"So—"
"Everyone, please be sure to continue working hard."
"This is for the prayers of the dead, and also for the future of humanity!"
Inside the office, recalling everything she had just seen, Olga Marie's mood could not calm down for a long time.
Although the casualties from the explosion had been minimized as much as possible, looking at those empty seats, the young girl serving as Director still felt endless self-blame.
If only she hadn't trusted Lev so much back then—
It was all because she was so arrogant, so stupid.
Tears uncontrollably fell from the corners of the girl's eyes, leaving two clear wet trails on her cheeks.
"If you want to feel regret, you'd better change to a more hidden place."
"If you are seen, it will greatly affect morale."
A familiar voice rang out. Olga Marie opened her eyes and saw Ian gazing at her.
"When did you come?"
"Probably around the time the Director started crying?"
"..."
Olga Marie quickly wiped her tears clean.
"You didn't see anything; I just yawned!"
"It is precisely because the Director is so dishonest that you get deceived—"
Ian struck directly at Olga Marie's vital point.
"Whether it is sadness or happiness, it should be expressed, right?"
"If you hide it in your heart, you will only turn yourself into a monster."
The man walked to Olga Marie's side and gently embraced her.
"So—"
"Vent it out here with me."
"That way, it will be much better than now."
"..."
Fragility and strength might be just a thought apart.
Olga Marie ultimately failed to maintain her disguise.
She hugged the man and began to sob in his arms.
A few minutes later.
"You absolutely cannot speak of today's matters!"
"Because it would make everyone depressed along with you, right—"
Just as Olga Marie spoke the first half, Ian answered with the second half.
"Rest assured."
"The Director's unsightly state will be known only to me."
"Don't say such excessive things!"
Olga Marie glared at Ian, but she wasn't too angry.
After all, just as he said, after crying it out, she indeed felt much better.
"So, did you come here just to make me cry?"
"That would be too bad taste."
"Of course not." Ian shook his head. "I just came to confirm something with the Director."
"What is it?"
After some explanation.
"What?" Olga Marie frowned slightly. "You want to know if Da Vinci has a way to create Spirit Origins?"
Similar to the timeline where Olga Marie did not survive.
Post-explosion Chaldea was still maintained in its existing operations by the Servant Da Vinci's Noble Phantasm.
Naturally.
The repair of the [Coffin] naturally could not lack her participation.
"This cannot be confirmed for the time being, but... I have indeed heard before that she has similar possibilities."
"Then, Director—"
"Can I ask you to spend a bit more thought on this during the time Ritsuka and I head to the Singularity?"
"You..."
Olga Marie did not continue to question further.
"Fine, I understand."
"But—" The girl held up a finger. "You must also promise me one thing."
"Come back safely..."
"Absolutely do not let anything happen."
"Director, are you caring about me?"
"Interpret it however you like." Olga Marie held Ian's hand. "I can no longer accept losing anyone else."
"Even if it is you, there is no exception."
"As long as you can return safely..." The girl's lips rubbed gently.
"I can grant you a small wish."
"Then I must come back a bit earlier."
The two looked at each other.
The atmosphere appeared somewhat ambiguous.
However, Olga Marie held back the thoughts in her heart—departure was imminent, and she didn't want to do anything to wrong Fujimaru Ritsuka again.
But, why would I want to give him the right to make a wish?
In the office where Ian had left, Olga Marie, with her legs tightly closed together, thought this.
I just feel like, I seem to be a little addicted to the feeling of being held by him.
Thinking this, the girl's hand had unconsciously slid down into the abyss.
But what she didn't know was that the pleasure brought by her every move had long been known by the man in his heart.
"Heh."
"Still not indulgent enough, Director."
Time passed.
The time for departure arrived very quickly.
"Come, I'll help you put it on."
Standing in front of Ian, Fujimaru Ritsuka stood on tiptoes, helping him fasten the necessary protection.
"This should be good!"
"Just helping me with it, what about your own?"
"I have Mash for mine—"
Fujimaru Ritsuka hugged Mash's shoulder.
"Did you know, Mash has suddenly become so amazing since yesterday!"
"So amazing...?"
"Don't know how to describe it to you!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka said with a happy face.
"Anyway, the feeling is completely different from before—plus the things you taught me, this time we will definitely do even better!"
"Right, Mash!"
"Eh, this..."
Propping up her cross shield, Mash stammered a bit in her speech.
In her eyes, Ian was a completely different matter from the Ian in Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes.
This man, in a practical sense, already counted as her other "Master" in private.
Eh?
Using "Master" seems not quite right, should there be a more suitable address?
"I can indeed feel that Mash has become stronger."
"Then I'm relieved—"
Knowing Mash couldn't speak up, Ian directly smoothed things over for her.
"This time, it will absolutely be smoother than before!"
"Hehe, that's for sure!"
This was a departure with far more confidence than before.
There was no other reason.
If following the normal repair order, the situation of the First Singularity was almost an open book.
For Jeanne, whose power was restricted, to defeat Jeanne [Alter], who was born from the flames of vengeance, they could then conveniently take the Grail back into their hands.
Speedrun—
We absolutely must protect such a world!
Harboring blazing determination, the agent of Slaanesh lay inside the [Coffin] just like that.
The device reproduced by Da Vinci using her Noble Phantasm, Uomo Universale, had an effect almost completely identical to the original.
The door of the [Coffin] slowly closed, and Ian also fell into the precursor of Spiritron Transfer.
Only—
When he regained consciousness as the [Coffin] door opened, he found the situation seemed a bit wrong.
A black dragon was indeed soaring in the sky.
But—
Why were there so many people surrounding him?
"See that!"
"This is my great art!"
"We can absolutely escape judgment!"
Making exaggerated movements with both hands, a young girl dressed all in black was heroically recounting something in front of him.
Undoubtedly, that was indeed Jeanne [Alter].
But...
Why did it feel not quite right?
________________________________________
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