Danmachi: The Multiverse Portal

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Night had fallen over Snowfield.

In one of the city's hospitals, a group of modern soldiers secured the building and cleared the area around it. After they made sure everything was safe, military medical teams came in and took control of a whole ward.

A blonde doctor arrived not long after.

"Tsubaki Kuruoka's medical records?"

"Right here."

Several field doctors in white coats were already checking on Tsubaki. They looked over her past diagnoses, asked for her full medical history, and started their own tests.

"..." The blonde doctor watched them work. She was called in to help because she was Tsubaki's attending doctor and knew the girl's condition better than anyone else in the hospital.

None of the military doctors paid her any attention. They stayed focused on the patient.

"Commander."

Commander James entered the ward with another group of specialists and formally placed Tsubaki under military medical supervision.

"How does it look?"

James already knew the basics. Tsubaki was one of the Masters chosen by the Holy Grail War, and her body contained countless altered microorganisms that resembled microscopic insects, spreading through her entire body and functioning as artificial Magic Circuits. His people had investigated that form of insect Magecraft—it appeared to have some connection to the Three Founding Families behind the original Holy Grail War.

"Reporting, Commander. We have confirmed a viable treatment plan." A military doctor handed him a new report.

"...However, removing the microorganisms may cause the patient's death. Her Servant has taken the form of Pale Rider, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It embodies disease itself, so the pathological connection between them may be part of..."

"Enough. Spare me the mythology—I'm tired of hearing it." Commander James interrupted.

He had no patience for complicated occult explanations. He just wanted to know the treatment plan, the risks, and the outcome.

"A conventional cure is impossible," the doctor reported.

Commander James's expression darkened.

"With our current technology, purging the altered microorganisms would be easy," the doctor continued. "The problem is that her life has already been bound to Pale Rider through the Command Spells. That Servant possesses an unusual conceptual nature, and if we sever the physical connection while their contract remains active, the patient may die."

"Then what do you need?"

"If we can wake her and persuade her to relinquish her status as a Master voluntarily, we can remove the organisms safely. Any remaining damage can then be repaired with August's healing magic."

The doctor turned to the next page. "There is another option. August could perform the treatment himself. His miracle-class healing magic may be able to eradicate the problem without first separating her from the Servant."

There were two clear options.

"Then have August treat her," Commander James decided.

He liked straightforward solutions. Tsubaki was just a child with terrible parents, and he felt sorry for her, but pity wouldn't decide her treatment. He would pick whatever gave her the best chance to survive.

In theory, they could take Tsubaki to their world for treatment. But in reality, moving her between worlds in her condition could paralyze her instantly.

It was safer to bring August here instead.

"Yes, sir."

The medical team started getting ready for his arrival.

The blonde doctor had listened to enough of the conversation to realize one thing: these people thought they could cure Tsubaki.

"Excuse me... do you really have a way to cure her?" She approached Commander James, her eyes bright with hope.

Tsubaki was the most unusual and tragic patient in the hospital, and nothing in modern medicine had helped her. If someone could save her, the doctor wanted to know how.

Commander James glanced at her, then looked toward his secretary.

The secretary understood and stepped forward. "We cannot discuss the details. You are still her attending physician, so one of our people will coordinate with you during the transfer of care. Direct any further questions to that person."

The secretary had no plans to explain Magecraft, Servants, or miracle healing to a civilian doctor. That problem could go straight to August.

"I see."

The doctor nodded. She still didn't understand their method, but their confidence made her believe they had found a way.

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August arrived in the Type-Moon world shortly afterward.

He had just set both feet on the floor when Tiamat rushed over and wrapped herself around him. Her excitement was obvious.

Something about her child had changed.

Unlike Olga Marie and the others, Tiamat noticed the change right away. Hestia had sealed the planetary light around August, but some of it still lingered in every cell of his body. That presence drew in beings born from a planet.

"What a gentle light..."

Tiamat pressed herself against him, trying to cover as much of him as possible. The light felt like it was meant for her—it accepted her completely and seemed to favor her above all else. Tiamat could easily fall into darkness, but now that gentle presence made her feel like someone had pulled her out of the abyss.

"August, what did you do?" She tightened her arms around him. "Why does your body feel so different?"

Her face sank deeper into his chest. "Mother likes you more and more~"

Tiamat looked like she wanted to stay close to August every second, as if nothing could pull them apart.

"Mother, what has gotten into you?"

Ereshkigal had put her work aside for now. She stared as Tiamat's usual clinginess grew even stronger—if her affection had been at one hundred percent before, now it was way beyond that.

What had happened to her?

"I have no idea," Space Ishtar admitted.

Olga Marie, Marie Alter, and Jeanne Alter also shook their heads. August had only been gone for a short time. How did he come back with an aura strong enough to make Tiamat cling to him like this?

"August, did you take some kind of miracle tonic?" Olga Marie asked.

She could sense something strange about him, though not as clearly as Tiamat could. The closer she got, the more obvious the change became.

"Ah, that..."

August was about to explain, but Hestia stepped forward with her head held high, acting every bit like the proud first wife.

"My August got stronger again." She placed her hands on her hips and grinned. "He's my Familia child. Of course growing stronger made him even more irresistible."

All six women bristled. Even Tiamat, who still wouldn't let go of August, glared at the foreign Goddess.

August had become even harder for Tiamat to let go of. She was starting to think a temporary arrangement wouldn't be enough.

"Should we overwrite August's contract?"

She was already thinking about how to erase every trace of Hestia's divine presence and bind August to herself instead.

"YOU WOULDN'T DARE!"

Hestia's pride vanished, and she exploded with rage. This damned Goddess wanted to overwrite her Falna, the divine bond between Hestia and her August. She wasn't going to let anyone take it from her.

"Oh, we dare!" Olga Marie, Space Ishtar, and Ereshkigal answered at the same time.

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