The alternate Mash glanced at Adam and smiled unconsciously as she continued.
"As long as we hold someone we want to protect in our hearts, and we absolutely refuse to give up no matter what, then our shield becomes the strongest wall there is!"
Mash's face lit up with joy. She felt as though her future had never been brighter—like she had finally seen the path forward.
But then she remembered how the other Mash had leaped high into the air before slamming down, clearing out waves of enemies in a single devastating strike.
She also recalled how the other Mash had knocked a Lancer unconscious with one powerful shield bash, then used the edge of her shield to send him straight back to the Throne of Heroes.
Something about this didn't feel quite right.
"Teacher, are we really specialized in protection?"
"I remember you taking out dozens of skeleton soldiers in one breath…"
The alternate Mash paused, silent for a second or two.
"…That was just a special shield technique."
Mash pressed further.
"But Teacher, didn't you knock that Lancer out cold with a single shield strike?"
"Does that count as protection too?"
The alternate Mash fell silent again, thinking it over.
"…Uh, that was only a sneak attack."
"I never fought him head-on."
Mash scratched her smooth purple hair in confusion.
"Is… that how it works?"
The alternate Mash nodded firmly.
"Exactly!"
She immediately countered with her own question.
"Don't you believe in yourself?"
Caught off guard by the rapid follow-up, Mash answered quickly.
"Teacher, of course I believe in you."
Adam watched Mash closely. Though she still looked a bit doubtful, her spirits had clearly lifted.
Medusa spoke next.
"Now that we've decided on the right direction, the rest should be straightforward."
"We just need the proper remedy."
"As for what that remedy is…"
Medusa trailed off, quietly shifting her gaze toward Ritsuka Fujimaru.
Cu Chulainn continued from there.
"If she's a Servant whose nature is protection,"
"then naturally, we need to put the thing she wants to protect in danger!"
He grinned mischievously at Ritsuka.
"I'll gladly take on the role of crisis creator!"
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone's eyes turned to Ritsuka.
"Is there anything in particular you really want to protect, Mash?" Ritsuka asked curiously.
Only then did he realize all eyes were now fixed on him.
Ritsuka: ?
"Why is everyone staring at me?"
He suddenly felt like the word "Danger" was flashing above his head in bright red letters.
Olga Marie studied him, pinching her chin thoughtfully.
"Indeed. As a Servant, the one Mash wants to protect most should be her Master, right?"
She patted Ritsuka's shoulder with a solemn expression.
"This won't be easy, but I believe it's necessary—for Mash's sake and for your Servant who's struggling."
Ritsuka stared at the flames gathering on Cu Chulainn's staff, still hesitant.
"Is this really going to work?"
"We have Adam as backup, don't we? I don't think we need to rush into this."
Olga Marie put on her most earnest expression.
"You can't think that way, Ritsuka."
"We can't rely on Adam forever."
"More importantly…"
She leaned in close and whispered in his ear.
"You don't want Mash to stay depressed because she can't activate her Noble Phantasm, do you?"
Ritsuka's hesitation melted away. With a look of noble sacrifice, he declared:
"Fine!"
Ritsuka steeled himself, but Mash immediately protested.
"Wait!"
"You're really going to put Senpai in danger like this?"
"I suddenly feel like my Noble Phantasm can wait…"
"What if something actually happens to Senpai…?"
Cu Chulainn didn't give her a chance to argue.
"Too late for that, little lady!"
A fireball shot from his hand.
Mash instantly summoned her shield and stepped in front of Ritsuka.
The fireball was successfully blocked.
"You'd better defend properly."
"I won't be holding back."
"If you show any opening, I'll kill your Master without hesitation."
As he spoke, several more fireballs flew forward.
Mash had no time to reply. She could only focus on blocking with everything she had.
Cu Chulainn clearly wasn't joking. Olga Marie started to panic slightly.
She didn't actually want Ritsuka in real danger. They were only supposed to make the innocent Mash believe her Master was truly at risk… right?
Olga Marie instinctively looked at Adam.
"Adam, this is fine, right?"
Adam waved his hand reassuringly.
"Don't worry. Cu Chulainn knows what he's doing."
"Besides, trust in Mash's determination to protect her Master."
Olga Marie breathed a small sigh of relief.
But the next second, Adam pulled the alternate Mash close and whispered in her ear:
"[Mash], stay alert."
"If the other Mash can't hold on, jump in immediately and block Cu Chulainn's attacks."
Medusa, who had watched the entire scene in silence, said nothing.
Medusa: ...
——————————
Several rounds later.
Mash was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, clearly exhausted.
Yet she refused to let her guard down, staring intently at Cu Chulainn.
Cu Chulainn believed that true potential only revealed itself in desperate situations.
Seeing that Mash had reached her limit, he decided it was time. He prepared to unleash his Noble Phantasm—a weakened version.
"If you can't block this strike,"
"then burn together with your Master!"
Wicker Man
Mash stared at the incoming attack.
If she didn't activate her Noble Phantasm now, Senpai would…
Power surged through her body like a shot of adrenaline.
Her Noble Phantasm activated naturally.
A massive fortress wall rose before her, completely stopping Cu Chulainn's flames.
The moment she realized what she had done, Mash turned to Ritsuka with a radiant smile.
"Senpai! It worked!"
"I activated my Noble Phantasm!"
Ritsuka gave her a big thumbs-up, quietly hiding his still-shaking hand behind his back.
"Congratulations, Mash!"
After sharing her joy with Ritsuka, Mash turned excitedly to the alternate Mash.
She failed to notice the faint light fading from around the other Mash's hand.
At that moment, the system Craft Essence Adam had switched to earlier—the [3-Star Craft Essence: Mana Gauge]—began sounding an alarm.
Adam materialized the device. A pocket-watch-like object appeared in his hand.
As he looked at the reading, his brows furrowed tightly.
"Something's coming?"
At the same time.
At the school entrance, a large, muscular Servant had arrived.
***
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