"The Seventy-Two Demon God Pillars… The person I thought I could rely on most isn't even human?"
If this were before, Olga Marie would never have believed such a claim. But now, with Lev having laid everything bare before her, refusing to accept it would be nothing short of denial.
"Let me calm down…" Olga Marie said, falling into silence once more.
This time, Morpheus didn't say anything. He walked over to Ritsuka, noticing her mouthing words silently.
"Thank you."
Morpheus could tell that's what she said.
By now, Mash had realized Morpheus's harsh words had their effect. Olga Marie was doing much better than before.
Olga Marie regained some composure. Though Morpheus's words were blunt, she knew they weren't wrong.
She was the head of the Animusphere family, the Director of Chaldea. If she collapsed here, what would become of her family?
After a moment of silence, she spoke. "Alright, our goal now is to establish communication with Chaldea."
In that moment, she was once again the young, capable woman who had taken on great responsibilities.
Though, perhaps, not that capable.
"We need to locate the leyline terminal in this area, where the leyline's mana converges. Once there, we can restore contact with Chaldea."
Olga Marie scanned her surroundings, trying to sense the leyline's focal point.
"It's right here, Director. This is the leyline terminal," Mash said from the side, causing Olga Marie's expression to shift. Like a child whose spotlight was stolen, she stiffened and said, "Huh?! Oh… right, of course. I knew that. It's obvious!"
Then she ordered, "Mash, place your shield on the ground and use your Noble Phantasm as a catalyst to set up a summoning circle."
Mash didn't act immediately, instead looking to Ritsuka, her Master.
With Ritsuka's approval, Mash placed her weapon on the ground and set up the summoning circle. The environment shifted, enveloped in intricate blue patterns, resembling the interior of a high-tech laboratory.
"This… it's like Chaldea's summoning chamber…" Mash said, astonished.
Morpheus looked around, noting that the space was indeed a projection, likely due to the deep connection with Chaldea, replicating its summoning environment.
"Calling, calling! Hello! Yes, communication restored!" A voice and hologram appeared... Dr. Romani Archaman. Relieved to reconnect with those in the Singularity, he sighed. "You all did great. The space is stabilized, allowing not just communication but also supply transfers."
"Romani, what's the situation there? What are the losses?" Olga Marie asked directly, stepping forward.
"What?! Director? You're alive?!" Romani's eyes widened as if he'd seen a monster. "You survived that explosion? And unscathed? Really?!"
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Olga Marie snapped, but remembering she was already dead, she took a deep breath. "Romani, I'm asking why you, from the medical department, are in charge. How bad are the losses?!"
"I'm the highest-ranking person left. Everyone else is either dead or injured. I'm running between managing communications and treating the wounded," Romani wailed. "Come back soon, Director!"
Olga Marie's face darkened. Seeing Romani's anxious expression, she knew things were dire.
"Be specific."
"Currently, fewer than twenty regular Chaldea staff are alive, including me. I'm the highest-ranking," Romani said.
His words hit Olga Marie like a bomb, exploding in her mind.
Romani continued, "Professor Lev was in the control room directing the Rayshift during the explosion... ground zero. Survival odds are near zero."
The group fell silent. Sensing something off in their reaction, Romani asked, "Did I say something wrong? Why the response?"
"Actually, Dr. Romani, Lev… Lev…" Ritsuka hesitated, unsure whether to call him professor or not.
Olga Marie spoke up. "Lev isn't dead. He caused the explosion…"
"What?! Professor Lev caused it?" Romani exclaimed, clearly shocked.
Morpheus watched Romani silently, his mind racing with speculation.
How much did Dr. Romani... or rather, Solomon... know? He must have foreseen the ruined future, which is why he supported Chaldea's creation. But if he could predict everything, some events could have been avoided.
Was there another reason Solomon couldn't foresee it all?
Morpheus pondered, watching Romani closely, new theories forming.
Could it be that after relinquishing his role as Solomon and wishing to become human, these events unfolded? After all, Goetia's plan began because Solomon abandoned his divine role for humanity.
In becoming Romani, Solomon briefly glimpsed the future crisis but lost his powers before seeing it clearly, leading to the current situation?
Morpheus rubbed his chin, observing Romani and Olga Marie's exchange.
As Olga Marie recounted what happened, Romani looked as if his mind had been swept by a hurricane.
He turned to Morpheus. "You're a magus from the Age of Gods? Or a magus?"
"A genuine magus. As for being a magus from the Age of Gods… if you count having been through that era as qualifying, then sure," Morpheus replied.
Romani shook his head. "Fighting alongside Greek gods against giants and defeating Typhon with Artemis isn't just 'being through that era'…"
"So Lev is really one of the Demon God Pillars?!" Romani asked, his tone deliberately casual.
"Yes, one of the Demon God Pillars, no doubt," Morpheus confirmed.
"I see," Romani nodded slightly.
Olga Marie issued orders. "Enough chatting, Romani. Immediately cryopreserve those in the Rayshift chambers to ensure they don't die!"
"Oh?! Right, that function! I'll get on it!" Romani nodded, rushing off. Olga Marie facepalmed. "I told you, he's not suited to lead."
"It's surprising... cryopreserving people without consent is a crime," Mash said, looking shocked.
Morpheus thought Mash had a sharp, sardonic side.
But then she smiled. "Yet you made that call decisively. You value lives over worrying about your role as Director."
"Don't be silly. As long as they're not dead, we can explain later!" Olga Marie snapped.
"I agree," Morpheus nodded, showing his approval.
Just as the group thought Morpheus valued human lives, he rubbed his chin. "Anyway, we can just cast a mass amnesia spell on those still conscious. As for the cryopreserved, they won't even know they were frozen when revived. If it's not seen, it's not a crime!"
The group fell silent.
They'd been too naive.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm just surprised a proper magus cares so much about human lives," Morpheus said, shaking his head, his respect for Olga Marie growing. "The old lunatics are dying out. Fresh blood is needed."
"Done!" Romani returned, panting, and reported, "Chaldea's lost eighty percent of its functions. The remaining staff can only do so much. I'm allocating personnel to repair the Rayshift system, maintain CHALDEAS, and service SHEBA.
"Once we reconnect with the outside, we'll request supplies to rebuild Chaldea. That's the plan for now."
"Good. I'd do the same. Until I return, it's on you! We'll keep investigating Singularity F here," Olga Marie said.
"Huh? Director, you're not scared in what's basically an explosion epicenter?! Aren't you a coward?!" Romani blurted.
Morpheus looked at Olga Marie in surprise, as did Ritsuka, not expecting the assertive woman to be called a coward.
"…You always say too much!" Olga Marie shouted, her cheeks flushing before she regained composure. "I'd love to go back, but the Rayshift needs repairs, and that'll take time, right?"
Her expression dimmed. "Besides, I might not be able to go back…"
"Don't say that. We'll fix the Rayshift as fast as possible, I promise!" Romani said.
"I mean, I'm already dead."
"What?! What?!" Romani exclaimed, shocked by her words. Seeing her expression, he knew she wasn't joking.
After a moment, he asked, "Really?"
"Really. Lev confirmed it. My soul's being held by CHALDEAS. Or rather, according to McRemitz... "
"Call me Morpheus."
"According to Morpheus, he protected my soul. But either way, I'm likely stuck inside CHALDEAS, surviving in this unique space…"
Romani looked conflicted. "But if we resolve Singularity F, doesn't that mean…"
"Please, don't be so grim," Morpheus interjected, exasperated. "I didn't say you couldn't leave. There are two options. One: you enter a deep sleep, fully protected, like a fetus in a placenta, until I wake you."
Olga Marie frowned at the analogy.
"The other is mimicking a Servant's existence, sustained by mana to stay in the outside world. Your soul isn't pure enough to gain great power like a Servant's."
"What do you mean my soul's impure?!" Olga Marie exploded, convinced Morpheus was deliberately provoking her.
Morpheus shrugged. "Not just yours... my soul's impure too."
"You insult me and drag yourself down with me?!"
"Hear me out. Impure or not doesn't matter now," Morpheus said, shaking his head. "My point is, your soul can stay in the real world without issue. At worst, you're a ghost."
He quickly finished, "So, I can form a contract with you, making you my Servant. I'll supply the mana, letting you move freely in reality and the Singularity."
Olga Marie weighed her options. Ideally, she'd choose the first... sleep until revived with a new body.
But after a brief hesitation, she chose the second.
Even though she didn't want to contract with this infuriating man, let alone make him her Master.
"You won't order me around recklessly, will you?"
"Just a simple contract. No Command Spells. You can have witnesses when we form it, and if there's an issue, you can back out," Morpheus said, spreading his hands. "Plus, you can stay in Chaldea, which suits you best since you can still manage things."
With the conversation at this point, the choice was clear.
The second option was best.
"Fine, I'll be a ghost for now!"
As Olga Marie spoke, she saw Morpheus's lips curl into a smile.
Suddenly, she regretted her choice. Was this guy plotting something?!
***
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