Baobhan Sith suddenly halted, closing her eyes and pressing a hand over her chest.
"It seems I'm quite a handful, don't I?"
The presence of Da Vinci and Mash proved that FGO wasn't just a simple game; for the people of Chaldea, those memories were real, part of their lives.
Just to help her live a better life in another world, they'd selflessly lent her their strength.
This was proof of their bond—a heartfelt blessing crossing time and space.
And yet, so far, she'd only seen Da Vinci and Mash. The rest of Chaldea's members remained out of reach.
How regrettable… to be unable to tell them these feelings of gratitude in person.
"If… you can hear me through this Saint Graph, I want… to tell you how grateful I am."
"Thank you, Baobhan Sith. Thank you for protecting someone as naive as me, and… I'm sorry for not noticing the care you and the others showed."
Right after saying these words, Baobhan Sith keenly felt a change within her, subtle yet unmistakable.
Before, she'd been able to tap into the powers of her Saint Graph, but there was always a faint, almost imperceptible resistance.
Now, however, that resistance had completely vanished. The flow of mana had become remarkably smooth.
At the same time, she felt a peculiar, inexplicable joy welling up within her.
Why am I feeling happy?
Pondering for a moment, Baobhan Sith decided to test something out.
"Baobhan Sith is my waifu."
The joy inside her grew, tinged with… a hint of embarrassment?
"...I feel like I just stumbled onto something I shouldn't have. Do you think she'll kill me if I ever meet her?"
"She… probably won't?"
…Oh no. Considering it's Fairy Tristan, I'm not confident at all!
I'm doomed, doomed, doomed—
…
The Arakami Clan.
Once a prestigious name among curse users, in its heyday it rivaled the Three Great Families of the Jujutsu world.
But ever since that "monster" was born into the Gojo Clan, the delicate balance of the jujutsu world had been forcefully shattered. Most curse user clans went underground, including the Arakami family.
The Arakami clan's members hid away in a remote mountain forest, carefully constructing concealment barriers. Thanks to these barriers, the jujutsu sorcerers' attempts to eradicate them had repeatedly failed. Whenever they captured an Arakami member, it was always a low-ranking pawn, making it impossible to locate their main stronghold.
Behind the barrier lay a sprawling, traditional Japanese manor, sparsely inhabited by members of the Arakami family's main branch.
The current head of the clan, Arakami Iwaichi, had two sons: his younger son, Arakami En, and his elder son, Arakami Yuu.
The younger son aside, Arakami Yuu was the pride of his father. He had not only inherited the clan's secret techniques but had also demonstrated exceptional talent in managing the clan. Arakami Iwaichi had long been grooming him as his successor, even granting him access to the family's greatest secret.
Within the Arakami estate, there lay a sacred, forbidden ground—a space so restricted that even core members of the clan were barred from entry.
The curse energy here was so dense it was almost tangible, threatening to warp the area into another dimension. Walls built of skeletal remains were inscribed with intricate curse seals.
For ordinary people, breathing this air would be deadly. One inhalation could kill, the curse energy itself acting as a poison.
Twenty-four grotesque pillars of flesh stood in a circle, pulsing rhythmically, almost as though they were alive.
At the center of these pillars lay the core of this forbidden ground: a true sea of blood. The deadly fumes in the air were merely impurities siphoned from this crimson pool.
Seeing this blood sea, one would naturally think—this was like amniotic fluid, the curses within it like nutrients feeding a terrible creature.
There was no doubt—it was Evil.
Overwhelming Evil.
It was born from Evil, and its purpose was to spread absolute Evil.
There was no doubt—it was God.
An Evil God from another world.
Its form transcended human understanding, and its very existence meant ruin for humankind.
Beside the blood sea, atop an altar made of piled stones, sat an emaciated old man clad in a loose gray kimono, barely more than bones.
Though he looked more like a corpse than a person, Arakami Iwaichi and Arakami Yuu lowered their heads the moment they saw him.
"Honored Ancestor."
Their words revealed the identity of the elder. He was Arakami Douman, the clan's ancient progenitor and the grandfather of Arakami Iwaichi, the current head.
With a creak like bones grinding, Arakami Douman lifted his head, revealing a face that was barely more than a skull.
"Why is there so little bait this time?"
A voice like a demon's rasping from hell echoed in their ears, making Arakami Iwaichi bow even lower.
"My sincerest apologies. It has become increasingly difficult to find suitable bait. In recent years, the jujutsu sorcerers have also started actively seeking children with potential, which has greatly hindered our progress."
When he finished speaking, Arakami Yuu chimed in.
"There's also Arakami Yago. He's yet to return, possibly delayed by jujutsu sorcerers… or maybe he's simply dawdling."
"Then send for him at once, or find more!" Arakami Douman snapped impatiently. "I can feel it—the Demon God is on the verge of awakening. With just one or two more rounds, it will fully manifest!"
"When that time comes, neither the Gojo Clan nor the Zen'in Clan will stand a chance! The Arakami family shall reign over the entire jujutsu world!"
After leaving the forbidden ground, Arakami Iwaichi turned to Arakami Yuu and said, "As soon as we return, dispatch another team."
"But the jujutsu sorcerers are relentless in hunting us. The more we act, the greater the risk of being caught."
"We have no choice. The longer we delay, the greater the chance of an unforeseen disaster. We must bring that being into existence as soon as possible."
The forbidden ground was within the heart of the mountain, the Arakami family having hollowed it out to create their sanctum.
To prevent the high-density curses within the sanctuary from leaking out, the clan had installed seven layers of seals at the entrance and stationed guards to monitor it constantly.
Yet as Arakami Iwaichi and Arakami Yuu walked through the narrow passageway toward the exit, they saw not a single guard.
This realization made Arakami Iwaichi's expression darken.
"Where have the guards gone?"
No one answered; the silence was oppressive.
A growing sense of unease caused him and Arakami Yuu to assume defensive postures, ready to summon their shikigami at the first sign of danger, their senses attuned to every sound around them.
The wind, the rustling leaves—every noise felt laced with malice.
Their nerves were taut, like bowstrings drawn to the breaking point, ready to either release an arrow or snap from the strain.
Breaking the silence was a voice, sweet as a wind chime.
"Looking for someone~~?"
---
T/N: To be honest I haven't played any of the lostbelts!