"When she died, she was waiting for someone, wasn't she..."
Gazing at the bright, clear moon outside the window, Waver Velvet's voice seemed to drift back to that bygone era of fifteen hundred years ago.
"Waiting for her... Alwin Pendragon."
Such an end for that king.
It was so poignant, it made one want to smoke.
Because only nicotine could fill and numb nerves aching with such pain.
El-Melloi II gazed at his disciple.
He watched as the latter once again sat dazed on the hospital bed, staring blankly out the window.
The young man's black bangs partially covered his eyes, making it impossible to see what kind of ripples were swirling in those deep, inky pools.
Having witnessed such a magnificent life as the Son of the White Dragon, it's only normal to get lost in it, right?
However...
El-Melloi II felt it wasn't quite that simple.
—Rather, was it really psychometry?
After all...
If he could transmigrate once, couldn't he do it a second time?
Although the idea of his disciple having shattered the Inner Sea of the Planet was a bit too outrageous...
The black-haired young man before him was, in his very existence, an incredible miracle.
Waver Velvet knew better than anyone what kind of character and talent his disciple possessed.
After experiencing such a life-and-death parting, it was inevitable that he would be in a daze.
Guh... my stomach hurts—
An expression of gastric pain appeared on Waver's face.
Forget his disciple; Waver himself, as the narrator, couldn't help but feel his stomach churn just thinking about that ending.
Good grief, I'm feeding myself my own tragic fanfiction.
Tsk.
At the end of the day...
When a disciple is troubled, a teacher shouldn't add to it.
Waver twirled the cigar in his hand, quietly waiting for Su Shu to process his emotions.
That's life. See through it, but don't speak it.
One must find joy in their own little world.
The black-haired young man stared blankly at the London night.
A night so quiet, it was as if even the sound of the wind had vanished.
You couldn't see the stars.
And so, the moon also appeared desolate and lonely.
That dark, lonely king.
Standing under that dark, lonely night sky.
What was Artoria thinking before she died?
Was it regret?
Was it pain?
Was it resentment?
No... it was none of those, was it?
Su Shu could actually guess her thoughts.
Because he was perhaps the person in this world who understood her best.
At that moment, on the brink of death...
She just wanted to see her Senpai smile at her, just as he always had.
Until she died.
She still held that wooden sword, watching over the person who used to practice with her.
Something surged in his heart like a tide, drying on the shore and leaving a residue of sorrow.
I... saved everyone.
But I alone couldn't... save her.
He had tried various methods, yet the outcome of her lonely death could not be changed in the end.
Was that her own choice?
No.
That was the unforgivable sin of the man named Alwin Pendragon.
Like the last train missed.
Like the name that couldn't be called out even when the mouth was open.
Like the speed at which cherry blossoms fall, five centimeters per second.
Regret.
Regret is always a constant thread, but perhaps that is what life is.
The memories of the past cannot be chased, so...
I look forward to our reunion, Artoria.
In the tacit silence...
Su Shu slowly drew back his gaze and looked forward.
"That... Morgan le Fay, what happened to her afterward, Teacher?"
Yes.
He wanted to know Artoria's ending, that was true, but Morgan was Su Shu's greater concern.
Unfortunately...
"—Regrettably... I don't know either."
Waver let out a long breath.
"Perhaps my own knowledge reserves need to be improved. Whether in the official or alternative histories I've read, the records concerning that witch are few and far between. We only know that King Arthur had such an elder sister, and her name was Morgan le Fay. Regarding this figure, there are only a few superficial descriptions and speculations from scholars. For example:
"It was Morgan who plotted to break King Arthur's Sword in the Stone.
"And another example:
"Mordred was the illegitimate child of King Arthur, created by Morgan le Fay. The reason that rebellious knight was destined to rebel—was to take revenge on the king for usurping the throne that originally belonged to the witch.
"They are mostly such fringe accounts. And we now know... these speculations are not true. With that witch's character, she would certainly not have actively approached King Arthur to stage such a drama of Mordred's rebellion. So... what the truth of history really is, is truly baffling and fascinating... However, regarding Morgan..."
El-Melloi II played with the cigar in his hand, his tone hesitant.
He was considering whether to voice his startling speculation.
"However what, Teacher?"
Su Shu saw Waver's hesitation.
"—It's just that, Shu..."
After a moment's thought...
Waver decided it was better to say it.
"If you're looking for information about that witch, there might be a place with clues."
"What place..." Su Shu held his breath.
"That would be Blackmore Village, in the present-day region of Wales. A village that has existed for a thousand years, watching over a graveyard."
El-Melloi II glanced at the locked hospital room door.
His other disciple was waiting right outside...
"—Gray. You must have noticed her face long ago, Shu."
That's right, that face.
Back then, it had scared El-Melloi II so much that he had clung to Reines's leg and screamed.
To this day, his adopted sister would often tease him about it, provoking his impotent rage.
Because—Gray's face was the very same as that of the Saber-class Servant who had killed Kenneth El-Melloi, King Arthur herself.
This had always cast a shadow over Waver's heart.
For this reason, he had been asked by Gray herself to hate that face of hers.
Doing so brought his disciple a sense of peace.
"Back then, to prepare for the Fifth Holy Grail War, Reines and I went to that village together, hoping to ask a gravedigger to support our anti-spirit operations. That gravedigger... ended up entrusting his disciple to me. And that is the origin of Gray."
Actually, El-Melloi II didn't need to remind him.
The first time they met, Su Shu had recognized Gray's standard Saberface, which in turn made him realize he had transmigrated to the Nasuverse.
"I know Gray is..."
Su Shu paused.
"—a child born as a homunculus of King Arthur. You told me that long ago."
After all...
Various homunculi, human experiments, flesh-grafting, cult rituals...
Su Shu had long since grown numb to it.
After studying at the Clock Tower for over a year...
Su Shu had long since understood just how shameless the magi of this world could be, and what kind of horrific things they were capable of.
Whether it was morality or the basic bottom line of being human, for the vast majority of magi, these were the least valued things, things that could be discarded at any time.
If sacrificing their entire family could lead them to the Root, Su Shu believed this group of magi would turn into the Uchiha clan on the spot.
Something like wanting to resurrect King Arthur wasn't even that rare in England.
There might even be several places in Britain conducting similar rituals at the same time.
"No, there's actually one more thing I didn't tell you—Gray's birth... was actually a mission passed down by the clan in that village. They were ordered to do so."
"...Ordered to do so?"
Su Shu wanted to ask, By whom?
But the answer immediately came to mind.
Looking at his disciple's stunned expression...
El-Melloi II swayed the unlit cigar in his hand.
"By a figure the villagers called the Black Madonna. Such a unique title..."
El-Melloi II said softly.
"You should be able to guess who that is..."
"It is," Su Shu murmured, "—Morgan..."
"That's right. I also speculate it was that witch."
Weighing his inference...
A complex expression appeared on El-Melloi II's face.
"In fact, that village was established by the Black Madonna to resurrect someone. She set up a large number of Mystic Codes and demanded that the villagers do everything in their power to complete this mission. Over the long course of more than a thousand years, much of the village's information has been lost. Even the villagers themselves have become somewhat vague about their mission. After an accident, most of the original texts were burned. They forgot who they were supposed to resurrect, so based on the remaining information, they inferred... that the person to be resurrected was the famous King Arthur. This is very logical, because I originally thought... that witch wanted to resurrect King Arthur—because her younger sister died on the Hill of Camlann, causing her to feel guilty as the elder sister. But now, according to your memories, such a thing is impossible—Morgan could not have wanted to resurrect King Arthur."
El-Melloi II's gaze burned as he looked at his disciple.
"The person she wanted to resurrect was, without a doubt..."
Su Shu, slightly stunned, finished El-Melloi II's sentence.
"...Alwin Pendragon."
"That's right."
An expression that was a mix of a smile and emotion appeared on El-Melloi II's face.
"The villagers mistakenly wanted to resurrect King Arthur, but the actual target of their resurrection was the Son of the White Dragon. This is perhaps why Gray has silver hair..."
Yes... silver hair.
In other words—
Gray is actually... a gender-bent version of Alwin.
Realizing this, Su Shu's expression froze for a moment.
Ah, this...
Only at this moment...
Did Su Shu finally understand where that natural sense of closeness he had felt towards Gray, even before the Alwin simulation, came from...
It was the resonance of their bloodline.
—Liking yourself is the most normal thing in the world, isn't it?
"..."
Smoke was coming out of his head.
Su Shu felt as if his CPU had been fried.
My gender-bent version is a Saberface?!
Saber was me all along?!
Holy shit! Now that I think about it, it suddenly seems so reasonable!
I can't look at Gray-chan the same way anymore!
Kissing her would be... kissing a gender-bent version of myself?!
Hard. My fists are hard.
El-Melloi II stood up and, with great emotion, patted his dazed disciple's shoulder.
"So, treat Gray well... you can't escape this bond, my boy."
As his words fell...
—Knock. Knock. Knock.
A polite, standard three-knock rap on the hospital room door suddenly sounded, making the two in the room pause.
"I should have told Reines and the others not to disturb..."
...my private time with my adorable disciple.
However.
Without the owner's permission...
The lock was easily picked with a masterful magical technique, and a hand, so delicate and pale it didn't look like a man's, gently pushed open the door.
El-Melloi II, who had been monopolizing his disciple, looked towards the door with alarm.
Appearing before them...
Was the gently smiling face of a silver-haired man.
His features were as delicate and soft as a woman's, and his entire demeanor was gentle, elegant, and polite.
His silver hair was tied into a braid at the back, draped over one shoulder, adding a touch of friendliness to his image.
"Lord Marisbury Animusphere..."
Seeing the visitor...
Waver's black eyes narrowed with vigilance.
"You don't come without a reason. What wind brings you here?"
"Oh my, Lord El-Melloi II. I heard that the top disciple of the Modern Magecraft Department was unwell and has now woken up, so I came personally to visit."
Marisbury smiled gently, a smile that was like a spring breeze.
Though he hadn't received the owner's permission...
He walked directly into the hospital room with his gifts.
His smiling iron-gray eyes and his steady steps were like those of a wolf eyeing its prey.
Waver stepped forward directly, his body slightly blocking the silver-haired man's path, his ink-black eyes looking down at this Lord.
"My disciple is unwell at the moment. Please leave, my Lord."
"...Lord El-Melloi II, you are truly so distant. It's not like I'm going to eat your disciple."
Marisbury's smile remained, and a strange light flashed in his iron-gray eyes.
"At least... can you let me say a few words to Shu-kun?"
Behind El-Melloi II...
Su Shu sat on the hospital bed, scrutinizing the uninvited silver-haired man before him, the head of the Animusphere family.
He had to admit...
A side ponytail, your hairstyle is very dangerous, madam...
Wait, is this guy an uncle? Or a grandpa?
Animusphere.
Also known as the Department of Astromancy at the Clock Tower.
This was a powerful and old-school department among the twelve departments of the Clock Tower—regardless of its future development, its foundation was far superior to the current Modern Magecraft Department.
...This family head actually came to visit him?
The fact that he had fallen unconscious should only be known to El-Melloi II, Gray, and Reines, a few people...
Yet it had reached his ears?
Is he watching me?
Su Shu actually wasn't familiar with the other party at all. At most, they had met a few times.
However...
—The last time, when he was being evaluated for his magus rank...
Besides El-Melloi II, this man had also stood up and, in the name of the Animusphere family, had given him his full support.
"Shu-kun is undoubtedly an outstanding magus cultivated by our Clock Tower."
The silver-haired man had said with a smile, standing at the judge's bench.
"For a genius, achievements should not be limited by age. I believe his promotion to the rank of Pride should be without question."
Marisbury's opinion had greatly swayed the wavering judges, and in the end, Su Shu was promoted to the rank of Pride with a unanimous vote.
It was... very strange.
Because the Animusphere family was a traditional aristocratic faction, in other words, a magical academic clique that had been passed down for thousands of years, true-blue old Londoners.
The Department of Astromancy had deep-rooted influence in the Clock Tower, their bloodline both pure and noble, and their disciples were numerous and talented.
The noble families of the Clock Tower generally looked down on the Modern Magecraft Department, and even more so on Su Shu, a foreigner.
So why would Marisbury, this traditional family magus, stand up and speak for him?
Many people even thought that Su Shu had secretly joined the aristocratic faction.
But as his teacher, El-Melloi II of course knew that his disciple had no relationship with the Department of Astromancy at all.
So, in Waver's view, what Marisbury's show of goodwill meant... was completely obvious.
Poaching my student right in front of me, Kongming?
Marisbury, you've gone too far!
Because he was taller...
Waver looked down at the silver-haired family head before him with a solemn expression.
Marisbury Animusphere.
The other's reputation in the Clock Tower was known to all. Putting aside the breadth of his fame, his title was at least much more powerful than his own, El-Melloi II, and his family's assets were also... much more abundant.
But this did not stop El-Melloi II from disrespecting him.
You may have more money than me, but you definitely don't have more debt than me. I win!
He looks like a young man in his twenties...
However, ten years ago, when Waver was still in Kenneth's classroom, Marisbury had had the same damn face.
Who knows how old this geezer is, acting all young.
"It's not a matter of whether you want to speak, my Lord," El-Melloi II's tone was cold. "It's a matter of whether my disciple wants to listen. Your barging in like this is already very rude. My not making a move is already a sign of my respect for you."
Although if he did make a move, Waver knew he couldn't win.
But it's about pride, not just steamed buns. Today, I'll show you the value of the rank of Fes.
Waver began to loosen his tie.
"As expected of you, Lord El-Melloi II. You truly love your disciple like a son..."
Having been asked to leave...
The smile on the silver-haired man's face did not change at all.
He turned his head and looked at the black-haired young man sitting on the hospital bed with a grin.
"Then, what does Shu-kun himself say..."
"—I will not join the Department of Astromancy, Lord Marisbury. If that is why you have come, you can go back now."
Su Shu's faint voice came from behind Waver.
It also made El-Melloi II feel emotional inside. Kid, I didn't dote on you for nothing.
Wait... it seems I haven't doted on him much. It's always been the disciple paying the teacher's overtime pay. He's the one doting on me.
Numb... now that I think about it, I suddenly feel so ashamed.
"Tsk, Shu-kun, my boy. I didn't come to invite you to join the Department of Astromancy. I was really just worried and came to visit you."
Like an ultimate social butterfly...
Marisbury put down the luxurious supplements in his hand and sat down in the chair by Su Shu's bed.
That's my seat, hey!
The corner of Waver's mouth twitched.
There's only one bed, one chair. Are you going to make me sit on my disciple?
Waver glared at the silver-haired man, but Marisbury just smiled, completely ignoring his murderous gaze.
Fine, you have a thick skin.
El-Melloi II coughed and sat directly on Su Shu's narrow hospital bed, squeezing in with his disciple and affectionately placing a hand on the black-haired young man's shoulder.
This was a declaration of sovereignty!
"..."
Su Shu sighed faintly.
This sigh was for Marisbury to hear.
The trust between him and El-Melloi II was not something an outsider could understand. It was a sincerity that could be shared even with the identity of a transmigrator.
And Su Shu didn't care about the power and property of the nobility at all.
To be honest, if you sold the entire El-Melloi family, it wouldn't even be half as rich as he was now.
In fact, as an old programmer dog who had mastered forward-looking information... Su Shu was crystal clear about the future development trends of the world.
He knew how to invest in the forefront of the information technology industry with his eyes closed. The speed at which he accumulated wealth in the stock market could only be described as exaggerated.
His current assets could have long ago paid off El-Melloi II's debt, but Waver did not accept handouts.
Money was not even waste paper in the face of an Abyssal Space Storm. What he was trying to save was the world itself.
Su Shu really didn't have a good impression of this uninvited stranger.
The other's gentle attitude was all an act. In fact, he had not respected his opinion at all, and every step was aggressive.
"I'll give you ten minutes at most... Lord Marisbury. I hope you won't disturb the conversation between my master and me."
His important study had been interrupted, and Su Shu was not happy.
The black-haired young man and the silver-haired man looked at each other, and his tone also became detached.
"This is to... repay the favor you did for me during my promotion. If you have any purpose, please state it now—I will give you a clear answer. I hope there won't be a next time."
"Truly... a formidable young man."
Marisbury smiled, his iron-gray eyes slowly opening. Though he was the Lord of the Department of Astromancy, this disciple of the rank of Pride showed him no fear at all.
As expected of the talent I have my eye on.
This person undoubtedly possesses the will to open up a new era and subvert the world.
"That's right, it really has nothing to do with the Department of Astromancy, Shu-kun. Because... what I want to invite you to join is... the Chaldea project."
"Chaldea?"
Su Shu repeated the word.
He had some impression of it, but unfortunately, he had never played the FGO mobile game.
Therefore, it was just like hearing the name of an unfamiliar, popular celebrity—he tried hard to remember something, but the thought, Who the hell is this? popped into his head.
And hearing this term...
The El-Melloi II beside him couldn't help but frown deeply.
"The Department of Astromancy hasn't given up on that on-paper concept yet?"
"Not only have we not given up, but we are also not far from success."
Marisbury said with a smile.
"CHALDEAS has already established a preliminary base in Antarctica and has received the full support of the Atlas Institute. Now, we have even completed the construction of a near-future observation lens named Sheba, which will help us observe the stable operation of the future Human Order. Success is no longer out of reach."
"You madmen..." El-Melloi II's face twitched.
"Thank you, 'madmen'. Your praise is the best affirmation of our work."
Marisbury bowed slightly and said with a smile.
"Great progress in human history has never been achieved overnight. It requires a madman-like spirit of exploration, willing to subvert everything."
Those words...
So familiar.
Su Shu gazed at the smiling silver-haired man before him.
He vaguely saw another version of himself in his pupils.
That was... the determination to subvert the world.
"What is Chaldea, Teacher?"
El-Melloi II glanced at his disciple beside him and pursed his lips.
"This was a concept proposed by the Department of Astromancy in 1950. To put it simply, it is to first observe a certain point in time in the past, then use a reverse summoning technique called pseudo-spiritron transfer to ultimately achieve time travel—to achieve the effect of going back to the past and tampering with history."
"Lord El-Melloi II, you are mistaken. We don't want to tamper with history," Marisbury said with a smile. "We just want to... protect the stable development of human society."
His tone was utterly sincere.
Hearing El-Melloi II's explanation...
Su Shu was a little dazed.
Spiritron Transfer.
This was the second time he had heard this term.
The last time was from...
—that nightmare's mouth.
"What is Spiritron Transfer?"
"This is still just a concept at the moment. I'm not sure about the specific principles, but if it's you, Shu..."
El-Melloi II pondered for a moment.
"Then I only need to describe it like this—they want to turn a person into Schrödinger's Cat."
"Understood..."
Su Shu, who had taken quantum mechanics as an elective, immediately understood El-Melloi II's meaning.
"—a quantum state of neither dead nor alive..."
"Shu-kun, as expected of the top student of the Modern Magecraft Department."
The silver-haired man clapped his hands with a smile.
"Rather, as expected of you two—communicating with smart people is so much easier. That's right. We hope to use magical means to perform pseudo-spiritron decomposition on the human body, putting it into a state of both alive and dead, like Schrödinger's Cat. Then, while observing history, we can project the pseudo-spiritrons that make up the human body to a certain point in time in the past or future. This way... our Chaldea will be able to exercise the duty of protecting human history—by teleporting past Heroic Spirits, we can from now on nip all sources of instability and turmoil in human society in the bud at the very beginning!"
The silver-haired man's tone was calm but brewed with fanaticism.
As his words fell...
The scene suddenly froze.
Su Shu had to admit, El-Melloi II's evaluation was very pertinent.
To want to hold the entire history of mankind in one's hands was indeed a madman-like concept. No, madman was not enough to describe such arrogance.
But, he had to say...
—it was very much to his taste.
And...
Time travel?
Wasn't this...
—the function of his own simulator?
Could the origin of his system be related to Chaldea?
"Then... why choose me?"
Su Shu asked the most critical question, and the reason would also determine his answer.
"I know nothing about astromancy, and I'm not very interested either..."
"No, this has nothing to do with astromancy at all," Marisbury came forward and, to El-Melloi II's frowning expression, enthusiastically shook the black-haired young man's hand. "Shu-kun, you are a genius! No, genius is not enough to describe your talent... you are an epoch-making monster! I hope that doesn't offend you, but I mean it as a compliment!"
"You've gone too far, Marisbury! Let go of his hand!"
El-Melloi II even dropped the honorifics.
Are you kidding me! Shu's hand is a treasure that only I, his teacher, can hold!
Waver Velvet gritted his teeth and tried to pry open the old man's hands, but he couldn't budge the smiling silver-haired man at all.
"Please... calm down a little."
Su Shu slightly shook his wrist.
The silver-haired man's hands were suddenly shaken open.
His smiling eyes opened slightly, and he glanced at the black-haired young man's hand, a trace of surprised light leaking from the gap.
Good strength. As expected of the combat specialist who defeated that Bazzet.
"I haven't agreed to your request yet. It's a bit too early for a handshake now."
Su Shu squeezed El-Melloi II's hand.
To be honest...
Even if the other's plan was very much to his taste...
His intuition about this person... was untrustworthy.
The feeling Marisbury gave him was like... that nightmare, Merlin.
The smile on his face...
Was just... a mask he wore because people would feel a sense of closeness because of it.
That's right...
A magus who dreamed of holding the history of mankind in his own hands...
How could he... be friendly?
This was a guy with even less of a bottom line and even more cold and ruthless than those magi who pursued human alchemy and flesh-and-blood sacrifices.
"Those rotten old geezers at the Clock Tower don't understand, but Shu-kun, my boy, I've listened to your substitute lectures!"
Marisbury smiled brilliantly.
"Your concept of Open-Source Magecraft, your theory of External Magic Circuit Programming, are epoch-making genius ideas. This is work that can benefit all of mankind, not to mention your thesis... I've read it in its entirety. This kind of knowledge that will subvert the landscape of the future magecraft world, you taught for free and made it public. It's only natural that it would offend the interests of those old geezers—because they are a bunch of losers~ they don't understand the stakes at all. They can't stop this trend of the times."
Those words...
Even El-Melloi II's expression couldn't hold.
Marisbury, you Animusphere family are the biggest old geezers yourselves. Don't you have any idea how old you are?
And yet...
The biggest old geezer actually admired the most cutting-edge monster.
"But... I understand! Shu-kun!"
The silver-haired man's tone was filled with fanaticism.
"Your ideas, Shu-kun, I understand them the best! We are truly kindred spirits... We have already gathered the most elite team in the entire magecraft world. Your talent is unquestionable—you are a magical genius on par with, if not superior to, Daybit-kun and even Kirschtaria... no, you are even stronger than them! Those old geezers suppressed your thesis, so you know, right? Your talent is being wasted in this Clock Tower. Come to Chaldea, that is the place where you can best use your talents...
"—Chaldea needs a talent like you!"
The silver-haired man's fan-like, fanatical declaration finally subsided.
The two in the hospital room looked at him silently.
A pyramid scheme.
He sounds too much like the head of a pyramid scheme.
That's enough exaggeration.
Marisbury seemed to have realized his loss of composure, coughed twice, and his face returned to that serene, elegant smile of a nobleman.
"So... what do you think? Shu-kun, I came to invite you personally. You can see my sincerity, right?"
He spread his hands and said.
"The Organization for the Preservation of the Human Order, Chaldea. This is—a grand ideal to blaze a trail through the thorns for the future of humanity. If you also care about humanity, then joining us is your best choice."
This final sentence...
Made Su Shu's heart stir slightly.
That's right...
If Chaldea's philosophy was as Marisbury described...
Then, with the prophecy of various natural disasters possibly descending in the future, Su Shu would have found a group of like-minded partners to resist them together.
Therefore, he was slightly moved.
But...
Marisbury. The feeling this person gave him was really too strange.
For some special reason...
Su Shu now really disliked silver-haired men who spoke with a gentle smile.
After a moment of contemplation...
He gave his answer.
"If I have time... I can go to Chaldea to have a look first."
"This is undoubtedly Chaldea's honor."
Under El-Melloi II's slightly complex gaze...
The silver-haired man came forward and shook the black-haired young man's hand.
This time, Su Shu did not refuse.
"Shu."
Marisbury pronounced Su Shu's name in slightly clumsy Chinese.
"Your name, Shu-kun, in Chinese, means 'tree', right? Hehe... 'tree' often represents a sturdy, vibrant plant. This is just like our human society that has developed to this day—our entire human history is like a tree, deeply rooted in the earth, with branches and leaves spreading out under the sky. This... is perhaps our unique fate. Your name is really very interesting. Shu. This also seems to have given me some... inspiration."
Smiling while saying incomprehensible things...
Marisbury took out a business card from his pocket and presented it respectfully with both hands.
"Chaldea welcomes you, Shu-kun. You must come and visit when you have time."
Looking at the business card before him, branded with the pattern of an unfurled olive branch and a rippling moon...
Su Shu's gaze froze slightly.
Not just because it was the United Nations emblem rotated ninety degrees clockwise.
But because... this pattern...
He had seen it before.
He vaguely remembered...
On that battlefield of the eternal night spiral...
On the clothes of an unfamiliar, red-haired girl.
That was—
"Fujimaru... Ritsuka?"
Su Shu murmured to himself, speaking the name.
"You are from... Chaldea?"
"What's wrong, Shu-kun?"
Seeing Su Shu's slightly dazed expression...
Marisbury narrowed his eyes slightly.
"It's nothing... I just think this icon is very similar to the United Nations emblem."
Su Shu came back to his senses.
He had thought... those two girls were also Servants summoned by the Counter Force.
Correcting... history...?
No... could it be that Chaldea...
—If I go and participate in building Chaldea, its purpose is to subjugate my historical self?!
Holy shit!
The traitor was me all along?!
Now I have to play the part of the mole!
"Ah~ what a sharp eye you have, Shu-kun. Indeed, Chaldea's logo is a replica of the United Nations emblem. This is also a good wish for the stable and peaceful future of our humanity."
He had far exceeded the ten-minute time limit.
Every step, the reactions of Su Shu and El-Melloi II, were all within his calculations.
Thinking that another Crypter was about to be brought under his command...
A gentle, spring-breeze-like smile appeared on the silver-haired man's face.
That's right. If it's you, Shu-kun. If it's you, you can definitely be the leader of the Crypters and lead Chaldea to subvert this entire corrupt and fallen world.
"Then... please rest well, Shu-kun~"
Marisbury walked to the door of the hospital room and waved back.
Suddenly...
He seemed to have remembered something.
A meaningful smile appeared on his face.
"Oh, that's right. My dear Mary~ come here. Come and get to know Shu-kun properly. Take good care of the sick Shu-kun on behalf of your father. You must get along 'well' with him. Because he... —might just be your future husband."
To the nearly frozen expressions of Su Shu and El-Melloi II...
The silver-haired man clapped his hands.
Instantly...
A silver-haired girl with a flushed face and amber-colored eyes was pushed forward by her father's shoulder.
And then, gently pushed into the hospital room.
"L-Lord El-Melloi, Sh-Shu-kun, h-hello... I-I am... Olga Marie Animusphere..."
The gorgeously dressed girl in conspicuous red pantyhose bowed to the two before her with a nearly red face, somewhat nervously.
She then looked at her father behind her, who had pushed her out like a tool.
The silver-haired man smiled and waved at her, his open lips seeming to be mouthing the words 'do well'.
Father... needs me...
I must do well...
Yes...
I must try my best to make the man before me...
—become my husband.
She had long heard of the reputation of the Sleeping Black Magus.
He was the most popular, most talked about, and most gossiped about magical genius of the younger generation in the entire Clock Tower.
And... he's quite handsome...
Olga Marie Animusphere stared at the black-haired young man before her with a flushed face, feeling as if her brain was experiencing waves of dizziness, making it a little difficult to stand.
Father said, he, he is... my future husband...?
Then, what... what should I do... to please my husband?
"That's right, Shu-kun..."
Just as he was about to leave...
The silver-haired man seemed to have remembered something else and turned back to smile.
"I am also planning to participate in the Holy Grail War in the Far East this time. I hope the two of us won't meet on the battlefield..."
Watching the black-haired master and disciple digesting this shocking news, a little dazed...
Leaving his silver-haired daughter standing awkwardly in the hospital room...
The head of the Animusphere family smiled.
His elegant figure disappeared outside the doorframe.
"..."
From the edge of the doorframe, a blonde head and a silver-haired head peeked in.
"Stare—"
Reines and Gray.
When Marisbury opened the door, they had already been quietly squatting at the entrance, face to face with Olga Marie, who had come to take care of her future husband.
Good heavens, this is a 1v1v1 free-for-all.
In the not-so-spacious hospital room...
Three beautiful girls, their clothes exuding a faint, pleasant fragrance, suddenly squeezed in.
Two silver, one gold.
Looking at Gray and this Miss Olga Marie beside her...
Reines suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
Her hair color was at a significant disadvantage!
The death star of the golden-haired loser seemed to be twinkling above her head.
She had to take the initiative!
"So..." the adopted sister said with a smile. "We have only one narrow bed tonight, and it's already been squeezed full by Teacher and Shu-kun. How are we supposed to sleep?"
The meaning of her words was already obvious.
You out-of-place old geezer, get lost~
On the hospital bed...
El-Melloi II, who was snuggling with his disciple, covered his face.
Marisbury, you old fox, you even threw in a daughter. So that was your final trump card.
...Should I just kick her out?
Unfortunately, the little girl is probably just a tool, and she seems to listen to her father very much.
What the hell is all this...
El-Melloi II, who was the worst at dealing with women, slowly, slowly let out a long breath and patted Su Shu's shoulder.
"Shu, I'm going back to work overtime. You rest well..."
Waver didn't mention anything about draining energy anymore. When it was time to be drained, it was time to be drained. Anyway, it wasn't him who was being drained.
The master and disciple looked at each other, somewhat frozen.
From El-Melloi II's eyes...
Su Shu saw the character 润 (run) in his pupils.
...You're going to run?
In the face of such a harem battlefield, Teacher, you're actually going to abandon me?
Su Shu silently took out another stack of British pounds from his pocket.
El-Melloi II took it and put it in his own pocket.
"Thanks, I'll take this as the reasoning fee, Shu. Good night in advance."
"That's not what I mean, hey! Teacher!"
His outstretched hand failed to catch the fleeing Kongming.
Bang.
The door to the hospital room was tightly shut by the fleeing El-Melloi II, who also locked it with magic. The smell of women was driving him crazy.
"...Thank you for everything," Su Shu drew circles in his palm, sending his blessings to his departed master.
"Shu-kun~ You were monopolized by my brother for so many hours. Did you miss me?"
Reines kicked off her boots and was the first to squeeze into the bed, a cat-like, narrowed-eyed, flushed and seductive smile on her face.
It wasn't that I was monopolized by your brother, it was me who was monopolizing your brother. Don't get the cause and effect wrong.
The black-haired young man pinched Reines's cheek and sighed.
"La-Lady Reines, you... you're going too far! I still haven't gotten back at you for that forceful kiss before!"
Gray-chan squeezed in from the other side of the bed.
The hospital bed creaked and swayed.
The two living treasures were tangled up in the blanket, and from time to time, an ambiguous... touch that made one's fists harden was felt.
What the hell are you two doing!
Su Shu looked up and silently at the silver-haired girl before him, who was nervously pinching the corner of her clothes, her face flushed.
Her plump thighs, wrapped in red pantyhose, rubbed against each other with a hissing sound.
So...
—when it's my turn, I can only sit... sit on you?
From her rippling, amber-colored eyes...
Su Shu read such words.
One man, three women, in the same room.
Good heavens, even Alwin wasn't as awesome as me.
Four people at once... this is just...
Involuntarily...
Irresistibly...
Impossibly to refuse...
Su Shu immediately thought of a wonderful, exciting, and blush-inducing R-rated entertainment.
"So, let's all..."
To the flushed, yet somewhat expectant expressions of everyone...
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