The destination Ritsuka and the others were heading to was a residential house in Miyama District, Fuyuki City.
After Mash regained consciousness, the four of them immediately set off. Although Fuyuki City wasn't a metropolis, it still took a considerable amount of time to travel from Shinto to Miyama District—especially now, when the entire city resembled ruins, with various obstacles blocking the roads.
As Chaldea's director, Marie initially thought she should lead the team. Even if they encountered wandering Servants or skeleton soldiers, she would step forward to stop them.
However—
*BRAK!*
Accompanied by a loud noise and a shockwave from the swing, the skeleton soldier blocking the path ahead was instantly shattered into pieces!
Skillfully twirling the iron rod in her hand, Hinako glanced to the side. "Alright, come out. It's finished."
"Akuta-Senpai is amazing!"
Emerging from a nearby alley, Ritsuka—who had just witnessed Hinako single-handedly defeat a group of skeletons—now wore a face full of admiration for her senior. Her eyes sparkled as if filled with tiny stars!
"She can jump so high and perform moves that look like a dance yet are so powerful—Senpai, you're truly incredible!"
"Hmph! A level like that is just child's play!"
"Miss Akuta, I believe no ordinary human could jump nearly ten meters high and perform a 720-degree spin so effortlessly."
Mash, holding her cross-shaped shield and protecting Marie, also stepped out from the alley. "But Miss Akuta, you've worked hard. This should've been my duty as a Servant."
"You just protect the newcomer and the red-stockinged one. As for fighting, leave it to me. You're still too soft. Once we return, let Natsukawa train you a few hundred times."
"Re-red-stockinged?!"
Marie glanced at her stockings. "What's wrong with my red stockings?"
"Nothing. It's just that Natsukawa seems to prefer black and white ones."
"…"
Seeing Marie suddenly fall silent with a serious expression, Ritsuka couldn't help but ask, "Director, are you thinking about going back to change your stockings?"
"Of course not! Why would I change my stockings? Besides, I'm not wearing them for Natsukawa! What does his preference for stocking colors have to do with me?!—Also, Hinako, I remember your Chaldea registration info says you're an operations department technician, right? But your abilities…"
"I just practiced with a spear a bit. It's not a big deal. Let's keep moving. The place Natsukawa mentioned is ahead. Tch, why did he choose this place to meet? It's making my whole body feel uncomfortable."
Hinako said as she continued walking forward.
As a fairy, she and Naoki could both absorb unlimited mana from the outside. But if the mana absorbed was mixed with impurities, though it wouldn't cause major issues, it would make Hinako feel extremely uncomfortable.
She was feeling it now. In Shinto, it was still bearable, but ever since entering Miyama District—especially as they got closer to the place called Mount Enzou—the mana in the air felt strange.
Its concentration was far too high.
(Something's inside that mountain.)
If it weren't for this group of humans slowing her down, Hinako would've already dashed off to investigate. Besides, Naoki had already told her that from today onward, she could use her powers freely—just be careful not to blow herself up.
(He even knows about that move of mine… He says he got some of that knowledge from the Root… Hmph, he's used that excuse for years. Doesn't he ever get tired of it?)
As Hinako said, after walking another hundred to two hundred meters, the house Naoki mentioned appeared before the four of them.
Among the severely damaged residential area, this house looked remarkably intact—even undamaged, aside from a slightly broken outer gate.
"This is the place the department head told us to go to… Is the person who can help us inside?"
Ritsuka suddenly felt a little nervous.
At the same time, from inside Mash's shield, a small white creature suddenly jumped out. "Fou~~~"
"Fou? What's wrong?"
Seeing its sudden appearance, Mash was slightly startled. Though she was used to its habit of running off, it wasn't an issue in Chaldea, but this Singularity wasn't a peaceful place. It would be dangerous if it ran around and encountered danger.
After jumping from Mash's arm, Fou quickly dashed into the house. It leaped onto a pillar and carefully pressed the doorbell with its fleshy paw.
Seeing Fou's smooth movements, Ritsuka was momentarily speechless—this little creature named Fou was far too intelligent, wasn't it? It could even jump to press the doorbell by itself?
"I've wanted to ask for a while—where exactly does this creature named Fou come from?"
Marie also knew about this mysterious creature that had left many rumors in Chaldea. Occasionally, she'd seen it around. At first, she thought it was a pet belonging to one of the staff.
"I think it belongs to my older brother." Mash said. "Fou appeared not long after my older brother officially left the Clock Tower and started working at Chaldea."
"Natsukawa… Hah~~~~~ He really should keep a better eye on it. What if it damages something while running around Chaldea every day?"
As Marie complained, perhaps because the doorbell had been pressed, clear footsteps were heard from inside the house. Then, the tightly closed door opened from within.
A blonde-haired girl with a slightly underwhelming figure stepped out of the house.
"Fou~~~"
Fou saw her and immediately jumped into her arms, rubbing its head affectionately against hers.
"Ah, it's you, Fou. I wondered who pressed the doorbell. But since Fou's here, I guess…"
Looking at the four people nearby, the blonde woman smiled slightly. "Yes, I've been waiting for you for a long time—Mash, Olga Marie, Akuta Hinako, and Fujimaru Ritsuka. It's my first time meeting you."
"I am Sajyou Rei, sent by my master to welcome you here."
"Pleased to meet you."