According to BB, the transfer from this special space back to Chaldea would begin in no more than five minutes.
For now, they were just making sure everyone was in good condition.
Alterego would return to Mooncell with BB.
Gawain, Tristan, and Suzuka Gozen would return to the Throne.
Only Shiomi and his group, who had originally come as part of Chaldea's staff, would return to Chaldea.
That was the natural course of things.
However, despite having left the Singularity, Shiomi still felt unusually light. Just as he was about to find BB and ask why, two Knights of the Round Table surrounded him.
"Excuse us, Master of Chaldea. May we have a word?"
Gawain looked up slightly at Shiomi, who was a bit taller than him. His posture was upright and confident, neither deferential nor arrogant—he carried himself like the knight he was.
"Of course. Is this about Morgan? Or about your king?"
Gawain glanced over at Morgan—she was currently speaking with Artoria and Scáthach—then replied, "I don't know the full background of Chaldea's Morgan, but one thing is clear: she is not the mother of Gareth, Agravain, or me. So please, you need not worry about how we feel regarding her."
"Hmm." Shiomi hadn't been concerned about that anyway.
"What we wish to ask is something related to our king," Tristan said. "Before you woke up, we asked BB about what happened during the restoration of Human Order."
"We apologize for having stood in your way back then," Gawain added.
"It's in the past. You've already atoned for those actions in the Temple of Time, during the battle against the Demon King Goetia," Shiomi said, frowning slightly. "Even if the two of you here don't remember it."
Gawain and Tristan had already heard that from BB.
So this small talk had just been a prelude.
"May I ask, Master of Chaldea—do you harbor special feelings for our king?" Gawain asked seriously.
Tristan, standing beside him, was just as solemn.
There was no hostility in their voices, but Shiomi felt more uneasy now than when he had once been surrounded by several Knights of the Round Table pointing their weapons at him.
"...My respect for your king is no less than that of any Knight of the Round Table," Shiomi said honestly. "Once, she devoted her entire life to Britannia. Unable to die, she wandered the world. After becoming a goddess, she took on the role of a merciless king for the sake of humanity's future and committed many wrongs. I understand that King Arthur very well."
"No, what we want to ask is about romantic feelings between a man and a woman," Tristan said, lowering his voice.
It was clear they had come prepared—they wanted answers before returning to the Throne.
"After all, we can all see it. The king has special feelings for you," Gawain said thoughtfully. "What about you?"
Having experienced marriage in life, he naturally understood matters of the heart.
Shiomi remained composed on the outside, but inside, his thoughts were in turmoil.
After all, he was guilty.
If they found out that their king had already, in private, begun to resemble a ruler intoxicated by male affection because of him, Shiomi had little doubt a fight would break out right here.
"And what exactly are you hoping for?" Shiomi asked calmly. "For someone who gave up her humanity to lead Britannia as a non-human king—would her loyal knights truly wish to see her dream as a woman?"
His question struck at the core.
To Gawain and Tristan, their king was a shining figure—so radiant that it was easy to forget she was still human.
"The king's responsibilities ended long ago. I believe... she has the right to pursue happiness as an individual," Gawain said softly.
"If you, Master, can bring her happiness," Tristan said with a bittersweet smile, "then please, don't betray the purity of our king's feelings. After all—"
"She doesn't understand human emotions?" Shiomi interjected jokingly.
"A sharp accusation indeed," Tristan sighed. "That was my slip, and it brought upon our king a curse she never even realized."
"Whether it's a warning or a blessing, make sure to tell your king yourself—this current version of her... is the eternal king destined to reach the end alongside this planet," Shiomi replied with a gentle smile. "Even if these memories don't carry over to the next meeting, they should still be spoken."
"Then let's leave it for next time," Gawain said with a sighing laugh. "You truly understand our king. I suppose Tristan and I no longer need to worry."
"Yes..." Tristan smiled. "May you bring everlasting happiness to the Eternal King."
Then, the two of them began to fade.
"Oh, looks like it's time to go," Gawain said. "I'm sure the king already said her goodbyes after the battle, so please convey them for her this time, Master."
"Alright." Shiomi nodded.
"Until we meet again, then."
As Tristan's voice echoed, the two vanished from the special room.
...
"The Servants have all withdrawn," BB said as she approached. "It's about time to send Dad back. This time, everything was too special—it involved Mooncell's existence—so the whole incident will be classified as an Imaginary Number Phenomenon. Aside from you, no one will remember any of it."
"Huh?"
"In Chaldea, all that'll remain is the fact that the offshore oil field collapsed several months ago," BB explained. "Everything tied to the discovery of this Singularity will be erased."
"If that's Mooncell's decision, I'll accept it... I suppose." Shiomi sighed. "As for the other matter—earlier you mentioned Beast III/R. Was that an abbreviation, or—?"
"Dad, you're as sharp as ever." BB nodded. "Beast III is different from the previous Beasts. It exists in pairs. Kiara Sessyoin is just the R—L hasn't shown up yet."
Shiomi's head started to ache. "Seriously... it never ends, does it?"
"When Beast I appeared, the final Beast was already born somewhere. That's an unbreakable rule," BB told him.
"What about my body?"
"That's a little bonus BB managed to pull from Mooncell using my access privileges," BB said smugly. "Your body's back to normal now, but don't push yourself too hard. Recover step by step!"
"Yeah, yeah..." Shiomi had already guessed as much.
"Alright! It's about time to send Dad and the others back," BB said. "One last note—Rayshifting to the future isn't impossible. It's just that Chaldea can't access human history beyond 2017."
Shiomi quickly grabbed BB's arm. "Wait, what does that mean—?"
"So don't forget to read the letter from the Atlas Institute's Director," BB said solemnly. "Open it before the end of the year, at least."
"Zepia's letter? Huh—!"
Before Shiomi could finish processing BB's warning and information, his vision was once again swallowed by light.
Passionlip stood quietly behind BB, politely bidding him farewell.