-143- Beginning once again

One day's time, neither too long nor too short, it turned out. After getting everything settled, Rozen had no more worries. With some free time on his hands, his first action was, of course, the inevitable one.

"I can finally play some games properly."

Rozen unleashed years of suppressed online gaming addiction in one go, locking himself in his room and barely leaving, absorbed in front of his laptop screen.

Adapting to the computer after over a decade away wasn't seamless, but being a gaming expert, he quickly regained his touch and even used his telekinesis to enhance his gaming experience, achieving higher levels of gameplay.

With this, there was no way he could stop.

So, he indulged himself, playing for an entire day.

By the time the next morning arrived, Rozen hadn't stopped. He had a pair of dark circles under his eyes as he continuously pressed buttons on his laptop.

However, such indulgence inevitably led to consequences.

"Fou!"

Accompanied by a cute cry, a white creature leaped and crashed into Rozen's face. With a loud "thud," the impact exploded on his face.

"Ouch!"

Rozen cried out in pain, holding his face, and looked to the side.

"Fou! Fou!"

Fou had returned to its master's side, as if fulfilling a mission.

"Senpai."

Mash, holding Fou, looked at Rozen with a stern expression.

"Ma-Mash?"

Rozen shrunk back.

"Senpai," Mash reproached, "Did you stay up all night playing games again?"

"Ahaha..." Rozen could only chuckle awkwardly.

"Seriously," Mash sighed, "Senpai, did you forget that today is the day director asked you to report?"

"I remember..." Rozen rubbed his still sore face and muttered, "I just came back, can't I have a bit more time to rest?"

"Yesterday was meant for you to rest," Mash reminded him. "You wasted it all."

"How can you call it a waste?" Rozen retorted immediately, "Gaming is a great way to relax. I was strictly following the instructions of the great director..."

"Senpai!" Mash's expression turned stern.

"...Alright, I was wrong." Rozen surrendered quickly.

These scenes were as if they had happened yesterday, just like Rozen's days in Chaldea. Unbeknownst to anyone, Rozen had actually been away from Chaldea for over a decade.

"Okay, Senpai, pull yourself together."

Mash's voice was helpless.

"While I'm a bit worried about your health, we should go report to the director in the control room."

Otherwise, Olga-Marie would surely throw a fit.

Rozen had no choice but to mutter.

"After all, that owl always gets angry over everything, so what's the difference?"

"Senpai?"

"Okay, okay, I know!"

At Mash's urging, Rozen reluctantly closed his laptop and left the room with her.

...

"So you're punctual this time, that's good."

In the control room, Roman looked at Rozen and Mash walking in together from the outside, offering a faint smile before turning puzzled.

"By the way, Rozen, what's with those dark circles under your eyes?"

Roman asked, confused.

"...It's nothing."

Rozen responded wearily, stifling a yawn.

That exhausted appearance didn't match someone preparing for an important mission, especially one with the goal of saving humanity.

Roman shot a sidelong glance at Mash, noticing her helpless expression, and sighed as well.

"You're still the same, never changing."

Evidently, Roman had also guessed what happened.

"Alright, I'm really fine. I won't fall asleep during the mission," Rozen waved his hand dismissively, glanced around the room, and asked, "By the way, where's the enthusiastic Director?"

At that, Roman lowered his voice.

"Did you forget? We announced the director's death publicly."

Roman whispered this to Rozen, who immediately understood.

"I see, so she's too afraid to show up?" Rozen said with a mischievous grin.

This time was different from usual; the control room wasn't just occupied by Rozen and his team. There were technical personnel responsible for Spiritron transfer and operating instruments, making the room bustling, much like their first combat mission.

The difference was that this time, there was no Olga-Marie giving orders, no Lev supporting them technically, and they were short-staffed. Even the 48 potential Masters who nearly ended up trapped in the "Cubicle" were absent. Only Rozen and Mash were on the mission.

Thinking about this, Rozen asked Roman, "By the way, Big bro, how are those potential Masters who were trapped in the 'Cubicle' doing?"

As the head of Chaldea's medical department, Roman should have been responsible for their treatment. Unfortunately...

"Their injuries were just too severe. With Chaldea's current resources, there's no way to guarantee a hundred percent recovery for them."

Roman's casual expression faded, replaced with the demeanor of a doctor who lacked the ability, his mood somber.

"According to Director's instructions, I've activated the Cubicle's freezing function. All the potential Masters inside have been frozen and put in cryogenic stasis."

In other words, until Chaldea is liberated or the human order is corrected, those potential Masters cannot leave the "Cubicle" and are temporarily kept in a state of suspended animation.

"Is that so?" Rozen mumbled.

Mash offered comfort to Roman. "Please don't blame yourself, Doctor. You did your best, and the potential Masters' lives are preserved. In terms of results, it's already a great outcome."

Mash's comforting words seemed to have some effect.

"You're right, at least their lives are preserved."

Roman's mood lifted slightly. He patted his cheeks, regained his composure, and looked at Rozen and Mash.

"Well then, let's begin the formal process of correcting the human order."

After the correction of the Singularity in Fuyuki City, Chaldea announced the start of the foundational work for the correction of the human order once again.