In a workshop in Chaldea.
It was the workshop of Da Vinci, the head of Chaldea's technological development.
While the control room was in chaos after the explosion, and the surviving staff were rushing to manage the situation, Da Vinci, a current executive of Chaldea, was fooling around with a man in her workshop.
"Ahh♥ No, I have to go fix the control room..."
With the chest of her clothes wide open, Da Vinci was being groped by a burly man. She pushed her rear against him, her body swaying seductively, as if to say her words were the opposite of her true feelings.
"Who cares? They'll figure it out on their own. What's the worst that could happen?"
"W-well, I suppose?"
At his words, Da Vinci was easily swayed, and her goal of resolving the situation became hazy.
It was no longer appropriate to call her Leonardo da Vinci, the Universal Genius.
There was only a woman stained by carnal desire, wagging her rear like a mare in heat.
His name was Amagasaki Ryuuji.
He was a man who lived by his instincts, frankly indulging his immense sexual appetite, not only with Da Vinci but with every single female staff member in Chaldea.
I had suddenly become a Master.
Aptitudes I never had appeared, along with Command Seals. A Servant I never summoned was called forth and acknowledged me as his Master.
That alone was enough to give me a headache.
But the silver lining was that Ritsuka was safe.
"You're alright? So, your name is..."
"Kuriyama Sho."
"Right! I'm glad you're safe, Mr. Kuriyama."
It seemed Ritsuka had met Mash before meeting me. It was only natural that Mash didn't know my name. It had only been relatively recently that Mash was able to wander around Chaldea, and unlike the other staff, I was just a handyman.
Even Mash couldn't remember every single person in Chaldea; it would be strange if she knew the name of someone with such an insignificant role. It's not like I ever tried to meet her before I became self-aware, right?
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Uh, no, not really."
Ritsuka, perhaps happy to see me, grabbed my right hand with both of hers and smiled brightly. For whatever reason, it seemed that the Ritsuka of this regressed timeline had been a girl from the very beginning. She was completely feminine.
"Are you okay, Ritsuka?"
"Yeah. Mash helped me."
"Yes. I am Senpai's Servant, after all."
Mash had properly awakened as a Demi-Servant. Of course, I wasn't getting my hopes up. In fact, I was in the position of wanting to stop her from fighting. It might be different if it was a woman against a woman, but in this world, if it's a man against a woman, I could already see how things would turn out.
If she were defeated by a horse, she'd probably be raped by the horse. I couldn't help but feel anxious.
I'd rather Mash just stay quietly in the back. Otherwise, things will end up just like the last timeline.
Ritsuka and Mash had been in a relationship, but in the end, that guy stole Mash from her.
In normal reality, it would have been Mash's fault for straying. But this world has a crappy setting.
Of course, I can't say Mash was completely blameless, but given that this is an erotic doujinshi world, Mash's fault is about 20%. The world is another 10%, and that guy is 70%.
I feel like as long as I can avoid the future where Mash gets raped, we can get along just fine.
The moment she gets screwed, it's 100% corruption and subjugation.
I want to get along with the pure Mash. At the very least, I don't want to see that corrupted version of her.
"My Servant... Yeah, that's right."
Seeing the two of them back in their senpai-kouhai, Master-Servant relationship was a relief. But for some reason, Ritsuka made a meaningful expression filled with a strange emotion, before quickly smiling and replying.
What's with that look? Is it just because this whole situation is so confusing?
"By the way, who is this gentleman?"
"Mm, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am the Lancer, Leonidas."
"Ah, the one from Sparta!"
Mash looked at Leonidas with the wonder and excitement of a fan. Well, under normal circumstances, I'd probably react the same way.
But right now, my head hurt too much from this incomprehensible situation to have the energy for that. Let's just accept that I've become a Master. But how did I even summon him?
There was no summoning circle, no ritual, and most importantly, no Saint Quartz.
Doesn't this feel just like Hakuno and Nero's first meeting?
"Are you a Servant from this Singularity?"
"No, I am a Servant who answered my Master's call."
"Then Mr. Kuriyama summoned you? How?"
Mash's question was a valid one. The problem was, I didn't know either.
So, I was about to honestly say that I had no clue, when—
"It must mean that Sho has something special about him. I thought you were an amazing person from the start, Sho."
"Huh?"
Ritsuka suddenly defended and supported me. Amazing person? Something special?
"I see, so it's one of those 'everyone has a hidden ace up their sleeve' situations? Perhaps you're a secret agent hired by Chaldea, like the A-Team?"
"No, that's not it."
No, I don't want to be misunderstood. I'm not that capable or amazing.
"I do not know the detailed circumstances, but the manner in which my Master summoned me was a proper one. Furthermore, I, Leonidas, am an accurate judge of character. I can tell. My Master possesses the same forthright eyes as the citizens of our Sparta!"
"Uh, thanks for believing in me?"
Is being compared to a Spartan a compliment? I heard those guys were such meatheads they used heavy things like dumbbells for currency. What was the reason again? Something about not falling prey to materialism? I also heard in Fate, Leonidas became king because he was the only one who could do math.
It's a compliment, right?
"I understand. Of course, I'm not doubting you, Mr. Kuriyama. It's just that you remind me of Senpai. Even though we just met today, you seem like a good person."
"Yeah, Sho is a man you can trust."
It's nice to be trusted, but this much trust is a bit of a burden.
"First of all, we are currently unable to communicate with Chaldea. Singularity F was originally a mission for the A-Team. With the control room in that state, it seems we'll have to investigate on our own first."
"I see. So, what should we do? Sho."
Ritsuka asked me with a smile in her eyes. What should we do? Well, there's only one thing to do.
"Let's look around and search the area first. We need to figure out what's going on."
Investigate Fuyuki. As far as I know, in the previous timeline, they somehow never met Cu Chulainn in Fuyuki. I don't know if he wasn't there, or if they just couldn't find him.
It feels like men were intentionally excluded, which is frankly unpleasant.
Anyway, I have a rough idea of what Fuyuki is about, but there might be something different here. I only heard a rough summary of how they cleared the Fuyuki of this world, so I don't know the details.
Let's investigate, and if we can get some Saint Quartz, we'll get some and then head back.
"Then where should we go?"
"Hmph! In times like these, we must trust our gut!"
"Hmm, where do you think we should go, Sho?"
Ritsuka always seems to ask for my opinion. Is she following me because I revealed that I'm a regressor?
Well, I am the adult here, and I've somehow become a Master, so I suppose I have a responsibility to lead as an ally to some extent.
It's too early to go to Ryuudou Temple right now, so maybe we should look around the vicinity?
"Let's go that way."
I suggested we head towards the city center, in the opposite direction of Mt. Enzou, and we decided to investigate that area first.
As we were moving.
"...Ritsuka, aren't you a little too close?"
Ritsuka was walking pressed right up against my side. As if playing a prank, she even linked her arm with mine. Is this one of those things? Like a popular high school girl messing with a loser?
"Why? You don't like it?"
"No, it's not that I don't like it, but..."
"Then it's fine, isn't it? I want my dear Sho to protect this delicate high school girl, you know~?"
This is definitely a prank. Right, Ritsuka has this playful personality. It's reassuring, but at the same time, it's a burden. The soft feeling of Ritsuka's chest against my arm. I can feel it even through her clothes.
Empty your mind... Stay focused. I'm not that guy. I can't feel horny for Ritsuka. How old is she anyway? There's more than a five-year age gap. An adult and a minor. The moment I feel something like that, I'm on the same level as that bastard.
Besides, it's not like I'd ever harbor such feelings for someone I've decided to protect.
Just as I resolved myself, Ritsuka now rested her head on my shoulder. Is it a crime to think she smells nice?
"You two seem to get along really well."
"Hahaha! A fine sight to behold! A harmonious scene is truly a wonderful thing!"
"Do we look good together? Fufu~♪"
She seems happy. Well, if Ritsuka is happy, then fine.
But, I think I hear something. A clinking sound.
"! Get back!"
Leonidas quickly dashed forward, blocking a chained dagger flying towards us with his shield.
"It's a Servant!"
Mash also ran to Leonidas's side, as a woman emerged from the shadows of a collapsed building.
Medusa.
It was Medusa, the Rider.
"Huhu, not just one castaway, but several. How very interesting."
There was one peculiar thing about her.
In her hand, she was holding the Director, who appeared to be unconscious. Medusa, gripping the collar of her shirt, held the Director up for us to see.
"Director!"
"Tch, to take a hostage!"
So the Director was taken hostage. I glanced over to check Ritsuka's reaction, but she seemed to have little interest in the Director. She was merely staring at Medusa with a cold gaze.
I figured she was probably just frozen stiff from Medusa's killing intent.
CRUNCH!
Medusa then bit into the Director's neck. She didn't tear the flesh, but rather sucked her blood. They say her magical energy is of high quality. For a vampire, she's the ultimate meal.
After drinking her fill, as if satisfied, she wiped her mouth and tossed the Director to the ground.
"Delicious. Very high-quality magical energy. Now then, I wonder what the Masters over there taste like?"
She gave a vicious smile, lifting her hips and lowering her posture.
She's coming.
Medusa is charging.
Her target was us.
Leonidas and Mash tried to block her, but Medusa agilely dodged Leonidas's spear and rushed towards us.
Too slow. Their agility was far lower than Medusa's.
Medusa looked at us with murderous eyes, about to swing the dagger in her hand, and I pushed Ritsuka behind me.
Right now, this was the best I could do. Protect Ritsuka and take the hit myself.
The moment Medusa rushed at me and swung her dagger, I instinctively threw a punch. Was it the will to put up at least some resistance?
Even though I thought it would be meaningless, I threw my fist.
Medusa scoffed at the sight of my punch, and in that instant, as she planned to kill me while taking the hit without dodging—
POW!!!
Medusa, who took my punch square on, was sent flying as her nose broke.
"Huh?"
Sent flying by a single punch, Medusa crashed into the outer wall of a building, then crumpled to her knees and fell forward, collapsing.
What just happened?
Medusa collapsed with a nosebleed, drool leaking from her mouth. She fell with her rear in the air, her body trembling.
Did she really get knocked out by my punch?
"A-amazing, Mr. Kuriyama! Are you really a secret agent sent by Chaldea!?"
"Hmm, your muscles did not appear to be that trained, but were you the owner of exceptional strength all along? Master."
"No, I don't think so."
When I picked up the steel pipe earlier, it was definitely heavy. It's not like my strength suddenly increased.
Could it be... a world correction?
This is a world where women, for some reason, can't stand up to men and end up getting assaulted. Did that correction get applied to me, too? No, that can't be, it wasn't like this in the previous timeline.
I'm sure of it, because there was a time when I tried to bring food to Ritsuka and got trampled by Ishtar. So why is it different now?
"See? I told you Sho was amazing."
Ritsuka walked over gracefully, giving me a bright smile and praising me even more.
What in the world is actually happening?