I, Fujimaru Ritsuka, am back with a max-level character!

It just had to turn out like this.

For the first time, Fujimaru felt that Chaldea, where everyone was alive, was not as reassuring as it was when there were only twenty people.

“No, senpai.” Mashu saw the emotion in Fujimaru’s eyes. “Everyone is actually a very good person…it’s just that we might have different ideas.”

"All we have to do is completely destroy the other side's ideas, nothing more."

this......

Mashu seems quite determined.

"Anyone who is your enemy is also Mash's enemy... Although I am only your shield, I also want to become a reliable sword if necessary."

The girl was unusually serious. She placed her other hand on her chest, and her bright eyes, like crystal, made one's heart flutter.

“Mashu——”

"Senior, I like you... I like you so much..."

The girl was a little nervous; this was the first time she had felt a desire to take things further.

"At first, I just felt that my senior was very kind, and... I always felt that... I should, and must, be my senior's partner."

"My senior did respond to me, and I gained a stronger Spirit Origin, releasing my power and true name."

"But Director Olga Marie, Jeanne Alter, the Black Knight King, Kiyohime... even Nobunaga and Okita... these girls also have [that] feeling for their seniors."

"They are all very reliable Servants. So I must become reliable too... It's a bit of a shame that I couldn't contact Chaldea this time, but it's also an opportunity."

The girl seemed to struggle with her thoughts for less than 0.1 seconds, then the color of her eyes suddenly changed. Of course, it wasn't Galahad possessing her, but rather...

"Senior, the battles that follow will be tough, won't they?"

"Yes, we might have to fight Dioscuri, and Kennis, who knows how much stronger he's become. It's like fighting a Pandora's box that's turned into who knows what kind of monster," Fujimaru answered honestly.

"Yes, but Senpai and I are both exhausted... Other Servants can replenish their mana with the Holy Grail fragments they obtained from Blackbeard, but Senpai and I can't, you know?~~"

“Eh——!!!”

Mashu, perhaps due to some unknown stimulus, or perhaps because she was inherently flawed, started harboring wicked thoughts while Okita and Nobunaga were away.

Damn it, replenishing mana, Mash...

What are you doing, Mashu?!

"Eh, does that mean it's okay for Jeanne Alter, but not for me...? As expected, Senpai still prefers dark and wicked beauties... That means I'm not dark enough... not wicked enough."

"Hey, hey, hey... Mashu, stop this! Your reputation as a guardian knight is crying out for justice!"

"What kind of guardian knight can't protect the person they love?! Does senpai dislike me?"

Mashu didn't know whether she wanted to cry or laugh; her glistening eyes seemed about to overflow with tears.

"I don't dislike her. Mashu is my partner, a very important one..."

"My senior is the first person who is willing to believe me... say I'm cute, and treat me as a comrade. I like my senior. As long as I work hard, my senior will definitely respond to me."

“Is that right?” Mash asked.

"Eh..."

“Is that right?” Mash leaned forward.

"......Wait a moment......"

"Is that right—?" It was almost an interrogation.

The girl's delicate fragrance and fiery breath seemed to melt Fujimaru Ritsuka completely.

“That’s right—” the boy had just answered.

Mashu's face lit up with ecstasy.

"I knew it—!"

That was the look in a wild beast's eyes when it sees prey, the look of longing to do something.

Chapter Sixty: A Culinary Taste of Chaldea [Stir-fried Eggplant]

......

Just after answering, Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly felt dizzy and disoriented, and then she was plunged into a feeling as if she were sinking into a quagmire.

In an instant, she felt as if she had lost all her strength, and then an irresistible force swept Fujimaru Ritsuka up in her arms.

"Mash, hey, wait a minute, Mash. What are you doing..."

"What are you saying, senior? Of course, it's to prepare for the great battle to come."

Mashu said with an innocent look on her face.

The girl was so naive. If she hadn't been carrying Fujimaru and slowly walking down the deck, you wouldn't have been able to see the thoughts hidden deep in her heart.

"The preparations you're talking about before the big battle, could it be...?"

"Oh dear, what are you saying at a time like this, senpai?! Jeanne Alter and Her Majesty Nero both saw their fighting power surge before the final battle!"

"We've lost contact with Chaldea again, so replenishing our mana is extremely important."

Mashu talked as she walked.

The lower decks of sailing warships are filled with small houses, but the Honnoji is a merchant ship, so it doesn't have the imposing exterior of Drake's Golden Antlers, but the interior environment is indescribable.

The captain's cabin was for Nobunaga's exclusive use, but he probably fell asleep while playing with Okita... so Chacha probably lives there alone.

The siblings Mori Nagayoshi and Mori Ranmaru were responsible for guarding that carefree guy, Shin... standing there motionless.

Paris was upset because his brother Hector had turned evil and left the stage, so he went back to his room to continue thinking about how to become a hero.

Artemis and Orion are showing off their love on the deck, gazing at the sky.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a chance for a small eggplant to enjoy the privilege of its predecessor.

This is an opportunity, an opportunity where no one will disturb you.

Mashu tossed the boy onto the bed while Fujimaru struggled [laughing, not at all].

The official heroine of FGO couldn't even compete with a mere non-shield girlfriend, and even lost the match completely. This is truly shameful behavior.

"Um...we've finally come this far, senpai..."

"After returning from the First Singularity, I learned about the relevant information and knowledge... I also consulted with Jeanne Alter and Artoria."

"A little...shy."

Stroking her soft, jade-like legs, Mashu said with some embarrassment and shyness.

Being shy?! Is that something a shy person would do?!

Today I've finally realized that this isn't about being shy, you horny eggplant...

Fujimaru sat on the soft boat. It had to be said that the boat was very well decorated, with velvet and even gold trim... Perhaps it was a warship used by the Governor of Macau, or the Governor of India, or a merchant fleet sent by them.

These nobles were not doing well domestically, but they lived a leisurely life in the colonies and trading ports.

"During the Age of Exploration, some nouveau riche would travel on merchant ships for trade and negotiations...and these people would bring maids with them on their voyages...so, even when sailing at sea, this type of house would not be affected..."

It won't affect peeling the eggplant.

Fujimaru Ritsuka once consulted Grand Chef Emiya Shirou on how to cook.

It is said that eggplants must be bought fresh. Fresh eggplants are very elastic and plump, proving that they are the most abundant fruit of the autumn harvest.

Before cooking, the eggplant should be peeled properly.

Little by little, peel off this hard purple skin for her.

why?

Because the inside is tender, white eggplant flesh, soft and delicious.

It is long and thin, milky white, as if it has been soaked in milk.

The eggplant flesh is moist because it contains abundant phenol oxidase, which promotes oxidation through slight high temperature, and the chef constantly strokes the eggplant with his hands.

It might give the white, creamy eggplant a lovely pale red hue.

At this time, the eggplant's respiration may become a little rapid.

It even oozes out a little bit of delicate plant sap.

Don't worry, this is a natural occurrence in plant physiology. As long as the chef continues to cook and carefully cares for the eggplant, they will be able to create delicious dishes.

If you are cooking for yourself and enjoying the food yourself, the chef can gently lick the tip of the eggplant with the tip of their tongue.

The human tongue is a very sensitive part of the body, covered with blood vessels and neurons. You can use your tongue to feel whether a round eggplant that has already formed is intact.

Soft eggplant, no way.

Good eggplants are firm and upright. If you can feel it, just lick the tip of the eggplant, and you'll understand that a firm eggplant is ready to be cooked.

However, we should also note that such eggplants cannot be used for stir-frying.

After cleaning the eggplant and the chef is ready... you also need to have a sense of compassion for the food.

Yes, you need to handle the ingredients very carefully.

Every grain of rice and every bowl of porridge should remind us of how hard it is to come by.

Even a thread or two, she constantly strives to do her best as a woman.

.....

Off topic.

Continuing to bring you Food Wars!

You need to put your heart into the ingredients, and you should be especially careful when handling the eggplant stems.

Little by little, so as not to damage the eggplant itself.

Since this is the first time doing this, it's perfectly normal for some red soy sauce to spill out. After all, our eggplant will be stir-fried in a dish later, and there will be a very loud stir-frying sound during the process.

Cooking is a very physically demanding task, and due to the rising temperature, you sweat profusely all over your body.