"Master?"
Hearing the term from the blonde woman before her, Ritsuka and Mash paused for a moment, then asked hesitantly: "Um… the 'Master' you mean—is that the Department Head?"
"Department Head?"
The blonde woman slightly furrowed her brow. "Who exactly is this 'Department Head' you're referring to?"
[That's me, Angelica—Fujimaru, activate the projection on your bracelet. Let me speak to her directly.]
"Ah, got it!"
Ritsuka immediately pressed her bracelet, and a glowing screen materialized on the deck between them, revealing Naoki's face.
Seeing the image, Angelica swiftly dropped to one knee on the floor. "Natsukawa-sama."
[Hmm… It's been a while, Angelica… No, correction—I saw you just last month when I returned to Mifune City.]
"Yes."
(So she really is someone the Department Head knows… By the way, here's another beautiful blonde woman who treats the Department Head as her Master. Could he have a thing for this type? Rei-san has the same traits too.) Ritsuka thought.
After glancing at Mash and herself once more, Angelica turned back to Naoki and asked: "Since Natsukawa-sama appeared in this manner, does that mean these two are your guests?"
[You could say so. You see, I'm currently stationed at Chaldea. They're both subordinates of mine. They came here to visit their families—but according to calculations, they should've materialized in a narrow alley. Somehow, they ended up in mid-air.]
"As for that." Angelica explained, "I believe it was caused by the numerous Noble Phantasms I've deployed."
[Noble Phantasms you've deployed? What's going on in Mifune City… Well, given the circumstances, it would be strange if nothing were happening. Tell me your situation here, Angelica. And also, update me on Shiki and Atalanta.]
"Understood."
Angelica proceeded to recount everything that had recently transpired to Naoki.
It had begun about two weeks ago. Shiki—who was currently under Angelica's service—suddenly ordered her to extract a large portion of her Noble Phantasms from her collection and scatter them across all of Mifune City. Using the city's ley lines, she constructed an invisible barrier encompassing the entire urban area.
Though she didn't understand why Shiki had done this, Angelica obeyed without question. Afterward, Shiki even commanded her to conduct periodic aerial patrols.
"That's essentially the situation."
"Additionally, Ryougi-sama and Atalanta-sama have experienced no unusual events. Currently, Atalanta-sama has just finished teaching. As for Ryougi-sama, since giving me that order two weeks ago, she has remained inside the main residence."
Shiki hasn't left the house?
[Hasn't she gone out for her nightly walks anymore?]
"No, not once since then. Given Ryougi-sama's nature, this is highly unusual."
Not merely unusual—it was an anomaly on par with a shift in natural law. For context, Shiki had maintained her nighttime strolls for nearly twenty years. She'd leave at least five nights a week; spending entire nights away was commonplace years ago. Only after formally assuming leadership of the Ryougi family six years prior had she slightly curtailed her habits.
After a brief silence, Naoki spoke.
[Angelica, please take Fujimaru and Mash back to the Ryougi residence. There are several things I wish to discuss directly with Shiki—Forgive me, Fujimaru, Mash. I promised you rest, but it seems I'll need to borrow a little of your time.]
"It's fine, Department Head. After all, this appears connected to the Burning of the Human Order. This isn't the time to relax."
"I agree with Senpai. Please don't concern yourself with our feelings, Big Brother."
[I don't think it's that serious. I simply want to ask a few questions.]
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
A few minutes later.
The Ryougi Residence.
Seated on the Vimana that had landed before the gate, and carried gently down by Mash after leaping from the aircraft, Ritsuka stared at the grand mansion ahead—and her eyes widened. "This is the Ryougi residence?"
[Yes. The Ryougi family were once among Japan's four great demon-slaying clans. But they changed professions long ago. Now, they're a local power controlling both the underworld and legitimate society of Mifune City. In essence, there's no place in Mifune the Ryougi family can't reach. Perhaps even the school you attended for years was secretly funded by them.]
"So they're incredibly wealthy…" Ritsuka asked curiously. "By the way, the Department Head mentioned you return to Mifune once a month… What do you actually do when you come back?"
[You know Atalanta is my fiancée. Naturally, I return to visit her. I can't just abandon her because of Chaldea's affairs. But if I must be honest—the reason I come here is only half about Atalanta. The other half… as you see now—is coming to the Ryougi residence.]
[Shiki, the head of the Ryougi family, and I… have been close friends for a very long time. Back then, when I was studying Puppet Magecraft, Touko and I temporarily lived in Mifune. That's when I met Shiki. I spent those days risking being stabbed by her daily.]
(Can you call that "close friends"?)
Hearing Naoki's words, everyone in Chaldea—including Ritsuka and Mash—exchanged bewildered expressions.
[But I didn't stay long in Mifune. I was quickly recalled by my master, Kayneth. After that, the Misaki Incident occurred, and then I was thrown into a parallel world by the Old Man of the Jewel. When I returned, there was the Holy Grail War ten years ago… Since then, I rarely came back. Only after my duties at the Clock Tower stabilized did I begin returning roughly once a week each month.]
"The Department Head is really busy…"
[Fairly so.]
"We've arrived."
At that moment, Angelica, leading the way, suddenly stopped before a door. She raised her hand and knocked softly, then pushed the door open just enough to slip inside. Kneeling within, she bowed deeply. "I have returned, Ryougi-sama. Two guests from Natsukawa-sama have arrived. I've brought them."
*SWOOSH!*
Accompanied by a soft whisper like a breeze from within, the half-open door swung fully open from the inside. A dojo stood revealed before Ritsuka and Mash. In its center sat a stunning woman with long, flowing black hair cascading like a waterfall, dressed in an elegant kimono, seated upright as if in deep meditation.
Opening her eyes and gazing toward the doorway, the woman smiled faintly. "Hard work on patrol, Angelica. And… you two are Natsukawa's guests?"
"Ah… Yes! I'm a student… Ugh… of the Department Head. My name is Fujimaru Ritsuka. Pleased to meet you."
"I am Mash Kyrielight. It's my honor to meet you for the first time."
For some inexplicable reason, under the gaze of the woman before them, Ritsuka and Mash simultaneously felt as though they were standing before a princess of incomparable nobility. Unconsciously, they stiffened.
"Fujimaru Ritsuka… and Mash Kyrielight?"
Rising gracefully from the dojo floor, the woman approached them.
"Welcome to the Ryougi residence. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Ryougi Shiki, head of the Ryougi family."