Chaldea naturally had a cafeteria. It was, of course, operated for free.
This cafeteria was run by Chaldea by directly hiring famous chefs from various countries. It was quite popular as a cafeteria that satisfied even the children of nobles and the staff...
"Well, this is just so-so."
"How could this be... To be defeated by my own homeland's cuisine..."
Well, it's edible, but... Hmm? It doesn't seem that great? I'd rather Shirou's cooking be more delicious. To think it's below my cooking skills.
"These are the best chefs personally selected by my father... Are you really a king? Are you really a Saber? Why are you better at cooking than the chefs?"
"Originally, one must eat delicious food to work better. My efforts naturally come from the motivation to eat delicious food. Moreover, I can't serve my wives food that's not up to par, can I?"
"... Amazing."
The chefs hired since the time of the former director, Marisbury, were completely defeated. Hah, do you think these greenhouse flowers can beat me, who has gained experience by fighting against ingredients directly in the Marches and Ulster and cooking them? Have you ever seen a moving lettuce? Over here, we even had lettuce giants.
"Please, take me as your disciple!"
"In Ulster, we don't take disciples of the same sex~"
"Grr, it's a cultural difference!"
The chefs ask me for teaching, but... it's bothersome. Tradition isn't my job, but do they think I came here to teach cooking? Moreover, it's possible because I have a perfect understanding of ingredients and have fought them. Do they think they can learn it through half-hearted lessons? Weak chefs lose even to soldiers. Of course, strong chefs might win one-on-one?
"How is it, Olga Marie? Does it suit your taste?"
"... Yes, it's delicious. Give me another bowl."
"Yes~"
"Give us some too! We want to taste what level it is!?"
"... Unfortunately, it's sold out~"
"Why!?"
Of course, I don't give even a bite to mages. Unless they're humane ones... most of them are trash. After refilling Olga Marie's bowl, I head towards Mash who is sitting in the corner.
"Here's dessert."
"This is pudding, isn't it?"
"I made it myself. My wife likes pudding?"
"Ah, you're talking about Medb from before, right? That's amazing. Making future dessert for your wife."
"Haha, do you know how cute she looks when she eats deliciously? Eating with grace at first but then unable to resist and stuffing her mouth full, it's so cute...♡! There's no one as cute as that. And when Nessa eats her favorite cake, her smile is as noble as if she's returned to being a child~ Thanks to the smiles each of my wives show while eating delicious meals, I'm grateful to be alive~"
"Mr. Fergus, you always talk happily about your wives. I can feel how much you love them. I don't really know what love is, though..."
"... Certainly, love will come to Mash someday too. Yes, of course. There's no creature as beautiful and strong as a girl in love."
I get along best with Mash. Is it because she finds everything interesting and amazing, making me talk without barriers? I think I understand why that Beryl guy was obsessed. This must be what they mean by a noble maiden.
After giving her dessert, I head to Olga Marie. She frowns and hands me her empty bowl.
"... What were you talking about with that girl?"
"Huh? Just casual, everyday conversation?"
"For that, you were laughing a lot."
"I laugh a lot originally, don't I? Is there a problem?"
"... You're my Servant. Don't get along with Mash."
"Hmm... That's difficult. I am indeed your Servant, the sword that protects you. However, I'm not a tool that follows all your commands, Olga Marie. I know why you're wary of Mash, but Mash is not that kind of girl──"
Bang!
"How do you know that!!!"
"....."
Olga Marie stands up, slamming the table with both hands and shouting. Everyone in the cafeteria quiets down and looks at her. I look at her expressionlessly, and soon she lowers her gaze, bows her head, and goes outside the cafeteria.
"... Everyone, please continue your meals."
I hand the empty bowl to the chef and leave the cafeteria, heading towards Olga Marie. She was walking quickly with big strides, but soon she runs with her head bowed and enters her room. Is the door locked...
"Well, well, you've caused quite a stir, haven't you? Fergus."
"Da Vinci."
Da Vinci, who was in the cafeteria, followed me. We are somewhat close. As a Servant summoned to Chaldea and a versatile genius, he is a good partner for intellectual conversations. His inventions are also interesting to me.
"You said that even though you know it's the director's sore spot?"
"I've talked with Mash. I know how she thinks of the director. So, I want to clear up that misunderstanding."
"Is that easy? Lev and Romani failed at it too."
"I think it's possible? If we give up after just a few failures, humanity wouldn't have come this far and would have perished. Don't you think so? Genius of the century."
"Haha! Indeed, that's true. Well said. Humans, despite numerous failures, have overcome them, made electricity their own, achieved circumnavigation, and even made the sky fly. You really are an interesting person, Fergus. Let's have a meal together and talk later."
"Is it poke again this time?"
"Please make it vegan☆"
"I won't nitpick since you're a Servant... but for health, you should eat some meat too?"
"Since I'm a Servant, it's no problem~"
Da Vinci, a vegetarian. He smirks, sends me encouragement, and leaves. I look at the locked door, draw runes on the wall... and pass through the wall to go inside.
What I see upon entering is Olga Marie, squatting down leaning against the door.
"Olga Marie. Let's talk."
"... Not through the door, but through the wall. Truly a mage of the Age of Gods... What do you want to talk about? Are you also here to preach to me like Romani or Lev? To tell me to believe in that girl...? If that's what you're going to say, get out. Before I use a Command Spell."
A huge wall of heart is felt. Everything is a huge wall that has continued since her childhood.
In her childhood, as the heir of the Animusphere family, she was not recognized by anyone. Even from her family, she only received words telling her to try harder, nothing more or less.
She was never recognized by her father, never loved, never praised. Even as the heir, she was a discarded child.
The only tutor who helped her was also lost in some incident, making the wall of her heart thicker, and later, she despaired when a test at Chaldea showed she had no aptitude for Rayshifting and no Master aptitude.
At that time, Marisbury just laughed as if he didn't expect anything and said he didn't know why.
After Marisbury died and she became the director, she developed a persecution complex that Mash, who underwent the Demi-Servant experiment, would kill her, which, in a way, was a natural reaction. Moreover, Chaldea staff were gossiping about her, saying she was too compared to the former director, Marisbury.
Marisbury was a man with a trash personality, but his abilities were certain...
Such she felt inferior to Team A and had a persecution complex. Except for Beryl, who voluntarily joined after receiving a Command Spell instead of Mash, Cadoc, Ophelia, Hinako, Scandinavia Peperoncino, David, and Wodime were Masters chosen by Marisbury.
With the thought that they were recognized unlike her, her persecution complex created the idea that she was ignored even by Team A, and overlapping with the trauma of being compared to Wodime, who was a genius of the Astrology Department at the Clock Tower and Marisbury's disciple, her spirit became exhausted.
Just seeing Mash makes her have hallucinations of being killed, and she hears voices of resentment. Romani only defends Mash, and Lev doesn't help much and only pities Mash.
In this Chaldea, there was no one who truly approached her.
They only saw her as the director of Chaldea, not as the human Olga Marie. The Olga Marie I saw over the past few days was like that. Falling into excessive self-hatred, having persecution complexes... yet desperately acting to not show it on the outside, she looked like a young child.
"I am on your side, Olga Marie. I didn't come to preach. I came to save you."
"Save me? What nonsense... Don't say strange things and get out!"
"I won't leave. Even if you use all three Command Spells, I won't leave. If you use Command Spells, I'll give you more however many you need. No matter how many times you use them, I won't leave. I, Fergus mac Róich, am the sword that protects you, my Master. Shall I be honest? The reason I wielded a sword in life wasn't for Ulster. It was to protect my beloved wives, to protect the people precious to me. Olga Marie... why are you suffering? Why are you so sad? Why... are you so lonely."
"..... It's not like that."
"No, you are a patient. A patient who needs help."
"Are you saying I'm insane!?"
"No! You are just a person who needs help! A patient who is making yourself sick alone! If any angel in white sees you, they would do anything to save you! Like the woman respected by numerous heroes, I will save you. Olga Marie, your efforts until now are not wrong. You can ignore people who don't recognize your true worth. Olga Marie, your efforts are right. It's just that no one taught you how to move forward."
"What are you saying... I don't understand at all."
"You don't have to understand. For now, please take my hand."
I reach out my hand to her. She looks at my hand with a dim, exhausted gaze.
"Even if everyone blames you, even if everyone hates you... even if they try to kill you... I will protect you. I will recognize you. As the king of Ulster and lord of Erin, the god of heroes and proud man of the Marches. Fergus mac Róich will recognize you. So, please take my hand."
"...."
She looks at my hand with wavering eyes... and soon, takes my hand. As soon as she takes my hand, I pull her up and hug her as she is drawn to me.
"You've suffered alone until now, Olga Marie... From now on, let's move forward together, not alone. I will help you."
"... Do you really believe in me?"
"Yes."
"Do you really recognize me?"
"Yes."
"Do you really... not insult me?"
"Yes."
"... Will you praise me?"
"Of course."
"... Why are you doing this for me?"
"... Because I was like you in the past. I remember the time when I lost everyone. It's not pity or sympathy. I want you to move towards a bright future until the end, unlike me. You deserve that. Even if the world shouts that you don't, I will give you that qualification."
"..... Thank you."
She then hugs me. Really... she's a person who requires a lot of effort. I said I remembered myself, but... actually, I think of Nessa. A pitiful girl thoroughly broken by her family and Chaldea... Although an adult, she couldn't grow mentally. Like Nessa, she is a pitiful girl in front of me who needs help.
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