Mihana Singularity (XIV): Servants and Death

"What? I'm certain that Shiho is the one who is in love with Rai!" The next evening, Morofushi Kagemitsu sat in front of the campfire, frowning as he looked at the information Amuro Tooru had given him.

Conan, who was standing nearby, almost spat out the mouthful of water he had just drunk. He forced it down and coughed until his face turned red.

Good heavens, he thought the information he had just received was already outrageous enough, but it turns out it could get any more absurd.

As for why Morobuchi Kagemitsu appeared here and chatted happily with them, that's a long story.

After Ritsuka and her group sneaked into the manor and left quietly in the afternoon, Rae began to suspect that there was a detective spy in the manor.

Before finding out who Amuro Tooru was, Morofushi Hiromitsu unexpectedly took on the role of an undercover agent for him, and escaped through the window amidst Rai's expectant gaze.

During their escape, they happened to run into Ritsuka and her group who were looking for a place to stay for the night. Even more coincidentally, the servant chasing Morofushi Kagemitsu was Ereshkigal.

The moment she saw Fujimaru Ritsuka, she completely ignored Morofushi Kagemitsu standing next to her, her face subtly flushed, and she spoke rapidly, revealing that she already knew from Amuro Toru that they were on the same team and that the chase just now was merely for show.

Then, she stumbled, her face turning even redder, and pulled out a gift box that was clearly carefully wrapped from somewhere.

"Hmm...you don't really have a kitchen here, and there's going to be a fight later, so I...I just grabbed some food and medicine." She turned away, then suddenly looked back, "You'd better thank me properly, okay?!"

Conan: "..."

He casually picked it up, but it came in an exquisitely packaged box? He glanced at Ritsuka, then boldly looked at Ereshkigal, before being glared at and silently revealing his beady eyes.

What? She looks exactly like a high school girl.

Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked, tilting her head and smiling at the blonde girl. She raised both hands and accepted the gift box with a gesture of deep respect that everyone could see. "Thank you, Ereshkigal."

Those golden, shining eyes revealed a sincere gaze. She held the gift box in one hand and hooked her other arm around Ereshkigal's shoulder, giving her a hug. "Thank you, my irreplaceable friend whom I can rely on."

A heavy weight of trust pressed down on Ereshkigal's heart, and she remained stiff and motionless, her gaze fixed on Ritsuka's face. As if sensing her gaze, the orange-haired girl gave her a bright and unreserved smile.

It's like suddenly grasping a star that's determined to guide you in the darkest of times.

Despite being just a tiny human born in a distant era, and despite this being the second time they had met in her remaining memories, Ereshkigal felt that the girl before her was someone she had to protect.

—He is an extremely important friend.

"Who gave you permission to be so...so close to me! What are you trying to do?!" Ereshkigal bit her lip. According to human posture, she should be hugging back at this moment, right?

She hesitated before reaching out her hand, its slightly cold touch landing on Fujimaru Ritsuka's shoulder. "Well then... see you next time?"

"Okay, see you next time!"

After Ereshkigal had walked away, Conan, who hadn't spoken for a while, rubbed his cheek and thought to himself, "Wow, Ritsuka-neechan is so good at this. I have a feeling she must be very popular in real life too!"

Later, the onlookers noticed Morofushi Kagemitsu, who was quietly standing to the side. According to him, Fujimaru Ritsuka was right; his servant was indeed not good at fighting, but extremely good at medicine.

Then a strangely dressed servant with a hood and a black bird's beak appeared. "I am a doctor. I see there is a patient here. Bring him to me."

Before Conan could even be on guard, Fujimaru Ritsuka had already called out the other person's name, "Eh, it's Asclepius! That's great!"

Haha, not surprising at all, Ritsuka's connections are surprisingly wide. This Servant's name is also legendary; she's a hero in Greek mythology, considered the god of medicine.

Thus, the seriously injured Matsuda Jinpei was saved by the eccentric doctor and unexpectedly regained his memories from his previous life, staring intently at Morofushi Kagemitsu.

Back to the present, Morofukage Kagemitsu propped his head up, "He clearly knew..." A sigh accompanied by a soft murmur drifted away into the wind.

As someone who also hopes to find the real culprit, Morofushi Kagemitsu should suspect Amuro Tooru.

He had lingering feelings for Mingmei, and he was the one who had been following the housekeeper. He was also the one who had the opportunity to send threatening letters because of his position.

But for some reason, his subconscious kept preventing his reason from uttering the word "doubt," as if repeatedly saying, "How can you doubt him, doubt yourself..."

What is yours?

“Little detective, the doctor is misleading you.” He rubbed his temples, temporarily ignoring the strange feeling in his brain, and corrected him with a serious expression.

"Ray and Miyano Akemi have absolutely no connection."

Because of her poor health, Shiho Miyano lived alone in a country villa until she was fourteen years old. She was almost raised by her current housekeeper, and even when she went to study in France, it was Ray who took care of her.

Although neither of them confessed, it was clear to onlookers that something was amiss. How could their family's private doctor not know?

"No, no, no!" Conan immediately looked up and retorted, "I think at least the doctors right now definitely don't know."

He finally realized the game's last little trick: placing familiar people in positions similar to those in reality, but maliciously altering a small part of them.

This familiarity will not become a clue for them to solve the case; instead, it will become a stumbling block that hinders their judgment.

This game is truly wicked and impossible to guard against!

Conan scratched his head in frustration. He desperately needed Haibara's testimony to confirm things, even if it was false!

If only that unlovable guy could regain his memories like Officer Matsuda...!

Conan looked at Matsuda Jinpei: "Officer Matsuda, how did you regain your memories?"

"Ha, probably on the verge of death." Matsuda Jinpei shrugged, sparks flying from his cigarette. "What, little detective, do you have someone in mind?"

“Yes, but if the condition is near death, then forget it.” Conan sighed. His face was very close to the campfire, so close that he could see the flickering sparks, which were bright red.

The red marks on the back of his hand had completely disappeared after he left the manor during the day.

So it was only after a long time that he realized Tristan had really gone to his death.

"Assistant sister..." Conan couldn't help but ask, "Are all Servants so calm when facing death?"

It seems that after Tristan's sacrifice, Conan, who had originally treated this place as a game he couldn't afford to lose, has begun to waver.

These Servants are so realistic, they're like living, breathing people.

"Servants are people who have experienced death. Or rather, most of them would prefer to live. They are not as calm in the face of death as you imagine, like weapons."

For them, the opportunity to return to the world is a miracle and a beautiful dream.

"But for their ideals, for justice, for the people they care about, they chose to face death fearlessly," Fujimaru Ritsuka said with a smile, her tone tinged with a hint of melancholy. "Whether they are famous or not, they are all brave people."

As someone forced to remain until the very end, someone who had to step over the flesh and blood of countless Servants to save humanity, she witnessed countless Servants sacrifice themselves on the journey, even before the journey began.

Death is painful, she knew that from the beginning, but experiencing separation is perhaps even more painful than death, something she only realized much, much later.

There was only one thing she was absolutely certain of—

“Detective, Tristan has never regretted sacrificing himself to cover the rear.”

"I understand," Conan said firmly. "And I will not regret pursuing the truth."

Matsuda Jinpei watched from the sidelines, taking in their interaction.

His mind was in complete turmoil. Memories of the past twenty-odd years, which had abruptly ended, were intertwined and clashed with the fantastical experiences of the past few days, leaving him no peace.

He met his deceased childhood friend, who was also killed; he met his best friend from police academy, one who was also killed, one who had lost his memory, and one he didn't even have a chance to talk to.

From Conan's account, he pieced together the current situation: those who are alive and have memories cannot call each other by their real names; the rest are either people who faked their deaths or are truly dead.

What kind of game is this that can drag dead people out to work? He's already dead, why bring him back to life, why make him remember everything!

Suddenly, a clear voice came from behind, "Officer Matsuda, does your wound still hurt? Should I have Caster take another look at it?" The handsome young man asked with concern.

"No need, thank you." Matsuda Jinpei took a drag of his cigarette. Ha, this Mr. Jing, his family happiness is obvious to the naked eye, there's not a trace of gloom in his eyes.

He could see the shadow of an old friend in him, and it might even be that old friend. So, he sacrificed himself in his undercover mission.

Add the class monitor, and isn't that leaving only the blond bastard?

Lost in thought about the past, Matsuda Jinpei didn't realize the passage of time. When he came to his senses, only Ritsuka and his Servants remained by the campfire, having finished discussing tomorrow's mission and tactics.

Tonight is a clear, cloudless night. Bright moonlight filters through the dense branches, casting dappled shadows on Fujimaru Ritsuka.

It was as if a faint yet clear line had been drawn between me and Matsuda Jinpei, who was standing opposite the campfire.

Matsuda Jinpei watched Fujimaru Ritsuka chatting happily with her Servants. Perhaps she didn't know that when she chatted with those Servants, there was always an invisible shell surrounding them, something that others couldn't understand, much less disturb.

She was completely out of place with Conan, and even with the dead like them. Yet, she thrived in this absurd game world.

"They all came for you." Matsuda Jinpei casually stopped Ritsuka as she walked towards the tent. "And you, you don't belong here, do you?"

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Author's Note: * I have something to do tomorrow, so the update will be a little late.