Why did it become like this?
This was the only doubt currently in Marie's mind.
Although since the Human Order Incineration ended more than six years ago, Chaldea's development speed had indeed accelerated, but... the future described by Yue still felt unreal to her.
The Chaldea Empire?! The center of the new era's magical world?! The fusion of magic and science?! A maritime city as vast as two-thirds of Japan?!
Not to mention Marie, the others also showed varying degrees of shock after hearing this explanation.
After all, it was too astonishing.
It should be noted that Chaldea was currently still in Antarctica. How could such a massive maritime city be built in just thirty years?
Additionally...
"What is this Machine God thing?" Ritsuka asked curiously, "And Greece... Could it be that the President is in another world—"
"Yes, roughly like what Auntie Ritsuka is thinking."
Yue continued her explanation.
"During the fourteen thousand years that Papa spent in another world, he experienced most of the Greek mythology in that world. Then, of course, he formed relationships with the Greek gods and obtained much knowledge and Machine God technology from them."
"And this knowledge and technology became the foundation for the establishment and development of the Chaldea Empire. Even in the future, Papa discovered the remains of Poseidon at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea and successfully repaired it, making it the sea guardian of the Chaldea Empire."
The Sea God Poseidon?!
Ritsuka and Mash had both seen the existence of the Greek Machine God in the Greek Lostbelt. So that thing gets repaired in the future?!
"Then, what do you mean by the Machine God development earlier?"
"Of course, designing and creating new Machine Gods from scratch, then starting space exploration."
The Chaldea Empire was no longer satisfied with Earth and wanted to advance into space? How ambitious that foolish Naoki in the future was!
"Well, even so, it should currently still be in the design stage. The actual construction might only begin in ten years, and to truly advance into the universe will definitely take even longer."
"The main goal of Chaldea City right now is to maintain the stability of the supernatural world. Since magic and science began to be combined and developed, magical crime incidents have continuously occurred. Plus, Chaldea City has now substantially become the center of the supernatural world, replacing the Clock Tower's former position, and the crowds of people will trigger all sorts of problems."
Yue laughed: "Two years after I graduated high school, I immediately started working at the Magical Crime Countermeasure Bureau managed by Auntie Ritsuka and Auntie Mash. Every day, I patrol around Chaldea City investigating dark incidents hidden in the shadows. It's quite exhausting, you know."
"The reason I came from the future to the past is actually because I worked overtime for a full month in the future, and after finally finishing all the pending cases, Auntie Ritsuka saw I was tired and gave me a vacation."
"I see..."
The future described by Yue made everyone sink into contemplation—or more precisely, digesting it.
After all, even for them, it was unrealistic to accept such massive information all at once. It was too hard to believe.
After successfully calming down, Merry asked again: "We've got the general situation now. So... what are we like in the future?"
Not meaning whether they married Naoki, but more about each of their life statuses in the future.
Yue smiled: "Hmm... Based on what I learned from Auntie Shiki this past week, what everyone is doing thirty years from now isn't much different from now."
"Auntie Aoko often works outside Chaldea City. Although magical incidents are concentrated in Chaldea City, there are many outside too. Auntie Aoko is busy with those matters. Accompanying her are Auntie Ciel and Auntie Ayaka."
"Auntie Ritsuka and Auntie Mash, as I said before, are the ones who directly deal with Auntie Aoko and the others. They could be said to be the busiest people in Chaldea City."
"Auntie Morgan and Auntie Caster work in the Chaldea City Technology Development Bureau. Auntie Morgan even became the Chief Technology Advisor. Matters related to Machine God development are handled by the two of them."
"As for the others, either they've retired and secluded themselves, or they work as teachers in the Academy City founded by Papa."
Academy City?
Okita asked: "What is that?"
"An area in the eastern part of Chaldea City, about half the size of Tokyo. As the name suggests, it's a district consisting of many schools, and also the center for training talents in Chaldea City. Papa developed it specifically to train the new generation of Magi and scientists. The current director is Big Sis Merry."
Director Merry?!
"That's a disaster."
"What kind of people would be educated under Merry's management... I don't dare to imagine."
"Future Naoki made the wrong decision..."
Hearing that, Merry couldn't help but twitch the corner of her lips: "Are you all misunderstanding me... You should know that I've already educated two Kings, you know! Besides, since future Naoki became so great, it means I educated him well from the beginning."
"I only know you made him entertainment material every day." Riddell immediately revealed the fact, "Then what about Naoki in the future? Our situations can still be guessed. What about him?"
"Papa..." Yue paused for a moment, "He left Earth five years ago."
"Eh?"
Left Earth?
"[In the future, you will surely go to the universe, and in the exploration process, you will face various difficulties and dangers. To avoid a major crisis at that time, I will go first to map the way]—Papa said that five years ago, then left Earth for the universe."
"That guy can do space travel alone?! Wait, five years?! He never came back?"
"No, Papa returns. About once a year he comes back. Additionally, to accompany Papa, Auntie Rei and Auntie Gray went along. Meanwhile, the overall management of Chaldea City was handed over to Mama and Auntie Shiki."
"....."
They no longer knew what to say.
Everything that happened in the future had surpassed the imagination of everyone present. Even if they wanted to say something now, they couldn't string the words together properly.
(Is this... the future that Naoki, who will soon return, will bring?)
Thinking of someone who was sure to return this year, the corner of Merry's lips lifted slightly.
(Hmm, if the future is this interesting, then I indeed will never leave you, Naoki.)
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At the same time.
Parallel World.
Moon.
Standing on the barren land, gazing at the blue planet in the distance, the man who had lived here for dozens of years silently counted his time.
[The time has come, Contactee (Connector)]
That voice sounded from the void.
The man nodded and stood up.
"It's here, huh... Fourteen thousand twenty-two years. That's the time I spent here..."
Although he should be in the Moon's vacuum environment, the man's voice came out of his mouth very naturally.
[You may return, Contactee. May you fulfill your promise to us.]
"Yes, I will do it, Chaos."
The man said to the void and empty space.
"By the way, do you still remember my name?"
[Natsukawa Naoki]
The voice from the void said.
[The first Hero and Savior of this planet, Wielder of the Star Holy Sword that destroys stars and skies, Ancient Elemental Spirit that witnessed the progress of Human History, Eternal Guardian of Humanity—Natsukawa Naoki.]
"What a long introduction. I even forgot I had so many titles."
"But it's fine. After all, all these titles will leave me forever starting today. In that world, I only have one identity."
The man—Naoki—raised his hand and cut his long hair that had never been trimmed for twenty-two years, making it match the appearance he remembered most. Then, he drew the Holy Sword that had been embedded beside him for more than twenty years.
"Then, let's return."
"As Natsukawa Naoki, Head of Chaldea Operations Department."
The Holy Sword cleaved space, and a dimensional rift opened in front of Naoki.
After glancing at the planet he had guarded and accompanied for more than fourteen thousand years, Naoki smiled faintly, turned around, and stepped back into the other world he had left for fourteen thousand years.