Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King's Personal Knight [400] (Patreon)

"Missed my chance, didn’t I, Sir Alaric?"

Feeling the overwhelming pressure, unmoving as a mountain, Kirei Kotomine realized that his surprise attack had failed.

Although this was one of the main objectives of the operation—since Alaric was here—success was always uncertain.

Kirei had acted on a whim, just to see if he could pull it off.

As expected, Alaric stopped him in the end.

This really is—

"Sir Alaric, doesn’t this action violate the contract?"

Retracting his hand, Kirei smiled and asked, "Personal feelings will only get in the way here. This operation was just a step away from completion."

"There’s still room for maneuver, isn’t there?"

Alaric smiled back, replying, "As for the contract, Father, you don’t need to worry. I’m quite aware of my own responsibilities."

"!"

Leonardo da Vinci’s expression changed as she finally reacted. She quickly pulled Ritsuka Fujimaru away from Kotomine, saying, "Fujimaru, hurry, get in!"

Although Da Vinci had always been wary of Kirei, she didn’t expect him to go this far.

If not for Alaric, perhaps by now her Saint Graph would have been destroyed, leading to her death.

But for Da Vinci, that wasn’t the most important thing. What mattered most was Fujimaru and Mash’s safety!

Handing the suitcase to Fujimaru, only then did Da Vinci breathe a sigh of relief.

"Da Vinci, you stay. Mash, Miss Fujimaru, you two go."

Alaric, his expression calm, released Mash from his embrace, letting her enter the container while retaining Da Vinci, who had just escaped danger and should have left.

"Looks like I can’t escape, huh?"

Pressing her lips together, Da Vinci collected herself and chuckled, "So, Fujimaru, Mash, you must get away!"

"No, no way! How can we do something like that?"

Mash, unwilling to leave Da Vinci behind, looked at Alaric in confusion, "Sir Alaric, why?"

"Sir Alaruc, you—"

Fujimaru stared at Alaric, looking for an answer, but was disappointed.

"Miss Fujimaru, you can do this."

Ignoring Mash’s questioning, Alaric glanced at Fujimaru standing at the container entrance, "Safe travels, all of you."

"——"

Gritting her teeth, Fujimaru didn’t hesitate. She pulled Mash into the container, and as everyone boarded, the container shot out from Chaldea, sliding down the snowy mountain!

Alaric stood at the edge of Chaldea, gazing down.

The distant container symbolized the birth of a new Chaldea.

Beside him, Da Vinci asked, "So, can you tell me why you left me behind? Are you in league with them?"

"I need your help, Da Vinci. My brain isn’t as sharp as yours, after all."

Alaric smiled, "Don’t worry, Da Vinci, Fujimaru and the others will be fine."

"The Master, the demi-servant, Goredorf, and the eight staff members who escaped successfully—"

Kirei, visibly troubled, watched the departing container and said, "That’s 11 precious lives. Can you handle them, Koyanskaya?"

Holding a sniper rifle, Koyanskaya stood by Kirei, a wild smile on her face, "I can. Even if it’s outside my job description, I can provide this service—because I have my pride, too.

Of course, I’ll need your cooperation, won’t I?"

As she spoke, Koyanskaya looked toward the only unpredictable element present.

"Do as you like. I’ll watch."

Alaric, not intending to interfere, signaled Koyanskaya to proceed. Da Vinci beside him hesitated to speak but held her tongue.

"Oh, right. I should take care of this."

As if remembering something, Alaric turned to Da Vinci, "Sorry, Da Vinci, please bear with me for a bit."

A flash of swordlight suddenly illuminated the entire hangar. The terrifying sword aura made Koyanskaya’s face change dramatically.

There was no doubt—it was the pinnacle of swordsmanship, someone who had reached the realm of the gods!

…

At the same time—

Inside the rapidly sliding container.

"We’re sliding! No doubt, sliding down the slope! This is just ridiculous!"

Even the seasoned Chaldea staff were shocked by the unfolding scene.

"But this means we can escape, right? As long as we reach the foot of the mountain, there should be an association boat by the coast—"

Bang!

A terrifying impact and explosion instantly flipped the container, flames bursting out and thick black smoke billowing.

"Wh-what was that just now?! No, we’re rolling—the container is rolling!"

The container, which should have been sliding, was now tumbling down the mountain at a terrifying speed!

"A sniper?"

Goredorf, tightly strapped into his seat, shouted, "Where did that shot come from?! The container’s breaking apart! If we get thrown out at this speed—"

Fujimaru, pale with fear, instinctively looked at Holmes in the driver’s seat, about to speak—

A strange voice echoed inside the container.

"Don’t worry! The container is just an outer shell, just a shell! We’ll survive! I figured something like this might happen, so I spent six whole months refitting it!"

As the words fell, a fleet of polar off-road vehicles burst out from the burning container, gliding smoothly down the mountain!

At the same time, a small figure appeared in front of Fujimaru.

It was the familiar appearance of the universal genius—but as a child?

"Good morning, everyone! Chaldea crew!"

Holding a magic staff, Da Vinci-chan grinned, "Should I say ‘nice to meet you’? I’m Leonardo da Vinci—you can call me Da Vinci-chan!"

"Wha—"

Everyone was stunned as if they’d seen a ghost, and Fujimaru exclaimed, "What is going on?!"

"Haha, what’s going on? Of course, it’s a new upgrade!"

Da Vinci-chan laughed, "After all, I’m a genius—I can’t always look the same, right? Or what, are you just now realizing my charm and are speechless? Oh, stop it~

Anyway, this is the so-called power of the protagonist. Even though my main body is still fine, I’ve appeared again—did I scare you?"

"Though the energy consumption is lower, the output is also reduced. This is a backup body prepared by Lady Da Vinci just in case."

Holmes explained from nearby, "Though her actions are synchronized with Da Vinci’s memories up to now, maintaining continuity, she’s actually just a recently awakened low-grade servant."

Originally, there was no need to awaken this backup body, since Da Vinci herself still had hope of returning to Chaldea.

But for some unknown reason, Chaldea’s connection with the backup body was forcibly cut off, as if it had died.

This led to the awakening and use of Da Vinci-chan.

"Hey, you in the control room—the guy in the lousy black coat!"

Da Vinci-chan pouted, "Don’t spoil things so easily! I picked the perfect time for my entrance, you know?"

"Wait, is this for real?"

Mash, still struggling to process it, stared blankly at Da Vinci-chan, "Are you really Da Vinci?"

"Yes, that’s right."

Da Vinci-chan replied warmly, "Mash, Fujimaru—it’s my first time meeting you, but I know you both well.

Because I inherited my memories from me, I’ve always looked forward to greeting you like this someday. I hope you can rely on this me from now on, even though I’m a bit less versatile than before.

Oh, by the way, the all-purpose me has probably been dragged off by Sir Alaric as a laborer—don’t forget!"

"Introductions over? Then hurry back to the controls, Da Vinci-chan."

Holmes, already tired of driving, called out, "You were created as a special servant to pilot this special vehicle—the Shadow Border, an imaginary submarine.

Without your intellect, the Shadow Border’s full potential can’t be realized."

"Geez, Mr. Holmes, you’re too impatient. Once I’m back at the controls, I won’t be able to talk anymore."

Da Vinci-chan sighed helplessly, "But since this is an emergency, everyone’s safety comes first. I’ll quietly go to sleep now.

See you later—let’s talk again once things calm down. Goodnight, Fujimaru, Mash."

Even as she said this, Mash and Fujimaru were still at a loss about the situation.

After Da Vinci-chan left, the whole vehicle shook.

"Whoa, we jumped!"

Goredorf immediately analyzed the situation, "That was the jolt from crossing the slope, wasn’t it!"

"Correct. Seems Mr. Goredorf enjoys driving," Holmes smiled.

"Well, not to boast, but I race as a hobby!"

Goredorf said, "Sponsor? Me. Driver? Me. Team strategy? Also me! Like a phoenix—Musik!"

"Enough of that. We’re entering the ice field now," Holmes interrupted. "Let’s head for the coast and out to sea!"

"So this is actually the South Pole!"

For the first time seeing the outside of Chaldea, Fujimaru pressed against the window, curiously observing the pure, untouched snow—the last unexplored land unclaimed by humanity.

"That’s right. Although many countries claim ownership, this is the last front never stained by mankind.

Chaldea was built at its very center, a place no country can claim exclusively."

Holmes continued, "The endless blizzards and mysterious mountain ranges are hidden by magical barriers, constantly concealing its location and secrets. It’s Earth’s largest and only facility for human history observation.

This is the Human Order Security Organization, Chaldea—or rather, it was Chaldea.

Because Chaldea has been taken over by a mysterious enemy, and it’s about to close down."

Mash, shocked, said, "It’s closing down now?"

"Yes. Twenty seconds ago, all communications from the control center stopped, power failed, Caldeas shut down, air conditioning stopped, and inside temperatures dropped below -100°C."

Holmes, calm as ever, said, "It’s hard to say, but the facts should be stated as they are: Chaldea has collapsed.

We have no way to take it back, nor any way to return."

"Don’t say that—please stop! Isn’t Sir Alaric still in Chaldea? Why did it turn out like this? How could it be taken—no, it wasn’t taken at all!"

Unable to accept reality, Mash shouted, "Chaldea holds everyone’s memories, no matter what!

And—and! There’s still the doctor’s room—!"

Increasingly agitated, Mash even tried to open the car door to leave.

"Things look bad, but we have to be prepared for the possibility that Sir Alaric is working with them—at least for a shared goal."

Holmes said, "Miss Fujimaru, please restrain Mash. Her body is at its limit. Without synchronization with her Spirit Origin, the burden of arming herself falls entirely on her flesh.

She doesn’t even have the strength to open the door now. Help her to her seat and fasten her belt so she won’t get hurt."

As Fujimaru helped Mash to her seat, Meunière suddenly yelled, "Holmes, do you see that outside? What is it?"

"Of course. Ever since I took the wheel, I’ve been watching," Holmes replied calmly. "It’s unbelievable—a sight that makes you think you’re dreaming."

In the pitch-black sky, dazzling arcs of light fell.

Alaric watched this scene, too.

Gazing into the distance, Alaric sighed, "What a sight..."

Magnificent fantasy falling from the cosmos—seven of them—bringing the initialization of the planet, a brand-new mythology.

It was also—

His best chance.

"Meteorites? No, we haven’t had any reports from Panama!"

"No large enough meteorites detected to survive atmospheric entry!"

"And what’s with that descent trajectory? By what principle could they fall straight down like that?"

Questions arose one after another.

Holmes calmly analyzed, "That proves they’re not meteorites from deep space or cosmic debris. That leaves only fictional possibilities—like invaders from space."

"What are you saying? How can you say such terrifying things so seriously?!"

Goredorf, pale and trembling, protested, "Are you saying aliens disguised as humans have come to take over Chaldea?!"

"Sorry, quiet please."

Holmes cut him off, "We’re receiving an external transmission—this frequency is from your Chaldea."

With that, Holmes connected the call.

After a brief burst of static, a declaration of the end rang out:

[Announcement.

We issue this declaration to all humanity.

From this moment, this planet will be reborn into an ancient yet brand-new world.

Human civilization is not correct. Our development was not correct.

Therefore, I have decided to rebel against human history—against Pan-Human History.]

The sky dissolved; the roots of fantasy fell from the cosmos.

[Once more, let the world be filled with inhuman mysteries. Let this planet return to the age of the gods.

For this, the gods have descended from distant space, using seven seeds to choose new leaders.

These leaders will reshape the planet. The most outstanding Lostbelt King will renew the world.

This competition is not for the lives of Pan-Human History, nor will they be spectators.

The roots of fantasy have already fallen.

The Trees of Creation already cover the land.

From this moment, all the endeavors of old humanity will be frozen; your crimes will be settled in this manner.

Pan-Human History ends in 2018.

My name is Wodime—Kirschtaria Wodime. On behalf of the Seven Crypters, I announce to the survivors of Chaldea—no, to you few remaining old humans:

The history of this planet will be inherited by us.]