Please Play Fate/GO With Me

At this very moment, Chaldea was suddenly invaded by monsters. As if blinded by hatred, or perhaps driven mad, the red-eyed beasts attacked Chaldea without regard for the consequences. Behind them, the shadows of corrupted Heroic Spirits, Human Evils, and Beasts seemed to loom.

Chaldea found itself facing a grave crisis once again. The Servants remaining at Chaldea barely managed to fend off the multi-pronged assault.

Leonardo da Vinci, acting as Chaldea's temporary commander, gathered all the Holy Grails and developed a tool to sustain the existence of the Heroic Spirits, a mobile game called 'FGO'.

It was amidst this dire crisis that Mash was teleported out of Chaldea by Da Vinci, arriving in this peculiar world.

Da Vinci gave them three instructions: investigate the source of this anomaly, spread the FGO game, and find allies who could counter these monsters.

"Spread the FGO game, and find Shirou Emiya!" were Da Vinci's final orders to them.

Three worlds were observed to be connected to this incident. With the Spiritron Transfer device becoming increasingly unstable, there was no room to resolve one world and then return to enter the next. Thus, Mash, Gudako, and Fou, who had regained his senses, were each teleported to a different world.

And so, Mash, carrying the mobile game crafted from Holy Grails, came alone to this world, promoting the game while searching for Shirou Emiya.

As possibly the only being in this world capable of countering these monsters, Mash had to transform into a Sub-Servant to fight them. Initially, she dealt with ordinary werewolves and skeleton soldiers.

But later, magic boars, eye monsters, and wyverns also appeared. It was highly likely that even more terrifying magic beasts would emerge, making combat increasingly arduous for her alone as a Shielder Class.

Both for public and private reasons, Mash wished to persuade Shirou-senpai to join their cause as soon as possible.

"The monsters appearing now are getting stronger and stronger. It's becoming difficult for me to defeat them alone, so I must ask for your help, Shirou-senpai!" Mash said.

"Then what should we do?" Shirou asked directly.

"Eh? Senpai, you're willing to help?" Mash asked in surprise.

"Of course! There's no way I'm letting these monsters plague this world! Besides, how could I let you face these dangers alone!" Shirou replied as a matter of course.

In their months together, he knew that although the girl before him could be a bit scatterbrained at times, she was actually a pure and kind-hearted girl. Whether as a senpai or a friend, he wished for her happiness.

"Senpai..." Hearing Shirou's words, the girl's face flushed, and she looked at the boy with deep emotion.

Her heart felt warm; he was indeed someone she could trust unconditionally.

"Thank you so much, Shirou-senpai!"

If there was anything in this world more pure than 'I love you,' it would likely be 'Even if the path ahead leads to hell, I will accompany you.'

Chapter 08: Please Play FGO With Mash

Mash Kyrielight was, in fact, a member of Chaldea, the Human Order Preservation Institution from another world. On the night she and Master Gudako returned to Chaldea after restoring Human Order, the world was once again struck by an unexplained anomaly.

At that time, within Chaldea, Leonardo da Vinci observed through the Chaldeas that the world's future had been rewritten, and discovered three parallel worlds with very peculiar reactions.

There were three key points serving as clues. Unlike Singularities or Lostbelts, these were more like parallel worlds hiding some special secret. Mash, Gudako-senpai, and Fou were each teleported to different worlds.

"Even though we just restored Human Order, I should have let you all rest for a while. I didn't expect more trouble to find us. Gudako! Mash! Can I ask this of you?" Da Vinci asked, operating the system and looking up at the two girls.

"I understand! Da Vinci, leave it to us!" the cute girl with reddish-orange hair tied in a side ponytail and dark golden eyes declared, patting her chest.

"Yes, Da Vinci-sensei, Gudako-senpai, and I are ready!" Mash said with a smile.

"Fou~!" Fou also climbed onto Mash's shoulder and chirped.

The Chaldeas, a simulated Earth environment model with flashing electrical arcs within the ring-shaped celestial device, slowly rotated. Da Vinci operated the Spiritron Calculation Device, and in the blue-lit room, Mash and Gudako stood together on the teleportation array, holding hands and gazing at each other.

"Mash, if either of us finds Shirou-senpai first and solves the problem in our respective worlds, find a way to get to the other! It's a promise!" Gudako said to the pink-haired girl with her usual smile.

"I understand! It's a promise, senpai!" Mash replied with a smile.

"Fou~!"

"But won't it be okay for you and everyone else to stay here, Da Vinci?" Gudako asked. "What will happen later?"

"Are you worried about me? I am an omnipotent genius, I can survive being killed once or twice. I will protect this place, so you can go with peace of mind!" Da Vinci said confidently with a Mona Lisa smile.

"Understood!!" Gudako and Mash replied.

"Because the Spiritron Transfer device is already very unstable, there's no room to return here and then transfer to the next world. So you must act separately. Go find Shirou Emiya; there was a reaction from him in that world. As the earliest disappearing Heroic Spirit, he must hold some clue!" Da Vinci said and pressed the transfer button.

The Spiritron Transfer activated, and a dazzling bright light flashed. The two girls and one beast were engulfed in a swirling deep blue vortex.

And so, Mash arrived alone in this world and contacted Da Vinci. Leonardo, as one of the titans of the Renaissance and an omnipotent genius, had devised the most suitable promotion method for this world through mere deduction.

Over a dozen Holy Grails served as a bridge between this world and Chaldea. Through the mobile game, they connected with Chaldea's Heroic Spirits. As they gained recognition from the humans of this world, the Heroic Spirits would gradually recover their energy.

Mash began to understand the situation of this world, promote the FGO mobile game, and search for Shirou Emiya. However, the changes in this world were too drastic; the level of peace and perfection exceeded any civilization she had ever seen.

Initially, Mash, not knowing how to proceed, stumbled around like a headless fly, encountering many awkward situations.

Fortunately, she could use the magic provided by the Holy Grails in the mobile game to transform into a Sub-Servant and resist. Otherwise, on several occasions, strange old men had tried to lure her to luxury hotels or hot spring trips, all of which she sternly refused. Of course, if anyone became unreasonable, she would knock them out with the flat side of her large shield and hand them over to the police.

After a year, Mash had finally grown under Da Vinci-sensei's guidance.

Under Da Vinci's guidance, Mash established a company, hired professional managers, and worked hard to make the FGO mobile game a global hit, striving every day to promote FGO. In this great endeavor that brought joy and emotion to countless players, she also managed to earn money.

Mash, as the largest shareholder of the TYPE-MOON Company behind the scenes, would eventually rise within the commercial circles of Asia and Africa. The emerging company in the gaming industry attracted widespread attention, but its highest shareholder remained unknown. Only insiders knew her true identity: a renowned, mysterious genius president girl.

The TYPE-MOON Company developed very well, but Mash still hadn't found Shirou Emiya. She hired many people and searched through several neighboring countries, even looking for anyone with the surname "Wei," but still couldn't find this senpai.

Until one day, at the National Junior High School Athletic Competition, she saw a black-haired youth standing out from the crowd, exuding the aura of a master archer. His appearance was strikingly familiar, and his demeanor was exceptionally unique.

As he entered the archery arena and drew his bowstring, his back was as straight as a flagpole, and his drawing hand and arrow formed a horizontal line. The youth's expression was calm and unperturbed. Although he hadn't shot yet, it seemed as though he was destined to hit the bullseye.

At this point, the youth was already far ahead in scores. If he hit the bullseye with the next arrow, the championship would be decided in advance. The faces of the other contestants showed tension, and cold sweat beaded on their brows.

With a swish!

The spectators in the arena fell silent. Mash was also stunned, as the young man's archery stance was like a work of art, exuding a beauty that harmonized with nature. However, this archery posture also gave her a sense of familiarity.

A moment later, thunderous cheers erupted.

Despite the difference in his demeanor and height, the aura the young man displayed in the instant he shot his arrow was exactly the same as that of the Archer-class Servant, Emiya-senpai, with whom she had once fought side-by-side.

Mash finally understood. The person before her was indeed the one she had been searching for.

After investigating, Mash learned his identity. It turned out that in this world, his surname was Hikigaya, which explained why she hadn't been able to find him.

So, she had the company contact the school, pull some strings, and Mash transferred to Huameng International High School, joining the Kyudo Club and becoming Hikigaya Shirou's junior.

What followed led to the current situation. Although Hikigaya Shirou and Emiya were different existences, Mash felt a deeper, more touching warmth from this new senpai. The loneliness and emptiness from being separated from Gudako-senpai for a year seemed to be filled at this very moment.

"Mash! If it's something this important, why didn't you tell me from the start? Acting alone was too reckless," Shirou said with a hint of reproach as he looked at the pink-haired junior.

Even if she had the ability to fight monsters, a girl shouldn't put herself in danger alone.

"Shirou-senpai, if you hadn't accepted this mobile game from the bottom of your heart, you wouldn't have been able to see the monsters in the video. Accepting FGO is like a ritual to accept a contract with Chaldea.

Before accepting this contract, humanity, protected by this world, would isolate all 'Mysteries.'

The collective consciousness of this world's protection of humanity is incredibly strong, almost never allowing Mysteries to interfere with human affairs. 'Magecraft,' 'Servants,' and 'intruding monsters' are all rejected outside the world, confined to an alternate dimension.

Even if I had told you the truth before, when your brain received that information, it would have been distorted into something else, making the monster invasion seem like a natural disaster. That's why it would have been impossible for you to believe me," Mash explained.

"Is that so? I'm truly sorry I couldn't help you sooner!" Shirou said, understanding and feeling a pang of guilt. He knew all too well what it was like to face danger alone.

"No, rather, it's my fault for dragging you into this," Mash said, shaking her head slowly.

"I understand. Then we're even. From now on, if you need any help, you absolutely must tell me, got it?" Shirou reminded her again.

"I understand!" The girl, deeply moved, had approached him with a purpose, and to be accepted so readily by him.

"It's good that you understand!" The boy, choosing to trust his junior and understanding her inherent kindness, decided not to let her feel lonely anymore.

Having reached a tacit understanding, the two smiled at each other.

Chapter 09: Playing FGO is Justice

"In any case, let's solve this problem first," Shirou said to the pink-haired girl.

"Okay, please take a look at this," Mash replied obediently, pulling out her phone. A map appeared on the screen, displaying a panoramic view of the Tokyo metropolitan area. Several red circles of varying sizes were marked on it; one was moving, and a few others had black crosses through them.

"You probably know where these marked locations on the map are, right?" Mash asked.

Shirou looked at the place names and nodded. "Yeah, these are all places where accidents have happened..." He remembered them clearly because he had been concerned about these incidents.

"Shirou-senpai is right, these are all sites where disasters have occurred. These markers were made by the observation devices of my affiliated institution, 'Chaldea,' sensing the magical energy reactions of monsters. The larger the red dot, the higher the danger level.

The places marked with crosses are alternate dimensions that I have already resolved. This newly appeared large red dot is moving. The day before yesterday it was in Tokyo's Minato Ward, yesterday it was in Chuo Ward, and the day before that it was in Shinjuku. If I'm not mistaken, this monster will appear in Chiba today! And judging by the magical energy reaction, this monster is likely a big one," Mash said, drawing a line on her phone.

The red dots marked on the map were connected by the straight line. The path of the moving large red dot was a diagonal line, making it clear at a glance.

"Isn't that near the school? That would be very dangerous," Shirou asked in surprise.

"These Phantasmal Beasts appearing here might have a purpose. This large red-dotted monster seems to possess considerable intelligence, likely coming for me, but there are still many questions I can't figure out," Mash said.

"Can you predict exactly where the monster will appear? We need to stop it as soon as possible. This is near the school! What if the students here are attacked!" Shirou frowned. No matter what, he had to prevent such a thing from happening.

"Please don't be nervous, senpai. Everyone is safe. These monsters from other worlds are all blocked within the alternate dimensions of this world's protective wall. This world has a strong defense mechanism against external intrusions."

"Moreover, the world guides living beings away from these dangerous places through various means. Surrounding creatures will subconsciously sense danger, or suddenly feel their heart race, get chills, or have a stomachache, and then leave," Mash comforted Shirou, telling him not to be too anxious.

"I see," Shirou nodded. Then, recalling the day's anomaly, he asked, "According to you, the school let students go home early today, and the other members of the Kyudo Club didn't come for morning practice. Does that mean the monster is likely to appear here at the school?"

"That's very possible! Is senpai good at deduction?" Mash asked, her eyes sparkling as if she had found a kindred spirit.

"If we fight inside the alternate dimension, won't it be dangerous?" Shirou asked.

Mash shook her head and continued to explain, "No, that kind of destructive behavior is still very dangerous. Once the monster causes a certain amount of damage to the wall in the alternate dimension, it will indirectly affect this world. The accidents reported in the news before were precisely because of this."

"If an accident happens in this space and a human dies because of it, they will truly be dead. Dead lives do not revive, and it cannot be treated as if nothing happened, it just becomes logical.

It's just that the way of death will be distorted by the world into other causes, like car accidents or heart attacks. But once a person is dead, nothing can be undone," Mash said, her voice tinged with sadness as if recalling something.

Seeing Mash's expression, Shirou understood that the girl might have experienced some sad things, just like him. He had sensed before that the girl was somewhat different from ordinary schoolgirls. Beneath her gentle exterior, she possessed a strong heart. But it was precisely this strength, which couldn't be acquired without hardship, that was most heartbreaking.

So that's how it is.

"I understand! I absolutely won't let this happen!" Shirou clenched his fist, making a vow in his heart. He decided he would definitely stay by the girl's side, fight to the end, and protect the happiness of everyone at the school.

"Don't worry, senpai! It's okay. Even if someone accidentally gets caught in an alternate dimension and encounters a monster, as long as they are playing FGO, Chaldea will definitely find a way to protect them! Heroic Spirits will protect the Masters they acknowledge," Mash said with a smile to the suddenly passionate senpai.

"Although this world suppresses all supernatural powers, this FGO system, specially created by Da Vinci using over a dozen Holy Grails from multiple alternate worlds, is an exception!

Player Masters develop faith and emotions towards their beloved Heroic Spirits, providing the energy needed for their existence in this world. And Heroic Spirits respond to the summons of Masters they acknowledge or with whom they share similarities."

"So, playing FGO is justice! All Masters are Allies of Justice! Shirou-senpai! Let's go save the world together!" Mash exclaimed excitedly.

"Huh... Is that so?" Shirou looked at the FGO game icon on his phone, wondering if it was some kind of cult or pyramid scheme.

Just then, the preparatory bell rang.

"The next time the monster appears is expected to be when the school is empty. Please meet me after school! Don't worry, because this world's barrier is very strong. Ordinary monsters might not be able to break through even after two or three years," Mash said, then ran off to class with a relaxed expression.

Shirou was at a loss for words for a moment, only watching the girl's receding figure as she sped away.

"What kind of experiences did this junior go through to be so thick-skinned that they're acting like they're playing a game at a time like this, without a hint of nervousness? And... give me back my earlier feelings!"

After school in the afternoon, the teachers and students of the school indeed left one after another. Shirou and Mash met at the entrance of the Kyudo Club.

"To deal with those monsters, all you need is the FGO mobile game! Playing FGO is justice, playing FGO is saving the world! Because Shirou-senpai already had this quality from the start! Shirou-senpai was also a top-tier powerhouse in my world, and his cooking was among the best in Chaldea."

"Although there are some problems with the Servant summoning system in Chaldea and its connection to the Hall of Heroes right now, the Emiya in Chaldea has disappeared and hasn't appeared since. But if it's you, senpai, you'll definitely be able to summon him from the Hall of Heroes again. He'll be the Servant you have the highest compatibility with, and he'll definitely be able to exert great power."

"Senpai, transform into a Heroic Spirit! Known as the Nuclear Sword Immortal, once Unlimited Blade Works is activated, you'll have weapons for all attributes, capable of killing gods and buddhas alike!" Mash shouted excitedly. "Archer Emiya is so cool! He absolutely needs to be max NP! And when the five-star Saber Muramasa Shirou comes out, with the demonic sword in hand, who can compete with him? We have to whale for him!"

"Wait! Wait! Mash, I don't have the ability to transform into a Heroic Spirit, and who is that Muramasa? I've never even heard of him!" Shirou called out to Mash, who was excitedly hawking Servants.

"Eh? How can that be? Senpai, didn't you summon Emiya? Shouldn't you have automatically completed the possession summon and become a Pseudo-Servant?" Mash asked, confused.

"I'm standing right here alive, how could I possibly become a Servant? Besides, I drew this!" Shirou said irritably, pulling out his phone and opening Merlin, showing it to the girl.

"How can this be!" Mash exclaimed in disbelief as she looked at the screen. "Senpai, you actually drew a gold card! Five stars! You have five stars! And it's Merlin!"

"Hey! Is this the time to be surprised about something like this?" Shirou retorted.

"Did something go wrong somewhere? I need to contact Da Vinci!" Mash said, looking confused. She had been grinding her account for so long, her team of three-star powerhouses was already formed, and she had used up all her Saint Quartz. She hadn't even seen a single four-star in the gacha pool. She thought it must be the account's fault, so she gave it away.

How could senpai have drawn an SSR in just one day?

"This is so strange! What exactly is going on?" Mash looked like she couldn't accept reality.

"No! What's strange is you!" Shirou, with his experience from his past life, was no stranger to Heroic Spirits and had heard of Chaldea. He also possessed some knowledge of fantasy races, but he was completely on a different wavelength from the eccentric girl.

Isn't this supposed to be a tense moment facing a crisis with monsters?

Why does it feel like this girl isn't taking this level of battle seriously at all?

Just then, the ground began to shake, and the sky suddenly turned dark. Deafening thunder roared in the sky, resembling the roar of a giant beast.