Section 9: The Mage's Inference

...I see. That fits in with my own theory as well.

I've analyzed this paper a bit, and it would indeed seem to have the effects El-Melloi II has described.

？！

A trifling analysis like this is hardly worthy of praise. At any rate, this does seem like it may lead us to the mastermind, but that will take more time.

In the meantime, I invite you to wait here in my castle.

Very well, if you must. Still, there is one thing I'd like to discuss before we go any further.

Why would this mastermind need to implant Fujimaru with false memories?

Perhaps the paper he almost ingested can provide a clue. Did the memories you saw at the time focus on any one person or thing in particular, Fujimaru?

？！

What about you, El-Melloi? I don't suppose you have a theory or two you could share with us?

...

Is something wrong?

Sorry, it's a little odd hearing those words from that face. At any rate, yes, I do have one hypothesis.

And? Are you going to tell us you're not in the habit of discussing your hypotheses, like a detective might?

I have no such compunctions. I'm no detective; I'm a mage. Still, all I can say now is that I don't sense hostility from our opponent so much as I do pity.

Huh? You mean, they feel sorry for us?

That's just the impression I get, but yes. Of course, ill intent is hardly a requisite for causing harm.

If anything, you can much more easily justify hurting others if you believe you're doing so for the right reasons.

At any rate, I doubt it will be long before our enemy makes a move, so take this time to rest and recuperate.

In that case, sir, let me comb your hair!

Huh!?

I mean, just look at how messy it is. Being a Servant is no excuse for being sloppy.

Hehehe, it's nice to have things back to normal. You should have her polish your shoes while she's at it, brother.

？！

I guess he manages to take care of himself in Chaldea then. Yeah, when my brother starts leaning on someone, he ends up relying on them for almost everything.

In the Clock Tower, he'd never get anything done if it wasn't for Gray.

C-cut that out, Reines! Gray! Let go of my arm!

Wait, hang on! I just realized something else!

Huh?

The whole reason we were summoned here is because my brother failed!

Well, uh... You know...

？！

It's simple. He would never have had to "die" unless he was in an extremely tight spot.

Even if he did have a Spirit Origin to spare, separating the two is an incredibly difficult feat.

He could well and truly have died if things had gone wrong. The fact that he went through with it anyway just shows how dire the circumstances were.

So dire that his choices were between likely death and certain death.

Well, brother?

You're...not wrong, but...

Unlike other Servants, those who were summoned to resolve this have a clear and obvious connection.

Me... Gray... Luvia... All of us have deep ties to my brother.

But while Gray could reasonably qualify as a Servant, the same can't be said for Luvia or me.

So it must have been Zhuge Liang's Noble Phantasm that brought us here.

Dispatch Troops, Zhuge Liang's other, EX-rank Noble Phantasm. It follows heroic legends to provide its targets with the abilities they need to succeed.

In this case, it must have given you and Luvia Spirit Origins that could then be summoned to this Singularity.

Though, it wouldn't have worked this well if humanity weren't currently in such dire straits to begin with, or without this Singularity's particular circumstances.

？！

So this was all Zhuge Liang's doing, huh. That explains how Sima Yi and I ended up together.

It's not because we have any connection of our own. It was because our current situation puts us in a state that is close to my brother's own situation.

That must have made it much easier to form the bonds needed for the magecraft to work. It all makes perfect sense once you understand that bit.

Then, that must be why you thought you were El-Melloi II when you first got here.

Right. I must have been forced into his position as a result of his Noble Phantasm pulling me in here.

It definitely all adds up neatly. The fact that it all made use of existing connections makes it easy to form a Mystic.

All that said, you got a lot of nerve dragging us over here just to clean up your mess, brother.

I, um... I'm sorry. I never expected you would be the ones summoned here.

That's so like you, brother. You usually hate relying on anyone else for anything, but you have no trouble asking for help once things really go south.

Of course, I'll still take that over being a heartless fool who would refuse to do the same under similar circumstances.

Yes. I would very much agree with that.

All right, putting all those pieces together tired my brain out...

...so I'm going to take a breather while we wait for Babbage to finish his analysis.

Hm? You came out here too, huh?

Well here, why don't you have a seat next to me then? It's a lovely view.

...

I'm grateful to you, you know.

Truth be told, if you hadn't been here, seeing my brother dead would have wrecked me.

If I hadn't had to keep it together enough to do something to help my pupil, I'd probably still be standing there, staring at his body.

At least, until one of the automata picked me off or something.

？！

Well, uh, you know... Ugh, shit, it's so hard not to be honest around you.

Maybe it's because I've never had a pupil before. Anyway...I think I'm pretty happy right now.

Gray is here, my brother's still alive, and amazingly, I get the chance to talk to both of them again.

Just don't tell my brother. I'm only saying this because you're my very first pupil.

Once this is all over, you, me, Gray, and my brother should all have tea together. I think that'll be worth breaking out my special stash for.

Make sure to keep your schedule open. Even if you are mankind's last Master, there's always time for tea.

Oh? If you think you can bring something that even remotely compares to my special tea, then by all means, go right ahead.

？！

Anyway, I'm going to hang out here a little longer. You should go back in before you catch a cold.

Oh, Fujimaru!

I take it you were just spending time with Reines?

I know my adoptive sister can be fairly ill-tempered, so I'm glad to see you getting along so well with her.

？！

I see. I suppose you would have to feel that way to get along with her. I knew you were a good Master.

While we're here, there's something else I need to tell you.

...There's no need for you to resolve this Singularity.

Sir?

I'm glad you're here, Gray. You should hear this too.

As I'm sure you already know, Master, whatever happens in a Singularity eventually ends up never having happened at all.

There are, of course, some Singularities that could threaten humanity if they take a turn for the worse, but that's not the case with this one. It's bound to go away on its own in time.

There's no way a Singularity that has to consume memoriesan ultimately self-destructive processto sustain itself could last for very long, after all.

Once you've reestablished contact with Chaldea and are able to return home, there won't be any reason for you to stay and continue fighting here.

Just put it down like a video game you've grown tired of, and you need not be in any danger.

You're a very straight shooter, aren't you. It's rather refreshing.

Of course. I always try to complete whatever I start, and follow up by sending detailed feedback to the developer.

By the way, add "II" when you call my name. My mentor's name alone is a little rich for my blood.

？！

Anyway, I guess I didn't need to tell you that after all, if you're that determined to see this through.

Some people might call you reckless or even foolish, but I think it's actually one of your strengths, and as your Servant, I swear to do all I can to assist.

I do too.

Pupil! Brother!

Reines?

What is it, Reines?

You're here too, Gray? Good! Come on, there's something you all need to see!

What is that...?

Ugh... How could I have ever mistaken that for the Clock Tower?

Wait, of course. Something must have been interfering with our perception.

If the Clock Tower were still around, there's no way they would ignore a huge case like this.

That's not the Clock Tower at all. That's...

Rhongo...myniad...