-928- Existence of relative nature

Chaldea, Central Control Room.

"Hiss!"

With a sound effect resembling the release of a large amount of gas, the doors of the two "pods" placed in the center of the control room were opened.

Rozen and Mash walked out of their respective pods. One was draped in a pitch-black coat, while the other had transformed back into Chaldea's staff uniform, resembling more someone participating in an experiment rather than someone returning from battling formidable enemies in a distant past.

Despite the mismatched appearances, both Rozen and Mash, upon returning to Chaldea, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"We're finally back."

Rozen muttered.

"You've worked hard, Senpai."

Mash showed a smiling face, offering her comfort.

Then...

"Fou!"

With a cheerful cry from Mash's pod, the small white creature leaped out and hopped onto Mash's shoulder.

Who else could it be but Fou?

Mash was both surprised and delighted at the sight.

"Great, Fou is back safe and sound too."

"Fou! Fou!"

In response to Mash's pleasantly surprised expression, Fou nuzzled her cheek.

If it weren't for this little creature popping out, everyone would have almost forgotten that it had also accompanied them to the singularity.

During battles, Fou would often cleverly find a place to hide.

Although it moved with the group, it never actively made its presence known, only appearing after the battle concluded.

Hence, there were often occurrences where it disappeared during a fight and inexplicably reappeared after it was over, truly a mysterious phenomenon.

Now, this little creature silently returned to Chaldea with the group, making Rozen and Mash remember its existence and breathe another sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, Fou clung tightly to Mash's side, emitting an intimidating aura. It growled with gritted teeth, not at Rozen, but at someone next to him.

No, to be more accurate, it was directed at a particular person beside Rozen.

Altera had appeared next to Rozen at some point, silently entering Chaldea.

She observed everything in the control room, including the simulation of Earth's soul, known as "Chaldeas," with ruby-like eyes displaying indescribable emotions.

"Is this Chaldea?"

Altera gazed at everything here, her voice cold and powerful.

"The guardians of Human Order, the astronomical observatory of human history, a facility combining magic and science, a new civilization independent of the timeline. So, this is how it is?"

Hearing Altera's words, not to mention Rozen, even Mash felt a bit uneasy.

After all, Altera identified herself as the invader and destroyer of civilizations. Hearing her evaluation of Chaldea's civilization wasn't something to be happy about, giving an impression that it wouldn't be surprising for her to unleash destruction and invasion at any time.

"Fou...! Fou...!"

Fou continued to intimidate Attila, making indescribable noises from its throat, as if facing a formidable enemy.

This phenomenon, along with the fact that all the divine spirits guarding Rozen had revealed their true forms, put Altera on guard.

"Caw!"

Rozen's coat suddenly flipped, and a three-legged crow appeared in front of him, making hostile calls towards Attila.

"Chirp!"

Even the carefully recovered exquisite ring transformed into the appearance of a snow-white rabbit in a flash of light, landing on Rozen's shoulder and glaring at Attila with a determined gaze.

"Kinu? Gyokuto?"

Seeing the unexpected hostility from Kinu and Gyokuto, Mash looked a bit bewildered.

Unfortunately, Mash, although aware of the existence of Kinu and Gyokuto, did not know that they were divine spirits. Otherwise, it would have shocked the entire Chaldea.

So, Mash also didn't know that for beings like Kinu and Gyokuto, natural incarnations representing a part of the world, it was normal to be treated with hostility and caution by Attila, who was considered an enemy of the world.

On the contrary, Fou, the little creature, had previously shown an unexpectedly harmonious attitude with Kinu and Gyokuto. Now, it was on guard against Altera, just like Kinu and Gyokuto. Could it be that Fou was also a divine spirit or some kind of nature spirit?

Rozen always felt that he might have glimpsed a bit of Fou's secret.

On the other hand, Altera frowned at Kinu, Gyokuto, and Fou.

"You have the scent of ancient civilizations. It seems you are not ordinary life forms. I see, you are beings opposed to my nature."

Altera clenched her hand, and a three-colored energy sword appeared.

"...!"

Kinu, Gyokuto, and Fou tensed up, their eyes showing even more hostility.

"Sen...Senpai!"

Seeing an inexplicable tension and potential conflict brewing between Altera, Kinu, Gyokuto, and Fou, Mash looked at Rozen.

"Alright." Rozen had no intention of letting this continue. He directly spoke, "Stop it, all of you. This is Chaldea. It can't withstand your powers. If you fight here, both Chaldea and Human Order will be in jeopardy."

Saying this, Rozen snapped his fingers.

"Ugh..."

The three-colored energy sword in Attila's hand disappeared involuntarily.

"————"

The power emanating from Kinu, Gyokuto, and Fou also seemed to be sucked away, disappearing entirely.

As Rozen's absolute contract familiars, these two divine spirits and one creature couldn't resist Rozen at all. If Rozen wanted, he could make them exert no power and turn them into ordinary girls and animals.

Rozen believed that if others were to witness this scene, they would feel much more at ease. At least, it proved that Rozen indeed had the ability to completely control both the giant gods and divine spirits, ensuring they wouldn't go berserk.

Therefore...

"Now that we've seen this, we can be at ease as well."

With these words, three figures entered the control room together.

Naturally, it was Olga Marie, Roman, and Da Vinci.

Da Vinci was the one who spoke.

"Oh my, you've all worked hard." Da Vinci spoke in a carefree and relieved manner, "When Solomon appeared, I thought something might happen. I didn't expect that you could force him away and return safely. That's really great."

"Da Vinci-san." Mash turned her head and looked at her.

Naturally, Rozen did the same, observing the behavior of the three people who entered.

Da Vinci, of course, continued her usual laid-back and nonchalant pace, seemingly without any tension, making people laugh and cry.

On the other hand, Olga Marie and Roman behaved differently from usual.

Olga Marie was flying in the air, although in the form of an owl, her expression showed great heaviness.

Roman, on the other hand, had an unusually silent and reserved attitude, seemingly undergoing a lot of turmoil internally. At the same time, he glanced in Altera's direction, and his eyes revealed a somewhat solemn emotion.