Every last Elisabeth Báthory, along with one Carmilla, had been summoned by Eliza the Nine-Tattooed Dragon.
Then Eliza the Nine-Tattooed Dragon leaped into the air, and beneath her feet materialized a whimsical, cartoonish dragon—Shi Jin himself.
She mounted Shi Jin and soared skyward, eight Elisabeth Báthorys and one Carmilla orbiting her in a halo of multicolored light.
The glow around them swelled until it hit a breaking point.
All nine Elisabeths and the single Carmilla transformed into blazing crimson fire-dragons, wheeling endlessly around the searing inferno that was Eliza the Nine-Tattooed Dragon at their center.
These ten dragons had one target: Carmilla below.
Carmilla simply stood there, staring blankly as the fiery assault hurtled toward her. She didn't dodge. She didn't react. The reflection of the dragons in her pupils had gone dull, the spark of life snuffed out.
The trauma had hollowed her completely; no emotion stirred anymore. She remained frozen in place, the picture of someone who had given up on existence itself.
The wounds were too deep. Carmilla no longer wanted to live. Faced with dozens of her own darkest histories, she would rather end it all here and now.
At last the ten blazing crimson fire-dragons streaked downward like meteors, jaws wide as if they meant to rip Carmilla apart piece by piece.
The instant they struck, the dragons detonated in a cataclysmic blast. Flames roared outward, vast and devastating.
The inferno swallowed Carmilla whole.
She felt her body burning, the searing agony that would torment any ordinary person—or any Servant—just as fiercely.
For Carmilla, though, this death felt like mercy. She slipped away almost smiling.
If she could die properly this time, she would never have to look at any more of her own black history again.
In the final flicker of consciousness, all she wished for was that the next time some Master summoned her, she wouldn't have to cross paths with Elisabeth Báthory ever again.
Carmilla defeated.
——————
Chaldea.
Command Room.
"Spirit Origin of Carmilla captured?" Olga Marie asked, eyes on the monitor where Carmilla's form had vanished, turning to Da Vinci beside her.
Da Vinci fiddled with the Servant summoning interface, checked the captured Origin, then flashed Olga Marie a thumbs-up.
"Summoning system locked it in clean. Barring any surprises, once Adam gets back we can bring Carmilla in."
——————
The explosion's glare faded.
The silhouettes of the nine Elisabeth Báthorys and one Carmilla still lingered at the blast site.
They hadn't returned to Chaldea yet. Eliza the Nine-Tattooed Dragon's Noble Phantasm remained active; as long as she didn't dispel it, none of them could go back.
Nine Elisabeth Báthorys gathered in one place—the noise level was exactly what you'd expect.
Elisabeth Báthory (Lancer): "Where the heck were we just summoned to?"
Elisabeth Báthory (Halloween): "This place looks pretty dangerous. I spotted a bunch of Servants fighting."
Elisabeth Báthory (Brave): "Isn't that even better? Feels like a fresh adventure!"
Elisabeth Báthory (Cinderella): "Where's Master? Master, where are you?"
Elisabeth the End: "Ugh… I still can't get used to this. Suddenly summoned by another 'me' and turned into a fire-dragon? Seriously?"
Elisabeth Báthory (Five-Star): "Come on, this is awesome! All the other 'mes' fusing into fire-dragons for an ultimate Elisabeth combo—how fun is that?"
Carmilla: "..."
Carmilla's ears rang with the endless chatter of every flavor of Elisabeth Báthory. It felt like needles stabbing into her brain. She almost wished she really were deaf.
At the same time, her stomach churned violently. Another wave of nausea hit.
Out of habit she reached for her medicine—only to remember she hadn't brought any when she was summoned.
"Ugh…"
Carmilla let out a long, miserable sigh, her mouth twisting into a grimace that stretched nearly to her ears.
She glanced aside at the spot where the other Carmilla had been erased.
That one had gone down fast. At least she wouldn't have to stare at all this black history anymore, eyes burning.
Now she had to listen to it too—eyes and ears both screaming in protest.
Carmilla felt a pang of envy for the one who had already faded. That Carmilla couldn't see or hear any of it anymore. She was free from this soul-crushing torment.
Years in Chaldea and Carmilla still couldn't adapt to the agony that made her want to die.
Luckily, she had one thing that could ease the pain.
She drew a deep breath and turned her gaze toward Adam.
At some point Eliza the Nine-Tattooed Dragon had bounded over to Adam's side. He was leaning down, talking with her about something.
Another Elisabeth stood right next to him; normally the sight would have twisted Carmilla's stomach again.
Yet in Carmilla's eyes, only Adam existed.
Just looking at him made the nausea fade. The suicidal despair in her chest dissolved into nothing.
Adam was Carmilla's greatest source of spiritual sustenance in Chaldea. Without his earlier words of comfort, she never would have endured this many Elisabeths.
She stared at him, utterly transfixed. The surrounding chatter of Elisabeths faded from her hearing. The other Elisabeths vanished from her sight.
But slowly her heartbeat quickened. Heat flooded her body.
Her pupils glowed faintly with vampiric hunger. Her fangs itched; she couldn't stop herself from running her tongue over them.
Carmilla had always preferred the blood of virgins.
Yet the moment she had tasted Adam's blood, she understood what true perfection tasted like.
She still wondered why his blood was so intoxicating.
She had asked the golden-haired vampire who knew these things best—Crimson Moon.
The answer was simple: the flavor of blood changes according to the depth of your feelings for the person. The more you desire them, the sweeter it becomes.
That thought made Carmilla's restraint crumble. She could feel certain parts of herself already aching in anticipation, growing slick with need.
Decision made.
When they returned, she would have a proper session with her Master—riding the peak of pleasure, then sinking her fangs deep into his throat.
Carmilla fixed her stare on Adam, rubbing her lower teeth against her upper fangs, practically trembling with eagerness.
Mecha Eli-chan No. 1 watched Carmilla's obvious bloodlust and seemed lost in thought.
She glanced at her own mechanical frame, then at the flesh-and-blood bodies of the other Elisabeths.
A flicker of envy crossed her eyes. She sighed helplessly.
"Ugh…"
"Is there any way to temporarily convert my Spirit Origin?"
"Turn this mechanical body into actual flesh?"
Mecha Eli-chan No. 2 gave her a puzzled, slightly offended look.
"Why would you even say that?"
"Another model of me—aren't you satisfied with this perfect, beautiful frame of yours?"
"It's not that I'm dissatisfied, it's just… well…"
Mecha Eli-chan No. 1 blinked guiltily and stole a glance at Adam.
Just thinking about what she wanted to say made her processors overheat; a faint blush crept across her steel cheeks.
"A mechanical body can't… with Master…"
She didn't finish aloud. Instead she transmitted the full thought straight into Mecha Eli-chan No. 2's consciousness.
No. 2's eyes widened in sudden understanding.
"Yeah… true. A mechanical frame can't give Master any warmth."
She wore the same thoughtful expression as No. 1, then lowered her gaze to her own silver-steel body.
...
After dealing with Carmilla, Eliza the Nine-Tattooed Dragon had come to Adam's side.
But unlike the joyful bounce she'd shown when Adam first summoned her, she now looked weighed down, clearly troubled.
She suddenly remembered what Carmilla had said during the gathering.
Her big, adorable eyes grew misty. She gazed up at Adam with tears threatening to spill.
Adam's brow furrowed in pain the instant he saw her on the verge of crying.
"What's wrong, Elisa-chan? Did someone bully you while I was gone?" His voice stayed gentle, but a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
"If anyone did, I'll call Tamamo and Tia right now—"
Elisa shook her head softly. Hearing how much Adam cherished her brought back every sweet memory they shared, and the tears finally broke free.
They streamed down her cheeks as she looked up at him with a heartbreakingly pitiful expression.
"Big Brother… I heard from the grown-up me that one day you and I will have to part. Is that… true?"
Adam: "..."
He fell silent, unsure how to answer.
If the journey through Chaldea ever ended… if the world no longer needed saving… would that be the moment when Chaldea's Master had to separate from its Servants?
Seeing his silence, Elisa understood. She forced the tears back, steeling herself, and met his eyes with quiet resolve.
"…It is, isn't it?"
"Yeah… it's true."
"But I'm not sad."
"Those tears earlier? They were just because I was so happy to see you again."
"Happy tears, not sad ones."
"Just like some bonds are eternal, my bond with Master is eternal too."
"Even if we separate… even if we say goodbye… the connection between me and Master will never break."
As she spoke, the tears she had fought to hold back poured out again. Her voice cracked with sobs.
"Sniff… so… so… I won't feel lonely at all."
"Waaah… waaah… waaah…"
Adam watched her heartbroken face, gently crouched down, and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
He bowed his head for a few seconds, then spoke with firm tenderness.
"I promise you, Elisa-chan."
"The day we part will never come."
"As long as Chaldea exists, I won't let any of you leave my side."
"And I swear Chaldea itself will endure forever—so none of you will ever be separated."
Elisa first thought he was only comforting her.
Then she saw the iron resolve in his eyes and felt trust bloom in her chest. She asked softly, "Really, Big Brother?"
"Of course it's real. Have I ever lied to you, Elisa-chan?"
Adam's mind flooded with memories—every laughing, talking moment spent with Chaldea's Servants.
Selfishly, his bonds with every Servant here were precious; some ran so deep they could never be severed.
He refused to let go.
From another angle, in Adam's Chaldea every Servant had been given a second life.
They had done things they never managed in their first existence, healed old regrets, and begun anew.
If Chaldea vanished, all of that would disappear too.
Adam would fight with everything he had to keep Chaldea and its Servants alive—whether for his own desires or for everyone who called this place home.
He had no reason, and no desire, to release his grip.
(And if anyone wondered what had become of the Mage Association that once tried to punish Chaldea for irregularities and force a reorganization… well, they were probably regretting it right about now.)
Once Elisa was sure Adam would never leave her, her usual bright smile returned. She threw herself into his arms and buried her face against his chest.
Adam stroked her hair gently, hoping to soothe the last traces of fear from her heart.
At the same time, a flash of light caught the corner of his eye.
He turned.
The light came from the clash between Chevalier d'Eon, Sanson (Shadow Servant) versus Marie and Mozart.
With Carmilla handled, next up were d'Eon and Sanson.
Adam's focus locked entirely on the two knights.
He completely missed that Mozart's condition had begun to shift—something was clearly wrong.
***
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