cares about very much?

Artoria Pendragon.

Ian couldn't help but feel a little emotional that they would "reunite" in this way.

"Senpai, please choose a Servant you like!"

"Then I'll choose this one."

Ian chose Artoria Pendragon (Saber) without hesitation.

"Senpai chose this one after all."

"Then—"

"I'll choose this one!"

Mash touched another light—she chose Cu Chulainn (Lancer).

After the selection was completed, the lights quickly floated forward and then gathered into human figures.

Servants Artoria and Cu Chulainn appeared in front of them.

Mash's guidance followed:

"Senpai, it seems that this Servant is very suitable for you!"

"But—"

"This is just the beginning, we need to make them even more powerful."

"And if you want to make them stronger, you need to know that the strength of a Servant depends on three aspects."

"First, the Master, that is, your own strength."

"Second, the Servant itself, a great hero who shakes one side is impossible to be worse than an unknown pawn in the corner of history."

"Third, compatibility, environment, and restraint and other objective conditions. If you want to expand on this, it will be more complicated. To summarize it briefly, it is the influence of external factors."

"After saying so much, Senpai may still be a little confused."

"Then—"

Mash held Ian's hand.

"Senpai, please let Artoria attack Cu Chulainn!"

Ian hesitated for a moment and asked a question.

"Um, Mash, can any attack be used?"

"Yes!" Mash nodded, "Chaldea itself will provide enough magic support for the simulation battle."

"So please don't be polite, attack me hard!"

As soon as Mash finished speaking, the direction of the matter exceeded her expectations.

Artoria raised the sword in her hand.

Then, she raised it over her head.

The system simulation sound echoed in the space.

Excalibur——!

A huge light blade appeared above her head, and then accelerated down, forming a light like a fault. It made a powerful slash on this space.

Cu Chulainn was swallowed by the transparent light before he could react.

But after everything dissipated.

Cu Chulainn, the blue lancer who suffered such a blow, was not directly destroyed, but his legs trembled, and his hands held the standing red spear to barely stand on the ground.

If he were not a virtual Servant, he might have very rich expressions at this moment.

Mash was stunned for a long time before she came back to her senses.

"Se, Senpai."

"What did you use?!"

"Huh?"

Ian was a little confused.

"Mash, didn't you say that any attack can be used?"

"But this is too much!"

Mash looked at the "battlefield" in front of her, and a few drops of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

"It may cause a very serious burden on the system later!"

"Sorry, my problem." Ian admitted his mistake cleanly.

"I just wanted to try if I could do this."

"..."

Mash sighed, she slightly restrained her emotions, and praised Ian instead.

"However, Senpai is indeed worthy of being the 'Team A's monster'. It's your first time using a Servant, and you launched such a powerful attack."

"It's okay."

Ian looked at the "battlefield" with a sad look in his eyes.

"I've seen Artoria more powerful than this."

"Ah?" The girl opened her mouth slightly.

"It's nothing, Mash." Ian shrugged, "Just take it as me complaining."

"But—"

"I would like to ask you another question."

"What question?"

"That is—"

Ian looked at Artoria and Cu Chulainn.

"In this simulation battle, are there really only three Servants that can be summoned?"