"Effective immediately, recording and surveillance camera backup operations for all Chaldea systems are to be executed. Under the command of current Director and Commander-in-Chief Olga Marie Animusphere, Chaldea has decided to fulfill its mission to restore the Human Order. End of report, Chaldea Director Olga Marie Animusphere."
"I, Lord of the Mineralogy Department Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, shall act as an observer for this action."
"Acting Lord of the Department of Spiritron Casting Sola-Ui El-Melloi Sophia-Ri, likewise."
"Temporary Lord of the Department of Modern Magecraft Waver Velvet, likewise."
"Third Mage Karma Kirigaya, likewise."
"Fifth Mage Aoko Aozaki, likewise."
"Head of the Kuonji family Alice Kuonji, likewise."
"Head of the Tohsaka family Rin Tohsaka, likewise."
"Emergency Acting Commander-in-Chief of Chaldea and medical staff member Romani Archaman, likewise."
[With this, total record guarantee for all of Chaldea is executed.]
As the 'Video Recorder' Mystic Code handed over by Alice Kuonji began to operate, Olga Marie watched it and let out a sigh.
"This will put my mind at ease for now."
"We will help you deal with the UN breathing down your necks once the situation is over. Fortunately, thanks to the sheer luck that none of the staff died in Lev Lainur's tantrum, we're in a decent spot."
If things go like this, intervention from the Mage's Association is practically impossible, and as for the UN... well, if we tell them we'll just drop a nuclear bomb on them, they'll quiet down.
"…It would have been nice if we could have squeezed a True Ancestor, the Holy Church, or Atlas into the observer list as well."
"Are you sure you can handle that? A power struggle is essentially going to break out once the Human Order restoration is finished."
"Let's assume that was a slip of the tongue."
"Heh... as expected, you have a clever personality."
Chaldea's situation was operating much more smoothly than the original history.
The surviving staff displayed their true worth, scanning the precise time and location of the Singularity at high speed, while the Servant in the kitchen, Shiro Fujimaru, easily handled meals for dozens of people from the intact supply warehouse.
"Can it be fixed?"
"Repairing the Chaldea system entirely is impossible for Hellfire (Jigokudo)... there's no other way but to fix it by hand, isn't there?"
"Then you'll have to leave it to us. Sakura, come here."
The repair of the summon system and near-future observation lens, including the Chaldea system, was handled by the Witch of Fairy Tales.
"You must train the minimum amount of physical stamina. Magecraft might be a tall order, but I will teach you the methods of survival."
"…Hic."
Ritsuka Fujimaru's physical training was handled by Kiritsugu Emiya.
"…So, what is the reaction of the Temple of Time?"
"Impossible~ chasing the coordinates of Imaginary Number space is impossible even for us. Perhaps he didn't set a plan to throw the Grail into 'that Singularity,' but somewhere else, hiding it deep within Imaginary Number space?"
"No, Gilgamesh's Absolute Demonic Front was already under attack by Tiamat. No matter how transcendental the Demon God King is, controlling a Beast already summoned is impossible. Especially not an incomplete entity like Angra Mainyu, but a complete one like Tiamat."
"I can't deny that… considering the transcendental strength of that being called a Beast of Humanity…"
The strength of Solomon, who was summoned via Edo Tensei, seemed to remain a significant trauma not only for the dormant Crimson Moon but also for Arcueid herself, and she continued to express concern regarding the strength of the King of Mages, who was stronger than herself, and Goetia, whom even that King of Mages couldn't handle lightly.
"The point is not that we are the ones attacking. Eventually, as we systematically conquer the Singularities, the path to reaching him will reveal itself, and as long as we do that… we can win."
"I know what you mean. In the end, what we are doing is…"
"Yes, the maintenance work for this Chaldea."
Chaldea itself has a setting where a powerful magnetic field is spread out, preventing the Demon God King from pulling it directly…
But what good is that?
If the Demon God King were to descend directly like in the 4th chapter, or if he really decided to launch an attack, what would happen is literally an unknown.
No one knows if it will blow up, if we will die, or if dozens of Pseudo-Singularities will emerge.
In that sense, people capable of periodically blocking the Demon God King's sight towards Chaldea were needed.
Examples include Manaka Sajyou, who harbors the same 'Beast' and possesses the ability of the 'Root'; Shiki Ryougi, who harbors the 'Boundary' that also belongs to the Root; and Arcueid, who is the strongest on Earth in terms of raw output.
The method is that when Manaka perceives the enemy through her vision, Shiki, with the Boundary taking the lead, cuts away that 'vision,' and Arcueid fills in the resource leaks that occur occasionally.
Of course, the Demon God King is also in a situation where he needs to organize resources to achieve his 'purpose,' and he wouldn't be able to attack Chaldea recklessly, but he could certainly unleash all kinds of trivial interferences. However, those interferences could be fatal from our perspective, and our current situation requires us to block even the minor flaws.
"By the way, when is the Singularity?"
"First, a Pseudo-Singularity will come. The Director seems to want to confirm at least once to Ritsuka and Mash that 'This is what a Singularity is!'"
"It would be a meaningless act."
"…Indeed, that might be true."
And immediately after, as if on cue, a loud voice began to echo from the speakers.
[The time and coordinates for the 1st Singularity have been confirmed. All staff, please assemble in the Briefing Room.]
*
When I arrived at the briefing room and looked at Chaldeas, I saw a large reddish dot embedded in the position of France.
"France?"
"Orleans, to be exact. It's the year 1431. Romani? Explain."
"Ahem, first of all, that is the French provincial city of Orleans. In terms of timeline, the Hundred Years' War is currently underway… Do you know what that is?"
"I know Jeanne d'Arc!"
"…That should be enough, right? Anyway, it's an important period in human history, to the extent that it's evaluated that democracy blossomed after that era. It's not important to mages, but without democracy, the Human Order of the modern day essentially wouldn't exist, so it would collapse… that's the kind of story it is."
"Romani, is the Singularity already confirmed?"
"Yes. We are preparing for Rayshift now. The subjects for transport are Gareth, Ritsuka, Mash… and you."
Da Vinci quickly ran over and handed me a receiver capable of communicating with Chaldea at any time, and Alice handed me the Great Three Mystic Code.
"…Is it okay to give me all this?"
"You know it, don't you? Even with only half the materials, if you are there, I can restore anything. And if you die… honestly, I don't see a winning move."
"That's an 'all-in' investment if I've ever heard one. Anyway, I'll return safely, and we'll meet again then."
Ritsuka changed her outfit into the Chaldea combat uniform Mystic Code, and after I stored my Mystic Codes in Hellfire (Jigokudo), I shrunk my dolls and swallowed them into my throat.
The moment Da Vinci started manipulating the console to run the program in a hurry, I thought of something and signaled her to stop the Rayshift for a moment.
"What is it?"
"I thought about it, but I would like you to focus the resources that were supposed to be concentrated on me onto Ritsuka."
"What?"
"Just a gut feeling… honestly, when it comes to resources, Ritsuka is the one in danger, not me, right? Even if a Demon God Pillar appears right in front of my eyes, I have the ability to run away at the very least."
Da Vinci hesitated as if anxious, but Olga Marie nodded readily and shifted the resources toward Ritsuka, leaving only the minimum necessary to brief me.
"Now, then, we begin. Proof of Existence will be substituted by the Kaleidoscope, a Mystic Code of the 5th and 2nd Mages. Staff overseer Waver Velvet, lock on the incantation program!"
[Incantation program start, 1st process initiated]
"Don't just sit there, everyone, get moving! Ophelia, Wodime! Both of you go among the staff and help with the proof of existence! Beryl, get out of the way so you don't obstruct the view, Kadoc and Peperoncino move to the briefing team!"
[Ritsuka Fujimaru, Mash Kyrielight, Karma Kirigaya. Parameter definition complete. Incantation active]
"…O God, our faiths may differ, and our values may differ, but grant Your blessing upon these noble ones who seek to protect the Human Order."
Kirei Kotomine raised a short prayer while holding a rosary in his hand, and Caren and Ciel supported him.
[Chamber formation, transition life activity to unknown]
"Proof of Existence complete, initiate Spiritron Conversion!"
At the same time as Aoko's clear shout, the staff pulled the levers on the control panels in unison, and meaningless machine noises rang out.
[2nd process, Spiritron Conversion initiated. Rayshift start!]
"Ray, Rayshift complete… it seems to be a forest here."
"…Judging by the smell and the state of the soil, it does not seem like there are large magical beasts or dangerous monsters in this area. Still, just in case, maintain all-around security…"
"Wait a minute, where did Mr. Karma go?"
At the same time, one person, one Servant, and one Demi-Servant thought the same thing.
Where on earth did 'Karma Kirigaya,' who is effectively their guide, disappear to?
"Indeed… Gilles, is that man the 'obstruction' that green mage spoke of?"
"That is correct, Jeanne, there is no mistake! That man is the greatest threat and opponent to our task! Your words are indeed correct!"
Eight Servants stood before my eyes.
Jeanne d'Arc Alter, who is a Ruler yet in a way, could be called pitiable for having been created by Gilles de Rais. Chevalier d'Eon, who was a famous duelist as well as a spy and diplomat. Vlad III, who holds legends of being both a hero who defended his country and a vampire. Atalante, the fastest hunter in Greece. Gilles de Rais, simply an asshole. Carmilla, the Countess who possesses a 'legend' of sucking the blood of young girls and boys and bathing in it. The Saint of Iron Fist, Marie Antoinette, who struck Tarasque and turned him into a believer. And even Charles-Henri Sanson, the executioner who lopped off the heads of hundreds.
'It's fortunate that Lancelot isn't here. I don't care about Phantom, but Sanson's Noble Phantasm is annoying…'
"How insolent, you cur! To dare look at the Holy Maiden's face in such a way, kneel down at once, bow your head, and pay your respects!"
"That's plenty of bullshit… no, wait, he's a guy who has 'Mad Enhancement' as a passive, so I guess it doesn't matter…"
Laughter comes out.
Not laughter from dejection or frustration, but laughter purely welling up from euphoria.
"Gilles de Rais."
"What is it, you impious cur!"
Gilles de Rais said that, but he didn't attempt to kill me.
No, perhaps because he possesses a cold-blooded inclination, he might be deliberately not killing me. He likely has thoughts of training me with his tentacles later, or using me for prisoner exchanges.
"What do you think about the definition of madness?"
"…What did you say?"
I threw the question at him.
"That is exactly what I wanted to ask. Why do you do, act, and repeat the same things over and over hoping the situation will change? It's a very crazy act; even when I first heard of it, it was an act I could not understand. Continuously confronting even when knowing that mutual interests do not align, continuously repeating even knowing that one will fail, continuously acting even knowing that those who oppose you will not disappear, continuously repeating things that are useless and futile. I will call that madness."
"…What is your intention behind saying that?"
"If you experience madness that keeps repeating over and over, you realize that madness is also a form of repetition, you moron."
Asura Path conversion.
Inner humerus-radius-ulna separation phase initiation-execution.
nuclear launch detected
[Tsar Bomba-Царь бомба]