Chapter 21: -21- The Day of the Beginning of Fate
In the following period, Chaldea became completely busy and chaotic. All technical staff were gathered by Olga Marie to various facilities in Chaldea, conducting investigations and observations on the situation of Singularity F. They were constantly trying to gather information and formulate countermeasures.
The employees were assigned various tasks, some going to the United Nations to obtain formal permits for Spiritron Transfer, while others followed Olga Marie's orders and started gathering talents with Spiritron Transfer and Master compatibility from around the world.
Olga Marie was giving her all to ensure the success of the first operation a month later. At this time, anything that could contribute even a slight advantage to the operation, she would go for it.
Amidst all this, Chaldea's most trusted technician, Lev, also threw himself into work and disappeared from sight. Even Romani was driven to his limits, and there was hardly any time to eat. Romani couldn't help but complain about it.
"Isn't the update for 'Magic☆Meri' this month too?"
Amidst this cry of despair, Romani didn't even have time to say hello and only met with Rozen a few times in the entire month. The rest of the time, Romani was rushing around Chaldea, taking care of everyone's health.
Incidentally, "Magic☆Meri" referred to the blog of an internet idol. Romani was a die-hard fan and loved it so much that he considered it his spiritual sustenance. He would spend a long time on the blog every day and enthusiastically leave comments, which were punished with verbal abuse in return. Rozen, who also loved the internet, couldn't help but find it embarrassing and had considered severing ties with this embarrassing guy more than once.
During this time, various Spiritron Transfer candidates were continuously gathered in Chaldea, including Rozen. Naturally, they were put through rigorous training to prepare for the first operation.
Olga Marie's instructions were clear: "All Spiritron Transfer candidates must undergo a certain level of simulated combat training. I will issue the permit. From now on, every candidate is free to participate in simulated combat, no, they must train in simulated combat every day!"
As a result, even Rozen and other candidates couldn't catch a break and were thrown into simulated combat more frequently than ever, enduring rigorous training.
Understandably, many of the newcomers to Chaldea, those who hadn't received any training, lamented and complained about it. After all, the burden on the brain from constant Spiritron dives was immense.
In contrast, Rozen, who had lower physical strength than most, was surprisingly active in the simulated combat and seemed unlike his usual self.
In Chaldea, people started to evaluate Rozen in various ways:
"Number 1's performance in simulated combat is top-notch."
"Is it another perfect score this time?"
"That guy used to give up as soon as he got a passing grade, right?"
"He's working hard lately, is it because of the impending apocalypse?"
"I wish he could be this diligent all the time."
Those were the evaluations that people in Chaldea gave Rozen after witnessing his performance. Even the other Spiritron Transfer candidates looked at him with various expressions.
"As expected of senpai."
Mash, who trained in simulated combat with Rozen every day, would praise him each time, taking pride in his efforts.
"Finally willing to take things seriously, huh?"
Romani, who was busy to the point of madness, would laugh with a sigh.
"So this is Rozen's true ability."
Lev, who occasionally heard others' evaluations of Rozen, muttered to himself.
"...He should have been like this from the beginning, idiot."
Olga Marie coldly snorted when she learned of this through reports.
As a result, those compatibility candidates who had gathered at Chaldea during the past month were dismissive of Rozen.
"Just some random rogue mage."
"Probably just has a higher compatibility, that's all."
"But that kind of talent doesn't prove anything."
"That's right."
"We noble descendants of the Mage's Association are the true elites."
These were the reactions of those compatibility candidates.
————The Mage's Association.
It is an association formed by people who study magic as an academic discipline, regardless of nationality or school. They manage and conceal magic and consider its development their mission.
That, is the Mage's Association.
In the world of magic, the status of the Mage's Association is unparalleled. Not to mention its history, which spans over two thousand years.
Therefore, except for a few like Rozen, who has been staying at Chaldea, quietly learning magic, most mages in the magical world are affiliated with this association.
Chaldea itself is also a facility under the jurisdiction of the Mage's Association.
The more prestigious the family, the better the magic circuits, and the more exceptional the magic talent.
This has led the mages of the association to value bloodline above all else.
For them, someone like Rozen, who is relatively unknown, is naturally considered a half-baked upstart, leading to disdain and contempt from the bottom of their hearts.
Of course, not everyone thinks that way.
People with both Spiritron Transfer Aptitude and Master Aptitude come not only from the prestigious magical families but also from ordinary people with magic circuits.
"We have selected thirty-eight from the magical families."
"We have selected ten from ordinary people."
"A total of forty-eight compatible Masters have gathered at Chaldea."
"Relying on these forty-eight Masters, we will lay the foundation for human history to return to normal."
Having compiled the combat strength, Olga Marie once announced this to Rozen and the others.
And so, one month has passed.
In the end, all forty-eight compatible Masters gathered at Chaldea.
And on this day, the battle began.
*Clap...*
Closing his laptop, Rozen gently ran his fingers across its surface, smirked, and said, "I hope I can come back and open you again."
Leaving those words behind, Rozen left his room and headed outside.
There, a well-behaved and obedient junior was already waiting.
"Good morning, senpai."
"Good morning, Mash."
"You didn't stay up all night playing games last night, did you?"
"Well..."
"Senpai..."
"Don't worry, I won't mess up."
The two had this simple conversation at the door.
Shortly after, they left together and headed to the control room.