"So it really is exactly as the diary predicted. It's just that the diary didn't specify an exact date, meaning we couldn't even organize a proper defense. We had no choice but to flee with our tails between our legs and end up here..."
Seeing Ritsuka and Mash nod, Romani couldn't help but sigh.
"Even if he had written down the exact date, it wouldn't have mattered. There are absolutely traitors within the Mage's Association pulling the strings. If they knew we were expecting an attack on a specific day, they would have just attacked a day early or a day late. The result would have been exactly the same."
Olga Marie crossed her arms, her expression freezing cold as she pointed out the harsh reality.
The meager intel they got from the diary didn't tell them who the masterminds were. They were basically fighting blind against an enemy hiding in the shadows. The information gap was too massive to properly defend against. Besides, when they first read the diary, half of Chaldea was in the room. There was no way to keep that intel a secret from the traitors anyway.
"Haha, you make a fair point."
Romani chuckled awkwardly.
"But since that's the case, it proves the intel in the diary is highly accurate. We might not know who the actual mastermind is, but at least we know Team A is acting as the vanguard for this crisis... Uh, actually, I guess that doesn't really count as good news, does it?"
Romani scratched his head.
Hearing Romani's words, everyone recalled the grand declaration made by Kirschtaria Wodime as they were fleeing Chaldea. That voice undeniably belonged to Wodime.
Aside from that, the most concerning thing they witnessed right before diving into Imaginary Number Space was the sight of seven "meteors" falling straight down from the sky, completely defying the laws of physics.
"I'm assuming everyone remembers those seven 'meteors'?"
Seeing the grim looks on everyone's faces, Romani continued.
"We don't know much about those seven 'meteors,' but given the number 'seven,' and the diary's mention of seven Lostbelts and Fantasy Trees, it's highly likely they are directly related. In fact, there's a very high probability those meteors are the Fantasy Trees..."
"Romani~, you're getting off-topic!"
Da Vinci's voice suddenly interrupted from the comms.
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry! You're right, we need to focus on the most critical issue right now..."
Having accidentally started lecturing, Romani scratched his head in embarrassment.
"Ahem. Anyway, our absolute highest priority right now is figuring out how to safely surface from this Imaginary Number Space back to Earth!"
Romani cleared his throat, his expression turning entirely serious.
"Theoretically, to return from this negative numbers dimension back to reality, we just need to establish a 'karmic bond' with someone on Earth. In simpler terms, as long as there is someone on Earth who recognizes us, and we recognize them, we can easily navigate back to the real world..."
"However, we currently cannot do that."
Romani threw his hands up helplessly.
"Why not?"
Ritsuka couldn't help but ask.
She wasn't an orphan with no friends or family. Surely someone on Earth remembered her!
"The answer is simple: the Earth has been 'Bleached.'"
"While it's not quite the absolute state of 'non-existence' caused by the Incineration of Humanity, we can be fairly certain that... there is practically nothing left on the surface."
Romani shook his head grimly.
"Hahaha! Romani, surely you must be joking, right? I can understand the rest of the world being wiped out, but the Clock Tower has existed since the year 1 AD! There is absolutely no way it could be destroyed!"
"The Clock Tower in London is the greatest magical fortress in the world, protected by hundreds of defensive mechanisms!"
Having just finished his breakfast, Goredolf wiped a cold sweat from his forehead and forced a laugh, desperately trying to sound confident.
"Hah! 'Greatest magical fortress,' my foot! During the Incineration of Humanity, Chaldea at least managed to survive as an isolated shell. The Clock Tower didn't even leave behind a record of its existence during that time! I have no idea where you get your baseless confidence."
Harboring immense resentment toward the Clock Tower, Olga Marie sneered mockingly.
"That..."
Goredolf looked around the cabin. Seeing that everyone else silently agreed with Romani and Olga Marie, he wisely shut his mouth.
Deep down, he knew they were right. He just really didn't want to accept it.
"After all, there is a precedent with the Clock Tower failing, and the sensor data from the Shadow Border doesn't lie. Furthermore, since Wodime made that specific declaration, it means he has already confirmed the 'Bleaching.' So, as hard as it is to accept, we are completely on our own right now."
Romani smoothed things over before continuing:
"However, if we want to surface, it's not entirely impossible..."
Hearing this, the others immediately looked at Romani with expectant eyes.
"We just have to use the karmic bond of the army that attacked Chaldea—the Oprichniki. But if we use their 'bond' to anchor us, there is a massively high probability we will surface directly inside their home base! Hahaha!"
Thinking about that terrifying scenario, Romani couldn't help but let out a dry, nervous laugh.
The room fell dead silent.
"Surfacing right in the middle of the enemy army...? That is indeed... incredibly dangerous..."
Goredolf muttered, his face paling.
While he prided himself on his "Iron Fists," taking down a few Oprichniki was his absolute limit. Given the sheer number of soldiers that had surrounded Chaldea, if they actually surfaced in the middle of their base, even with Mash and Da Vinci's combat power, they would likely be overwhelmed.
"But we can't just stay in Imaginary Number Space forever. The Shadow Border's supplies are strictly limited..."
Mash pointed out quietly.
"Exactly. No matter how you look at it, this is our only viable option. Fortunately, since we have the [Paper Moon]—an ultimate Mystic Code capable of mapping imaginary and real numbers—we should be able to calculate a relatively safe location to surface."
"As for when we will actually surface..."
Romani trailed off, turning his gaze toward the holographic projector where Da Vinci usually appeared.
"Right now, actually!"
Da Vinci's sweet, slightly mischievous voice chimed in perfectly on cue.
"...Huh?" xN.
Everyone in the cabin, including Romani and Olga Marie, stared blankly at the speaker, completely failing to process the sudden announcement.
"Hey, I didn't have a choice! According to the [Paper Moon's] calculations, this is the closest 'tide' we can catch. If we miss this window, the next one won't appear for at least a dozen days. And if we wait that long, there's a massive chance we'll surface hundreds of years in the future!"
Time in Imaginary Number Space wasn't linear; it was folded and stacked. By diving this deep into the Imaginary Sea, the flow of time inside the vehicle had completely desynchronized from the surface world. While only six days had passed for them, nearly a month had already passed on Earth!
Bang! Bang—Thud!
Before anyone could react to the terrifying news, the entire vehicle violently shuddered, exactly like a motorcycle aggressively hitting a speed bump.
"No time to argue! We're surfacing! Everyone brace for impact!"
An even more violent tremor shook the cabin, accompanied by the familiar, intense sensation of being pushed heavily back into their seats.
"Just put your damn seatbelts on—!!"
***
Meeting of the Crypters
"...Chaldea will surface in Russia. They will emerge within your Lostbelt. It is an absolute inevitability."
Daybit stated the fact matter-of-factly.
"Heh. Is this what they call karma?"
Hearing this, Kadoc's expression darkened slightly.
He had followed orders to orchestrate the attack on Chaldea, and consequently, he was the first one Chaldea was going to come after.
"If they want to survive, they have to surface eventually, and they will inevitably clash with you... But none of that really matters right now. Do you all honestly believe that guy is actually dead?"
Daybit looked around the table, asking the question weighing on everyone's mind.
The members of Team A fell into a heavy silence.
They all knew exactly who Daybit meant—the anomaly who had single-handedly resolved the Incineration of Humanity.
Utilizing the power of the Alien God, they had all experienced simulated runs of the Incineration of Humanity in their dreams—albeit simulations where they were supported by a fully functional Chaldea staff.
Yet, even under those ideal conditions, aside from Daybit, everyone else had only barely managed to clear the simulation thanks to Kirschtaria's direct assistance.
What was truly terrifying, however, was that even Daybit and Kirschtaria couldn't find a single viable method to defeat the final boss, Goetia, without relying heavily on a massive army of Servants or Romani Archaman sacrificing himself.
Because they knew exactly how impossible that final hurdle was, they fundamentally doubted that Takumi had actually died there.
Furthermore, the sudden, inexplicable acceleration in the rewriting of the Lostbelts made it impossible to ignore the massive variable of what might have actually happened during that missing month.
"...Whether he is alive or dead is irrelevant. We simply need to execute the tasks assigned to us by the Alien God."
Kirschtaria was the first to break the silence.
His meaning was clear: Don't overthink it. Just stick to the plan and do your jobs.