After several dozen minutes, guided by Naoki, Ritsuka once again walked toward the control room.
This time, however, she wouldn't be going directly into the control room, but to the area in front of it. After putting on Chaldea's special combat uniform, she would begin her first particle transfer and embark on her first mission.
For a high school boy who, just an hour ago, was an ordinary person, this turn of events was incredibly fast. But the current situation didn't allow her time to adapt from scratch. She could only gradually accept it in the days ahead.
"Senpai… no, I mean, Department Head."
Just as the elevator was about to reach the lowest floor, Ritsuka suddenly spoke to Naoki. "May I ask you something?"
"Of course. By the way, you don't need to call me Department Head. Even though it's called the Operations Department, it's really just you, me, and Hinako-Senpai. So no need to be so formal. Outside official events, just call me Natsukawa."
"I see… Then, Natsukawa-Senpai, what did you mean by the last part of your conversation with Doctor Roman earlier?"
Ritsuka asked, confused. "Professor Lev is the man in the green raincoat. From your conversation, it seemed related to him… Is it something very dangerous?"
Naoki frowned. "Why do you think that?"
"Uh… Should I call it intuition, or should I say I'm applying some common story templates?"
"Templates?"
"Have you ever read light novels, Natsukawa-Senpai? In some popular plots, there's a similar situation where a character on our side is actually the enemy, and someone on our side knows it—something like that." Ritsuka scratched her head sheepishly. "Since today's events feel exactly like a light novel plot, I couldn't help overthinking… If it's nothing, please forget I said anything. I'm sorry!"
Seeing Ritsuka's slightly apologetic expression, Naoki smiled faintly. "Well, it's roughly what you're thinking. Professor Lev right now isn't exactly a good person."
"Eh? Right now?"
"It'd be troublesome to explain the past, so I won't say it here—honestly, the control room and the transfer area you're heading to might already be rigged with numerous bombs by Professor Lev."
Bombs?!
Ritsuka's face instantly turned pale. Seeing this, Naoki quickly explained, "Maybe! Only maybe! Chaldea was equipped with comprehensive anti-explosion systems from the start of its construction. The materials used are specially made for blast resistance. Even if there are bombs, they won't cause major damage."
"R-really?!"
"Really… But if it's Professor Lev, I think he's already prepared accordingly."
In the original timeline, Professor Lev used ordinary bombs. Although at the time, members of Team A were gradually revealing their identities, rumors circulated that the bombs Lev used weren't ordinary—but that wasn't true. After all, the reason Team A members nearly died wasn't because of the bombs themselves, but because their bodies were forced into a half-alive, half-dead state due to the explosion during particle transfer.
That was the real reason Team A was wiped out—there was no direct connection to the bombs.
To put it simply—they were disrupted by a control skill during teleportation, then trapped in a map model and unable to escape.
Hearing Naoki say this, Ritsuka, who had just begun to relax slightly, tensed up again. "Then the situation is very bad. We should immediately inform the director!"
"No, no need. As long as I'm here, there won't be any problems."
*DING!*
The elevator stopped, its doors opened, revealing the path to the transfer area ahead. Through his eyes, Naoki could see Mash and Hinako waiting there.
Patting Ritsuka's back and gently pushing her out, Naoki smiled. "The point is, Fujimaru, you don't need to worry about anything. Just keep walking forward, and I'll handle everything—isn't that what a Senpai is for?"
"Yes, I understand."
"Good. Then go. If you make Olga wait any longer, she'll definitely start scolding."
"I'll go right away!"
Hearing that the director would get angry, Ritsuka immediately ran toward Hinako and Mash. Though she'd only met her once, Ritsuka already saw Marie as extremely dangerous.
On par with her teacher!
Stepping out of the elevator and into the control room, Naoki saw Professor Lev sitting at the head operator's station and Marie standing beside him.
"I'm not late."
"No, you're right on time. Now we just need to wait for the newcomer to finish preparing, and we can start the particle transfer."
Professor Lev said while watching data changes on the screen.
Meanwhile, Marie frowned. "Natsukawa, how's the newcomer doing? I saw on the monitor earlier that you were saying something to her. Psychological counseling?"
"More or less. Fujimaru was just an ordinary person until recently. As department head, I certainly can't neglect guidance in various aspects. But she has good qualities, so I didn't need to say much."
"Hmph, that's best. If she ends up holding us back in every way, I'd rather not have this new Master at all."
Honestly, when she saw Naoki and Ritsuka chatting and laughing on the monitor earlier, Marie had clenched her teeth—this newcomer better know her manners!
At the same time, among the staff below—
"Preparations for Akuta Hinako and Mash Kyrielight are complete. Tubes show no issues. Master's physical condition good, mental state stable, no negative reactions. Particle transfer can proceed at any time."
"Fujimaru Ritsuka has finished putting on combat uniform and has just entered the tube. Physical condition good, mental state slightly fluctuating. Likely under tension, still within acceptable limits. Particle transfer preparations complete."
"Good!"
Hands on her hips, Marie stepped into the center of the control room and waved her hand. "Begin the first particle transfer! This is Chaldea's first mission. There will be no failures—"
A motivational pre-battle speech.
Marie had intended to say it, but before she could finish her sentence, a sudden, far louder voice instantly drowned hers out!
*BOOOOOMM!!!*
Accompanied by a sudden, deafening explosion. Starting from where Professor Lev was seated, fire and shockwaves erupted violently! The entire control room was instantly engulfed in flames!
The explosion happened right on schedule.