Fate: How About a New Savior?

When he opened his eyes again, Shiomi was surrounded by endless darkness.

It felt like he was drifting in space—or maybe suspended in the depths of the sea. There was no sense of matter, and everything he touched was pure void.

This place... was Imaginary Numbers Space.

Shiomi slowly pieced it together.

Just as Caren had said, during the Spiritron Transfer, his body was caught in the blast when the coffin was damaged and was cast into Imaginary Numbers Space. Like the other Masters, he now existed in a state between life and death.

But if that were true...

Shiomi looked ahead and saw Olga Marie floating before him.

She looked as if she were simply asleep—though perhaps she would never wake again.

"Seriously... Dad, there's a limit to how careless you can be, right? Letting your guard down around a Magus you don't even know, not even noticing bombs planted at critical spots."

A voice filled with complaint but tinged with casual ease echoed beside him.

"It's you, BB," Shiomi said without turning. He already knew who it was.

Unlike himself, aimlessly drifting in the void, BB strolled past him as if walking on solid ground. She paused to examine the sleeping Olga Marie.

"Correct~" BB twirled the pointer in her hand. "I'm your all-powerful, ever-present support AI—the one and only BB!"

Judging by how quickly BB had tracked him down in Imaginary Numbers Space—even faster than Sakura, who had begun searching right after the explosion—she clearly had a better grasp of his coordinates.

"So, are you here to mock me? Or have you come to pass judgment, to list out every one of my failures?" Shiomi asked.

BB shook her head. "Nope. I'm here to save you, Dad. You know that better than anyone, don't you?"

"Why?"

"Does a daughter need a reason to save her father? I'm Sakura, remember?" BB replied matter-of-factly.

"You're just modeled after her..." Shiomi muttered, shaking his head.

"Well, sending you back to Chaldea is no problem. I can just pretend it was Sakura's doing." BB tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The real issue is that girl—Olga Marie Animusphere."

"Her body was completely destroyed in the explosion. Only her soul remains, drifting in this space. She's barely holding on thanks to your observation," Shiomi said, voice heavy.

"That's hardly a problem, right? Even if it's just the soul, she can still survive." BB gave a sly grin. "You, more than anyone, should know—bodies are just containers. If the conditions are right, you can just give her a new one."

Shiomi's eyes widened. "BB... you know about that too?"

He was referring to the blank doll Touko had given him years ago as a return gift for the Primordial Rune base. It was something he'd never spoken of outside his family.

Touko had intended it as a backup—if Shiomi's physical body ever failed, the doll could serve as a replacement.

But in truth, that blank doll could work for Olga Marie too. The only problem was, unlike transferring a soul from a living body, moving a soul after the body had died would require something more.

"I know everything about Daddy~" BB blinked adorably, but Shiomi found her even creepier than a stalker.

Hopefully Sakura won't grow up to be like this...

"Even if Touko made a blank doll, Mary's soul would quickly vanish the moment it leaves the Imaginary Numbers space," Shiomi said with a resigned shake of his head.

"The Holy Grail War," BB said.

"Huh?"

"The original three families—why did they establish the Holy Grail War system in Fuyuki? And how were they able to do it? Surely you haven't forgotten, Daddy?"

Shiomi pressed his lips together. "Of course I know. But the Third Magic requires the souls of seven Servants to activate."

"No need for that many," BB dismissed exaggeratedly. "With seven Servants' souls and sixty years of stored mana, the Greater Grail can grant a wish powerful enough to materialize all human souls. But this is just one person—we don't need nearly that much."

"Wait, wait..." Shiomi caught the shift. "You're not seriously saying you can perform a limited version of the Third Magic on Olga Marie's body here, are you?"

That had always seemed to be the missing piece—Third Magic.

"Unfortunate as it is, with the authority Mooncell granted me, it's still within what's allowed. The chance was originally meant for Daddy, after all," BB said.

"Mooncell?" Shiomi frowned. It was another unfamiliar term.

BB quickly covered her mouth, as if realizing she'd said too much. "Oops, that's a restricted topic."

Shiomi didn't press—it was clear BB wouldn't answer anyway. "So you're going to use the limited Third Magic that was meant for me on Mary instead?"

"Exactly. That's why I need everyone's consent first. If you're not willing, there's nothing BB can do," BB said, twisting her body pitifully.

Shiomi couldn't help but chuckle. "What's there to hesitate about? Just do it already!"

"Knew it. You really are Daddy. If someone's right in front of you and can be saved, you'll never hesitate—even if it means burning your bridges."

BB's voice suddenly turned calm and sorrowful, uncannily like Sakura's.

"What are you talking about..." Shiomi didn't quite get it.

"Doesn't matter. Since Daddy's given the okay, no need to ask again." BB coughed lightly and returned to her playful tone. "Because it's a limited Third Magic, time's tight. Once we get back, you'll need to transfer the materialized soul into a new body ASAP, or else it's game over~."

"Got it," Shiomi replied seriously.

BB raised her pointer like she was tapping a blackboard, gently touching Olga Marie—her soul, rather than her body.

She transformed into a glowing white orb, then slowly shrank into a gemstone, which BB cradled in her palm.

With a flick of her hand, the gemstone floated into Shiomi's grasp.

"Oh no, no good! There are still other rivals in this Imaginary Numbers space. Gotta hurry and send Daddy out!"

Before Shiomi could thank her, BB spun dramatically, feigning urgency as her pointer traced a violet arc through the air.

Suddenly, Shiomi felt his body pulled to one side, completely out of his control.

Far off in the distance, a faint light flickered into view, gradually growing larger.

From that direction, Shiomi thought he could hear Sakura's voice.

"Your journey is just beginning. BB won't be able to intervene again until the Human Order Incineration is over. Please, be careful… Daddy."

Her voice faded into the distance. Before Shiomi could say another word, the boundary light of the Imaginary Numbers space swallowed him once again...