[FMMIKA] Chapter 293: Next Singularity

"Alright, alright, the summoning system is ready, and you can summon anytime. Oh, by the way, because of the previous incident in France, we can choose a special summoning method to call forth a Servant who appeared in the French Singularity."

In front of Chaldea's unique summoning circle, Da Vinci spoke with a warm smile, addressing Chaldea's sole Master.

"These Saint Quartz, I've been saving them for a while, hoping to get an SSR."

Fujimaru Ritsuka, or rather, Gudako, licked her lips and excitedly remarked.

The so-called gacha game was most thrilling during the pulling phase. It was like a form of gambling, and until the results were revealed, it was natural to experience flushed faces, rapid breath, increased heartbeats, and sweating.

'Senpai, no need to get so worked up. After all, we already know the outcome.'

If it weren't for others being present, Mash would surely remind Ritsuka in that manner. But for now, a smile would be enough.

===

'Summoning a new Servant to strengthen Chaldea's power... I know it's necessary, but...'

However, on the other side, Romani's feeling of unease seemed to have inexplicably intensified.

Summoning a Servant had been discussed and agreed upon by everyone, so why did he feel this unease now?

'It's probably because I haven't been getting enough sleep lately...'

Romani reassured himself. At the same time, he discussed the next steps with the rest of Chaldea's members.

"The next singularity that needs to be fixed is Rome. It's the prime era of the Roman Empire in ancient Europe."

"The scope has widened quite a bit compared to the previous singularity huh..." Ritsuka remarked. "Back in the day, France was just one of the provinces of the Roman Empire."

"If you put it that way, your history teacher would cry, Senpai." Mash reminded. "It's not just one province; it's the sum of several provinces. Even after the establishment of France, these divisions haven't completely disappeared. To this day, there's still a significant divide between the north and south of France."

"Umu, even now, there are so many divisions, differences, and contradictions throughout Europe." Da Vinci couldn't help but sigh. "The so-called European Union seems to be nothing more than a loose association. We can be prosperous together, but we can't endure hardships together. Such an organization is quick to fall apart under external pressure..."

"Whether it's World War I, World War II, or the Napoleonic Wars, there have been many wars and efforts to unite Europe. But in the end, all these efforts failed. The only successful attempt to unify most of Europe and integrate it into a single nation was the Roman Empire. It's for this reason that the concept of Rome is so crucial to Europe, and indeed, to all of humanity."

"Yeah, that's true..."

As Da Vinci and Mash engaged in an animated discussion about Rome, on the other hand, Romani felt a bit confused.

"You guys... seem to have a deep interest in Rome, don't you?"

"It's the Roman complex, something most people who know a bit about history have." Da Vinci said with a mischievous smile. "After all, who isn't a little crazy for Romans? Teary on odd days, furious on even ones."

"C'mon, don't make a big deal out of it." Ritsuka said from the other side. "Summoning—Oh! The summoning has already succeeded!"

As her words trailed off, everyone fell silent and watched the center of the summoning magic circle.

After the fleeting spiritual light dissipated, the handsome and dashing Artorius Pendragon, clad in frosty silver armor, opened his eyes. He surveyed his surroundings and fixed his gaze upon Ritsuka before breaking into a warm and gentlemanly smile.

"Artorius Pendragon, answering your call, My Master. From today, my sword is yours."

Artorius spoke while extending his hand towards Ritsuka.

Although it was all just an act, he wanted to maintain appearances for Ritsuka's sake, as, on the surface, he was her Servant. This led him to show a rare touch of tenderness and speak softly to her.

This alone left Ritsuka wide-eyed. She couldn't find the right words to describe it, those were beyond her grasp. So, all she could do was mutter:

"Wow..."

"Senpai, wipe your drool..." Mash observed with a frown.

"O-Oh..."

"Uh, my name is Romani Archaman." Romani introduced himself as the doctor and the acting director of Chaldea. "Just call me whatever you like. Welcome to Chaldea."

"Hello, Doctor..." Artorius replied with a calm smile, offering a polite handshake. "I've heard a lot about you. This is our first official meeting. I hope we can get along."

"Yes, of course."

In the previous singularity, Artorius Pendragon, another parallel version of King Arthur, had been summoned as a Servant by the Counter Force to assist in restoring the singularity of the Hundred Years' War. He played a significant role in the battle against Jeanne Alter. His tenderness and charisma had melted Jeanne Alter's icy heart, and they ended up in a romantic relationship, guiding her toward a new life.

That was the 'illusion' witnessed by the people in Chaldea headquarters, along with the extra fake story from Ritsuka to make it more convincing. Thanks to that, Romani wholeheartedly believed all of that without any doubt.

'Oh, yes, Jeanne Alter he helped had find a new path, and now calls him 'Daddy' and looks forward to marrying him when she grows up.'

If Romani's thoughts were known to Ritsuka, she would have probably said that to him.

"I will continue to work hard for the cause of restoring human order."

Artorius spoke gently to Romani, leaving him with a strange sense of unease and, at the same time, an inexplicable feeling of reassurance.

"Oh, then I'll leave it to you, King Artorius." Romani smiled happily, "Having such a powerful Servant is really great."

Artorius successfully infiltrated the ranks of Chaldea, and in the upcoming battle to restore the Roman Singularity, he would play a significant role.

"What does the Roman Singularity look like?"

After obtaining the basic information, Artorius proactively asked Romani.

"After all, Rome is a broad concept, spanning over two thousand years."

"That's true, but don't worry, our target is the Roman Empire's capital, the city of Rome. That way, the period can be significantly reduced." Romani said reassuringly.

"I see..." Artorius nodded. "Let's get to it then. But, Rome huh... such a nostalgic name. Rest assured, with me leading the way, we will surely prevail."

"Your Majesty is really dependable." Romani sighed in admiration. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Artorius was filled with genuine appreciation.

Surely, in his view, the appearance of Artorius would greatly reduce Chaldea's burden. Just look at those around him.

Mash was a delicate maiden. Ritsuka was an amateur Master. Da Vinci was talented, but her indecent appearance made it hard to fully trust her with responsibility.

Calculating all of this, there wasn't a single person Romani could completely rely on around him. The pressure on him as the acting director of Chaldea must be immense.

But now, Artorius had arrived to lessen the burden. Even though he was a gentle and warm-hearted man, his determined expression, reliable words, and a strong sense of justice all proved that 'King Artorius' was a rare, dependable figure.

This was probably the first trustworthy and faultless teammate Romani had acquired. Just thinking about it made him almost tear up with emotion.

However, Romani was so preoccupied with his emotions that he didn't notice the strange looks of several people around him. Besides the contemptuous glares, there were also feelings of guilt and sympathy.

"You can always trust me."

Artorius patted Romani on the shoulder.

"Come on, everyone! Let's head to Rome as soon as possible!"

As he said that, Artorius transformed into a spiritual body, entering the spiritron coffin where Mash was located.