-31- Definitely...

A few minutes later, Rozen and Mash had already left the iron tower and returned to the burning city.

Continuing to stay in the conspicuous tower was not an option, so Rozen had Mash lead the way to a temporary hideout in one of the ruined buildings to avoid a second attack.

However, as they regained their senses, both of them looked at each other, caught in indescribable and complex emotions.

"Um... Are you okay, Senpai?"

"...Yeah, I'm fine."

"Is there anything wrong with your body?"

"I don't think so."

"That's good, then."

"Yeah..."

After a brief exchange, they fell silent again.

Rozen lifted his gaze and looked at the transformed girl before him, who seemed both resolute and uneasy. He sighed and decided to break the silence.

"Let me understand the situation first. If I'm not mistaken, Mash, you have indeed become a Servant, right?" Rozen calmly asked.

It was already an undeniable fact.

Having escaped the sudden crisis, Rozen had felt the connection between himself and Mash, something he had overlooked before.

This connection felt like an invisible link, allowing Rozen to easily send his mana into Mash's body and even issue commands through the Command Spell on his hand.

Rozen was well aware of what this meant.

It meant...

"You've formed a contract with me as a Servant, haven't you?" Rozen inquired, each word deliberate and certain.

In response, Mash nodded, then shook her head to correct herself.

"I have indeed formed a contract with you, Senpai, and I did gain the power of a Servant. However, my current state is not that of a regular Servant."

She paused briefly in her words before continuing.

"I have become a 'Pseudo-Servant.'"

Hearing this, Rozen's initial reaction wasn't surprise but a wry smile.

"As expected... it's like that, huh?"

A 'Pseudo-Servant.'

It wasn't a particularly special type of Servant; rather, it was something created by the hands of humans.

Servants, despite possessing superhuman powers, were legendary and mythical heroes from the past, each with their own exceptional will and beliefs. It would be unrealistic to expect them to be mere familiars, obediently following any order given by their Masters. In fact, they might even betray or disobey their Masters, creating a situation where the summoning might backfire.

To prevent such scenarios, Command Spells were introduced.

Command Spells were a set of three command seals that allowed the Master to forcefully control their Servant. Each seal represented one command. This system was originally created to enforce control over the Servants, but in Chaldea, it was adjusted to focus on "support" rather than "domination." The Command Spells were mostly used to enhance and heal the Servant, resembling more of a "curse" than a means of control.

Of course, if all three Command Spells were used at once, it would still be possible to force the Servant's obedience.

However, having to rely on Command Spells every time to compel a Servant would create significant problems and hinder their effectiveness in battle. Moreover, the existence of a Servant itself consumed mana, and to compensate for various drawbacks, Chaldea initiated an experiment.

"The fusion of human and Heroic Spirit..."

That's right.

The fusion of human and Heroic Spirit.

This was one of the ongoing experiments from over a decade ago, the sixth experiment conducted by Chaldea.

"By fusing with a Heroic Spirit, the experimental subject not only gains the power of a Servant but, because they aren't a spiritual entity, they don't consume mana just by existing. What's even more remarkable is their obedience to commands, enabling them to avoid various disadvantages. This is what we call a 'Pseudo-Servant.'"

Rozen looked at Mash with a bitter tone.

"This experiment, has it really been completed now?"

The experiment on pseudo-Servants had started over a decade ago, yet until now, it had never succeeded. Rozen couldn't believe that it had been accomplished under these circumstances.

Mash responded, "After all, I was originally created for this purpose."

Her voice remained steady, causing Rozen to clench his fist.

At this point, there was no need to say anything more. Mash was indeed one of the experimental subjects for this project. This was her past, and it was her fate and life before she appeared in Chaldea two years ago.

She had been freed only after the experiment failed two years ago, allowing her to openly exist in Chaldea. But in the end, she had become something other than human.

"Damn it...!" Rozen couldn't help but curse.

A moment later, a pair of soft hands gently held his clenched fist.

"Please don't be so angry, Senpai."

Mash wrapped her fingers around his clenched hand with tenderness.

Her face was adorned with a serene smile.

"I don't see anything wrong with this."

Her candid words echoed in the air.

"At least now, I possess the power to protect you. I can fight alongside you as your Servant, and that makes me very happy."

This was no lie.

The girl named Mash was undoubtedly genuinely grateful for her current situation.

"With my current abilities, I can fight."

Mash smiled at Rozen.

However, Rozen couldn't help but feel a twinge of heartache when he saw her smile.

"What are you so happy about?" he thought.

He recalled the look in Mash's eyes not long ago.

Besides the usual trust, there was something else in her eyes.

That something was called fear.

"On the one hand, she's happy to have the power to fight alongside me, and on the other hand, she's afraid of the battles themselves, fearing what it means to fight..."

Rozen gripped Mash's hand in response and made a firm decision in his heart.

"I definitely won't let her face all of this alone..."

"Definitely..."