Fate Grand Order: Broadcasting Master Love — Chapter 60

Chapter 60: If You Catch Me, I’ll Let You…

In the timeline of the Fourth Holy Grail War, deep within the icy halls of Einzbern Castle, the glowing ember of a cigarette paused halfway to Emiya Kiritsugu’s lips. He exhaled a thin stream of gray smoke, his usually stoic expression breaking as his eyebrows drifted upward.

“Bond Level 1 to Bond Level 10?” he murmured, genuine surprise bleeding into his gravelly voice. “Chaldea actually possesses such a metric for human connection… How interesting.”

Meanwhile, in the student council room of the Fifth Holy Grail War timeline, Issei Ryuudou pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Deep creases lined his forehead as he stared at the broadcast, utterly baffled.

“Her Bond Craft Essence explicitly stated she lost to Hippomenes in the footrace,” Issei muttered, tapping a pen rhythmically against his desk. “But earlier, her voice lines claimed she didn’t have any children. What exactly is the truth here? The historical records contradict themselves.”

Ayako Mitsuzuri leaned against the wall nearby, arms crossed over her chest. She pursed her lips, a confident smirk forming as she offered a completely baseless theory. “Maybe Atalante just broke the contract! Think about it. In her Bond 3 voice line, she said she didn’t have children, and in Bond 5, she swore to maintain her purity. It is highly likely she just ditched the guy who used golden apples to trick her and never married him at all!”

Across the school grounds in the quiet solitude of the Archery Club, Matou Sakura watched the light screen with rapt attention. Her gaze lingered on Atalante’s firm, unwavering expression. A soft, knowing smile touched Sakura’s lips, a glimmer of quiet understanding flashing in her violet eyes.

“Because,” Sakura whispered into the empty dojo, “her heart was captured without the need for any golden apples, wasn’t it…?”

【The scene on the light screen suddenly shifted. A striking, elegant title materialized across the broadcast: Atalante’s Valentine’s Day.】

【The camera panned out, revealing an endless, rolling field. Warm sunlight bathed the vibrant green wheat seedlings, and a gentle breeze sent rippling waves across the plains. Atalante stood atop a small grassy ridge, her hands tightly gripping the handle of a woven basket. Nestled inside rested a uniquely shaped piece of chocolate—carefully sculpted into the form of a crisp apple pierced by a hunter’s arrow.】

【Catching sight of Fujimaru Ritsuka approaching through the wheat, her feline ears twitched. She froze in place. A second later, she awkwardly jerked her head away, her earlobes burning a distinct shade of pink. When she spoke, her usual fierce tone had melted into something far softer.】

【”I-it’s Master. I tried making chocolate.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Saying I made apples myself sounds a bit strange, though.”】

【She thrust the basket forward a few inches. “But please accept it. As thanks for always fighting alongside me, and…” Her voice trailed off, growing smaller with every syllable. A crimson flush spread rapidly across her cheeks, the heat reaching the very tips of her animal ears. She abruptly cut herself off, waving her free hand in a frantic, flustered motion. “Anyway, it’s something like that! All sorts of meanings!”】

【Unable to handle the sheer embarrassment of her own confession, she immediately pivoted. Forcing her features into a fierce, challenging glare, she held the basket out completely—though her eyes stubbornly refused to meet her Master’s gaze.】

【”How annoying. If you don’t want it, I’ll take it back. If you still want it, then come and chase me.”】

【The moment she bolted, a sleek text box appeared on the light screen, displaying the item’s description in crisp lettering: Apple Arrow Chocolate. Valentine’s Day chocolate gifted by Atalante.】

【—Take it. It is your freedom whether or not to use an apple on me during the race… But you must be prepared then, okay? Winning against me means this.】

“What exactly is ‘this’?”

Across countless parallel worlds, viewers scratched their heads. Servants and Masters alike exchanged bewildered glances, the exact same question echoing through their minds.

【Before anyone could decipher the hunter’s cryptic promise, a new line of text slowly faded into view: The review of Atalante ends here.】

A collective sigh of disappointment rippled through the audience. From the bustling corridors of Chaldea to the quiet streets of Fuyuki, everyone felt a lingering sense of dissatisfaction. It was far too short.

But before the final letter could even fade from the broadcast, a fresh line of text snapped onto the screen, instantly reigniting the world’s attention:

【The next Master-Love Servant to be reviewed is Atalante Alter.】

In the Clock Tower of the Fourth Holy Grail War era, Waver Velvet was idly swirling the lukewarm tea in his porcelain cup. The moment he read the text, his fingers spasmed, nearly sending the fine china shattering against the floorboards. His eyes bugged out of his skull.

“What? Atalante again?!” Waver sputtered, completely exasperated. “Are they just messing with us now? They literally just announced her review was over, and now there’s an Alter version? This light screen is playing us for fools!”

Meanwhile, in the Observation Hall of New Chaldea, Achilles stared at the words ‘Atalante Alter’. He blinked once, then slapped his thigh so hard the sound echoed across the room.

“Oh, right!” the Rider of Red barked out a laugh, his tone ringing with sudden clarity. “This isn’t strange anymore! This makes perfect sense!”

Standing right beside him, Fujimaru Ritsuka leaned against the console. A playful, knowing smirk stretched across his face as he deliberately drew out his words for dramatic effect. “Not a single moment was lost in disappointment over the end of Atalante’s review, for Atalante Alter immediately followed—”

Having lived through the very events about to be broadcast, the last Master of Humanity felt no shock, only a surging wave of anticipation.

【The light screen flickered, and the dark, corrupted introduction of the new Servant materialized: Atalante Alter. Class: Berserker. Atalante’s form after undergoing transformation via her Noble Phantasm, the Pelt of the Calydonian Boar. Also designated as Atalante (Transformed).】

In the student council room, Emiya Shirou stared at the crude, brackets-included designation. He dragged a hand down his face, rubbing his temples as his mouth twitched. “Atalante (Transformed)… that naming convention is way too perfunctory.”

【The broadcast continued to scroll, offering further clarification: Atalante Alter will immediately revert to her standard Archer form the moment she removes the Pelt of the Calydonian Boar.】

Shirou let out a heavy sigh, utterly deadpan. “Even the explanation is perfunctory.”

Beside him, Issei nodded in solemn, deep agreement.

【Due to the demonic corruption induced by the Pelt of the Calydonian Boar, she possesses physical enhancements comparable to an A-Rank Mad Enhancement. However, she remains a remarkably rare existence within the Berserker Class: she retains the ability to think calmly.】

【A line of smaller text appeared in parentheses to supplement the lore: (Because she was not transformed out of pure rage, but rather summoned directly into her bestial state, her Mad Enhancement rank is technically lower than when the pelt is activated as a Noble Phantasm mid-combat.)】

【She enjoys the immense stat amplification of a Berserker while still being able to communicate normally. However, it is fundamentally impossible to convince her of anything on a theoretical or logical level. She possesses absolutely zero interest in whether or not you stand on the side of the Human Order.】

【No matter how deeply the beast’s instincts sink into her mind, as long as the core rules etched into her heart are not violated, she will serve as a fiercely loyal and reliable Servant. But should anyone dare to trample upon those inner rules, she will sever the Master-Servant contract without a second of hesitation.】

【At that point, she will likely be so consumed by the beast that she will no longer even recognize her Master’s face. Naturally, as long as you do not cross those boundaries, there will be no problem.】

Back in the freezing shadows of Einzbern Castle, Kiritsugu’s fingers shifted slightly against his cigarette. He studied the glowing text detailing the nature of the beastly archer. The faintest ghost of a smile touched the Magus Killer’s lips.

“Rational, yet utterly immune to persuasion. Bound to nothing but her own internal code,” Kiritsugu murmured into the dark room. “What a truly terrifying Berserker…”