047 - Eternal Madness Empire
Mashu Kyrielight
As she sits beside Senpai in Meeting Room Twelve, attentively listening to Olga's words, Mashu can't help but feel impressed by everyone's hard work all over again. It's barely been a week since they returned from the France Singularity and Chaldea is already about to launch a new expedition.
They're going to leave before she even has a chance to have that talk with Senpai about her feelings, but maybe that's for the best. She's noticed she always feels a bit braver, a bit more confident, when they are on an expedition rather than back at Chaldea. Maybe because many of her memories from this place aren't actually very nice. Maybe because it's only in the Singularities that she feels actually useful.
She doesn't really understand the intricacies involved in locating, stabilizing and securing access to a Singularity beyond some grumbled out complaints from the technicians in charge, occasionally overheard at the Cafeteria. Same thing about the technical and logistic challenges involved in getting the Exploration Team ready for deployment again. She can't really make an accurate judgement, but she can tell getting everything ready so quickly is an incredible feat all the same.
Everyone is working so hard! They may groan and moan about their jobs from time to time, but they're all doing their best to restore Proper Human History all the same!
Meanwhile, Mashu can barely do anything productive with her own time. Sure, Doctor Roman had explained why the Exploration Team was on light duty while at Chaldea, since their true worth was shown during the Singularities. And sure, it made sense that their main priority was to rest and relax while they had the chance so they were ready to brave the next deployment in perfect condition. And…
Maybe she's just overthinking it? She does that a lot too.
It's not like she's not allowed to use the simulator for practice, and there's actually very little she could realistically do to help around with her skillset. Maybe she could help with logistics? It doesn't take technical skills to help moving boxes around or something and she's confident in her Demi-Servant strength, surely she can at least do that.
"To summarize, the tentatively named Septem Singularity takes place in the year 0060 A.D. and is clearly centered around the Roman Empire." Olga's sudden shift in tone draws Mashu's full attention back to the strategic meeting. "It's one of the more extensive ones, estimated to cover the entirety of the Empire's territory at the time, plus a rather generous portion of the surrounding lands. Depending on the circumstances, navigating it might be a challenge all on its own."
Mashu tilts her head at that, trying and failing to wrap her head around the distances involved. For an indoors girl like her who had never seen the blue sky until very recently, France was already huge and the Roman Empire is supposed to be an order of magnitude bigger.
"The Empire should be experiencing its first years under the rule of Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Fifth Roman Emperor. This was supposed to be a period of peace and prosperity for the Empire." Olga continues. "Of course, we already know things don't work like that in a Singularity, so be prepared for our intel to be lacking in some crucial aspect, possibly in the most inconvenient of ways."
Right, Singularity F had hosted an unrecorded Holy Grail War that somehow ended up causing the end of the world. Meanwhile, the Orleans Singularity had included the death of their king and an army of dragons burning down the entire realm. There's no telling what historical inaccuracy would be at play here. Maybe they're being invaded by an Aztec armada, or maybe an Ice Age came about unscheduled, there's simply too many possibilities to make an educated guess.
"We have at least verified the presence of a Holy Grail, alongside a frankly worrisome number of Servant Signatures." Olga rests both hands on the table, leaning forward to send them all a serious look. "Far too many for them all to be Rogues, so enemy action is almost guaranteed. Worst case scenario would be for them all to be hostile Servants under enemy control. I don't need to explain why we must be prepared for the worst case."
Yes, Mashu remembers when that part came up the first time, since it involves her directly. After all, Senpai will be rather vulnerable if she can't contract local Servants. It doesn't matter how strong she is, she can't fight off the small army of Servants they expect to find in the Singularity on her own. As Senpai's Servant, specially as a Shielder Class, the responsibility for keeping Senpai safe until she inevitably figures out some master plan to save the day will fall squarely on Mashu's feet.
She's… not sure she'll be up to the task.
"One last thing. After carefully reviewing the Exploration Team performance during the last two sorties, I have decided my skills would be better leveraged by accompanying them into the field." She concludes, straightening up and crossing her arms. "With that in mind, I'll be joining Fujimaru and Kyrielight in this shortie."
… Oh.
That's… Unexpected.
Honestly, Mashu isn't sure she should feel reassured or terrified. On the one hand, Olga is reliable and trustworthy. On the other hand, that's another dear person whose safety Mashu will be responsible for.
"Whooo, the Lady Director will be coming?" Senpai cheers, refreshingly unburdened by anything resembling Mashu's dilemma. "Now we have nothing to fear!"
"Yes, well… I also– No, wait!" Olga, who had started blushing and playing with her hair with a pleased smile on her lips, quickly snaps back to attention, schooling her expression into a frown. "Flattery won't get you anything, Fujimaru! Be warned that none of your usual reckless tomfoolery will be tolerated while I'm around! I have my eyes on you!"
"Lucky me, to hold all the attention of such a beautiful lady!" Haku-senpai replies without missing a beat, not looking bothered in the slightest. "I'll have to make sure I look my best!"
"I don't want you doing your best, I want you doing your job!"
"But I can't impress you if I'm just doing my job!"
"Yes, yes you can! In fact, please just do your job, Fujimaru!"
Mashu can only turn her head as if she was watching a tennis match, alternating between the two of them to follow the conversation with a smile on her face. Ah, it's good that the two of them are getting along so well!
Mashu Kyrielight
Even a phenomenon as disorienting as the whirlwind of lights and vertigo that accompanies the Rayshifting process seems to become better with familiarity. Being the third time she dives into a Singularity -and the fifth time she experienced a Rayshift in either direction- the transition is practically seamless, Mashu barely taking a moment to collect herself and take stock of her surroundings.
Right in time to catch Olga as she's about to fall on her face. Right, between her rather… exceptional circumstances of her presence in Fuyuki and her staying behind during their second expedition, this is actually the first time her friend experiences a proper Rayshift.
"Are you alright, Lady Director?"
"I'll survive." Olga grumbles, looking a bit pale and not making any real attempt at pulling away from Mashu's steadying arm. "Do we have a line to Chaldea?"
"It's very unstable at the moment." Mashu replies after checking her comms. "But we should be capable of sending audio, at least."
"Send them a basic sitrep and let's be done with it." Olga nods distractedly while she tentatively releases Mashu's arm to take a couple unsteady steps. "Time's ticking and they won't be of much help until the connection is ready for stable two-way communications."
So that's what she does, there really isn't much to report beyond the fact they've arrived without any expected complications and the presence of the same mysterious white ring on the sky that they had already observed in France. Maybe that's just a strange quirk of the Singularities? Fuyuki lacked the clear skies to observe the phenomenon, so there's no telling one way or another.
Finally, after a couple minutes, Olga seems to recover enough of her usual energy and no-nonsense attitude to take the lead again.
"Right, that was distinctly unpleasant, but now we should…" She trails off, peering behind Mashu's shoulder with a confused expression. "Fujimaru? What are you doing?"
Mashu immediately turns around to follow Olga's gaze, finding that Haku-senpai has somehow walked away without her noticing and is now crouched on top of the grassy hill they're standing on to peer at whatever lies beyond it.
"Scouting out the place." Senpai's answer is nonchalant, amused even. Somehow, it only serves to make Mashu worry more. "We seem to have chosen a poor landing location, we have company. Twice over."
As she and Olga hurry to join Fujimaru, the meaning of her words soon becomes apparent. They would need to be blind to miss the two contingents of roman soldiers, one clad in red and the other in purple, clashing on the plains beyond their position.
The armies are currently busy with each other, but their lines aren't stationary and the front is rapidly widening as more and more soldiers reach the frontlines. It doesn't take a military genius to realize the obvious implications…
"Ah, they're going to spill into our position sooner rather than later." Mashu voices her observations. "Shall we attempt to get away before they notice us?"
"No, they'll notice our presence the moment we abandon cover. Stealth is not really an option." Olga immediately shoots the proposal down, eyes narrowed in concentration. "We'll try diplomacy first, but if they prove to be hostile, we'll have no choice but to fight our way out of here. I can provide covering fire while Mashu holds the front. Meanwhile, Fujimaru…"
"Actually…" Senpai interrupts with a considering hum. "Why don't we just let Mashu take care of it if things get violent?"
"I… What?" Olga blinks in confusion, seemingly having trouble processing the proposal. "Have you finally gone totally crazy, Fujimaru?"
To be fair, Mashu herself isn't doing any better. "Um, I'm not sure that's a good…"
"Chillax, I'll be right behind you in case anything goes wrong. But watching you styling all over Gilles back in Orleans made me realize how much my cute Kouhai has grown up since Fuyuki." Senpai drawls out lazily, walking up to Mashu to wrap an arm around her shoulders. "As your Master, it's my duty to give you the opportunities you need to grow and improve. I believe this is one such chance. I believe in you, Mashu."
"Ah… I'll try my best?" Mashu manages to mumble out, feeling like her cheeks are on fire. Too close, too warm, too praise! Unsure of how to react and worried her brain might spontaneously combust at any time, she turns towards her friend for help. "As long as the Lady Director approves?"
"Can you go back to being nonsensically reckless, Fujimaru?" Olga complains unhelpfully. "I hate it when you use actual sensible arguments to back your crazy."
"Is that a yes?"
"It's a yes. Assuming things turn violent. Don't make me regret it."
Olga Marie Animusphere
Things did, of course, turn violent.
60 A.D. is literally an ancient time, back when heroes still walked the world and the gradual erosion of mystery had yet to lead to humanity's degradation into the rather pitiful state of the modern days. That is to say, even a lowly legionary is many times stronger than your average current-day person.
And yet, Mashu alone managed to break two small armies on her lonesome, a third faction butting into their conflict and forcing them to beat a hasty retreat. It's kind of funny, she can't help but muse, how easy it is to forget Mashu's true strength. A slip of a girl, always so shy and quiet. A shrinking violet of rare smiles and her head in the clouds. Actually, that's a lie, Mashu smiles quite a lot nowadays, but that's not the point.
The point is that Servants are scary.
Or maybe not, Olga already knew that.
Maybe the point is how much Mashu has grown.
Even after her Demi-Servant awakening, Mashu had always remained a somewhat lackluster combatant. Barring some exceptional performances here and there that Olga once attributed to some form of fluke, or maybe an occasional active intervention from the Servant sleeping within. But that's not the truth, isn't it? Mashu was always capable of that much, she was simply too shy, too hesitant, to truly give it her all in combat.
Except, of course, in a few exceptional circumstances where everything depended on her and/or she was the last line of defense. Back when Assassin of Black snuck past the Red Faction and nearly took Olga's life. Back when she and Fujimaru dived headfirst into a Gilles' trap and there was nobody else to rely on.
And now… In a random conflict with low stakes, after just a few words of encouragement and a pat on the back. In a way, this skirmish is of great importance for Mashu, a life-changing milestone, even. The realization that she's stronger than she ever thought possible, that she can stand beside both heroes of legend and her intimidatingly competent Senpai without dragging anyone down.
It's a bittersweet feeling that's coiling around Olga's gut at this moment, a strange cocktail of pride and envy that she's not sure she enjoys. A feeling she's been growing used to experiencing, as of late.
(She's quite the horrible friend.)
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