"Oh, Rikka, Mash. Off to simulation training?"
In a Chaldea hallway, Olga Marie crossed paths with the pair.
"Good work, Director."
"Yup! Heracles and Atalanta said they had a bad feeling, so we're training in the simulator. Gil, Mash, Jeanne Alter, and I are doing a special session!"
"…That's quite a lineup. Heracles's instincts aren't to be ignored—something might be up at the next Singularity."
"Yes, we need to train for any unexpected situations."
"Be careful. …If I didn't have my own training, I'd help with preparations."
"No worries! Olga Marie, you're getting trained by Medea and Da Vinci-chan!"
"Right. Let's all grab dinner together afterward."
"…Sounds good. I'll have Romani adjust the simulator."
"Cool! See you later!"
"Take care, Director."
"You too. Say hi to Gil for me."
Olga Marie waved as she watched them go.
In times like these, their unwavering effort despite the odds is truly inspiring.
Time to do my part.
"⬛⬛⬛"
Uttering divine words unpronounceable in modern tongues, Olga Marie blasted a swarm of dragon-tooth soldiers into oblivion in an instant.
"Gandr—!"
Pointing at a massive golem, she shattered it with a curse.
Slamming her left hand to the ground, she drew mana from the Grail, tracing a vast magical circle.
"⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛—!"
"GUOOOOHHHH!!"
Aiming at a simulated lesser dragon, she unleashed a grand spell in a single, fleeting moment—!
"Machia Hecatic Graea!"
Winged cannons of magic surged, annihilating the dragonkind.
As the dragonkind vanished, the simulation ended, and the scenery returned.
"Haa, haa, haa…"
"What a teachable student. To master High-Speed Divine Words and manifest Hecatic Graea so quickly!"
Shedding her robe, the elegant Medea showered her with praise.
"It's been ages since I've seen talent like yours. Truly astonishing. Born in the Age of Gods, you could've been my junior disciple!"
"That's an exaggeration… Ten days of nonstop training, and this is just average."
Medea says that, but I was fighting for my life. Honing a Reality Marble, learning Grail control, and studying ancient magecraft on top of maintenance…
From pronouncing divine words to condensing months-long grand spells into a single process, understanding magical ethics, training vocal cords and diction (tongue-twisters and vocal exercises), and building a mindset to manipulate mana…
The Grail from Gil was a lifesaver. Without it, I'd have collapsed from exhaustion in half a day.
"Mastering the ordinary is the hardest part. Be proud. You've just stepped into a realm beyond modern mages."
"…Thank you, Master."
At least I didn't fail. No 'hopeless' stamp for me.
"Always so reserved! You're my prized disciple—hold your head high!"
Medea hugged her tightly. Olga Marie braced herself to avoid falling, barely steadying.
"You're just too adorable! Like Master, I'm so blessed! All good? Want to play dress-up?"
"N-Not now! I have Da Vinci-sensei's lecture next!"
"Hmph, such a pity. If I'd gotten to you before her, I'd have taught you tool-crafting first…"
"Haha, please don't make Da Vinci-sensei jealous…"
"Fine, fine. I'm your magecraft master, after all. Farewell for now. Shall we make a bottle ship next? ♪"
"Another time, definitely."
With that, Olga Marie left the magical temple…
"Working hard, Director. How about a drink with me?"
"Kojirou! Marie's underage!"
"Fair point. …I'll wait eagerly."
"When the time comes, I'll take you up on that."
"Sensei, here's the report on science, math, engineering, natural history, music, architecture, sculpture, painting, invention, weapon development, and magecraft assignments."
Olga Marie submitted a towering stack of reports, and her master snapped her fingers.
"Haha, you actually did it! Twelve pages per topic? That's so intense it's almost intimidating!"
"Sensei?"
"Kidding, kidding. You okay?"
No issues. No need for sleep means I can use the long nights. Finishing each task in thirty minutes makes it manageable. Convenient body—no drawbacks.
Ten hours daily for magecraft, ten for other assignments, two for Chaldeas operations, and two for breaks—plenty.
A perfect daily cycle, if I do say so myself.
"Wow… I get carried away when students deliver, but I worried I overdid it. You nailed it, haha!"
"…I managed, but it was a lot! So it was your genius prank!"
"Sorry, sorry! I'll read every page, I promise! Gotta live up to my star pupil's expectations. No side-eye, please—it'll kill me with guilt!"
Sensei's a genius, so she gets carried away. She does her part, but I wish she'd consider us mere mortals.
"Go rest. I'll handle the rest. But wow… finishing this fast? Mind-blowing…"
Taking her words, Olga Marie left the workshop.
I'm craving something sweet.
"Here's your chocolate fondue."
Jeanne Alter, in an apron, handed over the dessert with gruff care.
"Thanks, Jeanne Alter. Sorry to bother you when you're tired from training."
"No big deal. It's normal. Goldie put me in charge of sweets. Want more, just say so."
"Then I'll take some too! Koshian and tsubuan manju!"
"How many is that, you?! Wait there, I'll make it!"
She retreated to the kitchen.
"Man, these sweets are pure bliss. Work's done, and it's all here! Comparing koshian and tsubuan—isn't that indulgent? I'm alive, and I'm happy!"
"You're so dramatic."
"Dramatic? Nothing's happier than a vibrant daily life, Director! I'm telling you, it's true!"
"Sure, sure."
But Roman's got a point.
Reflecting on our situation, we could've crumbled under fear, despair, or infighting.
No one might've listened to me.
Gil changed Chaldea. As an absolute symbol, he united everyone perfectly.
Rikka and Mash fight with their lives, giving hope to all.
Not a single person in Chaldea is looking down.
Everyone's gazing at a distant hope and future, ready to crush the despair in their path.
No doubt about it. Everyone's smiling, genuinely happy.
"Heh."
"What's that, a memory chuckle, Olga?"
"Don't mind me. …Oh, here she comes."
"Here's the chocolate fondue, koshian, and tsubuan. Coffee and tea are on the house, so be grateful. Refills are free—just ask."
"It's not self-serve?"
"Huh? That's the staff's job! You guys just eat and smile! Customer care's on us!"
"An angel! There's an angel here!"
"I'll burn you, Roman, regular or not!"
The chocolate fondue melted in her mouth, a sweet wave of joy.
"Delicious…"
"Yup, yup! Patissière Alter-chan, right?"
"I'll roast you, doc!"
"Eek, sorry!"
"Oh, they're eating already? So jealous!"
"Good work, Director."
"Taking a break? Sweets are a fine choice—feeds the brain. Good! Three more servings! Any confection for me, but gild it in gold leaf!"
"Chomp on gold leaf, you idiot! Mash, Master, what's your order?"
"Special Command Spell Parfait!"
"Shortcake, please, Alter-san."
"Got it. I'll throw in cocoa and tea."
"Hm, looks tasty, Roman. Let me try."
"My manju—!? Just order your own!"
"What's yours is mine. …Hm, earnest flavor. As expected of Jeanne's other half."
"Don't lump me with her!"
"Oh, my bad… She was better at making hell…"
"Gimme a bite, Marie!"
"Senpai, that's not nice."
"It's fine. I'll share with you two. I'm getting seconds anyway."
"Such a glutton!"
"It's delicious, so what can I do?"
"Hurry up! A patissière who can't finish in three minutes?!"
It's not instant ramen…
"Drop dead, complainer!!"
"That's how you talk to a customer?! Get me the manager! I'll complain every second!"
"It's a one-woman shop, moron!!"
"Haha, hahahaha!"
"Heh…"
"So fun! I wish days like this could last forever!"
"Fou! (Darn, if only I could talk…)"
"…Can you make something for Fou too?"
"Wait there!"
"Fou! (Director…!)"
The journey to restore Humanity passes with noisy, carefree days…
"And now, we begin the 'Secrets to Acting Like a Mastermind Pulling the Strings' lecture. Essential for a director like you. Your instructors: me, Amakusa, renowned for turning Masters into puppets, trustworthy but not too trustworthy—"
"And me, Caesar. To a diligent soul like Cleopatra's kin, I'll teach the art of incitement."
"Let's do this, Abishag. A king's duty? Not my thing. But if you want to learn, I'm game. Even cuddling while we talk works."
"The three of us will guide you. By the end, you'll be reborn as a mastermind director, the prime suspect for any conspiracy."
"P-Please go easy on me…"
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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