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Da Vinci paused briefly, then continued, “There’s not much to say about the Grand Order itself. After the conclusion of the Incineration of Humanity, Chaldea lost 80% of its staff. In our current state, we simply can’t keep going.

So, we had to bring in new personnel from outside. All the paperwork was completed a month ago, and the new staff arrived last week.

It’s been a year since the outside world started debating what to do with us. The new staff I just mentioned are about to arrive. So in a few days, Chaldea will be entering a new phase.”

“The new... Chaldea, huh?”

Sitting across from Da Vinci, Ritsuka held her teacup, feeling its warmth, her expression a bit dazed.

Chaldea meant a lot to her—these two years together weren’t any less important than all her previous years.

Is this time really coming to an end?

“That’s right. The Mage’s Association has appointed a new Director and brought in his staff.”

Da Vinci nodded. “The new Director is Goredolf Musik, the legitimate heir of a prestigious family in the world of mages.

He spent his entire fortune to buy Chaldea, making it clear that ‘Only the Musik family should manage Chaldea.’

In fact, the transition is already underway. It seems most of us old staff will be dismissed.

But that’s not the real issue. Even if you leave Chaldea, you’re still you. The real problem is the inspection team coming with them, sent by the United Nations.”

Mentioning the inspection team, Da Vinci put down her pen and said, “Even though it was during the Grand Order, Chaldea did break quite a few rules—for example, adjusting personnel without the Mage’s Association’s permission, sharing confidential knowledge with regular staff.

Repeatedly summoning the maximum of seven Servants, and performing Rayshifting without the UN’s approval—these are all considered serious crimes in their eyes.”

“But we didn’t abuse our authority, did we?”

Ritsuka couldn’t help but protest, “Weren’t we fighting to protect humanity?”

“Exactly! No one was acting out of selfishness or for personal gain. Besides, who had the time for that? It was a battle for the survival of humanity!”

Having voiced her dissatisfaction with the inspection team, Da Vinci went on, “But they don’t see it that way. To them, it’s just nonsense.

Anyone who’s looked at the records should understand what kind of threats we were fighting—blank spaces in the history of Earth lasting a year, the traces of several Singularities left in Sheba... No matter how unbelievable the facts, they have no choice but to acknowledge the Human Order Incineration happened.

But for them, it’s only a record. All they have to do is dismiss it with a ‘So what?’ and the conversation’s over.

After all, from their perspective, the world was destroyed while it slept, and when it woke up, everything was back to normal.

What remains are the countless casualties, the many promising Master candidates lost, and the facts that Chaldea broke the rules.

They’re holding this inquiry to see if these actions were deliberate, if there was some ulterior motive.

In other words, as far as the Association is concerned, all of Chaldea’s old staff are being treated like criminals.”

Da Vinci patted the documents on the table. “Anyway, I’m organizing these files to prove it’s all a misunderstanding.

If they only look at the records, we’ll use the records to defend ourselves.

‘Chaldea has committed no crimes, nor shown any intent to betray humanity.’ As long as we can prove that, my burden will be lifted!”

This was something that had to be done before leaving.

For Da Vinci, as a Heroic Spirit, returning to the Throne just meant going back to where she came from. But for Ritsuka, Mash, and all of Chaldea’s staff, their futures are long.

She couldn’t let something like this drag them down.

This was probably the last thing she could do for them as acting Director.

“And lifting the burden that guy pushed onto me... includes you, too.”

Da Vinci looked at the girl before her, beaming. “Oh, right, one more thing. When we Rayshifted to Singularity F, 47 Masters suffered in the control room explosion and were frozen in critical condition. Over the past year, they’ve been thawed out one by one.

But the A-team, who were in the Coffins during activation, except for Mash, are still frozen. Their revival is much more difficult, so to be safe, it’s been delayed until now.

Come to think of it, you don’t know much about the A-team, do you? Let me introduce them.”

Da Vinci perked up, sipping her tea. “First is Kirschtaria Wodime.

He’s the Chairman of the Department of Astromancy, one of the twelve departments at the Clock Tower, led by the Animusphere family, and the leader of A-team.

Both his family and his Magic Circuits have a thousand-year history. He’s the scion of the famed Wodime family, said to be even more of a Lord’s heir than Olga Marie herself, and Marisbury’s top disciple.

His expected Servant is Lancer; in terms of overall magecraft, he’s ranked first.

Next is Ophelia Phamrsolone, a top student of the Spiritual Evocation Department. She’s a special Mystic Eye holder, always wearing an eye patch—very conspicuous in Chaldea. She’s set to contract with a Saber-class Servant, and seems to have specific requirements about their race.

Kadoc Zemlupus—while he’s just an ordinary magus, his Rayshift aptitude is high, much like yours. In a team of geniuses, Kadoc is the most normal.

But on the other hand, he’s a gentle young man, though he’s a bit self-deprecating.

His expected Servant is Caster. Since his magical energy is low, he wants to avoid strenuous combat Servants.

Next is Scandinavia Peperoncino, nationality unknown and clearly a pseudonym. Marisbury met and recruited him during his travels; he’s a free magus.

Cheerful and witty, always telling jokes to lift A-team’s mood. He’s the oldest on the team, a man who seems born in the wrong era.

His expected Servant is Archer. He looks Italian, but oddly knowledgeable about Buddhism.

And, of course, very familiar with Indian mythology. He says, ‘I just love those cyclical myths where the world is destroyed and reborn.’

Next, Hinako Akuta, from the Department of Botany, famed for witchcraft studies, was once Chaldea’s tech staff, but her talents got her selected as a Master candidate.

She’s a woman who finds happiness in hiding in a corner reading day after day, but she exudes a strange atmosphere.

Romani once complained to me that she refuses to undergo health checkups.

Her expected Servant is Rider—apparently, she was insistent about it.

Then there’s... Beryl Gut. As for him—well, it’s fine to just mention his name and move on! Let’s go to the next one!

Finally—ah, yes, it’s him: Daybit Sem Void.

He’s the only real unknown in A-team, or maybe I should say a dangerous person.

His specialty at the Clock Tower is the Department of Lore, which has had the fewest students since its founding.

It studies artifacts outside the normal world, and is considered heretical, under the Dean’s jurisdiction. He’s an expelled from there.

Marisbury praised his abilities, and even I think Daybit is exceptional. Other than one or two people in my whole life, I’ve never seen such talent.

He’s just that kind of outlier—he doesn’t try to understand anyone, nor does anyone understand him.

His expected Servant is Berserker. From the start, he never expected to communicate with his Servant.

Those are the seven Masters of A-team. Quite an eccentric bunch, right?

Once this inquiry is over, we should finally be able to bring them back, since the new staff includes professional healers.

I imagine some A-team Masters may become the next Masters of Chaldea after they wake up.

‘We don’t need Ritsuka Fujimaru anymore’ and ‘I’ll take over before the year’s out’—that’s why the new Director said what he did. He wants trustworthy, high-born magus—

Anyway, a lot has happened, but just leave it all to me! I’ve been preparing for this for six months!”

“I did most of the work, you know.”

A certain famous detective appeared quietly, holding a pipe, and smiled. “But it wasn’t much trouble, really.”

“Eh?! Holmes!”

Only now realizing the third person in the workshop, Ritsuka jumped up from her chair, shocked to see Sherlock Holmes, who always came and went unpredictably in Chaldea.

Compared to other staff, Holmes appeared so rarely in Chaldea that you had to actively search for him.

Even for Ritsuka, she’d barely seen Holmes at all this year.

“Ha! What a cute reaction, excellent!”

Delighted by her response, Holmes smiled. “So my hiding wasn’t for nothing!”

“Hey, why did you suddenly come out?”

Seeing Holmes show up on his own, Da Vinci sighed, then looked apologetically at Ritsuka. “Sorry, Ritsuka—Holmes’s presence is top-secret. In all the reports we sent to the Mage’s Association this year, we didn’t even mention his name.

‘There is no Sherlock Holmes among the Servants summoned by Chaldea’—that’s how we set things up, as insurance.”

“Insurance?”

Ritsuka blinked, not understanding what Da Vinci and Holmes were preparing for. “Insurance against what?”

“Against an unseen enemy.”

Holmes explained, “If such an enemy exists, then we need an ally they also can’t see. That’s all this is—just a precaution. As Lie would say, ‘an umbrella for a rainy day.’

Besides, I’m no fighter. If things come to blows, all I can do is hole up in the workshop.”

“No, no, there may be arguments or disputes, but it won’t come to fighting.”

Da Vinci laughed. “The main reason Holmes is staying is to help me with my work—his skill in both science and magecraft surpasses the novels’ depiction.

That’s why I asked him to help make a certain little gadget.”

With that, Da Vinci proudly pulled a briefcase with the Chaldea insignia from under the table and set it before Ritsuka.

“This just looks like an ordinary briefcase, right?”

Da Vinci smiled. “But inside is something as precious as the Earth itself! The transfer work isn’t finished, so you can’t take it yet. But in five days, it’ll be done—just in time for us to leave Chaldea.

As for what’s inside, I’ll tell you then.”

With a mysterious smile, Da Vinci put the case away, preventing Ritsuka from looking inside.

Though she was curious, Ritsuka decided not to pry further.

If Da Vinci said so, there had to be a reason.

With her questions answered, Ritsuka soon left Da Vinci’s secret workshop.

…

A short day soon passed.

December 27, 2018.

A black craft soared across the blue sky.

It had been trapped by storms for a month. Now, it carried visitors whose arrival signified the end.

“—The above 44 people, registration and certification, all approved.

Security check: per Association regulations, special exemption granted;

All personnel permitted to enter Chaldea.

Main gate, opening.

Welcome, Lord Goredolf Musik.

And to the members of the United Nations investigation committee, Chaldea welcomes you.”

The cold broadcast signaled the end.

Mash, waiting in the control room, was also curious about the new Director.

“The new Director chosen by the Mage’s Association…”

Looking at the control room’s door, Mash wondered, “What kind of person will the new Director be?”

“Goredolf Musik. 28 years old. Heir to a famous line of alchemists.”

Having already investigated, Da Vinci replied, “The Association’s evaluation—well, it’s average. Though the family is old, they’ve accomplished little in the world of magecraft. Compared to other great families, they just have history and a bit more wealth.

A typical rich young master. Why would someone like that be the new Director? I have my guesses, but we’ll see when we meet.”

While chatting, the visitors finally arrived.

“Oh, oh, oh!! I had no expectations for such a remote workshop, but this is so modern!”

A large, blond man exclaimed, “No, it’s even more advanced than any workshop in London! This is a real bargain!”

Seeing the visitor, Da Vinci whispered, “Ritsuka, stay quiet from here on, okay? I think this guy is even harder to handle than Director Olga Marie when he gets mad.”

“Oh, is that the Servant mentioned in the report?”

Goredolf Musik noticed Da Vinci and the others, his eyes widening in open admiration. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s Leonardo da Vinci, right? As expected of a genius replica. Not bad at all! A familiar should be a beauty.”

Goredolf’s blunt words were hard to ignore, even for bystanders.

“Sir, isn’t your comment a bit inappropriate? That Servant is the acting Director.”

A tall woman with pink hair whispered, “Even if it’s just a country workshop, she kept Chaldea running for a year without a Director.

It’s best to build a good relationship with her—I recommend starting with pleasantries.”

“Ha ha, Koyanskaya, you should whisper that in my ear, my ear!”

Goredolf laughed, “But I absolutely won’t let my guard down around Servants, no matter how much of a beauty they are.”

“Thank you for the compliment. Though I’ve heard that from every human alive, I’ll take it as polite conversation.”

Da Vinci smiled. “Welcome to the Chaldea Security Organization, and thank you for coming from so far, Director Goredolf.”

“Hmm. Other than being snowed in for a month, it was comfortable.”

Goldolf cleared his throat. “Now, let’s get down to business—Leonardo da Vinci?”

The name seemed to trip him up.

“No need to be formal. Just call me Da Vinci, or Caster if you prefer.”

Da Vinci smiled.

“Ahem, then, Caster.”

Goredolf stared at Da Vinci. “Former Director Olga Marie Animusphere and Acting Director Romani Archaman—both failed in their duties due to accidents, so you became acting Director.

Thank you for your service. But your job ends here. From now on, I will fully take over Chaldea. As for you—”

Thud, thud.

As Goldolf spoke, soldiers in full gear surrounded Ritsuka, Mash, and the others.

“Sorry, but I have to arrest you right now!”

Goredolf barked, “Don’t try anything!”

Seeing the sudden situation, Da Vinci quickly calmed Ritsuka and Mash, then tried to negotiate with Goredolf.

“Arrest us? We shouldn’t be under arrest, at least not before the inquiry is over.”

Da Vinci smiled. “Or has the outside world already decided that Chaldea is guilty? If so, you’d have sent a proper suppression force. We’re a mysterious organization that saved the world, after all.

But you’re too few—less than forty people. That’s not enough for a real operation.

So, this must be your own decision, not the Association’s.

I’d like to contact the Association for clarification—what do you think?”

“………”

Shocked by Da Vinci’s logical rebuttal, Goredolf turned to the pink-haired woman. “Koyanskaya, are all the Servants this sharp?

There should only be technicians and half-baked Masters left in Chaldea, no one who’d oppose me. Didn’t you say so?”

“Sorry, looks like my report was a little off.”

The woman called Koyanskaya chuckled. “But don’t worry—NFF Services is here for this sort of thing. Be as forceful as you like; NFF Services won’t let them lay a finger on you.

Of course, this is a special service, so your wallet will feel it.”

“Whoa! You mean you’re taking more of my money, Koyanskaya?!”

As if recalling past pain, Goredolf’s eyes widened, but he quickly turned back to Da Vinci and laughed, “For the record, I have more staff than this from the Association, many still on the ship—three times the number of guards here. Suppressing Chaldea would be easy.

Just consider this the Association’s will: all former staff are to be arrested, gathered together, and Chaldea will be thoroughly searched.

During this period, you’ll all be treated as serious criminals.

Even though most of you will be dismissed, I hope you’ll leave happily.

You’ll be divided into groups of four and housed separately. Until called for the inquiry, you’ll stay quietly in your rooms.

We’ll investigate Chaldea and complete the transition—see? It’s all very peaceful.

Other noble magus, with their sense of privilege, would treat you non-magus like slaves. I won’t do that. Interrogating each one is too much trouble—I’ll leave everything to Koyanskaya.”

“I see. Thank you for your gentlemanly handling, Director Goredolf. May I ask why you bought Chaldea? I can’t imagine what profits you’d get from a remote research facility.”

Goredolf’s motives had always been a mystery to Da Vinci—now was the time to ask.

“No profit? Ha, I’ll be the judge of that.”

Goredolf laughed. “The Clock Tower’s opinion of Chaldea is terrible—untrustworthy magecraft, a useless band of scammers, the shame of the Twelve Lords—nobody wanted to talk about it.

But I saw its great value and decided Chaldea was an excellent organization—but only with me in charge.

Originally, Chaldea was to be sold off in seven parts, but I spent my entire fortune to stop its division.

People at the Clock Tower fought over which part to claim for their own interests—I hated that, hated them.

An organization is like a body—one wants a hand, another just the heart. That’s too much! I wanted Chaldea whole, and I achieved that.

But the blood of the organization—its staff—will all be replaced! Hahaha!”

Goredolf laughed at his own joke.

“Director Goredolf, I think that’s enough of an introduction.”

A man in priest’s robes appeared before Ritsuka, saying, “You and they are ‘those who advance’ and ‘those who leave’—no need for mutual understanding. Getting too close would only cause trouble.

The Church’s inspection team is ready. Let’s begin the investigation immediately—”

With the priest’s arrival, Goredolf stopped laughing and introduced him seriously. “This is—”

“Pleased to meet you. I am Kirei Kotomine.”

Introducing himself, the priest said, “I’m the advisor sent by the Holy Church’s inspection team. I’ll be staying here until the investigation is complete. Please take care of me.

To all of you who ensured humanity’s survival, our time together is short, but I hope we can get along.”

With Kirei’s arrival, Ritsuka and the others were promptly confined to Chaldea’s holding cells, and a long, grueling inquiry began.

December 28, 2018 – Inquiry, attempted revival of the Coffins.

December 29, 2018 – Inquiry, attempted revival of the Coffins.

December 30, 2018 – Inquiry, attempted revival of the Coffins?

“—The following 1 person, registration and certification, approved;

Security check: per Association regulations, special exemption granted;

Entry to Chaldea permitted.

Main gate, opening.

Welcome back, ■■.”

“Phew—”

Looking at the open doors, the young man exhaled, his hot breath turning to a wavering heatwave in the snow.

On the last day of the year, the final, belated visitor had arrived.