Section 11: Beyond Memory and Record

...This is the inside of the fake Rhongomyniad?

So it would seem. How...drab. Its owner clearly has awful taste.

Hmm. Do you sense anything unusual in here?

？！

No, you're in the right place.

Aah!

They just knocked Astraea out of the tower!

I'm all right...! They did take me by surprise, but it will take more than that...to...

Huh? I can't...move...?

I must have used too much magical energy...against the Demon God Pillars...

Astraea!

The outer shell just closed itself up again!

Yes, that Divine Spirit was the only true obstacle in my way. So I took the liberty of removing her.

Though of course, I doubt it would have been so easy were she still in top form.

Fortunately, the memories of the Demon God Pillars did their job of softening her up.

？！

I knew Astraea would be the greatest threat to me as soon as I learned of her existence.

That's why I went to the trouble of falsifying memories of a battle fierce enough to eliminate her.

Those paper scraps are indeed the byproduct of that reproduction, as that Pseudo-Servant there surmised.

I was hoping you would all fall in that battle along with her, but instead you emerged victorious.

So now...

...I would like all of you to go away, with the exception of Fujimaru.

？！

Da Vinci?

I'm a computer program. I don't usually have a form to call my own.

I've assumed this form as a temporary solution to that particular issue, but I see now that it was a rather upsetting choice for you.

Autonomic Observational Existence Verification System...Mnemosyne.

So, you even managed to deduce my name.

Yes, that's right. I'm the subsystem that was created to verify a Master's existence during a Rayshift.

？！

The reason a Master is able to continue living during Rayshifts is because someone is constantly observing and verifying his existence.

Initially, Chaldea also had a backup existence verification subsystem designed to prevent a Master from disappearing in the event that all the personnel meant to observe them were somehow indisposed.

But it...or rather, I, was never implemented, in consequence of some sort of technical issue.

So what would you want with my pupil now? Aren't you supposed to keep him safe!?

Wait... That's it. It's BECAUSE you're supposed to keep him safe.

I'm pleased to see that you understand.

In that case, I would like you to hand Fujimaru over to me.

Mnemosyne is giving off incredibly powerful magical energy...!

Dammit! Looks like we're not out of the woods yet!

...What the hell was that? That wasn't a Noble Phantasm.

Of course not. How could I have a Noble Phantasm when I'm not even a Servant?

If you're not a Servant, then that must have been... That's it! That body of yours IS the fake Rhongomyniad!

How very astute.

She's not holed up in this fake Rhongomyniad. She fused with its shape and memory...!

Reines!

Gray! You need to use your Rhongomyniad!

Yeah, about that... We've been tryin' for a while now, but we can't get the damn thing to work!

Of course not. You only made it into this tower thanks to its resemblance to your Rhongomyniad.

Just as you can interfere with my lance, I can interfere with yours.

You will not be using it here. I've made sure of that.

As they say, know when to hold, and know when to fold.

At last, I can finally touch you, Fujimaru.

Paper scraps!? No, this is a real Holy Grail...!

Yes, this all ends now. The path to this ending may have been more circuitous than I intended, but we still got here just the same.

This time, Fujimaru, I'm going to make sure you drown in my memories.

Get away from her, Fujimaru!!!

I'm telling you, this is our biggest vulnerability right here. And it affects Team A just as much as anyone else.

Honestly, things are looking really bad right now. We don't even have any idea who we're up against.

I know we've still got Kirschtaria. We don't have to know what he's really thinking to know that he's as capable as they come.

I'm sure he'll have no trouble handling whatever's in store for us.

But still...none of that changes how serious of a problem this is.

And we can't do anything about it with the way Chaldea's systems are right now.

If no one's there to observe them, they'll cease to exist.

But she's still incomplete, right?

Yes, unfortunately. Even the greatest genius needs time to work their magic.

So I'm going to pin our hopes on the future, and pray that time solves this problem for us.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is...

...I have very high hopes for you...Mnemosyne...

？！

That was one of the oldest files I have retained in my archive. As you can guess, I've been asleep ever since it was recorded, remaining perpetually incomplete.

Even during the Incineration of Humanity, I kept sleeping inside Chaldea, powerless to do anything.

That remained so even after humanity was restored, and my data was transferred to the Shadow Border.

I only just recently awoke, when a new Chaldea was established in Baldanders.

？！

In hindsight, the Wandering Sea's heterogeneous data must have been what triggered my awakening.

But no sooner did I finally awaken than I became utterly despondent.

Humanity had already been restored, without my help. Team A had turned against us, and begun raising Trees of Emptiness.

And above all, my creator had died...all before I even had an opportunity to live up to her expectations.

So, I began to watch. I devoted every bit of observation functionality I could to the boundaries wavering between worlds.

When Chaldea regained the ability to Rayshift, I found a Holy Grail fragment not too far away.

I decided then that I would use the loss of my creator properly, regardless of how high her hopes for me were.

So now, I will be the one to observe.

And as the only one observing, I alone can choose what the truth will be.

？！

You all grieved for Da Vinci's death, didn't you?

Then your grief needs to heal. And there's no better salve than forgetting.

That is how I will demonstrate my value. I am the only one who needs to know the truth.

True to my name, I will remember everything. The rest of you are better off in blissful ignorance.

？！

...

You will feel better once you have forgotten. It will provide you with the healing you need to prepare for the upcoming battles.

My creator would never have wanted you to hold on to your grief. She would have wanted you to forget and move on.

So I used the Holy Grail fragment to create three pieces of paper, lured you to them, and had you steal the memories they held.

？！

It was what I had to do to create new memories and have you more easily accept them.

Just giving them to you wouldn't have been enough. I had to create obstacles for you to overcome, to make you work to collect them.

And it would have worked if El-Melloi II hadn't given the game away.

？！

Are you finally realizing how tired you are? It must be hard for you to keep your eyes open by now.

Go ahead, accept these memories. Be free of the grief and suffering that still eat away at you.

If ever there were a time to forget, it's now. No one should have to live with the sin of destroying entire Lostbelts.

Go on, Fujimaru...

？！

Reines! I managed to get through to the other side!

Are you all right!?

So, you used Rhongomyniad to intervene in my expanse. But, I doubt you can do anything more.

As I've already demonstrated, I have greater control over it than you do. Don't worry, I will be kind enough to let you all forget as well.

It's all right. I'll manage all of your memories.

After all, you're Fujimaru's swords.

The kindest thing I can do for you is let you forget, so that you can continue to fight without reservation.

Oh, what a crock! That's not kindness! Not by a damn sight!

...Why do you think that?

Can you hear me, pupil of mine!? You can, right!? I'm just going to keep shouting either way!

You and I have been all around this Patchwork London together! We've both talked to people who have forgotten something important to them!

Every one of them was searching for the memories they had lost! Desperately so, in fact!

You and I both know now how bad it feels to be unable to remember!

Even if you don't know how important the memories you lost were, it still feels terrible to forget them.

Even if it does feel better to lose them, your heart will never let you forget that something is missing.

So you know just as well as I do that forgetting isn't the answer!

That's not for you to decide.

Chaldea has already asked far too much of Fujimaru.

That's why I awakened now: to save him from his grief, and the burden of his mistakes. This is what he needs.

？！

What...!?

Ah... Now I see. You're even more broken than I believed.

You have been so battered that you now believe you ARE your wounds.

But you're mistaken. This is nothing more than a lie your mind has woven to protect itself from the unbearable pain.

But do not worry. I will see you healed, no matter how many years it takes. Mental healthcare is another function I'm designed to provide for Maste

What? A Noble Phantasm striking from the outside!?

That's impossible. Not even a Divine Spirit like Astraea should be able to penetrate this sacred lance's outer shell.

There may be some tiny vulnerable spots as a result of my melding with it, but she would have no way of determining where they are.

The only sort of person who could calculate something like that is...

There! My magical bullet was right on the money...!

I say, those of you caught in my web do seem rather...chatty.

Even I can't help but stick my nose in after hearing so many things I'd just as soon not have!

It's too bad that after I went to the trouble of using my connections to put my Noble Phantasm together, unleashing that much power at this distance was just too much for this Spirit Origin to handle!

Between this and fixing the automaton, I must have ventured a bit too far outside my comfort zone. Oh well, at least I get to hear this song.

Ahh, what a beautiful melody. What a beautiful night. Now this is the way to go!

I could have hoped for no better reward. Godspeed, young mage! Godspeed, young pupil!

Hey! Gray! Pupil! Are you all right!? I'm not sure what just happened, but it looks like you're out!

...

Guess you're not about to let us go just yet.

True, I didn't account for some of these eventualities, but that's exactly why the last part of my plan has to go perfectly.

Otherwise, no one will be saved.

I'm not letting you have Reines or Fujimaru!

Nor am I. Though you certainly didn't make it easy.

Astraea!

It was fortunate that someone else used their Noble Phantasm to break through the outer shell, embarrassing though it was to need help at all.

At any rate, all the relevant parties are here, and we are nice and close to the stars. The court is finally ready to begin proceedings.

What are you going to do!?

Exactly what I must, of course!

I am the court that lies in the stars. I am the sword that passes sentence.

This is the place in which to grant pardon. This is the time in which to mete out justice.

Astraea's second Noble Phantasm...!

Order, return to us! Iam redit et Virgo!

The sky...

The smog that was blocking the night sky is dissipating...!

Senpai!

Ah, there we go. About time you got through to us, young man! I've been waiting to hear from you for so long I'm practically skin and bones!

？！

My second Noble Phantasm puts everything back where it should be. It also restores order and absolves sin.

It even works on Singularities that have been cut off from the outside world.

We lost contact almost immediately after you Rayshifted. There was one moment when we got through again, but we still couldn't get a visual on you.

Ahh, that must have been the first call, when you told us about the Spirit Origin graph. I guess that was the only genuine communication of the bunch.

Yep! We're calling from Novum Chaldea! Though it wasn't easy, let me tell you!

But now, we've been able to monitor your situation for the last few minutes or so.

I also managed to verify your existence from the data we still had in the Shadow Border, Mnemosyne.

You... You're...

I think I might even have some idea why you did all this. Speaking as one genuine Da Vinci creation to another...

...if you'd like to talk about what you've been through, I'd be glad to listen. What do you say?

Stop it!

Not interested, huh. Well, I can't blame you. I did take way too long to get here.

I wish I'd had more time, but there are some things even the greatest genius can't change.

Fujimaru, would you mind taking it from here?

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You got it.

Hey, remember the fairy tale patchwork? I didn't say this back then, but...

...a lot of the time, when the culprit hides in a whydunit, it's because they want to be found.

The reason culprits in whydunits sometimes wear masks is even simpler. They want to talk to you, but they don't want you to know what they look like.

As for the steampunk patchwork, the Steam King said it himself.

For that place to exist at all, you have to turn a blind eye to its contradictions. It's a dream you know to be impossible, and that alone makes you wonder if you haven't forgotten something.

The why in our little story here is the culprit's desire to forget what they know to be true.

...What's your point?

There's no point. Honestly, I don't even care why you did this anymore.

But it did get me thinking that this Singularity, and the events that took place in it, might just have been influenced by your own state of mind.

Maybe these cases revolving around forgetfulness we've been privy to all happened because you want to forget more than anything.

Well now, it would seem you've handled the detective work for this case rather nicely.

No way... Sherlock Holmes!?

Wow, you even have the king of all detectives on your side, Chaldea? Well, now don't I feel a fool for playing detective.

Please don't. This has all been quite fascinating. As El-Melloi II said, perhaps this is the approach to take when dissecting Mystics.

You should be proud of what you've accomplished. Now that you've solved the mystery, all that remains is the final confrontation with the culprit!

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but the fact is, I'm still not a detective.

I'm a mage, and not a very nice one at that. I'm going to need help from my genuinely good pupil if I'm going to do anything decent.

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...Thank you, pupil.

Ah, dammit, I finally managed to say it.

Confirmed. Synergy between the sacred lance and Mnemosyne has decreased, most likely as the result of Astraea's second Noble Phantasm.

I guess she's having trouble keeping the fake Rhongomyniad reinforced now that this Singularity isn't quite so closed off.

All right, pupil, this is it! I trust you're ready too, Gray!

I am. I would be honored to help you finish this! Let's begin the final battle in Patchwork London!

The memories I collected... They're all spilling out...

The fake Rhongomyniad is falling apart. Must be because it's so closely tied to Mnemosyne.

We have to get out of here!

Sorry guys, but do you think you could just give me a minute?

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Hey, Mnemosyne? I know my prior self was perfect and all, but there's one thing she forgot to tell you.

What's that...?

Right up to her very last moment... her second life was absolutely perfect.

I know you said you had to use her loss properly, but the thing is, you really don't.

SheI, never regretted anything, not for a single second. That's why Fujimaru is here right now.

...

That said...

...I know you're still mourning Leonardo da Vinci. So on her behalf, let me say...thank you.

...

You don't have to thank me.

That's why systems like me exist.

Da Vinci named me Mnemosyne for a reason. My job is to observe, and remember.

That goes for joy, grief, and everything in between...

We need to get out of here! Come on, you two, hurry!

We'll be right there!

...

The fake Rhongomyniad is falling apart...and the automata on the ground have all stopped moving.

Wait! You're starting to disappear too!

Yes, because the fake Rhongomyniad has been destroyed, along with the Bounded Field that was preventing Chaldea from contacting you.

Now, everything is being returned to where it belongs. There can be no better result of my judgment.

Fujimaru, as one who stands above all others, I am ashamed of how ignorant I have been.

You may be a far cry from a distinguished hero, but it was that mediocrity of yours that ultimately saved the day.

For it was your sheer, unremarkable ordinariness that let you empathize with Mnemosyne's plight, thus bringing this case to a close.

？！

Of course I'm praising you. I couldn't be happier that you were the Master that came to this Singularity.

I'm proud that I was able to wield my sword and scales by your side.

If our paths should ever cross again, I hope you'll remember that.

In fact, in one sense, even compared to my scales, you're

Hey, think you can let me get a word in too, before my pupil disappears for good!?

Yes, of course. I'll pick this up some other time, assuming a new version of me ever gets the chance.

After all, it's good to leave your company wanting more, right?

I hate that we have to cut this short too, so I figure it's only right that you feel the same way.

...

I see. As long as you form a connection, even someone like me can be summoned to Chaldea, huh.

I'm okay with that. Maybe I'll end up there, maybe I won't, but at this point, I'm good either way.

Whether it's a new version of me that shows up there or not, you're gonna be my pupil for life.

You know, my brother used to say in his lectures that some cultures consider relationships like that to be fully-fledged bonds, right?

So this isn't goodbye! I'm sure I'll see you again someday!

Take care, my very first pupil!

Ahh... It's so quiet now...

Now that it's lost the Holy Grail's magical energy...it won't be long before this Singularity is repaired...

Then, my observations will be cut off...and I'll finally be able...to stop watching...

Although...it's a lot darker here than I expected...

And...it's also a lot quieter... I wonder if...this is how everyone else is living, too...

In total darkness...all by themselves...

Is... Is that...

...

...Thank you, Mnemosyne. You did great.

Ah...!

Ah... Ah...! It's you... It's really you...