Cú Chulainn has died yet again.
Only this time, not even a "corpse" was left behind.
Lev, who sought the destruction of Human Order, is dead.
Consequently, Cú Chulainn, the Child of Light who attempted to protect Human Order, also vanished into Singularity F.
Is this the so-called shadow manipulation of the Counter Force?
Everything disposed of in advance will eventually feedback in another form.
The moment he realized this, Ian couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
"Um, are you okay?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka's voice echoed in the man's ears once again.
This half-baked Master of Chaldea was looking at him with concern.
"You look terrible."
"I suppose so..."
On the other side, Mash, who had already become a Shielder, was looking at the man with a similarly worried expression.
"And there is a lot of blood on your body, too."
When she said this, a distinct shyness appeared between Mash's brows.
Such a reaction naturally made Ian subconsciously follow her gaze to look at himself.
"Hm?"
"Where is my shirt?"
The man finally realized that the body resurrected from the power of Slaanesh had not perfectly replicated his original appearance.
In the eyes of Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash, the current him was an existence holding a large purple sword, stripped to the waist.
"This guy is actually pretty ripped, huh—"
Fujimaru Ritsuka used her hand as a cover, whispering her impressions to Mash beside her.
"Senpai, don't say things like that at a time like this!"
"You'll easily be taken for a pervert!"
Mash blushed and nudged the girl beside her.
But the glances she stole at the man from time to time faintly revealed her agreement with Fujimaru Ritsuka's words.
However—
Now was not the time for analysis.
"Ritsuka, Mash."
Ian's gaze swept over the two of them.
"For now, let's exchange the intelligence we possess."
A few minutes later.
Listening to the updates shared by Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash, the man sitting on the ground crossed his arms, falling into deep thought.
After a good while, he spoke again.
"In other words."
"Along the way, you encountered neither the Cú Chulainn I mentioned, nor a certain suspicious dual-wielding warrior, correct?"
"Mn."
Fujimaru Ritsuka, sitting on the other side, nodded.
"Not at all."
Ian frowned tightly.
He realized his judgment needed further correction.
Lev's premature death had indeed led to the "disappearance" of Cú Chulainn.
But the blackened Emiya shouldn't be missing.
The reasons for his and Cú Chulainn's appearance here were fundamentally different.
Lev's death shouldn't have led to such a result.
Could it be that the new world arrived at by saving Olga Marie has already begun to diverge from the original spacetime?
"Um..."
Mash's cautious voice temporarily interrupted the man's thoughts.
"Although it might be a bit forward to ask, where is the 'Coffin' you used to arrive in Singularity F?"
"Eh, that's right!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka clapped her hands.
"Mash and I have been running around everywhere just for the sake of the 'Coffins'."
"Ian!"
The young girl leaned directly into the man's side, grabbing his arm.
"Where is yours?!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes were as sincere as ever.
But telling her that he arrived in Singularity F in the flesh would probably require even more explanation.
"It disintegrated."
"That explosion... you should know how terrifying it was."
"..."
"..."
Ian's answer did not arouse suspicion from Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash.
"Then aren't we unable to return?"
"It's all that guy Lev's fault!" Fujimaru Ritsuka grumbled. "I knew people who insist on an 8 AM roll call are never good people!"
"But Senpai, you usually get up at nine... otherwise the Director wouldn't have caught you dozing off that day, right?"
Mash retorted somewhat awkwardly.
"So on the Director's side, maybe you've already been written down in her little black book many times."
"Well..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka waved her hand, answering nonchalantly.
"The nature of it is different! A righteous lateness doesn't count as being late!"
Watching the scene before him, Ian felt somewhat moved.
Having experienced countless failures, this was the first time he had reached such a distant point of progress.
He had finally...
Saved her.
Slaanesh was indeed efficient and precise.
He was walking a correct path!
"What's wrong?" Fujimaru Ritsuka noticed Ian's expression.
"Don't worry!" The girl patted her chest.
"I feel like we can definitely go back!"
"On what basis?"
"No basis!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka answered righteously.
"But I just feel we can!"
The overly sunny and upright answer left Ian unsure of how to refute it.
But...
It seemed there was no need to refute it.
"True. Since we came here, there must be a way back."
"But before that—"
Ian's gaze shifted from Fujimaru Ritsuka to Mash.
"W-what is it?"
Being looked at by the man like this, a blush surfaced on Mash's cheeks once again.
"It's nothing important."
"It's just that since you've already become a Shielder..."
The man stood up, pointing the edge of the 'Sword of Slaanesh' at the girl.
"I just want to see how strong the current you is."
"..."
"Understood!"
Mash raised the cross shield in her hand.
A battle to measure strength was triggered instantly.
"So, so amazing."
Watching the battle, Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes stared straight.
"To be able to suppress Mash who has turned into a Demi-Servant..."
"This guy's muscles aren't for show!"
The girl's straightforward and clear praise perfectly illustrated the current state of the battle.
The 'Sword of Slaanesh' suppressed the shield-wielding Mash almost insolvably.
But for Ian, this was by no means good news.
This was not a Singularity F that completely matched his memories.
Being able to completely suppress Mash meant that at this moment, she had not yet realized her true power.
Naturally, this couldn't be blamed on Mash—after all, from her perspective, this was just a shield she had obtained not long ago.
But the problem was, if that battle with Emiya still inevitably existed at a certain fixed point in time—that should have been a tragedy ended by Cú Chulainn at the cost of one arm.
But now, with the disappearance of Cú Chulainn, she and she would very likely be hurt or even killed by the opponent without him even realizing it.
Was there any way to avoid this unbearable danger?
Thinking this, Ian once again felt the stirring of Slaanesh.
"The maturation of desire is our evolution."
"If you want sufficient power, then let her fall into the abyss."
"Ritsuka."
"What is it?"
Looking at Ian who had stopped his blade, Fujimaru Ritsuka tilted her head slightly.
"Lend me something."
"Lend you something...?"
"Mn."
The man nodded, then his gaze fell upon Mash, who looked somewhat exhausted and was panting while supporting herself with the shield due to enduring the continuous attacks.
"Lend Mash to me."
"Just for a little while."
________________________________________
Get rewarded for helping with our community goals!
🎯 Reward for all: +1 bonus chapter at 50 Powerstones.
🚀 Tier Reward: Help us reach 20 members for +5 chapters on all stories!
👻 Join the crew by searching Ms. Medusa on (P). You know the spot! 😉