Aeaean Spring Breeze - Ch. 4: Like Iron, Like Steel

[we begin with a storybook segment]

Once upon a time......

—There was a man who was like iron. He had a strong will and a tenacious spirit. A hero who loved the gods, and was beloved by the gods. A warrior who departed for home after a long, long war.

......He was tired. Tired of war, tired of thinking. Tired of killing. And it was the same for his men. Fighting so much for so long had worn away at their very souls.

Witch: Then it would be better if you became beasts.

……And perhaps it was. Being able to simply live without thinking. It must be very fun to be a beast. 

It was only a single man. One man who stubbornly refused such a fate.

Man: —I must return home.

Not, “I want to return home.”  “I must return home.” The witch refutes the man’s words.

Witch: Why do you need to return? Everything you want is right here.

Man: It’s not. Penelope isn’t here.

The witch is at a loss for words. Out of everything in this whole wide world. It was for the sake of a single woman. He would risk his life to go home for one single woman.

Witch: —I can’t. I won’t let you go, how could I let you go?

Perhaps it was because he was the first thing she’d ever felt an attachment toward. She wanted this man, wanted to show the world she had him. In some respects, it was the mismatched desire to own him. In that way, the witch was still a witch.

……If she could just be with him. If that wish was granted, she would be okay.

[end storybook segment]

Mash: I’m not picking up on…… anything, in this room.

Arjuna: So it seems. No signs, no fire, no ice.

Orion: Then should we go ahead?

Circe: Hm......

Odysseus, try tossing that stone.

Odysseus: Like this?

[he throws it]

Arjuna: …...I’ll amend my previous statement. There isn’t any fire or ice, but there does seem to be invisible beams set up.

Odysseus: ......You’re sharp.

Circe: The eyes of a Great Witch can’t be fooled.

Arjuna: So…… What should we do? Should we go back down the previous path and try to see if there’s another route?

Odysseus: That would probably be a futile effort. If we take into account the layout of this labyrinth, even if we follow other branching paths, they’ll likely just lead us back here.

Jason: ……Huh, looks like there’s a button on the other side of the room. It’s like it’s screaming “Please push me!”

Arjuna: Then, shall I try shooting it?

Jason: Wait—

[Arjuna shoots it]

Arjuna: ……There’s something repelling my arrows…...

Jason: Can you warn us before doing something like that!? What if it exploded!?

Orion: Ya’know, I’ve been thinking this for a while but……

Arjuna kinda acts like an accelerator rather than a brake……

Like, instead of stopping us from acting rashly, he tends to take the lead when it comes to rushing in……

Arjuna: Preposterous. I’m the picture of serenity. In fact, it’s my role to keep the rest of you calm.

Orion: It’s pretty scary to have a catalyst with no self-awareness…… 

Circe: Hm, hmmmmm, how about this……?

[lasers appear after Circe uses her magic]

Circe: Alrighty, now we can see them clearly.

Jason: Okay, we can see the laser trap. Then all we have to do is run and press the button, right? If we do that, then we should be able to clear the room.

Circe: *sigh* Looks like it can’t be helped.

......’Kay, then you guys wait here a sec.

Odysseus: Are you going to be okay?

Circe: Huh? What’s with that look? Are you gonna say you’re worried?

Odysseus: A little. Considering the traps so far, I doubt the solution would be so simple.

Circe: ……Yeah, I think so too. But for now I’ll put up a defensive barrier and give it a go. Now then, let’s go, Master!

> Take ca—

Circe: Huh?

[Circe explodes]

Circe: Gyah!!?

Ouch ouch ouch ouch! What the hell was that!?

Orion: The second Circe entered the room, it’s like all the lasers entered attack mode and homed in on her……

Circe: Th- This sucks! It broke through my boosted defenses like they were nothing! Even some of my clothes and hair got singed! 

Odysseus: ......Are you okay?

Circe: I’m fine! But what are we supposed to do? We’re not gonna be able to get through like this!

???: Oh my, not with that attitude you won’t.

> That lovely voice…...!

Euryale: Hello, everyone. It is the goddess who both walks with and is clad in with loveliness, poise, and purity—

That’s right, it is I, Euryale. Now then, what are your complaints?

Odysseus: I have no complaints, but I do have questions.

Euryale: Oh, you’re scary. Like a hunter shooting prey. So this is what it means to be a warrior who puts intellect before heroism. And it is because of this that you are a hero of humanity. I wonder how you’re different from savage warriors.

> Why are you doing this?

Euryale: ......

......

Rather than answering that, I’ll tell you how to get through this room.

Jason: (She dodged the question!)

Euryale: The trick to this trial is to synchronize your breathing with another. Two of you must step in time and synchronize your breaths as if dancing to avoid the lasers. I wrote down detailed rules. Here, read and memorize them.

Circe: Th- This is really complicated.

Euryale: It’s complicated, but not impossible. Just believe in your goddess.

Orion: ……That’s the least trustworthy phrase in the entire world…...

Euryale: What did you just say?

Orion: *silence*

Odysseus: …...Goddess Euryale. I have a question.

Euryale: What is it?

Odysseus: Until now, if there was a trick to solving a room, there was also a hint to help solve it……

Why wasn’t there a hint this time?

Euryale: No reason in particular. Don’t get carried away, human. Those hints are both the kindness of a goddess and her fickleness. Whether or not I give you a hint is all on a whim.

Asterios: Euryale, I found the lost sign! Look, look!

Euryale: Ah, wait. I’m broadcasting right now, so don’t come over!

......Anyway. That’s why!

Jason: In other words, it’s just a run-of-the-mill mistake on your end.

Arjuna: ......Hmmm. In that case, the problem is who Circe will sync her breathing up with. Master is out of the question. We cannot put them in harm’s way. Then, out of those remaining…...

Jason: Syncing my breathing with Circe? The Great Witch? With me?

......That’s impossible......

Orion: I’m with Jason.

Georgios: Arjuna and I have different places of origin and are from different eras.

……Isn’t Odysseus the best choice for this task?

Circe: ......Absolutely not.

Georgios: Why?

Circe: I don’t really have a reason, but I still don’t wanna. Teaming up with Odysseus for this is totally unreasonable. It’s like the gods are toying with me!

Orion: Well, that goes without saying. She admitted herself she does whatever she wants……

Circe: Totally!

Jason: Oh my god. Master, say something.

> Circe, even if you don’t want to, it can’t be helped

> Is there anyone besides Odysseus?

Jason: Right!? Circe: Ugh...... W-When you put it like that...... It’s not like I’m trying to be unreasonable, damn it.

Circe: Hmmmm…… First of all, Jason and Orion? Hard pass. Totally out of the question. Jason: What was that!? I didn't wanna team up with you anyway, but “totally out of the question”?  Orion: Yeah, that's super whack! Circe: Medea. Jason: Urp. Circe: Artemis. Orion: Oof. Circe: Arjuna and Gerogios…… Hmm, it feels like I’m already out of sync with the two of you…… Georgios: How harsh. But I do agree with you.

 

Circe: So that leaves……

Hmmm……

Just like before......

It comes down to……

You, I guess……

Odysseus: Seems like it. There’s no need to feel embarrassed, though. We’re dead, after all.

Circe: I mean, you’re right, but…… It’s totally more complicated than that!

Odysseus: It’s for the sake of getting through the labyrinth.

……You probably have a good reason to hate me. But I’m asking you to please bear with it for just a little bit.

Circe: ......That, right there! That’s the exact sort of thing I hate! Do you get it!?

Odysseus: It seems like you hate my existence.

Circe: ......Ugh. I’m SO glad I put that limiter on my emotions. If I hadn’t, we’d probably have killed each other by now. It feels like this is going nowhere, but whatever. Let’s get this over with, Odysseus. Just follow my lead.

Odysseus: Very well.

Circe: ……Keep close to me.

Odysseus: Like this?

Circe: That’s too close, idiot. Move away a bit.

‘Kay, let’s go. Let’s see…… 

Step here first.

Odysseus: .....We were able to avoid it, however narrowly. It’s just as the goddess said.

Circe: We’re still going. Left! Right! Center! Crouch! Jump! Stay close and turn!

Jason: So breathing in sync was the correct answer after all.

Circe: Quiet, peanut gallery! 1, 2, 3...... Turn here!

Mash: It’s like a ballroom dance.

Circe: This is pretty frantic for a dance!

Odysseus: Naturally. If a goddess has something to do with all this nonsense, then of course this laser trap is serious business.

Circe: Crouch!

Odysseus: Rahhhh!

Jason: Ha, ha, ha, seeing Odysseus so frantic is pretty unexpected—

……Oi. Some of my beautiful golden locks burnt off. Wait, this trap is seriously lethal!?

Circe: Why else would we be jumping around like our lives depended on it!?

Georgios: Be that as it may, it really does look like you’re dancing.

Smile, you two.

Odysseus: In this situation......!?

Circe: As if we can smile like it’s nothing! Crouch now!

[They do smile for Georgios]

Circe: We made it! Switch off!

Arjuna: The lasers disappeared. Let’s move.

[something rumbles]

Arjuna: Hm?

[an alarm sounds]

Circe: All of that and we still have to fight!?

Odysseus: It’s simply the whims of the goddess. Our move will be to counter-attack.

[battle, and after Odysseus gets some of his memories]

Odysseus: Mm. This is......

Circe: More of your memories?

Odysseus: Correct. I’ve regained another portion of my memory. But the question of why I was summoned here still remains. Putting that aside—

......Circe. You’re Circe.

Circe: So you’ve finally remembered? That’s right. I’m Circe, the Great Witch of Aeaea Island.

Odysseus: Those words are finally sinking in.

......It’s been a while.

Circe: Your memory came back, and while it’s an unfortunate feeling, I’m not really shaken up. Fufu.

Odysseus: ......Did you use magic again?

Circe: Again?

Odysseus: You did it a couple times while I was on Aeaea Island.

Circe: Huh, really? What did I use it for?

Odysseus: ......You don’t remember?

Circe: Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. I don’t remember at all.

Odysseus: ......To be frank, it might be too much coming from me.

Circe: Just tell me!

Odysseus: Hahahaha. Forgive me. I was joking.

Circe: ......

......?

Odysseus, now that you’re here again, what do you think of me?

Odysseus: Let’s see. You’re a proud Great Witch who has acquired all manner of knowledge. 

……I’d like for you to break your bad habit of turning people into beasts.

Circe: Hmph. I always choose who I turn carefully.

> You do!?

Circe: Gah, Master!

Arjuna: If I may speak frankly.

......Circe would change anyone into a pig, regardless of who they were.

Georgios: Yes, I think so as well. Do you have any standards?

Circe: I do! I have standards. But, I won’t tell you what they are.

Odysseus: ……Yeah, I’m aware. I know what your standards are. 

Circe: !?

......I’ve never told you, though.

Odysseus: Indeed, you haven’t. I might also be wrong. Nonetheless, I don’t want to say it, so I’ll keep it a secret.

Circe: ......Hmph.

> (Those two have a secret……!)	> I don’t want you to turn anyone into a pig……
Mash: (It makes your heart race just a bit, doesn’t it senpai?)	Circe: ......Oh no, Piglet, it’s my— Policy, I guess? Just a kind of feeling. Jason: You just do it to whoever annoys you enough!

Georgios: Hmm……

[Georgios snaps a photo of Odysseus]

Odysseus: Another photo I presume, Georgios?

Georgios: You had a nice expression on.

Odysseus: I’ll take that as a compliment. Now then. Let’s go confront the goddess who stole my memories and made this Singularity. Then it’ll be case closed. Hopefully.

Circe: ……That’s right. Let’s go!

Odysseus: ......Though, I’m hungry. It seems like a stray Servant’s fate is a lack of mana.

> What should we do?	> Should we form a contract?
Odysseus: Forming a contract would be the quickest way, but...... Arjuna: I would advise against that.	Odysseus: ……No, let’s stop that train of thought there.

Odysseus: Although this is a Micro-Singularity, a goddess is involved. You shouldn’t form a contract thoughtlessly with a strange Servant.

Arjuna: You think yourself unworthy of our trust?

Odysseus: Indeed.

Circe: Then, do you want to supply your mana with food? And by that I mean……!

Everyone: Kykeon.

Circe: That’s right!

Jason: Kykeon, huh……?

Circe: What’s with that look of disgust?

Odysseus: I don’t hate it. On the contrary, it’s quite nostalgic.

Circe: Really? If that’s the case, I always have ingredients to make kykeon on me!

Jason: What in the world would possess you to do that……

Arjuna: Then let’s take a small break while Circe treats us to kykeon.