Aozaki Aoko Case File [374]

"Ritsuka, are you listening?"

Ritsuka Fujimaru's communicator rang; it was a message from the new Chaldea director.

"Hello, new director, did something happen?" Ritsuka responded.

"Habetrot by your side suddenly disappeared! Aren't you reacting to that?!" Goredolf Musik said through gritted teeth. "That spinning fairy! And the little girl with the same name as King Arthur, Artoria!"

"Spinning fairy…?" Ritsuka was confused; she had no memory of these two on her team. "What are you talking about, director? My team's always just been Tristan, Da Vinci-chan, myself, and temporarily absent Oberon. No one else."

"Wait, Ritsuka," Da Vinci-chan interrupted thoughtfully. "Gordolf, are you saying we're missing teammates?"

"Yes!" Gordolf repeated, "Originally, besides Fairy King Oberon, there was spinning fairy Habetrot and the magus fairy Artoria Caster! But not long ago, both suddenly disappeared from your side!"

Ritsuka and Da Vinci exchanged puzzled looks; they had no memory of these two.

"…Gordolf, during this personnel change, were you always inside Storm Border?" Da Vinci asked.

"Yes," Gordolf answered, "That's how we noticed the anomaly—not just me, but the captain and others too."

"I think I understand what happened," Da Vinci said. "The Lostbelt's history has changed for some reason."

...

"History changed?" Mash, walking beside Aoko, questioned her. "You mean senpai and my experiences will change too?"

"You won't be affected, but they will." Aoko nodded. "My timeline is locked by the Fifth Magic. No one can harm me or prevent my birth via cross-temporal attacks; this also extends to you."

"This means, although you and I arrived in this changed Queen's Calendar, you still retain memories of the old one," Aoko continued. "Have you played RPGs?"

"Role-playing games…? I've played a few with Senpai," Mash replied.

"Then you know how save files work, right?" Aoko said. "It's like I, a new player, replayed the game from the start, chose a different route and ending, and overwrote the previous save."

"So, in the 'new Queen's Calendar' save, characters from the 'old Queen's Calendar' may still exist, but those who shouldn't due to different routes disappear. Understand?"

"Then, does that mean Habetrot and Artoria will disappear?" Mash asked anxiously.

"What are you talking about, Mash? I'm still here!" Habetrot bonked Mash on the head.

"Sorry, I was just worried…" Mash apologized.

"Hahaha, don't worry! Habetrot's tragic end has been changed by me!" Aoko said. "The only one missing from this new calendar is Artoria Caster."

"But don't worry about her," Aoko comforted Mash. "Because the Pilgrimage Bell was already rung in the Fairy Calendar, and I took care of it, so Artoria's just staying in the Inner Sea of the Stars."

"I see…" Mash replied, a bit lost. "But wouldn't Senpai be sad? She and Caster were close…"

"You worry too much," Aoko waved her finger. "Ritsuka won't be sad; in this new history, they never met, so there's nothing to be sad about."

Having understood the general situation, Mash finally relaxed, no longer worrying about Ritsuka and the others. Aoko began assigning tasks.

"It's time to close the net," Aoko said, squinting. "Pepe, head to Norwich; Spriggan should still be there. Your job is to take him out and gather intel on Chaldea's group. Understood?"

"Understood," Pepe nodded, smiling at Mash. "And if I fail?"

"Use this," Aoko handed Pepe a strange cylindrical device, like a brass mechanical object. "If you can't escape, press the button on top—it'll instantly teleport you back to me."

This was a magical artifact with Aoko's teleportation spell, made using Type-Moon alchemy. It contained a portion of her magical energy and a consciousness copy, allowing non-magi to use it.

Expensive, but life-saving in situations like this.

"Thanks." Pepe winked and vanished, making Aoko shudder.

"Ah, I forgot," Aoko suddenly slapped her hands. "If it's Norwich at this time… Pepe might run into 'himself'…"

"I don't think it'll be a problem," Ector said. "Let's head to the Great Hollow first, then decide what to do next?"

"2,400 years… even for fairies, that's a long time," Habetrot sighed. "I hope Toneriko all is well…"

"It'll be fine," Aoko smiled, comforting Habetrot. "With Artoria, Wryneck, and Melusine around, no enemy can hurt her~"