After showering and changing my clothes, I headed to Ritsuka's room.
I doubted anything could have happened in such a short time, but still, I was a little anxious.
It would be so much easier if I could just act crazy and kill that guy. Normally, a person should feel a moral aversion to murder, but that guy is less than a beast, so I don't feel the slightest hesitation.
The problem is the justification. I need him to cause at least one major incident to have a valid reason.
If I just kill him, my own position will become strange. Justified or not, the staff and Da Vinci will surely give me hell, but the others won't.
My relationships with Leonidas and Parvati, and more importantly, with Mash and Ritsuka, are the issue.
It's a loss to ruin the forest just to cut down one rotten tree. Even if I put out the immediate fire, another mountain will just loom over me.
For now, he's in a position where I can kill him at any time. For now. That's why I need to create a justification quickly, before he gains more power.
But how do I create one? I need him to do something crazy, to mess with someone, to have a reason. But I don't want him messing with my people.
Right. That guy didn't have Master aptitude, but he did have Rayshift aptitude.
I can't stand the sight of him, but what if I took him to a Singularity?
Whether he causes trouble there or just dies, it's a win for me. A justification is all I need. Or, I could just secretly kill him in the Singularity.
The problem is how to drag him along. The chances of him willingly going to a Singularity are low.
Could the Da Vinci of this time create a Command Seal Spellbook? In my time, at some point, that guy got his hands on one and started stealing Servants.
If he had a Command Seal Spellbook, that lecher would definitely get greedy and go to a Singularity to get his hands on some hot babes.
Where can I get a Command Seal Spellbook? Could Parvati make one? Since she's a Sakura-face, it might be possible.
But it feels weird for me to be the one providing it. Should I induce Da Vinci to make one? I could make him greedy to become a Master, and then he'd help Da Vinci create it.
I don't like it, but for now, it seems like the best option.
Thinking like this, I guess I'm a bit pathetic too. I just want to kill him and be done with it, but here I am, worrying about the future.
I have the justification of protecting Ritsuka, but in the end, it's still a picture of me worrying about my own well-being. I guess that's not entirely wrong. It's not like I'm doing this 100% purely for Ritsuka. I'm human, not a saint.
It's impossible to be completely selfless.
"It would be different if I were a selfless person."
I don't have a self-sacrificing personality. Well, if the worst comes to the worst, I might not hesitate to sacrifice myself.
"Let's stop with the negative thoughts. I'm being too pessimistic."
Is it because I've seen things filthier than the bitter taste of society? Compared to before, I've become quite a negative person.
Anyway, I arrive in front of Ritsuka's room and knock.
The door opens soon after, but it's not Ritsuka who greets me.
"Oh, you're here, Mr. Kuriyama."
"Mash?"
Mash. It was Mash who came out of Ritsuka's room. I could understand her being in casual clothes, but her attire was far too unguarded.
She wasn't even wearing a bra. And her pants were dolphin shorts that looked like she had nothing on underneath. Did Mash ever wear clothes like this? I thought that was only after what happened with him.
For a second, I wondered if something had already happened to Mash, but there wasn't enough time. Besides, Leonidas was with her during the examination, so nothing strange should have happened. At least, she didn't smell like him.
"What are you doing here, Mash?"
"Well, Senpai called me. Come on in!"
Mash smiles, takes my hand, and pulls me into the room. The door closes, and inside, I see Ritsuka sitting on the bed.
"Did you wash up well? Did you scrub thoroughly?"
"Uh, yeah. But why did you call Mash over?"
"Hehe. To spend some quality time together, the three of us."
Is it just a simple break? Did she call us because she wants to get closer to me and Mash? By the way, Ritsuka is also dressed as scantily as Mash. Is it because she was with another girl? Still, to be like this even though she knew a guy was coming over...
She's too defenseless.
How can I not worry when she's like this?
"Want something to drink?"
"I'm good. We're going to eat soon anyway."
"Oh wow, is it that time already?"
I sit down next to Ritsuka. I could have sat on a chair, but it would have been weird to be the only one.
But then Mash sits down on my other side. I'm now sandwiched between Ritsuka and Mash.
"Dinner. What kind of food do you like, Mr. Kuriyama?"
Mash asks, seemingly fidgeting and a little nervous. Am I making her uncomfortable? No, it makes sense. A guy is sitting right next to her while she's not even wearing underwear. I could have waited for her to get dressed, she should have greeted me after changing.
"I generally like Japanese food. I like takoyaki, and grilled eel too."
My tastes have been consistent since my past life. I like Korean food too, of course, but Japanese food suits my palate better. Though I'd get tired of it if I ate it every day. As a Korean, if I had to choose one type of food to eat every day, I'd pick Korean. But I liked Japanese food enough to eat it for a day or two every few days.
"Grilled eel..."
Why is she blushing at that part?
"Eel, huh~? Where exactly are you planning on using all that energy?"
Ritsuka gives me a sly grin and leans against me. Her breasts press against me. I try my best to act casual and not pay attention. If I get flustered about it here, she'll just tease me more.
"It has nothing to do with its 'effects'. I just like the texture and taste. I went to a buffet that served grilled eel once, and I don't know how many I ate. I think I had at least four eels' worth."
"You really like it, huh~ Then you must be pretty energetic, right?"
"No, I haven't had it recently. Eel is pretty expensive."
Is she making a dirty joke? Well, it's true I haven't eaten eel in a long time. Chaldea's menu is mostly Western, so they don't serve eel. I heard it's a delicacy in places like Germany and Italy, but it's not exactly a common food.
"Then, if you could eat it at Chaldea, would you have it every day? As far as I know, we do have eel among our food supplies."
"Ah, we do have it."
Of course, it's not like we don't have eel at all. But there isn't much, and it's smoked and frozen, so it's more like emergency rations.
I think we also had canned jellied eel. That's a bit... but the smoked eel should be edible.
More importantly, Mash is pressing against me now too. She's leaning on me just like Ritsuka. Large breasts are pressing against me from both sides. Stay calm. Honestly, if I wasn't so drained, I might have reacted without thinking.
This teasing is too harsh for a virgin.
"A-anyway! Let's go get something to eat. You guys are hungry too, right?"
"Hmm, you're right. I am hungry~"
"Yes. It's time for dinner. Then, let's go together."
Mash takes my hand and stands up, but I stop her for a moment.
"Are you going in those clothes?"
"Yes? Ah, do you perhaps... not like this attire?"
"No, it's not that I don't like it, it's just... you're too defenseless."
"Pardon?"
"I mean... I don't want other people to see you guys like this."
If that guy saw them, he'd definitely come on to them like a dog in heat. Besides, if he saw them dressed like this, he'd think they were easy and start harassing them even more aggressively.
I have to prevent that from happening.
"I-I see. So that's it. You only want... to see it for yourself, Mr. Kuriyama."
Mash blushes and pulls up her t-shirt, which had slipped off her shoulder. Ritsuka gives me a sly, pleased smile, then pushes me out of the room.
"It would be awkward if you were here while we change, right? Wait here for a bit."
Thank goodness she didn't tease me by saying she'd just close the curtains. I wait outside, and a moment later, the two of them come out, changed. They're in their usual Master uniform and Mash's regular clothes.
I can finally relax.
"Let's go. By the way, have you seen Leonidas or Parvati?"
"Ah, Sir Leonidas is probably in the training room. Ms. Parvati is with the Director."
Leonidas is as consistent as ever. Parvati is also doing as I asked. I don't have to worry about the Director then.
We chat idly as we walk down the corridor. On the way to the cafeteria, the two of them walked so close to me it was almost like they were clinging to me, with their arms linked.
I don't know, Ritsuka was always like this, but Mash also felt unnaturally close to me now.
Anyway, we arrived at the cafeteria. But it seems a bit noisy inside. I peek in and see the staff eating mountains of food.
"Hm? Oh, you're finally awake? How are you feeling~?"
It's him. Ryuuji. Is this the party he was talking about?
The tables were piled high with party food. Was he waiting for us while fooling around with the women? Or was it just a coincidence?
"We've been waiting for a while. We started without you, but you came at a good time~? Da Vinci, bring over some chairs."
"Sure~"
Da Vinci drags over some chairs and makes space for us. For now, we sit down. It's extremely uncomfortable, though.
"Good work clearing the Singularity. So, your name was Kuriyama, right? Thinking about it, you were right, a party isn't respectful to the dead~ But, the living have to keep on living, right? You have to eat well to get anything done. Isn't that right?"
"Yeah. That's true."
He's not wrong. The problem is that he's the one saying it.
"There's plenty of food, so eat and drink as much as you want. I worked hard to prepare all of this~"
Worked hard, my ass. The cooking at Chaldea is all automated. Robots make it, and 3D printers create it. Besides, he probably made the staff set it up, not him. All the female staff here are already his bitches who obey his every word.
This is so annoying.
I'm worried he might have tampered with the food. I'm afraid to eat.
Ritsuka, who had been scowling since Ryuuji appeared, silently picked up a chicken leg and started eating.
"Ritsuka, that's..."
"It's fine. You can eat it."
Ritsuka says it's fine nonchalantly. Is it a gut feeling? Should I trust Ritsuka's gut? If I refuse and get new food, that guy will just make a fuss again. Besides, I'm a man. He wouldn't put an aphrodisiac or drugs in my food, and he wouldn't be crazy enough to use poison.
Trusting Ritsuka's gut, I pick up a meat pie.
It tasted... fine. A normal meat pie.
"Come on, eat up. Huh? Mash, you eat a lot too. You're a growing girl, you know~?"
"Ah, yes."
He says, patting Mash on the shoulder. But Mash, who had seemed a little uncomfortable with him before, was now outright scowling. What's with that reaction? Did he do something to piss her off while I was gone?
After I woke up, Mash seems to have changed in many ways. Did something happen?
=============================================
(Ritsuka's POV)
Ritsuka slipped into the empty kitchen, ostensibly to get a drink.
She glanced over at Sho and Mash, who were eating at a distance from Ryuuji.
Perhaps because Mash was scowling and Sho looked uncomfortable, Ryuuji seemed to be in a bad mood and left them alone, drinking with the other women.
As he moved away, Mash smiled and started recommending other dishes for Sho to try.
Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Ritsuka's face, but it quickly turned into a scowl as she looked at Ryuuji and the female staff.
She took a smartphone out of her pocket. A phone issued by Chaldea.
The screen lit up, revealing a purple wallpaper and, simultaneously, the reflection of a woman.
"You've taken control of the system, right?"
[Yes, of course. This is nothing, you know?]
Ritsuka conversed with the woman on the screen.
"Until the next Servant summoning, please take care of things. Especially, make sure that guy doesn't do anything stupid. And guide things well so we can create a justification to dig his grave, just as Sho intended."
[Leave it to me. Analyzing the behavior patterns of a pig like that isn't difficult at all.]