Outside the glass windows of Chaldea's corridor, the same unchanging gloom of clouds and snow loomed. A faint red glow on the horizon was a reminder—the world beyond was still burning.
It had been over a year and a half since the restoration of human order had begun.
If time hadn't been halted, then by conventional reckoning, the world should be approaching the end of 2017.
It felt like just yesterday that they had celebrated New Year's in Chaldea. Even Olga Marie couldn't help but feel how fleeting time was.
"Thinking about the next battle, Marie?" came Shiomi's voice.
Olga Marie suddenly felt flustered, instinctively straightening her already immaculate appearance.
"No, I was just unconsciously reflecting on the work we've done up to now," she replied.
"It's thanks to you that Chaldea has held on this long," Shiomi said with a warm smile.
Olga Marie's face turned red. "You're the one who's truly essential to Chaldea... I'm just—"
"I'm just a combatant. You're the Director—the one who brought together the surviving members of Chaldea, kept everything coordinated, and knew what had to be done," Shiomi said. "You united everyone and pushed forward, all for the sake of restoring human order."
"I-Is that so..." Olga Marie felt the praise was a bit much, but accepted it with an awkward smile.
"So keep your spirits up. Master once said that the Incineration of Humanity carried out by the King of Magecraft was a feat that even surpassed the power of the gods. And I've been thinking—if we're the ones trying to stop that, then we're unquestionably accomplishing a great feat ourselves, aren't we?" Shiomi encouraged.
Olga Marie slowly let her smile fade, then gave a small nod. "Mm..."
"That's a pretty subdued reaction. Was I being too dramatic?" Shiomi asked, slightly surprised.
"No, it's just... After finishing the work at the Seventh Singularity, I took time to organize everything—from Chaldea's founding to now. And I think I've started to understand my father's feelings, the ones that drove him to dedicate himself to Chaldeas," Olga Marie said quietly, a touch of melancholy in her voice. "You're right. We really are undertaking something monumental."
Shiomi nodded. "But there's something... unsettled in your heart?"
"Yeah. I keep feeling like we've made a critical oversight somewhere. The restoration of human order is meant to safeguard the future, but... who are we safeguarding it for?" Olga Marie asked earnestly. "We talk about 'taking back the future,' but what kind of future do we think is worth reclaiming? We—"
She bowed her head deeply, wrapping her arms around herself.
"—We pioneer lands, build cities, cross oceans, and tear open the skies... but what are we really doing it for?"
Her question was too vast—even Shiomi had no clear answer.
Olga Marie clearly understood that this wasn't about the final battle ahead. It was a question that extended hundreds, maybe thousands of years into the future.
"Sorry, Sensei. I've been overthinking. Lately, these questions keep coming up, and I can't help feeling scared... I can't even sleep," she said with a sheepish smile.
"To truly reshape the future, you might need a force as immense and a mind as brilliant as the King of Magecraft," a voice rang out—Artoria's.
"But... to guide the future toward something better, it takes the efforts of all humanity—not just one person."
Both turned their heads.
"The Lion King..." Olga Marie said in surprise.
She remembered—the Lion King had once asked a similar question.
"My choice was 'for the happiness of the next beings to visit this planet.' But Tenkei, your teacher chose the happiness of the people who live here now. Even if this planet reaches its end and humanity faces extinction... that end should be far off, peaceful, quiet—like drifting away in a dream. Just like the Britannia I once hoped for," Artoria said.
"...I haven't thought that far ahead," Shiomi said softly, more to himself than anyone else.
Maybe, deep down, he had. But his subconscious refused to face it, keeping his reasons for fighting rooted in what lay directly ahead.
For Sakura, Caren, Gray—for the world they still lived in, and for the tomorrows yet to come—he had taken on this immense responsibility.
"Is that so." Olga Marie
Then she noticed Artoria and was reminded of the Master's combat gear.
"Sorry for dumping all my complaints on you," Olga Marie said. She stood, gave Shiomi a quick bow, and jogged off. "I'll be going now."
But it was clear to anyone that the cloud over her heart had lifted. Her focus was now firmly on the task ahead.
"Did you come to deliver a message, or just to check in on me?" Shiomi asked with a smile.
"Both."
Artoria then took a seat beside him.
"You should get a bit more rest too. This isn't like Uruk. You're here in Chaldea as your true self, appearing through Independent Manifestation by your own will. You don't have the usual conveniences of a Servant," Shiomi said with concern. "Being here like this, the limitations of the world should weigh on you just as much as they do on master."
Though it wasn't entirely clear how Artoria had acquired a special ability belonging to the Beast Class, she was a companion now—an ally.
And in the battles to come, every bit of added strength was a welcome comfort.
"The earlier exploration of that minor Singularity was enough," Artoria said as she naturally leaned closer to him. "I didn't expect that, in the end, I'd be choosing to fight on the battlefield against the King of Magecraft."
"Yeah... that really was unexpected." Shiomi nodded with a nostalgic smile. "Especially considering we were at each other's throats not long ago."
Of course, those were sentiments already resolved.
What had been confirmed in Uruk didn't need to be said again.
"Da Vinci created a new Mystic Code for the Masters—one that converts Chaldea's power supply into mana for summoning," Artoria said. "I heard it puts an enormous burden on the Masters, so Morgan made some improvements."
"Surprising?" Shiomi asked with a nod.
"Not really. Whether it's Morgan or you, Tenkei, neither of you wanted them stepping onto a battlefield this dangerous," Artoria said. "And since their resolve can't be swayed, even Morgan can only do her best to make sure they don't have to fight too recklessly."
"Well, their team leader's one stubborn human too," Shiomi said with a chuckle.
Artoria laughed with him.