Thanks for the invitation. I'm in Type-Moon, inheriting the legacy of Zi-O.

Seeing this, Mordred stopped insisting and followed Nianzhuo and the others in the direction Fran had indicated.

However, what awaited them was still the Chaos Mechanical Army, as if they had been prepared all along.

This time, the number of people even increased to 30. Even with Mordred, Nian Zhuo, and Mashu, it took them nearly ten minutes to completely defeat the enemy.

“…Huff, huff.” Slightly tired, Mash held her shield and looked at Ritsuka beside her. “Of course, although this is also my speculation, the frequency of their attacks is indeed getting higher and higher.”

Mash finally turned her gaze to the silent Fran, and gripped her shield tightly.

"Senior, this is—" He seemed to want to say something, but hesitated.

Yes, almost everyone could guess that it was Fran... deliberately making them run around.

The atmosphere suddenly plummeted, until it reached freezing point.

I've got you, Charles Babbage

“Although, there’s also the possibility that the nature of the other party’s magic circuits has changed…” Ritsuka’s smile gradually faded as she looked seriously at the silent Fran. “But… you did it on purpose, didn’t you, Fran?”

"...Hmm, I'm afraid so." Even though it was hard for him to believe, all the signs pointed to Fran as the culprit.

“I think… the reason also lies with Miss Fran.” Looking at Fran, who had her head down, Mashu hesitated for a moment. “Perhaps, she hesitates about her actions in pointing out the way, is that… Miss Fran?”

"…………Hmm…………" Fran remained silent after being asked questions by the two people in succession. She simply held onto the hem of her skirt and did not utter a word.

As Fran fell silent, everyone stopped walking.

Ultimately, their actions were based on Fran's help. Without Fran's assistance, finding the guy who controlled the Chaos Machine Soldiers would have been incredibly difficult... but not impossible.

Therefore, the final outcome is up to Ritsuka and the others. As long as they are willing... they can spend enough time here to search and then successfully clear the game.

But seeing Ritsuka's somewhat troubled expression, it seemed that this option had been eliminated—Nencho observed everything, his mood equally heavy.

It is precisely because she is such a gentle girl that she can attract a large group of heroic spirits to serve her willingly.

Even though he wanted to help, Nianzhuo knew that now was not the time for him to speak...

"Phew..." Finally, Ritsuka broke the deadlock, took a deep breath, and turned around. "Anyway, let's set off first."

"Depart? Where to?" Mashu asked, puzzled, since Fran hadn't said a word yet, only clutching the hem of his clothes.

“Let’s go where Fran wants to take us.” Ritsuka turned her head and slowly walked up to Fran. As his gaze shifted to her, Ritsuka’s eyes sparkled. “Okay, Fran?”

"…………Hmm." After a long silence, Fran finally walked silently to the front and headed in one direction.

Seeing this, no one had much doubt or argument, and even Mordred followed Fran's lead.

Until... they came to another alley, but there were no Chaos Mechs here, so Fran stopped there.

"So this is where Fran wanted to bring us?" Mordred looked around, then shook his head. "...Fran, I have something to tell you."

“…Hmm.” Fran raised his head and looked at Mordred quietly, only to find that the other was looking at him with a very serious expression.

“Although I may seem a bit reckless at times, I’m not stupid.” She ruffled her hair and set the sword aside. “Even I can tell, Fran, that you don’t want to take us to the location of the remote control.”

Only now has Mordred truly revealed this truth, which almost everyone had already realized.

"Is that so, Miss Fran—" Mashu looked at Fran with a hint of expectation, even though she already knew the answer to the question.

“Yes, she seems to still have some hesitation in her heart. And…” As if she could see right through her, Mordred finally decided to tell her everything she had observed, “Is there something you’re keeping from us? Am I right, Fran?”

“…Ugh,…Ugh, ugh.” Even though his thoughts had been exposed and his inner thoughts had been discovered, Fran still stammered and refused to speak, even unconsciously backing away from Mordred…until he retreated to the side against the wall.

“…You.” Seeing Fran’s actions, Mordred could easily guess what she was thinking, so he tapped her forehead with what looked like anger. “Haven’t I told you many times? You haven’t forgotten, have you? If you have something on your mind, if you have something to say, just say it.”

“Yes, please tell us, Fran.” Ritsuka stood beside Fran with a similarly consoling tone. “After all, even just personally, I hope you can tell us.”

“…Hmm…” Looking at Mordred, then at Ritsuka with a smile on her face, Fran saw Mash with expectant eyes behind them… and Nencho with a slight smile, and took a deep breath.

“…Ugh, ugh… ugh…” Finally, she looked seriously at Mordred. Not good with words, she could only utter monosyllables, but she knew Mordred could understand. “…Ugh… Ah, ah ah. Ah… ugh…” Fran gestured wildly, trying her best to express her thoughts.

"...Ugh..." Finally, his arm fell to his sides, signifying the end of Fran's narration.

"..." However, Mordred's expression was not as relieved or happy as expected. Instead, she lowered her eyes and looked away.

“…Oh, I see…I see.” Similarly, as one of the only two people who could understand Fran’s words, Mash also lowered her head, her eyes filled with unease and difficulty.

“Although I still don’t understand…” Ritsuka’s expression was a little awkward, but she still looked at Mash and said, word by word, “But I still hope that Mash, you can fully express what Fran is saying.”

“…” Nian Zhuo did not speak, but quietly approached Mashu.

On the other side, Mordred's expression was somewhat gloomy, and he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Mashu's expression was also not good; she only managed a forced smile when she saw Nencho and Ritsuka.

“Actually, Fran just said… she knows this Babbage, and has even spoken with him.” Mashu said, emphasizing each word, while watching Fran’s reaction.

"She also said that the reason she was able to track magic was actually because she was tracking his aura." Then, she revealed information that surprised both Nianzhuo and Ritsuka.

In other words... what Fran has been chasing all along... is not the remote control of the Chaos Machine Soldier, but this Charles Babbage.

"How could this be..." In Chaldea's control room, Mary nearly dropped her cup, slowly processing the information she had just heard with disbelief. "So... the culprit, no, the pilot of the Chaos Machine Soldier, is that Charles Babbage?"

“No.” To everyone’s surprise, Mashu shook her head in denial. “But Fran also said that Babbage is not the kind of person who would do such a thing.”

"..." Mordred suddenly punched the wall, leaving a dent.

“Mr. Jekyll should have mentioned this before, how come I didn’t realize it…” Mash closed her eyes with a hint of self-reproach.

"Phew, I understand now." After letting out a long breath, Mordred returned to her usual self, looking at the silent Fran. "So, you're protecting him, right, Fran? Have you considered that this is contradictory? After all, Babbage wouldn't do such a thing, would he?"

“…Hmm.” Although Fran didn’t know what Mordred wanted to say, she was completely honest about her feelings and nodded.

“Well then, the problem is quite simple.” After saying that, Mordred picked up the blade beside him and touched the tip of his nose with some displeasure. “...Although I’m really annoyed by borrowing that brat’s words, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Suddenly, Mordred reached out and pressed down on Fran's shoulders.

"Fran, calm down." Looking directly into his eyes, Mordred spoke clearly and deliberately, "Use your imagination. You can do this, right? Babbage wouldn't do this, but the Chaos Machine Soldiers are roaming around as we've seen them."

Looking directly into the other person's eyes, Mordred's tone suddenly wavered.

"That means someone forced him to do it. Ordered him to do this kind of thing."

“…Ugh!” In an instant, Fran’s long hammer weapon was opened, and he let out a low growl like an angry beast.

"Alright, good boy~" Mordred seemed quite pleased with Fran's reaction. "So, do you know what to do now?"

“…Ugh, ugh!” Before Mordred could finish speaking, Fran raised his hammer, looking annoyed, and started making a series of groans and grunts at everyone, mixed with some physical gestures. Fran looked like he was completely enraged.

"Eh~ So they've reached an agreement already~" Ritsuka was a little surprised to see Fran's serious expression. "Well, at least I can finally go find the remote control now~"

"Yes! I understand, senior!" Although he didn't know how Mordred had managed to get Fran to willingly take them there, that wasn't the most important thing right now.

Following Fran's furious run, they eventually stopped in the alley again.

“I can sense it—it’s nearby.” Gripping the sword in both hands, Mordred sensed the threat of magic and looked around warily.

“Yes, that’s right. After all, even I could feel it.” Ritsuka pinched her cheek, and after confirming that it wasn’t a dream, she became even more surprised. “Even in this magical mist, the magical power gathered there is extraordinary and quite deadly to you.”

Yes, even Nian Zhuo saw it... Not far away, a terrifying magical fluctuation was unexpectedly eye-catching.

"Huh...? Has everyone found it yet?" Ritsuka looked at Mordred in surprise. "I haven't found anything yet."

"Haha... Come on, Ritsuka, look. Look over there." Mordred put his arm around Ritsuka's neck and pointed in a direction with his index finger, and Ritsuka's gaze followed it. "Let me think, you should be able to hear me now."

"Of course, we've also sensed the reaction of a powerful, large enemy. It's almost within reach, and in a place like this?" Just then, Mary's voice came through.

Mordred kicked away a small pebble with slight dissatisfaction, and complained to Ritsuka and the others behind her with a hint of grievance.

"I didn't expect it to be in the city center, so close to the bus stop!"

As they followed Fran, the narrow alley was about to end, and everyone, including Nian Zhuo, couldn't help but feel nervous.

"Alright, we're about to meet the enemy." Mordred, however, remained as nonchalant as ever. "So, will he be another remote control, or—"

“…Ugh,…Ugh! Ugh!” However, Fran, who had been hurrying over, suddenly gritted his teeth.

Hidden beneath her brown hair were heterochromatic eyes, one yellow and one blue, yet at this moment, both eyes were filled with disbelief.

From the smoke and dust, a tremendous sound of steam and machinery emanated. Unlike the sound of the Chaos Mechanical Soldiers, this sound was heavier, deeper, and even carried a barely perceptible, grating electrical hum.

A figure, entirely silver-gray, appeared before everyone.

"Is...is this still human...?" Looking at the other's enormous body and appearance, Nencho, Ritsuka, and Mashu all had this thought for a moment.

After all, the newcomer was too astonishing. Not a single part of his body was visible on a human body. The scarlet eye armor in the middle of his body seemed to be the so-called eye scrutinizing Nian Zhuo and the others, and it even occasionally shot out dangerous electric currents.

—Listen, listen, listen. My name is the King of Steam.

The voice was computer-synthesized and became difficult to recognize, but the other person's words did not end there.

"This is the king of a fantastical world who failed to grasp the possible future and disappeared as an insignificant being, a mere figurehead." He simply introduced himself.

His entire body was made of enormous metal parts, exceeding the physical capabilities of an ordinary person, and he also held a saw that was almost as tall as him.

"I am the being you all call Magician [B], and one of the leaders of the [Magic Mist Project] that spans the entire city." *Sizzle*—A huge plume of snow-white steam billowed out from behind him as he spoke. "At the same time—I am also one of the Heroic Spirits born from the Magic Mist of this imperial capital."

"...Magician, [B]." For a moment, Mashu found it difficult to process the other party's identity and frowned.

"Damn it, so you're one of their leaders." Mordred's mood soured as he spoke. "This is infuriating. I never expected things to turn out this way. His name does start with B, but I overthought things and overlooked such a simple fact."

“But…” However, looking at the towering figure of Charles Babbage before her, Mash felt as if she were slowly merging with a familiar enemy. “His appearance… is the same as the Chaos Machine Soldier…?!”

“Hmph, I think this guy’s performance must far surpass those of the others. Although this is just my guess, my intuition is usually not wrong.” Mordred planted the blade of his sword in the ground with both hands and looked at Charles Babbage in front of him.

"No, he's not human!" After a long analysis, Mashu raised her head and quickly distanced herself from Charles Babbage. "She, she really is... a Servant...!"

"—" The next moment, scarlet eyes lit up on Charles Babbage's body.

King of Steam - Come run a lap with me! Drive Wild Type

Facing Charles Babbage, the sheer size of his mechanical body created an oppressive atmosphere that even made Nian Zhuo feel somewhat heavy.

"My name is... Steam King." Gripping the cylindrical iron hammer in his hand, the bright red eye at the center of his massive mechanical body dimmed. "I am an existence that coexists with the world of fantasy after death."

Then, a large amount of hot steam was ejected from below his head.

"My fantasy has been sublimated into a fixed barrier." The mechanical voice chanted, yet it could not conceal the other's excitement. "However, it is not enough. It is not enough. This is still not enough!" His entire mechanical body trembled, as if it were alive... and even turned somewhat crimson.

"Behold, I am a greedy man. Behold, I am a rebel!"

"Yu Gang is someone who aspires to lead a steam-powered civilization."

"In terms of thought, it is for those who wish to lead an unbelievable civilization!" Then, a chilling killing intent erupted from its mechanical body, forcing Nian Zhuo and the others back.