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IBHJ Chapter 708
🕑 Added 2024-02-12 04:55:29 +0000 UTCChaldea was established in early 2004 through a joint investment between magi and the surface world. It has one purpose—to protect humanity's continued survival. Chaldea observes all threats of human extinction and works to eliminate them.
In that sense, Chaldea's role isn't much different from that of Alaya—the collective unconsciousness of mankind that suppresses extinction threats.
Chaldea recruited people with talent and potential to become Masters capable of summoning and commanding Heroic Spirits as Servants. However, Chaldea's grand mission and the extreme danger of the mission they tackle require top medical capabilities. Morrigan, an ordinary physician on Chaldea's medical team, is proficient in all kinds of treatment and healing magecraft, with skills so masterful that even Romani sang her praises.
At only seventeen years old, Morrigan has long, silvery hair that flows like snow and delicate fairy-like features contrasted by her piercing, wine-red eyes. She's always clad in Chaldea's custom white medical coat. Her warm, sunny smile that can heal both body and soul earned the nickname “Morrigan’s Smile.”
Whether this was plagiarizing the Mona Lisa's smile, one would have to ask the trickster artist Da Vinci herself. Rumor suggests she coined the moniker.
Yet none disagreed with it - Morrigan was gentle and caring to all, retaining her tender smile despite harsh words or poor treatment. So she fit the image of an angel perfectly.
But even mild-mannered Miss Morrigan had her share of troubles.
Take now, for instance:
"What are you doing there, Mordred?" Spying a crouching twelve-year old girl, Morrigan sighed.
This girl was none other than Mordred - the legendary daughter of King Arthur and Morgan le Fay, destroyer of Arthur's kingdom in the myths of old.
Yet at Morrigan's call, the fearsome kingdom destroyer jerked as if shocked, her petite figure quivering violently as she whipped around. Relief flooded her face. "Oh, it's just you."
Morrigan blinked. "So what are you doing there?"
Irritated by the question, she shot back, "None of your business!"
"S-Sorry," Morrigan stammered, shrinking back.
Eyeing the doctor, Mordred recalled it had been a week since Eternal King duped her into becoming Mash Kyrielight's Servant. In that time, she'd thoroughly familiarized herself with Chaldea. She was no stranger to Morrigan either, who had gone out of her way to help Mordred adjust. Such friendliness should've been welcome in an unfamiliar place. Yet, for reasons Mordred couldn't pinpoint, she instinctively disliked the woman. Perhaps, Mordred thought, it was because Morrigan was too nice. Such sincere generosity left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Glancing sideways, she noticed a bespectacled girl reading a book at Morrigan's side - Hinako Akuto, one of Chaldea's A-Team and trump cards. Despite her standing, she and Morrigan were inseparable friends, bonded long before joining Chaldea. Their closeness was common knowledge.
Mordred didn't care. She simply resented Morrigan on some level.
Noticing her gaze, Hinako pushed up her glasses. "Don't mind me. I'm just reading."
Craning over, Morrigan turned to the little girl. Flustered, Mordred hissed, "What do you think you're looking at?!"
"S-Sorry!" Morrigan recoiled apologetically.
What a coward, Mordred thought. But Morrigan probably knew now, so she threatened, "Not one word of this to anyone."
"Of course!" she nodded eagerly like an obedient puppy.
After one last peek and a few wary glances at the girls, Mordred slipped away.
With her gone, Morrigan slumped in relief.
"You've gone soft, Morrigan," Hinako remarked without glancing up.
"Oh, don't tease me like that."
Crouching, Morrigan gathered the documents she'd dropped earlier. Just one left, when a slender white hand picked it up first and held it out to her.
"Here you are, Miss Morrigan."
A gentle voice. Looking up, Morrigan tensed, heart racing as cold sweat dampened her back.
Before her stood a petite fifteen-year-old with golden hair tied back with a black ribbon. She was dressed in a Lily-white dress, the hem revealing slender legs in white stockings. She smiled gently at Morrigan, blue eyes as calm as still waters.
"Y-Your Majesty..." Taking the document, Morigan thanked her and lowered her head hastily.
"Please, call me Artoria," the girl offered kindly.
"Surely not!" she waved her hands. "That would be too forward of me."
"But I see you as an older sister, in a way... Oh dear, you look pale. Are you okay?" Artoria looked at her in concern.
"I'm not Morgan!" Morigan exclaimed frantically. "I'm not her!"
"Forgive me for upsetting you. You've been so kind since I arrived. It felt comforting, like having a sister again... Please excuse my thoughtless words."
"It's nothing," Morigan murmured, shaking her head.
"By the way, did you see anyone suspicious around just now?" Artoria then asked gravely. "I can't ignore this prickling feeling of being watched. Such behavior towards a lady cannot be tolerated - I must reprimand the offender."
"Ah, yes... It was Mordred!" Without hesitation, Morigan sold out the rude little girl.
"That child again..." Crestfallen, Artoria turned to leave.
"Your Majesty, " Morrigan called out boldly, "have faith that you two will reconcile someday!"
Pausing, Artoria smiled gently. "Thank you for those kind words, Miss Morigan." Then she was gone.
Slumping in relief, Morrigan felt drained from the brief exchange.
Beside her, Hinako turned a page. "Are you sure you're not going soft?"
"Oh, stop teasing!" Morrigan wailed. "Aren't we friends? Shouldn't you comfort me?"
"You're mistaken. We are but strangers making small talk." Hinako adjusted her glasses.
"Waa..." Morrigan looked ready to bawl.
"Better deliver the medical report before Romani scolds you," Hinako nudged her along.
"Fine, fine... Honestly, Solomon has no flexibility, demanding paper reports in this digital age. The show's starting soon too..."
"No more dawdling, you shut-in otaku! Get going!"
"Yes ma'am!"
...
It took Morrigan half an hour to leave Romani's office after submitting the report.
The reason? As fellow otakus, they lost track of time engrossed in the live-action Magical Girl Kay TV drama—a joint project with Merlin's assistance on the sly.
Leaving Romani's office, Morrigan chattered excitedly about the plot. Naturally, Hinako understood little of the otaku lingo. But Morrigan couldn't be deterred.
"Merlin did great! Though I bet he's the one who sneaked in those few nasty shots... If Kay finds out he's messing with him again, there'll be blood!"
"It's really a feast for the eyes! But Kay might just kill Merlin if..."
As Morrigan happily gushed to deaf ears, they neared her office. Until—
"Ahem...What are you doing there, Your Majesty?" Finding Artoria peeking around the corner, Morrigan called out blankly.
"Eek?!" Whirling around, the flustered king smiled awkwardly at being caught red-handed.
Glancing inside, Morrigan spotted Mordred working out at the gym. She lifted a finger. "Were you spying on Mordred?"
"I-I wasn't!" She stammered defensively, but wilted under their looks. Bowing her head, she pleaded, "Please, don't tell her! I beg you!"
She then immediately ran away.
Morrigan stared, dumbfounded. Just what was going on here?
Mordred walked out of the gym with an annoyed look on her face. She glared at Morrigan and demanded, "Was that you two spying on me? I knew someone's been peeping on me!"
"No, not at all! We'd never," Morrigan waved her hands in denial.
"Then who was it?"
"I-It was the King of Knights..." Morrigan sold out Artoria without hesitation.
"That idiot..." Mordred scoffed and left in a huff.
Morrigan sighed, glancing between where Mordred had stormed off and where Artoria had fled. "Just what are those two doing?"
"Want them to make up? Should I reveal your true identity to move things along?" Hinako said.
"No, never!" Morrigan shrieked, huddling down and trembling. "No! Morgan's dead! I'm Morrigan now, yes, Morrigan!"
"There you go with the self-delusions again." Hinako pushed up her glasses at the pitiful sight.
"Stop bullying me...we're supposed to be friends!" She whimpered tearfully.
"This isn't bullying, only you hiding from yourself." Just then, Hinako relented, "Well, I don't care about human affairs anyway."
Thankfully, Morigan stood up and they headed back in silence until -
"You know, you should really open up more to others," Morigan said. "Anime has plenty of stories about humans and non-humans coexisting harmoniously. Why not give it a chance?"
"As if! That kind of nonsense makes you a hopeless otaku in my book!"
As they entered Morigan's office, they found two young ladies already inside. Gorgeous and elegant, the pair smiled at Morigan as she shut the door and faced them curiously. "Illya? Chloe? What brings you here?"
Comments
JeanMartin Freites
Nice to see what's going on in Chaldea but that was such a random pivot.
