Ritsuka Fujimaru and Shirou Emiya—no, the siblings now known as 'Fujimaru' and 'Shirou'—were placed under the protection of Kiritsugu Emiya. Meanwhile, I decided to settle some internal affairs before the inevitable storm in Misaki City broke loose.
"The root of this incident lies in the premature awakening of Lev Lainur. To be precise, it's a direct consequence of Marisbury's unauthorized Demi-Servant experiments."
"So you're saying that Demi-Servant was the catalyst for the Demon God's awakening. I expected as much... the Demon God Pillar simply exploited the crack in his psyche created by that moral failure."
"Precisely. In that sense, we need to secure a firm grip on Chaldea."
As things stand, Chaldea's equity is divided into four main stakes.
First, the Animusphere family, the founders and directors—the de facto owners. Second, the United Nations, serving as both the initial investors and the inevitable oversight committee. Third, the El-Melloi family, who secured a massive share by using the jewels I provided from the King of Heroes to jointly complete CHALDEAS. And finally, the Einzberns, who absorbed various oil fields and resource stakes owned by the Animuspheres by embedding their own staff into the organization.
By the numbers, the Animuspheres hold roughly 40%, the UN holds 20%, the El-Melloi family controls 30%, and the Einzberns have the remaining 10%.
If it were up to me, I'd combine the El-Melloi shares with my own influence and launch a full-scale internal audit. However, doing so would only provoke the already paranoid Demon God and Marisbury into committing some truly desperate atrocity. For now, I must play the waiting game.
"But the landscape changes if we play this card."
Chaldea is legally subject to United Nations audits. Marisbury conducted biological experiments—the kind explicitly banned under international law—without any oversight. They were inhuman, grotesque trials. Though I am no saint, seeing Marisbury carry them out with such nonchalant indifference... it leaves a bitter taste. And he did it all while maintaining a mask of secrecy before the world.
"So, what exactly do you want me to do?"
"Olga Marie Animusphere. She's still a pre-teen, but it won't be long before she's old enough to enter the Clock Tower."
Waver's talent for nurturing students is unrivaled in this world. In the original history, he had several run-ins with her, such as the Rail Zeppelin incident. We can pull her to our side. I'll ensure she never gets caught in a terrorist attack or becomes a 'Subject of the Alien God.' Her existence—that of someone who genuinely wished to solve the Incineration of the Human Order—will be an asset to us.
"Marisbury is going to die anyway."
"Right... so what you're saying is you want to erase every trace of Marisbury from the girl's future?"
"Exactly."
Once he is eliminated—perhaps with Daybit Sem Void's assistance—all that will remain of his legacy are his family, the facility of Chaldea, and the CHALDEAS system itself.
Chaldea will be my primary tool for the Restoration of the Human Order. CHALDEAS is a structure I intend to dismantle eventually. That leaves only his family.
"It would be troublesome if the person in charge of handling the 'Incineration of the Human Order' suffers a mental breakdown because of her father's sins."
"Understood. I'll keep a close eye on this Olga Marie girl, along with the other students you mentioned—Kadoc, Ophelia, and Kirschtaria."
"Good..."
"But what about you? Your days of hiding in the shadows are over. You've been awarded a 'Grand' rank at the Clock Tower, after all. Are you going back to Misaki City? And what about your parents?"
"...I'll tell my parents everything once this is all over. For now, I have to prepare for the next crisis."
To date, the events of Mahoutsukai no Yoru, the Fourth Holy Grail War, and Kara no Kyoukai have concluded. Even that 'skirmish' with the Clock Tower—which turned out to be the largest scale conflict of them all—is over.
Chronologically, we are now a few years away from the Fifth Holy Grail War. If my calculations are correct, I need to prepare for my return to Misaki City.
"This is just my personal opinion, but if you're going to tell your parents, you should do it sooner rather than later."
"...I agree. But looking at it from another angle, they're my biggest weakness. During the last incident, the Clock Tower targeted them first. It's even possible that 'the King' himself might strike at them directly."
"...Fair point. Regardless, is Misaki City your next destination?"
"For now, yes."
Following the timeline of The Garden of Sinners, the next major convergences are... Tsukihime and the Fifth Holy Grail War.
The Greater Grail and the altar of the Fourth War have been completely erased. All that remains is the tragedy of Tsukihime, where Michael Roa Valdamjong begins his rampage, the Night of Walpurgis brought about by Night of Wallachia in Melty Blood... and perhaps the Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II, if they still occur.
* * * * *
Upon returning to Misaki City, my first priority was tightening the city's magical defenses.
Alice-san had already graduated high school and was operating as the head of the Kuonji family. Naturally, she personally managed the Kuonji family's patronage of her former school.
"You want the high school student registry?"
"If the patron requests it, the school will have little choice but to comply, right?"
"It's not difficult to obtain... but what's the occasion this time?"
"Dead Apostles are going to infiltrate this land."
"...Now that you mention it, a family with deep ties to 'mystical anomalies' recently moved in. Is it related to them?"
"It's somewhat related to the Tohno family. The current incarnation of Roa is the eldest son of that house."
In the case of Tsukihime, it's incredibly ambiguous whether this world follows the 'Remake' rules or the 'Original' rules.
The Marshal of Magic, Zelretch, is ranked 3rd among the Dead Apostles, and the absence of Crimson Moon Brunestud and Primate Murder from the immediate threat lists suggests the 'Remake' timeline. However, the fact that members like the Forest of Einnashe or Be'ze are still active implies the 'Original' timeline—one where Ciel fights using only Black Keys and immortality without the Idea Blood.
"Regardless... if the 27 Dead Apostle Ancestors show up, we need countermeasures. The thought of this entire city becoming a nest of Ghouls isn't exactly pleasant for me either."
"I agree entirely."
The idea of people I've known since childhood being turned into mindless Ghouls? It makes my stomach turn.
"How many Apostles are coming besides Roa?"
"I know of three—no, let's call it four—who are tied to this event. Vlov Arkhangel, Nrvnqsr Chaos, Michael Roa Valdamjong... and an Apostle associated with 'Spiders' whose name escapes me."
"...An Apostle related to spiders? I know of two. One is ORT... but surely that isn't coming here?"
"I can guarantee you that if ORT wakes up, the world ends. Who's the other one?"
"Lululily A. Paranodalia. Known as the 'Pest Control Doctor.' If it's not ORT, she's the most likely candidate. Still, if Roa is coming..."
"The Holy Church will move as well. If we're lucky, only Ciel—Number 7 of the Burial Agency—will show up. If we're unlucky, an additional Executor and even a Cardinal might join her. And then, most importantly, there's Arcueid Brunestud."
Right. My job is to prevent the massacre that defines Tsukihime... and in the process, scout some useful talents.
I'll take this opportunity to establish strong ties with the members of the Holy Church and the Tohno family... and eventually, recruit Arcueid Brunestud to our side.
========================
The website for reading paid chapters is available on my Patreon. The number of chapters on Patreon: 76
Link: patreon.com/UltraMagnus_T