After a "friendly" exchange with Morpheus, Olga Marie gained some understanding of his situation.
She was astonished by the wonders of his world, but soon her curiosity turned to doubt. "So, are you like an evil spirit possessing the McRemitz family's adopted son?"
"I get what you mean, but no. I was born normally. I'm me, not some body-snatcher," Morpheus shook his head.
Olga Marie frowned. "But that's so strange. It's like reincarnation from certain magecraft systems."
"You could see it that way, or from another angle," Morpheus tapped his head. "I'm a person of this world, but for some reason, someone stuffed another world's memories into me at birth."
"That's possible, but doesn't that mean you've got someone else's memories and life copy-pasted into you? How are you not upset?" Olga Marie stared, incredulous at his carefree attitude.
Morpheus chuckled. "Why not live happily? Whatever the case, I'm me, walking my path to uncover magic's mysteries. That's enough for me."
His relaxed demeanor made Olga Marie feel that even the world's end wouldn't faze him.
"Oh, world's ending? I'd make sure to have fun first. If it's all going down, might as well enjoy what's left," he said.
Olga Marie confirmed her impression: Morpheus was indeed that kind of person.
But she had questions. "Such a big secret, and you're not going to pressure me? Like, make me sign a contract to keep quiet?"
"Go ahead and tell people. It's no big deal. I'm not hiding it forever," Morpheus shook his head. "If I really cared, I wouldn't have made a contract with you. Knowing my past should make you more confident, right?"
Olga Marie had to admit he was right. If he was worried about exposure, he wouldn't have formed a magical contract with her.
Learning about his extraordinary world filled her with hope for humanity's future.
Forget the magic's power... just the fact that it didn't weaken with wider use was thrilling. It solved the magecraft world's biggest issue and could expand the Magus community!
"Ahem, so, you really meant to spread this magical knowledge?" she asked.
"Of course. I'm already teaching Gudako… I mean, Ritsuka and Mash. Romani and Da Vinci seem interested too, though they're more into studying it than learning it outright," Morpheus said.
As Olga Marie calmed down, a thought surfaced.
"You're pretty close with a lot of women, huh?" she said, half-smiling.
"Don't slander me!" Morpheus protested. "I'm only close to a few. You can count them on one hand!"
"Medea, Atalanta, Artemis," Olga Marie listed, smirking.
"See? Just three," Morpheus said.
"Then why'd I hear you had close ties during a Grail War in that other world?" she countered.
"That's only two more!" Morpheus exclaimed. "Still fits on one hand!"
Olga Marie counted... five exactly. One hand.
But his shamelessness irked her.
"You're practically middle-aged across two lives, yet you're out here charming young girls? Shameless!"
"What? I'm young in both lives! Mentally and physically, I'm a high schooler!" Morpheus argued.
His utter lack of shame left Olga Marie at a loss for how to counter him.
When someone felt no guilt, moral scolding was useless. And with him juggling multiple relationships, that's all she had.
She coughed. "Fine, just be careful. Don't go after every pretty girl. That's irresponsible!"
"I don't!" Morpheus paused, eyeing her. "Why do you care? You're not my girlfriend."
"I'm your boss!"
"And my contracted partner!"
"I'm still your boss. Your conduct is my business!" Olga Marie insisted, then softened. "I'm just worried about your life. You've got to take responsibility for those girls!"
"Of course I will," Morpheus said.
"How?"
"Summon them!" he said matter-of-factly. "Many can be called as Servants. Not their true selves, but it solves the separation issue. With enough experience, I'll bring their true forms down."
"But not Artemis, right? She's a god. You'd only get a weakened Servant avatar."
Morpheus grinned. "Actually, Artemis is the easiest."
"Easiest?!"
"Yup. This Singularity adventure gave me insight into her situation. Summoning her true self is the simplest. It'll take time, but not too long!"
Seeing his confidence, Olga Marie nodded, then muttered, "I want to learn too!"
"Huh? What'd you say?" Morpheus leaned in, cupping his ear. "Too quiet."
"I said, I want to learn!"
"No spirit!"
"Are you filming a movie?!" A stack of papers smacked Morpheus' head.
…
Leaving Olga Marie, Morpheus walked down the corridor and ran into Ritsuka and Mash.
"Morpheus!" Ritsuka greeted cheerfully. Mash, curious, asked, "Where were you, Morpheus-senpai?"
"Just came from a tsundere ghost," Morpheus shrugged. "What about you two? What's the plan?"
"Mash says she's making tasty stuffed bread. I'm going to try it," Ritsuka said.
Mash invited him. "Want to join, Morpheus-senpai?"
"Nah, I've got things to do. You guys enjoy," Morpheus smiled, waving them off before heading to Chaldea's summoning chamber.
The chamber was repaired, blending magecraft and technology for easier Servant summoning. With a Holy Grail, near-limitless summoning was possible, even without catalysts, potentially calling top-tier Servants.
The Grails were with Mash, but Morpheus didn't need them. He had no shortage of magical energy.
He summoned the four archangels, channeling their power into the summoning system.
As the energy flowed, the array activated, and Morpheus began chanting.
"Declare, thy body under my command, thy fate entrusted to my sword. By the Holy Grail's call, those who heed this will and reason, answer me! I swear, I am the world's good, purging its evil. Bound by the three great words, from the Wheel of Restraint! Guardian of the Scales!"
He recited the incantation fluently, without a catalyst or specific target, curious to see what he'd summon.
And to test if the archangels' power could replace raw mana.
The array glowed, surging with immense power. Morpheus smiled.
He'd succeeded.
A figure emerged from the array. Morpheus paused, then raised a hand with a grin. "Yo, we meet again."
A dark figure, slender and tall, with the identity of a witch... once his enemy.
Jeanne d'Arc Alter!
She smiled faintly upon seeing Morpheus.
"Servant, Avenger, answering the call. Didn't expect you to summon me. Here's the contract."
A mana-infused contract appeared before Morpheus, filled with text. He glanced at it, puzzled. "Is this a job application?"
"Of course. I'm a free spirit now, not some pawn to be controlled!" Jeanne Alter declared.
Morpheus nodded silently. His last "talk therapy" had worked wonders. She was far more spirited than before, when she'd been, frankly, unhinged.
Still, summoning Jeanne Alter on his first try was unexpected.
"If I recall, she's a top-tier Heroic Spirit. Did I just pull an SSR right off the bat?" he mused, signing the contract.
The contract burned, its flames reshaping into Command Spells on his hand.
The pact was sealed.
Morpheus studied Jeanne Alter, making her step back. "What're you staring at? You're acting like a creep!"
"What?! I'm just checking your condition!" Morpheus huffed, pulling out Durandal and offering it. "Here, use this sword."
"Isn't that the girl's sword?" Jeanne Alter recognized it instantly. Last time, Jeanne had wielded it with immense power.
"Isn't it her Noble Phantasm? Or did you find the original?"
"It's the one she used. I made it. But as France's witch, it might work for you too."
Jeanne Alter shook her head. "Keep it. It's not mine. I wouldn't feel right using it."
Seeing her stance, Morpheus didn't press, retracting Durandal. "Fine, I'll get you a new weapon later. Your current strength is a bit lacking."
Her face darkened.
"Don't worry, everyone's training. You can too, and you'll catch up fast," he added.
Her face darkened further.
"My mana's plenty. Oh, I can also make you a mana-replenishing Mystic Code. That'd let you stay manifested long-term, even without a Master."
Jeanne Alter frowned. "I'm just a Servant, not my true self. I shouldn't need that to act freely, right?"
"Just in case. Like if I get drugged, knocked out, captured, or tossed into a time vortex, cutting off your mana. With a Mystic Code, you could keep doing your thing."
Jeanne Alter wanted to say, "With your strength, who could do that?" but Morpheus seemed like a seasoned victim, muttering to himself.
"Yup, better make you a mana device to avoid getting flung to another dimension. It's not my first rodeo, and you never know! You'd need to back up Mash and Gudako... I mean, Ritsuka."
***
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