I, Wang Ha, the Three Red Unparalleled Assassin

Me: The character "福" (fortune) and couplets? Aren't these things only used during the Spring Festival in my hometown?

At this moment, the Servants gathered around the table also noticed my presence and waved to greet me.

Jack: Good morning, Mom! We had a good breakfast today.

Nursery Rhyme: Good morning, Master. Do you have time to join the tea party this afternoon? Nursery Rhyme has prepared black tea and cake!

I walked over and patted the little ones on the head. Nursery Rhyme and Jack were very well-behaved, but Youzhen dodged away a little, pouting, with a French-style look of disdain on her face.

Me: Are you preparing the "Fu" character and Spring Festival couplets? Because there are very few Chinese people in Chaldea, it is generally not possible to hold grand special events to celebrate.

Li Shuwen and Qin Liangyu looked over upon hearing this, while Kongming continued writing furiously, as if he alone was responsible for writing all the "Fu" characters and couplets in Chaldea.

Qin Liangyu: My lord, don't you know? Although this Spring Festival celebration can't be as grand as the Nero Festival or Christmas, it is still a celebration for everyone in Chaldea.

I paused in surprise for a moment, then recalled the large-scale cleanup I had seen on the road earlier, while Blackbeard's screams were coming from the Rider-class Servant residential area.

Me: Oh, is that so? Mashu didn't tell me anything about this. Dusting, writing "Fu" characters, putting up couplets, you didn't even prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner and the New Year's Eve party, did you?

Kongming: That's right. Almost all the people in Chaldea who are dying from overwork have been mobilized. It is said that the idea was proposed by that old lecher Merlin.

While we were talking, Qin Liangyu had already picked up the "Fu" character and couplets written by Kongming and pasted them on the door with paste.

The three little ones followed and gathered around, with Youzhen jumping and pointing at the "Fu" character on the door.

Youzhen: Sister Qin Liangyu, you pasted the "Fu" character upside down!

Chaldea New Year's Eve Party Program

After hearing Youzhen's serious correction, everyone present laughed. Only the little ones tilted their heads in confusion, not understanding why we were so happy.

Me: Even though Black Jeanne is already teaching you to read, you're probably only familiar with Christmas customs. Chinese New Year also has many unique customs.

As I spoke, I squatted down and tried to reach out and touch Youzhen's little head, but I still couldn't succeed. She was allowed to be held in my arms and used as a pillow, but touching her head was not an option.

Youzhen: The "Fu" character was indeed pasted up? Mr. Reindeer, I wasn't wrong!

Li Shuwen: Yes, yes, little Joan of Arc was indeed right. But during the Spring Festival, we Chinese sometimes have a habit of deliberately pasting the character "福" (fortune) upside down.

Kongming: "Upside-down blessing" means "blessing has arrived". Although it only started in the Qing Dynasty, it is quite interesting to do.

Qin Liangyu: Are you interested in going with your sister to deliver New Year's greetings and put up couplets for everyone? The people who receive New Year's greetings are so happy that they might give you candy or lucky money.

After listening to the explanation, the three little ones became interested. They looked at each other and agreed to Qin Liangyu's request, while I went straight to the control room to ask what was going on.

Inside the control room, Edison and Holmes were working on a list. They greeted me with smiles when they saw me.

Me: What are you two researching? Although you're both geniuses, it's rare to see the two of you together.

Holmes: This is the program list for the Chaldea New Year's Eve party. I'm the lighting technician, and Edison is the prop master, so let's do some preparation here.

Edison: If there are props that don't exist, just make them on the spot. Even on-the-spot inventions are no problem, hahaha.

Me: Can I see the program? I'm quite curious about what the Servants will be performing.

Holmes: Of course, no problem, but I think some of the shows seem rather subtle.

After Holmes finished speaking, he handed me the program and then walked with Edison toward the Chaldea warehouse.

My curiosity was further piqued by Holmes' words, and my eyes quickly scanned the entire list, my expression gradually becoming somewhat amused and exasperated.

The preceding programs were fairly normal.

There will be a performance of The Phantom of the Opera, a piano performance by Mozart and Salieri, a crosstalk performance by Okita Souji and Oda Nobunaga, and Billy the Kid singing "Cowboy on the Run".

The Chaldea troupe, which was formed during the Salem performance, has officially returned to the stage, with Abigail, Circe, Mata Hari, and others making appearances.

The script was co-authored by Hans Christian Andersen and Shakespeare, so its quality is guaranteed, but it remains to be seen whether it will be a heart-wrenching tragedy.

Me: It's the Lunar New Year, it shouldn't be that bad.

The following shows are what made me feel that this program schedule was full of flaws.

The program "Jing Ke Assassinating the King of Qin" was performed by Jing Ke and the First Emperor of Qin.

The program "Farewell My Concubine" was performed by Xiang Yu and Yu Meiren.

The program "Longzhong Dialogue" was performed by Zhuge Liang and the First Emperor.

The program "Golden Album" was performed by Minamoto no Yorimitsu, Shuten-dōji, and Sakata Kintoki.

The program, "The Epic of Gilgamesh," is omitted due to the large number of characters involved.

The programs to be determined are "Oh! The Prosperous Rome" and "Elizabeth Concert".

Chaldea's New Year's Eve Dinner

I placed the program on the table and hesitated for a long time before finally picking up my pen and crossing out the last two pending programs. After all, my life was more important.

I thought I would be able to have a hot breakfast soon, but when I arrived at the cafeteria, I found that the chefs of Chaldea were all gathered together discussing the New Year's Eve dinner.

Emiya: The New Year's Eve dinner isn't just a casually tossed-toss meal for the staff. It not only needs to be plentiful and varied, but also balanced in terms of meat and vegetables, nutritionally appropriate, taking into account the different tastes of the Servants, and incorporating auspicious meanings...

The following is omitted for brevity; approximately 20,000 words were omitted. Finally, the eloquent head chef, Emiya, ended his speech.

Emiya: In short, the biggest problem our Chaldea culinary team needs to overcome right now is that we simply don't have enough manpower!

Boudica and Tamamo Neko nodded vigorously upon hearing this, agreeing with Emiya's insight, because it was simply impossible for the three of them to handle the entire Chaldea New Year's Eve dinner alone.

Emiya: So let's go and get some more people who can cook to help. Besides myself in black, I can also ask Ishtar, Ereshkigal, and Parvati for help.

Tamamo-no-Mae: I can go find Tamamo-no-Mae, meow. She's been undergoing bride training to get married as soon as possible, and her culinary skills are top-notch, meow~

Boudica: Then I'll ask the other Servants to take a look. I wonder who among them has good skills.

Emiya: If all else fails, just pull a few Saber-class soldiers to chop vegetables, grab a few Lancer-class soldiers to skewer meat, and grab a few Rider-class soldiers to help transport ingredients. Make the most of everything!

Wearing a white apron, Emiya clenched his fists, his resolute face full of seriousness, and his eyes burning with intense flames.

Emiya: I'll stake my name as the head chef of Chaldea on making a New Year's Eve dinner that will satisfy every Servant!!

After Emiya and the others left, I went into the dining hall to have breakfast. On my way back to my room, I encountered other Servants who were immersed in the Spring Festival atmosphere.

Frankenstein: Happy New Year, Dad! Give me a red envelope!

Moriarty: Happy New Year, my darling. Here's some lucky money for you.

Jack: Grandpa, Grandpa, Happy New Year!! We're wishing Grandpa a Happy New Year!

Old Man of the Mountain: It's Little Jack! Happy New Year! However, I didn't prepare any red envelopes, so I'll use these materials that can help Jack grow as my New Year's money.

Mashu, who had just come out of the room, would stop every few steps for a while, and her hands almost went numb from holding red envelopes all the way.

Arthur: Mash, come here. This is your New Year's money.

Gawain: Oh, it's Mashu. Here, this is your uncle's red envelope.

Artoria: Is that Mash? Here, take this red envelope.

Such scenes also occurred when encountering Tristan, Bedivere, and Merlin, as well as Artoria of various classes, and even at the end there were two Lancelots.

Lana the Madman simply shoved the red envelope into Mash's hand and ran off, while Lana the Sword lingered for a while after stopping Mash.

Mashu: Dad, are you going to give me a red envelope too? Hurry up, I still need to go find my senior.

Gladiolus: Ah, that heart-damaging nickname again. It would be better if they didn't mention that brat later.

Mashu: Dad, did you just say something bad about Senpai? I heard you.

The Old Man of the Mountain and the Midnight Bell

I watched Mash and Lancelot interact from afar. I wanted to go over and say hello, but after a sudden jolt, I subconsciously chose to walk into the other corridor.

Not long after I left, I ran into Enkidu and the wise King Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh: You mongrel, isn't today a holiday in your hometown? Hmph, then I, the king, will bestow upon you an extra reward.

Gilgamesh opened the Gate of Babylon as he spoke, and a golden ripple spread out, from which a large amount of materials that I desperately needed rolled out.

Demon's Heart, Ghost Lantern, Claw of Chaos, Withered Jade, Weeping Iron Stake...

Gilgamesh, standing with his arms crossed, slightly raised his chin, maintaining his usual arrogant posture, as if the materials in front of him were not worthy of his attention as the King of Heroes.

Enkidu: Master, please accept these. Gillespie went out and farmed these all by himself last night and only managed to collect them now. Many of the monsters in them are Rider-class.

After listening to Enkidu's words, before Gilgamesh could get angry after being exposed, I picked up a pile of materials on the ground and ran away.

Immediately afterwards, Gilgamesh's roar and Enkidu's sinister laughter came from behind, followed by a series of crackling sounds of fighting.

After escaping the danger zone, before I could even catch my breath, a gentle and refined voice sounded behind me.

First Emperor: Isn't this the Master? These materials you're holding must have been gifts from King Gilgamesh, right?

Me: It's Your Majesty! Happy New Year! This is indeed a reward I just received from the Wise King.

First Emperor: Since that's the case, then I can't be too stingy with my subjects. I'll reward you with double the amount of these materials.

Me: Thank you, Your Majesty. I am humbled.

First Emperor: Hahaha, no need to be so formal. I'll go find Jing Ke to rehearse tonight's program and see if the pillar we'll walk around is ready.

The First Emperor's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor. I picked up the two large sacks of materials on the ground and walked towards the room, where I finally met the old man from the mountain who was already waiting at the door.

Me: Happy New Year, Grandpa. What brings you here?

Old Man of the Mountain: Happy New Year to my benefactor! Tonight, let me personally ring the evening bell to bid farewell to 2018.

Me: Thank you, Grandpa, for thinking of that. Staying up on New Year's Eve is all about getting into the new year, and the midnight bell is very important.

Old Man of the Mountain: I have felt the faint sound of bells echoing in my ears since this morning. I suppose it is a reminder of this matter. Rest assured, leave it to me, my contractor!

★ Fate/Zero ★

Prologue: Death in the Valley of the Dark

Type-Moon world.

In some remote valley, a burly figure draped in a tattered black cloak stood atop the highest mountain peak.