At this moment, the figure standing before Guinevere was an old man with a long beard, his hair and whiskers entirely white. His very presence radiated majesty and authority, exuding a kingly aura that commanded respect. Draped across his tall frame was a luxurious cloak of gray-black that shimmered faintly, making him look rather like an oversized owl.
Standing at well over two meters tall, the bearded man made Guinevere hesitate for a moment. After carefully examining him, she tentatively asked:
"Could it be… Ptolemy?"
Guinevere might be a casual gamer who liked to skip through storylines, but when it came to Servants that FGO had sold as gacha cards, he still remembered them all. The old man before him was the spitting image of the Successor of the Conqueror who appeared in the Holy Grail Front event storyline. Guinevere immediately recognized his True Name.
"Oh? You figured it out so quickly? And I haven't revealed anything tied to my identity yet." Ptolemy raised an eyebrow, though he didn't seem surprised in the least.
"So it is you?" Guinevere blinked in confusion. "Why are you here? Where's Hol— I mean, the person who was supposed to be here?"
"Oh… so you're privy to some information you shouldn't know. In that case, you must be Guinevere, as he said. Indeed, you possess knowledge that does not belong to this world. With just one glance, you can identify most Heroic Spirits."
"He?" Guinevere frowned. Judging from Ptolemy's words, it seemed someone familiar with him had spoken about him?
The hell was going on here?
A shiver ran down Guinevere's spine.
Could it be Holmes? Was that why he wasn't here—because he had discovered something odd about him, and was secretly observing him? With his absurd detective skills, was Holmes now speculating about every detail of his existence?
The thought left Guinevere with the uncomfortable sense of being stripped bare inside and out. His chest tightened with unease.
"I don't know what you were just thinking to make that expression… but you've likely guessed the wrong person."
Ptolemy studied him for a moment before shaking his head and continuing calmly:
"The one who summoned me was an alchemist of the Atlas Institute—a junior of sorts to me. He couldn't appear in person, so he found a way to summon me, a future ally of Chaldea, to meet you here."
"Huh? An ally of Chaldea?" Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had just learned Ptolemy's identity from Mash, gaped in surprise.
"Yes. According to that alchemist's observation of the future, we will one day work together to resolve a certain Singularity. I, too, was curious to meet my future partners. And now that I see you, Chaldea's Master, I find myself quite looking forward to our cooperation."
With a kind smile, Ptolemy added:
"Although, truth be told, in the future there will be another junior of Atlas who cooperates with Chaldea even more closely. But precisely because of that tight bond, their premature appearance could completely derail future plans. So my summoner chose me instead."
He then turned his gaze back to Guinevere.
"Now then, let's get back to the point. We'll talk as we walk. Please, follow me."
With that, Ptolemy led the way deeper inside. After exchanging glances, the group quickly followed, listening intently as he spoke further:
"There was supposed to be a certain detective waiting here for you. But since I came on another's behalf, I denied him entry. I'll be fulfilling his responsibilities instead."
Guinevere's expression turned thoughtful.
That "junior" Ptolemy mentioned was most likely Sion, the alchemist who greatly aided Chaldea in Part 2 of FGO. And the one with detailed knowledge about him must be a much more senior Atlas researcher—someone who had summoned Ptolemy for their own reasons, while denying Holmes entry.
"Detective? So we originally had another ally meant to assist us?" Fujimaru asked.
"Yes. But since he was clearly inclined to help Chaldea, I expect you'll meet him soon enough. You'll know him when the time comes," Ptolemy replied.
"Then, Grandfather Ptolemy, what responsibility were you referring to earlier?" Fujimaru asked again.
"It's simple," Ptolemy said evenly. "Since you've come to the Atlas Institute, your purpose can only be one thing: to seek knowledge."
"As one of the three great magical institutions—alongside the Clock Tower and Wandering Sea—the Atlas Institute is located near Mount Atlas in Egypt. That's why this place was summoned along with the Sun King's chain of summoning. But due to its unique nature, its magical signature differs greatly from the surrounding areas. That's how Chaldea managed to find it."
"Now, about the Atlas Institute itself: the magi who dwell here—more accurately, alchemists—do not focus on magical circuits or talent. In their study of magecraft, they rely far less on mana, and far more on tools. Unlike traditional magi, whose creed is to become the strongest, the creed of Atlas is to create the strongest. In truth, they are closer to researchers of your modern era than to magi."
"Oooh!" At that, Artoria's eyes lit up. "That's just like me! I've never been good at being the strongest myself, so I've always focused on creating the strongest support tools instead!"
"No, you're nothing like them. They invent real things, not just rely on gacha rolls…" Guinevere couldn't help but retort.
"Hey!" Artoria pouted. "But the tools I use are still my inventions, aren't they?"
"…Anyway," Ptolemy pressed on after a short silence, once the two had noticed the heavy atmosphere and awkwardly quieted down. "At the heart of the Atlas Institute lies the pseudo-spiritron calculator known as Atlas Hermes Trismegistus. It is also the prototype of Chaldea's Trismegistus system. It gathers, sorts, and records vast information from the Earth. Ask it a question, and it will give you an answer."
He turned to look back at them.
"Since you've made it this far, it would be a waste not to use Atlas Hermes to seek the answers you desire."
"Is that allowed?" Mash asked. "This is the property of Atlas, isn't it? Wouldn't it be wrong for us to use it without permission?"
"Of course it's allowed. The alchemist already granted permission. That's why I'm here. But let me warn you—direct contact with Atlas Hermes can easily reduce one to a mindless husk. Unless someone has a special constitution or lives by knowledge itself, they cannot handle it. Since the one who was supposed to guide you isn't here, I'll serve as your intermediary instead."
Step by step, while he explained, Ptolemy guided them onward. Before long, they had reached the very core of the Atlas Institute. The room was reminiscent of Chaldea's Command Room, with a simulated artificial sky overhead. Beneath it stood the great Atlas Hermes.
Strangely enough, their journey here had been quick and smooth. Perhaps thanks to Ptolemy's familiarity, they encountered no sudden FGO-style ambushes. Just like that, they arrived without incident.
"Now then, you may begin asking your questions," Ptolemy announced. "Each of you is allowed one."
"I'll go first," Guinevere stepped forward. "To be honest, one reason we entered the desert was to find a companion of mine—Mélusine, a Fairy Knight of Fairy Britain. Can Atlas Hermes calculate her current whereabouts?"
"Understood." Ptolemy gave a small nod and turned to the device. After a swift series of operations, the monument pulsed with sci-fi-like radiance. Shortly after, Ptolemy turned back to them with the answer:
"Once you leave Atlas, travel southwest. After about half a day's journey, you'll reach an oasis. You'll find your companion there."
"Good. Now, the second question. Masters of Chaldea, it's your turn."
Mash and Fujimaru exchanged looks, whispering briefly before Mash voiced her question—the one closest to her heart:
"Please tell me—the Heroic Spirit who saved me at that crucial moment, who merged with me and granted me strength… what is his True Name?"
"The answer is Galahad. The Knight of the Holy Grail. Next question."
All eyes turned to Artoria.
"Um… I don't really have anything pressing to ask," she scratched her head. "Why don't I give my chance to Guinevere?"
"Thanks," Guinevere nodded, then turned to Ptolemy. "I want to know what my connection truly is with Uther in Fairy Britain. May I ask that?"
Ptolemy gave a small nod, then began operating Atlas Hermes again… only to shake his head soon after.
"That won't work. Atlas Hermes contains no records of Fairy Britain. It cannot calculate that. If you wish to ask, make it about Proper Human History instead."
"…Alright then," Guinevere thought for a moment before changing his question. "In that case, I want to know what my true relationship is with King Lot. I have no memory of this… yet somehow, Gawain and Agravain's father is me? And the Lot possessing me is clearly not the same one they knew…"
"I see." Ptolemy nodded once more, inputting the query. After a moment, he turned back. "This answer, you'll need to see for yourself. To prevent the flood of knowledge from breaking you, I've limited it to the bare minimum needed."
Guinevere hesitated, then quickly stepped forward. Under Ptolemy's guidance, he pressed a certain button on the device. At once, strange images began flooding into his mind.
The visions came in flashes: first, a tyrannical noble bullying villagers… then a duel between knights in a forest… a young man meeting a witch by the lake… their marriage and the birth of children… and finally, the witch casting a spell on the young man while he was unguarded, erasing his memories, placing him onto a small boat, and watching as he drifted away from those shores.
The boat floated slowly out across the sea, then into a sudden thick fog. When the mist cleared… it was gone without a trace.