Fate: Livestream in Chaldeas

Chapter 28: Host, Is This a Sci-Fi Movie?!

"What's going on?"

"I've temporarily converted the surrounding area into a base. The other Servants are resting as well."

Ethan nodded.

"Thank you, Ruler."

Thanks to Johanna's Territory Creation skill, he no longer needed to spend points or Command Spells to recover mana.

"No need to be so formal. As long as I can help Master, something like this isn't even worth mentioning."

Johanna naturally stepped closer to Ethan, briefly confirming something with her gaze.

After receiving a nod of approval from Ethan, she sat down beside him.

"Master doesn't have to be so reserved. Just call me Johanna."

Perhaps due to the aura of this Popess, Ethan found it difficult to mentally close the distance between them.

There was always this feeling…

That just being near her would purify his entire being…

So, instinctively, he wanted to keep some distance.

"Ahaha, am I being too forceful with my request?"

Seeing Ethan remain silent, Johanna smiled softly and shook her head.

"I am a fictional figure—one who has always been a subject of controversy. But it's precisely because of that controversy that I exist. Maybe in Master's eyes, summoning a Servant who is so uncertain about her own existence is a bit unsettling, isn't it?"

"No, you've helped me a lot. Summoning you was a stroke of luck for me."

Seeing Johanna looking somewhat downcast, Ethan quickly waved his hands, explaining.

After all, she had quickly established a territory and defensive barrier, forcing Jeanne Alter to retreat in frustration. On top of that, she provided mana and a safe base.

Not to mention, he had summoned Popess Johanna in just a hundred rolls. That was incredibly lucky.

"…Luck, you say?"

Johanna gazed at the half-destroyed statue of the Virgin Mary in the small chapel.

"This must be the will of God. He, who is present everywhere, must have sent me to assist Master. You must be shouldering a great burden right now, aren't you?"

"Yeah… something like that."

Ethan sighed.

Saving humanity's future. Preventing the Human Order Incineration.

Just thinking about it was already exhausting—actually doing it would be an unimaginable struggle.

"Oh my, in that case, isn't this a wonderful journey?"

"Wonderful?"

Ethan looked at Johanna helplessly, his face full of confusion.

No matter how he thought about it, there was nothing wonderful about this situation, was there?

"Master may be going through endless hardship and suffering right now. But when you finally achieve your goal and look back, won't this journey become the most precious time of your life?"

Under the silver moonlight, Johanna seemed to glow with radiance.

Ugh… her holiness is... blinding…

He really wasn't good at dealing with people who could be considered "saints" like this…

"If possible, please allow me to accompany Master on this journey!!!"

Johanna's eyes sparkled like the stars, filled with hope and anticipation as she gazed at Ethan.

The distance between them was so close that he could feel her breath.

"... You won't find it troublesome?"

Ethan slightly turned his head away.

"Of course not! After all, I am merely a fictional existence. If I can use this identity to walk alongside Master, perhaps that will be proof that I truly existed in this world."

"Even if just a little… When the time comes, I hope Master will remember that I once existed, that I was once a Servant who accompanied you on this unforgettable journey."

Under the silver moonlight, Ethan and Johanna's eyes met.

Maybe it was because her words resonated with him.

Or maybe it was because what she said gave him a sense of peace.

For a moment, Ethan couldn't look away.

Perhaps, just as this pure-hearted girl had said…

…This journey might not be so bad after all.

[Beep beep——Congratulations, Host! Your livestream channel has surpassed 10,000 followers!]

[A new point-based shopping feature has been unlocked.]

[Spend 100,000 points to instantly unlock a Servant's second Noble Phantasm!]

[Host, please use this feature wisely according to the actual situation.]

The sudden system notification startled Ethan.

To maintain a steady flow of points from the livestream, he had already shifted the stream's camera focus to Mash, who was standing guard.

Earlier, Mash had insisted on keeping watch herself, so Ethan had no choice but to agree.

Coincidentally, many of the viewers—ahem, simp-ahem—in the channel had also been requesting to see Mash, so he simply switched the frame to her.

The last time he checked, the follower count had just barely passed 8,000. How did it suddenly shoot past 10,000 so quickly?!

Ethan raised his head and looked toward the upper right corner of his semi-transparent screen.

But then he noticed…

Instead of showing the scenery around the fortress walls like before, the screen was now displaying… himself?!

"Cough, cough!!!"

A soft cough echoed from behind.

Mash was standing right at the entrance of the ruined chapel, smiling radiantly at Ethan and Johanna.

"Mash?!"

Ethan instinctively jumped to his feet, quickly putting some distance between himself and Johanna.

"Why are you here…?"

"Senpai, I was a little worried about your safety, so I came to check on you."

Mash's smile remained unchanged.

Only… for some reason, that smile now seemed a little... terrifying.

Chat Explodes

[Hooray! My favorite part is here!]

[The long-awaited moment—Shurafield!]

[Serves you right, damn riajuu!]

[Damn riajuu should just explode!]

[Unbelievable! Mashu-chan is so cute, and she's even standing guard for everyone, but Host is out here secretly flirting with another girl?!]

[In the dead of night, alone in a chapel with the Popess… What exactly were you two doing?!]

[FBI, OPEN UP!!!]

[A chapel, a female pope, alone together… I get it. They were 'praying'!!!]

[Bro above, you are truly optimistic. You life maybe is so happy now.]

[ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧]

[Selling popcorn, peanuts, sunflower seeds, beer, bottled water, and fried chicken! Front row, make some space!]

[Careful, guys in the front row—Host's blood might splatter on you.]

The livestream chat exploded like a storm, with all the viewers eagerly gossiping.

Everyone was excitedly waiting to see how Ethan would handle this crisis.

"Shielder-san."

Johanna was the first to break the tense atmosphere, smiling at Mash.

"You came at just the right time. Master and I were just discussing the future."

"The future?!"

Mash froze for a moment before turning to Ethan.

"Senpai… what does 'the future' mean?"

"Ah, well, that is…"

Cold sweat began to form on Ethan's forehead.

It was a completely ordinary sentence.

So why did it sound so loaded when coming from this holy Papal Lady?!

As Ethan desperately racked his brain for a way to change the subject, Johanna had already stood up and walked straight toward Mash.

Before Mash could react, Johanna grabbed her hands with an almost overwhelming enthusiasm.

"I was just discussing the upcoming journey with Master. Only by uniting under the Light of God, gathering all our strength, can we help Master achieve his great mission! Let's work together for Master, Shield of the Master—Shielder-san!!!"

Mash looked at Johanna, who was radiating like a celestial being, and for a moment, she was completely speechless.

She could only nod in agreement.

"Y-Yes… If Senpai needs me…"

Chat Stunned

[????????????????????????????????????????] x69

[Wait a minute, why did the situation suddenly flip like this?]

[Where's the yandere moment??? Where's the harem war?????????]

[Damn it! This damn riajuu profited again!!!]

[Kill me now! There's no way this is real!!!]

[Jeezz, how boring.]

[6 out of 10. This is even more sci-fi than a sci-fi movie… Sci-fi films should take notes from this livestream.]

[Damn riajuu should just explode!!!]

[Mama~, everyone, stay calm. Mashu-chan has already shown her yandere side. Sooner or later, Host is going to get stabbed with a kitchen knife. Just be patient and wait.]

[Hope you right.]