Kusanagi Godou stood paralyzed. Before his very eyes, the colossal Black Dragon the ultimate form of the ancient Marquis Voban had been decapitated by a mere human swordsman. The sight of the severed head dissolving into spirit particles sent a jolt of pure terror through his spine.
He glanced at the unconscious Mariya Yuri lying nearby. Gritting his teeth, he lunged forward, scooped her into his arms, and prepared to flee at maximum speed.
However, the moment he turned to run, he found his path blocked. A wall of divine pressure slammed into him as three goddesses and a master surrounded him in a perfect circle.
"Not so fast, brat," Ishtar said, a "friendly" but terrifying smile playing on her lips. "I haven't forgotten about that bolt of lightning you threw at me earlier. We have a very long bill to settle."
"A-ha-ha... Isn't it a bit beneath a goddess to be so petty?" Godou let out a strained, nervous laugh, his eyes darting around for an opening.
"As the Goddess of Beauty, my face is my most precious treasure," Ishtar replied, her voice dropping an octave. "You struck me with lightning. This isn't something a mere Gugalanna can fix! This is a direct insult to my divine dignity!" (In her mind, she was screaming: You made me look like a fool in front of my Master!)
Ereshkigal, standing nearby, couldn't help but snicker. "Oh, please. Since when did you care about dignity? I remember when Enkidu threw a bull's leg at your face and you barely blinked. Since when did the 'Protector of Harlots' become so self-conscious?"
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!" Ishtar shrieked, her face turning beet-red. "Master! Don't listen to her! Those Akkadian titles were a misunderstanding! I am Venus! I don't have that... that 'harlot' job description!"
"Oh? Then how do you explain the title [Astaroth]? Or the 'Babylonian Big Bitch'?" Ereshkigal teased ruthlessly.
"I TOLD YOU THOSE AREN'T ME—!!!" Ishtar was practically foaming at the mouth.
Godou watched the two goddesses bickering, a spark of hope igniting in his chest. Now! While they're distracted! But reality was cruel. While the sisters were arguing, Athena's cold, violet gaze had never left him.
"Where do you think you're going, you foolish son of Epimetheus?" Athena blocked his path with her obsidian scythe, shattering his dreams of escape.
Godou felt the weight of the entire world's malice pressing down on him. World's Will: Hey, don't look at me! I'm just as scared of these people as you are! I'm a protagonist-friendly system, but even I have limits!
Just as Godou felt his life was about to end, a sudden, familiar voice echoed in his mind, calling out to him. Seizing the opportunity, he instinctively activated his [Wind] Authority.
In a blur of motion, he vanished. Ritsuka and the others stood there, blinking at the empty space where he had been moments ago.
"He escaped again," Ritsuka muttered, her expression one of pure annoyance. "That luck... is he the world's favorite child or something?"
"Well, what now, Master?" Ishtar asked, glancing at the spot where Voban had fallen. "We've taken down one Devil King. The others won't let this slide. They'll come hunting for us sooner or later."
Ritsuka let out a sly, mischievous grin. "Regarding that... I have a very bold idea."
Ishtar and Ereshkigal (blushing): "Please, target it at us!" Ritsuka: "??? What are you two even talking about?"
[Excerpts from the Records of the Devil Kings]
"To achieve such a terrifying feat, I grant him the title of Campione. The Devil King is a ruler, for he slaughters the gods of heaven and seizes their supreme power. The Devil King is a tyrant, for he dominates all mortals on earth. No one living can resist his might." — Alberte Licaro, 19th Century.
"The illegitimate child of Epimetheus, the King of Kings who toys with demons. We humans have no way to oppose him. Only another Devil King, or a forbidden Rogue Deity, can stand against such a monster." — Cardinal Antonio Tebes, 20th Century.
"Regarding the newly confirmed Rogue Savior: Though it sounds like a joke, the report on the Devil Kings has become a report on a Rogue Deity. She is powerful enough to threaten the world itself. She is the Savior, akin to the legends of the Messiah, yet no myth records her existence. She commands multiple 'Dependent Deities'—Georgios, Ishtar, Ereshkigal, Kojirō, and the most terrifying anomaly, Oppenheimer. Her first appearance saw the defeat of Kusanagi Godou, and her second resulted in the death of the oldest Devil King, Marquis Voban. She is, without doubt, the Strongest Rogue Deity." — Historical Compilation Committee Report, 21st Century.
While the world was in an uproar over the death of Marquis Voban, Ritsuka and her group had quietly established a small office in a quiet corner of Tokyo.
"There! That should do it!" Ritsuka smiled, looking at the modest storefront. "Now I can finally make those lazy bums do some actual work."
Ritsuka had realized that if she let the Servants stay cooped up in Chaldea, they would eventually turn into a group of useless shut-ins. So, using her authority as Master, she issued a decree: "Anyone who refuses to earn their keep will be sent to Blackbeard's room for a full night via Command Spell."
(Did the Command Spells have that kind of power? Well, when the Doctor the King of Magic Solomon spends his free time helping you 'optimize' them instead of just watching Magi☆Mari, anything is possible.)
Ritsuka couldn't let these walking disasters run wild, so she built the Chaldea All-Purpose Agency to accept commissions and send the Heroic Spirits out to work.
On the day of the grand opening, a small girl from the "Naruhodō All-Purpose Agency" across the street looked at Ritsuka with a very pouty face before being dragged back inside by a man with two very sharp, spiky hair-tufts. Ritsuka could only wonder how does he get his hair to stay that sharp?
"So, why the secrecy, Master?" Athena asked, standing by Ritsuka's side.
"Think about it, Athena-chan," Ritsuka explained patiently. "If we just stay out in the open, every Devil King in the world will come looking for a fight. We'd never have time for games or snacks! This way, we work in the shadows and enjoy our peace."
"A wise choice. As expected of my Master!" Athena praised.
Ritsuka led her inside. The first floor was a standard office sofas, desks, a TV. The second floor had living quarters and a "Dimensional Gate" that connected directly back to Chaldea.
Although the Servants were "threatened" into working, they got to keep the money they earned. For many of them, this was a dream come true. They needed money for games, consoles, clothes, manga, and limited-edition snacks. Instead of begging their Master, they could now go out, explore Tokyo, and buy whatever they wanted.
Of course, "Mama" Emiya immediately implemented a "Paid Cafeteria" system in Chaldea to recoup costs. This change left the Artoria-squad in tears... though it didn't affect the Servants with the [Golden Rule] skill at all.
As the Servants prepared to go out and cause "controlled" chaos, Ritsuka sat alone, reflecting on a vision she had seen when she was briefly cast out of reality.
She had seen another timeline. Another Chaldea. Another Fujimaru Ritsuka this one male. His journey had been far easier, with fewer Beasts to face. But his ending... it was a Bad End. In that world, the Doctor Romani Archaman had activated his final Noble Phantasm and vanished from the Throne of Heroes forever to save humanity.
Ritsuka understood now. Her journey had been ten times harder, but she had achieved the True End. Her Servants were happy, Fou was still intelligent, and her Doctor was still alive, working hard (and slacking off) in the command center. Even Goetia had become a loyal subordinate to Solomon, following his orders with a terrifying, obsessive diligence.
Maybe... I should visit that other Chaldea sometime? Ritsuka thought, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Somewhere in another dimension, a different Goetia suddenly felt a cold shiver down his spine.