Francis Drake was the first great figure in history to successfully circumnavigate the globe while still alive. The first, Ferdinand Magellan, died midway through his journey, so he doesn't count.
Thanks to such a monumental achievement, she even ascended to gain the ability symbolizing glory: the title of Pioneer of the Stars. This is a special skill granted to heroes who serve as turning points in human history.
It allows for the transformation of the "impossible" into "achievable."
If anyone, as a human, could accomplish the impossible—for example, defeating an invincible god—Francis Drake would undoubtedly be one of them.
As for Fergus mentioned by Mash, he's likely Fergus mac Róich, a warrior from the Celtic Ulster period.
He was a member of the Red Branch Knights and is widely known as a friend and foster father to the hero Cú Chulainn.
An exuberant man with a hearty appetite, he was bold, free from jealousy, and knew no fear.
The name of the fearless warrior Fergus has been passed down through the ages.
The weapon he wielded, the Caladbolg, is also famous worldwide. In legend, its rainbow-like sword light cleaved through hills.
When wielded as a Noble Phantasm, Caladbolg possesses significant destructive power capable of indiscriminately tearing apart the earth.
It is said that this sword became the prototype for many magical and holy swords wielded by heroes of later generations, and it is also believed to be the origin of the fabled Sword of Revolving Victory.
The analysis of potential Heroic Spirits appearing in the Singularity concluded quickly. For Alaric, the one he truly wanted to interact with was none other than Francis Drake.
The Hercules summoned by Chaldea was not in his rational, peak state but was instead a twisted, Berserk version. His Twelve Labors had transformed into the Twelve Trials, and most of his Noble Phantasms had been sealed.
What remained was merely a stone axe and his absolute, invincible power in close combat.
["If we can track down their whereabouts, we should locate and join them as soon as possible. After all, they know you and would likely be willing to assist,"] Da Vinci said with a cheerful smile. ["Well, for now, you can think of this as an adventurous sightseeing trip!"]
This time was different from previous journeys. Although Mash couldn't accompany them, Ritsuka Fujimaru had a more reliable companion by her side.
Not only was Alaric there, but Ritsuka Fujimaru had also grown increasingly capable of summoning more Servants, significantly enhancing their fighting power.
In terms of Servant battles alone, Ritsuka Fujimaru was, without a doubt, a peerless Master across time.
Compared to the tactically adept Ritsuka Fujimaru, Alaric's single-combat style seemed a bit reckless.
But that recklessness was precisely what Chaldea and Ritsuka Fujimaru needed.
After all, no matter how many Servants Ritsuka could summon or how strong they were, before utilizing the Shadow of the Spirit Origin, she was still just an ordinary girl.
There was always a risk of failure, but Alaric could ensure that such risks wouldn't materialize.
At least, not within the scope of his abilities.
["Hmm, if Miss Helena, who is familiar with the underworld, were here, she might be able to provide some information."]
Mash picked up the conversation, saying, ["Although Sir Alaric ensures the safety of Senpai, it's always better to be cautious. I hope we can join up with them soon—"]
Before Mash could finish her sentence, a bright laugh rang out under Alaric's watchful gaze.
"But~~ you don't have to worry at all, Master!
Because no matter how dangerous the place is, Master will always have a reliable Servant by their side—like me!"
The pink-haired knight appeared, with a slender figure resembling that of a young girl. Beneath the light armor of a knight were black over-the-knee stockings.
This was Astolfo, one of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins.
"If there's no logic, there's nothing to be afraid of! By the way, who are you?"
As Astolfo made his grand entrance, Fujimaru Ritsuka and a small, pure-white creature darted forward like arrows toward him. Before it could reach Astolfo, however, Alaric grabbed it firmly with his large hands.
"Fou~ Fou!!"
The struggling Fou couldn't escape from Alaric's firm grasp.
"Whoa, this guy—"
Astolfo, who had been brimming with excitement as if making a dazzling debut, noticed the man next to Fujimaru Ritsuka. Tilting his head, he smiled and said, "Isn't this Sir Alaric? We meet again!"
Every Servant is effectively a new entity, a recreation of the Heroic Spirit seated in the Throne of Heroes.
Their soul's information is imprinted on the Spirit Origin body, allowing them to act as Servants. Once they return to the Throne of Heroes, this information is transmitted back to their original selves.
Normally, apart from figures like Artoria, who made contracts with the Counter Force during her lifetime and responded to the summons as a Heroic Spirit, most Servants cannot retain memories of past summonings once they materialize.
However, Chaldea's summoning ritual seems to differ, allowing summoned Servants to retain memories of their interactions with their Master.
Similarly, the Throne of Heroes exists beyond the constraints of time. Even changes to the world cannot erase this fact.
Even the memories of the Moon's Holy Grail War, which occurred on the far side of the stars, remain intact. Naturally, when Astolfo saw Alaric, he immediately recalled that war.
Was it the birth of the Star Beast or the so-called birth of humanity's apex?
Alaric, still holding Fou, gave Astolfo a thumbs-up with a grin and asked, "How did you get here?"
"Because I sensed something fun, I sneaked in as a backup Servant! Mash, please thank the staff maintaining the transfer pods on my behalf. Just tell them I appreciate their help with my smuggling operation!"
With a wide smile, Astolfo casually exposed his accomplice. Naturally, as a knight whose rationality had evaporated, he likely didn't see the need to conceal this from others.
Moreover, although Astolfo was a Servant, he didn't possess the ability to perform Spiritron Transfers independently. To enter a Singularity from Chaldea, he still required the Spiritron Transfer pods provided by Chaldea.
["Understood. Thank you very much. Mr. Meuniere, I don't need to say this, but this is punishable behavior."]
With the accomplice quickly identified thanks to Astolfo, Mash smiled and said to Meuniere, the man maintaining the pods, ["Although helping the Master isn't punishable, I believe this might impact your bonus review."]
["Yee-haw! But this was Astolfo-chan's request, and I have no regrets!"]
The man named Meuniere didn't back down. Faced with the choice between his bonus and the charmingly petite knight, he chose the latter without hesitation.
"Does Astolfo know Sir Alaruc?"
Standing nearby, Fujimaru Ritsuka caught onto the unusual atmosphere and immediately squinted, glancing between Alaric and Astolfo.
It was one thing to set aside Astolfo, who resembled a princess, but Alaric's experiences were well-documented. Among them, there was no mention of this knight.
Could it be that Alaric had adventures he hadn't shared yet?
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked curious and asked, "How do you two know each other?"
"Hmm? Of course, it was during the Holy Grail War! He's amazing!"
As if recounting a grand adventure, Astolfo was about to share the story of the Holy Grail War with Fujimaru Ritsuka when someone finally interrupted.
"Hold on a moment—who said there's only one bodyguard here?"
Another knight, sounding a bit displeased, made their entrance after Astolfo.
["There's another Spirit Origin reaction?"]
At this moment, Mash finally realized the presence of a second Servant and exclaimed, ["You sneaked in a second Servant's Spiritron transfer? Looks like the bonus might all go down the drain!"] But this danger was no problem at all for Meuniere!
["But this was Dion-chan's request—what's a bit of bonus money compared to that?"]
Meuniere's unwavering shout echoed through the command center as if declaring his passion for something.
As Meuniere's voice reverberated, Ritsuka Fujimaru and Alaric also got a clear look at the newcomer.
A knight holding a single-handed sword, dressed in elegant light green attire, with pure white trousers outlining their slender legs. Beneath a wide-brimmed hat was a face so delicate it could be mistaken for a maiden's, evoking a protective instinct in those who saw it.
The moment Alaric saw the figure, the true name came to mind—Chevalier d'Eon.
A legendary figure from 18th–19th century France, Chevalier d'Eon was known as a swordsman and writer gifted in both martial and literary arts. In addition to serving as a spy for the Secret Service, they took on roles such as diplomat, dragoon captain, and envoy. But the greatest mystery surrounding d'Eon was their gender.
Even Alaric found it difficult to determine. While dressed in male attire, d'Eon possessed beauty and a figure that could be described as that of a maiden, leaving no doubt about their feminine charm and aura.
Unlike Astolfo, whose gender had been confirmed as male, d'Eon's gender seemed to simply be d'Eon.
"What is this, some kind of gender-ambiguous squad now?"
Alaric, feeling an overwhelming urge to comment, pressed his lips together to avoid blurting anything out, even burying his face into Fou's belly—much to Fou's dismay.
With d'Eon's arrival, a new four-person team quickly formed.
"We need to decide on our next course of action," said Ritsuka Fujimaru, clapping her hands. "What do you all think?"
["First, we need to get a better understanding of our surroundings,"] Da Vinci suggested. ["Please describe the area as thoroughly as possible. While we can analyze the imagery from Fujimaru's perspective, the impressions you get on-site are just as important."]
Da Vinci's curiosity about this mysterious underground world was tempered by caution, a habit born of past experiences.
As Ritsuka described her observations to Da Vinci, she nodded in understanding. "The ceiling is very high and appears to be made of rock. The ground is like the surface, with plants growing on it.
There are hills, forests, rivers, and other terrain features that resemble the surface world. Yet, from a geological perspective—and based on your impressions—this place feels odd. It's like a mosaic, combining terrain that shouldn't naturally coexist. This underground world's inconsistency feels like a compilation of works from multiple artists."
"Really?" Astolfo, seemingly unconcerned, exclaimed excitedly, "From my adventurer's perspective, there are plenty of strange places on the surface like this too!"
"That's not the issue. We're here to find the Demon Pillar, right?"
Having joined the team, d'Eon chimed in.
["Exactly. But after reaching Agartha, the Demon Pillar's signal became faint and unclear,"] Mash explained, sounding troubled. ["Aside from searching slowly, we could also rely on Sir Alaric's abilities to locate it, right?"]
Alaric's sensory range was akin to an extension of instinct, much like how a dragon could sense danger within its territory.
However, this ability came at a cost—it required Alaric to channel magical energy to maintain the heightened physical strain it imposed.
"No, that won't work. This place is strange," Alaric replied after some thought.
In addition to following Da Vinci's medical advice to limit the release of magical energy and combat activity, Alaric had to carefully time the use of high-output magic like the Gate of Judgment or attacks comparable to Noble Phantasms. While his combat capabilities weren't significantly reduced, his ability to extend his senses was greatly hindered.
Moreover, the way Agartha's world persisted felt ambiguous—like a signal that kept flickering.
["That's right. While the terrain survey results remain consistent, Agartha feels inherently vague, even in terms of its existence,"] Da Vinci agreed. "Not just the terrain—even the continuity of information occasionally shifts, as if switching to something entirely different. However, using Ritsuka and Sir Alaric as observation points stabilizes the continuity.
In other words, the closer something is to you two, the more accurate the observations.
Because of this, I can't make any definitive conclusions yet. However, I've detected several reactions resembling artificial structures in this space, suggesting the possibility of inhabitants in Agartha."]
["If that's the case, we should set these higher-accuracy locations as our objectives and establish an operational base,"] Mash suggested.
As Mash finished speaking, Alaric finally released Fou, who immediately leaped onto Ritsuka's shoulder with a loud, indignant "Fou! Fou!!"
Astolfo, as energetic as ever, ran ahead enthusiastically. "Master, let's head toward the populated areas first! With my sixth sense, this will be a piece of cake. This way!"
Like an unbridled horse, Astolfo sped out of sight, leaving Ritsuka and the others behind. Even Alaric, who had been preparing to summon a magic-powered vehicle, couldn't find the words to stop him.
Noticing Alaric's actions, Ritsuka and d'Eon gathered around, ignoring Astolfo's disappearing figure.
"Behold, the great work of Miss Da Vinci!" Alaric announced proudly, snapping his fingers. "This is the masterpiece that rivals the Sphinx—a new creation: Counterfeit Armored Cavall Alter!"
Da Vinci crossed her arms, equally proud. ["Indeed! I collaborated with Sir Alaric on this during his time in Chaldea. It's a perfect balance of art and functionality!"]
Before them stood two Armored Cavall Alters, modeled after Artoria Alter's beloved motorcycle but with enhanced performance and additional defensive enchantments. These vehicles were practically Mystic Codes on wheels, albeit costly in magical energy and with limited lifespans.
However, with the resources of Chaldea backing Alaric, magical energy could be supplied directly from Chaldea's nuclear-powered generators, enabling this kind of extravagant magic.
As Alaric demonstrated the Armored Cavall Alters to Ritsuka, d'Eon, and even Mash back at Chaldea, a sudden scream interrupted them.
"Help! This isn't my fault, I swear! They were heading this way from the start!"
Astolfo's voice rang out as he sprinted back toward them, a group of magical beasts hot on his heels. They were quickly closing in on Ritsuka, Alaric, and d"Eon!