I thought Saber Alter would be different.
That the monster who spammed Excalibur, powered by the Holy Grail, would be a different story. I was sure it would be a tough fight, a fierce battle where Mash would awaken her Noble Phantasm.
"Grh, to think that I would end up like this."
But we won far more easily than I expected.
Saber Alter didn't go down right away. Seeing the army of 300, she immediately fired Excalibur, but that army became 300 shields, protecting us.
In Babylonia, Gorgon had shattered all those shields, but here, she couldn't.
Only a portion was destroyed. Leonidas blocked the black light and threw his counter-spear.
It pierced through Saber Alter's stomach, taking her out of the fight.
In a way, it was a reenactment of Babylonia. In another, the result was disappointingly anticlimactic.
"This is merely the beginning. Your journey starts now. Despair for the future that awaits you. Regret that you did not end by my hand when you had the chance."
Even this was different.
The original Saber Alter had lamented her own defeat, but she didn't spout curses like some third-rate villain.
She had simply cheered on the Grand Order (the path to the future).
As a guardian of Human Order, she was a hero who maintained it by protecting this Singularity, which was unrelated to the Incineration.
Well, what would you expect from a world based on an erotic doujinshi?
"Saber's withdrawal has been confirmed. So, should we retrieve the Holy Grail now?"
"Sigh. What do we have to do to contact Chaldea? Do we need that Grail thing?"
We still couldn't communicate with Chaldea. I was wary of Lev, who might appear at any moment, but there was no sign of him.
More importantly, was Lev even the enemy here?
After returning from Fuyuki in the last timeline, I never heard anything about Lev being the villain. Lev was definitely at Chaldea in the past. Even as a handyman, I'd seen his face before.
So, was the Lev here just an innocent Chaldea executive, not the mastermind?
Or was he the mastermind, but just didn't show himself?
If it wasn't Lev, then what caused the control room explosion? No, that's strange too. If Lev was the culprit, why was the Director still alive, even in this convenience-driven world?
I don't know. The more I think about it, the less I understand. I wasn't going to find an answer by thinking; it would only create more hypotheticals.
Right now, rather than worrying alone, it would be better to observe and experience this world more and deduce from there. If I ever summon a smart Servant like Holmes, I can lay it all out and have a discussion then.
As an average student in my school days, I can't solve these difficult deductions.
"Hm? What's this? It looks like they were observing us after all."
While I was lost in thought, the Director's words made me look around. Everyone's bodies were glowing.
Rayshift.
Communication was down, but it seems they were observing us the whole time, because a Rayshift was occurring. Or maybe it was a forced withdrawal.
We were enveloped in light, and I squeezed my eyes shut against the intense brightness.
When I slowly opened them, I saw the control room. It was still full of debris, but it had been tidied up to some extent.
"Oh my, congratulations on restoring the Singularity."
Da Vinci, looking a little surprised to see us, started clapping. The staff who were working also turned to us and applauded.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seems it was a forced withdrawal. It felt less like they had Rayshifted us and were welcoming us back, and more like we had just appeared while they were working, and they were improvising.
Seeing that all the staff here were women, it was hard to expect things to be normal. After all, besides the Director and the Masters, all the female staff at Chaldea had been screwed.
Soon, the control room doors opened, and a familiar face walked in. As always, his eyes were somehow shadowed and difficult to see.
"Wow, you guys finished much faster than I thought. You're all amazing. I'm so glad you returned safely."
Amagasaki Ryuuji.
He definitely started out as a handyman, just like me, but at some point, he joined the medical team and became a full-time staff member. And the root of all evil.
Of course, he was my senior. As such, we had never worked together, and to the very end, he never even bothered to learn my name.
He didn't have a potbelly back then. I guess he got fat from all the eating and fooling around with the Servants. I never paid him any mind in the past, so I didn't notice.
"Who are you? Where's Lev? And the other staff?"
"Now, now, calm down, Director. Lev and most of the other staff are dead. Do you want me to explain the details?"
"W-what did you say? Lev is?"
Da Vinci bluntly explained the situation. Unsurprisingly, it was the worst-case scenario.
"Ugh!"
Damn it, my head. It's dizzy and it hurts. Is this the aftereffect of the Rayshift? The important part is about to start, damn it all.
"Mr. Kuriyama, are you alright?"
"Looks like Rayshift aftereffects. You should get some rest for now."
Da Vinci didn't even bother to examine me, immediately concluding it was just Rayshift aftereffects. It seems she didn't even properly watch what we did in Fuyuki. What if I was actually injured?
"First, help him to his private room. Mash, you awakened as a Demi-Servant this time, right?"
"Ah, yes!"
"Then let's run some tests right away. We need to do a detailed examination to see how your condition has changed and if there are any side effects."
"Understood. Then…"
"Wait."
I can't let her go like this. I don't know what might happen if Mash goes alone. Even if it was fine in the last timeline, I don't know what kind of butterfly effect my becoming a Master might have caused. I can't let something happen during her examination.
Not this time. Absolutely not.
"Leonidas… aren't you curious about how they conduct physical examinations in Chaldea?"
"Hmm, I am curious. I wonder how much has advanced compared to my era in Sparta!"
"So, Da Vinci? It would be alright if Leonidas observed, wouldn't it?"
"Observe? Hmm, fine."
She looked displeased, but she accepted, having no reason to refuse. As long as Leonidas goes with her, I can be at ease.
"Parvati. The Director still seems confused. Could you please take care of her?"
"Understood. Are you alright, Master?"
"I'm fine. Ritsuka, could I ask you to help me to my room?"
"Of course. You carried me earlier, Sho, so this time I'll help you."
Good, this settles it. Now he can't touch the Director or Mash.
I'm a little worried about Parvati, but I'll trust the side of her she showed in Fuyuki. And if Ritsuka is with me, he won't be able to do anything.
"Hey, hey, leaving already? I even prepared a welcome party."
The guy sounded displeased. As Ritsuka helped me walk towards the control room door, I spoke to him.
"People have died. Don't you think a party is inappropriate?"
"What?"
"Or is this one of those things? You thought it was a festival, but it's actually a funeral? I don't think that's the culture around here."
"…Are you talking to me right now?"
"I get that you want to celebrate, but read the room, will you? We have priorities."
Taking a jab at him, I left the control room. I wanted to beat the hell out of him, but for now, I needed a justification. Once I create a reason, I can bring about his downfall.
Was this the first time I had ever defied him like this? In the previous timeline, I was so focused on saving my own skin that I couldn't bring myself to step up, even when Ritsuka was suffering.
All I did was comfort her from behind, like a hypocrite.
But now, it's different. He doesn't have the upper hand. Is this pathetic in its own way?
I stood by and watched an innocent kid suffer. Now that I have power, I suddenly can't stand injustice. Maybe I am pathetic.
But didn't Masutatsu Oyama say that power without justice is violence, and justice without power is incompetence?
This wilderness, full of beasts driven by lust, is a world of survival of the fittest. As a weakling, stepping up would have only resulted in a meaningless death without solving the root problem. In the worst-case scenario, I would have been gender-bent and devoured too.
Well, I have no excuse if you call me an opportunist. After all, if this chance hadn't come along, I probably would have just maintained the status quo.
I'm pathetic for not even having the courage to risk my life, even if it meant a meaningless death. I couldn't do anything against a guy like that. Looking at him now, he's really not all that much.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll be alright after some sleep."
"Where's your room, Sho? Is it far from here?"
"Ah, my room. It's way over by the entrance, so it's super far."
My room is a long way away, near the entrance of Chaldea. It was originally a small storage closet that was converted into a break room for the handymen, so it's tiny.
"Then rest in my room."
"But how can I, in a girl's room."
"I just got here today too, you know?"
"Ah."
"The owner of the room is giving you permission, so rest in my room."
"I guess I have no choice. I'll be in your care, just for a bit."
And so, I decided to take a nap in Ritsuka's room. Right, she was just assigned this room today.
I lay down on the bed immediately. The exhaustion was overwhelming, and my eyes instantly closed as I fell asleep.
While my consciousness was still hazy, I heard a rustling sound. It sounded like clothes being taken off.
It's just my imagination, I thought, as my consciousness gradually faded.
Slurp, suck, kiss.
I heard the sound of something being sucked, but I dismissed it as an auditory hallucination as my hearing slowly shut down. For some reason, I felt a tingling sensation in my lower body, but just like that, I lost consciousness and fell asleep.