"Reverse Summoning System, initiate."
"Commence spiritron transfer."
"Three seconds until spiritron transfer."
"Countdown starting."
"3…"
"2…"
"1…"
"Process complete."
"Operation — Grand Order — initiated."
As the mechanical voice echoed through Chaldea's Central Command Room, the final spiritron transfer was at last underway.
"Zing——!"
The coffin at the center of the control room suddenly emitted a brilliant light. The young boy and girl lying inside were turned into particles of light and vanished within.
Thus began the mission to repair the Seventh Singularity.
From her position as Commander, Olga Marie issued a stream of directives with unprecedented urgency and resolve.
"Immediately analyze the mana density at the spiritron transfer destination! Full monitoring on the vitals of all personnel undergoing transfer!"
"There will be no room for error! Everyone, stay sharp!"
"This is our final operation! Do I make myself clear!?"
With Olga Marie's commanding shout, the technicians in the control room ignited with determination.
"""""Yes, ma'am!!"""""
Their resounding voices filled Chaldea, and a hint of satisfaction appeared in Olga Marie's eyes.
Nearby, Roman stared quietly at the planetary model named Chaldeas, a faint turbulence flickering in his eyes—something incomprehensible to others.
Until…
"So the final spiritron transfer has begun, Romani."
The one who spoke, of course, was Da Vinci.
At some point, Da Vinci had come to stand beside Roman, both of them now gazing at Chaldeas.
"Yeah."
Roman didn't turn to face her, as if he'd known she would arrive. He simply nodded lightly.
Watching him, Da Vinci sighed.
"You really don't plan to tell Rozen the truth?" she asked quietly, almost in a whisper. "If you don't say it now, there may never be another chance."
At those words, Roman fell silent.
After a moment, he gave a bitter smile.
"Maybe… not telling him is for the best."
Roman's voice was heavy with melancholy.
"You really think so?" Da Vinci's tone sharpened. "If that's honestly what you believe, don't blame me when I give you a full-force punch to knock some sense into you."
"Spare me," Roman said with a wry grimace. "You know full well—if I took a full hit from you right now, I'd probably die."
"Would you, though?" Da Vinci said casually. "Didn't you keep a final trump card in reserve?"
Her words brought back memories of the Fifth Singularity.
Back then, Rozen had nearly been killed by Mad King Cu Chulainn, and Roman, thinking him dead, had erupted in a terrifying surge of mana. Even Da Vinci, a Caster herself, had been shaken to the core.
That moment had revealed to Da Vinci that Roman, though now a human, still held one last secret in reserve.
Of course, to everyone else, Roman's outburst had been utterly baffling.
And Roman couldn't explain it either.
From then on, the people in Chaldea began to keep a wary distance from Roman, a quiet unease hanging over him.
Especially Olga Marie—after being betrayed by Lev, she had become too cautious to easily trust anyone again. Roman's outburst had certainly earned her suspicion.
Rozen and Mash might not have known, but Da Vinci did. Since that incident, Roman had been placed under surveillance by Chaldea, and Olga Marie had quietly sidelined him from all critical operations, fearful of another betrayal like Lev's.
If not for Rozen's importance as the final Master, Olga Marie might have gone as far as placing Roman under house arrest for interrogation.
Roman was fully aware of his situation and could only wear a helpless expression.
"That was a one-time-use thing," he said softly, glancing toward the coffin Rozen had entered. "A final measure I saved for emergencies. If I use it… that'll be the end of it."
His voice dropped lower.
"I've already given everything I had to Rozen. I just hope this last resort never has to be used."
Da Vinci frowned at his words.
"Yes, you gave everything to Rozen. But in doing so, you've also passed your burden onto him," she said bluntly. "I'm not going to say you were wrong—because if you hadn't done that, Rozen wouldn't be here today. But in the end, you have a responsibility to tell him the truth, Romani."
Her words made Roman grit his teeth.
At that moment, his eyes were filled with guilt and remorse.
Seeing him like that, Da Vinci realized she'd been too harsh.
After all, Roman hadn't wanted things to turn out this way either.
When he entrusted everything to Rozen, his intentions had been pure. He'd never imagined the Incineration of Humanity would come to pass.
And he certainly never imagined who would be behind it all.
Now that that person had revealed themselves, Roman could no longer avoid his responsibility.
No—rather, the responsibility that should have been Roman's would inevitably fall on Rozen, who had inherited everything from him.
"I can't even imagine what Rozen will do when he finds out. Or Mash…" Da Vinci murmured, her voice heavy with regret.
Roman gave an answer.
"They'll probably hate me, won't they?"
He spoke softly, like someone resigned to their fate.
Da Vinci couldn't refute him.
Because what he said… wasn't impossible.
Still, she couldn't bring herself to blame him either.
Rozen and Mash might be innocent, but Roman was just as much a victim—perhaps even more so, caught in an inescapable situation.
No one was truly at fault. It was just fate.
And yet...
"Maybe things won't be as bad as we think."
Da Vinci's voice lightened as she shifted her tone.
"The thing you gave Rozen—it's no longer what it once was. After merging with his own unique potential, it became something entirely different. It's even granted him strange encounters with mystery itself—allowing him to leave Chaldea freely and return stronger each time, evolving beyond anything we could've predicted. Who knows? Maybe he'll be able to break free from this fate by his own strength."
Those words finally made Roman lift his head.
"I hope so," he said.
His voice now carried a faint hint of expectation. A sliver of hope.