Or, why don’t you find another savior?

"Well..." Xi Jian didn't know how to refute, "It's too much to say that I'm a pervert."

Then he crossed his arms. "So I take it that you have decided to give up your identity as a 'Guardian' and accept to cooperate with us?"

"If it's true, then I must find out that Beast who deceived me and avenge my Master who died before they even met." Suzuka had a gloomy face and looked extremely unhappy.

But this time it’s not directed at Shiomi.

"Is that so? But like the Knights of the Round Table, you have impurities mixed into your spiritual base, right?" Xijian asked.

"That's what it's like to be a 'Guardian'," Suzuka said.

"As for your treatment, we'll talk about it after Berserker has cleansed your spiritual base." Shiomi said, "Okay."

"Okay, okay..." Suzuka agreed carelessly.

The injury was serious but not fatal. All it needed was time or healing magic.

Shiomi turned back to Morgan and was surprised again when she saw Passionlip's true appearance revealed after the restraints on her spiritual base were removed.

"Ying?" Xi Jian was stunned and asked BB through the communicator, "What's going on, BB?"

"… Passionlip and the other child are both derivative AIs created based on BB." BB's communication screen was projected. "To put it simply, BB is a first-generation model, and Passionlip is a second-generation model that specializes in a certain aspect based on the characteristics of the first-generation model."

"This is getting more and more complicated." Shiomi squatted down, "Does Mooncell really prefer Sakura?"

Although compared to BB, Passionlip is only similar in appearance, aspects like body shape are completely different.

"After all, if it's Sakura, everything will become convenient, especially for dad." BB explained as a matter of course.

"It doesn't make any sense." After complaining like this, Shiomi asked again, "You just said 'another child', what does that mean? Are there other AI servants of the same type?"

"Yes. That child, like Passionlip, was salvaged from the imaginary phenomenon and reused. She is a high-level Servant with composite divinity." BB said, "I was sent to the singularity by Mooncell this time. In addition to assisting in the repair work, I also recovered these two."

"You make it sound like waste recycling." Shiomi didn't like BB's choice of words.

"But we are just advanced AI, created to imitate humans. Dad doesn't treat us as machines or objects, but that's just because he's special." BB's laughter came from the other end of the communicator. "We don't mind this kind of thing. After all, falling into the phenomenon of imaginary numbers itself means 'discarded'."

"So where is the other child?" Shiomi looked at Passionlip.

Even though he knew in his heart that they were not Sakura, let alone his children, Shiomi couldn't just ignore it.

Otherwise, every time I see Sakura later, I will always recall their faces and feel a void in my heart.

"It is speculated that he should be assigned to the core celestial room and serve as the 'guard' there, but the path leading to the celestial room is hidden, so we must first go to the control room and reveal the path." BB told Shiomi.

"Then there's nothing we can do." Xi Jian understood, "Saving one is saving, saving two is also saving..."

After he finished speaking, he raised his head and saw Morgan smiling at him. He suddenly felt itchy in his heart.

It wasn't about desire, but after meeting her gentle gaze that seemed to see through Xijian Tianxi's character, Xijian felt embarrassed.

"So, are you okay? Are you seriously depleted of magic power?" Shiomi abruptly changed the subject. "It must be very hard for you to operate such a delicate magic with a spirit base, right?"

"No, it's better to say that I'm pushing the entire battle onto you and them. I actually feel guilty." Morgan shook his head.

"How can a queen go to the front line?" Shiomi rationalized.

"They are queens too." Morgan could see that Xi Jian wanted to change the subject, so he kept pursuing the topic.

Then Xi Jian was at a loss for words as expected, and he no longer had the tact and eloquence that he showed to others.

"...If there is no problem, I'll leave this to you." Shiomi raised her head and looked at Scathach and Altria, who were seven or eight meters away. "Master and I will go to the control room to confirm the situation. Altria will stay and support you."

"This will increase our strength in the fight against Beast." Morgan put away his smile and handed an item to Shiomi. "I have fixed the water mirror used for the fusion into a disposable gift. This way, no matter which side encounters an accident that cannot be dealt with alone, they can quickly reunite."

"I understand." Shiomi stood up again, "BB, thank you for your support on both sides."

"Okay! Leave everything to me, BB!" BB sounded very energetic, which made Xijian wonder if she was hiding behind on purpose.

But these are all minor details.

After formulating the next strategy, Shiomi took Altria to the control room of SE.RA.PH.

"This was originally the hub for managing offshore oil fields. There should always be people here, but now there's no one here—"

Shiomi was telling Altria about the situation here, but she suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Then, he also noticed a presence in the control room.

"I thought that after the Temple of Time disappeared, I would never see it again..."

A pillar of demon was squirming, and launched an attack the moment the two entered the attack range.

Chapter 41 Control Room

“…That’s weird.”

Shiomi murmured subconsciously as he watched the body of the Demon Pillar gradually dissipate after being knocked down.

"What's wrong, Master?"

Altria, who was looking around the control room hall to check if there were any other enemies, couldn't help but turn around and ask.

"Is it my illusion? I feel like this Demon Pillar is useless." Shiomi poked the eyes of the Demon Pillar, which had not yet turned into data and dissipated. "It's just like an empty shell."

No matter the fighting style or offensive behavior, it seemed as if it was being manipulated. It was completely different from the Demon Pillar that Shiomi knew, and lacked the intelligence that belonged to the Demon Pillar itself.

It's like having no soul.

"Now that you put it that way, it's true..." Altria also felt it.

Although the Demon Pillar was waiting here to ambush the two men, which surprised them, when they actually fought, they were able to seize the opportunity and be eliminated in just a few rounds.

Being too relaxed made Xi Jian feel less at ease.

The transformation of the offshore oilfield base into a singularity was indeed related to the Demon Pillar.

But BB also said that there are signs of Beast here.

At first, Shiomi thought it was someone related to Goetia, but now it seems that this is not the case at all.

"It seems that the situation in this singularity is more complicated. Even the Demon Pillar is just a prop." Shiomi looked around the hall of the control room again.

The room, which housed many seats and electronic equipment, was now in a mess. The monitors that had not been damaged all showed signs of signal loss.

He checked the equipment in the control room and found it was still usable.

"...No, all the data on the terminal device has been deleted. There is no way to find the way to the celestial room here." Shiomi looked at the empty computer.

"Not really. Deleting data is a very complicated matter. The most effective way to delete it is to destroy the storage facilities together." BB suddenly said, "Dad, please connect the USB flash drive in your jacket pocket to the main computer in the control room."

"What?" Xi Jian touched his pocket and found a USB drive inside. "Where did you get it?"

"I asked the master to put it in your pocket," said BB.

"…Is it necessary to hide it from me?" Shiomi muttered, and he looked at Altria.

Altria looked apologetic, "They said not to tell you yet, so as not to distract you."

"Because if Dad knew that she was carrying important items, he wouldn't have been able to fight with Miss Suzuka without restraint just now, right?" said BB.

"It does not make sense."

While muttering this, Shiomi had already inserted the USB drive into the main computer in the control room.

Anyway, their judgment was correct. If they really knew that he had important items on him, Shiomi might really be unable to move freely.

"OK, we have confirmed that the hacking program is connected to the control room's system..." BB groaned, "Well, this is really a thorough deletion. It seems that the person who did this is very familiar with the situation here."

"So there is no way to recover?" Xijian asked.

"It will take some time." BB said, "Before that, Dad can first investigate the situation in other rooms of the control room. Although there are probably no survivors, it is still necessary to confirm it."

So Shiomi Dai took Altria and went deeper into the door on the side of the control room.

After entering, you can see that this room is a dressing room.

It was a mess, with needles and medicine bottles scattered all over the floor, but there was no trace of anyone.

"This is..." Altria frowned slightly.

"Chaldea is conducting routine contact with the offshore oil field today." Shiomi squatted down and examined the labels on the bottles of medicine. "According to the information provided by BB, at least not long after the battle at the Temple of Time ended, something happened to this oil field and it was invaded by the Demon Pillar."

Shiomi couldn't tell how long the four or five months in the outside world meant here.

Perhaps at first it was unable to contact the outside world and drifted on the high seas, until recently it began to sink under the sea and turned into a singularity.

In short, with no way of contacting the outside world for such a long time, it is inevitable that internal chaos will arise.

Chaldea had once faced such danger, but fortunately there was him, Romani, and the director.

Everyone worked together to find ways to maintain overall stability. Although many people had mental problems and needed psychological counseling, Chaldea generally maintained stability and welcomed the day when the Human Burning Incident was resolved.

"But as we have just seen, the Demon Pillar has become an empty shell." Artoria pondered and said, "In the end..."

Shiomi looked around the depths of the locker room. Just as he was about to answer, many unfamiliar scenes flashed before his eyes.

Desperate time.

Helpless space.

Unable to contact the outside world.

The disordered flow of time.

And the inevitable infighting and chaos that will eventually follow.

The work at the offshore oil field was originally a closed matter like Chaldea, and employees of different ranks had different levels of authority to know.

When the exhausted employees reach their mental limit, they all look forward to seeing the only therapist for mental counseling.

But soon, rumors spread that therapists used their bodies to relieve employees' mental stress.

This has led to an increasingly fierce dispute between those who admire therapists and those who hate them.

Violent conflicts are rampant.

……

"Master!"

Altria's hand fell on Shiomi's shoulder, and her clear and bright voice brought him back to reality from the chaotic scene.

"It's okay... It's just the memories of the dead that were left here." Xi Jian sighed, "Magicians have to deal with spirits. When they get close to such a strong place, they will inevitably have hallucinations."

"What did you see?" Altria asked with concern.

"Many people once lingered here and died in agony. The person who sent the last communication signal to Chaldea also disappeared here." Shiomi pointed at the surroundings with his fingers, "But there are also more people who died in internal strife and conflict, so it's very strange no matter how you think about it..."

"Could it be Beast's doing?" Altria said.

"At least we should consider this possibility as the worst-case scenario." Shiomi tapped the side of his forehead with his fingers. "The Demon Pillar is not the Demon King. A mere pillar is very powerful for a human magician, but——"

Suddenly, the alarm sounded in the control room.

Shiomi had no choice but to stop the conversation and rush out with Altria.

"Leave the control room quickly, Dad! This place has been programmed to self-destruct. When someone tries to restore the core data, it will explode! Countdown, ten seconds left! Nine! Eight..."

As BB hurriedly counted down, Shiomi grabbed Altria's hand and rushed out the door with her.

The explosion happened behind them, turning the control room into a sea of ​​fire.

Chapter 42: Unexpected Gains

"My king, we are relieved to see that you are safe and sound."

The explosion in the control room shocked everyone waiting outside.

But when he saw Shiomi holding Altria, jumping out of the smoke and flames and landing outside,

Gawain and Tristan, who had regained their freedom, dragged their bodies that were still unable to move completely smoothly, and knelt in front of Artoria to welcome her triumphant return.

"You all should get up quickly. I am no longer a king, but a servant like you." Altria said to the two of them calmly.

Tristan frowned deeply. "But we used swords against the king before. Such a crime... Please punish us."

"It's not your fault, and I have no intention of punishing you." Altria told them helplessly.

"Your Majesty is very generous and we are very grateful." Gawain's voice was full of respect.

At this time, Xi Jian joked: "That's true."

Knowing that Shiomi was talking about something else, Altria could only pretend not to hear it.