Fate: How About a New Savior?

Sudden noises were one of the few things in the world that could genuinely startle Shiomi.

—Of course, only under specific circumstances.

Like right now.

Startled by the unexpected voice, he lost his balance and toppled backward, chair and all, landing hard on the pristine floor of the infirmary.

"At least give me a hand, Mas—"

Grimacing in pain, he opened one eye—only to see Morgan staring down at him, expressionless. The rest of his words got stuck in his throat.

"Not even a moment's relaxation is allowed, huh," Morgan said coldly.

"...Ahaha..." Shiomi let out an awkward laugh.

Despite her chilling tone, like she might castrate him any second, all Morgan did was squat down and help lift both him and the chair back up.

"As a Servant, one should fulfill their duties. The confirmation work for the Sixth Singularity is complete. Once everyone's recovered, Chaldea will focus solely on repairing the individual Singularities."

Now it was Morgan's turn to fiddle with his hair. Her voice was casual, but her hands moved skillfully, fixing the mess Scáthach had left behind.

"Ritsuka, Sakura, Caren—any of them will do. Even the Director, once she wakes up. Just go and sign a proper contract with one of them already. We can't have you dragging the rest of us down in future battles, Lancer."

Shiomi scratched his head sheepishly. "Um… Master isn't exactly a Servant this time, more like… her true self..."

Honestly, he wasn't sure how to explain it either. According to her, due to the special circumstances of the Human Order Incineration—along with the Land of Shadows being consumed by the flames—she was able to ignore the world's boundaries for now and come to Chaldea in person.

From what Scáthach said, she could've left once the Human Order was incinerated. The only reason she hadn't was that she lacked the coordinates to find Chaldea—and Shiomi. Her trip to the Fifth Singularity had only been a response to the Counter Force's summons.

The trade-off was that her powers were heavily restricted, roughly the same as when she appeared during the Fifth Singularity.

The one upside was that she didn't need a contract to operate. She had a genuine Independent Action: EX.

"Sure, those girls are all fine Masters. But isn't there one more outstanding Master here… and currently unattached?" Scáthach's hand landed on Shiomi's head.

A silent turf war over his hair immediately began.

Shiomi couldn't enjoy any of it. He just felt like his scalp was under siege.

Even though Scáthach wasn't in Servant form, having arrived in Chaldea through unconventional means, she could still use a Magus-style pact. By leaving a Magic Crest on her, Shiomi could provide her with Mana support—enough to boost her combat capabilities.

"My husband already has me," Morgan said.

"But as far as I know, you've yet to officially announce yourself as a Servant in Chaldea, and you haven't participated in any Spiritron Transfers either," Scáthach replied, locking eyes with her. "To someone like you, human history shouldn't even matter."

"What a terrible joke, Scáthach." Morgan didn't even flinch.

Shiomi blinked, a little surprised. "So you don't actually dislike human history?"

"It's not about liking or disliking it. There's not much in it that's likable, honestly. Other than my husband..." Morgan paused in thought. "Maybe Habetrot counts as something beautiful."

"The wedding fairy from Scottish folklore?"

Shiomi nodded to himself, thinking that it suited her. The story was surprisingly romantic in its innocence—just the kind of tale Morgan might find endearing.

"Then just stick to your usual stance and help support the repair work here at Chaldea," Scáthach said with a faint smile. "Now that I'm at the front lines, my beloved disciple should have an easier time."

"That won't be necessary. Starting from the Sixth Singularity, I'll be on the front lines as well—assisting my husband," Morgan declared.

"...What?" Scáthach raised an eyebrow.

Shiomi was even more shocked. "Wait, you really don't mind going into battle?"

"I'm more than familiar with the battlefield," Morgan answered with a confident, composed smile. "Besides, leaving my husband and the adorable children with a woman who only knows Spartan-style discipline... I can't help but feel uneasy."

Of course, Shiomi knew exactly what Morgan was uneasy about—it wasn't just Scáthach's strict habits from the Land of Shadows. But he was smart enough not to say a word.

There was no overt killing intent, but the atmosphere had grown so tense that even Shiomi had to focus on breathing just to survive it.

"Oh? The infamous Witch of Britain revealing herself? That'll definitely shock the Chaldea staff," Scáthach said coolly.

"With the Queen of the Land of Shadows already here, I wouldn't dare claim I'm the one drawing attention," Morgan replied.

It sounded like a polite exchange between two professionals, but Shiomi felt a cold sweat dripping down his back.

"U-uh... it's about time for dinner, right? How about I cook today?" Shiomi offered quickly, hoping to defuse the building tension.

After all, this mess had started with his own selfishness. He had a clear responsibility here.

"That's actually a fine idea. Ever since we got to Chaldea, my husband hasn't been cooking much. Even I've started to miss his cooking," Morgan said, then paused with a thoughtful expression. "Come to think of it, as his master, you've never tasted his food, have you?"

Scáthach looked unfazed. "I had a bit of his campfire cooking during the Fifth Singularity... But you've never tried the apples he grew, have you?"

As they exchanged words, Shiomi was unceremoniously dragged off his chair by the collar. With his hair neat on one side and a mess on the other, he was hauled across the floor by both women toward the Chaldea cafeteria.

Ritsuka and Mash, who had just arrived and were peeking nervously from the door, quickly stepped aside in alarm, watching as Shiomi—nearly passing out from the collar tightening around his throat—was dragged away like a helpless rag doll.

Ritsuka and Mash rushed into Olga Marie's room, only to find her already awake.

"Director, you're awake?" Ritsuka asked in surprise.

"...I am. But I didn't dare open my eyes."

Olga Marie's eyebrows twitched slightly. She must've woken up when Shiomi fell over.

She had intended to wake up and act a little spoiled, but the moment she opened her eyes, she saw a full-blown battlefield-level showdown. So, she kept her eyes shut and pretended to be asleep.

"Mr. Shiomi... is he really going to be okay?" Mash, who had originally been worried about the Director, now found herself concerned for someone in a far more "dangerous" situation.

Olga Marie slowly sat up.

"...Don't ask me. I don't know anything. And neither did you. Got it?"

"Couldn't agree more..." Ritsuka nodded in full solidarity.

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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