5th Floor, Room No.4

...The Spiritron density's highest on this floor. Looks like we're at the center of this apartment.

We've defeated dozens of ghosts so far, but this response is far bigger than any of them.

The core that created this fake Singularity... The soul, or Spirit Origin if you will, of this area.

And it's close. Be careful, Fujimaru.

Understood. ...We're almost at the end of the hallway.

That room seems to be the last one... Shiki, are you picking up anything.

Listen, the only thing I'm picking up is cold shivers. I can't detect magical energy like Fujimaru.

It's more like intuition for me. That, and how much death there is.

Whether there's death, huh?

You haven't talked about it, but what does it feel like to see death?

It's creepy, basically. I told you before, what I see is a thing's lifespan.

...Everything has a seam.

Those seams usually look like lines. Run a knife down them and that part will "die."

If you have time, you can ask a mage you know for the more detailed theory.

In my case, I happened to know this weird mage. She told me all kinds of stuff I didn't want to know.

...Well, I'll probably never see her again. But maybe you have someone who knows her?

I don't know. Chaldea's got a lot of funds, but we're basically isolated in the mountains.

Anyway, were you born with those eyes? Have you been seeing that scary view since you were born?

I was born with them, but they didn't awaken until I got into an accident.

I basically died once. When I woke up, the whole world had changed.

...Tch. Why are we talking about me, anyway? Look, we're here. This is the center of the building.

Hehehe! At last we're here! Yes, yes, this is it! This is it!

I remember this place! I was first summoned here!

...So there's something here that's creating this fake Singularity, right?

Of course! It wouldn't make sense if there wasn't!

Who could it be? I'm so excited! I'm so nervous, everyone! Aren't you?

Yes. It's not appropriate to say this, but I'm interested.

Thanks to you, I'm not as nervous now, Mephisto.

？！

Hehehe! Of course! I'm talking as much as usual for your sake, Fujimaru!

That means he's just acting like his normal self!

So you won't change your ways for anything, huh? You really do seem to be having fun, though.

Of course I am.

I'm with a Master who'll hang out with a devil like me, even if they do think I'm a little weird!

How could this not be fun!

This is so fun! I'm so happy! It's really like a dream come true!

...Yeah. You're being honest for once, huh Scissors?

Okay. Let's go inside. Are you ready, Fujimaru?

？！

What is this room!? There's no boundary lines!

It's like Scáthach's Land of Shadows! If we don't stop this thing

Welcome, everyone! Have you been satisfied so far?

Huh?

Of course we have! Hello, me! Thanks for watching the Boundary!

Fou, foou!

Another set of Mephistos!? Even though we got rid of the evil one!?

What are you saying, lady Mash? I'll ask you not to underestimate me.

I am a devil! I've only got a single good heart within me

But I've got far more than one or two hearts of evil! I've got so many you couldn't count them all!

That's surprisingly convincing! I have no come back to that, Master!

？！

Yes, perfect! I wanted to see you go around defeating all the evil mes.

That's why I came here in the first place!

Come, come! Go right ahead! Behind that evil me is a Greater Ghost.

That's the keystone of this Bounded Field! The Great Avici Hell, which draws spirits of the dead here and turns them into a pillar!

...It's huge. How hard is it gonna be for that to die? There's so many lines I could never cut them all!

Hehehe! Of course it's hard! It's a copy-paste of over a hundred million deaths!

And you're going to join the other ghosts in it! But before that

There's something I don't quite understand. I'm talking about you, Fujimaru.

Say, why are you doing all of this? This isn't your problem at all.

It's true that Servants were trapped here. But they mutated of their own will.

They all wanted to be that way. There was no need for you to go to considerable length to come and save them.

This apartment is located in a different dimension, yes. But it's only a fake Singularity. It's safe to ignore.

Even if humanity's foundations were restored, this place would simply sit outside the world and quietly gather hatred and pain.

Looking at this sort of hell is my job, which is why I'm here working.

But why are you getting involved? No one asked you. And this isn't revenge.

There's nothing to be gained for you by solving this problem!

Well...

？！

Right! It doesn't matter what we gain! It felt like we needed to solve this!

That's the kind of person Senpai is! Someone who can't look away from pain and sadness.

...I still remember Senpai holding my hand that day when I was scared in the Command Room...

Everyone looks like they're suffering, huh? And I guess "everyone" includes the ghosts.

SIGH. Then I guess I'll have no choice but to kill you.

I am a devil. It's no fun if someone does something just because they want to.

I can't tempt them with anything. Which means I can't trade with them!

And in the face of someone like that, you know... I would have no choice but to truly submit!

And if I was loyal like that, I wouldn't be a devil anymore, would I?

I am here as myself.

As long as I'm needed as the devil Mephisto Pheles... It would be rude to my wonderful Master not to do my job!

Ooh, that's me for you! A devil more devilish than any devil!

But as the me on Master's side, this is a problem. I don't think I can beat that Greater Ghost.

The evil devil me wants to be defeated by my Master. The good devil me just wants to survive and doesn't care about anyone else.

What is this? Mixing both me together would make me look like the strongest, wouldn't it!?

Idiot. Just shut up and work with us. It's the only way you'll survive.

Let's do it, Mash, Scissors. Fujimaru's answer persuaded me.

I'd been wondering the whole time, too.

Fujimaru has a place to call home. Why get involved in someone else's hell?

But I guess I know the answer now.

This one is the same kind of idiot as Mikiya! So there's no sense in thinking about it!

Idiots never listen to you, after all! They just make everyone's lives difficult!

Right... right! I agree, Shiki! That's our Master!

Then let's finish this thing!

I'm thinking that I want to go to this Chaldea of yours!

The massive ghost has vanished! Now the fake Singularity is done for!

Bye now, lying devil. Time for you to head back home!

Ayyeyeee! It's so sharp!

So this is a death line!? It's so sharp, huh miss?

It's a clean cut! I didn't feel anything and there's no blood! But there's terror and pleasure!

Oh, I have to disappear! I can't take it anymore!

The enemy Servant and massive ghost have been eliminated. We won, Master.

？！

Hehe. Hehehehe!

Good work! Good work, huh? An airhead until the end, you are!

But that's unforgettable, unattainable, and I want to die! Good work! And farewell!

Though... When you're a devil like me you don't do farewells like this often!

Good Mephisto!? W-Why are you starting to disappear?

Why? That's a strange question Killing that me means killing this me as well!

Listen, if you defeat an evil heart, the good heart isn't going to somehow survive, okay?

I am me because of my evil. And I am me because of my good.

You are who you are because of your strengths. I am who I am because of my weaknesses.

It's best to disappear together. That is what we are.

Becauseif only one of us were to survive, that would be a sad thing.

They say a man can't live by himself! Although, I am a devil!

...Yeah. Did you have fun, Scissors?

Yes, I did! The best days of my devilish life! Um, yes. Enough that I'm going to miss it.

Anyway, I will be off! I'll be joining the ghosts!

？！

Hehehe. Hehehehe. That's wrong. That's a different me. Not this me.

I'm not human. In fact, I was never human at all

So I don't remember what happened yesterday, and I probably won't remember you!

That's what a devil is! Either they destroy the one they contract with, or that one will destroy them!

Nothing remains. For if it did, it would weigh on me. I wouldn't be able to have fun deceiving you, Master!

Goodbye, everyone The devil Mephisto Pheles will be leaving now!

Splendid, splendid work, Fujimaru! You have done well to awaken from the sleep of death!

...

...Heroic Spirit Mephisto Pheles is gone. It's over, Shiki, Senpai.

Over? Well, I guess it is.

Once that massive ghost is gone, this apartment building will go back to being abandoned.

When the time comes, there'll be nothing left. Like what Scissors said, that's life.

Yes. It is a little lonely, though.

Okay. Let's head back to this Chaldea place, Fujimaru.

No, should I call you Master? That's the rule for Servants, right?

Fou!?

Huh? You're coming too?

What, am I not welcome? I've helped you this far. ...Not that it was my main goal.

I was troubled too.

I thought I'd wake up if I found the cause, but it's not happening. Instead, I feel more alert than ever.

This place is going to disappear soon. So Chaldea's the only place I can go.

If I work for you as a Servant, then you can give me lodgings, food, and clothing, right?

It's true...We can't just leave her. Senpai?

？！

Right! Thanks for working with us, Shiki!

Thanks. Okay, let's get going.

If you need ghosts, zombies, or anything else weird taken out, I'm the one. Use me as you like.

Thanks, Fujimaru.

I won't go as far as Scissors, but I'll follow you to the gates of Hell.

Damn... Another weirdo, huh?

But it's good that Chaldea will be livelier. I'll get her a room ready quickly.

Fujimaru, good work. I can see the fake Singularity response beginning to weaken.

The massive ghost maintaining it vanished. That apartment building will vanish soon.

The Servants who were trapped will come back when the building disappears.

If you forgot anything, take care of it. Chaldea always needs more resources.

But don't spend too much time there! I'll be waiting for you in the Command Room!