Does a Doll Deserve to Live a Happy Life? (Patreon)

Chapter 43: Singularity F — Burning City

Running at a full sprint, pushing my current body to its limits, I didn’t slow down for even a second as I retraced my steps back toward the mission area and rushed into the elevator.

As it descended, I glanced through the window at the massive structure below, that I had learned was the central power plant that powered Chaldeas.

Now, it was in chaos.

Flames spread across parts of the facility, thick smoke rising as debris littered the area.

By the time the elevator doors opened, I was already moving.

Ignoring the destruction and fire around me, I rushed into the chamber where the Master candidates had gathered earlier, my senses locking onto a single presence—

—one that was rapidly fading.

“Mash!” I shouted, hoping she could hear me.

Instead, I heard the pitiful whimper of a familiar creature.

It took me a few seconds, with my abilities still restricted, but I finally spotted her.

Mash lay on the ground, pinned beneath a massive slab of concrete that crushed the lower half of her body.

In front of her, Fou whimpered softly before turning toward me as I approached.

“Mash!” I yelled, relief flooding through me at the sight that she was still alive, even if just barely.

“Sen…pai…?” Mash muttered weakly, just managing to turn her head toward me.

“Mash, hang in there! I’ll help you right away!” I called out as I rushed to her side.

“No… that’s…” she tried to protest weakly.

I ignored her.

Dropping to her side, I grabbed the massive slab of concrete. The heat from the flames didn’t bother me as I tightened my grip and lifted.

On my way here, I had confirmed through Bounty Tracker that Lev was no longer inside Chaldea.

That meant I could stop holding back for the most part.

Releasing my physical restrictions, I exerted my full strength.

The slab, easily weighing a ton or more, rose slowly under my grip.

Mash stared at me in weak surprise, her fading eyes unable to fully process what she was seeing.

With a strained grunt, I shifted the slab to the side and let it crash away from her body.

“There… now let’s get you healed,” I said, breathing a little heavier from the effort.

“Please… you need to… run…” Mash whispered weakly, shaking her head. “It’s too late… for me…”

Normally, I would have agreed.

Her condition…

…was worse than I had expected.

I had been trying not to look directly at it, but now I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

From the waist down—

—Mash’s body was completely destroyed.

The impact had nearly severed her.

For a brief moment, my hands trembled since I felt partially responsible.

But I forced myself to stay focused.

Kneeling in front of her, I gently took both of her hands in mine. Despite the raging flames around us, they were already growing cold.

“I won’t leave you, Mash,” I said softly.

Behind us, the speakers echoed a grim announcement:

Shiva’s near-future observational date… unable to detect the survival of the human race for the next 100 years.

I ignored it.

My gaze stayed locked onto Mash’s fading violet eyes as she looked up at me.

“B-But, Senpai…” Mash tried again weakly, but I shook my head.

“Mash, there is a way for me to heal you, with one of my mysteries. But there’s a prerequisite,” I said softly, my expression serious.

I was referring to my Shroud of Power. Once she was properly bound, the effects of the binding would heal her body completely along with giving her a few more perks.

With just this one act I would be changing the future since Mash would no longer have a limited lifespan, requiring Fou to sacrifice himself in the future for her.

“Y-You can…?” Mash asked in disbelief, her fading voice trembling.

“Yes,” I nodded. “But I need you to trust me. This mystery works faster if the person accepts it willingly.”

As I spoke, golden tendrils of my Shroud manifested behind me, slowly extending outward.

Mash didn’t even glance at them.

Instead, she looked straight into my eyes.

For a few seconds, she said nothing.

Then, a small smile formed on her lips.

Her grip on my hands tightened as much as her weakened body allowed.

“I trust you, Senpai.”

My expression softened.

Smiling back at her, I guided the golden tendrils forward. They wrapped around her gently, around both halves of her body, even if the lower portion was barely recognizable anymore.

The Shroud formed a cocoon around her, leaving only her head and hands exposed.

“Now for the last part,” I said quietly, giving her hands a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right here the entire time.”

Mash nodded weakly, her eyes never leaving mine.

Even as the Shroud continued to envelop her…

…even as it covered her arms…

…her shoulders…

…her face…

…I didn’t let go.

“Don’t fight it, Mash,” I murmured softly.

In response, her fingers gave mine one last small squeeze.

Then she disappeared completely within the cocoon.

The moment she accepted it, I felt the connection form between us and got a notification for the successful capture.

And then—

—relief.

Her body, which had been moments from death, was restored instantly.

Whole.

Complete.

As if nothing had ever happened.

From within the cocoon, I heard a sharp gasp, Mash’s voice filled with shock no doubt due to being able to feel her body again.

I didn’t waste a second.

Once I confirmed the binding was successful, I willed the Shroud to recede.

The golden cocoon dissolved.

Revealing Mash—

—completely healed.

She blinked in disbelief, her violet eyes wide as she stared at herself.

I smiled wider.

Gently, I helped her up onto her knees so she was properly facing me.

Fou let out a pleased cry at her recovery, while in the background, the speakers blared another announcement:

“Central bulkhead will now sealed. Commencing interior cleansing in 90 seconds.”

I ignored it.

“There. See?” I said softly. “Good as new.”

Mash continued staring down at her body, her hands trembling slightly as she moved one of them down to her lower body and her knees.

“I… I’m alive…?” she whispered, almost to herself.

“Of course you are, silly,” I replied gently, squeezing her hands again. “We did make a promise, didn’t we? We still have to share some snacks and there’s still so much I don’t know about you.”

At that, Mash finally looked up at me.

Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.

“S-Senpai…” her voice broke slightly. “Y-You…”

Her grip tightened.

“T-Thank you.”

I shook my head.

“Don’t thank me. I’m sorry I couldn’t be here sooner to protect you,” I said quietly, a hint of remorse slipping through. I knew this had happened because I chose not to confront Lev earlier, worried about the consequences.

“It’s not your fault,” Mash replied softly, shaking her head.

Then she looked around at the raging fire and the sealed exit, a trace of worry crossing her face.

“What will we do now, Senpai? Thanks to you saving me… we’re now trapped here.”

“Don’t worry,” I reassured her with a calm smile. “Everything will be alright. Romani was right behind me, so I’m sure help will arrive soon.”

It was a white lie.

In reality, Romani was probably busy doing something else like trying to put out the fires in the power plant which was what allowed Chaldea to run.

Mash didn’t look entirely convinced, but she nodded anyway. It was probably a consequence of the Conjunction perk which allowed her to sense my emotions which she now had access to.

“Whatever happens,” I continued, tightening my grip on her hand, “I’m not leaving your side.”

Right on cue, Fou let out a small yip before jumping onto my shoulder.

“Fou~”

Mash smiled faintly at the sight.

Still holding my hand, she relaxed slightly before looking up toward the ceiling.

“…Senpai, we can’t see the sky at all from here.”

Her words lingered in the air for a moment.

Then I smiled softly.

“Then let me make you a new promise, Mash.”

That got her attention.

She looked back at me, her violet eyes focused entirely on mine.

“Let’s see the sky together one day.”

For a brief moment, her eyes widened.

Then they softened.

“…Yes,” she said quietly, nodding. “It’s a promise.”

As we spoke, the emergency announcements continued in the background.

But when I heard it—

“Reestablishing contact with designated candidate number 48…”

—I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

Good… I haven’t broken the timeline yet.

A moment later, the Rayshift sequence began.

A strange sensation overtook my body as my consciousness started to fade.

Instinctively, I tightened my grip on Mash’s hand.

I knew what was coming.

We were about to be transported—

—to our first Singularity.

Singularity F.

I just hope I didn’t change things too much…

…that Galahad refuses to form a contract with Mash.

That was my final thought—

before everything went dark.

=====

When I next opened my eyes, it was to the sound of Fou standing on my chest while licking my cheek in an attempt to wake me, as I lay on what felt like cement.

“Thanks for waking me up, Fou.” I thanked softly, getting a small yip in return.

Immediately going on alert, I grabbed Fou gently and stood up, looking around cautiously at my surroundings. The sight of a desolated city greeted me, which could only be Fuyuki.

Looking down at my right hand next, I saw my set of Command Seals visible again and let out a sigh of relief when I felt a new connection if I concentrated a bit, which could only be Mash.

Knowing that standing in the middle of the street would only paint a target on my back with corrupted Servants out and about, I immediately moved toward cover, summoning my sword while Fou climbed onto my shoulder.

I had only taken a few steps when I clicked my tongue in annoyance as I saw some undead skeletons walk out of the shadows with weapons in their hands.

“Looks like I have to deal with you first before I go and find Mash,” I said, tightening my grip on my sword while raising my other hand and drawing the Ansuz rune in the air.

A moment later, a ball of fire was launched at the middle of the undead, instantly vaporizing them.

“Luckily, they’re pretty easy to deal with,” I muttered, continuing forward in the direction where I sensed Mash, who was currently making her way toward me.

I dealt with some more undead along the way before coming to a stop as Mash suddenly jumped down from a roof and landed in front of me.

Seeing her wearing her Servant outfit, I couldn’t help but think that it suited her, even if it was quite revealing compared to her normal clothes.

Ignoring that, I smiled and walked up to her as she looked at me with a cute, serious expression.

“Servant Mash Kyrielight, ready for battle, Master,” she declared with her best attempt at a serious face.

Ignoring that, I got within arm’s reach and suddenly pulled her into a hug, causing her to squeak in embarrassment as I brought her head to my chest, inadvertently squishing her breasts against my abdomen.

“I’m glad you’re alright, Mash,” I muttered softly just over her ear, causing her to shiver as I felt her free hand shyly grab onto my shirt. “And you don’t have to call me Master, you know.”

“S-Senpai, now is not the time,” Mash said shyly as she looked up at me with a blush on her cheeks.

“I know, but I’m just happy that you’re okay,” I said in return, holding the hug for a few more moments before finally pulling away and smiling at her, which she shyly returned.

“Anyway, I can already guess what’s going on. We are more than likely inside the Singularity you spoke to me about. How are you feeling, Mash? Are you getting enough magic from me?” I asked curiously, raising the hand that held the Command Seals.

At my question, Mash straightened up and adopted her cute serious expression again.

“Yes, Master! I’m operating at 100 percent efficiency and ready for combat. As for you providing enough magic, that’s not a problem at all. Master is supplying me with more than enough.”

“Good, now how about we—”

I was cut off as we both heard a feminine scream in the distance and turned in that direction.

“That sounded like the director. Come, Mash, let’s go help her,” I declared, getting a nod from her.

“Yes, Master.”

With us running at full speed, Mash slightly surprised that I was able to keep up with her, it only took a few moments before we came upon the scene.

Olga was slowly backing away while firing Gandr at a group of undead skeletons that were surrounding her, muttering in panic to herself.

“Handle the undead, Mash. I’ll protect the Director,” I instructed firmly.

“Understood,” Mash immediately replied and shot forward, cracking the ground behind her.

As for myself, I took off as well, arriving just in time to save Olga from an ambush. I picked her up in a bridal carry, causing her to cry out in surprise, and jumped back while destroying the undead with a kick at the same time.

“Are you alright, Director?” I asked, looking down at her flustered expression.

“Y-You!” Olga exclaimed, surprised to see me. Then she realized her position and grew even more flustered, squirming in my arms. “Put me down at once!”

“Of course,” I said with a nod, gently lowering her to the ground.

Olga quickly adjusted her dress and huffed, looking off to the side like a typical tsundere.

By that time, Mash had already dealt with the undead and made her way back to us.

“Are you hurt, Director?” Mash asked.

“What is going on here?” Olga demanded with a frown, placing her hands on her hips.

“This is Singularity F. Fuyuki, 2004. It may be hard to believe, but I—” Mash began.

“You’re a Demi-Servant, right? I could tell just by looking at you,” Olga cut her off with a huff, clearly annoyed. “What I want to know is, why didn’t it succeed until now?”

“Before being Rayshifted, a Servant offered me a contract. In exchange for giving me the abilities of a Heroic Spirit and a Noble Phantasm, he wanted me to eliminate the cause of the Singularity,” Mash explained calmly.

‘So the same events happened,’ I thought, letting them talk.

“Then this substitute commoner has become your Master?” Olga asked, turning to me with visible annoyance.

‘Yep, she’s still mad about before,’ I noted dryly.

“But Director, Senpai is a fantastic Master. He provides me with more than enough magical energy, and he even managed to save my life before I died when the explosions happened!” Mash immediately jumped in to defend me, her expression firm despite how cute she looked.

Olga was clearly caught off guard, likely not used to seeing Mash act like that.

Before Olga could respond, already looking a bit red in the face, I stepped in.

“I’m sorry to cut this short, but we need to keep moving. I can sense Servants nearby, so our best option is to find cover. There’s also something extremely important I need to discuss with you, Director,” I said seriously.

Taken aback, Olga blinked. She looked ready to reprimand me, but the logic of my words seemed to sink in. She huffed and turned her face away, crossing her arms beneath her chest.

“Fine! But don’t think for a second you’re in charge here or that you can give me orders,” she snapped.

Mash, on the other hand, stood at attention and nodded seriously.

“Good idea, Master.”

As we began moving toward a safer location, I kept my gaze on Olga from the corner of my eye, wondering how best to tell her the truth—

—that she was technically already dead and wouldn’t be able to return to Chaldea without my help.

Well… if all else fails, I can always heal her forcefully and ask for forgiveness later.