Thirty minutes later.
Watching Ritsuka and Mash fully clad in operational uniforms, Naoki pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's just a home visit. I already said you didn't need to wear combat gear… Roman, you're overreacting."
"This is standard protocol." Roman declared firmly. "After all, it's still a Singularities. I will not allow them to go without proper preparation!"
Naoki sighed and shrugged. "Fine, fine—do as you wish. Anyway, I doubt there'll be any combat there—so, Fujimaru, Mash, let me reiterate the situation of the Singularities you're heading to."
"This Singularities is located in a city called Mifune in Japan. Its temporal era is 2015, synchronized with Chaldea's subjective time. I don't think I need to explain the details of the place—Fujimaru has lived there for over ten years; she knows it far better than I do, who only visits once a week."
"At the same time, there is no mission this time. You don't need to retrieve the Holy Grail, nor fight any enemies. Your only task in this Singularities is simple—'rest.'"
"Fujimaru, take good care of yourself there. Reunite with your family and assure them you're safe. As for Mash, until now you've only known the outside world through my stories or data logs. Now is a rare opportunity to step into the real, modern world. Do whatever you want—enjoy yourself."
Standing there, listening to Naoki's pre-mission speech, Ritsuka and Mash fell silent for a moment—then smiled.
"I understand, Big Brother. Thank you so much for giving me this chance."
"Then I'll go home and have fun, Department Head… Ah, but what if my family asks about what I'm doing here?"
"Hmm… Tell them you work for a foreign company. After all, Chaldea has many overseas organizations. I'll send you a list of names later—just pick one." Naoki chuckled. "Your rest period will last two days—exactly one weekend. We'll use Spiriton transfer to retrieve you at noon the day after tomorrow. Be ready beforehand."
Ritsuka and Mash nodded, then stepped into their respective capsules.
Giving Roman a signal that he could initiate the Spiriton transfer, Naoki glanced at the remaining empty capsule—this time, Hinako was not participating. Though expected, Naoki felt he should speak with her about this behavior.
Outside operations, she needed to build relationships with Fujimaru and the others. Despite the vast generational gap between a woman thousands of years old and a teenage girl, it wasn't impossible to bridge. Women could become close simply by talking.
(Ugh… But I don't really get this. I'll ask Rei and Gray later. What's it called again? 'Girl's club'?)
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The Spiriton transfer didn't take long.
For Ritsuka and Mash, the sensation of being submerged in fluid vanished almost instantly.
In its place came the feeling of free-falling through the air.
No—correction.
After opening their eyes and clearly observing their current situation, Ritsuka was certain—
She was plummeting through the sky!
"Wuaaaaaaahhh?! Why are we in mid-air?! Parachute! Is there a parachute?!"
"We didn't bring equipment like that, Master!"
[Hmm… Did we miscalculate the coordinates? Or was this intentional?]
Roman's voice crackled through Ritsuka's bracelet.
[Current altitude: three thousand meters. You're continuing to fall. Without any protection, you'll hit the ground and become paste.]
"Department Head, help us!"
Like grasping a lifeline, Ritsuka screamed for help.
[Ugh… Even if you beg, I can't fly down and save you immediately. What if we perform an emergency Spiriton transfer right now to retrieve you?—Idiot, Natsukawa! That would cause massive disruptions! The calibration required to enter and exit a Singularities takes at least one or two minutes. By then, Fujimaru and Mash will already be dead.]
Roman's voice cut in sharply.
[But Mash should be fine—she's a Demi-Servant. The problem is Fujimaru.]
"Department Head, don't say things like that! Isn't there any way to save us?!"
[I'll ask Da Vinci if she can send you parachutes immediately—Wait, hold on! There's an emergency! I'm detecting a powerful Mana signature rapidly approaching you!]
"Eh?!"
The sudden alert from Naoki jolted Ritsuka and Mash.
Mana reaction? At an altitude of three thousand meters?
[Right in front of you. You should be able to see it by now.]
"Yes, I see a fast-moving object flying through the air."
Following Naoki's direction, Mash quickly spotted the source of the Mana signature.
By appearance, it looked like an aircraft—but unlike any plane Mash had ever seen. Moreover, there shouldn't exist a golden, gleaming aircraft anywhere in this world.
And perhaps Ritsuka and Mash weren't mistaken—the moment the golden craft drew near, shimmering golden ripples appeared around it—
[I'm reading multiple Mana signatures! This power… is it a Noble Phantasm?!]
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
As Roman's voice rang out, golden star-like projectiles erupted from the ripples and shot toward Ritsuka and Mash!
Without hesitation, Mash grabbed Ritsuka's hand, pulled her tightly into her arms, and instantly summoned her shield—placing it directly in front of them.
*KLANG!*
The impact was brutal. With no ground beneath them, no anchor point, no resistance—just one strike was enough to send Mash's shield spinning wildly out of her grip!
(Great—)
Mash's face turned pale.
And at that exact moment—
[Fujimaru, Mash—shout my name as loudly as you can. I believe the person in that aircraft won't attack you.]
"Eh? Really? Department Head, don't lie to me!"
[True, true. If my guess is correct, the person aboard that aircraft… knows me. Saying my name aloud should be perfectly safe.]
Hearing this, after exchanging glances, Ritsuka screamed with all her might:
"NATSUKAWA NAOKI—!"
*SWOOSH!*
Almost the instant the cry ended, every golden star projectile vanishing mid-flight. Their falling bodies were suddenly wrapped in glowing chains, yanking them forcefully upward toward the deck of the golden aircraft.
Bouncing hard against the metal floor, Ritsuka couldn't help rubbing her sore backside.
At that moment, a pair of golden boots slowly approached. Looking up, Ritsuka saw a blonde woman with twin braids, clad in ornate golden armor—yet strangely, her upper torso was exposed, wearing only a delicate undergarment.
"I believe I heard my master's name just now."
The blonde woman gazed down at Ritsuka and Mash with cold, unreadable eyes.
"Explain why you uttered my master's name, outsiders."