"The system is running stably... that's a relief."
"All that's left is analysis."
"Yes, that's right..."
Da Vinci, who had finished system checks in the control room, was sweating coldly while looking at the seven singularities found by the observation device Sheba. Because they are periods close to humanity's turning points.
"Hmm..."
"Is there something bothering you?"
"Ah... Jerusalem is bothering me."
"Jerusalem... I can see why? It was the stage for what's called the Holy War. The Human Order Foundation Level is... A. Relatively average, I suppose?"
"..."
Why... is Jerusalem only this much? Due to its heterogeneity, it should have been a higher Human Order Foundation than Mesopotamia.
Why, how come...
"The biggest problem is still this one. Indeed, it must be because it's an era closely related to the Savior? After all, it's a time when among the Savior's disciples, there is the first and original pope. Also, it's the period when John the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles, chose the emperor as the background for the Great Whore. In a way, it's the most critical point."
Rome is EX rank...?
I don't understand. Why is Rome... Could it be, that time that thing...?
No, not just with the Beast. Even Babylon wasn't EX. Then again... you chose that place, didn't you? You, who have existed until the present, came looking for me and crossed over here? And among them, you chose that place?
This... is progressing faster than I thought.
"What order should we handle the singularities in?"
"France should probably be first. It has the least fluctuation. And then... Rome last should be fine, right?"
"No, that's the most dangerous."
"Why? If Ritsuka and the Director tackle something difficult from the start, it'll be tough, won't it?"
"... On the contrary, if we push it to the later stages, it'll become even harder. I think Rome should be second."
"Hmm... I'll discuss that with the Director and Romani first. But since it's your opinion, I'll consider it seriously."
"That's enough for me."
If worst comes to worst... I might have to go alone.
I leave the control room and walk down the corridor. The repairs themselves have been restored to the same level as the previous Chaldea. Everyone's help was significant.
The next singularity isn't that place. If it's France, then still... this is it, my karma. There are too many complicated things.
Walking down the corridor, I see the training room. Is someone using it? Soon after, the training room door opens, and Mash comes out.
"Ah, good morning, Fergus."
"Training from the morning, Mash?"
"Yes. Since I've become a Demi-Servant, I need to handle my power well. The basic training you taught me is really good. I'm getting used to the sensation of using my power. Thanks to you, Fergus."
"I'm the only Servant here specialized in close combat. Let's do our best today as well. Today is the day Ritsuka wakes up."
"Yes! But... I'm worried that Senpai might be shocked."
"Isn't that why we're here? Heroes are beings who support and protect people in crisis and hardship. Or, are you lacking confidence, Mash? What did I say?"
"Confidence is important in anything!"
"Yes. It's natural to worry, but even so, moving forward with confidence. Even if Ritsuka learns the truth, no matter what choice she makes, our role is to support and uphold her. Well, see you later."
"Yes!"
After parting with Mash, I enter a certain room. It's Sitonai's room. Sitonai's room is...
Hmm, it's chilly.
"Ah, Berserker! Good morning!"
"Good morning."
Did she seriously decorate the room to be like a winter cave house? It's like a cave house room you'd see in a cartoon. Similar to an igloo... There's even a snowman.
"Were you making a snowman with Shiro?"
"Yes, want to make one together?"
"Haha, I have things to do. Since Ritsuka is waking up today, the key position is probably the Director, Olga, right? I need to go encourage her."
"Really~ she's so timid for her age. Unlike Rin, her inner self is timid, you know? In a way, you could say she's like Sakura... If those two weren't sisters but born as one person, they'd probably be just like that?"
"I wonder if that's the case..."
If she hadn't been a Matou and lived normally, she might have had a personality like BB... Hmm, it's entirely possible.
After greeting Sitonai, I leave the room and go to the Director's office.
"Olga, are you ready? It seems like she's waking up soon."
"Is that so? Then she'll probably come to the control room soon... I should go too. But, is it okay? It's a reality even I find hard to accept, so can a normal girl like her handle it?"
"It'll be tough. Even I would find it hard. But, even so, she'll be able to stand up. It's cruel, but it's the only path. It might be a path of hardship, but isn't it our role to make that path safer to walk?"
"... That's true. What about Hinako?"
"Well? She probably went to the control room, didn't she?"
Akuta Hinako... She was knocked out by the explosion's aftermath and only woke up after Chaldea was fully repaired. She immediately protested to me, saying she wanted to meet Xiang Yu, but I told her to wait until Ritsuka wakes up, so she's in a bad mood. She hopes for a lot without having done anything...
"Then, let's go."
I arrive at the control room with Olga Marie, who took a deep breath. Everyone except Ritsuka and Mash was gathered, and the atmosphere was serious. The clairvoyants were also quiet for now.
A short while later, Ritsuka and Mash arrive... and we explain the current situation to Ritsuka.
"Only you, Hinako, and the Director can Rayshift."
"Just... three people? So, besides me, there's only one other Master survivor?"
"What, got a problem with that?"
"It's not that..."
Umin speaks irritably, feeling unwell. That's too harsh on a kid... Ritsuka looked very anxious. Understandable... she has to save humanity, and it depends on just three Masters, including herself.
"If you want to save humanity, if you want to reclaim the future beyond 2016, you have to fight in seven more singularities... in different countries, different eras. With just three people... you have to fight against seven points of human history. Ritsuka... are you prepared to shoulder the future of Chaldea... of humanity?"
"... I, after this conversation... I wanted to try calling outside."
"..."
At Ritsuka's words, everyone could only bow their heads solemnly. Except for Mash, the youngest child in Chaldea. For a naive girl who lived in a peaceful world without knowing much, it was too heavy a burden...
"My parents and friends must be worried since I'm missing, so I wanted to tell them I'm safe... I had a dream. A dream where everyone I know, the city I lived in, was burning..."
"Ritsuka..."
"I'm not prepared. I didn't fully understand the story just now because I'm stupid. Honestly, I'm scared, frightened... but, ending like this is even worse. I hate that my present and everyone's lives have to end because of some unknown guys! So, I'll do it. That Human Order restoration, I'm not alone... I don't know what I can do, but I'll follow through to the end!"
Indeed... is this what a protagonist is? No, setting that aside... she might despair, but she won't give up.
"Well said, mongrel. You speak words that are quite pleasing."
"Indeed. Not giving up... that is the will God desired from us. For that, I was born as a king."
"Heh, as expected of my lord~ This time, perhaps it's the turn to tell a story of a hero, not a king~"
The clairvoyants said something proper for once. This time, it's to my liking.
"Just answer. That's our role as Servants."
"Sitonai is right. We are Servants, Heroic Spirits who protect human history. Even if not, we are swords that fight for our Masters. If that is the choice of current humanity. We will heed it."
As I finish speaking, Olga Marie shouts with a confident voice.
"Good! From now on, the operation name changes from First Order to Grand Order, and we carry out new missions with the duty of Human Order restoration! As the Director, I'll guide you all well."
"Yes! I'll look forward to it, Director! And... about that dream earlier? Actually, there's more. When I blinked, everyone said... we're okay. It made me tear up a bit? I feel motivated."
At Ritsuka's words, I glance at Merlin, and she winks and raises her thumb. So, she does her part when needed, that dream witch...
The briefing in the control room ends like that. Ritsuka, who just woke up, is allowed to rest more, and additional servant summoning is scheduled for the evening.
Still, she seems to need mental care, so Sitonai and I secretly go to find Ritsuka, and we discover Mash and Ritsuka talking while sitting on a windowsill left in the corridor.
"The last Master of humanity... Senpai, are you really okay? Even with Hinako and the Director here... Senpai, you're just a normal person who's newly entered the world of mystery. How to put it... don't you feel a sense of being alone? Anxieties... you're carrying a lot."
"Hmm... what does it matter? I'm not alone. There are Servants, right? They all seem to have good personalities. They say they're not human, but... well? How to put it, there's no feeling of 'Bam! I'm not human!' I think Servants are ultimately human. And, I'm not alone, right? Not alone as a Master, and not alone as a person. Everyone is here."
"Senpai..."
"Senpai... I see."
"So, don't worry, Mash."
This is... she's more mature than I thought...
"There's a scent of Shiro everywhere in this child..."
"Even without blood relation~ it's everywhere. A child with a strong spirit."
Still, I feel a bit relieved...
The day after tomorrow, we'll go to the France singularity... I wonder how it will turn out?