Trismegistus I

A magnificent structure like an underground city appeared before Li Ye and the others.

A massive obelisk, surrounded by countless cubic structures, was inscribed with vast amounts of obscure text. Strange ripples occasionally flowed through it.

"This is the Simulated Spiritual Core Computer—Trismegistus!"

Li Ye instinctively held his breath and spoke its true name as if in a dream.

"That's right. Atlas Institute's greatest recording medium, Trismegistus. It is a photon crystal known as the Philosopher's Stone, an Ooparts that present-day technology on Earth cannot produce."

Holmes slowly said this as he held his pipe, his profound gaze sweeping over the surroundings. After confirming that no one besides the three of them was present, he could not help shaking his head.

"Even Trismegistus, located in the central core, has no staff present, Mr. Holmes. The Magi within this Atlas Institute have all vanished." Li Ye had naturally noticed Holmes's actions and spoke up.

"Yes, Mr. Li Ye. As you can see, the Atlas Institute is now nothing more than an abandoned ruin. The Magi who once existed here have all burned away, leaving only the Atlas Institute itself behind.

"Though I must apologize, we intruders can only make use of Trismegistus without permission."

"But we do not have access privileges. How much can we actually see?"

Staring at the triangular obelisk of Trismegistus, Li Ye abruptly asked.

Having already arrived before Trismegistus, Li Ye had no intention of returning empty-handed. If anything within this Singularity could answer his questions, only the Simulated Spiritual Core Computer—Trismegistus—before him could do so.

"That is not a problem, Mr. Li Ye. Trismegistus records every phenomenon. Even if we, who are not Magi of the Atlas Institute, cannot know everything, we should at least be able to learn simple facts and see the results.

"It would be like skipping the derivation in a math problem and looking only at the answer."

Holmes looked toward Trismegistus and the artificial firmament that remained untouched by the rings of light.

Only the results... Li Ye's expression remained unchanged as he continued, "Mr. Holmes, then what about using Trismegistus for data projections?"

"Oh?"

Holmes raised an eyebrow and pondered briefly. "Normally, that should be possible. The work conducted by the Magi of the Atlas Institute requires tremendous amounts of calculation, and Trismegistus exists for precisely that purpose. Its replica was sent to Chaldea as the Spiritron Calculator Trismegistus, for daily calculations and simulations."

"But that assumes Hermes is functioning normally. We are not Magi of the Atlas Institute and cannot use all of Hermes's functions. We can only conduct basic inquiries or calculations."

Holmes lit his pipe, then looked at Li Ye with curiosity. "Is there some question, Mr. Li Ye, for which you need Hermes to perform calculations?"

"It is a personal matter. A little difficult to speak of..."

Li Ye sighed, a trace of reluctance in his gaze as he looked at the obelisk.

Even without Holmes saying so, Li Ye knew that his idea was wildly unrealistic. Both its starting point and its process were essentially extreme idealism.

"Mr. Holmes, is there something you wish to investigate?"

"Ah, embarrassing as it is to admit, it is a record that even I have been unable to trace back—a record of an event that was concealed."

Holmes showed a rare trace of helplessness, and Li Ye nearly laughed.

After their brief exchange, Holmes composed himself and called loudly to Trismegistus:

"Trismegistus, bird that flies through the underworld!

"Answer my question!

"Tell me of an event erased from every record and account!

"Reveal the full circumstances of the Holy Grail War that took place in Japan in 2004!"

"So Mr. Holmes wanted to know about the Holy Grail War. It seems to be connected to the Incineration of Humanity?"

Li Ye asked while stroking his chin, and Nitocris could not help pricking up her ears as well.

Holmes nodded. "It is indeed connected, and it was an important factor."

"The Holy Grail War is a grand ritual in which Heroic Spirits are summoned to fight, and the final remaining Magus and Servant obtain the Holy Grail. Mr. Li Ye, you know something of the Holy Grail War, do you not?"

"I have heard a little about it."

"Good. This ritual was indeed carried out. The last recorded Holy Grail War took place in a provincial Japanese city in 2004. I investigated the records of that battle, yet no matter what I did, I could not determine its course or outcome."

"It was Fuyuki, wasn't it? I remember the last Holy Grail War taking place in Fuyuki—"

Li Ye snapped his fingers.

Holmes's gaze grew even more profound as he looked at Li Ye. "Correct. The Holy Grail War took place in Fuyuki in 2004. Yet all I can trace are materials from the beginning of the Holy Grail War and the roster of the seven Magi who gathered in pursuit of the Holy Grail."

A faint, illusory blue screen quietly appeared before Holmes, immediately drawing Li Ye and Nitocris's attention.

Holmes swept his eyes over the screen. "Hmm—an answer has already been returned. There was not even a startup sound. Rather lonely, I must say. Fortunately, its contents match my deductions. That resolves one question."

"The Magus who won the Holy Grail War of 2004 was named Marisbury Animsphere. According to Hermes's records, he killed six Magi and obtained the omnipotent wish-granting device, the Holy Grail—"

Holmes's tone was calm, but Li Ye envisioned a brutal slaughter and instinctively reached for the Holy Grail in his clothes.

Naturally, Li Ye knew of the Marisbury Animsphere Holmes had mentioned.

"The Lord of Celestial Mechanics, Clock Tower, and Chaldea's former director—"

Li Ye frowned slightly. Even he knew very little about Marisbury Animsphere, Chaldea's former director. The man was completely shrouded in mystery.

"Yes, and the records contain further information. During the Holy Grail War, Marisbury brought along an assistant. The following year, that person was admitted to Chaldea as an employee under exceptional circumstances. At merely twenty-two, he became the head of the medical department. It was an extraordinary promotion, so unusual that it could scarcely be called a normal personnel transfer."

"Romani Archaman, right?"

"Yes, and there is something even stranger. Every detail of Romani Archaman's past is unknown. No matter how I investigated, I could not find any records from before the Holy Grail War. If we could make further use of Hermes, we should be able to see more clearly—"

"But there simply is not enough time to find one person's information among the records of billions of people, updated once every year—"

"Still, Mr. Li Ye, you seem to know something about Romani as well. May I hear your thoughts?"

Holmes stared at Li Ye, waiting for his response.