Originally, the section of the Wandering Sea's great hall used to establish New Chaldea had also been obtained by Sion in exchange for an Atlas Institute contract.
After Trismegistus II calculated that the Earth would be destroyed in 2018, Sion sought help from her father, Zepia, only to be refused. Left with no alternative, she withdrew alone to the Wandering Sea, which would not be affected by the Bleaching.
At the time, Zepia merely sent a letter to Shiomi at Chaldea through Touko Aozaki, repaying an old favor by informing him of the preparations Sion was making in the Wandering Sea.
However, the right to use the facility had never been indefinite.
According to the contract between the Wandering Sea and the Atlas Institute, they were only permitted to remain for one year of hypothetical time.
So once Storm Border returned to the Wandering Sea, Sion immediately began arranging the relocation of New Chaldea's essential equipment.
Everything was in a state of frantic activity.
Only frontline combatants like Shiomi and the others were temporarily spared from the logistical chaos, free to focus on things like combat training.
Chaldea now had ample personnel. Their help wasn't needed on the administrative side.
"Once we move Chaldea fully onto Storm Border and resolve the South American Lostbelt, the only things left will be heading to Antarctica, confronting the Chaldeas there, uncovering the true nature of the 'Alien God,' and understanding why Animusphere spent a thousand years bringing this plan to completion."
In the control room briefing, Olga Marie laid out her thoughts for Shiomi and the others.
It wasn't that she alone would dictate their course. But if she could present a clear and comprehensive roadmap, Shiomi would be able to entrust matters to her with greater peace of mind.
She understood that well. That was why she had taken care to sort through their objectives and present them clearly to the core members.
"That's for later," Morgan said calmly. "Right now, the priority is the South American Lostbelt. Considering that even after reclaiming a Fantasy Tree they still couldn't decisively eliminate us, and if the information from Kirschtaria and Koyanskaya aligns…"
"The South American Lostbelt is where ORT lies dormant." A flicker of fear crossed Olga Marie's face.
Her reaction was only natural.
In the world of Magi, the legend of ORT was practically a ghost story told in hushed tones.
Except it wasn't a legend.
As one of the Twelve Lords, and the Lord of the Department of Astromancy, Olga Marie had been exposed to that information since childhood.
She knew it was real.
A cosmic lifeform that descended upon the South American continent in ancient times. Anything that approached it would be killed in an instant.
Not a single Magus had ever survived entering its domain.
Afterward, whether out of the need to assess a threat that could not be ignored or simple academic curiosity, a Grand Magus in the sixteenth century made extensive preparations and entered South America with six Brand-ranked Magi.
It was an unprecedented expedition in the history of the Clock Tower.
In the end, only one Magus returned.
"We cannot touch that being yet. Among the lifeforms of the present Earth, none can stand alongside it. Wait for the next era. After we are extinct, entrust hope to the life that will arise through new evolution."
After leaving those words behind, the returning Magus transformed into crystal before the eyes of all present.
That Magus was Astea, one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower at the time.
Following that incident, the Director of the Clock Tower formally named the creature "ORT."
From that day on, a certain region of South America became a forbidden zone, a demonic territory where no human dared tread.
"But according to the former Director of the Clock Tower, 'Unless the planet itself calls for it, ORT will never awaken. It sleeps peacefully beneath South America. Do not provoke it. If it is stirred, the human sphere on this planet will vanish.'"
Scáthach leaned back in her chair, looking at the archived data displayed on the monitor.
"Just from that description alone, it sounds even more troublesome than the 'Alien God.'"
Chaldea's records also contained information regarding ORT.
Scáthach had already reviewed the relevant files.
"ORT" is recognized by the modern Magecraft world as the most resilient and incomprehensible lifeform confirmed to exist. It is said to possess an outer shell that is at once hard and soft, scorching and freezing. It generates energy through nuclear fusion within its body and crystallizes any substance it touches. It is categorized as a "Threat to Humanity," something that humanity's technology before the year 3000 could not hope to analyze.
"And since the South American Fantasy Tree has already been devoured by ORT, then whatever the 'Alien God' intends to do there must amount to one thing," Sion interjected. "To consume ORT and fuse with it."
"If we assign a combat value of 1000 to the Unity God form of Mr. Shiomi and Lady Morgan, then the 'Alien God' would be around the same level. But if she were to merge with ORT, that figure could easily rise to 10000."
"Ten thousand?" Morgan lifted a brow, though she did not appear particularly alarmed.
That was assuming the fusion succeeded.
Chaldea's task was to prevent that from happening in the first place and to completely defeat the "Alien God" and her Apostles.
"In any case, once Chaldea's relocation is complete and we withdraw from the Wandering Sea, we can prepare to head for the South American Lostbelt," Olga Marie said. "The 'Alien God' suffered some damage earlier. She won't be able to act immediately. That buys us time."
"And during that time, Mr. Shiomi and Lady Morgan, please focus on resting. There's no need for you to worry about Chaldea's miscellaneous affairs." Sion adjusted her glasses. "Whether against the 'Alien God' or ORT, your strength is currently Chaldea's greatest trump card."
As the topic turned to Shiomi and Morgan, everyone's gaze naturally shifted toward them.
Unlike Morgan, who had been actively contributing to the discussion from the start, Shiomi had remained silent, sitting off to the side as if lost in thought.
"Tenkei? What are you thinking about?" Skadi nudged his shoulder.
Shiomi lifted his head as if snapping out of a trance, offering an apologetic look.
"I was just wondering… why did ORT come to this planet in the first place? The Magecraft world still hasn't solved the mystery surrounding ORT…"
Before ORT, and after ORT, there had never been another cosmic lifeform like it that came to Earth.
His question left the Clock Tower–trained Magi present in thoughtful silence.
"Your question makes sense, Teacher," Olga Marie replied, shaking her head slightly. "But the Clock Tower truly has no speculation or hypothesis about that. Simply trying to understand what ORT is has already proven nearly impossible."
"It's nothing," Shiomi said with a faint smile. "Just something that caught my attention."