Chapter 108: Resolving Things

Everything has been chaotic for Chaldea lately.

First, the initiation of their Human Order Preservation was a huge failure. Due to a traitor, Lev Lainur, forty-seven Masters died on their way to the first Singularity. They were entrapped in their crystal coffins when a huge explosion occurred in Chaldea's command center, thus killing them all.

The only one who was left was a Master chosen from the civilian side.

Second, their reliances, SHEBA, are always malfunctioning at some point in time. It caused them to suddenly face beings far beyond their power. Nevertheless, they got through it.

Lastly, they had to travel into another singularity with only eight hours of rest. They couldn't even have much rest from the North American Singularity when they went into the Sixth Singularity. Worse, they couldn't even know much about it due to several factors disrupting SHEBA, causing them to rank the said singularity at EX.

Simply put, many unknown things could happen—far beyond their journey on the previous singularities.

"A satellite… No, it's not just it. There's a cruiser here as well?! What's going on..?!"

Romani couldn't believe it.

"Was this the foreign thing? But it's fully operational… Is someone using it..?"

Although he was caught off guard, he still properly explained everything to the crew inside the singularity.

"Perhaps it is… What do you think we should do?"

"Hm… It's best to gather more information first. Maybe we'll know more about that space battleship after some time."

*****

"..."

I see.

Despite the miracle used on the construction of my mobile base, Altair, it couldn't fully hide from Chaldea's insane specifications. They have SHEBA and CHALDEAS as their mainframes. They also have Tri-mesgistus, a lowered version of the Tri-Hermes found in the Atlas Institute.

I was only able to earn three miracles throughout these three years. I guess I need to use several more miracles to make it more concrete at least.

That'd come after this entire fiasco ends. I also want to go home at this point.

{What countermeasures should we enact, goshujin-sama?}

"None. But try to establish a communication line with them. That will be difficult but try it nevertheless."

{Understood.}

Just as I was about to return to everyone, Miku noticed another announcement in the earpiece.

{A new fluctuation reading was done. Providing visual clearance…}

I closed one of my eyes. There, I was able to see Miku's perspective from the computer. The satellite image slowly zoomed in until it clearly shot the new "Servant"... no, wait.

"It's about time."

When I reached to everyone's positions, I spoke:

"Bedivere has been found. He's not that far from here."

"Really..?! Then, we can—!"

"Yes." I nodded at Gareth's words. "We could settle this entire fiasco."

Lancelot… my father looked confused at my words. It grew stronger when everyone expressed the same thought as Gareth.

"Wait, what will happen? What about Bedivere? I recall our King couldn't remember him at all."

"It's very simple, father." I replied calmly. "Bedivere holds the Airgetlam in Celtic mythology. But, it is in fact a disguise. What he holds is none other than our King's sword that he failed to return to the lake—"

"—Excalibur."

*****

Sir Bedivere.

He was the sole knight who was there during King Arthur's final moments. In the Arthurian Legends, he was known as the knight who didn't return Excalibur to the lake. Only when he was scolded during the third time did he do so, and upon his return, his King was no longer there.

It was told that with Merlin, the wise man, he set up a place to commemorate his King—as well as his return.

Thus, the moniker "once and future King of England" had sprouted in history.

In Galahad's world, there are many similarities that happened, although it was mixed with the mystical.

Excalibur, the "Sword of Promised Victory", possessed many abilities born out of the Heart of the World. Its sheath, Avalon, has the power to make Artoria Pendragon immortal. She didn't age once she became fifteen due to it.

Hence, when Bedivere failed to return Excalibur to the lake, she became immortal. She turned into a wandering ghost who couldn't die. She did age, however, due to the weakened influence of Avalon once Bedivere "disappeared" in this world.

When she gained the Divine Lance Rhongomyniad, her humanity was erased, turning her into the Goddess Rhongomyniad that this Singularity faces.

"I need to… kill my King..?"

Bedivere's last memory was Merlin's voice. He didn't know how long had passed since his failure, but he knew he had returned for a reason.

Merlin's voice contained the 'prophecies' that could happen if he fails this time.

"No… There's still a chance to avoid it. A fateful helper…"

He was focused on his journey when he saw a black projectile coming close at him.

Sou-!

Swoosh-!

It didn't take long before it crashed several meters away from him.

Bam-!

"Cough…"

A cloud of sand flew as it absorbed the projectile's direct impact. In its midst, Bedivere saw a faint silhouette of a person.

Snap-!

In an instant, the dust cloud cleared up. It also revealed the person behind that silhouette.

"...Sir Galahad?"

"It's been a long time, Sir Bedivere."

The one who greeted him is Nobu. He rushed as fast as he could the moment they discovered Bedivere on the satellite's feed.

"You have also been summoned by the grail?"

"Quite."

"I see. Your outfit… No, wait… How did you fly here?"

Bedivere was quick on the uptake. The Galahad that they know doesn't know how to fly.

"Does being a Caster explain everything?"

"Ah..? A caster? Since when..?"

While he was confused, Nobu approached him.

"I'll explain everything later. For now, everyone is already present up there."

A split second later, Bedivere saw a complex magic circle appearing underneath them.

"Sir Galahad? Where—?"

His words were halted as a strong suction force dragged them through space. Once he opened his eyes, he found out they were out of the desert. Instead, a modern command center greeted his sight.

The moment he stepped foot inside the huge airship, the relevant knowledge to pilot it entered his mind. Even though Bedivere isn't a Heroic Spirit, the grail still gave him the skills of one.

After all, he exists on the border of life and death. With a gust of wind, he could turn to ashes at any given point in time.

"This airship… You built all this, Sir Galahad?"

"Think of it as a perk after arriving three years earlier than you."

For a moment, Bedivere felt embarrassed. He knew Nobu must've worked hard in order to build this ship. Moreover, he has a feeling that he is also heading towards the same goal as his.

"Well, there's a reason for all this. You are aware of our King, no?"

"Yes."

At this moment, Bedivere's look changed into a serious one.

"In fact, I know your mission is to deliver Excalibur to our King."

"..?!"

"What I aim is to restore her humanity. It could still be done. I already saw it happen once."

When Bedivere's pupils met Nobu's he saw the 'stars' hidden deep within it. It felt the same as the previous Galahad whom they viewed as one of the greatest knights.

"Sir Merlin said something to me… Was it Sir Galahad?"

"...Merlin?"

"Yes. He mentioned a helper bringing me closer to my goals."

"...I see."

Nobu had another gauge on Merlin's strength.

'He also has clairvoyance…'

Beside Solomon, there is another possessor of Clairvoyance. Inwardly, he sighed at the huge amount of abnormalities in this world. The prophecies of Cassandra and Atropos are already insane enough, what more of the Clairvoyance holders who could see through time at will.

'...Wait a moment. Solomon and Merlin… They have something in common.'

Their class.

By looking at it from another angle, both of the Clairvoyance holders are casters, the equivalent of magicians in his world.

'If casters didn't have it… then only the special people have it. The only specialty for now is… the grand position.'

Nobu recalled the information regarding Grand Servants. It was stated in Tri-Hermes that they stand at the peak of their class. They are responsible for safeguarding humanity against strong threats.

'If there's only one grand position… then candidates?'

If others knew about his thoughts, they would be surprised to find out he had deduced the 'main criterion' for the grand position.

'Merlin is strange… and strong.'

For once, Nobu wanted to meet the man who 'shunned' him.

"Hm… It isn't that hard to ride. I could already pilot this one, Galahad!"

Nobu and Bedivere looked at the girl who sat in one of the control seats. She handled Altair's controls extremely well, making Nobu realize how busted her [Rider] skill was. It worked similar to the skills that he gained on Gekai, but it is more of a manifestation of her previous legends than a 'level up system'.

'If I wish for it… wouldn't that work?'

Nobu had a hunch he would encounter such things not far from now. Although, his current status is sufficient in handling servants.

[Level 10]

Strength: SSS1599 Defense: SSS1599 Dexterity: SSS1599 Agility: SSS1599 Magic: SSS1599

Hacker: S Ubiquitous: S Luck: S Knight's Body: S Chain Attack: S Abnormal Resistance: S Hunter: S Dreamer: S Learner: S Revelations: ?

<<Magic >>

[Orionids • Moon Hunt]

[Historia Emendatus]

[???]

<<Skills >>

[Miracle Maker • Creation Forge]

[Child of Constellations]

[Proof of Combat (S)]

[Curse Hunter]

[Pure Heart]

[Knight's Resolve]

[Combat Lock]

[Holder of Mystery]

[Lord of Machines]

[Magister]

[Three Covenants]

[Key to Wonderland]

[Ship Commander]

[Visitor of Worlds]

[Knowledge Seeker]

[Memory Archive]

[Protector]

Thinking of his previous status, Nobu felt nostalgic. It wasn't as long as the current one. Now he had reached level ten after all these years, he had truly reached the peak. Although, there was one thing that made him curious.

'Revelations… It didn't have a rank.'

That was the final developmental skill he gained at level ten. It didn't have a rank and was left with a question mark. It had been several months since then. That was the only ability in which he doesn't know the effect.

The [Dreamer] ability allowed him to manifest his memories into reality. It is an official version of the [Alice's Wonderland] skill.

Learner made him more inclined to discovering new things at a faster rate. It worked alongside several knowledge-based skills such as [Knowledge Seeker], [Memory Archive], [Magister], and [Hacker].

It is partly the reason why his mind could be considered a quantum computer at this rate.

At this rate, even Nobu doesn't know how strong he would be once everything is unleashed. The battle on the throne room wasn't simply enough to force him.

'Solomon… How would I fare against him…'

*****

Twelve hours later.

"Really… It seems you are more enlightened than this ignorant self."

"Please don't say it like that."

Several dozen kilometers away from Jerusalem, a man and a Heroic Spirit chatted.

"I might have been your enemy had you not talked with me."

"...That simply meant the opening of a new path. Humans undergo eternal suffering. Sometimes, their judgement could be clouded by it."

"Indeed, benefactor. Only, I have been the one whose mind was clouded."

The woman with buddhist robes had her palm facing the other side as she bowed her head to him.

The man, Nobu, was startled at first. The woman is none other than Xuanzang Sanzang, the Buddha of Glorious Sandalwood. Her attainments to Buddhism's core teaching, the tripitaka (Pali Canon) is extremely high. Nobu believes he couldn't match her in terms of Buddhist enlightenment.

Then again, she has a case similar to Suimei—that is, she doesn't believe that she's on 'that level'.

"There's no need for a formal greeting, Miss Sanzang."

"No, I believe I would've made that blunder regardless."

What she was talking about is her siding to the Lion King. She believed that only by her plans succeeding could humanity have a chance against the huge threat known as Solomon… or the being who dresses up as him.

With her limited means and her 'Buddha' state revoked, she could only trust her judgments.

When Nobu came to her and gave her another possibility, she didn't hesitate to grab it. Moreover, he is also well-versed in Buddhism, as she saw the current enlightenment he had attained.

His indomitable will to do the "right" is a sign of it.

"As for what I have said before… You will be able to see it now."

Upon his words, the allies he mentioned had arrived. A huge pyramid floated on the ground as it was surrounded by a transport aircraft along with a dozen modern fighter jets reminiscent of the F-22.

"This Singularity… It will be settled now."