Thirty minutes passed quickly after Chaldea began preparing for Rayshift.
After skillfully completing all preparations, Ritsuka and Mash, as Chaldea's two designated operational personnel, once again headed to the Lostbelt via Rayshift.
This was their sixth Lostbelt journey.
The first was Russia, blanketed in ice and snow.
The second was Northern Scandinavia, also covered in ice and snow.
The third was the vast and prosperous China.
The fourth was India, endlessly perishing and reincarnating.
The fifth was Olympus, filled with remnants of Machine Gods.
Now, for the sixth Rayshift, after the familiar process, as their consciousness recovered—
"It's freezing!"
Ritsuka immediately hugged her arms, the cold environment around her making her shiver right away.
Beside Ritsuka, Mash, already in her armor, looked around: "It seems the Rayshift succeeded, Senpai."
"Y-yeah~~~~ I know~~~~"
Ritsuka was shivering even while speaking. She hurriedly rubbed a small fire spell to warm herself.
[Fujimaru, Mash, can you hear me?]
At that moment, Roman's voice came from her wrist.
[Rayshift went smoothly. Hold on a second—we'll compare your current location.]
Lostbelt conditions differ from Pan-Human History, but no matter the difference, it's still on Earth. Thus, by comparing data, Ritsuka and Mash's location could certainly be determined.
Mash looked around again—the environment seemed frozen.
(It really resembles Russia…)
The first Lostbelt they visited, Russia, was also covered in ice and snow. But though both were blanketed in ice and snow, Mash felt Russia and this place were different.
Russia's ice and snow were extreme cold intolerable to humans. Due to that extreme environment, the remaining Russians had even undergone species evolution, becoming wolf-like humans.
But this place was different. First, the temperature was still within normal cold limits—at most winter level. Second, there was silence.
Because of living beings, Russia still had some signs of life despite the ice and snow. But here, there were no signs of life at all—silent like a dead land.
(Was Big Brother's message really sent from here?)
Mash couldn't help thinking that.
[Okay, Fujimaru and Mash's location confirmed. Estimated position is Britain—specifically the northern tip of Britain.]
The northern tip of Britain.
No wonder the environment here was so cold.
Mash looked at Ritsuka: "Master, are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, somewhat. My body's a bit warmer." Ritsuka, holding the small flame, nodded. "By the way, is the Department Head really here?"
[From the location, he should be—or at least was. After all, based on the trace-back results, that's where Natsukawa sent the message.]
It was just unknown how many years ago that was.
Judging from the content Naoki wanted to convey, he must have sent the message long ago—but he himself wasn't sure when Chaldea would receive it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said such things.
But since it was Naoki, a hundred or two hundred years was no issue for him. Even a thousand years was like a dozen years to him.
He was definitely still alive—that much was certain.
[However, the troublesome part is we can't observe your location. There's no observable data. All we can do is communicate with you like this for now. To find Natsukawa there, you'll have to rely on yourselves for the time being.]
"Understood, Doctor."
After lowering her wrist, Ritsuka, now warm, said to Mash: "Then let's start searching for the Department Head. First, let's check the surroundings, then look for any villages or locals."
"Yes, just like before, Senpai."
Having gone through the entire Human Order Incineration and five Lostbelt journeys, Ritsuka and Mash were extremely proficient with this procedure. After confirming the goal, they immediately acted.
However, the two stopped again after just one or two steps.
Because not far ahead, on the beach continuously pounded by waves, a broken wooden boat was stranded there. And beside the wooden boat, someone was lying.
Without thinking twice, Ritsuka and Mash immediately ran over. After all, it was the first person they'd encountered here—and it seemed they'd suffered a shipwreck. There was no reason not to help.
But when the two got closer and clearly saw the face of the person lying on the beach, they both froze in place simultaneously.
"T-this…"
"A… A… Miss Artoria?"
The person lying unconscious beside the wooden boat—no matter how Ritsuka and Mash looked—appeared exactly like the King Arthur from Pan-Human History they knew!
Hearing their voices, as if awakened, the girl who looked almost identical to Artoria slowly opened her eyes and sat up from the sand.
"Ugh… I… Right, I remember being attacked by him… then… Eh? People? Wait, people on this island… Could it be—"
The girl only noticed Ritsuka and Mash crouching in front of her after a few moments. Then, as if realizing something, she hurriedly stood, brushed the sand off her body, slightly lifted the hem of her skirt, and performed a palace curtsy like a princess.
"Ahem! Pleased to meet you, honorable guardians of the Boundary Island. I am Artoria Caster. I have come uninvited. May I ask you to take me to where the Holy Sword rests? I have come to unseal the Holy Sword."
"…"
"…"
Listening to the words from the girl claiming to be Artoria, Ritsuka and Mash both looked confused and puzzled.
Guardians of the Boundary Island?
Where the Holy Sword rests?
"Um…"
Ritsuka raised her hand awkwardly: "Sorry, you… seem to have the wrong people? Mash and I aren't guardians of the Boundary Island, and we don't know where the Holy Sword rests. We're just outsiders who just arrived here."
"Eh?"
Artoria Caster, who had initially looked full of hope and tension, froze in place after hearing that.
Then, under Ritsuka and Mash's gaze, her cheeks instantly flushed completely red.