It was morning.
A little later than usual. I normally wake up by 7 AM at the latest, but the clock showed it was 9.
I was drying my hair with a hairdryer when Ritsuka and Mash came out of the washroom.
I was worried they might play a prank by coming out with just towels wrapped around them, but they came out fully and properly dressed.
"I'm just going to change~ If you want to watch, you can."
"I'm not going to watch."
The two of them changed behind a partition that only showed their silhouettes. I turned my back completely, but as I turned, I could see them taking off their clothes. To think I'd see in real life what I'd only seen with VR Mash. Of course, I had no intention of staring.
I waited for them to get dressed, and soon, they were both changed.
"Well then, let's head straight to the cafeteria."
"Yes, let's go."
Without delay, we went to get a late breakfast.
For some reason, both of them linked their arms with mine from either side and leaned on me. Hmm, this is uncomfortable. It's physically awkward to walk.
Ritsuka was always like this, but Mash doing it too was beyond surprising; it was incomprehensible.
"Hey, Mash. Aren't you a little too close? Ritsuka's always been like this, but…"
"What do you mean, 'always been like this'? It's not like I do this with just anyone, you know."
"I know that. You're not a loose girl."
"As long as you know~"
She probably wants to mess with me because she thinks I'm easy. I get it.
"Well, it's just that… being this close feels very warm and reassuring."
Reassuring, huh.
"Was I… making you uncomfortable?"
"No, of course not. If you like it, it's fine."
"Is that so? Hehe."
Mash smiles and leans on me even more.
I guess I was being inconsiderate. Any normal person would probably feel a sense of unease and anxiety in the current Chaldea.
Chaldea is now split in two.
The normal faction, centered around me, Ritsuka, and the Director.
And the slut coalition, centered around that NTR bastard with the hazy impression and garbage personality.
Sluts. Why are they all sluts on that side? As far as I know, at this point, even if he used drugs, it was only aphrodisiacs. He couldn't use hard drugs or brainwashing substances. Because he didn't have them. Those were made later by Da Vinci and the Servants he had corrupted.
In other words, while I can understand being taken in once or twice by an aphrodisiac, continuing the relationship and being loyal is their own choice. Seeing how people can be corrupted and changed just by sex, I can't help but call them sluts.
Anyway, in this bizarre situation, a bit removed from reality, it's not strange for the pure Mash to feel anxious.
In the past, she had felt anxious about this reality and had grown closer to Ritsuka. Now, is it because I'm a man, or because I'm an adult? It feels like she's relying on me more.
I should accept Mash's childishness. If it helps her feel at ease.
And so, we arrive at the cafeteria with the two of them. Since it was late, there was no one there.
"Sho. You know what?"
"What?"
"I like 'kisu'."
"Suddenly?"
Why is 'kisu' coming up all of a sudden? Ritsuka touches her lips as if embarrassed and glances up at me. What is this, what does it mean? What kind of prank is this now?
"Yeah. 'Kisu'. Do you like 'kisu', Sho?"
"...Are you talking about the fish?"
"Yeah. Do you like it?"
"Yes."
'Kisu'. It's the Japanese word for the sillago fish. To think she'd make a pun like that. Come to think of it, I think Chaldea did have fried sillago.
"Though I like the other 'kiss' too."
"That's not a nice prank."
A kiss. I had seen Ritsuka's first kiss.
She couldn't do it when she was a boy, but she did after she became a girl. With him.
He had shown a disgusting smile, telling her to be grateful he was giving her her first kiss, and Ritsuka had burst into tears.
Just thinking about it again pisses me off.
It's a memory I'd rather forget completely. Should I be glad that Ritsuka has forgotten it?
"They have fried sillago. It's not that common of a dish."
As Ritsuka wished, I order and eat the fried sillago.
"Please try this too."
Mash offers me a side dish that came with the meal. I accept and eat it without a word, and next to me, Ritsuka cuts up a piece of fried sillago and offers it to me.
For some reason, both of them were desperate to feed me something. I didn't refuse, but it feels strange.
Anyway, after we finished our meal, a text message came from the Director, summoning us. We went straight to the control room, where the Director was waiting.
"Welcome. You're the first to arrive."
It seemed no one else had come while we were on our way. Parvati, who was with her, was the first to arrive, and Leonidas came in shortly after.
"Hmm? The others aren't here?"
"Indeed. Everyone is late, aren't they?"
Since I can't use telepathy yet, Parvati called them for me. Leonidas looked puzzled at the still-empty control room, while Parvati gave a slightly cold smile, seeming to blame the staff who were not arriving promptly.
They've gotten on Parvati's bad side. To be disliked by the goddess of motherhood, that's quite something, isn't it?
About 10 minutes later, the staff finally started trickling in. At their center was that guy, Ryuuji.
"You were all here already? Sorry, sorry~ I was busy with work."
He says, acting as if he had just come from work. The other staff might have been, but he doesn't work. He only got into the medical team because one of the medical staff liked him, not because he had any skills. He just does some odd jobs there and fools around with the women for work.
Da Vinci, who came in behind him, defended Ryuuji, saying he had been helping her with her work.
"Now that everyone is here, I'll begin."
The Director's brow furrowed, clearly annoyed by Da Vinci and his attitude. She then made an announcement.
The seven Singularities and the future schedule.
It was the same content she had told us yesterday.
The world had ended, and we had to save it. But even after hearing this, everyone seemed vaguely uninterested and didn't seem to take it seriously.
"But even if we fail, Chaldea is safe, right?"
He asks if it's okay even if we fail to restore Human History. His intentions are crystal clear.
He just doesn't want to do it, and since there's a risk, he just wants to live comfortably in his own kingdom of Chaldea.
At his words, which so clearly revealed his intentions, a deep anger could be felt on the Director's face. Of course, unlike him, the Director had lost a great deal. On top of that, her authority within Chaldea had been thoroughly undermined.
It was only natural that she wouldn't like the main culprit.
"Yes, it should be safe. At least, that's what the current calculations show. But that doesn't mean we can be complacent and rest on our laurels. The future of humanity rests on our shoulders. The history of mankind, spanning tens of thousands of years!"
The Director felt a great sense of responsibility and pride in this matter. The time had finally come to fulfill the duty of the Pan-Human History Security Organization. This was also, in a way, a chance for her to prove herself as Director.
"Fujimaru Ritsuka and Kuriyama Sho. These two Masters are the core and pillar of Chaldea. They are also the heroes who will resolve the seven Singularities."
Looking at us, the Director asked again, just like yesterday.
"Are you prepared?"
"Yes."
"Of course~"
We have to try. I don't know what the state of the seven Singularities is. After the Incineration, work got so busy that even though we only went up to the third Singularity, I didn't get to see the records or footage properly.
However, from what I've heard, it seems there aren't any huge differences from the original story. In a world like this, the minor details will probably be different, though.
"Just a moment~ Director. No matter what, don't you think it's a bit 불안 when we're just leaving it to those two~?"
Just then, he stepped forward.
"Originally, A-Team had 7 members, no, 8 including Mash-chan, right? So don't you think it's a bit much for just two people?"
"What are you trying to say? Are you suggesting we just give up and do nothing?"
"Of course not~? I was just thinking, wouldn't it be nice to have an additional Master?"
With a sly smile, he took out a book. Don't tell me, he made it already?
"What is that?"
"The Command Seal Spellbook. With this, even someone without Master aptitude can become a Master. Ah~ that's right, Director. I will be joining as a new Master."
The Command Seal Spellbook. How did he make it? Even Da Vinci couldn't have made it this quickly. In my time, it took a while to make. What is it? What's changed?
"Ha? The Command Seal Spellbook? You became a Master?"
"Yep! He made a contract with me~"
Da Vinci put her hand on his shoulder and said with a bright smile. The Director was flustered.
"If anyone can become a Master, then it should be me, a first-rate magus!"
"But the Director is the commander, right? The field work should be done by someone else."
Is he using her position as Director to deny her the Master role? How cunning. Of course, I'm also against the Director becoming a Master.
However.
"In that case, are you saying you'll go to the Singularity too?"
"Yeah, now we're talking."
I'm all for him going to the Singularity. He may see this as an opportunity, but I see it as an opportunity as well.
"Fine. Do as you please."
"Hahaha! Great, let's get along as fellow Masters from now on."
He came up to me and was about to put his hand on my shoulder, but I swatted it away.
"Don't act friendly."
"Huh?"
"I have no intention of getting close to you. I don't like you."
He scowled at my words. Let him glare.
"Ahem! Fine. I will acknowledge you as a Master. However, the Command Seal Spellbook, as its name suggests, is a fake Mastership, right? Can you even summon Servants?"
"Nope~ that's impossible."
"So, Director. You said you were going to summon Servants? After you summon them, can't you hand over a few to me? Kuriyama already has two, right? He can spare one or two, can't he?"
How can he be so shameless? At his words, the Director looked at him with disgust, then glanced at us.
"I'm against it. The Servants I summoned are precious people who answered my call. Don't talk about them as if you're borrowing an object. It's unpleasant."
"I don't want to either."
As Ritsuka and I firmly expressed our refusal, a vein popped on his forehead, and he got visibly angry. I almost wish he would just throw a punch.
"Aren't you being too selfish?"
The staff started to criticize us.
"Ryuuji-kun bravely stepped up to do something he didn't have to, and you're being so uncooperative."
"That's so mean to someone who's offering to fight with you."
"Aren't you the one treating them like tools? You're too possessive."
"He looks so gloomy, maybe he has an inferiority complex?"
"Just because he became a Master, a mere janitor thinks he's something special."
They defended Ryuuji and criticized us. Emboldened, Ryuuji puffed up his chest. The Director looked intimidated by the Chaldea staff's reaction, and Ritsuka looked a little scared.
This is giving me serious military flashbacks. It reminds me of the days when I was bullied by my seniors and bullied my juniors.
And so, it's annoying.
"So what can you people do?"
I had already decided to become their enemy. At my words, they were speechless, and even Ryuuji looked at me with some surprise. Well, it's not like I can see his eyes anyway.
"Kuriyama-kun. Don't you think you're being a bit harsh~?"
Da Vinci stepped forward, looking uncomfortable with my words.
"Harsh about what? Also, let's have the Director come to the field with us. How about it?"
"Huh? M-me?"
Everyone, including Da Vinci, was surprised by my words.
"Do you want to stay here with people like that who disrespect you, Director?"
"Ah."
If we go to the field, the Director will be left alone with staff like that. As a first-rate magus, she probably won't be harmed, but you never know. And even if nothing happens, the Director's mental state will surely plummet.
"I'll protect you, just like in Fuyuki."
"But if I do that…"
She seemed to be worried about something.
Rather than being worried about going to the field, the Director glanced at the control room equipment with a worried expression.
Is she worried that they might tamper with the Rayshift or our existence proofs?
Does that even matter in a world like this? However, the Rayshift.
Thinking about it again, that would be a pain.
Should I leave Parvati behind? What a hassle.
No, when we summon new Servants, let's leave one in Chaldea. What are they going to do?
If I threaten them with their lives, they'll obey. That's the kind of people they are.
Just as I was about to say it was fine.
BZZT!
The screens of the control room machines flicker with static.
[Well now~ I've heard enough of your piggy squealing! My ears are rotting just listening!]
This voice is?
[Hello, you foolish humans! This is an announcement that your dear Chaldea has been hacked by this BB-chan!]
BB.
Why is she here?
Something, something was changing drastically without my knowledge.
What in the world is going on?