Power
Chaldea, the paradise that summoned countless heroes.
A journey stretching far into the future, footsteps to reclaim a distant tomorrow… alongside cherished comrades.
But as the price for welcoming so many allies, a certain problem began to rear its head…
"Here's the list of power consumption for maintaining Chaldea."
"Hm."
Olgamally handed over a detailed list, which Gilgamesh scanned.
The list outlined Chaldea's power usage, resource consumption, firepower, and the mana distributed to sustain the Heroic Spirits, all displayed in intricate graphs.
Among them, one graph stood out, its bar towering above the rest.
"As expected, a consequence of bolstering our ranks. Those heroes are devouring our power reserves."
Gilgamesh nodded as Olgamally opened a monitor.
"Yes. And our mana supply can't keep up with the surging demand."
"I recall we're allocating forty percent of Chaldea's resources to maintain the heroes, correct?"
"Yes. We're using a custom-built system, but that's the bare minimum to balance Chaldea's functions."
Forty percent, huh? Not that it's excessive—Chaldea's ability to sustain Heroic Spirits with just forty percent is worthy of praise.
"…Karna must be guzzling mana, no doubt. Hm, did I summon too many heroes without thinking ahead? Haha!"
The vessel laughs, but this is no trivial matter. Even a supreme paradise can't function without resources. High-quality operations demand high-quality power.
"My apologies, Gil. This is the Animusphere family's failure for underestimating the cost of summoning heroes."
Olgamally bowed deeply.
It wouldn't be honorable to blame her.
This facility was likely inherited from her father or grandfather. If the design is their doing, she shouldn't bear the blame for anything beyond operations.
"Honestly, your low self-esteem is a flaw, Olgamally."
He patted her head gently.
"You don't need to shoulder everything. Take on too much, and your back will break in no time."
"Gil…"
"This issue stems from the original designers' failure to secure enough power. Just hold your head high and shine—that's enough."
Sheba's maintenance, Chaldeas' adjustments, operations, mystic code development…
Her labor and contributions—alongside Roman—make her one of the finest staff.
"Diligence is commendable. Don't make me repeat myself, fool."
"—Yes… Yes!"
Olgamally's eyes glistened with tears.
"For now, we observe. If real harm arises, we'll address it then."
"Yes, I'll report to you immediately."
"Good, permitted. I'm off to bathe. Don't overwork yourself either—your body may be a Grail, but dying from exhaustion would be bitter, no?"
He waved airily and left the briefing room.
"Surely, no real harm will come so soon—"
But it did.
"Hahaha, my design is flawless, isn't it? Without this spacious bath, a proper soak would be impossible!"
Gilgamesh, in high spirits, rinsed and sank into the hot water.
"Haha, heroes! Revel to your heart's content! This is my proud earthly paradise—Chaldea!!"
But then—
Darkness enveloped Chaldea.
A void swallowed his vision.
"What!?"
Nothing to see, nothing to hear—only silence surrounded him.
"Roman, Olgamally! Damn it, no response! This timing—"
No mistake. It's exactly what it seems.
"Curse it, the power's out!? Master!"
He swiftly switched to telepathic communication with the Master. Independent of electricity, it worked as long as their bond held.
'Thank goodness, Gil!'
"What's happening!? Chaldea's flame hasn't gone out, has it!?"
'It's fine! Just a blackout!'
"A blackout—!? Tsk, damage so soon!? Why am I always hailed as the standard-bearer—!?"
Isn't it because you're a king of words, perhaps…
"What's the cause!?"
'The Servants wanted to exercise, so they were fighting in the simulator… going all out, messing with stuff, using Noble Phantasms…'
"Fools! Why didn't you stop them!? We haven't secured enough mana to sustain them! It's obvious supply can't match such demand—!"
He strode toward the exit—but slipped on what felt like a bar of soap.
"—Ngh!?"
The vessel crashed spectacularly in the dark.
And then—
"—Gwaaaah!!!"
He fell, smashing his head hard—!
'Gil!? Are you okay!? Gil!?'
Amid the ringing in his ears, the Master's voice reached him.
It's fine. As long as I don't die, it's nothing… Compared to mapo tofu, this is—
"—Very well."
'Huh?'
Rising with a gleam in his crimson eyes, Gilgamesh stood resolute.
"What this remodeled paradise lacks—is a power engine!"
Emergency power kicked in, casting dim light across Chaldea.
"My crafted paradise—shall become even more unshakable!!"
The bloodied Heroic King roared with fury—!
"They're gathered! Da Vinci! Medea!"
He summoned the two to the control room, activating the monitor.
"Of course! What's the next stunt, Gorgeous?"
"Don't ask the obvious! Behold this state!"
In the dimly lit Chaldea, the King bellowed.
"A mere frolic by Heroic Spirits caused this!? Such fragility—what is this!? I, of all people, neglected resource security! Thus—!"
Yes, that's the plan.
"A new power source—I shall provide! Da Vinci, you handle adjustments and management! Medea, that's your role too!"
"Da Vinci, I get, but… me? I can't maintain scientific machinery."
"Fool! That's Da Vinci's job! I'm assigning you to harness magical power!"
"Magical…?"
Medea tilted her head, puzzled.
"Indeed! Henceforth, I shall dismantle my throne, Vimana, and transform it into an infinite power refinery!"
"What!?"
I was stunned when I heard the vessel's idea. Such bold use of resources left me speechless.
"…Even a genius is shocked. You'd tear apart your greatest treasure for Chaldea?"
"Chaldea is already my treasure. This isn't destruction! It's combining wealth to create greater wealth! Do you think I'd bathe while worrying about my back!?"
He slammed the desk.
"Refine Vimana's main engine to generate True Ether, converting it into mana—an infinite power engine! Its dismantled materials will become inexhaustible fuel! Install an ether auto-generator as a backup! Fusion reactors, phase-transition engines, cosmo reactors—all will power Chaldea's operations! Use every part of Vimana! Medea, with your Age of Gods expertise, I entrust their management to you!"
"You're unbelievably generous—!? I can do it, but are you sure!?"
"That's why you're here! No mage matches your skill!"
"—Flattering words. Fine, I'll show you my prowess!"
She acts tough, but Medea's got a good heart.
"Da Vinci, you'll manage the mana flow! Operate it precisely, ensuring no shortages or excess! Wield this vast, inexhaustible mana flawlessly!"
"Of course! Leave it to me—controlling unknown energies and machines? Only a genius like me could do it!"
"It's settled—bid farewell to scarcity! I guarantee your livelihoods!!"
He summoned Vimana—wait, is its form slightly different?
"Heroic King, is this what I think it is? No way…"
"Exactly that! I possess two Vimanas! This is the second, built for firepower but rarely used! Let it be reborn as Chaldea's engine!"
"You're certifiably insane—!!"
Two Vimanas… I'm beyond stunned. Is anything impossible for this king?
"Don't make me repeat myself! For me, nothing is impossible—!!"
With this, everyone's lives should stabilize…
Thus, the Heroic King birthed the new mana refinery engine array, Babylon, by radically overhauling Vimana.
Boasting twelve times the mana refinement efficiency, it supplied Chaldea with over twelve times the previous mana output.
Simulations, power, firepower—the pinnacle of inhuman mysteries—born from Noble Phantasms, controlled by an Age of Gods mage and a genius, Chaldea's new infinite engine marked a massive evolution.
"…All my grandfather's efforts…"
The Infinite Human Order Guarantee Resort Chaldea, capable of a thousand years of continuous operation, was born.
"Behold! Hahaha, this brilliance! It pales next to me, but not bad! No more blackouts will plague us!"
Gilgamesh soaked in the bath, elated.
"Hahaha! My Chaldea! A radiance befitting the Heroic King's stronghold! Praise it, you motley Heroic Spirits! And—praise it! Hahaha!!"
And so, the Servants' operations faced no further worries.
"It's perfect… Now, if only we had direct current!"
"No, alternating current completes the earthly paradise!"
"Huh?"
"What?"
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