Despair

"I'm not in a position to judge. To this day, I've never met anyone from Chaldea. What fair assessment could I make of people I've never even met—"

"But from my personal perspective, Doctor Roman is a very good person. As an ordinary human, Roman did the best he possibly could in the face of the Incineration of Humanity—"

Li Ye spread his hands.

Holmes was not discouraged. Seeing that Li Ye was unwilling to say more, he continued, "Roman undoubtedly lives as a human. Though he is not a Magus, he has concealed something—something enormous, something quite close to the truth."

"But Chaldea is certainly full of hidden talents—"

Li Ye remarked.

"How does Mr. Li Ye know so much about Chaldea's internal affairs?" Holmes suddenly asked.

It was a strange question, yet not an unexpected one. Li Ye had previously displayed an amount of information nearly equal to Holmes's own, so even his familiarity with Chaldea was not beyond Holmes's expectations.

Still, Holmes could not help asking.

"I have good eyes, Mr. Holmes—"

After a moment of silence, Li Ye raised a hand and pressed his index finger to his temple.

"Oh?"

Holmes raised an eyebrow and met Li Ye's utterly frank gaze.

"That man named Marisbury obtained the Holy Grail, didn't he? But what wish did he make?"

Nitocris, who had been listening for a long while, asked with a curious expression.

Holmes shrugged. "Who knows? Regrettably, Hermes did not record Marisbury's wish. Only the results remain.

After the Holy Grail War, Marisbury achieved tremendous success as a Magus. Whether it was his magecraft research, which had received little expectation at the Clock Tower, or the Heroic Spirit summoning system he later established, not only did it allow the observation of the future, it also made possible the hypothetical experiment of interfering with an era through Spiritron Transfer."

Spiritron Transfer!

Li Ye's pupils contracted. He nearly interrupted Holmes's explanation, but restrained his excitement and kept listening.

"By 2004, Chaldea was merely an observatory that had acquired equipment comparable to all manner of experimental facilities. From this, one may infer that Marisbury's wish was likely wealth. Nor did he have any reason to bring about the Incineration of Humanity. According to the records, he possessed the prudence of his nature; ordinary desires, ordinary jealousy, and a love for ordinary happiness—Marisbury was that sort of man."

Li Ye looked at Trismegistus and took over. "A man like that would not destroy Human Order. Then either he was used by a third party, or he opened Pandora's box without knowing it—

For example, Professor Lev Lainur, who blew up Chaldea."

The corners of Holmes's lips rose. "Lev Lainur assumed his post at Chaldea in 1999, which coincides with the period when the observation lens—Sheba—was provided. There can be no doubt that Lev Lainur served under the Magus King."

Li Ye looked at Holmes. "Lev Lainur, as a subordinate of the Magus King, likely infiltrated Chaldea because he had his eye on something. Clearly, Chaldea already had a problem at that time. That being the case, there is one possibility: the Holy Grail War of 2004 merely provided Chaldea with funding and had nothing to do with the Incineration of Humanity."

"Exactly. Though it pains me to say it, Roman Archaman—

is a mysterious figure who has no idea what is going on, has nothing to do with the entire incident, is neither here nor there, and only causes trouble for others—"

"The Doctor would cry if he heard you say that—"

Li Ye chuckled. "Even though we have never met, someone who stepped forward when Chaldea was in crisis cannot be all that bad. The Doctor has been trying his best, after all."

"Regardless, Roman remains an important suspect to me. I ask that you keep this confidential, Mr. Li Ye. Please do not speak of this matter regarding Chaldea outside.

Until Roman's secrets are uncovered, he cannot be trusted."

Holmes said calmly.

Li Ye nodded. He had no way to refuse that request.

"Very well, my questions have been answered. Next are Mr. Li Ye's questions—"

Holmes smiled and made room, allowing Li Ye to face Trismegistus directly.

"My questions—"

Li Ye's expression was calm as he looked upon the colossal obelisk.

A string of key terms passed through his mind—

Spiritron Transfer technology

Interfering with an era

Human Order Correction

All sorts of information concerning Singularities flashed through his thoughts.

This was what Li Ye had truly wanted to investigate. Even if King Hassan had not directed him to the Atlas Institute, Li Ye would have tried to come here.

After a Singularity vanished, everything would return to normal, but those who died within it would not come back to life. They would simply disappear from history. This was a correction imposed by Human Order.

Yet the Chaldean Master could leave a Singularity through Spiritron Transfer and return to Chaldea's base, which existed outside time, thus avoiding the effects caused by the Singularity's disappearance.

But Li Ye could not.

Li Ye was neither a native of the Singularity nor someone who had arrived there through Chaldea's Spiritron Transfer technology.

When the Singularity ended, what would happen to Li Ye?

Would he remain in the history of the past, or would Human Order Correction kill him?

With no room for trial and error, Li Ye had to consider everything from the worst possible angle.

Li Ye did not want his journey to end here, so he wanted to survive by any means necessary.

Between life and death, he had become the Lion King's knight. He had staked everything to meet the Old Man of the Mountain, King Hassan, and afterward had even obtained the Holy Grail that he should never have received from King Ozymandias.

It seemed as though everything had gone smoothly. Li Ye had made it here without a hitch.

He had reached the Atlas Institute of 2017, encountered the world-class detective Sherlock Holmes, and stood before Trismegistus alongside him.

After witnessing Holmes's inquiry, Li Ye gained a deeper understanding of Trismegistus's functions.

A Spiritron Calculator that recorded every phenomenon, it was an existence nearly omniscient to Li Ye.

As long as it was activated, Li Ye's questions would be answered.

Should I run away?

Li Ye asked himself. The situation was clear now.

As long as Li Ye voiced those questions, crushing despair would await him.

Despair before a fate of certain death, despair at being powerless to change anything.

His breathing grew heavier. Though he had not fought fiercely, merely thinking about it made Li Ye's heart race. His Dragon Blood unconsciously awakened, and his magical energy surged without cease.

Dragon's Might rose into the sky and spread around Trismegistus. Though it was like blazing fire, it flowed silently like clear water.

This unusual development naturally drew the attention of Holmes and Nitocris.

Holmes stopped Nitocris, preventing her from interrupting Li Ye. Instead, he stood quietly to one side and observed him.

Looking at Li Ye's pale golden vertical pupils, Holmes narrowed his eyes slightly. The long fingers holding his pipe unconsciously tightened.

At that moment, Li Ye had no mind to pay attention to Holmes. His whole being was immersed in this despairing decision.

Would he face death head-on, or cling to a shred of hope?

Is there even a question?

His deliberation ended. Li Ye raised his head, forced a smile, and shouted:

"Trismegistus, bird that flies through the underworld!

Answer my questions!

Information on technologies related to Spiritron Transfer!"

"Tell me! How can Spiritron Transfer aptitude be verified!"

"Tell me! How does interfering with an era prove one's own existence!"

There was no longer any hesitation in his impassioned words. For the first time, Li Ye faced his own death directly—

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!!

A shrill alarm instantly sounded. Trismegistus, which had been azure blue, turned scarlet in an instant.

Scarlet light screens appeared one after another before Li Ye's face, as though warning him of his ignorance and recklessness—