"So, it's like that...?" Ritsuka slumped in a chair between Camelot's thrones, murmuring, "Doesn't that mean Manchester's destruction is our fault?"
"You're too arrogant, Ritsuka," Aoko said casually, waving her hand. "Manchester's destruction was inevitable. I've said before, that this Lostbelt world lacks a reasonable foundation. As long as Oberon = Vortigern, the self-destruct mechanism, exists, this world's end is set."
"I don't quite understand," Da Vinci-chan asked, "Why does Britain's land will want to self-destruct?"
Aoko gestured for patience, then began telling the true history of Fairy Britain, starting from the time of the Star's invasion—what crimes the fairies had committed to create such a twisted world.
"I see..." Da Vinci-chan nodded thoughtfully. "That explains all the strange things, and why Oberon keeps urging us to defeat Queen Morgan—Miss Aoko—to save Britain, even though the Fantasy Tree is already gone."
"Exactly!" Aoko nodded. "Right now, if we do nothing, Oberon will become the Pit of Naraku, dragging both Proper Human History and the Lostbelt Britain down with him."
"But Sister Aoko, you already have a plan, right?" Ritsuka looked at her determinedly. "Chaldea will help, Mash and I both will!"
Seeing Ritsuka regain her spirit, Mash comfortingly patted Ritsuka's orange hair—just as soft as expected.
"We already have a plan," Aoko said. "Originally, Mr. Pepe and I came to this Lostbelt to find and bring back a lost staff member from our side."
"Hmm... Who is that staff member?" Ritsuka wondered. She'd met Pepe before and got along well, so she was excited to possibly meet a non-enemy A-Team member. (For some reason, Crypter Pepe didn't appear in this Lostbelt.)
"Haha, I'll call her over to meet you~" Aoko grinned slyly, then took out a sphere from the Ark World and, using her holder authority, teleported Hinako Akuta out, who had been eating parfait inside.
"...What do you want?" Suddenly teleported out, Hinako looked around blankly, then glared at Aoko in annoyance.
"Hehe, these are Chaldea staff from a parallel world. I just wanted you to meet them," Aoko said with a smile.
Hinako glanced around; she didn't recognize the two, but there were plenty of Chaldea staff she didn't know well, so she just found a seat and ate her dessert.
"Mash, why is this Miss Hinako so cold..." Ritsuka whispered nervously to Mash.
"Um, I guess, maybe it's because the time on Miss Aoko's side is before either of us was born?" Da Vinci-chan smiled. "So, it's normal if she doesn't know us."
"Miss Hinako is very nice!" Mash said earnestly. "She took good care of me before!"
"I didn't do anything," Hinako put down her parfait coolly. "I just treated you normally. No need to thank me."
Mash and Ritsuka exchanged glances: Yep, that's her alright.
…
While Aoko and the others were talking, new information arrived: Gloucester was being attacked by the exiled Fang Clan fairies from Manchester!
"That worm must've done this!" Morgan said angrily. "Let's hurry and support them—Muryanis still one of our allies!"
"Wait," Aoko thought for a moment, "Don't fall for a diversion. The corpse of Cernunnos could awaken at any time. If we all leave, we could be lured away."
"Then send Melusine," Morgan said after frowning. "She can handle the chaos, and we'll have an excuse to bring Muryan and her confidants back to Camelot."
Aoko had already shared her Ark Plan—rescuing fairies worth saving from this world using her principle blood ring—with the Chaldeans, so Ritsuka and the others weren't surprised.
"That works," Aoko nodded, then looked at Da Vinci-chan. "How's the Storm Border on Chaldea's side? Should they head to Camelot?"
"The Dimensional Drill Ship has been repaired enough to launch," Da Vinci-chan nodded. She wasn't surprised Aoko knew their status—magicians break all logic anyway. "But Captain Nemo and Holmes are still not in great shape."
"Alaya can't intervene in a world without Human Order," Aoko nodded. "They're not fully incarnated Servants like you or Artoria."
The plan unfolded smoothly. Melusine, just back from patrol, quickly reported in, then immediately launched for the chaotic Gloucester. Truly, the capable are always the busiest.
…
"Those damn bastards again!" Muryan, burning with rage, commanded the Wing Clan fairies to resist the Fang Clan attack.
Though her fairy domain was powerful, the Fang Clan fairies were the type born with great combat ability and little need for training.
The Wing Clan, on the other hand, were mostly functional fairies like Habetrrot, which was why Gloucester's commerce thrived. But such skills were useless against the Faing Clan assault, leaving only a few human soldiers with iron weapons to barely hold the line.
"Why, why, why!" Muryan raged helplessly at herself and the world. "I haven't even started my revenge, and these bastards are already here?!"
The sudden attack devastated the already-depleted Wing Clan in Gloucester, their numbers shrinking further. The other fairies living in the city mostly fled at the first sign of trouble; a few opportunists stayed behind to loot.
Muryan barely had enough power to protect the remaining Wing Clan and the area around the lord's mansion. She'd already sent an urgent message to Morgan, who'd promised support, but these moments before help arrived were agony for everyone.