Chapter 37: I, Your Host, Am Actually Hurt This Time
Tarasque seemed to sense the danger and immediately shook its head repeatedly.
However, Martha clenched her fists tightly, her fighting spirit surging more and more.
Seeing the situation, Ethan understood that evasion was no longer an option.
"Mash, Johanna, Mordred, hold on tight to Tarasque!"
Ethan was the first to grip a raised section of Tarasque's armor.
Although everyone looked confused, they still followed his instructions.
"Everyone, clench your teeth!"
Tarasque understood what was about to happen. It shut its eyes tightly and clenched its rear.
The next moment, Martha delivered a powerful punch straight into Tarasque's armored back!!!
BANG——————————!
Hit by the punch, Tarasque was instantly launched out of the swamp!
At that moment, its speed surpassed even when it was running at full force before. Every tree in its path was smashed apart, and boulders were shattered on the spot!
Ethan, clinging onto its back, could only hear the wind howling in his ears, while his left hand was tightly gripping Mash's hand.
…
...
...
He didn't know how much time had passed before he finally felt himself stop moving.
"Ugh… cough cough... gag..."
His head was spinning, and his whole body felt like it had been tied to a kite string and then dragged along by a speeding train the entire way.
It was as if all his internal organs had been scrambled inside him.
"Senpai… are you okay?"
Mash's worried voice came from beside him. She didn't seem to be affected too much.
It appeared that, as a Demi-Servant, Mash's condition was much better than his.
Ethan looked around and found that he and Mash were leaning against an unidentifiable tree, surrounded by tall bushes.
Tarasque was lying flat not far away, looking completely exhausted and unable to move.
"To actually use such brute force… Could it be that Martha-sama is still affected by her Berserk state…?"
Johanna was kneeling beside them, continuously praying. She seemed utterly shaken by Martha's actions just now.
Which was understandable. After all, in her eyes, a devout Saint like Martha shouldn't have anything to do with such violent behavior, right?
Ethan could only give a wry smile—Martha had gone way overboard.
But fortunately, their current location likely wouldn't be discovered by Jeanne Alter's wyverns. After resting for a bit, they could continue their journey to Orléans.
Ethan glanced around. Not seeing Martha anywhere was actually a bit of a relief.
But what about Mordred?
She was nowhere to be seen either.
"Senpai, it looks like we got separated from them. Assassin-san isn't nearby either."
"…It seems so. Alright, let's rest here for a bit and wait for them."
They had to wait for the wyverns to leave anyway. Resting for a while would be good.
With Mash and Johanna by his side, there shouldn't be any issues.
[Host, stop spinning! I'm getting dizzy!]
[The bubble tea I just bought… Now the more I drink it, the more nauseous I feel…]
[I specifically bought Coke and snacks, and now I spilled everything.]
[There are a thousand roads, but safety is the priority. Drive carelessly, and your loved ones will shed tears.]
[Was that a simulated traffic accident? Host, your "vehicle" is a real dragon!]
[A dragon-vehicle? Somebody call the Monster Hunter crew!!]
The entire livestream was filled with complaints and jokes.
"Sorry, everyone, there was a bit of an accident during the filming just now."
Seeing Ethan proactively speak to the viewers, the chat immediately became lively again.
[Yo, Host, you done filming?]
[Did something happen just now? Host, remember to stay safe. No amount of money is worth your life.]
[Yeah, your health is the most important. Even if it's just a job, don't push yourself too hard.]
[Even if that was just a special effect, it still looked way too dangerous. Host, do you want to be on tomorrow's front page?]
…
[System: 'One-Punch Martha' has sent 10 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: Host, don't get yourself into trouble! We're all waiting for the next stream.]
[System: 'The Suffering Turtle' has sent 10 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: We're all waiting for you, so don't go getting yourself "game over."]
[System: 'Darkness-kun' has sent 100 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: MARTHA-SAMAAAAAAA!!! PLEASE PUNCH ME TOO!!!!! I'M JEALOUS OF MARTHA-SAMA'S PET!!!]
…
[...]
[Ayo, Darkness-kun showed up, but where's Yasashi-kun??]
[Umu, don't they always appear together?]
[...]
[Darkness-kun, it looks like Yasashi-kun has given up on you. He doesn't even consider you human anymore.]
[Haizz, a beautiful friendship has ended just like that?]
[...]
.....
Looking at the comments on the livestream, Ethan suddenly felt emotional.
He had thought that the viewers were only here for entertainment, but unexpectedly, when they saw that he might be in trouble, they were genuinely worried about him.
So, there was still warmth in this world!
"Thank you all for your concern. I will take good care of myse—"
Before he could even finish his sentence, the previous flood of comments resumed.
[Right, Host, could you give us Mashu-chan's contact info first? After that, you can log off from Earth all you want.]
[Yeah, just give us the contact info of those actresses. Or even a link to their livestreams is fine. We'll go support them right away, and you can take your break.]
[They home address works too. I promise I won't do anything illegal, Dattebayo!]
"..."
Ethan calmly stared at the comments.
His body temperature was 36 degrees Celsius, so how could they type comments this cold?!
"Senpai, are you contacting Chaldea?"
Mash unexpectedly leaned in.
"No, I'm just talking to the viewers on the livestream. They care about you a lot, Mash."
"Eh?! Really?!"
Mash looked astonished.
She had never imagined that people she had never met would be worried about her. It was something difficult for her to comprehend.
"T-thank you all for your concern! I will do my best to protect Senpai!"
Mash hurriedly stood up and bowed solemnly.
[Awawawaaaa~ UWU~]
[Mashu-chan!!! Aaaahhh——!!!]
[Must protect!!! Mashu-chan is the best in the world!!]
[She even thanked us… I'm crying.]
[For the first time in 39 years, a woman who isn't my mom has sincerely thanked me, hic…]
…
[System: 'Strongest Shield' has sent 100 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: Mashu-chan!!! I Love You!!!]
[System: 'Eggplant Kouhai' has sent 10 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: Mashu-chan, make sure to eat well and rest properly. Don't let someone drag you into streaming even while you sleep.]
[System: 'Young Master' has sent 10,000 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: Jade beauty is fleeting, but Mashu-chan is eternal!]
…
Seeing the stark contrast between how the viewers reacted to him and to Mash, Ethan could only sigh deeply while looking up at the sky.
As expected of his Eggplant Kouhai, she was truly "the face of FGO"—everyone who met her instantly adored her.
"By the way, Senpai. I've been trying to contact Doctor for a while now, but I still can't connect. I wonder what's going on."
"Still no connection?"
Ethan had already noticed that connecting to Chaldea was difficult in this area. Logically, this shouldn't have been an issue.
It felt as if something was deliberately cutting off their communication.
Once they finished this Singular, he would definitely have to go back and ask Doctor Romani about it.
Rustle———
The bushes in the distance began to shake. Someone—or something—was approaching.
Was it Mordred and the others who had found them?
Ethan was just about to go check when Mash suddenly raised her shield, positioning herself defensively in front of him.
"Senpai, be careful! That's an unfamiliar Servant!!!"