Mifune City, Japan.
Fujimaru Residence.
As humanity's last Master, Ritsuka was now enjoying a vacation she had never experienced before.
Six months had passed since the world-shattering Human Order Incineration Incident ended, and her journey to save the world alongside her comrades had concluded.
In those six months, many things happened at Chaldea.
First came the affairs of the mystic world, which were somewhat foreign to Ritsuka. After the Human Order Incineration ended, the Clock Tower—one of the organizations managing Magus society—immediately sent people to investigate.
The United Nations did the same.
The investigations didn't go smoothly. Chaldea's Rayshift technology was deemed a potential threat to past human history. On top of that, the fact that Mash was a Demi-Servant was exposed, along with much of Chaldea's technology. In the end, the UN banned Chaldea from conducting any further Rayshift-related experiments. Meanwhile, the Clock Tower demanded Chaldea surrender all experimental results up to that point.
Regarding the UN's demand, everyone in Chaldea agreed. After all, according to the message Aoko brought back, there would be no more major crises in the future—so Rayshift technology was naturally no longer needed.
But for the second demand, issued by the Clock Tower's Department of Policies, every member of Chaldea unanimously voted to refuse.
According to many in Chaldea familiar with the mystic world, this was standard practice for the Department of Policies—and the Clock Tower in general. They never showed up during a crisis, but once it was over, they'd leap out arrogantly, demanding to seize all Magecraft achievements.
Naturally, Director Olga Marie, along with Riddell, filed a protest. It was then that Ritsuka learned Riddell, like Director Marie, was one of the Lords with the highest status in the Clock Tower.
The simultaneous opposition from two Lords caused quite a stir within the Clock Tower. To resolve the issue, Marie and Riddell returned to the Clock Tower to attend a meeting called the Grand Resolution.
It was a gathering to review Clock Tower operations, transcending disciplinary and factional boundaries—the highest decision-making body in the Clock Tower.
What actually happened during the meeting, Ritsuka didn't know—she was still in Chaldea at the time. She only knew that shortly after Marie and Riddell left, Aoko and Touko found excuses to head to the Clock Tower as well, bringing Gray, Artoria, and Souji with them.
The Grand Resolution lasted about a week. Marie returned to Chaldea ten days after departing, announcing that everything had been resolved. The Clock Tower's sanctions on Chaldea would be lifted, and the Department of Policies would no longer excessively interfere in in Chaldea's affairs.
As a side note, Ritsuka later learned from the internet that an old clock tower in London had collapsed, supposedly due to age and decay. But since the news was quickly deleted, she wasn't sure if it was true.
In short, in the six months following the end of the Human Order Incineration, after a series of secretive events not fully known to Ritsuka, both Chaldea and the world returned to a state of peace.
The only significant change was in Chaldea's personnel.
Hinako, a Master like Ritsuka, left Chaldea with Xiang Yu. After all, her reason for joining Chaldea was to reunite with Xiang Yu. With her goal achieved and her contract with Naoki fulfilled, she naturally had no reason to stay.
Thus, during the Grand Resolution, Hinako and Xiang Yu left without telling anyone, leaving only a letter in her private room.
Then, many women connected to Naoki who had been staying in Chaldea mostly returned to London, England. Rumor had it they settled in an apartment. Others had their own destinations—Ritsuka wasn't entirely sure, but she knew it wasn't something she needed to worry about.
Everyone had their own path.
Additionally, many staff members left Chaldea. They couldn't leave before due to the Human Order Incineration, but now that the world was normal again, they naturally departed. After all, the Incineration wasn't a pleasant memory. They surely wanted to distance themselves from Chaldea, which reminded them of that time.
Marie understood and approved most resignation requests, beginning to recruit new staff.
However, some resignation requests were denied—for example, Chief Medical Officer Romani Archaman.
"While Naoki and the others are away, you're the only one who can command the Demon God Pillars and the Human Order Correction Ritual! You're staying!"
Marie rejected Roman's resignation with that reasoning.
It was understandable.
Per Naoki's final order, the Seventy-Two Demon Gods now surrounded Chaldea in Antarctica like guardians—while also deterring external threats.
After the Grand Resolution, some Lords and Magus still dissatisfied secretly sent infiltrators to Chaldea. But the moment they set foot in Antarctica, the Demon God Pillars sensed their malice and threw them all into the sea to fend for themselves.
Meanwhile, Goetia acted as the unifier of the Demon Gods, moving within Chaldea following his former master.
The King had not appointed a successor before leaving—so in terms of hierarchy, Roman was next in line.
Those were Goetia's exact words. He returned all Ten Rings to Roman—which directly led to Roman's identity as Solomon being fully exposed, causing quite a commotion in Chaldea.
Thus, Roman remained in Chaldea as Chief Medical Officer. Together with Queen Sheba, he carried Naoki's spirit and will, spending his days in Chaldea spreading affection.
All of this Ritsuka learned through online emails.
After the Grand Resolution ended, Ritsuka was informed she was permitted to leave Chaldea—officially on Indefinite Paid Leave, until Chaldea called her back.
Thus, after saying goodbye to many friends she had made, Ritsuka returned to Mifune City with Mash. Through arrangements by the Ryougi Family, Ritsuka re-enrolled as a high school student, and Mash transferred in as a new student to the same school. Both attended classes taught by Atalanta, enjoying the long-lost daily life of youth.
Until now.
And at this moment, Ritsuka was sitting at her desk, typing on her computer to spend her weekend vacation.
"Senpai!"
Just then, accompanied by the sound of her bedroom door being pushed open, Mash rushed in.
"Eh? What's wrong, Mash? Is it urgent?"
"Yes—Chaldea… The Director and Doctor just contacted me. They said we need to return to Chaldea immediately." Mash said, "To recapture a certain irresponsible man who hasn't come home in half a year—that's what they said."