Satoru Ryomen POV
"Seriously of all people it had to be this slacker who's contracted to you Mashu," the Director complained with irritation only to stop once a Dismantle slice singed a part of her cheek and destroyed the skeletons behind her and Mashu.
"Sorry about that," I said with a lazy wave, though my eyes had a glint of warning in them "it was a reflex. You were just in the way that's all really."
The Director froze her hand brushing against the small cut at the edge of her cheek, her face caught somewhere between fear and outrage "you! You could've killed me!" she snapped.
I tilted my head giving her a calm almost bored smile "could have, yeah but I didn't," I stepped past her my gaze sweeping over the skeletal remains I'd just reduced to ash "if anything you should be thanking me," I said leaving her to sputter.
"Anyways what this about me being your master Mashu? And what's with the get up?" I questioned.
Mashu straightened up her grip tightening slightly on the massive shield "this... well...after we got separated during the Rayshift, something happened. I woke up and I wasn't the same anymore. I'm fused with a heroic spirit that Chaldea had summoned earlier allowing me to become a Demi-Servant."
I raised an eyebrow "demi-servant? Sounds like half-assing being a Heroic Spirit."
She gave a small, sheepish nod "it's... not exactly stable. They fused me with a Servant's spirit core, but I don't know whose it is all I really know is that I have their power...or part of it."
My eyes drifted over her shield.
The thing looked like it could block a city bus going full speed "and the contract part?"
"That's the other thing," Mashu murmured, glancing briefly at the Director before looking back at me "when I woke up like this, I could feel a connection with someone but wasn't sure who it was. At first I thought it was Director Olga but that wasn't possible. It was only after you appeared that I felt the connection become complete between us. You should see the proof on one of your wrists senpai," she explained.
I glanced down at my right noticing the red mark of command seals in the shape of a shield "well how about that looks like I really am your master, although I am not really noticing much of a drain on my mana" I absentmindedly noted.
"What?" Olga asked walking close by until we were eye to eye "you should at least feel a good amount of mana being used up...unless wait what did you say your name was again?"
"Huh shouldn't you know this already? It's Satoru Ryomen," I replied in a irritated tone.
"N-No way...your that mercenary with the abnormal high quality and quantity of magic circuits...the one the Clocktower has titled as The Butcher," Olga stammered, her voice wavering between fear and caution.
"Got it in one," I confirmed with a smirk "also just to remind you that Chaldea still owes me that 50 million in exchange for having me become one of their master candidates...although I am thinking of raising it to a 100 million now with the attitude you've been giving me."
Olga hurriedly bows "I humbly apologize for my earlier comments. Please consider my previous words from today as...something I did in the heat of the moment because I thought you weren't paying attention. Of course Chaldea will still give you the confirmed 50 million but please reconsider asking for more."
Mashu watched us wondering why the Director was suddenly apologizing.
I rolled my eyes "calm down already, geez woman you don't need to grovel at my feet...just don't underestimate me like you did before otherwise you'll end up regretting it."
I could have also mentioned something about her attitude but I am not that petty enough to be really mad at her.
Hell if I saw someone sleeping while I was trying to communicate something important I'd be pretty pissed off to.
So I'll let the earlier incident that took place between us slide.
Olga lets out a sigh of concealed relief when all of the sudden the Chaldea issued watch on my hand started beeping and then the hologram image of Romani Archman appeared in front of us.
"I finally got through! Hello? This is Chaldea Command Room? Do you read me?" Romani called out.
Mashu quickly stepped forward, answering the call "we read you loud and clear Dr. Roman. I'm here along with master candidate 48 Satoru Ryomen and Director Olga Marie."
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a startled voice "waaaahhhhhhhhhh! D-Director, you're alive? And you're unharmed? What the...?" Roman blurted out his expression going slack-jawed.
Olga's brows furrowed "what's that supposed to mean? Of course I'm alive! Why are you the one in charge anyway? Where's Lev? Put Lev on!"
Dr. Roman's expression immediately turned grim "don't ask me why, Director I know I'm not cut out for this job but there's no one else. The surviving full-time staff of Chaldea is down to thirty-five people, including myself. Dr. Lev was supervising from the Command Room there's no way he could've survived that blast."
Olga froze but only for a moment before forcing herself back to composure "no way... Lev... no-forget that. Only thirty-five survivors? What about the other Master candidates?"
Roman's hesitation was obvious even through the static "...forty-seven, all in critical condition. We're low on medical supplies and we might be able to save a few, but all of them might-"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Olga snapped "cryopreserve them immediately, think about reviving them later. Your top priority right now is making sure they don't die!"
"I...I forgot the coffins even had that function! I'll get on it right away!" Roman said scrambling in his chair.
Mashu blinked in mild surprise "that surprises me, Director. Cryopreservation without prior consent is technically a crime...yet you made the decision instantly. You put human lives ahead of your own reputation."
"Tch, don't be stupid!" Olga shot back turning her face away "as long as they're not dead, I can explain later why else would I do it? In the first place, forty-seven lives... there's no way I can carry that burden! Please don't die... I'm begging you... If only Lev were here..."
Her voice cracked near the end.
She's sounds really weak calling out for that Willy Wonka look alike.
Roman's voice returned softer now "...that concludes my report. Chaldea's lost 80% of its functionality. We're shifting all manpower to Rayshift repairs and keeping Chaldeas and Sheba stable. Once external comms are back up, we'll request supplies and start rebuilding."
"Fine I'd have done the same," Olga replied her voice cool again "until I return Romani Archman you're in charge. Make Rayshift repairs your top priority we'll investigate the Singularity F."
Roman hesitated "director, you're not afraid to be at ground zero? Since when did you become so brave?"
"Seriously you don't know when to shut up," Olga muttered "I'd love nothing better than to go back right now but we don't have that luxury. This town only has low-level monsters, and with Mash as a Demi-Servant we'll be fine. Accident or not, Animuspheres pride themselves on doing our best in the situation we're given. I'll be looking into Singularity F with Mash Kyrielight and Satoru Ryomen as investigators."
Roman's face brightened slightly "roger that best of luck, Director. We can communicate in short bursts contact me if it's an emergency."
"Hmph even if we sent an SOS, no one's coming to our rescue," Olga muttered under her breath.
"Director?" Roman asked.
"Nothing I am cutting the connection. Do your job."
The holo-feed winked out.
Mashu hesitated "director... are you sure about this? We could wait here for rescue."
"I can't afford that," Olga said firmly "once we're back it'll take at least a month to gather a new team. In the meantime the Association will tear into me. Worst case I lose Chaldea. I just need proof to shut them up, and I won't get that sitting here."
She turned sharply toward us "sorry, but you're both stuck with me, Mashu, Satoru. Let's explore this town the cause of this twisted history has to be here somewhere."
I shoved my hands in my pockets with a sigh "fine by me I suppose at the very least I'll get some entertainment with the infested zombie hordes."
-end of chapter three-
Next chapter, Medusa the Seducer
Name: Satoru Ryomen
Title/Alias: The Butcher (by the Clocktower), The Strongest (Self Proclaimed by Him)
Age: 18
Origin: Earth
Role: Master Candidate, Bounty Hunter-Merc (Current)
Circuits: 45
Quality: EX
Origin: Cooking/Space
Element: Imaginary Numbers a.k.a: Hollow
Personality: Cocky, Fighting Maniac, Analytical, Scornful, Intelligent, and Protective of those he Trusts.
Current Revealed Spell Arsenal:
Dismantle: A normal default ranged slashing attack
Cleave: A slashing attack that adjusts itself depending on the target's toughness and mana energy level to cut them down in one fell swoop. This spell first require hand contact though.
Reverse Mana Flow: is Satoru's special healing technique where he rewinds the flow of magical energy inside a person's body to reverse their injuries. Instead of just speeding up healing, it forces the soul/body to "undo" damage by restoring the original blueprint of their cells and mana flow. This lets him quickly heal wounds even regenerating limbs and fix magical damage by making the body return to how it was before getting hurt.
Reinforcement: Although it is the basic of techniques the way Satoru uses it seems to be way different from normal magi. We've seen him match a servant like the corrupted Assassin in both sight and strength using his method of reinforcement