"Ark? Do you mean the Ark of the Covenant?"
I repeated the name, making sure I hadn't misheard.
The Ark of the Covenant—said to have been given by God to Moses. Legend has it that the Ark was a symbol of the bond between mankind and the divine, a sacred relic of unimaginable power.
As the words left my lips, I noticed something strange. Aside from Atalanta, everyone else seemed slightly shocked. But it wasn't the name Ark of the Covenant itself that startled them—it was something else… something about the way David had spoken of it.
Fujimaru, still looking confused, finally spoke up.
"David-san, why are you bringing up the Ark all of a sudden?"
Mash, standing beside him, shared the same curious expression.
David let out a slow sigh, as if carefully choosing his words before finally speaking.
"You all probably know the Ark as the sacred relic, don't you? A sacred relic that must not be touched by just anyone. However, in my case… the Ark is not just a historical artifact. It is my Noble Phantasm."
I could feel the tension in the air as he said those words.
"This Ark is not merely a symbol of divinity. It is a holy box that must never be touched by anyone but its rightful owner. If someone who isn't its owner touches it…"
He paused, his gaze turning sharp as he continued.
"They will die instantly."
Silence fell over us. Fujimaru swallowed hard, while Mash looked visibly uneasy.
David then spoke again, his tone lower, more serious.
"There are fools who wish to sacrifice a god to this holy box."
Mash frowned. "Sacrificing a goddess…? For what purpose?"
Fujimaru, now even more curious, finally asked, "What would happen if they actually went through with it?"
David closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again, his gaze piercing through us.
"If a goddess or a god is sacrificed to the Ark… not just this era, but the entire world… will be destroyed."
The air around us instantly felt heavier. Mash tensed, while Fujimaru looked completely stunned by that revelation.
I raised an eyebrow, processing David's words. If what he said was true, then this Singularity was far more than just an anomaly in history. There was something much bigger, much more dangerous at play here.
I turned to look at Atalanta, who had remained silent all this time. Her sharp eyes were locked onto David, as if waiting to see how we would react to this new information.
But I already knew who the "fools" David was referring to were.
It was the Argonauts.
However, not all of the Argonauts were present in this Singularity. As far as I knew, only Jason, Atalanta, Medea, and Heracles—his Berserker version—were here.
But if I thought about it more carefully, it wasn't *really* the Argonauts who were fools.
It was Jason himself.
He was the one who had ordered the hunt for a god to be sacrificed to the Ark. And worse, that decision hadn't come from his own ambition alone—it was influenced by Medea, the wife he had once dearly loved before she became the Witch of Betrayal.
Unfortunately, even though the Medea in this Singularity was her younger version, that didn't mean she had lost her memories as the *Witch of Betrayal*. She still remembered all the betrayals and pain, and for whatever reason, she had chosen to support Jason's decision.
But not Atalanta.
Atalanta had rejected the idea. She refused to take part in such a madness and eventually chose to leave.
And during her escape, she met David.
It was Atalanta who told him everything—about Jason, about Medea, and about their plan that could bring destruction to the world.
I turned back to David. If all of this was true, then this Singularity was far more than just a mere historical distortion. The stakes were much higher than we had ever imagined.
It wasn't just this era that was in danger—it was the entire world.
I took a slow breath, crossing my arms before looking at David with unwavering determination.
"In that case, you should stay with us," I said. "How about joining me as part of my ship's crew?"
David fell silent for a moment, seeming to seriously consider my offer. He stroked his chin, his gaze drifting toward the sky as if weighing the possibilities in his mind. Atalanta, standing beside him, glanced at me briefly but said nothing.
Then, after a few moments, David gave a small nod.
"Well, that sounds like a good idea," he said with a slight smile. "Following someone who can casually recruit people in the middle of a world-ending crisis… Hah, this reminds me of someone."
I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult, but I didn't care much either way. I simply smirked and turned, preparing to continue our journey. However, before I could take another step, Fujimaru and Mash still seemed confused.
Mash was the first to speak again, her voice hesitant.
"Um… actually, David-san, who exactly are the 'fools' you mentioned earlier?"
Fujimaru also turned to him, waiting for the same answer. Clearly, the two of them had yet to fully grasp the situation we were dealing with.
David remained silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh. He glanced at Atalanta, as if seeking her permission to continue explaining. Atalanta closed her eyes briefly before giving a small nod, allowing David to speak further.
David then turned back to Fujimaru and Mash, his expression serious.
"The ones I was referring to… are Jason and Medea."
Silence.
"Jason of the Argonauts?" Fujimaru repeated in disbelief.
David nodded.
"That's right. He and his people… or rather, he and Medea," David continued, his voice growing slightly heavier when he mentioned Medea's name. "Jason ordered the search for a god to be sacrificed to the Ark. But he didn't do it alone. Medea, the woman who was supposed to be his wife, was the one who encouraged him to make that decision."
Fujimaru and Mash exchanged glances, their faces filled with shock and confusion.
"But… why would they want to do that?" Mash asked again.
David shook his head slowly. "I don't know. But what I do know is that if they succeed, not just this era, but the entire world will be destroyed. That's why Atalanta left them. And that's why we have to stop them before it's too late."
I listened to the conversation in silence. Even though I already knew part of this, hearing it directly from David made everything feel more real.
This Singularity was far more complicated than I had expected. It wasn't just a simple historical distortion; there was a grand scheme at play—one that could bring disaster to the entire world. If the Ark was truly used to sacrifice a god, the result would be far more terrifying than just the destruction of this era.
I glanced toward Atalanta. Her face remained expressionless, but I could sense the tension hidden in her posture. To her, this wasn't just about the world—it was a betrayal of the people she once trusted.
David himself appeared calm, yet I caught a glimpse of worry in his eyes. Even someone like him, who had lived through countless stories and tragedies, saw this situation as grave.
Meanwhile, Fujimaru and Mash were still trying to fully grasp what they had just heard. I could see the confusion in their eyes, but also the determination slowly growing within them.
I exhaled quietly before finally speaking, breaking the silence that had settled over us.
"Alright, enough talk," I said firmly. "We can't afford to stand around any longer. The more we delay, the greater the chance that Jason and Medea will carry out their plan."
I crossed my arms over my chest, looking at each of them before continuing.
"Let's head back to my ship. We can discuss everything further and devise a proper strategy there. If we want to stop them, we need a solid plan, and we can't do that while standing in the middle of a forest."
David nodded in agreement. "You're right. It would be best to discuss this somewhere safer."
Atalanta said nothing, but she was already walking ahead, signaling her agreement.
Fujimaru and Mash still seemed a bit uneasy, but they knew this wasn't the time to hesitate.
"Let's go," I added, turning toward the direction of our ship. "We have a lot of work to do."
With that, we all began moving, leaving behind the eerie silence of the forest, which now felt more unsettling than before.
.
.
.
After a long journey through the forest, we finally returned to my ship. The familiar sea breeze greeted us once more, carrying the salty scent of the ocean mixed with the warmth of the air. The distant sound of waves crashing against the shore blended with the bustling activity on the ship's deck.
As soon as we stepped aboard, my small crew rushed over excitedly. They hopped in place, their eyes sparkling with their usual enthusiasm.
"Captain! Captain's back!" one of them cheered, their voice full of joy.
Fujimaru and Mash were also warmly welcomed, with some of the crew bouncing around them in curiosity. These homunculi might be small, but they were incredibly expressive in showing their emotions.
However, as the initial excitement died down, they finally noticed that we had returned with an unfamiliar face—David.
Though they said nothing, I could clearly see the curiosity flashing across their little faces. They whispered among themselves, as if trying to guess who this green-haired man with a shepherd's staff was.
David, who had been observing the ship's atmosphere with a slight smile, finally decided to introduce himself.
"I'm David," he said casually, his gaze sweeping across my little crew. "A Servant of the Archer class. Nice to meet you all."
My small crew stared at him with wide eyes before slowly approaching, their curiosity growing. Some examined the staff in his hand, while others nodded to themselves, seemingly satisfied with his introduction.
Meanwhile, Atalanta stood beside me, watching the interaction with narrowed eyes.
"I didn't expect you to have such a unique crew," she murmured, her tone more of a statement than a question.
I smirked slightly, crossing my arms. "They're not just an ordinary crew. They're homunculi I specifically summoned to navigate the ship and handle various tasks here."
I then turned to David. "They don't have names like regular humans do, so they usually refer to each other by numbers. I've gotten used to it, but don't be surprised if they don't introduce themselves with names."
David gave a small nod. "I see. They seem quite capable at what they do."
"Of course," I replied proudly. "They may be small, but they're incredibly reliable."
Hearing my praise, my crew looked delighted, some even bouncing in place excitedly.
Fujimaru and Mash smiled at the interaction. Even after encountering many strange things in their journey, this ship and its crew still managed to surprise them.
After ensuring that everything was in order, I turned to everyone standing on the deck.
"Alright," I finally said, my voice taking on a more serious tone. "Now that we're back on the ship, we can start planning our next move."
David and Atalanta nodded, while Fujimaru and Mash stood ready to listen.
I gazed out at the open sea, feeling the gentle breeze brush against my face.
Standing in the middle of the deck, the cool sea wind swept through my hair as I looked at everyone gathered before me.
"So, our objective is clear now," I said firmly, making sure everyone was paying attention. "We have to catch up with Jason and stop his hunt for the gods before something irreversible happens. If necessary, we will defeat him and anyone supporting this insane plan."
The atmosphere on the ship grew tense. Fujimaru nodded with determination, while Mash looked slightly worried but ready to follow through. Atalanta, who had remained silent, crossed her arms and stared at the sea with a sharp gaze.
David, on the other hand, smirked. "Well, I didn't expect us to be hunting Jason, the leader of the Argonauts himself." He sighed before continuing, "Though I imagine this will be far more difficult than simply chasing someone lost in the woods."
I looked at him. "That's for sure."
Walking to the edge of the ship, I stared out at the vast ocean stretching before us. The waves shimmered under the moonlight, creating reflections that looked like scattered silver fragments on the water's surface.
"Jason may be a coward," I continued, "but he's no fool. If he truly intends to capture a god and sacrifice them to the Ark, he must have already devised a well-thought-out strategy. Especially with Medea at his side—even in her younger form, she still possesses the cunning and intelligence of her 'Witch of Betrayal' self."
Mash clenched her fists. "Then we can't let them succeed!"
I turned to her and nodded. "Exactly. We have to stop the ritual at all costs."
Mash tightened her grip against her chest, her eyes filled with resolve. "But how? We don't even know where Jason is..."
Fujimaru looked deep in thought before speaking. "The ocean is vast. Even if we know they're somewhere on this island, it'll be hard to find them without a clear lead."
I chuckled slightly, drawing their attention. I could see the curiosity in their eyes, especially Mash and Fujimaru, who seemed unable to guess what I was thinking.
"Do you have a plan?" David asked, leaning against his staff.
I crossed my arms and nodded. "Mash, Fujimaru, do you remember my ability? The one that allows me to create objects or weapons from legends?"
Fujimaru's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "Wait… You mean—"
I grinned. "That's right. If we can't find Jason through normal means, we'll use something far more efficient. I can simply create a replica of a legendary map that will outline the entire Singularity and allow us to track Jason's location."
Mash looked surprised. "So… you can create a map that directly shows us the enemy's position?"
I nodded. "Of course. But this isn't just any ordinary map. It's a map inspired by ancient myths and legends."
Golden light began to radiate from my hands, forming intricate patterns in the air. The wind around us picked up slightly, responding to the power taking shape. Then, within the light, a large scroll slowly materialized.
Unrolling the map before everyone, I smirked.
"Now, let's go find Jason." I said confidently.
***
Author note:
Ahem sorry for the delay update, I was only a little bored and decided to make a new fanfic, but don't worry, I would not drop this fanfic.
As usual, if something felt off or there's mistake just let me know by your comment.