Servant Possession · Otherworldly Holy Swordbearer

[Special identity "Fairy of Another World" has been imported for you]

[You are Artoria Caster, the Child of Prophecy of the Fairy Kingdom, traveling on your pilgrimage with companions.]

[During the course of your mission journey, you discover a strange white creature—part rabbit, part cat, part dog—that speaks, carries a pocket watch, wears a monocle, and puffs on a cigarette.]

[Curious about this unknown being, you chase after it, eventually leaping into what appears to be a rabbit hole with it. Thus you fall into a dreamlike underground world.]

[During the fall, a teleportation effect occurs on you, transporting you to another world.]

[In the process, you see some surreal images.]

Then the scene shifts, and Artoria finds herself in a vast white corridor. In the very center of that corridor, an orange-haired girl lies sleeping.

…

Unlike Artoria's streamlined import process, Guinevere's side has a few more steps before the simulation begins.

[Selected singularity: Singularity F · Burning Fuyuki City]

[Please choose three to five traits to build your character card for this singularity; the traits you select have a chance to be drawn as rewards upon successfully clearing the simulation.]

"Chance… another probability mechanic. So there's a risk I won't get any of the traits I pick afterwards. Do these designers really think gacha mechanics are fun?"

Guinevere sighs softly. With years of gaming experience, he quickly grasps the system's implication: "We have to play along. This system really loves its gacha."

For example, the description said that if a player carries a character into the new simulation mode, that character won't gain the player's memories—but it never says the character can't itself be a player, right? Guinevere is fairly sure Artoria won't spot that nuance. The good news is, in this mode he can freely discuss the simulator with Artoria.

He sighs inwardly, then quickly selects his traits. Intending not to "pollute the reward pool" with traits he already has, he skips his innate traits and selects all his high-level special traits at once.

[Selected traits: Talent for Governance (SR), Born Leader (SR), Blessing of the Holy Sword (SSR). Importing character accordingly.]

[Use ID Guinevere?]

After half a second's thought, seeing no reason to refuse, Guinevere confirms yes.

[Importing character based on the singularity…]

[Special combination detected.]

[Confirming exclusive trait "Blessing of the Holy Sword," matching ID Guinevere, Player No.001, and teammate Artoria.]

[All special summon conditions satisfied; checking current singularity conditions…]

[Singularity conditions allow it; invoking Servant Hall data for possession summon…]

[Heroic Spirit "Saving Holy Swordsman · Guinevere" possession summon successful; generating pseudo-Servant "Otherworldly Holy Swordbearer · Guinevere."]

"Hmm?"

Guinevere is momentarily stunned. Did he just see something remarkable? In this simulation he's being given the "graduated big account" treatment? Truly? Foster father? Before he can leap for joy, drowsiness overtakes him; everything goes black as he quickly falls asleep.

…

It's gradually drawing to a close. Since losing her, every day has been agonizing. Each morning upon waking, he must navigate palace intrigues among higher-ranking fairies, dissenting nobles opposing new policies across many territories, and countless reckless assassins. The torment is extreme, the tedium unbearable. He never imagined that without her, even the sky over the Fairy Kingdom would seem hateful: forever unchanged, forever dim, utterly lifeless. After she left, his remaining life became one thing: longing for her. Though the fairy lords jointly acclaimed him king, he cared nothing for reigning alone; it only felt like torture. He could wish to raise his sword and raze everything before him—but he cannot, because fulfilling her final wish was to protect this kingdom and this world. And since it was her wish, he must strive to fulfill it. Thus he became king and set about governing this wretched realm. Through day-after-day effort, the kingdom gradually improved—truly thriving. Then the day finally came.

Though the Holy Sword grants eternal youth and, in theory, immortality, to him—whose heart is already dead and who finds each moment unbearably painful—such a gift means nothing. After ten years on the throne, as the country grew prosperous, he falls ill. That too is not unwelcome: once he dies, Noknare should take up the mantle and can govern well. Then, one day he awakens to renewed vigor. He realizes this must be a last flare of life before his end. So he takes the Holy Sword and alone journeys once more to the northern lake region, then through Albion's dragon remains to the Sea of Stars, the land of Paradise. If he leaves the sword behind, surely the fairies will defile it; thus he intends to return it.

"You truly have come back, Fairy King. Though I didn't remind you, you still come to return the Holy Sword."

The Flower Mage still awaits at Paradise's entrance.

"This is a sacred relic the fairies should not possess," he says. "I cannot bear to see it defiled by their wicked hands after I die."

"Truly, as Fairy King, yet you loathe fairies… You're incorrigible," the Mage sighs.

"So, will you remain here? If you stay in Paradise, your ailment will no longer afflict you. This place is far from disaster and misfortune; here there is no concept of illness or death. Stay, and you may live forever."

"What meaning would that life hold?"

He gazes at the flower-laden landscape.

"She's gone. Even this flowered paradise seems ruined to me because my heart is already scarred, with no room for any other beauty."

"Even knowing that if you die, the world above will collapse?" the Mage sighs. "Without Chaldea's team to save the world, if a worldwide catastrophe strikes, it won't only affect human history but the singularities too."

"I am not King Arthur; I have no desire to save the world. Telling me this is useless." He shakes his head. "No guardian can protect the world forever. I fulfilled my duty: while alive, I protected it with all my heart. If the world perishes after my death, it only proves it was unfit to continue."

"I understand," the Mage sighs. "Only in a world where she exists do you wish to protect?"

He does not answer, walking slowly along the path of seasons he once trod. Then, holding the Holy Sword reverently, he returns it to the hall where it was first forged. He glances around, then looks once more upon her resting place before turning to leave Paradise.

"One more favor, Flower Mage?" he says before departing.

"After my death, have my body brought here. Bury me at the entrance to the forging hall," he requests. "If I rest there forever, maybe my spirit can continue watching over her."

The Mage exhales softly: "King, where will you go? How long will your soul wander here?"

He hesitates, then his form begins to fade. Drowsiness washes over him. So that was it… no more journey ahead. It wasn't a final flash of life; his body has already perished, dying in that prison-like palace. Only his lingering will turned his spirit into a departed fairy lord, escorting the sword here. Now, if he closes his eyes, he may embrace his final rest. Yet before he does, a light suddenly shines upon him.

"Is it… a Servant Summon? That you ascend to the Throne of Heroes is unsurprising, but who summons you? You should not be summonable—having no presence in human history, no Master connection, no relics left behind."

In the Mage's puzzled voice behind him, he suddenly understands:

"It's her—I can feel it… it's her."

Though unsaid, the Mage can guess from his tone who "she" is.

"I see… What a wondrous fate. Even though this worldline is ruined, there are still other lines worth saving?"

"Indeed, that is what Heroic Spirits are for."

Finally, he hears the Mage say:

"Then I will await your glorious return here."

Then the scene shifts. When he opens his eyes again, he stands amid a city in blazing ruins.

…

The vision continues. Though he seems like a phantom—unable to touch anything or be seen—everything before him proceeds as if orderly. The architecture here is unlike any he's seen; outside rages a blizzard fiercer than any winter he knows, and he shivers instinctively. Yet a transparent, wondrous glass encloses this place, barring the storm. Following the orange-haired girl before him, Artoria walks alongside her in this strange realm, encountering a purple-haired girl; by her side is a mysterious white creature named Fou Fou—identical to the creature Artoria saw during import, but here it wears no clothes or accessories and cannot speak, only "fou fou." From their conversation, Artoria learns the orange-haired girl is Fujimaru Ritsuka, the purple-haired girl is Mash… nice-sounding names! Through their dialogue, she realizes this is an organization's base called Chaldea—the full name is some Human Order Protection Agency, a bit tongue-twisting so she can't memorize it at once, but it sounds formidable. In short, she follows Ritsuka and Mash, listening as they explain things like "Spiritron Simulation," "Earth Environment Model," "Chaldea Asgard," and other impressive terms, then meet a tall green man. Possibly because this is a vision, her Fairy Eye cannot activate here, but she instinctively dislikes this green man, sensing a dreadful aura. Then Ritsuka and Mash follow this man named Lev to attend some meeting. Many humans attend, which startles Artoria: this place is not the Fairy Kingdom. Recalling earlier talk, could this be the human world beyond the wall? The world Guinevere once lived in? Her heart pounds with excitement and curiosity. She's amazed that Ritsuka can sleep during such an important meeting—a feat even she has never managed! Instinctively, Artoria feels a bond with this unknown girl.