"The Temple has completely collapsed! King Solomon's Third Noble Phantasm has been erased!!!"
"The incineration of Human History has been annulled! The entire domain is disintegrating!!!"
The joy of defeating Goetia lasted only a few minutes before Chaldea suddenly trembled violently.
This time, through Spiritron Transfer, the entirety of Chaldea had been deployed into the Grand Temple of Time.
The power of the Outer God was beyond imagination. It had not only completely eliminated Goetia, but caused the entire Temple of Time to collapse along with him.
With the incineration of Human History and Goetia both denied, the existence of the Temple of Time itself had become a paradox.
It would dissipate in an instant.
"Ritsuka Fujimaru, return immediately!!"
"Prepare for Spiritron Transfer! We're heading back to the original world!!!"
Roman shouted.
At the same time, Chaldea's Spiritron Transfer system began blaring alarms.
"Mm... ha."
Gudako felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
After traversing seven Singularities and personally defeating the mastermind behind the incineration of Human History, the responsibility she had borne as humanity's final Master was finally fulfilled.
"It's over."
Her body suddenly relaxed.
Just as she was about to head back toward Chaldea, a powerful wave of exhaustion and weakness struck her without warning.
Alarms immediately rang out inside the EVA unit.
[Warning: Pilot mental strength below minimum threshold]
[Warning: Pilot mental strength critically low. Risk of consciousness annihilation at 79.7%. Unable to continue operation]
"Ugh..."
A tidal wave of chaos surged through her mind, blurring her thoughts and will.
Her entire body was ejected from the cockpit, falling toward the disintegrating space below.
"Ah... I guess that was a bit too much..."
Just before she plunged into the abyss and lost consciousness—
Snap—
Strong arms caught her firmly.
Setsuna stepped out of the void, holding her steadily in his embrace.
"Commander...?"
Gudako tilted her head back, finally at ease.
It was the first time Setsuna had carried her in a princess hold. She smiled weakly and, with the last of her strength, raised her hand to form a V sign.
"I won... yay!"
...
Her consciousness fell into darkness.
Within a hazy dream.
She saw countless bizarre scenes.
Ancient gods hidden in the deep cosmos billions of light-years away. Twisted dominators whispering beneath the ocean floor.
A chaotic royal court dwelling beyond the universe itself, gazing down upon the world from a higher plane. The unknowable, unobservable primordial core of chaos—the Blind Idiot God.
All manner of strange and fantastical images intertwined. If she had not spent so much time around Setsuna, Nyarko, and the others and built up some tolerance, an ordinary person would have gone mad at a single glance.
Is this... the side effect of using my ultimate move?
Gudako barely managed to reclaim her sanity.
On a flash of inspiration, she had reasoned that since every avatar of the Thousand-Faced God was equivalent to the main body, then even someone as weak as her could unleash that move with the help of the EVA.
It had worked. Goetia was gone.
But her mind had also suffered a tremendous backlash.
Even if Nyarko had no intention of harming her, merely serving as a medium to release the power of an Outer God was an immense burden.
Don't tell me I actually died?!
Wait... If you die in the Starsea Empire, Ereshkigal handles it. But if you explode from Outer God power, who takes your soul?
Gudako panicked.
I'm not going to end up as some ancient god's familiar, right...? Nyarko and Kuuko wouldn't be so bad. But if it's some other hideous thing, I'm doomed ahhhhh—
Just as her consciousness struggled within that mental space—
"Mm...?"
Something soft and furry tapped her face.
Her awareness returned to her body.
She opened her eyes groggily.
Pure white walls. A sci-fi styled room. Medical instruments placed beside the bed.
Chaldea's medical bay. She recognized it instantly.
A small furry creature with fox-like ears sat beside her, gently patting her face with its paw.
"Fou!!!"
Gudako sat up and rubbed Chaldea's mascot affectionately.
"Mm. Physical condition normal. Mental state previously suffered severe impact, now fully recovered."
Da Vinci glanced at the holographic scan results and nodded.
"Ritsuka Fujimaru, you've recovered quickly. That's wonderful."
"...I suppose that's to be expected of you. The Commander said every super-enhancement surgery and genetic ascension procedure you've undergone prioritized strengthening your body above all else."
"Only that kind of foundation would allow you to endure that level of power."
Da Vinci clicked her tongue in amazement at Gudako's physique. Ordinary Heroic Spirits truly could not compare to the layers of buffs she had accumulated—fusion with Honkai Beasts, genetic ascension, spiritual bloodlines.
"Oh... how long was I out?"
"A day and a half. The minor physical injuries weren't important. We were mainly waiting for your mental recovery."
Setsuna answered.
"...Commander, were you with me the whole time?"
"Of course. You did well."
Setsuna pinched her cheek lightly.
Hearing the answer she wanted, the girl chuckled and scratched her head.
"So... everything's settled?"
Gudako confirmed once more.
"Yes. We've returned to the original timeline."
Da Vinci wore a rare smile.
"Chaldea sustained minor damage during Spiritron Transfer. It will be repaired shortly. No casualties this operation. All personnel survived."
"Oh..."
Gudako felt an intense sense of unreality, like a dream.
She got out of bed.
Accompanied by Da Vinci and Setsuna, she arrived at Chaldea's main hall.
Pop—Bang!
Roman set down the strawberry cake in his hands and clapped loudly.
Colorful streamers and confetti fluttered down from above.
Chaldea's staff stepped forward one after another, applauding Gudako happily.
"Congratulations!"
"Master Ritsuka Fujimaru, with your return, the final Grand Order has been fully completed."
"Mission accomplished. Beautifully done."
"Omedetou!"
"Omedetou!!"
Surrounded by applause, Gudako stood at the center as strange celebratory music seemed to echo in her ears.
Her task of restoring humanity—no, rebuilding Human History—had finally been completed.
"Farewell, all the Singularities. Farewell, Goetia."
"Thank you, all the Heroic Spirits and Servants."
"Thank you, Commander."
...
Beep—beep—
A series of communication alerts rang out through Chaldea's main hall.
"Chaldea has reestablished contact with the outside world."
Doctor Roman spoke while processing information on the holographic interface.
"Ah... it feels like we're about to get busy again."
"Outside is in complete chaos. Ordinary people have no memory of this entire year. Goetia has been eliminated, and the incineration of Human History has been denied."
"But from the moment Human History was incinerated to when we resolved the seven Singularities and rebuilt it—that process still existed."
"For the people outside, it's like waking up and discovering that more than a year has passed. The Mage's Association seems to be rushing a delegation over as well."
As he spoke, he selected several key items from the overwhelming stream of data.
"All intellectual activity on Earth ceased during this year. This is an undeniable fact. You are to submit a report explaining the cause and the course of events."
The signature belonged to the Mage's Association.
From the perspective of the Starsea Empire, far more than a single year had passed while conquering the seven Singularities and the Grand Temple of Time. Due to temporal fractures here, everyone's perception of time had become distorted.
For them, the period of the incineration of Human History was effectively a blank.
Ordinary people would only feel confused. However, in this world, there existed an organization known as the Mage's Association.
It was a self-governing body composed of magi, nominally responsible for the management, concealment, and development of magecraft—essentially a mutual aid society for those who treated magecraft as an academic discipline.
"Uh, I'll prepare the materials and give them a proper explanation."
Roman straightened the documents in his hands, then looked at Setsuna and Gudako, hesitating.
"About my identity..."
"What about it?"
Gudako immediately played dumb.
"Doctor Roman, aren't you the head of Chaldea's medical department? Responsible for monitoring the health of all Masters?"
"After Chaldea was damaged and the former Director passed away, you had no choice but to become acting Director and assist us in restoring Human History and the organization, right?"
"You don't know magecraft and you don't have any special abilities. You're just an ordinary guy who loves strawberry cake, forced by circumstances into participating in the grand plan to save humanity."
"King Solomon's First Noble Phantasm? What's that? Sounds impressive. I've never heard of it!!"
Gudako tilted her head and spread her hands.
"..."
Roman froze for a moment, then choked back his words.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Setsuna. Ritsuka Fujimaru."
He only wanted to experience life as an ordinary human.
If his identity as King Solomon were revealed, it would only bring endless trouble.
A Grand Caster from the Age of Gods appearing here—even as an ordinary human—would inevitably attract complications from every direction.
"Then what about us...?"
At that moment, Artoria Lily raised her hand.
Behind her stood a group of Servants who had descended upon the Temple of Time earlier.
The staff stared in astonishment. It was their first time seeing so many Heroic Spirits gathered inside Chaldea—especially an entire collection of ahoge Kings.
They had originally responded to the call of another version of themselves and come to assist Chaldea. Due to Goetia's anti-summoning properties, Gudako had temporarily settled them here.
In theory, now that Human History had been restored, the human world no longer had any connection to them. They should dissipate and return to the Throne of Heroes.
Yet everyone felt something was slightly off.
"So what exactly is this supposed to mean?"
Alter crossed her arms, her expression sour, tapping the black holy sword against the table with heavy knocks that nearly gave Da Vinci a heart attack.
She was terrified that Alter might fire off an Excalibur Morgan and blow up Chaldea from the inside.
"Did we appear here just to stand in the back and watch the show?"
"You could handle everything yourselves. If that's the case, what was the point of responding to your summoning? How utterly boring."
They had manifested of their own will, only to spend the final battle spectating as Gudako piloted the EVA and tore Goetia apart.
If they had arrived just a little earlier, they could at least have fought a Demon God Pillar.
Now it felt as though they had done nothing at all.
"Boring people. Boring world."
Alter and Lancer Alter tapped their weapons against the floor impatiently.
Just as they were about to dissipate, Artoria grabbed Alter's arm.
"Wait! Come with me to the Starsea Empire."
"I... I want to understand you better."
Artoria looked at her darker self with genuine curiosity.
"Hah? You?"
Alter stared back.
In principle they were the same person, yet looking at another version of herself still felt strange.
"The Starsea Empire provides unlimited meals."
Gudako got straight to the point.
"French cuisine, Italian cuisine, Dragon Empery cuisine—all available around the clock. Burgers, fried chicken, junk food—eat as much as you want."
"If you're not satisfied, the world's top chefs will cook for you personally."
As she spoke, Setsuna pulled out a family-sized bucket of fried chicken and stuffed it into Alter's arms.
"Here."
Unlike the other ahoge Kings, Alter had a particular fondness for junk food. As a Servant, she could eat endlessly without affecting her figure.
"!!!"
"What are you doing? Don't think that just because of this I'll—"
Alter froze for a moment, then, contradicting her own words, sat down on the sofa and began devouring a burger.
It had to be said—it tasted excellent.
"No. After watching you fight for so long, I am indeed somewhat hungry. I require energy replenishment."
"Master, is there anything to drink?"
"...Watching?"
Gudako was thoroughly impressed by the ahoge King's ability to invent excuses for eating.
"I know you harbor some prejudice toward others, but you should at least trust your own judgment when it comes to food."
"You can ask them."
She gestured toward the Lion King and Artoria.
"The culinary standards of the Starsea Empire far surpass those of Britain."
The Lion King spoke concisely.
"Incorrect. Britain's cuisine should not be used as a benchmark. The culinary arts of the Starsea Empire have truly reached the pinnacle."
The King of Knights corrected her.
"If chefs had ranks... hm. I believe Erina Nakiri and Rindou Kobayashi would qualify as Grand Chefs."
"Oh? ...Grand rank?"
Alter considered this.
She might not like her other self, but when it came to food, her opinion was worth referencing.
"Take me to taste it... to inspect it."
...
Half an hour later.
Roman and Chaldea's staff busied themselves with restoration work.
Repairing damage, organizing data, and so on.
Setsuna and Gudako walked through the corridors, taking a long elevator up from within Chaldea.
Click—
When the massive doors opened—
A blizzard greeted them.
Chaldea was located in Antarctica. All around stretched an endless expanse of white.
Looking into the distance, the once-shattered void had been replaced by blue skies and drifting clouds.
The air was frigid, yet brimming with vitality.
"Ah..."
Gudako stepped onto the snow and gazed up at the sky, feeling as though she were in a dream.
This world—and its future—had returned.
"From the day I joined Chaldea to when we met and saved Human History together... it really has been a long journey."
She naturally took Setsuna's hand.
There was no trace of embarrassment. It felt entirely natural.
"Tell me—if I had been alone, do you think I could have completed the mission?"
"Of course you could."
Setsuna squeezed her hand lightly.
"Your aptitude for magecraft may not be exceptional. But as a Master, there is a fitting evaluation—unmatched in all ages."
"I thought so too."
Gudako grinned.
"But I would have seen far less. And I wouldn't have met you."
She stepped to the edge of the cliff and spread her arms, as though embracing the wind, the snow, and this renewed world.
The fierce cold wind tousled her hair. Snowflakes settled upon her shoulders.
"Commander, come take a look at our new world with me."