Adam had just finished explaining the entire situation to Ritsuka Fujimaru, Mash, and his own Mash.
Ritsuka stared at him with her mouth hanging open.
"So you're saying… you're from an entirely different parallel Chaldea?"
Adam nodded calmly.
"That's right. And strictly speaking, even though I'm not the same person as you, in that other world I took on your role and succeeded in saving the incinerated Human Order."
Ritsuka froze again. She pointed at herself, voice shaking with disbelief.
"I saved the Human Order? In this world? Me?"
[Ritsuka Fujimaru Emotion Value +10]
Adam gave her a firm nod.
"Yes. It was you."
Mash looked at the upgraded version of herself with open envy and longing.
"So… this stronger-looking me… is what I'll become in the future?"
Adam's Mash, after hearing the full explanation, was stunned as well. She turned to Adam.
"Senpai, what you're saying is… we can use our current strength to clear this Singularity again in this world?"
Adam nodded. "Exactly."
Then he leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "More importantly, Mash… look at your past self. Don't you have anything you want to say to her?"
Adam's Mash turned toward the much younger, more innocent version of herself. Memories of her own past flooded back.
No matter the world, every Mash was a Demi-Servant created as a homunculus, born with emotional deficiencies. She had started as a blank sheet of paper on which anything could leave a mark.
However, because of Chaldea's careful protection, she had been shielded from the darker sides of humanity for a long time.
She was too kind.
She couldn't fight for what she wanted, couldn't bear the malice of others, and couldn't show her own darkness.
(Well… except when it came to Lancelot.)
Everything changed when Adam arrived at Chaldea.
Thanks to him, she finally understood something important: a 'person' who only knew goodness was incomplete.
She learned to protect what she cherished, to shoulder the malice directed at her, and to hurt others if necessary without hesitation—for Adam, and for everything she held dear.
The only problem was… in the battle for Adam's affection, she had ended up at a severe disadvantage. She could only watch helplessly as he was "devoured" by other Heroic Spirits.
Looking at her past self now, Adam's Mash felt a surge of frustration. This girl…
She no longer cared that this was technically a parallel world.
Adam's Mash stared seriously at her younger self, voice ringing with passion.
"Mash Kyrielight!"
"Y-Yes?!"
Mash was startled by the sudden intensity.
Adam's Mash continued, tone fiery.
"Aren't you extremely dissatisfied with your current self?!"
"Unable to use your Noble Phantasm, not even knowing the true name of the Heroic Spirit you fused with!"
"That helpless feeling of being unable to protect the people you want to protect!"
"And above all!"
"Do you want to know how to truly become a 'person'?!?"
The words struck straight into Mash's heart. These were exactly the questions that had been weighing on her.
Looking at this powerful version of herself, Mash felt her emotions rising to match.
"Yes!"
Adam's Mash shook her head, still looking disappointed.
"Not loud enough!"
"With a voice that weak, how do you expect to become a real 'person'?!"
Mash instinctively raised her voice.
"YES!!!"
Adam's Mash finally nodded in satisfaction.
"Good! That's the spirit!!"
"From now on, I will…"
Adam and Ritsuka watched the exchange in stunned silence.
Ritsuka looked completely lost.
Adam was also a little surprised. He hadn't expected his Mash to get this worked up.
Was she really that dissatisfied with her old self?
Just as he was thinking that, something landed heavily on his shoulder.
"Fou~"
Adam turned his head and saw a strange creature that looked like a mix between a dog, cat, and rabbit.
The Fourth Beast (Beast IV), holder of the Principle of Comparison.
Of course, Adam preferred to call her—
"Fou!"
His face lit up. It had been a while since he last got to pet this incredibly soft Beast.
Guess I'll spoil this world's Fou for a bit.
He reached out and scooped Fou into his arms.
Fou didn't resist. She simply tilted her head in confusion.
She couldn't understand why this human carried such a strong, overwhelming scent of so many of her kind.
In the end, she gave up trying to figure it out and tried to jump toward the two Mashes—after all, their chests were much softer.
But the moment Adam began stroking her, Fou's entire body went limp.
Damn it! I wanted to go to Mash…
But why does this human's hand feel so good?!
Her consciousness started to melt away.
In the end, under Adam's expert petting, Fou completely surrendered, rolling onto her back with a blissful "Ohoooo~" and letting him scratch exactly the right spot.
Adam smiled as he watched the now thoroughly pampered Fou.
Looks like my Fou-petting skills haven't gotten rusty.
Suddenly—
A woman's terrified scream tore through the sky.
"Kyaaaaaaa!!!"
Everyone's heads snapped toward the source of the sound.
Adam and his Mash exchanged a knowing glance.
This is bad! The Director!
***
If you want to read up to 25 chapters ahead, don't hesitate to visit our patron: pat reon . com / XElenea (remove space)