Prologue

Base sequence: human genome confirmed Alignment: Good-Neutral

Welcome to the data center for the future of humankind. This is the Security Organization for the Preservation of Humanity, Chaldea.

Fingerprint, voiceprint, and DNA authentication cleared. Magical Circuit assessment complete.

Username matched. You are recognized as a member of the primates.

Nice to meet you. You're our final visitor today.

We hope you enjoy your time here.

We are very sorry. Another 180 seconds is needed to complete the admission process.

Enjoy a simulated battle while you wait.

Regulation: Senior Contract Servants: Saber, Lancer, Archer

There will be no record of your score. Please feel free to enjoy.

Activating Heroic Spirit Summoning System Fate. We hope you have a good experience as a Master for these 180 seconds.

Fou? Kyuu... Kyuu?

Fou! Fou...Fou!

？！

...

...Umm. Since it's neither morning nor night, please wake up, Senpai.

That's a hard question to answer suddenly. Maybe I'm not important enough for you to know my name?

No, I do have a name. I have a proper name.

But I never really had the chance to use it... I'm afraid I don't leave a good first impression...

Right. That's a simple question. I really appreciate it.

This is the passageway from the front gate to the Central Command Room, which is in front of the Main Chaldea Gate.

？！

...Ahem. Anyway, can I ask you a question, Senpai?

You were asleep, but I don't see why you'd sleep in the hall. Can you not sleep unless you're on a hard bed?

Yes, like a log. It was such a deep sleep, it was almost textbook.

Oh, a Japanese carpet. I've heard of those before. I see... I see.

？！

Fou! Kyuuu! Kyao!

...I completely forgot. I still haven't introduced you yet, have I, Fou?

This squirrel-like creature is Fou. He's a Privileged Life-Form allowed to freely walk around Chaldea.

Fou led me here, and that's how I ran into you, Senpai.

Fou. Mmkyu, Fou!

He ran off somewhere again. He does that sometimes, just walks around.

？！

Yes, normally he doesn't go near anyone aside from me, but he seems to like you, Senpai.

Congratulations. Now you shall be the second caretaker of Fou in Chaldea.

Ah, there you are, Mash. That won't do, you know, wandering about without permission...

Oh, someone's already with you? You're... I see... The rookie who just got assigned here.

I'm Lev Lainur, one of the technicians employed here.

And your name is?

Hmm, Fujimaru. So you're the last of the 48 candidates.

Welcome to Chaldea. I'm glad you're here.

I heard you were selected out of many public applicants, how long was your training? A year? 6 months? 3 months?

I see that you already know how competitive it is in here. You're going to hide your info from your rivals?

Dr. Lev, Fujimaru's training was less than a few hours. I think it's from embarrassment.

Oh? Well, now... I see. We had an emergency opening for applicants to fill out numbers.

Oh? So you're a complete amateur?

Right... Come to think of it, we did call for applicants just to fill numbers.

？！

So you're one of them? Do forgive me, I was inconsiderate.

But please don't be discouraged because you're a public applicant. We need all of you for this mission.

38 elite mages, plus 10 talented public applicants... Somehow, we were able to gather all possible candidates.

That's something to rejoice over. This year, 2017, all possible candidates capable of Spiritron Dives were brought to Chaldea.

If there's something you don't understand, feel free to ask Mash or myself anytime... Hmm?

Come to think of it, what were you talking about with him, Mash? That's not like you. Did you know each other before?

No, I'd never met Senpai before. I saw Senpai sleeping here, so I just...

Sleeping? Fujimaru was asleep, here?

Ahh, you went through the simulation when you entered, right? Spiritron Dives can get to you if you're not used to them.

After the simulation, the gate must've opened and you walked over here before you returned to consciousness.

It's a type of sleep-walking. When you fell, Fujimaru, that was when Mash spoke to you.

You seem to be fine, but I'd like to take you to the infirmary just in case...

Sorry, hang in there a little longer. The Director's orientation is about to start. You should hurry over.

The Director's the director. The person in charge of Chaldea, and the commander of our special missions.

Since you're a rookie from the public, you may have only seen the pamphlet?

It would appear so. Since the Director's profile hasn't been made public.

Senpai has no connection to the Director. Only mages from families that have been around for over a century show respect to the Animusphere name.

Right. Well, whether you know the Director or not, it doesn't affect your work as a Master, so it's not a problem.

But it's good to not get on her bad side. If you wish to work in a peaceful environment, better hurry.

There's an orientation by the Director at the Central Command Room in 5 minutes. She's putting on a presentation for the newbies.

Yes, to greet the Master candidates assigned here today like you, Fujimaru.

In other words, it's for the big boss to welcome the careless newbies.

Since the Director is not the type to forgive and forget, if you show up late, you'll be on her radar for the entire year.

The orientation begins in five minutes in the Central Command Room. Go straight down this hall. Hurry.

？！

Dr. Lev, do you think I'll be allowed to sit in on the orientation, too?

Hmm? Well, if you stand way back in a corner, I think she'll look the other way... But why?

I just thought I should take Senpai to the Command Room. It's possible that Senpai might fall asleep on the way again.

...If I leave you alone like this the Director might yell at me... I should tag along as well, eh?

Well, if that's what you want to do, Mash, go ahead. You okay with that Fujimaru?

If you have no other questions, let's head to the Command Room. Is there anything else you want to know?

All right, let's get going. Stand up straight, but remember to relax, okay?

...

Oh, don't worry about it. To her, every human your age is her senpai.

But it's unusual to hear her actually call someone that. This might be the first time.

Actually, I'm intrigued. Say, Mash, why do you call him Senpai?

The reason? Fujimaru is the most human-like person I've ever met.

Hmm. Which means?

I don't feel threatened. So there's no reason for me to be hostile.

I see, that is important! People at Chaldea are all a piece of work!

I agree with you, Mash. I think you two will get along just fine!

...If you like Senpai Dr. Lev, the Director will probably hate Senpai.

...Well, why don't we hide in the restroom to boycott the orientation, then?

That will only make the Director more upset. We're going to have to leave it to fate.

Shall we jump into the lions' den, Fujimaru? Hey, once you get used to her, she can be a pretty sweet person.

？！

This is the Central Command Room. Your number, Senpai... Single digit, you're in the front row.

Take an empty seat in the front row. ...Senpai? You're looking a bit pale...

？！

It's an after effect of the simulator. I wish I could take you to the infirmary...

...

No more small talk. See, the orientation's already begun.

Well, that wasn't on time, but looks like we're all here now.

Welcome to Special Organization, Chaldea. I'm the director, Olga Marie Animusphere.

You have been selected, or discovered from each nation for your rare

...Are you all right, Senpai?

？！

Yes. It seemed like you were in REM sleep...

Anyway, the Director's slap seemed to wake you up completely. Thank goodness.

You've been left out of the first mission, Senpai. I was taking you back to your roomOh!

Fou!

？！

No, no, this is normal. No problem at all!

Fou likes to attack my face, slide around to my back, and settle on my shoulder.

Yes. It's been a year since Fou came to live here.

That's right. No special reason, the word "Fou" is the first thing that popped into my mind.

I'm impressed you knew that, Senpai. I see you're quite perceptive yourself.

？！

Fou. Kuuu, Fou! Fou!

Hmm, hmm. Apparently, Fou's embraced you as one of his own, Senpai.

But can a squirrel who sees humans as rivals exist in this world?

？！

Well, knowing Fou as I do, I'm sure he'll forget it by tomorrow.

Actually, we've reached our destination. This is your room, Senpai.

It's fine. If you ask me, Senpai, I wouldn't mind even if it's treating you to lunch.

First Mission, A Team. Speaking of which, I've got to head back now.

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Kyu... Kyu!

Fou says he'll look after you, Senpai. That sets my mind at ease.

Now, then, I'm off. If we're lucky, I think we'll meet again.

Okay, I'm in hereWait? Whaaaaaat? Who are you?

This is an empty room! It's where I slack off! Who gave you permission to come in?

Your room? This place? Oh... I see, so the last one finally showed up, huh?

Who am I? Isn't it obvious that I'm a healthy, diligent and hard-working doctor?

？！

Well, nice to meet you, Fujimaru. Didn't think I would run into you like this, but let me introduce myself again.

I'm the head of the medical department, Romani Archaman. For some reason, people just call me Dr. Roman.

I don't know why, but it's easier to pronounce, so go ahead and call me Roman.

Fact is, Roman has a nice ring to it, no? It sounds cool and vaguely sweet.

Yes, nice to meet you. I look forward to getting to know you.

Fluffy? Oh, you mean my hair? I'm normally pretty busy so I just let it grow.

？！

...

Huh? On your shoulder - is that the mysterious creature I've heard so much about? Whoa, nice to meet you!

Mash told me a lot about him, but I didn't really think he existed... Hey, why don't I teach him some tricks?

Okay, shake hand. If you do it well, I'll give you a snack.

...Fou.

Huh, what? He gave me a really pitying look and then completely ignored me...

A-Anyway, I think I get what's going on.

You're the rookie who just got here then got on the Director's bad side?

Then you and I are alike. Just so you know, I got yelled at by her too.

You know the Rayshift experiment's about to start, right? The entire staff's been sent to help out.

But since my job is to look after everyone's health. I had nothing to do.

The machines are more accurate at reading the vitals of the mages who are in the Coffins.

The Director said, "When you're here, Romani, everyone slacks off!" Then she threw me out. So I've been sulking here.

But that's when you showed up. This is what they called a blessing in disguise right?

Since we both have nowhere to go, why don't we spend some time and deepen our friendship!

Yeah. So that means I'm visiting a friend's room! Woo hoo! I've made a new friend!

Hey... You already have a friend even though you just got here... What a people person! I want in!

？！

...So that's the structure of Chaldea. An underground workshop built on a snowy mountain 6,000 meters above sea level...

Romani, we're going to start the Rayshift soon. Could you come in case there's an emergency?

The A Team's in perfect condition, but B Team on down is less experienced and they are displaying some slight abnormalities.

It probably comes from anxiety. The inside of that Coffin is like a cockpit.

Hey Lev, I feel bad for them. Why don't I give them some anesthesia?

Yeah, hurry up, will you? If you're in the infirmary, then you can get here in two minutes.

？！

Whoa... Please don't mention that... It's gonna take five minutes from here, no matter what...

Well, I think they'll forgive me for being a little late. A Team has no issues anyway.

Oh, that guy's named Lev Lainur.

He's the mage who created the Near-Future Observation Lens, Sheba A telescope used to observe that pseudo-planet, Chaldeas.

Sheba not only observes Chaldeas, but also serves as a surveillance system for most of this facility.

Also, it was the previous director who built the summoning/unsummoning system, which is the foundation of the Rayshift tech.

To actualize that theory, the Pseudo-Spiritron Calculation Engine, (basically a super computer) was provided by the Atlas Academy.

All these different talents have been gathered to carry out this mission.

It's pointless for an ordinary doctor like me to be there, but if I'm summoned, I must go.

Thanks for chatting with me, Fujimaru!

When you get settled in, come by the infirmary. Next time, I'll treat you to some yummy cake.

What's this? The lights are out. Did something

Emergency. Emergency. A fire has broken out in the Central Power Station and the Central Command Room.

Central Area's containment wall will activate in 90 seconds. All staff must evacuate from Gate 2 at once.

Containment wall will close in 40 seconds Those remain in Central Area, evacuate immediately

Was that an explosion just now? What on earth is happening?

Monitor, show us the Command Room! Is everybody all right?

？！

What's this

Fujimaru, evacuate right now. I'm going to the Command Room.

The containment wall is about to close. Get yourself out before it's too late!

...

？！

Fou!

Wait, what are you doing? Wrong way, Gate 2's over there!

Don't tell me you're coming with me? Sure the more helping hands the better, but...

Oh man, there's no time to argue! Make sure you get back before it's too late!

...No survivors. Only Chaldeas is safe.

This was where the explosion originated. This was no accident, it was sabotage.

Generator operation stopped. Power level critical.

Switch to the backup generator, error. Please make switch manually.

Containment wall will close in 40 seconds Those remain in Central Area, evacuate immediately

...I'm heading down to the underground power station. We can't let Chaldea's light go out.

Hurry up and go back the way we came. You can still make it.

Listen, don't stop anywhere on the way! Go outside, and wait for help!

...

System switching to the final phase of Rayshift. Coordinates, AD 2004, January, 30th, Fuyuki, Japan.

Laplace's shifting protection established. Singularity's additional factor slot secured.

Unsummon Program set. Please start final adjustments.

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!!!

...Oh.

...It's all...right. You can't...save...me. Don't mind me, please... Run.

...That's right, thank you... For your understanding. Please Fujimaru, you need to...get out of here.

？！

!?

Ah...

Warning all observation staff. Chaldeas' state has changed.

Now rewriting Sheba's near-future prediction data.

Unable to detect the existence of mankind 100 years in the near-future on Earth.

Unable to confirm human survivors. Unable to guarantee mankind's future.

Chaldeas...has turned bright red... No, never mind, that

Central Area, sealed. 180 seconds till internal containment procedure.

...they, shut off, the area. ...Now, we can't, get out.

？！

...

Coffin Vitals: Masters Baseline not reached.

Rayshift requirement not met. Searching for qualifying Master... Found.

Candidate No. 48, Fujimaru reset as Master.

Unsummon Program, start. Spiritron Conversion, start.

...Um...Sen...pai?

Would you mind... Holding my hand?

Rayshift starting in 3

2

1

All procedures clear. First Order, commencing operation.