Chapter 451: NO.34: Those on Leave Cannot Rest

NO. 34: Those on Leave Cannot Rest

In the distant past, there existed an era akin to a dreamlike kingdom.

The dragons of picture books, the heavenly horses of myth, whales freely soaring through the sky, and countless creatures hard to see in reality were merely common sights of that era.

And here, this is Wonderworld! (Wonderworld) (crossed out).

I mean, IheWorld (the Inner Side).

Located in the database of the institution belonging to the Clock Tower's Celestial Science Department and Chaldea.

Constructed together with the Phenomenon-Recording Computer Familiar Laplace and the Simulated Earth Environment Model Chaldea Atlas.

Initially built to ensure the smooth progress of the homeland world's 'Human Order Safeguard' work.

But in this world, Chaldea, this Human Order Safeguard agency, is largely unemployed.

Theoretically, after contacting the local Clock Tower, they should apply through the Federation to summon the Heavenly Gate, locate their homeland, and send everyone back.

Yet the main staff all unanimously chose to stay.

It's hard to say this is because the homeland's Human Order salvation work has already stabilized.

After all, various rumors indicate that Chaldea is not accepted by the homeland's Human Order.

After all, look at the personnel registry of the Two Worlds Safety Bureau: how many spirits possess the conceptualized living-spirit emotion-reversing power—namely the so-called Beast.

In the homeworld where this organization resides, merely recruiting one of these beings inevitably draws suspicion about your original intention to save Human Order.

And Chaldea appears poised to launch a campaign against 'Human Evil': accepting those who can be gently accommodated, beating into submission those who cannot, and when coexistence is truly impossible…

After being shattered, they are accepted into a luxurious network data simulation.

Rounded up, it's still a successful collection!

How can such a Chaldea possibly convince everyone?

As fellow members of the Clock Tower organization, other departmental mages' gazes toward Chaldea's members are always complex and subtle.

Regardless of whether it's a world line, one can acknowledge its achievement in saving the world, yet also fear its power, and furthermore feel that Chaldea's Masters have something off here (tapping head).

Of course, this isn't important either.

After all, Chaldea itself doesn't overly care about headquarters' personnel's gazes; they only feel that after several relocations, this world truly offers the best environment.

Even their notion of wielding power matches this: to let human history endure long and strong, Chaldea does not distinguish between magecraft and science.

As long as something can be put to use, they will employ it, gathering researchers from all fields—

Such inclusivity is rarely seen even throughout the Clock Tower.

But in this world, its policy is undoubtedly mainstream.

Source Energy and technology developing in parallel have always been the policy promoted by the Holy Terra Federation; their excellent results even allow Chaldea's technology to further advance and learn.

By combining the reset Phenomenon-Recording Computer Familiar Laplace and the Simulated Earth Environment Model Chaldea Atlas, using the data stored in its own database, they fabricate a super-large electronic world akin to Mooncell.

In this world, not only can it store the dangerous 'Human Evil' data, but it can further simulate and reconstruct the inner side of the homeland world—namely, the aspect of the Age of Gods.

An era in which countless phantasmal species and even gods still exist is preserved as data life, granted a complete lifetime.

Undoubtedly, this project bears epoch-making significance.

Without needing to conduct Human Order proof at present, reconstructing a data-fied world's inner side not only greatly facilitates Chaldea's research, but also opens up project development for mages of the entire Fate/Grand Order system.

Thus, a large number of visit requests are sent to Chaldea's processing terminal each month.

Furthermore, countless mages from other departments of the Clock Tower visit, attempting to obtain permission.

In the Fate/Grand Order world, the Clock Tower's mage populace is filled with technophobes, whereas in this world, the Clock Tower's mage populace sees a surge in internet addicts.

Each one wishes they could become electronic life and dwell in Chaldea's servers.

Simply by building and maintaining this 'Fate/Grand Order Inner Side Super Server,' Chaldea gains a win-win situation of fame and profit, and this elevates the Celestial Science Department within the Clock Tower factions to near parity with the Law and Politics Department.

Thus, despite Ms. Morgan's criminal suspicion remaining unsolved to this day, as a Chaldea employee she still causes the Law and Politics Department's agents to hesitate.

"So I really can't figure out why, when I was in the United Kingdom, someone would dare to lay a hand on you."

"It's the Swan Brave District."

"Ah, right, the Swan Brave District… my mindset hasn't switched over yet……

In the data-constructed inner world, the sky is bright and clear, a gentle breeze sweeps the slope, and amid this natural scene untouched by artificial objects, a youth in black formal attire smiles somewhat awkwardly.

By his side, that attire is even more striking, or could be called the dignified Winter Queen, who also shows a faint smile.

"It's fine; you'll be staying here for a long time, plenty of time to adapt."

"That's what they say, but it's actually just two months, right?" The youth chuckles, "In two months I'll switch shifts with Tachibana again—she'll return here, and I'll continue handling that Singularity."

Saying that, he gazes at the few flying dragons and strange birds passing in the distance, then turns to the gentle Queen and asks, "Did anything major happen during Tachibana's two months in charge? I'd like to prepare some homework in advance."

"Have you become this diligent?"

"Truly admirable diligence—Tachibana just can't manage that."

"When she returns in two months, she'll be just like me—the tension of the Singularity is what can turn a person into this…"

Having not yet reached this world, merely communicating in advance through this electronic world's excellence, Fujimaru Ritsuka laughs helplessly.

"Then there will be some things you can't adapt to here… Speaking of which, why don't you call her your wife?"

Thinking of all the places where one might fail to adapt, the most obvious is the change in familiar people.

"If she were here, she'd feel embarrassed."

"Ah… indeed," Ritsuka laughs after imagining that scene, "the courage to speak boldly on the battlefield doesn't necessarily overcome the shame felt in peaceful years when looking at strangers."

"…"

"What's wrong?"

"Compared to the report on the screen, I'm more surprised by your change," he said, withdrawing his assessing gaze; the King of the Fairy Kingdom made a simple judgment: "You seem to have grown up a lot."

"Spending a week here will turn you back~ Although I did indeed spend a year there and grew a year older," the youth looks back on his past encounters, forcing a smile, "You never know what you'll encounter in a Singularity—maybe Tachibana two months from now will show a state as if from another world."

"The psychological control methods in this world are quite good." Mo Gen suddenly said.

"It's not that serious, just one week, just one week!" To the youth who was a bit flustered by those methods, he hastily raised his index finger.

"I think I can adjust my condition back within a week; although it feels like a year, it's actually just two months. Quite a few people have experienced such ups and downs in two months, so there's no need to be so serious."

"Saying that… there actually seems to be such a person, with a twisted and strange résumé."

"Huh?"

I didn't expect my offhand comment to hit anyone—Fujimaru Ritsuka was just a bit surprised when a strange tearing-through-the-air sound suddenly rang out; as he turned back, magical energy flowed over his attire and a crystallized long sword appeared from a card.

At the same time, Morgan also summoned his staff.

A barrier was bulged into a faint arc by the gale, and the two people behind it gazed together at the true form of the flock of birds startled from the woods.

That was a warplane with a strong mechanical feel.

While hovering in midair, its muzzle fired a beam that shot down another disc-shaped flying craft.

The latter crashed into a distant forest, and in the next second after the massive explosion and shockwave, a silver giant claw sheathed in deep‑red metal shot out from the smoke.

Its speed and strength were such that it pierced the warplane in an instant!

Shattered metal flew sideways, resembling toy parts, and the warplane flung to the ground emitted a cry resembling a human voice.

It directly dug up the ground.

All this happened in just a few dozen seconds; the two people on the slope, who hadn't expected this, were even more at a loss, and Fujimaru Ritsuka, puzzled, asked Morgan beside him:

"Which Greek god is that?"

In his impression, such strange mechanical life is usually a Greek machine god.

"No……"

Morgan raised his hand, traced a point in midair, and summoned a light screen, on which an all‑server announcement appeared in the alarm's distinctive dark‑red font:

【Detected a breach in the spirit particle fictional world; Alterego is conducting emergency repairs—please stay alert and keep away from any abnormal phenomena or beings, and use the feedback function to report】—3 minutes ago.

【Confirmed that the IheWorld server has been invaded, with mixed remnants of Digital Monsters and spirit particle hackers—please stay calm and don't panic】—2 minutes ago.

【According to an informant's report, sightings of a possible clash between a spaceship, Digital Monsters, and a warplane have been made; combat power assessed at Level 60, users below this rating should take care to avoid, and Chaldea Atlas Institute will activate the repatriation function in three minutes】—1 minute ago.

He lowered his hand, and Morgan looked again at the distant blaze, its smoke stretching hundreds of meters.

"Perhaps they are fleeing soldiers and pursuers who, panicked from being hunted, have nowhere to go."

"Could there be pursuers weaker than the fleeing soldiers?"

Gazing at the huge shadow slowly fading in the smoke, then at the massive warplane lying wrecked and motionless on the ground, Fujimaru Ritsuka recalled several of the space servants.

"But they definitely escaped, right?" Morgan gazed at the fire scene in the smoke, now completely without any visible outline.

He raised his hand to upload a photo; feedback through the internal staff channel is always faster than for other users.

Immediately, customer service responded:

【Keep Master safe, we're coming right away!】

This tone is undoubtedly that of a human customer service agent.

"Do I have to run into this kind of thing as soon as I arrive? I'm clearly on shift change and off."

Having edged up beside Morgan, using his slight height advantage to check the light screen's content, Fujimaru Ritsuka was somewhat speechless.

"Such things aren't common either; I don't think that UFO flew in by mistake…" Morgan said, catching sight of the youth's conflicted and repulsed expression, yet still managing a teasing smile.

"No matter what, with so many servants helping here, you'll definitely have it easier."

"Is that supposed to be comforting? Digital Monsters, UFOs… does the world of those Digital Monsters even have such UFOs?"

"As for this question…" Morgan raised his staff, pointing toward the distant warplane that faintly swayed in his vision.

"We should be able to ask that thing."