The barrier over the Salem Singularity had vanished.
Although the rules prohibiting magic still existed, shortly after the phantom resembling a Demon God Pillar was devoured by the Statue of Yoba, Sanson re-established contact with Chaldea.
"No, Sanson, put me down! I haven't figured out what's going on yet!"
"Sanson, if you dare treat me like this, you will definitely regret it!"
"I am the Master!"
At a leyline node on the edge of Salem town, near the forest.
Sanson, firmly controlling the struggling red-haired young girl wrapped in a coarse robe and dangling her in mid-air, bowed deeply to Suke and his group.
"Thank you so much for everything during this incident, Mr. Suke."
"Master has caused everyone so much trouble; I offer my deepest apologies on her behalf."
After Fujimaru Ritsuka regained her normal consciousness, Sanson, having restored communications with Chaldea, confirmed through Da Vinci that the Salem Singularity's impact on Human History had been successfully erased.
Although he didn't know why Salem hadn't decomposed and vanished under the correctional force of Human History like previous Singularities where Demon God Pillars were destroyed, given everything he had seen along the way, Sanson was smart enough not to ask that question.
[It is good that you are all safe. Da Vinci-chan was about to be scared to death.]
A holographic screen floated in mid-air. On the other side of the screen was a woman who looked ninety percent like the world-famous painting 'Mona Lisa'.
[Robin Hood and Nezha, who traveled with you earlier, died and were sent back to the Throne of Heroes in Chaldea almost immediately after entering the Singularity, and they had absolutely no memories of what happened inside...]
[It really scared me to death. Even though it's just a Sub-Singularity, Da Vinci-chan was so depressed she nearly grew a few more wrinkles.]
The woman on the other side of the screen sighed deeply, her words giving off a sense of receiving a great pardon.
During the time the Master was completely out of contact, Chaldea had almost exploded into chaos. This unprecedented situation had made many who cared about Fujimaru Ritsuka restless and unable to eat or sleep.
[Fortunately, the incident was resolved smoothly, although there are many things that even I, the 'Universal Genius', find confusing.]
[By the way, won't you introduce these friends beside you, Sanson?]
"Da Vinci, you must seek justice for me! Da Vinci!"
Before Sanson could answer, Fujimaru Ritsuka, still being dangled by him, cried out in complaint:
"My innocence was defiled by that man dressed tackily like a farmer! I'll never be able to get married now! Waaah..."
[Eh, eh??]
"I was forcibly tied up by that man and had my mouth and stomach filled with thick white liquid! My stomach is still bloated even now!"
"Just like those girls who fall into ruin in remote villages... Waaah..."
[Did something like that actually happen?]
The virtual Da Vinci narrowed her eyes, her gaze falling upon Suke not far away, seemingly sizing up this strange male with questionable fashion sense.
Suke: "..."
As expected of Chaotic Evil. Goodness knows what messy stuff she watches on a daily basis; she can spout false accusations right off the bat.
I should have known better and switched the milk for sap.
That way, she probably would have fainted all the way back to Chaldea instead of spewing wild words here.
"Brother Suke, what does that red-haired big sister mean?"
"Brother, didn't you only feed her milk? Abi drank Brother's milk too, and it tasted really good..."
"Be good, Little Abi. We don't play with female hooligans."
Good heavens, the bad influence on the youth is simply immeasurable.
Glancing at Abigail asking questions with her big, innocent eyes, Sakuraba Emma beside her with a flushed pretty face, and Elysia covering her mouth and snickering.
Suke covered Abigail's ears. Little Abi must absolutely not become a bad woman like that in the future.
"Ahem, Da Vinci, please arrange the Spiritron Transfer immediately."
"Master's mind was previously invaded by the Demon God Pillar, so she might not be fully lucid yet. She urgently needs a full body checkup back at Chaldea."
Unable to watch any longer, Sanson hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over. He suddenly felt it might have been better if his Master hadn't returned to normal.
Under Sanson's explanation, Da Vinci roughly understood the identities of Suke's group and the sequence of events.
However, she searched her mind carefully; there didn't seem to be any Heroic Spirit in human history that matched the miracles Suke had displayed.
As for the two pink-haired maidens, one large and one small, next to him, Da Vinci was even more clueless.
[Fufu, it seems Master really made some nice new friends.]
[Anyway, Chaldea is deeply grateful for your assistance this time. If you have any need in the future, Chaldea will also lend you a hand.]
Putting away her joking mood, Da Vinci also bowed to Suke and the others to express her gratitude.
I was waiting for that sentence!
"Wait a moment, Da Vinci!" Suke spoke up hurriedly.
If not for the thought that he could fleece some wool from Chaldea, a representative of modern civilization, he wouldn't have come to see off Fujimaru Ritsuka, this god-tier Chaotic Evil person.
He was worried that Abigail and Sakuraba Emma would get tainted if they stayed near Fujimaru Ritsuka for even one more minute.
Especially after regaining consciousness, the way she occasionally looked at Elysia and the others with an inadvertent, pervert-like gaze could not be hidden.
"Does your Chaldea have Sprinklers? You know, the agricultural kind of Sprinkler, the type that can irrigate a large circle around it!"
[Sprinklers?]
[Naturally, we have them. Even if we didn't, as the 'Universal Genius', I could make them. Is Mr. Suke planning to...]
For a moment, Da Vinci thought Suke wanted to create some special Craft Essence, but Suke's next words negated her guess.
"Next time you send someone to Salem, bring me a few. The ordinary kind is fine; consider it a thank-you gift!"
[Oh, oh, of course, no problem.]
What a strange man, even more eccentric than her, the great genius of human history.
Recording Suke's request, Da Vinci prepared to get a detailed understanding of this special outsider from Sanson once he returned to Chaldea.
I kind of miss that guy Roman. With his 'wisdom', maybe he could see through this man's identity?
[The Spiritron Transfer is about to begin. Sanson, keep a good eye on Master~]
"No! Da Vinci! I haven't cultivated feelings with Abi-chan yet~! And Miss Emma, Miss Elysia——"
"Farewell, everyone."
This time, Sanson didn't give Fujimaru Ritsuka a chance to spout nonsense. The moment the Spiritron tunnel opened in front of them, he threw her in immediately, following closely behind himself.
The Spiritron tunnel closed, and Da Vinci's holographic image vanished with it. The deep autumn town returned to peace—at least on the surface.
The situation was perfectly resolved.
"It's getting late. Let's go too."
Stretching his back toward the sky, Suke signaled to Elysia and Sakuraba Emma.
Spending less than a month in Salem, Suke felt it had been much more interesting than the past three years combined.
"Brother Suke, are you and the big sisters leaving too?"
Seeming to sense the change in atmosphere, Abigail tugged at the corner of Suke's clothes somewhat reluctantly, her beautiful eyes filled with tears.
She had no relatives left in Salem. If her brother and the sisters left too, she would be the only one living in Uncle's empty mansion...
"We're just going back to rest for the night, Little Abi."
"Besides, isn't Lavinia still here to keep you company? How about you go find her?"
Oh.
If there was one regret, it was that Suke still hadn't figured out how to let Abigail re-enter Stardew Valley.
But there was no helping it. Anyway, the cross-dimensional gate should remain open, so it wouldn't be impossible to come back and see her anytime in the future.
"Woo... Abigail wants to live with Brother and Sisters... go to that beautiful pumpkin farm that belongs to Brother in the dream... Woo woo..."
As she spoke, Abigail actually started crying.
Her sobbing grew louder and louder, somewhat hysterical, crying to the point where Suke was a bit at a loss.
And he didn't know if it was his illusion, but he felt an inexplicable gaze seemingly looking over from the high heavens.
A wondrous power seemed to be gathering on Abigail's body, causing a keyhole-like mark to start appearing on the blonde loli's forehead——
Holy crap!
Abigail isn't going to turn dark right here, is she?!
Suke's PTSD flared up almost instantly. In the original work, it was Lavinia's death that triggered Abigail's awakening. Here, just a temporary parting stimulated it?
[Stay here and accompany Little Abi forever, Brother~]
[Don't you like Little Abi the best? You've even married me who knows how many times~?]
Hallucinations are coming, holy crap!
Suke even felt he was starting to have auditory hallucinations. In his vision, even Elysia and Sakuraba Emma, who were originally beside him, froze completely like butterflies trapped in amber.
The whole world seemed to be left with only him alone. Everything in Salem around him abruptly twisted and changed—
And just as this twisting change was about to intensify, the figure of a middle-aged male appeared in his field of vision.
"Randolph Carter".
This existence, who was Abigail's uncle, the very moment he appeared.
The surging hallucinations around Suke stopped as if frozen, then receded rapidly like the tide.
[I'll leave Abigail to you, newcomer.]
[This child's nature is actually quite naughty. I hope you can guide her well.]
Suke saw the other party's lips move slightly and read the words he wanted to say.
Of course, I will take good care of her.
[Then I am relieved.]
This is my obligation... Furthermore, may I ask for your true identity?
Suke gazed at the figure from afar, seemingly struck by a sudden inspiration.
A question escaped his lips.
[Identity? Heh...]
The middle-aged man turned around, leaning on his cane, strolling once again toward the boundless universe and the high heavens.
His figure suppressed the stars of the heavens, exuding an aura that was both empty and majestic.
[Just a nameless writer, that's all.]
[You can call me as those old-fashioned fellows do.]
[The Man of Providence (Mythos of The King)]
____
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