Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King's Personal Knight

Chaldeas, officially known as the Simulated Earth Environment Model: Chaldeas, is a model created to replicate the soul of this planet. Apart from its size, it is a model that contains the same level of information as the Earth itself.

Its origins lie in the hypothesis pursued by Animusphere, part of the Astromancy Department, one of the Twelve Departments of the Clock Tower.

This hypothesis assumes that planets also possess souls, and by replicating their souls, virtual operations can simulate the state of the Earth a hundred years into the future.

After Marisbury Animusphere activated it, Chaldea began observing this Earth model to ensure a future where civilization continues a hundred years later.

Chaldeas is a high-density collection of informational mass. It is said that due to differences in its phase with material existence, direct contact is impossible.

Although Animusphere could not create a completely identical existence to Earth from scratch, he believed replicating its soul in its entirety was feasible—and he made it a reality.

Of course, even if the replication succeeded, the contents of this document could not be analyzed. However, what mattered was the shell of the replicated document itself.

For simulation purposes, it was unnecessary to analyze the contents.

Animusphere activated the replicated Earth's soul without opening its inner contents, using it solely as a simulation device to observe a hundred years into the future.

Because it could serve as an unshakable map of human history, it was also utilized as a support system for the simulated Spiritron Transfer: Rayshift operations.

Aside from Chaldea's applications of Chaldeas, the model meets all Earth's conditions in various standards.

However, as for celestial bodies, Chaldeas, as a Simulated Earth Environment Model, is essentially a genuine foreign star.

Alaric could not determine what exactly Chaldeas was, but the one thing he was certain of was that it was no simple entity.

The moment Alaric gazed at Chaldeas, he felt an eerie sense of being observed.

Something within the model's gaze began to reverse-invade him—it seemed to want to peer into the real Alaric.

That sensation, akin to spotting a lurking shadow in the bathroom at night, was precisely why Alaric remained wary of Chaldeas.

"Chaldeas is still after me..."

Although he had considered the possibility of Chaldea enforcing cross-worldline law after confirming the formation of Singularities, actually seeing Chaldea made him feel troubled.

Although Chaldea wasn't an absolute adversary, the current Singularity was caused by Alaric himself, and this fact was unavoidable.

Alaric's goal was the complete Holy Grail, and through it, the Third Magic.

However, avoiding Angra Mainyu's existence in the process was impossible. If there were another method to resolve Angra Mainyu, that would be fine, but Alaric had yet to find a more reliable way to achieve the Third Magic.

Of course, if Chaldea could provide a better method, Alaric wouldn't mind revising his crude plan.

After Merlin finished his observation, Alaric finally shifted his gaze away.

The appearance of Ritsuka Fujimaru gave Alaric some reassurance to proceed with his actions. Even if he failed, someone else would take over and clean up the aftermath, though it might mean he'd need to avoid the pursuit of the Mage's Association.

Moreover, the Servants summoned by Ritsuka Fujimaru were not Heroic Spirits under the Fuyuki Holy Grail system, but those called forth by Chaldea's improved summoning system, developed by Marisbury to ensure that magi undergoing Spiritron Transfer had enough power to resolve distortions. This was the Guardian Heroic Spirit Summoning System: Fate.

No matter how history deviated, as long as it was an extension of human history, Heroic Spirits would exist.

By borrowing their power, battles could be fought in any era.

At least for Ritsuka Fujimaru, Angra Mainyu, who had mastered the Fuyuki Holy Grail system, was not an undefeatable foe.

But that was all. Alaric cast one final glance at the Holy Grail System.

The girl had already consumed the souls of three Servants and was now beginning to guide the birth of Angra Mainyu. Although the process was progressing quickly, it would not be completed tonight.

Unless he sacrificed another Servant's soul, the progress could not be significantly accelerated.

Additionally, Ritsuka Fujimaru's presence was not something Alaric could ignore, nor were the Servants accompanying her.

It wasn't Mash Kyrielight, the pseudo-Servant fused with the Round Table Knight Galahad, but rather a man Alaric found very familiar.

Waver Velvet, or more accurately, several years later, Waver Velvet, who inherited the title of Lord El-Melloi after the death of Kayneth.

However, Waver himself did not have the qualifications or history to become a Servant. He could only participate in this Singularity as a pseudo-Servant summoned by Chaldea.

As for the Heroic Spirit possessing Waver Velvet, Alaric was all too familiar.

It was Zhuge Liang, renowned as an outstanding statesman and strategist from the Three Kingdoms period.

While Alaric was puzzled by Mash's absence, his greater concern was Ritsuka Fujimaru's actions and the possibility of forming an alliance with Kayneth and others.

If Waver acted as Ritsuka's strategist, considering his experience dismantling the Greater Holy Grail system with Tohsaka ten years later, he would most likely despise the Fuyuki Holy Grail's formation—perhaps even abhor it.

Alaric could not use the same reasoning to prevent them from taking action.

With this in mind, Alaric narrowed his eyes slightly, then turned to Merlin and said,

 "Merlin, I'll go meet them. Keep an eye out. If Angra Mainyu stirs, you need to run immediately."

"Understood!"

Merlin smiled and tapped his head. "Good luck!"

"Don't mess anything. I'll succeed."

Waving his hand, Alaric left with the girl in tow. He had intended to study Jewel Magecraft in his final moments, but it seemed he would have to find time later.

Whether he succeeded or failed, Alaric would keep moving forward.

Of course, Alaric had confidence in his victory.

As for the nameless girl, Alaric was concerned she might lose control and devour Merlin, so for safety's sake, he decided to take her with him.

...

Meanwhile...

With Lord El-Melloi II's extensive coordination, Ritsuka Fujimaru successfully met with Kayneth and Waver Velvet.

Kayneth, with a gloomy expression, glanced at Ritsuka and Lord El-Melloi II before finally fixing his gaze on the latter.

"I haven't had the chance to verify with Reines, but your lies are so brazen there's no need for confirmation. Claiming to be an agent of Reines—how utterly unfounded."

Faced with Kayneth's reprimand, Lord El-Melloi II showed no unusual reaction. Calmly, he shifted his gaze from the young Waver.

What puzzled him was why Waver was working with Kayneth, as this contradicted his memories.

What circumstances could have brought Kayneth and Waver together?

More importantly, why was Kayneth's Servant, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, absent?

During their operations in Fuyuki, neither Lord El-Melloi II nor Ritsuka Fujimaru had seen any signs of Caster Gilles de Rais. It was as if he had never appeared.

Not only that but there were visible traces of intense battles in the city—evidence of fierce battles between Servants.

This was unusual. Not just in terms of the First Principle but also because no Master would recklessly initiate such combat.

These suspicious elements lingered in Lord El-Melloi II's mind until they became fully entangled upon meeting Kayneth.

"But you're still willing to meet with us, which means—"

After a brief moment of thought, Lord El-Melloi II calmly continued his dialogue with Kayneth. Beside him, Ritsuka Fujimaru moved back and forth between Waver and Lord El-Melloi II.

"Besides interrogating you, I also want to address your remarks about the nonexistent Caster. Your so-called information contains not a single truth, even regarding the movements of the Holy Church."

Kayneth's expression was cold, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's as if they intended to tear apart Lord El-Melloi II's facade and uncover the so-called truth.

"What do you mean by all this?"

Indeed, what El-Melloi II had said was incorrect information—events that had never occurred in the time that had already passed. But were they truly incorrect?

To Kayneth, this was irrelevant. What he wanted to know was whether any new disturbances had arisen.

Diarmuid was already dead. The battle had happened so quickly that Kayneth hadn't even had time to use his Command Seals.

And when a Servant dies, it means elimination from the Holy Grail War.

How could Kayneth possibly accept this? At this moment, with an unexpected figure appearing, no matter the situation, Kayneth decided he would try to engage with them.

"Because—for me, all of this is but distant memories of the past."

El-Melloi II did not conceal anything. Instead, he openly revealed information from the future:

"If the information about the war is wrong, that's still manageable. After all, the intelligence I possess is not limited to this. For instance, you had initially planned to summon the King of Conquerors, Iskandar, for this battle. However, the relic you prepared for the summoning was stolen by a student at the Clock Tower—Waver Velvet.

Left with no choice, you summoned Diarmuid Ua Duibhne as a substitute."

"Hm?"

Hearing El-Melloi II's words, Kayneth merely raised an eyebrow.

Initially disappointed in El-Melloi II and Ritsuka Fujimaru, Kayneth's interest was piqued once again. He wanted to see what else these two could conjure up.

"And the one supplying mana to this Servant wasn't you, but your fiancée, Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, correct?"

El-Melloi II continued: "I suppose that, just in case, she's not with you right now but is waiting somewhere nearby, isn't she?

Ah, speaking of Miss Sola—there's a draft of a love letter in your study, isn't there? Hmm—the opening line goes something like, 'To my beloved beauty, whose eyes shine with the brilliance of morning dew…'"

"Ahhh, stop it!"

Losing control of his expression entirely, Kayneth cut El-Melloi II off mid-sentence and asked directly, "Just who are you?!"

For someone to know such secrets, Kayneth finally believed that this person had some connection with him and the El-Melloi family.

El-Melloi II replied calmly, "It is true that I act as an agent for Miss Reines, but that title will only be bestowed upon me four years from now.

Thus, everything I've reported to you just now belongs to my 'past memories.'"

"Oh."

Kayneth's expression remained indifferent as if this revelation didn't surprise him—or perhaps, it simply didn't matter.

"A time traveler, huh? I've heard rumors about people obsessed with that line of research. Although I've always thought such a pursuit to be utterly baseless, I suppose I'd like to hear a more plausible explanation.

If this involves principles near the realm of True Magic, it must be something extraordinary, mustn't it?"

"Then allow me to briefly explain. Please, everyone, listen carefully."

Over the next few moments, El-Melloi II explained the principles of Spiritron Transfer and related concepts to Kayneth and the young Waver.

"I see. Observing projections of the past mapped onto Earth's environmental model… Utilizing the Heroic Spirit Summoning System's Spiritron Transfer…"

After El-Melloi II's explanation, Kayneth quickly grasped the concept. His genius shone through once again, as he displayed a natural understanding of the theory:

"With the introduction of Spiritron Calculators, all of this becomes possible. Spiritron Calculators… I've heard rumors that the Atlas Institute's tests were successful. But…"

Before Kayneth could ask further, El-Melloi II preempted him, saying, "Yes, this great magical achievement was made possible entirely thanks to the Archibald family."

"…What?"

Hearing this, Ritsuka Fujimaru could no longer control their expression. But under El-Melloi II's subtle glance, they managed to suppress their shock.

Kayneth raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you saying that the Archibald family achieved such monumental success in the future?"

"All of this success was due to your extraordinary leadership and command, Lord Kayneth. Thanks to you, the project progressed so smoothly. Your position at the Clock Tower will see a major rise in prestige."

El-Melloi II, without a hint of hesitation, continued, "By integrating the successes of various disciplines, such an ambitious project as Chaldea was able to succeed."

"Hmph. I have no connection with the Atlas Institute. I despise those obsessive maniacs."

Kayneth snorted coldly. "I would never collaborate with those pessimists… Or so I thought… Hmph, hahaha—oh, I see~~ Hmm. It might not be entirely impossible!"

Kayneth seemed to be convincing himself to believe this supposed future, or perhaps it was his unwavering confidence in his abilities.

He suddenly laughed, radiating pride.

"…What?"

This scene left Ritsuka Fujimaru utterly stunned. They hadn't been prepared for Kayneth to react this way or to believe El-Melloi II's words.

El-Melloi II, however, smiled faintly. He knew his former teacher all too well.

"Well, I always thought that relying solely on the Spiritual Evocation and Mineralogy Departments left me slightly lacking in bargaining chips for factional battles. I had been considering whether I should explore other projects."

Kayneth nodded to himself, fully convinced of his potential. He continued, "Hmm, but I didn't expect to have talent in that field as well!

I see. Even as I grow older, I'll remain just as passionate and capable. Hahaha~~"

With absolute confidence in his abilities, Kayneth seemed to accept this version of the future with ease. Seizing the moment, El-Melloi II pressed further:

"Of course, it wasn't just the technical achievements. The financial support from Sophia-Ri was also crucial. The massive funding required for Chaldea's construction was made possible by the harmonious marriage between you and your esteemed wife in the future."

This was yet another direct hit to Kayneth's heart. Beyond magecraft, what he cared about most was his love for Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri.

Hearing this, Kayneth laughed and waved a hand dismissively, "Ahaha, someone like me, who only knows how to pursue magical knowledge, I wonder if I can manage a household…

I did have some doubts about that. But I see now~~ Wahahahaha!"

In his joy, Kayneth momentarily forgot his obsession with certain matters and laughed heartily.

This confirmed for Ritsuka Fujimaru why El-Melloi II had insisted on choosing Kayneth as a collaborator.

'This guy… He's surprisingly easy to fool, isn't he?'

Now that Kayneth had accepted him, El-Melloi II continued, "In summary, we are here to help you solidify the Archibald family's path to glory. However, interference in the past through time travel inevitably comes with various restrictions. Large-scale assistance may be impossible, but in terms of information—"

"What use is that?"

Still in high spirits, Kayneth's tone abruptly turned cold. He didn't even glance at Ritsuka Fujimaru, who was stunned by the sudden shift. Instead, he locked eyes with El-Melloi II and said, "The Holy Grail War is about to end. Information gives me no advantage.

No, Lancer is already dead. I've been eliminated from the competition and am now nothing but a loser."

"…What?!"

Hearing this confirmation from Kayneth, even El-Melloi II couldn't help but lose his composure.

Over the next few minutes, Kayneth instructed the young Waver to explain the current state of the Holy Grail War to Ritsuka Fujimaru and El-Melloi II.

When hearing that familiar name, Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help but be momentarily stunned.

Almost at the same time as Waver finished his explanation—

"Lord Kayneth is correct."

A young man, who had appeared behind Fujimaru Ritsuka at some unknown point, said with a cheerful smile: "This Holy Grail War is about to end, and the victor will obtain the Holy Grail, opening the door to the Root."

The sudden interruption disrupted everyone's thoughts, except for Fujimaru Ritsuka, who turned around in surprise and astonishment.

It was Alaric, unchanged over the years, identical to how Ritsuka remembered him.

And the moment Fujimaru Ritsuka saw Alaric—

Boom!

A thunderous roar accompanied by flashes of lightning filled the sky. The endless blue-white lightning signified the descent of the divine.

The howling winds were drowned out by the thunder, and the knight-king riding a motorcycle also arrived at the scene.

The King of Conquerors, driving the chariot of divine thunder, descended from the skies in a steep dive!

Crack! Crack!

The knight-king, clad in skirted armor, moved as swiftly as a rushing gale, instantly positioning herself in front of Alaric to prevent him from approaching Fujimaru Ritsuka, Kayneth, Waver, or anyone else.

Seeing this, Alaric decisively retreated, maintaining a significant distance to avoid the attacks of Artoria and the King of Conquerors, Iskandar.

Without a chance to speak with Fujimaru Ritsuka, Alaric called out loudly: "I'm not here to fight. To put it simply, I'm just here to have a look.

Just wait until I purify the Holy Grail."

At this point, Alaric didn't bother to argue further, especially with Lord El-Melloi II present—it was impossible to waste energy on something unachievable.

Instead of going to great lengths to persuade them, it was better to state his intentions directly.

"No, we can't let Angra Mainyu be born. You won't be able to stop it."

El-Melloi II, having understood the situation, decisively rejected Liye's intentions and said, "You can still destroy the Greater Grail right now. If you delay, it will lead to disaster!"

"The Holy Grail… can't be purified?"

Artoria, hearing this, asked, "Is it that his plan won't purify the Holy Grail, or that the Holy Grail is fundamentally impossible to purify?"

"The corruption of the Holy Grail by Angra Mainyu is irreversible. That much is absolute."

El-Melloi II shook his head and stared at the young man he was meeting for the first time, saying, "If you continue down this path, all that awaits you is hell."

"Sir Alaric, stop this."

Though overjoyed at their reunion, Fujimaru Ritsuka remained clear about their objective.

And Alaric's actions were undoubtedly wrong—Fujimaru Ritsuka could not allow Alaric to release Angra Mainyu.

"Are you going to fight me as well, Miss Ritsuka?"

Alaric's expression was indifferent. Facing Ritsuka, he showed no trace of personal emotion in his tone.

If he was to achieve his goal, he needed unwavering resolve to open the door to the ultimate end. Personal feelings had no place in the process.

"That's right. If you insist on doing this, I'll have no choice but to stop you!"

Without hesitation, Fujimaru Ritsuka decisively stated, "So please, stand down!"

"It seems words are meaningless. In that case, let's settle this through action."

Alaric slowly raised his hand, his cold gaze sweeping over the group before him. Along with the crisp sound of a snap, he declared:

"Look to the skies. Up there is something you absolutely cannot defeat—"

Buzz.

At that moment, the long-prepared magical array finally activated.

The atmosphere roared. Centered on Ryuudou Temple, Alaric's years of accumulation culminated in the activation of a magical array spanning hundreds of meters.

Alaric had thought long and hard about the best place to strike, and the result was clear.

The sky.

To dominate the skies and claim absolute supremacy in combat—

The great magical ritual, both an original creation of Alaric and inspired by an existing prototype, made its grand debut in this world.

Beams of light shot up from the Holy Lance, highly concentrated magical energy manifesting as jet-black aurorae. Using the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad as a medium and aided by the great ritual, the energy ascended to the heavens.

The sea of clouds dissipated, and under the endless night sky, the beams of light converged into a ring.

The bright, clear moon hung within this ring, resembling the all-seeing eye of a god gazing down upon the world.

"Well, though it doesn't compare in power and is merely a pale imitation, it's still worthy of being called by the same name—"

As Fujimaru Ritsuka stared in terror, Alaric, his expression cold, spoke the true name of this great magical ritual.

"The time of birth has come. By this, the cosmos shall be corrected."