Fujimura Ritsuka felt like she was dreaming.
She remembered only seeing a blood donation van in Mifune City's plaza and thinking to make a small contribution to the medical world. But how did she end up in this place?
Where exactly was this place called Chaldea?
Sitting on a bench in Chaldea's corridor, Ritsuka propped her chin on her hand, her face filled with frustration: "Ah… I must be dreaming. Or maybe I've actually been kidnapped?"
"I don't think it's either, Senpai."
Beside Ritsuka, a pink-haired girl with long hair covering half her face spoke as she handed a drink to Ritsuka. "Here, Senpai. This is for you. Drinking it might ease your discomfort a little."
"Ah… thanks, Mash."
Mash, Mash Kyrielight. That was the name of this pink-haired girl. Ritsuka had just met her a few minutes ago. After arriving at this mysterious organization called Chaldea, she had immediately undergone what Mash called a particle test. Afterward, her head had started to ache.
If she hadn't met Mash in the hallway—who somehow came looking for her—she might have already fallen asleep right there in the corridor.
Quickly gulping down the drink, Ritsuka sighed in relief: "Fuh~~~ much better now."
"You drank that really fast, Senpai." Mash said, slightly surprised by Ritsuka's action. "Do you always drink like this?"
"Eh? No. It's just… you know, when someone is extremely thirsty or after intense exercise, they really want to drink water. Don't you know that, Mash?"
"Hmm, my body isn't very strong. My doctor and my older brother have warned me not to do strenuous exercise."
"Doctor? Older brother?"
The two names Mash mentioned made Ritsuka a bit confused: "Mash, do you have an older brother?"
Mash nodded. "Yes, and an older sister too. But we're not related by blood. Since they've taken care of me since I was little, I see them as my older brother and sister. The doctor is my older brother's friend. He's the chief physician responsible for improving my physical condition."
"Are you interested in them, Senpai?"
"No, I'm just curious. By the way, Mash, what kind of place is Chaldea?"
Ritsuka now asked about her biggest uncertainty.
Although she had been persuaded and promised by staff to say goodbye to her family and come to this place called Chaldea, Ritsuka still knew nothing about it.
Could it really be a secret organization hidden behind the scenes of the world, like in the light novels she'd read?
Resting her chin on one hand, Mash answered after a moment of thought: "This question is a bit complicated because Chaldea has many functions and is responsible for various fields… Ah, that's right. Right now, I can use my older brother's words to explain it. Chaldea is—"
"[Chaldea is an organization dedicated to saving the world.]"
Before Mash could finish speaking, another woman's gentle voice came from a distance. Ritsuka turned and saw a young woman with silver hair in her twenties walking toward them.
"Gray's older sister."
The one arriving was Gray, now twenty-five years old. However, despite being twenty-five, Gray hadn't grown much. Her current appearance hadn't changed much due to various reasons.
"Eh? Older sister? Mash's older sister?"
Hearing Mash's call, Ritsuka was slightly surprised. Even though Mash had said she wasn't blood-related to her older brother and sister, the older sister named Gray standing before her…
(She looks my age!)
Ritsuka had expected the older sister to be an aunt-like figure nearly thirty years old.
"Gray, why are you here?"
"Of course to find you. Something happened to our older brother, and he's calling for us now—who is she?"
"I'm Fujimura Ritsuka. Nice to meet you, Mash's older sister." Ritsuka quickly greeted.
Fujimura Ritsuka—upon hearing the name, Gray, who already knew a few things from Naoki, immediately showed a knowing expression: "I see. So you're the one my older brother has been waiting for… Nice to meet you. I'm Mash's older sister. Just call me Gray. By the way, come with us."
"Eh? Come? Where to?"
"The control room."
The path to the control room wasn't far. With an elevator, moving from one area of Chaldea to another didn't take much time.
While in the elevator, Gray briefly explained Chaldea's situation to Ritsuka, as well as what would happen in the control room.
In short, Chaldea was a research organization founded by the UN and the Mage's Association to ensure humanity's future by continuously observing the Earth.
It wasn't wrong to call it an [organization for saving the world].
The place they were heading to now was the control room, Chaldea's central area. There, the current director would hold an emergency meeting said to be crucial for humanity's future.
The director's name was Olga Marie Animusphere. She was usually called Marie. She was the daughter of the previous director and had only taken over Chaldea's operations from her father in the last two years. She was someone extremely strict with everyone.
"Strict person, huh? Uh… I don't think I'll get along with her." Ritsuka's face looked slightly troubled.
"Senpai, are you not good at getting along with strict people?"
"Because my teacher is a very strict person. From elementary to high school, I've suffered a lot under her."
As if recalling bad memories, Ritsuka showed a nightmarish expression.
Seeing this, Gray smiled. "It's okay. Even though Miss Marie is very strict, she's actually quite nice to talk to. And if my older brother is there, she usually won't get angry. Fujimura, you can relax."
"I'll try…"
*DING!*
Along with the chime, the descending elevator finally stopped. And as the doors opened, Ritsuka stepped into the control room, guided by Gray and Mash—
"It took you long enough! How much longer were you going to make me wait?!"
The sentence, spoken in a tone that felt all too familiar, instantly dampened Ritsuka's mood.
After hearing that voice, the speaker was clearly the type of person she couldn't handle.