Fate Grand Order: Broadcasting Master Love — Chapter 27

Chapter 27: In the End, Didn’t You Fail to Save It?

【Da Vinci clapped her hands together, a look of sudden realization lighting up her features. She tilted her head slightly, her voice carrying a hint of belated confusion. “Exactly. By the way, is your Class Artist?”】

【Emiya’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly. He reminded her with a heavy sigh, deliberately emphasizing his words. “It is Archer. So, what exactly is the problem with this Counterfeit?”】

【He raised an eyebrow, lightly jerking his chin toward the genius polymath with a dry, teasing drawl. “Isn’t it nice to have such a passionate fan? As the original author, shouldn’t you feel a sense of fulfillment?”】

【The brilliant smile on Da Vinci’s face collapsed instantly. Her brows knit tightly together, and her voice grew thick with distress. A bit of aggrieved urgency leaked into her tone as she finally confessed her true problem. “Actually… lately, the Mona Lisa has stopped selling.”】

【Fujimaru Ritsuka’s eyes widened. He stared at her, utterly bewildered, and subconsciously raised his voice. “Eh? Did those things actually sell well before?”】

【Da Vinci suddenly snapped upright, planting both hands firmly on her hips. Her chest puffed out with natural pride, drawing out the end of her words in a blatant show of arrogance. “Of~ course~ they~ sold~ well~! They are the absolute best-selling works in the entire history of the Da Vinci Workshop!”】

【But just as quickly, her tone shifted into a hurried panic. Her face twisted into a mask of pure distress and aggrieved accusation. “But my customer base suddenly dried up! Feeling that something was strange, I investigated and found this Counterfeit!”】

【She held up a single finger, gesturing wildly with absolute indignation. “At first glance, this thing has the exact same effect, and the price is only one-tenth of the original!”】

【Taking a step forward, Da Vinci locked her eyes onto Ritsuka. Her voice brimmed with urgent questioning and heavy expectation. “Alright, now that I’ve laid it all out, you should understand what I’m trying to say, right!?”】

【Ritsuka stared blankly back at her. When he finally spoke, his words were a blunt, merciless strike. “Da Vinci-chan is useless now?”】

The indoor lighting of Novum Chaldea cast a soft, pale blue glow across the various monitoring panels. The low, steady hum of operating machinery filled the silence. Kadoc, who had joined their ranks much later, froze completely in place. His eyes widened, genuine shock painting his pale features.

He slowly turned his head to look at Ritsuka beside him, his voice dripping with absolute disbelief. “No, you… was your tongue always this toxic?”

Standing a short distance away, the Savior Aesc observed Kadoc’s exaggerated reaction. A faint, knowing smile played on her lips. She watched quietly, keeping her thoughts to herself. ‘You still haven’t seen enough. Ritsuka’s tongue is far sharper now…’

Her gaze drifted back to the glowing screen, and her thoughts slipped into the past. Back then, her eyes had been full of youthful conviction. She had spoken with unquestionable pride, every word overflowing with absolute confidence. “By the way, saving the world is both my duty and my specialty. You’d better respect and rely on me, your senior, with all your heart.”

But as the memory of her own voice faded, she recalled his exact response. She couldn’t help but fall into a daze of self-questioning, a bitter taste lingering on her tongue. “Hmm? ‘In the end, didn’t you fail to save it’?”

What followed was the sheer helplessness and embarrassment of having her deepest sore spot poked so ruthlessly. Her brows furrowed slightly as a faint blush spread across her pale cheeks. Her voice tangled with annoyance and a hint of petulant grievance, the end of her words drawn out soft and long. “Waaah~, who says that to someone’s face~~!? Then I can only tell it as a joke!”

【On the screen, Da Vinci’s expression froze into deep, somber gravity. She let out a heavy sigh. “A reality too cruel…! But if this continues, it will become the true future!”】

【Dr. Roman stood by a nearby console, casually tidying up a scattered mess of tools. A helpless yet soothing smile hung on his face as he tried his best to ease the tense atmosphere in the workshop. “Alright, alright. In other words, a batch of Craft Essences that are cheaper and better than those from the Da Vinci Workshop has leaked onto the black market, right?”】

【He leaned back against the cold metal of the equipment table. His tone was nonchalant, laced with a heavy dose of playful mischief and obvious teasing. “Isn’t that great? You already have your hands full managing the adjustments for SHEBA and the summoning programs. Take this chance to just hand over the unpopular workshop to these fakes—”】

【Da Vinci’s head snapped toward him. The gravity on her face vanished, instantly replaced by a lethally dangerous smile. The curve of her lips was ice-cold. She tapped heavily on the holographic display, the crisp sound echoing through the room. When she spoke, there was absolutely zero warmth in her voice, only crushing pressure. “I will really kill you, Dr. Romani.”】

【Roman’s teasing smile shattered. His eyes darted around in sheer panic, his hands instinctively waving frantically in front of his chest. His voice trembled with urgent, terrifying regret. “Ah, um, I’m sorry!”】

In Novum Chaldea, Ritsuka watched the image of Dr. Roman instantly backing down. A bright, genuine smile curved his lips, his eyes dancing with amusement. A hint of obvious nostalgia softened his voice as he joked. “A light-speed kneel, Doctor…”

【Da Vinci raised a hand to lightly cover her lips, clearing her throat. The murderous aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and that familiar, playful light rippled in her eyes once more. She ended her sentence with her signature lighthearted hum. “Ahem. Not good, not good. I accidentally revealed my true nature☆ Let’s switch moods—”】

【Leaning forward, her tone suddenly dropped into absolute seriousness. Her volume rose, brimming with righteous indignation, as if she were venting all the annoyance from Ritsuka’s earlier roast. “Listen closely! The person who made this Counterfeit is undoubtedly full of malice!!”】

【Emiya stood quietly in the corner of the workshop, his presence as calm and steady as ever. His hand, resting loosely by his side, curled slightly. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. His steel-gray eyes locked onto the complex patterns of the Counterfeit Craft Essence displayed on the monitor. ‘…Is that really so? Although this Counterfeit is a bit distorted, it is filled with pure passion… That undisguised obsession carries a somewhat familiar shadow.’】

【Da Vinci crossed her arms, her brows knit tightly together. Her voice rang with unquestionable determination, a fierce spark of anger gathering in her eyes. She looked straight ahead, issuing a crystal-clear demand. “, I want Ritsuka to find the creators of these Counterfeits and eliminate them, no matter what!”】

【Mash stood off to the side, her hands lightly clasped in front of her chest. Her brows pinched together, her lilac eyes swirling with hesitation and confusion. Her voice was soft, laced with uncertainty. “Investigating and arresting black market brokers…? That doesn’t seem to be within Senpai’s jurisdiction anymore…”】

【Da Vinci waved her hand dismissively, a supremely confident smile blooming on her face. Her voice was light, yet it carried an uncompromising firmness. She leaned in closer, her tone growing even more resolute. “No, this is definitely within Ritsuka’s jurisdiction. Because those guys actually plotted such an evil incident!”】

【She raised her voice, deliberately emphasizing her solemnity, though an undetectable spark of mischief danced in her eyes. Her final declaration was forceful. “They must be malicious demons attempting to destroy the world!”】