"Kid... Kid...!"
I heard Cu Chulainn calling my name.
Ugh... my head hurts...
"Ugh, damn... What? What's going on? Why am I lying down?"
"You... do you even realize what you just did?"
Cu Chulainn asked.
"What?... What is it... Why is everyone looking at me like that? What did I do?"
Director Olga Marie spoke up cautiously.
"You reached your hand into King Arthur's stomach, grabbed the Holy Grail, and then... you ate it."
"...?... Excuse me?"
The battle was over. Thanks to Damascus, we were able to obtain the Holy Grail of this Singularity. Because of this, Chaldea wouldn't be taken away...
"Whoa, whoa? Hey, wait a minute! What the hell!"
Suddenly, Guardian shouted loudly.
What was happening?
"Hey, kid! Snap out of it! What are you doing!"
"Master... Master, wait a moment!"
I pushed the Servants aside and witnessed the scene before my eyes.
Something unbelievable was happening. Damascus was reaching into King Arthur's abdomen with his bare hands and pulling out the Holy Grail.
It was chilling. King Arthur's corpse hadn't even begun to vanish yet, but Damascus was clearing away the tangled entrails to get to the Grail, and then... he started devouring it.
In that moment, everyone froze. Judging by his behavior, Damascus was not in his right mind.
I froze as well.
He could be playful and even a bit crude, but he was fundamentally kind-hearted. He was a fifteen-year-old boy who knew how to care for others, comfort them, and embrace their pain. Yet now, he was performing an act that only a madman would do, right in front of everyone, without a shred of hesitation.
Crunch, munch.
Damascus was eating the Grail starting from the rim of the cup.
He acted like someone who had been starving for months.
He had to be insane to do this.
I tried to grab his hand to make him drop the Grail. But Damascus's strength was no longer human. He continued to eat. He didn't stop until he had consumed every last bit of it.
After finishing, Damascus stared into empty space.
His eyes were unfocused. It looked as if his soul had left his body. He just stared into the air with a faint, hollow smile.
"Master, I'm sorry!"
With those words, Okita struck the back of Damascus's head with the pommel of her sword, knocking him unconscious.
"" ""? "" ""
Cu Chulainn, Guardian, and I were all startled by Okita's sudden action. However, she didn't care and immediately got behind Damascus to perform the Heimlich maneuver, trying to make him vomit.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Heimlich maneuver was originally for when someone's airway was blocked, but Okita kept at it, desperate to do something.
"Cough, hack!"
Suddenly, Damascus began to vomit fragments of the Holy Grail.
"Blegh!"
Fragments of the Grail scattered across the floor. Okita laid Damascus on his side and began using her fingers to scrape out the remaining pieces from his mouth.
Tears were welling in her eyes.
Damascus was breathing, and we were finally able to catch our breath.
"Doctor, how are Damascus's vitals right now?"
"They're normal. You don't need to worry, Director."
Hearing the Doctor's words, I felt a wave of relief.
Upon hearing that, Cu Chulainn tried to shake Damascus awake.
"Kid! Kid! Wake up!"
I'm so exhausted. I really don't think field work suits me. I'm starting to think Damascus is incredible for handling this.
"So, you're saying I actually ate the Holy Grail?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Okita confirmed it immediately. Holy shit... how did this happen?
"Is that why my body feels so energized? I'm not tired at all. In fact, I feel light as a feather. I feel like I could fly. This is amazing, isn't it?"
Guardian chimed in.
"Did you... make a contract with something?"
"What?"
"You definitely collapsed from mana depletion. But when you woke up, your mana was at max capacity. And especially those Command Spells—how did all three strokes recover? Once you use three, that's it. But they just suddenly reappeared? Does that even make sense?"
"Well, that might be true, but I'm not hiding anything. I don't know the reason, but at that exact moment, my Command Spells returned and my mana filled up. If that's the case, I just do what I have to do. If the hand I'm dealt becomes favorable, I have to end the match immediately. That's why I used all three Command Spells to fight."
"It's not 'three spells,' it's 'three strokes.' Speak properly."
Director Olga Marie nitpicked my words.
"Is that really what's important right now?"
"It is. I'm not worried about you, Damascus. I've only known you for a short time, but you seem to have some special talent that others don't know about. Because of that, I'm not going to stress over those strange occurrences. I only care about the things I can fix and the things I can do. For starters, let's work on fixing that vulgar way you speak."
Olga Marie's expression turned slightly terrifying.
Wait, was she really that bothered by my tone?
"Guardian! Guardian is way worse than me, Director! Fix him, not me! Fix that guy!"
"Damascus, aren't you in a position where you have to do as I say once this Singularity is over? And yet, you're talking back to me?"
"Uh... uhhh... ah!"
I did make that promise. I dug my own grave.
Wait a second.
"But why hasn't Cu Chulainn vanished yet? The Singularity has been resolved. Shouldn't he be disappearing?"
"Kid, I'll be disappearing a bit later. I'm currently connected to your path, so I won't vanish immediately. I was going to tell you in a bit, but you're quick on the uptake."
Cu Chulainn would be gone soon. If so, there was only one thing I had to do.
"Cu Chulainn, I told you before, but I need you. So, I'm asking you. Guardian, Okita, and the Director all played their parts, which is why we could solve this Singularity. But if you hadn't been here, it would have been nearly impossible. So please, help me restore the remaining Singularities as well."
"I'm sorry, but I refuse. Kid, next time you call me, summon me as a Lancer. Being a Caster didn't suit my temperament, and it was a real pain in the ass."
Cu Chulainn smacked his lips.
You idiot~ Once I get back to Chaldea, you're going to be summoned there anyway. Do you think the Chaldea staff will just let you go? Once they have the data of a Great Hero, they'll never let it slip away. You're going to be working as a Caster until every last Singularity is restored.
"Fine, I get it... if that's your wish, then so be it. Thank you for making it possible for me to summon Guardian in the first place."
"Yeah, Cu Chulainn, thanks to you, I didn't have to just stand around and watch. I'm also grateful that you gave me the chance to be summoned by my Master. Let's have a handshake before you go. Whether you're a Lancer or a Caster, I'd find you to be a very reliable ally."
Why was Guardian being so sentimental all of a sudden?
As soon as the handshake ended, Guardian went back to being an idiot.
"Eek! I've got goosebumps!"
He suddenly hopped away and started running around the area. He kept running at a speed of about 100 meters in 13 seconds. I knew it. A person's true nature doesn't change.
"Okita, do you have anything to say?"
Okita, who was busy wiping blood off her sword with a white cloth, spoke up.
"No. I feel like we'll meet again someday and become allies once more, so I don't think a formal farewell is necessary."
That's unexpected. I thought she'd have plenty to say, but she's just letting it go.
Cu Chulainn began to fade away.
"Ah... it's time. The Singularity will disappear as well. See ya later, kid."
"Got it."
As soon as he finished speaking, an ominous sound began to echo.
"Alright~ cue the ominous music~"
Guardian had expected this. He knew it wasn't over yet. It was just like the story. It was Lev's turn to appear. I have to protect the Director and get the hell out of here.
'Guardian, a guy named Lev is going to try to kill the Director. Get ready to keep him in check.'
'Okita, you get ready to rescue the Director. We're leaving fast.'
And then, I sent a short text to Chaldea.
-No matter who shows up now, don't be surprised. Return us to Chaldea immediately, or we'll all die. Doctor, listen to me. The opponent is a monster beyond reason. Just get the Rayshift ready right now.-
"My, my. I never expected you lot to make it this far. Leaving the most incompetent-looking ones alive was my mistake. My generosity was my sin."
"Wh-what? Professor Lev?!"
The Doctor was shocked. It made sense. A bastard he thought was dead had just appeared.
'Guardian, are you ready?'
'Yeah, I'm ready.'
"Oh? Is that the voice of Doctor Romani? I believe I told everyone to gather in the Control Room immediately. Did you not listen to me? Truly, the existence known as 'human' is nauseating. Inferior creatures that never do as they're told and refuse to live according to their set destiny."
"Whoa~"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With a nonchalant exclamation, Guardian fired three shots. Wait, can bullets even fly 'nonchalantly'?
Okita, the Director, and I all stared at Guardian.
"What... what? He's a bad guy, so I shot him, right?"
"Lev!"
The Director shouted at Lev. Normally, a civilian hit by a Servant's bullets should be dead. But that thing couldn't die. If I remembered correctly, that was a Demon God Pillar.
It's been so long since I finished the story that my memory is getting fuzzy.
Even after taking bullets to the head, Lev stood perfectly fine, and his wounds healed rapidly.
"See? I told you he's a bad guy. So Director, don't look at me like that~"
Okita probably knew as well. That thing was fundamentally not human.
However, the Director couldn't seem to accept it.
"Lev, you're alive! Where were you? Chaldea is in ruins right now! We have to go back and fix it immediately!"
"Ah... Olga Marie... you survived too. I even planted a bomb right under your feet... No, wait. You're just a soul now. If you return to Chaldea now, your consciousness will vanish. Staying here is the only way for you to remain 'alive.'"
"What a load of bullshit."
"Wh-what? Was what Damascus said true? No, there's no way I'm dead!"
"No, Olga Marie, you are dead. And your negligence has led humanity down the path of extinction. There is no blue light indicating human survival, only the burning red of the scorched earth. Look upon CHALDEAS."
Lev showed her CHALDEAS directly. The Director's mental state was bound to crumble. Dammit, things are really getting messy.
I sent another text to Chaldea.
-We have no time. To keep Lev from noticing, you must not reply. Send us back right now. Cu Chulainn should have sent a vessel to contain a soul and a homunculus body to Chaldea. We can save the Director with those, so don't worry and return us immediately. I'm begging you.-
Shit, we're out of time. Can I really rescue the Director by utilizing Okita's Noble Phantasm?
"Don't be ridiculous! There's no way I failed! It can't be my fault!... I... I... can't be dead!"
"No, you're dead. That's why Damascus went to such lengths, using every means possible to save you."
Guardian blurted it all out. That son of a bitch.
"What? She needs to know the truth anyway. How else do you explain someone who couldn't Rayshift suddenly being able to? It's only possible because she's dead. Servants can Rayshift regardless of aptitude because they're people from the 'other side,' and she's the same now. Director, you're dead. In fact, Damascus only entered the Einzbern mansion to find a way to save you... though he failed, of course."
At those final words, the Director's mind completely shattered.
That bastard shouldn't have said that. That last part was a lie. If we had to tell her, we should have said we found a way to save her. Now that bastard Lev will obviously interfere. I've said things that should never have been said from the start. Thanks a lot, Guardian, you prick.
"Ugh... ugh... y-you! Who are you! Why are you interfering with me!"
"I just happen to dislike shrill, screechy girls."
"Wh-what? My body is moving on its own?"
'Okita, get ready. On my signal, rescue her immediately.'
'Understood.'
It's all or nothing. If this doesn't work, there's no other way. When we get back, I'm going to put a helmet on Guardian and beat him until his head cracks.
"Since you're going to die anyway, consider this my mercy—letting you touch your precious treasure before you go. I'll let you touch CHALDEAS directly."
"Wh-what? You're lying, right? CHALDEAS? It's a high-density information construct! It's a sanctuary in a different dimension! How can I touch that with my bare body?"
"Exactly. It's like a black hole. Or... is it a sun? Regardless, once you touch it, you'll experience the hell of being dismantled at a molecular level. For eternity."
"N-no!... Damascus, help me! I don't want to die in a place like this...!"
I had to lie, even if it was because of that bastard Lev. If I were to fight Lev head-on, the difficulty would be incomparable to King Arthur. It's impossible right now. For now, I pretended to give up.
'Okita, start in 5 seconds.'
"Why! Why is this happening only to me? No one liked me, no one acknowledged me, and I couldn't do anything! I hate this... I hate it!"
"Doctor, now!"
"Return system, activating!"
"Guardian!"
"Okay!"
As the return system activated, Okita snatched the Director in an instant, and the system dismantled us to transport us back to Chaldea. I witnessed Guardian's three bullets piercing Lev's head one last time. It probably did no damage, but who cares? It was incredibly satisfying. That pathetic bastard.
That idiot was fooled by the words of an 'inferior creature' he looked down on.
"Those inferior things... they dared to trick me?... No, fine... it's only a matter of time anyway. Humanity will perish. I can just take my time and enjoy the show."
With that, Lev vanished.
We were Rayshifted back to Chaldea.
Holy shit, I really thought I was going to die.
"You guys... I'm so glad you made it back."
Romani... I know you're Solomon, you idiot. But Solomon or not, you're so kind it's almost a problem. You dummy. Before you die, you should enjoy life a bit instead of just staying cooped up in your room, old man.
"Doctor... thank you... for believing in me... Wh-where's the Director?"
"She's here. I've placed the Director's soul inside this birdcage-like object. Seriously, just how far ahead did you see?"
I stumbled forward toward the birdcage. I took it into my hands.
"Th-thank god. I thought I was going to fail... I was actually terrified... It was all or nothing. I figured if I made one mistake, I was dead anyway, so I might as well act tough until the end... Dammit... Oh, God, thank you... for saving the Director..."
Tears began to stream down my face. No one in the Control Room said a word. They just let me cry my heart out. My actions just proved that I wasn't some confident hero, but just a normal fifteen-year-old kid who was pretending to be brave. After crying for about five minutes, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
"Wait, is Cu Chulainn here?"
Da Vinci answered my question.
"You even predicted that? That's right. I've got him sitting in your 'My Room.' It would be nonsense to just let a Great Hero like him go, wouldn't it? We have to scrape together every Servant we can get~"
I jumped up immediately.
"I just remembered the most important thing I have to do, right after saving the Human Order."
Okita reacted seriously to my words.
"I will follow you through anything, Master. Just give the order."
"I'm going to go harass Cu Chulainn."
"... Eh?"
"I have to go tease our fierce, cool dog, Cu Chulainn. This is a job for me alone. Okita, you can go rest. I'm off... to tease Cu Chulainn."
I ran to my My Room. There, sitting on the bed with a grumpy expression, was Cu Chulainn.
"Ahahahahahahahaha!"
I burst into a huge fit of laughter.
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