Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash froze in place.
Adam paid no attention to the look on Olga Marie's face and kept speaking.
"You remember the explosion in the Command Room, don't you?"
"I'm sorry to tell you this, Director. Because you were standing right at the center of it, your body was completely obliterated—turned into nothing but paste~ or maybe just a smear."
"You originally had no aptitude for Rayshift at all. The only reason you were able to manifest here is because nothing but your soul remains."
"What are you saying…? There's no way I—" The word "dead" refused to leave Olga Marie's throat.
[Olga Marie Emotion Value +10]
A sharp pain suddenly stabbed through her head as memories of the Command Room explosion flooded back.
"I…"
The truth of her death finally sank in. Olga Marie's mind went completely blank. She staggered backward two steps.
Her father had never shown her much affection, never once praised her efforts.
After the previous Director passed away, she had taken up Chaldea's heavy mantle at a young age.
Unlike other mage organizations that operated in secrecy, Chaldea had been built through the Animusphere family's leadership with joint funding from the United Nations.
She wasn't just responsible for keeping the facility running—she also had to fend off constant political pressure from both the Mage's Association and international officials who eyed the organization with greed.
The stress had been crushing. She hadn't slept properly for days.
What nearly broke her was discovering she possessed no qualification for Rayshift. With her father gone, an impossible workload, and her dreams shattered, the triple blow was too much for any girl barely in her twenties.
Still, she had endured. Because one single belief kept her going: one day she would finally earn everyone's recognition.
But now, learning she was already dead… everything she had fought for had turned to dust.
The fragile mask of strength she had worn for so long finally began to crack.
[Olga Marie Emotion Value +10]
[Olga Marie Emotion Value +10]
[Olga Marie Emotion Value +10]
...
Adam quickly caught her by the shoulders, steadying her before she could collapse. Her eyes had gone dull and lifeless, filled with utter despair, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
"I know how hopeless this feels, but don't give up just yet. There's still a chance."
A faint spark returned to Olga Marie's eyes as she looked at the man who had saved her—the same stranger who had inexplicably made her feel safe from the moment he appeared. Her crushed spirit lifted the tiniest bit.
"Really…? You can actually save me?"
Adam nodded firmly. "Of course."
Olga Marie analyzed her current state, fear still clear in her voice. "You're not just saying that to comfort me, are you? My body was blown to pieces.
How could there possibly be a way to fix this? The moment the Rayshift ends, my consciousness will simply dissipate."
Adam smiled. He already had a plan. In his mind flashed the image of a certain stylish, debt-dodging magus.
Touko Aozaki.
"I may not be the greatest, but I do have some expertise in puppet techniques. With the right materials, I can recreate your body in perfect 1:1 detail."
Mash glanced around after hearing him. According to what the Director had said earlier, they were currently at what remained of the Tohsaka family estate.
Though it was now nothing but a giant crater, the land still sat on a strong leyline rich with magical energy.
Even so…
"Adam-senpai, this place really doesn't look like it has any usable materials," Mash said after a moment.
Adam noticed the change in how she addressed him and gave the veteran Mash beside her a quick glance. Did she say something to her?
He set the thought aside and explained calmly to the group.
"You're right—there aren't any suitable materials nearby. However…"
A mischievous grin spread across his face.
"I recall that at this point in time, Chaldea still has quite a few of Da Vinci's precious treasures stashed away. Those should be more than enough to craft one body."
Back in Chaldea, Da Vinci suddenly shivered as if someone had just set their sights on her private collection.
Olga Marie's brows remained tightly furrowed.
"But even if you make a new body… in my current soul-only state, the moment I return to Chaldea, my consciousness will simply dissipate!"
Adam gave her a reassuring smile. "I've already thought of a solution for that as well."
He pulled up his system interface in his mind and opened the deployment screen.
There was one five-star Servant who could perfectly solve the Director's soul problem right now.
The only downside was that summoning another five-star Servant would mean the veteran Mash—who had already been upgraded to five-star status—would have to temporarily withdraw.
...
Adam stared at the cost displayed on the panel and paused.
0/16
Deploying the veteran Mash required zero points.
He looked at her with clear surprise. The battle-hardened Mash tilted her head cutely. "What is it, Senpai? Is there something on my face?"
System, what's going on? Why doesn't she consume any cost? Isn't she a five-star Servant too?
[One of the system compensations.]
[The Servant with whom you share the deepest bond does not consume deployment cost when manifested.]
A soft smile unconsciously formed on Adam's lips. His gaze toward the veteran Mash grew noticeably gentler.
Feeling his eyes on her, the veteran Mash's cheeks flushed pink.
Olga Marie watched the two of them and muttered under her breath, a strange feeling twisting in her chest. "Hmph… You were just talking about saving me, and now you're already making eyes at her…"
[Olga Marie Emotion Value +10]
Though she had spoken quietly, Adam still heard it. He cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
Focusing again, he began scrolling through his list of Servants. Finding the right one among hundreds without any proper filter function wasn't easy.
Still, it only took him a moment.
His eyes locked onto the one he wanted.
The Mistress of the Underworld. The Goddess who ruled over death and the souls of the departed.
Ereshkigal (Lancer)
***
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