Summer 2017 - Dead Heat Summer Race: Team Formation (Nero & Artoria Alter) Summary
Team Formation: Wild Speed / & High
Ishtar:
Now... since I’ve fired Guda up, I should just sit back and wait for the participants to come, but…
Let’s find the one who I’ll be handing the most important “crown” parts.
Yeah, even though there are plenty of candidates… hm.
I’ll trust in the instinct of this body. Let’s decide on the ones with those faces… no, I mean, that pair!
In the corridor, Nero has come across the poster advertising the Ishtar Cup. If there is a race, she cannot remain on the sidelines. After all, she has enough skills to win the chariot races of the Nero Festival, or so she claims.
Nero:
Of course, there wasn’t any fraud at all. Not at all, okay?
It’s just that, when I fell from the chariot, the race just happened to enter a brief “interruption” for rest… there weren’t any other intentions behind that…
...Umu. But I can’t get interested at this time… A race isn’t bad, but I want to go to the sea with Master this year.
She has gotten a new swimsuit and all, so she’ll just pretend she didn’t see the poster.
Nero:
Oh, speaking of which, isn’t this Guda? We’ve met at the right spot!
Are you free right now? Do you have time in your schedule? No, even if your schedule is packed, free it up, alright?
After all they’re holding something fun called a “Comic Con” in Hawaii or something.
I want to go there. It seems very interesting. But if I go alone, I’m going to feel lonely.
Having heard this much, you understand, don’t you? My contractor, Guda!
Let’s go enjoy a vacation together in the southern seas!
Guda(?):
”Your Majesty would look good draped in a chequered flag. (sparkle)”
Nero:
U-Umu? You, you’re a bit more sparkly than usual, aren’t you? It’s as if you had a Goddess’s authority, with that blazing, bewitching look...
What’s more, you’re cornering me against the wall, closing off my escape with one hand, and whispering sweetly into my ear… it’s too passionate…
But, a race… a race… I don’t hate it, but… there was that incident during Golden Week, and this year I want to go to the sea---
Guda(?):
”For my sake, become number one…”
Nero:
----! I, I see, that means you’re cheering for me alone, right!
If you’ve made such a straightforward confession then I have no choice but to accept it! We can go to the sea next year!
Confidently, Nero says that she’ll take the top spot. Although she isn’t really clear about the circumstances, she won’t betray her Master’s expectations.
Nero:
Upon my spectacular victory I expect a fitting reward--- honour me with your best embrace then, so be prepared!
In the corridor, Artoria Alter has also come across the Ishtar Cup advertisement. She isn’t particularly impressed with it.
Artoria Alter:
It’s another pointless event. It’s Ishtar, huh. That profligate goddess is also a troublesome thing.
Chaldea is not a playground. It is an organized and tidy combat organization with strict regulations and no waste in its operations.
You could call it an elite army. There cannot be anything like a summer holiday.
...Yes, there are no exceptions. If there would be one, it would be a special day off only for the Master who has undergone such difficult missions.
...Yes, that’s right. If it’s summer, then it has to be the sea after all.
Though the only seas that I know are wild and stormy, Anne Bonny should be able to recommend me a sunny resort beach.
Alright. Now that’s decided, let’s go to the beach! Guda, you should attend as well!
...is just practice for what I will say. Heheh. Though it may be just a little, it seems that the summer heat has also made me buoyant---
Guda(?):
”Your voice is as lovely as usual, Artoria. (sparkle)”
Artoria Alter:
! Since when have you been there!? And what’s with that face of yours, isn’t it terribly sparkling!?
Guda(?):
”Rather than that… I want to see you being number one…”
Artoria Alter says that she understands how you feel, and her face turns slightly red.
Artoria Alter:
You normally do not ask for anything, and seem like such a blockhead, but right now you have stated it so clearly. I am not someone who doesn’t understand the hearts of others to that degree.
There is a twang of a harp.
Tristan:
...I am the Tristan who is just passing by… the child of sorrow, or perhaps a misfortunate poet…
By the way, my ill-tempered King, what was being said just now? It felt like a topic concerning me had come up?
Artoria Alter:
Aah, that’s right! Fly off somewhere else, Tristan!
Tristan:
Yes, by your command…! No, but that’s a wall----!?
Tristan is smashed into the corridor’s walls and not a peep is heard from him after that. Although there was some interruptions, Artoria Alter says she’s fully received your feelings about wanting her to be number one. However, she can’t fully indulge herself in enjoyment. Because she’s Alter, after all. So, she’ll try to change things up. She cannot participate as a king, but she will instead reign supreme as someone who manages, corrects, and cleans up this dubious event.
Artoria Alter:
Heh… Wait with your expectations held high. I will appear before you in a new class.
And then I will dominate this Ishtar Cup, and reign as the strongest maid.
When that happens, let me hear the continuation of those words just now. Be sure to think of many flowery words that befit me…!
With that, the two racers that Ishtar wanted have been recruited.
Ishtar:
Oh man, maybe I overdid it a bit… To think those two would be so simple…
I feel like I’ve unwittingly created the reason for a scene of carnage…
W-Well, it’s good that they’re all fired up, and if it’s Guda then they’ll survive it just fine, I’m sure!
But since it’d be bad to make things even more complicated than they are from now on, let’s leave the rest of the invitations to Guda then!
Nero bursts into Da Vinci’s workshop with her new outfit, eliciting plenty of praise from the inventor. For the exquisite sight she’s seen first thing in the morning, Da Vinci decides to give Nero a 30% discount. Unfortunately, Nero is not here to shop, but for Da Vinci’s skill as an inventor.
Nero:
Here are the schematics for a machine that I want. The concepts are Red. Goddess. Speed. And Rome.
I would like you to make the fastest and strongest racing machine that you can with these concepts. Specifically, by tomorrow.
Da Vinci:
By tomorrow. Not to finish a portrait within a day, but to complete an order-made race car, from the frame up, within a day.
Nero:
Umu! But do not say it’s impossible, for I am an emperor after all. QP is the only thing I can prepare in substantial quantities, so I want you to get it done somehow.
Da Vinci reluctantly agrees, and takes a look at the schematics. The design is a good one which interests her, and she says that with Holmes’s assistance she should able to get the frame done. However, she says it’s not possible after all, due to lack of personnel. She needs skilled welders in order to reproduce the smooth body of the schematics, handy craftsmen to assemble the precision parts, and combustion specialists to test the engine.
Artoria Alter:
I hear that. Let me arrange for the personnel.
Nero is surprised and wonders just where she’s going to get them, but Artoria Alter tells her not to be. In fact, Alter herself is only surprised at how good swimsuits are. Da Vinci asks Artoria what she is doing here.
Artoria Alter:
Right. I’ve come visiting to ask for a race car at your convenience, but it looks like that Theatre Woman over there got here before me.
Nero:
Huh. That’s unlucky of you, Black Coat. But it’s good that you’re quick to learn.
If you’ve understood the situation then you best get going. There’s no seat to be yielded to you, okay?
Artoria Alter:
Hmph. Rejoice. Normally I would kick you off your seat to make you yield it to me, but right now I am a Helper of Justice. I can’t pretend to be violent.
Rather than that… I’ve gotten a glimpse of the schematics from behind, and it seems to be a pretty good race car. There’s a Holy Sword-ish feel to it.
Theatre Woman. You are participating in the Ishtar Cup, aren’t you? I am too. I intended to do so alone.
I specialize in motorbikes after all. However, if you look closely, there is actually a condition to participate in the race.
There needs to be two contestants or more: the team should consist of a driver and a supporter. It looks like Nero had overlooked this clause in the competition. Artoria Alter finds it really annoying as a maid is supposed to be aloof, but unfortunately the rules are the rules. She doesn’t think Nero is even fit for a sleigh, but she has low expectations for her in the first place.
Artoria Alter:
The best Saber extends an invitation to the worst Saber. If you have teamed up with Tamamo Shark once, then you can team up with me once.
Do not think there will be a second chance to poke at that ahoge. I will not say it twice. Team up with me.
Nero says that she thought Artoria Alter was a humourless woman, but she didn’t think that it would be to this extent. Still, she will forgive Alter’s rudeness. Before she decides, however, she needs to hear Alter’s reason for forcing herself to join this event. Artoria Alter replies that for a certain reason, she has to win this event.
Artoria Alter:
For that sake, I will join hands even if it is with a disgusting, nasty woman. Now that I think about it, I am better at being a partner than my subordinates.
Apparently you are used to races. Furthermore, you seem to have strong luck in such games.
Nero:
...You don’t want to lose no matter what, then. Funny, that. I’m the same.
Very well. I’ll take this invitation of yours. Fortunately, my aim in this isn’t the prize for winning, so I shall let you have that.
Artoria Alter:
Oh? Then why do you race?
Nero:
Of course, it is for the honour of victory. I do not seek a reward (physical).
(Well, if it’s something that will be of use to Master, I’ll completely monopolize it then)
Artoria Alter:
I see. I’m in it just for the exact opposite. Of course, I seek a reward (physical).
(It is for Master’s sake after all. Well, that being as it is, it’ll show that I’m the strongest)
Nero & Artoria Alter:
Heh… heh heh heh heh----
Handshake!
The two of them shake hands, and Da Vinci marvels at this symbol of peace that has appeared in her workshop. Nero is fine with bearing some humiliation for the sake of victory. But still, there is a very important thing to settle first. Artoria Alter agrees. As they are both Sabers, it can only be resolved with a fight. In other words---
Nero & Artoria Alter:
Yes! Let’s decide who will be the driver with a duel!
Posted Aug 16, 2017, 9:03 AM UTC · edited