Chapter 393

"This is the United States during the American Revolutionary War, also known as the United States of America. The reason for the American Revolutionary War was that it was an England colony at the time, and it was based on the victory in this war that it was able to gain independence and eventually develop into a superpower."

Novia paused, then looked out at the starry sky and continued.

"However, the enemy they were fighting was not the England."

"Really."

In Ritsuka's memory, the enemies she fought against seemed to be dressed in simple indigenous clothing or in technologically advanced armor that was ahead of its time, and this place was similar.

"The Americas are now divided into two parts, and they are at war with each other. It is said that a new power has emerged in Central America. In short, the western part is the Americas Allied Forces led by President Sun King, and the eastern part is—"

"It's a 'Warrior'."

"They... aren't they human?"

"Their bodies were not left on the battlefield; they were not Heroic Spirit, but rather Warrior resembling Heroic Spirit Summoning."

"I see. Does that mean they want to prevent the founding of the United States? They're probably wondering about that too."

Indeed, from the perspective of Human History, the timeline would become very complicated if the United States had not been established. Moreover, Mash probably thinks so too about Ritsuka's "strangeness," because the firearms used by the U.S. Military are clearly not products of this era, and there are even Robot involved in the war.

Novia was somewhat aware of this; the technological aspect was probably Edison's doing. However, the most puzzling thing was the title "President of the Americas, Sun King." He remembered Edison's title being "President King," so why such a strange title?

However, looking at the local residents and animals who had joined the U.S. Military in the war, he thought it must be some Deity from the Americas pantheon that had appeared. After all, the opposing pantheon was from a distant one, so it wasn't strange for it to appear on purpose. He just didn't know who it was for the time being.

"A patient from Chaldea wants to see you. Should you come over?"

As the three were talking, the Great Gate was pushed open, and Pirogov walked in and said this to Ritsuka.

Having roughly figured out who wanted to see her, Ritsuka naturally wouldn't refuse, so the three of them followed the old man to another hospital.

The Field Hospital's relatively good environment created a stark contrast. From a high vantage point, one could see a desolate battlefield with muddy hay used by soldiers as bedding, discarded backpacks, and rusty bandages.

The bodies of the dead should have been buried by their respective units before midnight, but there were often too many bodies and too little time. As for burying the dead horses, there was even less time. On other battlefields, the dead horses were left unburied for a long time, and they had already rotted and swelled up. Only Raven were excitedly taking off and landing on the blood-stained earth.

"No matter what, please stay calm; inner turmoil can cause harm."

Pirogov gave this special warning before entering the hospital.

Then, after entering the Field Hospital filled with severely wounded personnel, there was a constant low clatter of hemostats and Surgery colliding, and a faint musty smell still lingered in the air. Finally, the soldier who had saved Ritsuka earlier appeared before her.

"I've brought the person; they can already talk to me."

"Oh, I'm sorry, doctor, my vision hasn't fully recovered yet..."

The man, his wound bandaged, gently said to Ritsuka, who was sitting in a chair, "It's good to see you're alright. Don't be nervous, let's talk."

"Ah, okay..."

The girl nodded somewhat reservedly, then met the gaze of the smiling soldier.

"I've heard that almost everyone in the West serves in the military, including those who Faith the Sun God and even some spontaneous animals. Thinking about it that way, it doesn't seem so strange that a young child like you would come..."

"... Thank you for your concern. If it weren't for you, I would be..."

Ritsuka, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

My father runs a Farm...

Ignoring the girl's words, the soldier muttered to himself, "My daughter looks a lot like you. She often helped me on the Farm. The thought of standing by and watching a child her age die makes my legs go numb."

"..."

"But..."

The soldier's tone turned grave. "Why are my hands and legs gone?"

The moment the words left her Ritsuka, Ritsuka, who had been smiling, suddenly narrowed her eyes as she stared at the soldier struggling to control his severed arm.

"Even if I survive, how can I inherit my father's Farm in this body? How can I hold my daughter in my arms? Should I not have saved you? If I hadn't saved you..."

"How could you...?"

When the soldiers confronted Ritsuka, Mash immediately wanted to argue with them, but Novia stopped Mash by reaching out and shaking her head at the same time.

"No..."

The soldier rolled over, placed his still-intact hand in front of his bandaged eyes, and continued to sob uncontrollably.

"I didn't mean to say these things to you... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Please forgive me... I'm so sorry..."

Late at night.

The night sky was filled with stars, the campfire gradually died down, and voices were almost silenced. An eerie Serenity enveloped the Americas landscape, and the only sounds that could be heard occasionally were the cries of some unknown creature.

Outside the Field Hospital at this moment, Ritsuka, who should have been sleeping, was sitting outside the hospital.

According to her previous research, she was to leave the next day, so she thought about saying goodbye to the soldier, but she didn't know what to say, and so she remained silent for a long time.

Are you still awake?

Just then, Ritsuka heard a familiar voice coming from inside the house, so she looked through the window and saw Novia talking to the soldier.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Priest, I can't sleep..."

The soldier lowered his head. "I've been thinking about it. I said some really cruel things to that girl today. I know the truth, but I still said them. I've become this kind of person..."

For this soldier, he had a vague vision of Novia carrying him there before he even arrived at the hospital.

I don't think so.

"Huh?"

"Given that you've lost your limbs, it's understandable that you'd say such things when you were extremely distraught."

Novia put the Cross Pendant that the man had placed aside back on his neck. "Things have turned out this way, and you are not at fault. If anyone is to blame, it is the war—"

"I think it's the 'war' that made you say those things."

At three in the morning, the sky was still pitch black.

"Isn't that right? You are actually a very gentle person, and your selfless act of saving others is certainly commendable. I believe that not everyone can do what you did, and not everyone dares to do it."

Novia stood up, gently embraced the man, then held his hands tightly and solemnly told him:

"As Priest, this is my opinion, and I believe that the God you Faith in also believes this, and your daughter will also believe this of her father."

A little while later, Novia, who had just left the Field Hospital, saw Ritsuka Fujimaru standing at the door.

"As expected, I knew you'd come, Ritsuka."

"Yes, I should be the one saying this, but I'm so sorry to have made you do this for me, Consultant..."

"It's nothing..."

Novia sighed. "After all, one day, Ritsuka, you'll understand."

"Huh? What do you understand?"

"What would happen if no one offered help, if everyone remained silent and inactive, if everyone chose to protect themselves simply to survive? Perhaps this isn't wrong, but rather the 'right' thing at the moment. And some people knowingly choose to resist despite knowing there's no way out—that's 'foolish'."

Novia chuckled softly.

"Therefore, one day, Ritsuka, you will understand the joy of saving others."

Chapter 422 I am, the First Sun Tezcatlipoca.

The following day, Pirogov traveled with him through a prolonged and fierce Gale to Novia, the main stronghold of the Western The Americas Coalition Army.

In the distance lay a vast expanse of white mist, while nearby were patches of wet grass and bushes battered by wind and rain.

According to Pirogov, when they were summoned here, they learned that if there were any 'suspected Chaldea people,' they should be taken to the location of the Americas President, the Sun King, first. Given that the Western Alliance is currently the force protecting the course of history, Novia followed Pirogov after discussing it with Ritsuka.

"Speaking of which, what is Lord Pirogov's Noble Phantasm?"

Perhaps out of boredom, or perhaps simply to find a topic to talk about, Ritsuka asked the old man curiously.

Novia was also interested in hearing about this, since Pirogov was, in a sense Servant replaced Nightingale, and therefore should be extremely important in the context of the Fifth Singularity.

Pirogov stopped in his tracks upon hearing this, turning to stare intently at Novia and Ritsuka. His eyes, though dim with age, were sharpened by years of battlefield experience. After calmly scrutinizing Novia, he said:

"Based on the anecdote that I was the first to perform anesthesia and Surgery on the battlefield, my Noble Phantasm can nullify all 'Anesthetic' within the battlefield's range. It's a completely useless support type, with no combat power whatsoever... If I were to summon Lady Nightingale, she might be more effective than me."

Admittedly, in this brutal battlefield where everyone is either a god or a great hero, a doctor who is only famous within his own country and whose reputation on a global scale is far inferior to that of Nightingale, who also fought in the Crimea War, seems utterly powerless.

"I don't think so. Maybe we'll be able to rely on this Noble Phantasm someday..."

"I hope so."

After casually brushing off Ritsuka's attempt to comfort him, the old man turned around again and led them forward.

How should I put it? Novia was able to sense that the old man's Noble Phantasm seemed to have some connection to her? Of course, it wasn't about borrowing power or anything like that, but rather the incantation used when wielding the Noble Phantasm, which was probably chanting some sacred words of Eastern Orthodoxy Christians.

Furthermore, Novia understood that Pirogov hadn't told the truth and had concealed some information.

According to the anecdote, he didn't render all the 'Anesthetic' on the battlefield ineffective, but rather caused all the 'Anesthetic' to come to his own body. This is because, in order to prove the effectiveness of anesthetics in treating illness, he openly used anesthetics on himself on the battlefield in front of many doctors.

Thinking about this, Novia became somewhat confused.

Are there any Deity in India who use something like 'anesthesia'? After all, generally speaking, Servant summoned to Singularity are specially selected to deal with certain crises.

However, based on the conversation he had overheard between Parvati and Kama, the one who commanded India was Durga. It was because of his involvement that Kama, whom she had been keeping a close watch on, was able to escape, and Parvati, worried about Kama, followed him all the way.

But Novia felt that this high-profile approach was unlike Durga's character; it must be that someone was instigating it behind the scenes...

So who could it be?

The thought of instigation, coupled with the association with India, involuntarily conjured up in Novia's mind a blue-skinned man who loved playing the flute all day—the man most suitable to be Brahma's Executor from the perspective of 'Supreme Brahman'.

Krishna, the Primordial man.

This is understandable, since Novia has replaced the Supreme Brahman, so it's normal to think this way.

"Um?"

After a while, Pirogov, who was walking in front of the three, suddenly stopped and squinted at the ground below.

"What's wrong?"

"The guys from President Sun King's crew who're in charge of manufacturing Robot have arrived..."

The old man paused. "His name is Thomas Alva Edison; you should have heard of him."

"Huh? That Lion is Edison?!"

Upon hearing this, Ritsuka exclaimed in disbelief, "How is this possible! It's completely different from what I saw in the manga when I was a kid!"

"There must have been a problem during the summoning."

"Even so, this appearance is still too unexpected!"

"You should stay calm in this situation."

Ignoring the conversation between the three, Pirogov walked straight towards Edison's location.

"Since we've run into him, I'll introduce you to him."

A little earlier.

On the land, where the weather was fine but the earth was still covered in withered yellow leaves, Edison, accompanied by a bunch of Robot, proudly stroked his hairy chin.

"Indeed, those in high positions have an obligation to travel to various places to offer condolences, and your actions represent the authority of the 'President'!"

Edison clapped his hands as he spoke, seemingly hoping someone would flatter him, but since no one did, he continued.

"Excellent! Truly magnificent! The Western Allied Forces' Mechanized Corps are so perfectly aligned and uniform. Aren't they superior to those animals? Mass production is the key to victory!"

"Hahaha, that's right, that's right, that's exactly it!"

Before he could laugh for long, Edison saw Pirogov, who had brought the Novia group with him. Upon seeing the old man, Edison's Lion head instinctively shuddered, and he couldn't help but cough a few times.

"Snort..."

Edison first hummed in a voice only he could hear, then looked at the group with enthusiasm.

"Welcome! It's a pleasure to meet you all, Mr. Pirogov! And those behind you..."

"The Chaldea."

"A very warm welcome to everyone from Chaldea!"

Edison roared with Lion, "I am Edison, the technical Consultant to the second President of the Americas, the Sun King! I care deeply about my head; even if I were to become a Lion, my Wisdom would not change!"