Chapter 47: Damn, They're Starting to Get Suspicious!
"Master, hurry up! We're about to depart!"
Mordred sat astride Tarasque, loudly calling out to Ethan below her.
"A surprise attack has to be quick! We wasted too much time yesterday, come on!"
At the crack of dawn, Mordred had already dragged everyone in the camp out of bed, yelling that they needed to set off immediately.
A surprise attack?
Yesterday, not only had they taken down three enemy Servants, but Mordred had also single-handedly charged into a swarm of wyverns with Clarent in hand.
These wyverns were, after all, just low-quality familiars mass-produced using the Holy Grail. With Martha and Kiritsugu's assistance, the three of them had managed to wipe out half of them.
So what was left to ambush?
By now, all of France probably knew what they had done.
Even so, eliminating the wyverns had indirectly bought France some time, ensuring they had a chance to deal with Jeanne Alter and Gilles de Rais to reclaim the Holy Grail.
"Senpai, are you alright?"
Mash asked worriedly.
Ethan looked absolutely sleep-deprived, with faint dark circles under his eyes.
"Ah… I'm okay… I guess…"
Trying to stay awake, Ethan stepped toward Tarasque.
"Tarasque, just hang in there a little longer. You got this, buddy. Good boy, good boy."
Martha gently patted Tarasque.
"Oh! We're relying on you again today, four-legged iron dragon!"
Mordred gave Tarasque a hearty slap on the head.
"Grrrr…"
Tarasque let out a mournful groan.
Yesterday's experience had left it utterly disillusioned with life, but it had no choice—just hoping this journey would end soon.
Seeing the scene before him, Ethan sighed.
Though Mordred had the Riding Skill, it was only at Rank B—not nearly enough to ride a Phantasmal Species.
This was like someone with a license for automatic cars suddenly trying to drive a tank.
If she hadn't stubbornly insisted on trying yesterday, if Martha hadn't been there, and if they had literally any other means of transportation, they probably wouldn't have resorted to such madness.
But after what happened yesterday… for some reason, Ethan really didn't feel like getting back on that thing.
"Master, even though our actions are no longer a surprise attack, the Dragon Witch will still use the Holy Grail to create more wyverns. If we don't take this opportunity to launch a full-scale offensive, our situation will only get worse."
Kiritsugu advised Ethan.
"Our top priority right now is to reach Orléans as soon as possible."
Hearing Kiritsugu say this, Ethan understood the situation clearly.
Mash's wrist device could establish a shaky connection with Chaldea. Last night, after confirming with the doctor, they learned that this valley was near Lyon, and the straight-line distance to Orléans was less than 500 km.
Even considering terrible road conditions, with Tarasque's movement capabilities, they could reach Orléans in a day.
"Senpai."
Mash, now fully equipped, flashed a bright smile and extended a hand toward Ethan.
Today, Mash seemed brimming with energy, as if all of yesterday's exhaustion had been erased by a good night's sleep.
Seeing his kouhai-chan like this, Ethan felt a bit more at ease.
He grasped Mash's hand and climbed onto Tarasque's back once again.
While at it, he started his livestream and updated today's stream title.
[On the Way to Orléans.]
...
"Everyone hold on tight, we're heading out!!!"
Mordred, full of excitement, gave Tarasque a light tap on the head.
"Grrrr…"
Though utterly reluctant, Tarasque obeyed, preparing to carry the group through the final stretch of their journey.
It was still early in the morning, but the viewer count in Ethan's livestream quickly surged to two to three thousand people.
Ethan greeted his audience first.
"Ahhh, good morning, everyone."
The chat immediately exploded with reactions.
[Host is up early?]
[Good morning, brothers and sisters.]
[Good morning, Host and his harem.]
[Bro… do you want me to stay under my blanket and cry?]
[Up so early for work? Is the filming schedule that tight?]
[Feels like we're watching the entire movie already. By the time it airs, will there be anything left to watch?]
[Are you dumb? You think this film will make it to broadcast without getting cut? With the host's streaming time yesterday, we'd be lucky if even 1% makes it to the final version.]
[The scenes from yesterday felt super real. Didn't seem fake at all.]
[Dude, if it's not special effects, then what is it? Try swinging a sword and see if it starts glowing.]
[Me: staring at the lightsaber I just bought yesterday.]
[I'm no expert, but isn't the host at a film set? How come the special effects appear live on set? Don't they usually add them in post-production?]
The moment this comment appeared, a long-buried suspicion in the audience's minds suddenly exploded.
[Wait a minute, that actually doesn't make sense?]
[How is this happening?]
[They're filming on set, yet the effects are happening in real-time? Plus, we've never seen any film crew?]
[Hold up… this is weird. Have they ever reshot a single scene? Their efficiency is way too high!]
The screen was now flooded with skeptical comments.
[Host, explain yourself!]
[You guys are filming a movie, right? So where's the film crew?]
[That giant iron dragon underneath you… don't tell me it's real?]
…Yabe.
Ethan broke into a cold sweat.
These viewers had finally started noticing that something wasn't right!!!
But honestly, lasting this long before they got suspicious wasn't too bad.
As the wave of questions surged, Ethan quickly cleared his throat.
"Ahem, it's normal for everyone to feel something is off. That's because this is the core competitive advantage of our company. Our technology allows for real-time special effects integration, making everything look incredibly realistic."
"The reason I'm live streaming is so that viewers can witness the authenticity of this technology firsthand."
"Hearing all your doubts today actually makes me really happy! Because it proves that our technology has been recognized—our efforts were not in vain!"
As he spoke, Ethan discreetly pinched his own thigh, then put on an emotional expression, as if he was about to burst into tears.
His acting was so convincing that even he almost believed it.
But—
[Naruhodo.... Daga I don't buy it.]
[What kind of technology even exists like that? Host, you're bluffing again.]
[It's not that we don't believe you—we just really want to see it for ourselves.]
The chat was clearly not falling for it. These viewers already sensed something was off and wouldn't be so easily deceived.
Damn, even that performance didn't work?
If Plan A failed, then it was time to activate Plan B.
"Mash, you explain it to them."
Ethan immediately pulled Mash—who had been tilting her head in confusion—into the frame.
"Huh? Senpai… what am I supposed to say?"
"Just say something random."
Ethan switched the camera to a close-up, leaving only Mash's adorable, puzzled face on the screen.
[Mashu-chan!!!]
[Mashu-chan, Ohaiyo~.]
[Seeing Mashu-chan first thing in the morning gives me the motivation to keep selling my soul to capitalism!]
[Wait… what were we talking about just now? …Forget it! It doesn't matter! Mashu-chan, you're too cute today!!!]
Ethan leaned in and whispered into Mash's ear.
"Mash, just repeat whatever I say."
Mash's cheeks turned a little pink, but she nodded obediently.
"Thank you all for your support. Due to trade secrets, there are many things we cannot disclose. We hope you will continue to support us in the future. Thank you!"
Mash recited Ethan's words in a stiff, mechanical manner, but—
[Umu umu, I understand now. Mashu-chan is absolutely right!]
[Technology is just too advanced these days, unbelievable.]
[Exactly! Modern tech is practically magic now. But real-time effects aren't that hard to do, right?]
…
[System: 'Strongest Shield' has sent 100 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: Whatever Mashu-chan says is right! I will always support Mashu-chan!!!]
—
The chat instantly transformed into a peaceful spring breeze.
Some viewers kept donating, while others kept showering Mash with praise.
All the skeptical voices vanished, completely drowned out by a horde of simps.
Just as Ethan was breathing a sigh of relief—
"What are you all doing?"
Popess Johanna suddenly peeked into the frame.
The moment her holy and dignified face appeared on screen, an even bigger storm of comments erupted.
[I swear to protect the greatest Popess in the world!]
[Popess! I wish to confess my sins!!!]
[I have sinned! I am skipping work to watch this stream!!!]
[I have sinned! I told my 6-year-old little brother that his pet rabbit's poop was chocolate, and he ended up in the hospital!!!]
[I have sinned! My name is Haru! I have fallen in love with my younger sister!!! It's a pure love, believe it!!!]
[I have sinned! I slept with my older brother's wife, my younger brother's wife, AND my best friend's wife!]
[**I have sinned!...] x69
[Lucifer: Even Hell has moral standards. I refuse to accept any of you. Amen.]
—
Watching the livestream chat, which now resembled a bustling confession booth, Ethan finally exhaled in relief.
…Though, he might have seen a few comments that were genuinely concerning.
Whatever.
For now, it seemed like the situation was under control—but who knew how much longer they could keep this up?
For now, he'd let the girls handle the stream.
After all, those simps didn't really care about what was being said, as long as beautiful women were on screen.
As for Ethan himself…
He needed to focus on the final battle ahead.