Ritsuka didn't really remember the plot-and naturally, she didn't care much either.
Just a few days ago, a report surfaced:
Someone had committed suicide near the train station.
At the scene-
A silver-haired girl in a military uniform stood staring blankly at the tracks.
Where the person known as the [Creator] once stood, now there was nothing left-only a pool of fresh blood.
Blood that should have dried up days ago...
And yet, even now, it remained vivid, as if the tragedy had only just happened.
This strange phenomenon had already driven several forensic specialists and police officers to breakdowns.
But it was that silver-haired girl who caused it all.
She refused to let the last trace of her beloved Creator disappear.
"Why...
I was so close...
I could have saved you..."
She murmured to herself, oblivious to the officers trying to escort her away.
"I swear... I will save you...
Even if I have to twist this entire world out of shape!"
As her final words fell, the girl in military uniform vanished-leaving behind dumbstruck officers who looked like they'd just seen a ghost.
The Military Uniform Princess, Altair, has begun to act!
-Hello, I'm the Scene Transition Line-
At that moment-
Ritsuka was lying on her desk, radiating the aura of a lazy gremlin who had completely given up on life.
Suddenly, she sat up and frowned in the direction of the train station.
The magical disturbance this time was way too close.
Close enough that even a barely competent mage like her could sense it-no Da Vinci explanation needed.
"Things are getting more and more annoying..."
Ritsuka muttered.
"Sure, I can summon Heroic Spirits for backup anytime,
but I'd better still put up some basic defenses."
With that, Lady Fujimaru got up and walked to the entrance.
At the door-
She began drawing strange runes, each symbol melting into the surface and vanishing like it had never existed.
"I haven't studied Runes for long,
but hey-look who my teachers were."
After all, not everyone gets tutored by legends like Cu Chulainn, Scáthach, and Brynhildr in runecraft.
"Okay. That should do it."
Ritsuka looked at her doorway with satisfaction.
"Anti-fire, anti-quake, protection, anti-intrusion, self-repair, auto-counterattack, buff enhancement, dimensional expansion...
Yeah, that covers everything."
"Oh, right-I should add a Mobius Loop and an Enemy Intention Detector in the hallway."
> (Are you sure this is just a defense system and not an attempt to turn your apartment into a mage's fortress factory?)
(Difficulty: Hell Mode Dungeon · Home of Fujimaru Ritsuka)
"Hm, maybe I'll call up Tiamat and Angra sometime to coat the walls with black mud too?"
She said it with complete seriousness, which made it all the more horrifying.
Yes, Ritsuka's gremlin instincts were growing stronger by the day.
"Time to get back to finishing the Fate/Stay Night manga.
I better wrap it up before things get weird again."
Stretching her sore back, she returned to her room.
---
Meanwhile, inside Chaldea...
"Have we finished the investigation?"
In a dark conference room, several figures gathered around a large round table.
A serious male voice broke the silence.
"No. The target is hiding too well.
Even Sheba couldn't track it down.
Looks like it's time for Sheba to get an upgrade."
A lazy-sounding woman spoke, irritation in her tone.
"I see..."
"By the way... why are we even holding this meeting in the dark?"
The next moment, the lights snapped on.
"GAAAAH! MY EYES!!"
A pale-orange-haired man-Doctor Roman-clutched his eyes in agony.
"Spending too much time in the dark isn't good for your eyes.
As a doctor, you should know better than anyone."
The woman who turned the lights on spoke coldly, patting the pistol on her hip.
"...?"
A white-haired girl just blinked blankly, expressionless as always.
Off to the side, a light purple-haired girl silently picked up and pocketed the massive round table.
"In the end, we couldn't find anything.
So what's the point in stirring up all this drama?"
A girl in a black military uniform yawned.
"Let's go, Okita. Time to eat Konpeitō."
She casually dragged a pink-haired Saber by the collar and left.
"Meeting adjourned! Meeting adjourned!"
Everyone got up in a noisy clatter and wandered off in different directions.
---
"Are you okay, Your Majesty?!"
A tall, blond figure-Demon God King Goetia-rushed over to Doctor Roman, concern all over his face.
"I'm fine... it's nothing, Goetia.
Go on ahead-I'll head back later."
Doctor Roman rubbed his eyes and forced a smile.
"Very well, then I'll excuse myself.
But if anything happens, please call me right away!"
Goetia gave him a deeply worried glance and left.
"...Honestly, what were you thinking turning off the lights?"
"I thought it added some nice atmosphere..."
Doctor Roman laughed awkwardly, facing the cold glare of a very unimpressed woman.
"Anyway, nothing to worry about.
Da Vinci, you can go too."
The genius inventor nodded.
"Alright, I've got to get ready for a new shipment anyway."
Still muttering, she headed toward her personal workshop.
Doctor Roman smiled wryly again.
"This Chaldea... there really aren't many normal people left."
---
"Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"
"TIAMAT, YOU FORGOT WHERE YOUR ROOM IS AGAIN?!"
(Hang in there, Doctor.
As the only responsible member of the GC trio
-and one of Chaldea's last remaining sane individuals-
your suffering is legendary.)