Ritsuka and Mash Left Reeling in the Wind

"Aaaaaah, why are there monsters like this here too?!"

In the first century AD, within the Roman Empire, a fierce wind whipped up desolate sandstorms, raising clouds of dust that resembled a heavy curtain covering the world. A group of yellow, rotting monsters, looking like withered and broken plants, chased after two running figures.

Her short red hair fluttered in the air, and her figure, wrapped in a black uniform, leaped nimbly. Ritsuka, who was Ritsuka just an ordinary person, had already developed considerable physical strength through her various lessons in Chaldeas.

She didn't want her physical abilities to be limited to places like that!

"Senior--"

Mash, standing beside her, looked helpless. "I can protect you..."

"No way!" Ritsuka exclaimed. "Disgusting... Just thinking about the possibility of being approached if I stop gives me goosebumps!"

Mash's expression became even more helpless.

This is indeed Ritsuka's reason—

Upon receiving news of the emergence of a new Singularity Point, Chaldeas immediately arrived in this era and fled.

Yes, the reason they were being chased wasn't because they couldn't defeat those 'monsters,' but because Ritsuka found them disgusting.

Although it was indeed disgusting... As Mash ran through the crowd, she looked back and felt nauseous.

She could barely suppress it.

If an ordinary person were to see this,

They probably wouldn't be able to hold back their vomiting.

That inexplicable feeling of dizziness, but after the dizziness, there is a certain invisible rhythm.

The pursuing monsters trod on the ground, their withered bodies leaping and dancing beneath their yellow shells. Their footsteps on the barren hills seemed to beat invisible drumbeats, and they uttered low murmurs, as if singing a chaotic song.

They were a group of 'monsters,' yet also like a group of mad singers...

"Hoo!" Mash exhaled, composed herself, and moved with her long, lithe figure, her delicate body wrapped in the black combat suit swaying up and down with her movements.

"Etc--"

Ritsuka suddenly stopped, and the red-haired girl's raised hand also made Mash pause. They slid forward a few steps, raising clouds of dust as they looked ahead.

Amidst the vast wilderness and yellow soil, figures wriggled and crawled out from underground.

It was a yellow monster, just like the figure chasing after them.

They also tapped their footsteps.

They also uttered inaudible murmurs.

They waved their yellow tentacles, they roared menacingly, they spun and leaped.

In the blink of an eye, Ritsuka and Mash were surrounded by enemies.

Mash immediately became alert. The girl, Pseudo-Servant, clenched her fist, and with flowing light spreading like water, magic instantly formed a black shield that was grasped in Mash's palm.

With enemies on all sides, she couldn't protect her own body from all directions at the same time.

Ritsuka suddenly let out a cold laugh, "Can't escape now...?"

"Since that's the case, then we won't run away—after all, you're all already here!"

Ritsuka Fujimaru raised her hand.

The young girl Yu Shi had completely changed from her previous disgusting and terrifying appearance; a cold smile appeared on her pretty and heroic face.

It was like... the smile of someone who had succeeded in their grand scheme.

Mash paused, then suddenly jolted awake. "Senpai..."

Could it be that all of this was part of the senior's plan?

Pretending to be disgusted.

Pretending to flee all the way...

Just to lure these monsters together so we can take them all out at once!?

"Mash, can you do it?"

Ritsuka asked in a low voice.

"No problem, senpai!" Mash nodded excitedly.

This is not arrogance, but absolute confidence— Ritsuka and she are actually different from when they were in the French Singularity.

This is due to the changes brought about by Rovi's existence.

Although that person, after entering Chaldeas, personally stated that he would not interfere too much with the affairs of the subsequent Singularity Point, he said that the responsibility of resolving Singularity Point belonged to Ritsuka, a living person in this world, and that he himself would at most only fix the existence of the Singularity Point at the end.

He would leave Ritsuka the preconditions for that to be fulfilled to Ritsuka—and only Ritsuka could fulfill them.

Not interfering does not mean ignoring it completely.

At least before Chaldeas discovered this Roman Singularity Point, he had personally Ritsuka and Mash special training.

Special training for Mikoto.

as well as...

Special training for ' Pseudo-Servant ', or rather, for homunculus.

"Mash Kyrielight, put aside your resentment—I'm not referring to your resentment towards the Servant possessing you, but rather your own resentment towards yourself."

At that time, Rovi hit the nail on the head, pointing out the obstacle that Mash had always harbored in her heart.

She harbored resentment towards herself.

Mash Kyrielight is not an ordinary person, but an artificial human created by combining Magecraft techniques with modern scientific technology, possessing an extremely high degree of ' Spiritron Transfer ' compatibility.

She is not an ordinary person, nor can she be considered a healthy person. While obtaining the Spiritron Transfer Matching Qualities, her physique is also unusually fragile.

Accelerated aging, accelerated decay... If it weren't for the Servant's possession, she would have been powerless to fight to repair the Singularity Point; if it weren't for the support of this power from the Heroic Spirit, she would have been powerless to stand up.

It is precisely because of this abnormality, this 'specialness', that Mash never considers herself a 'human being'.

Even with the care and attention of Ritsuka and Dr. Roman.

Even though they looked at him with strange eyes.

It's different, it's just different.

Mash knew this very well.

And...

"Only by letting go of your resentment can you truly grow and truly master the power within you..."

"What you should remember is that from the moment you were born with self-awareness, you were not just a tool, you were not just a doll that came to earth to achieve a certain purpose."

"You are a person."

"A person whose name truly reflects their character..."

I am... a human!

As the scenes of Chaldeas undergoing special training and Rovi's words to her flashed through her mind, Mash's heart suddenly became incredibly resolute.

Mr. Rovi —I won't let you down!

After undergoing special training, Mash was able to master her power more perfectly.

With this power... defeating these monsters before us is a piece of cake.

... Senior, you must think so too, right?

This too, is your unique strength!

"Okay, good luck!" Mash smiled as she saw the determined look in Ritsuka's eyes. She patted the black lace skirt that reached her knees under her khaki uniform, and her beautiful legs, encased in black stockings, swayed slightly.

"Go ahead, I'm going to throw up over there!"

"Ugh~~~"

Mash: "..."

Am I overthinking it?

The Pseudo-Servant's eyes showed confusion, and for the first time, she felt an urge to say something sarcastic...

"Hmm, I didn't expect there to be other people here!? Are they just ordinary people who were innocently dragged into this..."

"Hmm, it doesn't seem like it—a traveler from time and space? A savior of Human Order?"

"But it doesn't matter—since you're here, let's all listen to my singing!"

The sudden sound made Mash, who was about to swing her shield to deal with the monsters around her, pause. At the sound, Ritsuka also stopped vomiting, and the feeling of nausea was relieved.

It's not just them.

Even the group of yellow monsters turned their heads and looked in the direction of the sound.

Under the bright sunlight, a figure stands atop a high, rounded hill.

It was the figure of a rather beautiful young girl. She had a head of dazzling golden hair, with soft strands tied back with a red ribbon, and a pretty face beneath her swaying bangs. Her beautiful, pale green eyes shone like jewels.

She wore a long red dress, the front of which was open, revealing half of her round, full, and slender waist. The long, trailing hem hung down on both sides, and her graceful legs could be vaguely seen through the swaying veil.

Who is that?

The moment they saw her clearly, Ritsuka and Mash both paused for a moment. The girl's beauty and noble, fiery temperament were obvious, but what concerned them more was the attitude of those yellow monsters.

The eerie, decaying figure hidden beneath the yellow shell seemed to flinch.

Are they afraid?

Ritsuka and Mash exchanged a glance, and without thinking, they thought of Rovi... Yes, they knew that these monsters in front of them might be, like the French Singularity, followers of an indescribable evil god. So far, the only one they knew who could instill fear in the followers of an evil god was Rovi.

"Those who will come from the future!" Though separated by a great distance, the beautiful figure high above seemed to be able to accurately capture Ritsuka and Mash's thoughts. She lowered her gaze from afar, her azure eyes slightly narrowed, and her crimson lips curved into a charming smile, "You need not worry, need not be afraid!"

"I am Nero Claudius, the Emperor of the world you stand upon, the world's only greatest artist, the most perfect emperor!"

"I have been waiting for you for a long time—"

That's the truth.

After the Incineration of Humanity began and the Singularity Point was created, the only way to resolve this Ritsuka was to start with Ritsuka, a person from the very beginning of the ' Incineration of Humanity ' era.

So the girl kept waiting for Ritsuka to arrive.

She had already sensed their presence.

I knew they were coming back.

Correspondingly, Ritsuka and Mash couldn't possibly be unaware of the name Nero Claudius.

"It seems...not an enemy," Ritsuka breathed a sigh of relief, and Mash nodded in response.

"Yes," Mash said, "That person... is alive."

The timeline of this Singularity Point is in the first century AD.

Rome in the first century AD,

This was also the era in which Nero Claudius, who was later defined as a tyrant, lived.

It was somewhat strange that Nero was such a beautiful young girl.

But at least for now,

Nero did not harbor any hostility towards them.

The monsters also developed a fear of Nero Claudius.

Whether they are enemies or friends is obvious.

"Now... as those fortunate enough to witness my figure, please listen attentively!"

The Maiden Emperor standing on the high place suddenly raised a big smile, "I will show you all my beautiful singing voice as empress!"

"Thankfully, and let's listen attentively—"

"Aside from the musicians I played, this is my only musical performance!"

A clear, girlish voice echoed in the wind, carrying a passion far more intense than the blazing sun.

But for some reason, both Ritsuka and Mash had an ominous premonition.

No...

It's not just them.

Even the group of yellow-clad monsters began to show expressions of horror.

"Mash."

"Senior--"

"You felt it too, right?"

"Yes, senior."

"Should we run away?!"

"I wanted to too, but it's too late... Senpai!"

It's too late.

In a mere instant, Nero opened her beautiful, rosy lips, as delicate as flower petals, and with a slight glimpse of her silver teeth, she uttered a clear, crisp sound.

The sound was extremely clear and beautiful.

Each syllable carries a beautiful charm.

However,

Countless beautiful things linked together, yet they were like a nightmare.

"Mash, did you see that?"

"I saw it—"

"I saw heaven! Ahhhhh!"

At this moment,

The eerie monsters, clad in yellow shells, writhed and howled amidst the sound. Their raised tentacles cradled their faces, and their already slender figures twisted even more like maggots... Ritsuka and Mash, mixed among them, seemed to have been transformed as well.

If Ritsuka were to remain conscious at this moment, upon seeing this scene, she would surely be able to recall Van Gogh's famous painting, "The Scream."

But unfortunately... she is now also a member of "The Shout".

"Hmm... How about this?"

Amidst the swaying and rising song, Nero Claudius, the Gáe Dearg of the Roman Empire, raised his azure eyes, but at that moment looked into the distance.

The direction of the Roman Empire's skies... at this very moment, lies a colossal figure hovering over the entire era.

An indescribable figure draped in a yellow robe... an ancient Great Old Ones, the creator of drama, the King in Yellow, Hastur.

"The artist of the evil god... How was my performance!?"

"Nero's singing voice was learned from me as the 'Spirit' of the Core of Chaos. Regardless of scale, the voice from ' Azathoth ' is something the King in Yellow cannot compare to."

In Chaldeas, Rovi sat in his room, listening intently to the voices echoing from the pages of history, a smile playing on his lips as he looked before him.

"Of course... after all, it's you."

The man before him, dressed in ancient attire, with dark skin and long, messy gray hair, touched the nine rings on his hand and smiled bitterly, "But I just want to know... what exactly do you want?"

"In your presence, the Incineration of Humanity nothing but a joke."

"No, Goetia. That's not a joke." Rovi raised his hand. "For me, this is an 'opportunity'."