The Chaldea Security Organization, Finis Chaldea.
It was originally an observatory of the Animusphere family, one of the 12 Lords of the Clock Tower, and is now an institution operated by Animusphere. At the same time, under the former director Marisbury Animusphere, it became an institution receiving support from the UN, with the UN providing 30% of the operating funds collected from various countries, and Animusphere covering the remaining 70% for Chaldea.
Marisbury was operating an offshore oil facility called Seraphix to gather funds, and with technology combining science and magecraft, he conducted numerous experiments. This continued until his death at the end of 2012.
Rustle... rustle...
The reports sent from Seraphix were the evidence.
"...Sending them out like this, it's no wonder there were no Masters. It shouldn't be hard to gather 48 people for a project prepared over a long period."
Hundreds of Master & Rayshift compatible individuals were sent not to Chaldea, but to Seraphix where there was no UN oversight. Animusphere is also a mage family. For a mage to do such things is not so strange. It would be strange if they didn't...
"What do you think, Romani?"
"I can't believe... that Marisbury would do such things without my knowledge..."
In the unmonitored medical room, I took a sip of coffee and handed him the reports.
Romani Archaman. The head of Chaldea's medical staff, a man who came in through Marisbury's connections. His skills were genuine, so no one disputed it. But his true identity was...
Chaldea's Heroic Spirit Summoning Test Case No. 1, Solomon.
He was the Servant who won the 2004 Holy Grail War, which occurred only once in this world line, alongside Marisbury. He chose to abandon his omnipotent power and become human through the Holy Grail's wish. As a result, he became the human Romani Archaman, who is Solomon yet not Solomon.
He traveled the world for years, rethinking many things, and became Chaldea's medical staff at Marisbury's suggestion. But... even as a Chaldea executive, he didn't know much. If the bright side of things was his domain, the dark side was handled by Lev Lainur Flauros and Marisbury.
Lev Lainur Flauros... He is not yet a Demon God Pillar.
The Demon God Pillar seeds planted by the Magus King Solomon—more precisely, his shadow Goetia—in mage lineages. These were passed down from Lev's ancestors to Lev, and he was destined to awaken as a Demon God Pillar in 2015. In other world lines, similar vessels like Mozart avoided awakening by committing suicide, but here... due to Mash's existence, Lev, who pitied her, accepted becoming a Demon God Pillar.
He is somewhat a person of character. Originally, he was a just man who acknowledged effort. However... for the future of humanity, he tolerated Marisbury's actions, and eventually, out of sympathy for Mash, he succumbed to the temptation of the Demon God Pillar. For now... I affirm Lev, but by 2015... he will probably disappear.
"...Saber. Why are you showing this to me?"
"Currently, there are only a few people in Chaldea who are 100% trustworthy. You are one of them."
"Then, who are the others?"
"It might be a bit early... but, well, it should be fine. First, Leonardo da Vinci. That one."
"That one means..."
"If the mind is male, then ultimately, it's male."
Chaldea's Heroic Spirit Summoning Test Case No. 3, Leonardo da Vinci.
Originally male, but manifested in the form of the Mona Lisa—a pervert. They say it's the most beautiful form... but still a pervert.
Unlike me, who chose Olga Marie as a Master to anchor in the present, this omnipotent genius, like Aozaki Touko, created a puppet as a Master, using it to deceive the world and serve as an anchor while manifesting.
He is also the only person, aside from Romani, who has figured out my identity. Not because he told me, but because he found out. That's why they call it chicken... to be found out like this.
"Other people?"
"Kirschtaria Wodime, Akuta Hinako, Scandinavia Peperoncino, David Zem Void... about that."
"Those three from Team A...? I understand Wodime, and David is plausible too. But why Akuta?"
"...There's a reason for that."
She's trustworthy... but in another sense, not reliable. What should I do with that sister...
"Peperoncino, that person seems okay too... but it's ambiguous."
He is a bit ambiguous. With his abilities, it wouldn't be strange if he noticed... but well, trusting someone and sharing what I know are separate matters.
"Olga Marie is also trustworthy. However, I'm still worried about her."
From what I've seen over the past few days, she relies too much on Lev. For now, it's fine, but if he awakens as a Demon God Pillar, she'll be betrayed immediately.
"Haha... Marie does have a strong dependency."
"It's no laughing matter, Romani. That's why you're called an unreliable adult."
"Oof, that hurts..."
"Well, just by being in charge of Mash, you're doing your part."
"I guess so..."
Mash Kyrielight.
A designer baby created by Chaldea. A being closer to human than a homunculus, essentially no different from a human. Except her lifespan is short... She was born to become a Demi-Servant. Romani only learned of her existence later.
Different from possessed Servants, a being where a Heroic Spirit itself dwells in a living human and can grow—that's a Demi-Servant. Experimenting on humans artificially and forcibly implanting Heroic Spirits... from that point on, it's unethical and treats Heroic Spirits as tools, so it's madness that even anti-heroes would reject, not heroes.
Ultimately, it succeeded, though...
Chaldea's Heroic Spirit Summoning Test Case No. 2, Galahad. No one knows his true name, not even Mash herself knows which Heroic Spirit dwells within her. Probably, only Marisbury knew... She awakened as a Demi-Servant only at the moment the experiment succeeded.
When Galahad, enraged at Chaldea, went on a rampage, Mash stopped him, causing him to fall asleep, and since then, she hasn't been able to act as a Demi-Servant.
In short... Chaldea is full of bastards. Well, not all of them. There are many people of character too. But...
Not now. Since Marisbury's time, there have been inhuman mages everywhere, like Seraphix. Elites, even if not mages, highly educated trash with high self-esteem. It's a sea of wakame.
Looking at this, Flauros had a reason for terrorism. In a way, it's cleaning... trash should be removed. There are too many like Conchobar and Cathbad.
"How have you been living in such a place for years? Even after becoming human, being in a paradise for inhuman beings."
"Hard to deny... but there are many good people too."
"The problem is they have no standing."
Ordinary staff are thoroughly ignored. At least among them, those with money or high education are somewhat acknowledged by the mages. There are many nobles... so typical staff like Meunier or Cerejeira are in a subservient position, staying with other ordinary people.
Among Masters, since there are no ordinary Masters yet, mages mostly socialize among themselves. Of course, the number of Masters isn't high yet. There are still two years left.
"Is it okay to let Mash live in such a dirty space?"
"....."
"...I know. Mash's body is weak, and if she goes outside Chaldea's sterile facilities, she'll die. That's why you can't take her out. I understand. But, that child is suffering too. There aren't many Masters, and they aren't here every day. Unless called for work at Chaldea, everyone comes from outside. That child is alone. She only interacts formally with staff, and even kind staff can't get close due to Mash's specialness. There's also Lev's influence, who worries about her."
"I know. It pains me too..."
"I know it's not your fault... but don't you have the authority to replace personnel?"
"No. And Chaldea is strictly meritocratic. Even if someone's personality is flawed, we can't kick them out. Connections are important in the mage world..."
"Really... it's no different from running a country, which is troublesome."
It's still too early to act freely. Olga Marie doesn't trust me 100% either. She's still too horned. Since childhood, she's had too strong a suspicion and distrust of others, which is a problem... Plus, Olga Marie fears Mash, so she might refuse to get close to Mash.
"I enjoyed the coffee. Let's talk again later."
"Today, we only talked about Chaldea..."
"Next time, let's pick a lighter topic. Then, I'll take my leave."
Leaving the medical room, I walk through Chaldea's corridors. I pass by staff members... some click their tongues, others avoid eye contact as if afraid of me. No different from Ulster times... or rather, it's familiar and reassuring.
I want to get closer to people too, but other Team A members were summoned when it was time to leave Chaldea, so bad luck...
Walking through the corridor, I spot a small fluffy ball.
"What's that..."
"Fou?"
"Who is this? Isn't it Cath Palug?"
Merlin's familiar, Cath Palug. Of course, a name like Fou is cuter and better.
"Fou fou~"
Fou jumps into my arms and clings to me. This isn't the Fou I know. But, is it still following me?
"Nice to meet you, Fou~ So fluffy and cute. Reminds me of Doun, you know?"
"Fou?"
"A cow that was slaughtered by Aífe... will you end up like that too?"
"Fou!"
Fou immediately escapes from my embrace and runs away.
"It was a joke~"
I chase after Fou to catch it. I run at a normal human speed; if I ran properly, the facility would be destroyed.
The place Fou dashes to through the corridor is...
"Mr. Fou, so this is where you were? Where have you been running around?"
"You are..."
"Huh? You're... someone I haven't seen before. Are you new staff? Or a new Master for Team B? Or Team C?"
"...Nice to meet you. Chaldea's Heroic Spirit Summoning Test Case No. 4, Saber. Fergus mac Róich."
"Ah, you are...? I heard from the Doctor. The Servant summoned by the Director... I'm Mash Kyrielight."
"Nice to meet you, Mash."
Indeed... seeing her in person, it's absurd. Marisbury really thought of creating a child like this. Madman... this child's lifespan will end in 2016. She'll die at 18. Born with a body that doesn't age, yet with a fixed lifespan like a homunculus.
This is something not even the Root can handle without something like the Third Magic or Fou's miracle. Magic can only materialize the soul, making her live as a human is impossible. She would gain eternal life... that's dangerous. Not good... even the Holy Grail is impossible. Only a power like Fou's miracle... in times like this, I feel helpless.
Still, my life in Chaldea is just beginning. Not with worry, but with confidence wrapped tight.