Ritsuka stood in an open field. Six people lay unconscious around him. Some of them had suffered serious injuries after taking unguarded Bajiquan strikes from him—yet fortunately, not a single one of them had died.
Ritsuka looked at them briefly, then spoke toward the floating mass of water.
"I just need to touch the ground, right?" he asked.
"That way, I can bring them to our gathering place?"
Not long after, a voice came from the water mass—its tone resembling Kagaya's.
"Yes, Ritsuka. That's all you need to do," he replied calmly.
"A gate will open afterward. I've already tried it with my wife. I was able to open a gate to this place and bring her here without any problem."
Ritsuka took a deep breath and looked down at the ground beneath his feet.
"I actually oppose this," L said in a resigned tone,
"but since we need more information, just bring them here."
"Don't worry, L," Koko said from the water mass.
"Zelretch is here. He already said he'll handle them."
Zelretch did not elaborate.
"Ritsuka, bring them here quickly. Don't waste time," he said briefly.
Ritsuka was slightly confused by Zelretch's urgent tone, but he didn't object. He crouched down and placed his hand on the ground beneath him.
In the next instant, a massive black hole opened, swallowing everyone present without leaving a trace.
A few moments passed.
Ritsuka opened his eyes. He was back at the gathering place—the dimensional rift where a blue sky was reflected in every direction. In front of him, five people were already standing, waiting.
Ritsuka looked at them briefly, then stood up.
"I didn't expect us to meet again so soon," he said.
"Sorry, everyone. I ended up troubling you."
"It's fine, Ritsuka," Koko replied casually.
"Besides, this looks like it's going to be pretty fun."
Ritsuka smiled at Koko, then shifted his gaze when he saw Amane guiding Kagaya as they walked closer.
"Ritsuka, are you all right?" Kagaya asked with concern.
"I'm fine, Kagaya," Ritsuka replied.
He then glanced toward Amane, hesitating slightly.
"And she…?" he asked quietly.
"My wife," Kagaya answered briefly. "Amane."
Amane gave a small bow toward Ritsuka.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Ritsuka Fujimaru," she said gently.
"Oyakata-sama has explained everything about you. I am very grateful that you protected Oyakata-sama while I was not by his side."
Ritsuka smiled faintly.
"It's nothing. It's just something I normally do," Ritsuka said.
"Just as Oyakata-sama said, you truly are a kind person," Amane said sincerely.
Then Koko's voice was heard.
"So, what should we do with them now?" Koko asked, pointing at the six unconscious men.
"I can make them talk, but that would take quite some time."
"There's no need," L said calmly.
"We already have someone who can explain everything, don't we?"
He turned toward Zelretch.
"Zelretch, do you want to explain who they are? You and Ritsuka come from the same world, don't you?"
Everyone in the space turned their gaze toward Zelretch, waiting for his answer.
"Huh? What do you mean he's from the same world as Ritsuka?" Koko asked in confusion.
"Yes," L replied calmly.
"And from the way you've been looking at him, it's obvious that you know—"
His words were cut off by loud laughter.
Zelretch laughed heartily and stepped forward.
"Hahahaha! You're impressive, L. To reach that conclusion," he said with a grin.
"And yet, I never gave any hint that I came from the same world as Ritsuka."
He looked at L with great interest. "Was that purely your own deduction?"
L nodded briefly.
"And it seems you also know who these people are," he added.
Ritsuka immediately turned toward Zelretch. His demeanor shifted to one of vigilance, his magic circuits flaring to life again.
"Do you have anything to do with Rikka's kidnapping?" Ritsuka asked coldly, his body already prepared to attack.
Koko, L, and Amane couldn't see what was actually happening to Ritsuka's body. However, they clearly felt a powerful gust of wind, as if something inside him had been activated.
Unlike them, Kagaya frowned. He sensed something abnormal.
"Amane… what's happening to Ritsuka?" Kagaya asked in panic.
"I feel something coming from his body. Something has changed."
"I don't know, Oyakata-sama," Amane replied honestly.
"Mr. Fujimaru's body looks normal. But earlier, there really was a very strong gust of wind."
Zelretch looked at Ritsuka for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"I'm not responsible for that," he said casually.
"However… I do know who they are."
He stepped slightly forward.
"And I also know where their base is."
Ritsuka fell silent for a moment. He took a deep breath and calmed himself.
"Then… can you take me there?" Ritsuka asked.
Zelretch stared at him sharply.
"Are you sure?" he said quietly.
"If you go there, you'll once again face an extremely heavy fate. There will be no turning back."
His tone hardened.
"You can still avoid it now. But if you confront that fate once more," Zelretch continued,
"I'm certain you'll only end up becoming… a monster."
Ritsuka looked at Zelretch, confused by his words. He didn't fully understand why Zelretch spoke as if he knew Ritsuka's future.
But in the end, he stepped forward.
"I don't know why you're saying that," Ritsuka said.
"But there's one thing I know for sure. My younger sister is waiting for me there."
He looked straight at Zelretch.
"If my fate there is heavy, drenched in blood, and turns me into a monster…"
"So what?" he continued without hesitation.
"I still have to face it. Because someone precious to me is there—and she needs help."
Zelretch fell silent for quite a while. He didn't speak immediately, then smiled faintly.
"You really are the right person," he said at last.
"Very well. I'll help you now."
Koko's voice followed.
"If Zelretch is stepping in, I'll take my leave for now," she said casually.
"You can call me anytime if you need help." She waved at Ritsuka.
Kagaya then spoke, together with Amane.
"Ritsuka, we're sorry we can't help much right now," Kagaya said gently.
"But I promise you—when the door to other worlds opens, I will do everything I can to help you. And you will always be welcome in my residence."
"Thank you… everyone," Ritsuka said sincerely.
One by one, their figures vanished from the space, leaving only L, Ritsuka, and Zelretch standing in the dimensional rift.
L remained silent, staring at Zelretch.
"It seems there's still something he's hiding…" he muttered quietly.
L's gaze then shifted to Ritsuka.
"Ritsuka, survive for as long as you can," he said calmly.
"I'm placing my hopes in you."
Ritsuka fell silent, not fully understanding what he meant. He then nodded.
"Don't worry, L. I'll be fine."
L didn't reply. He only looked at Ritsuka for a moment, then slowly vanished.
Just before disappearing, his lips moved, murmuring softly—
"Please… be my friend."
Ritsuka didn't hear it.
Now, only Zelretch and Ritsuka remained in that space, along with the unconscious members of Chaldea.
"Now it's just the two of us," Zelretch said.
"Do you want to go now?"
"Yes. I want to go now," Ritsuka answered without hesitation.
"I'm very worried about my sister."
"Before that…" Zelretch said.
He stepped in front of Ritsuka and pulled something from his pocket.
"Please accept this," he said, handing over a strange sword shaped like a compressed gemstone.
"This is only a replica of the original."
Ritsuka accepted it with slight confusion, examining the sword.
"Who made a sword like this?" he asked.
"It was made by my disciple… from another timeline," Zelretch replied.
"Even if you can't use its true power, it will still be useful."
He looked at Ritsuka seriously.
"Use that sword as proof that you are my disciple. If necessary, tell them that Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg—the Wizard Marshal—sent you to assist Chaldea. With that, you'll gain a good standing there."
Ritsuka froze.
"My… disciple?" he whispered.
Before he could fully process the meaning of those words, his consciousness began to fade. His legs lost their strength, his body staggered, then collapsed helplessly.
Zelretch looked at him calmly.
"When you wake up, you'll be inside the facility that kidnapped your sister. Do whatever you need to do."
He smiled faintly.
"And be sure… give my regards to my teacher who works there as a doc—"
His sentence was cut short.
Ritsuka's consciousness vanished completely.
A moment later, the light child appeared beside Zelretch.
"So, you're not going to interfere again this time?" the child asked lightly.
Zelretch turned toward him.
"Don't be stupid," he replied flatly.
"You know the consequences if I interfere too much. What I've done now is already extremely risky. Without your help, I don't even want to imagine the outcome."
"Hehe~ yeah, I know," the child said lightly.
"Besides, this is enough," Zelretch continued, crossing his arms.
"I'm curious to see how this former savior of humanity will act. His fate is no longer bound solely to Chaldea, but to many worlds—and all of them lie outside the Root."
"You're wrong, Zelretch," the light child said calmly.
Zelretch raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Wrong about what?"
"It's not just Ritsuka who's now bound to other worlds," the light child replied.
"Chaldea will be dragged along as well. They will become Ritsuka's power—whether to protect… or to invade other worlds."
Zelretch fell silent. A smile slowly spread across his face, and then he laughed softly.
"Hahahaha… now I understand your plan," he said.