To become a king and a magician

The first one to come out was Hinako Akuta.

Meanwhile, Mash, who was in a similar predicament and struggling to emerge from the basket, rested her hands on her knees and said, "This is indeed Chaldea... We're back, Akuta-senpai."

"Hmm... but what's wrong with this guy?"

Hinako looked at the basket where Ritsuka Fujimaru was on her other side. The basket was now completely open, but she showed no sign of coming out and her eyes remained tightly closed.

Could it be that he didn't come back?

This thought appeared in both Hinako Akuta's and Mashu's minds at the same time.

"Mash! Mustard!"

Just then, Roman's voice, filled with panic and relief, suddenly came from not far away.

"Great! We finally managed to activate the spirit transfer at the last minute and brought you back!"

If we were to ask who was the most worried person in Chaldea, it would undoubtedly be Roman. He didn't care at all whether Natsukawa Torato and Sajou Rei could return on their own. After all, those two were capable of running to the Singularity on their own, so they could definitely return on their own.

But Mashu and the other two are different. The only way for them to return is through spirit particle transfer. If he fails to successfully transfer them back through spirit particle transfer, Natsukawa Torato will definitely kill him!

"But doctor, she hasn't woken up yet."

Upon seeing Roman arrive, Mashu felt a moment of relief, but she immediately remembered that Fujimaru Ritsuka had not yet woken up, so she quickly pulled Roman to the front of Fujimaru Ritsuka's basket.

Looking at the still unconscious Fujimaru Ritsuka inside the basket, Roman stepped forward and examined her carefully: "She seems to be unconscious... but we can't find anything specific here. Mashu, could you take Fujimaru with me to the infirmary? I want to give her a full checkup. Also, you and Akuta need to go too; I need to make sure you don't—"

"I don't need it."

Before Roman could finish speaking, Hinako Akuta immediately refused: "I know better than you that my own body is perfectly fine. Let's focus our limited time and energy on the two of them."

Hinako Akuta has refused to undergo a physical examination ever since she joined Chaldea. This might have been acceptable in the past, but the group has just experienced a singularity. If something were to go wrong with their bodies, even if Hinako Akuta could freely change bodies, she shouldn't just ignore it like this.

"mustard--"

"Take Fujimaru to the infirmary first, Roman."

Roman wanted to say something, but before he could, a portal of light appeared, and Sajou Rei's voice and figure appeared in the control room.

"Miss Zero!"

"Shatiao! You're back? Wait, where's Xia Chuan? Didn't he come back with you?" Roman, who was overjoyed for less than a second, immediately noticed something was wrong.

Sajou Rei nodded: "Master said he needs to say a few words to King Solomon and will stay there to cover the rear. I think he'll be back soon, you know him—more importantly, we can't leave Fujimaru's situation unattended any longer, right? Although I don't think there's anything seriously wrong, but..."

"I...I understand! Mashu, I'm sorry to trouble you—that bastard Natsukawa! I told you not to do anything reckless! Staying over there to cover our retreat...he's not really invincible, what's he doing acting so tough!"

Along with Mash, who was carrying Fujimaru Ritsuka on her back, Roman left the control room quickly while cursing.

Just as the three left the control room, Gray rushed in, her face full of worry, and approached Sajou Rei: "Rei-neechan, you're finally back. Are you alright?"

"Hmm, it's nothing. It's just that Master has some things to take care of and won't be back until later," Sajou Rei said with a smile. "By the way, Gray, can you stay here and wait for Master to come back? I have some things Master asked me to do."

"Is something wrong? Okay, I understand. Sister Lingyi, you go ahead and do your work. I'll stay here to welcome my brother back."

"Then it's up to you."

After nodding, Sajou Rei quickly left the control room.

Watching her departing figure and Gray standing there, Hinako Akuta, leaning against the basket, raised an eyebrow: "You guys are really calm, aren't you? That guy hasn't even come back yet... Haven't you considered the possibility that he might not come back?"

“No,” Grey answered decisively. “As for my brother, although he’s a very reckless person who does all sorts of crazy things regardless of whether anyone is watching, he always comes back no matter what.”

Grey and Natsukawa Tora have been together for nearly twenty years. She knows her brother better than anyone. No matter where he is, he will always come back. He was like that in the past, and he will be like that now.

Without exception for the past twenty years.

As if echoing Grey's words, shortly after her voice faded, "Buzz~~~~~"

Just like when Sajou Rei returned, a portal of light quietly appeared in the control room. Seeing Natsukawa Tora walk out of it, Akuta Hinako couldn't help but purse her lips, then let out a subtle sigh of relief.

Grey was also the first to step forward—

"Welcome back, brother."

"Yes, I'm back, Grey."

22. The director survived!

An unfamiliar ceiling.

Waking up from a daze, Fujimaru Ritsuka sat on the bed, looking around the room with a somewhat blank expression.

Pure white, spotless, even with some unusual furniture, it was undoubtedly an unnaturally clean room.

"here it is......"

Fujimaru Ritsuka's memories were somewhat chaotic, with various fragments surfacing in her mind.

Burning city, shattered ground, terrifying monsters—

"Chaldea? I used to be..."

Gradually sorting out the chaotic memories in her mind, Fujimaru Ritsuka slowly recalled the things she had experienced before.

She is currently in an organization called Chaldea, and during a so-called spirit transfer, she was caught in an explosion and transported to Fuyuki City in 2004, and then...

"Oh, right! Minister!"

As the last fragment of her memory surfaced, Fujimaru Ritsuka remembered clearly. At the end of that time in Fuyuki City, because they encountered an enemy that looked like a final boss, Department Head Natsukawa stayed behind to cover their retreat so that she could return safely.

Then during the retreat... and then...

"Hmm, I can't remember... My head is still a bit of a mess."

"Fu~~~"

Just as Fujimaru Ritsuka was covering her head, a familiar voice drew her attention to the bedside. There, on a chair, was Fufu, staring intently at her.

Fujimaru Ritsuka had already heard a bit about this little beast from Mash in Fuyuki City; it was practically an urban legend within Chaldea.

Why is it in its own room?

"Fufu!"

Jumping off the chair, Fufu ran to the door, turned back to wave her forelegs at Fujimaru Ritsuka, and then quickly ran out of the room.

Does that mean I should follow along?

Fufu is a little guy who is a bit too spiritual, Mashu said so before, but Fujimaru Ritsuka did not expect it to be this spiritual.

(Speaking of which, Mashu and Akuta-senpai should be alright too, right?)

Fujimaru Ritsuka still remembered some of their story, but at the time she was only focused on getting away as quickly as possible and didn't pay much attention to their situation. Now that she had returned to Chaldea, they should be in the same boat, right?

I sincerely hope that they are both safe and sound.

"Fufu?"

As they followed Fou forward, a voice suddenly came from ahead in the corridor of Chaldea.

Fujimaru Ritsuka looked ahead and saw that Mash, who had changed back into her Chaldea uniform, bent down and hugged Fou.

"Ah, senior, you're finally awake."

Upon seeing Fujimaru Ritsuka who had come with Fou, Mashu immediately smiled with relief: "Although Dr. Roman said that you don't have any major problems, it's really worrying that you haven't woken up yet. Good morning, Senpai."

"Hmm, good morning...wait? It sounds like I've been unconscious for a long time?"

Mashu nodded: "It's been about two and a half days in physical time. Senpai really can sleep a lot."

"No, I didn't gu~~~~~~~"

A sudden noise interrupted Fujimaru Ritsuka's explanation. Her cheeks flushed, she clutched her stomach and gave an awkward smile: "Sorry... I think I'm hungry..."

"Are you hungry? That is indeed a big problem. However, considering that you haven't eaten since you came to Chaldea, I'm actually quite surprised by your endurance. It's really amazing that you haven't eaten or drunk for two days."

"Ah... um... anyway, could you take me to the cafeteria first, Mashu?"

"Okay, please come with me."

——————————————————————————————————

The dining hall of Chaldea.

After arriving here with Mashu, Fujimaru Ritsuka's first reaction was to freeze in place.

Because I was too surprised.

"Senior, please come this way to order. Today's signature set meal is... Senior?"

As was his habit, Mashu went to the window, ready to introduce the cafeteria to Fujimaru Ritsuka, but when he turned around, he found Fujimaru Ritsuka looking blank.

"Senior? What's wrong?"

"Mash... is this really the cafeteria?"

“Yes, I think there’s no mistake. I’ve always eaten here all these years living in Chaldea.” Mash tilted her head, somewhat puzzled. “Does Senpai have some questions about the cafeteria?”

It was less a matter of doubt and more a matter of shock.

After all, considering the cafeteria's standards, this place is really...

"This is too luxurious!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka alone could see more than ten order windows, each listing the dishes available: Japanese, Western, Chinese, Indian, French... almost every famous dish in the world was on display.

In addition, there are desserts, drinks, and breads—so many types that it makes you wonder if you've stumbled into the dining hall of a prestigious college.

"Mash, are the food conditions in Chaldea really that good?"

"Well, because Chaldea's employees come from all over the world, and some of them have special dietary preferences, Chaldea has always paid special attention to their diet. However, given the current situation at Chaldea, only a few windows can be opened."

"Huh? Why?"

"The explosion caused by Professor Rafe injured many staff members, including a significant number of kitchen staff. Unlike others, kitchen staff are ordinary people and don't have much ability to protect themselves from an explosion. Although there were no casualties, the cafeteria is not yet fully operational. Other departments are in similar situations."

explosion.

Because she was inside the basket at the time, Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't have a specific memory of what kind of impact Chaldea had suffered, but judging from the situation in the cafeteria, it must have been quite serious.

"Then I'll order..."

"I was wondering why the restaurant was so noisy, but I didn't expect it was because of you."

Just then, a somewhat disgruntled voice reached Fujimaru Ritsuka's ears, and then a person dining at a table not far away turned around.