Chapter 140

"This is our mistake. Sorry, Mr. Nightmoth."

Before Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, and Ieiri Naoko returned to the high school with almost nothing, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Kirshtalia carried the two people back to the infirmary, one in front and one behind.

"Mission completed."

The unconscious Kuroi Misato and Tenuchi Riko were soon taken care of by the members of the infirmary, who used instruments to methodically complete various examinations one by one. At the same time, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Kirshtalia had returned to the El-Melloi classroom and began to report the details of their previous actions to the adults.

"…The above is the specific completion status of the mission of this operation." After Fujimaru Ritsuka finished reporting, he found that only Merlin was still here, and Ms. Avalon had already left. "In addition, Senior Kirshtalia and I did not go to the base of the Bandei Cult, so I don't know the final situation of Fushiguro Shiru——"

"But I believe Mashu can solve it."

And Mashu also did not disappoint Ritsuka Fujimaru's trust - the only problem was that Ritsuka Fujimaru forgot some small details at the end of the plan.

"Gojo wasn't entrusted with taking care of the orphan this time."

When Kiritsugu Emiya brought the two children and a defective Einzbern android back to the El-Melloi classroom, Ritsuka Fujimaru finally remembered that she had forgotten to add something for the final finishing touches of the plan. And the stepdaughter and biological child of Fushiguro Shinobu, whom she had forgotten, were both knocked unconscious by Kiritsugu Emiya and brought back.

The ones who returned to the El-Melloi classroom a little later than Kiritsugu Emiya were Mash and Galahad. Even though Mash had the "Gift" of Yahweh, it was obviously not enough for her to bring Fushiguro Shiji back to the El-Melloi classroom directly. So Galahad, who was fighting Gojo Satoru, transformed into a spirit when he estimated that the time was about the same, disappeared from Gojo Satoru's sight, moved to another battlefield, and helped Mash bring back Fushiguro Shiji after he was knocked unconscious.

"...Then Fujimaru and Kirsh should go back to the infirmary and lie down." After confirming that everyone had returned safely, Lansermello glanced at Fujimaru Ritsuka and Kirsh Talia who were standing together, "Gasugano and Ieiri will definitely come to us after they finish reporting on the moths. You should go over there and lie down first... Or if Gojo Satoru comes, you should go back to the headquarters and come back in a few days."

"We can't let them see you guys jumping around like crazy, okay?"

"What should they do then?" Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at Fushiguro Shirō who was thrown to the ground by Galahad, and then looked at the Fushiguro siblings who were also in a coma and were held by Shirou Emiya. With a guilty conscience, he asked Lansemello about their next arrangements, "It's not okay for them to show up in front of Takeru-kun, right?"

"So starting tomorrow, Einzbern will also be enrolled in the El-Melloi classroom." Lanser-Melloi looked at Kiritsugu Emiya who was standing silently by the wall, and announced the next arrangements to everyone, "Miyu, Illya, and Chloe will enroll together. In this way, Tenuchi and Kuroi can hide directly among Einzbern's people."

"As for the Fushiguro family..."

"We will be responsible for that part of the work." Emiya looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka and smiled helplessly, "Megumi and Tsumiki will stay here because Gojo Satoru has not met them - but Fushiguro Shiori will be brought back to the headquarters. Strictly speaking, this part of the work will be jointly handled by Lancelot, Marinesbury and Dad."

"By the way, in fact, Hui and Tsumiki can also be brought to the headquarters." Lanser Mello supplemented Emiya's answer, "Because in the replenishment plan, the people in charge of them are divided into three groups - the first group, Kirsh and Olga; the second group, Illya and Shirou Emiya; the third group, Galahad and Mash."

"In short, don't worry - we will be responsible for filling in the details you forgot."

——This is what happened on July 10, 2006, after the astral plasma protection mission was declared a failure.

After that, another half a year passed - when the second semester of this school year was about to come to an end, Fujimaru Ritsuka, on behalf of Chaldea, invited the sorcerers of the high school to participate in their Christmas activities.

Except for Gojo Satoru and first-year student Nanami Kento who could be considered to have been dragged here by force, the other invited members came to the El-Melloi classroom, which had been closed a few days in advance, with great anticipation - but to everyone's surprise, the El-Melloi classroom was not used as the gathering area this time, and the background music was not the familiar Christmas songs.

"Run, sled, like a gust of wind, paddle, paddle, and cruise to the unique spot?"

Although the melody of the song was familiar, the lyrics that the Chaldean members sang along with the background music were something they had never heard before.

"…It's a rare opportunity to have such a peaceful Christmas." Fujimaru Ritsuka piled a lot of gifts in different packaging under the Christmas tree in the corner, and reviewed past Christmas experiences with Mashu. "Last year and the year before last were spent peacefully, but I had work in the magic world in the past two years. This year is the first Christmas that I don't have to be a reindeer or go out to work."

"But Miss Alter's Christmas carol has undoubtedly always been the standard for Christmas in Chaldea." Mashu turned his head to look at Fujimaru Ritsuka. Today, even Fufu, who rarely enters other worlds with Chaldea, squatted on Mashu's shoulder. "Because the melody is that classic Christmas carol."

"Yo!" Gojo Satoru threw away his previous idea of ​​not wanting to come after arriving at the venue. Instead, he enthusiastically sneaked up to the two people and even picked up a gift and pretended to open it. "Are there so many of you? The number of gifts here is far more than your number."

"A guy like you who only has one best friend won't understand that Christmas, Valentine's Day, and White Valentine's Day are all hard battles." Fujimaru Ritsuka took the gift back from Gojo Satoru with disdain, and looked at the members who entered the party one after another with a subtle expression, "If someone didn't come to the scene--"

"Senior, you can wear the 'White Christmas' magic costume now." Mashu looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka with a smile, "But this one is also suitable now."

The members who entered the Animusphia classroom one after another gradually warmed up the air inside. Kirshtalia, who had returned to the headquarters to pick up someone, was the last one to enter the venue. When he entered the venue, the fireplace and candlesticks that were standard in the astronomy classroom were lit at the same time, adding the last bit of Christmas party atmosphere to everyone.

“Well, let’s start with self-introductions.” After entering the gift exchange session, Merlin, who was sitting next to Roman, smiled and encouraged everyone to treat the gift exchange as a game. “In order to promote mutual familiarity, we will take the gifts according to the current seating order at the table. The person who takes the gift should introduce himself to everyone; of course, the real recipient of the gift should also introduce himself.”

"Let's start with Nozomi, who is sitting closest to the Christmas tree. Just take any gift you want."

"I am Naoko Ieiri, a sorcerer who possesses the power of reversal, and a magician who has inherited the seal of the Emiya family." Naoko Ieiri unwrapped the gift and read the contents of the greeting card placed on the gift. "Merry Christmas, brother - you are now given my father's sweater."

"It's totally unclear who should receive this gift!"

"How many pairs of Chaldea members can actually be considered siblings? Which pairs don't call each other by their names? At the same time..." William, the only one who could be considered to be out of the matter, smiled and began to use the elimination method to give Jialiu Glass a hint, "Which pairs' fathers are still alive and have the habit of knitting Christmas sweaters?"

"A special reminder: knitting Christmas sweaters is a British tradition." Before entering Chaldea, Kirshtalia, who had thought that Lancermello would prepare Christmas sweaters for herself and Olgamari as Christmas gifts, replenished her household glass.

"...El-Melloi?"

Receiving a look of help from Naoko Ieiri, Geto Suguru subconsciously mentioned El-Melloi II and Lenis.

"That's not right." Nanami Kento pointed out the problem. "Lenise often addresses Lord El-Melloi II as 'my dear brother', not 'brother' - and besides, there are only two of them left in El-Melloi, so where does the father come from?"

"Animusphia?"

"But most of the Animusphia people just call each other by their names."

"Emiya?"

"No, Emiya Kiritsugu was married to Einzbern. They are on the German side."

"If we really can't guess, we'll let the recipient come out and claim it." Roman cleared his throat and glanced at Merlin, who was watching the excitement and looking forward to getting involved. This provided a direct path to the answer for Ieiri Nazori. "After all, there are indeed many people in Chaldea who did not come to participate in this party."

"Then just tell me who the recipient is." Ieiri Naoko rewrapped the gift and waited for the recipient to come out and claim it.

"Then I will announce the answer?" Fujimaru Ritsuka stood up with a smile, walked to Ieiri Shoko and took the gift. "The recipient is Knight Galahad, who is currently considered Mash's brother - but he is not here in person, so I will deliver the gift after the party is over."

—Knight Galahad.

The moment he heard this name, Gojo Satoru remembered the Cretaceous City that appeared out of nowhere in front of him half a year ago.

——"Galahad, Knight of the Round Table, the Knight who sits at the Seat of Disaster, is also the Knight of the Holy Grail who holds the Holy Grail. In the name of the Knight of the Holy Grail, I will stop you here."

He did not find the body of Fushiguro Shijiro that day, nor did he find the body of Amanouchi Riko in the base of the Onsei Cult. Even Fujimaru Ritsuka and Kirshtalia disappeared for a while before returning to the El-Melloi classroom. It was just that Gojo Satoru reviewed every place where anomalies occurred and found the same flower in all of them.

"Hey, Ritsuka." Gojo Satoru started to attack before Fujimaru Ritsuka sat down again, "The Star Plasma mission six months ago - is your mission really the same as ours?"

"You finally made contact." Merlin smiled and looked at Gojo Satoru. The human emotions gradually peeled away from his purple eyes, and finally only the inhuman coldness and cruelty remained. "So, Gojo-kun, why don't you think about it - the missing Amanouchi Riko, Kuroi Misato, and Fushiguro Shinobu... where did they go?"

"Of course, all our actions did not violate the bond we established with the principal."