Olga looked up, her eyes wet with anger as they met the mocking smile on Rikka's face.
"Y–You…!" Olga snarled.
"What's wrong, honorable Director? Do you need help standing up?" Rikka asked in an overly sweet, clearly fake tone, extending her right hand as if to help—though the gesture was dripping with sarcasm.
"Ohohoho… It seems our Director is quite angry, huh? How pitiful."
Rikka let out a small laugh, covering her mouth in the exaggerated, villainous ojou-sama style often seen in comics.
Olga's face flushed deep red. Veins bulged at her temples as she struggled to contain her emotions. She wanted to curse, wanted to slap the insolent girl—but her voice caught in her throat.
Before Olga could explode, a hand landed squarely on Rikka's head.
Pletak!
"Stop it. You're just embarrassing me," Ritsuka scolded flatly.
"Ow! Brother, why'd you stop me? I was just getting to the fun part!" Rikka protested, rubbing her head. "At least let me act like an evil noble princess for a little longer!"
"Rikka, you read way too many royal Webtoons. You should stop before your brain suffers permanent damage," Ritsuka lectured.
Ritsuka then ignored his sister and stepped toward Olga. He stood towering over the woman who was still sitting on the ground. Olga looked up—and the moment their eyes met, the dam of her emotions burst.
"What?! What are you looking at?! You want to mock me too, huh?!"
Her voice rose, breaking into a shrill, hysterical pitch.
"Go ahead! Do it! Laugh all you want! Yes, you're right! I'm a useless Magus! I'm trash!"
Olga clutched her own chest, as if she wanted to tear apart the white uniform she once took pride in.
"Even though I'm an Animusphere… even though I'm the leader of this place… I don't have Rayshift Aptitude! I can't become a Master! I can't even enter a Coffin without being reduced to useless data! I can't do what an ordinary civilian like you can do so easily!"
Tears of frustration finally spilled down her cheeks, yet her glare remained fierce as she challenged Ritsuka.
"Are you satisfied now?! You must be happy seeing me this pathetic, right?! Just because you're the Wizard Marshal's disciple… just because you have talents I don't… You must be looking down on me in your heart!"
Her breathing grew ragged, her voice sinking into a venomous whisper directed at herself.
"You're probably thinking… 'How pitiful this Director is'… right?!"
In another dimension, Kagaya let out a long sigh as he watched the scene.
"So that's how it is… Sometimes a great family name becomes nothing but a burden for its children. They carry responsibilities far too heavy for them. She's just a poor girl," Kagaya murmured sympathetically.
"Hah… What is this?" Koko's voice contrasted sharply, filled with disgust. "How pathetic."
Koko stared coldly at the screen.
"She screams about family pride, about noble blood… but look at her. She's crying like a toddler who lost her toy."
"She's a leader," Koko continued sharply.
"A real leader doesn't care who holds the weapon, as long as the enemy is dead. But this woman… she's too busy pitying herself. She's trash bound by other people's validation. If I were there, I'd kick her until she woke up."
"Nobles in this world really are annoying," Zelretch commented in a bored yet agreeing tone. "They care more about their family name than their children's happiness."
At the scene, Rikka glared at Olga irritably.
"That woman! Is she fishing for sympathy or what?"
"Wait, Senpai," Mash interjected quickly, trying to defend her superior.
"The Director doesn't mean it that way. She may seem harsh, but thanks to her, the strict rules at Chaldea have become more humane for us staff."
Ritsuka ignored the argument. He smiled.
"Director, please raise your head."
Ritsuka's voice was gentle yet firm, cutting through Olga's sobs.
"My status as Zelretch's disciple doesn't change the fact that I am here as Chaldea's Master. In my eyes, you are the leader we depend on. I respect your authority more than anyone."
Ritsuka looked straight into Olga's eyes. Slowly, he crouched down, bringing himself to her level. Without the slightest hesitation, he reached out, took both of Olga's violently trembling hands, and clasped them firmly in his warm grip.
"Director, please listen to me," Ritsuka said softly.
"You don't need to be a Master. You don't need to stand on the front lines. That is my role."
Ritsuka tightened his grip, pouring conviction into his words.
"Because you cannot fight, let me become your weapon. I will be the sword that cuts down your enemies, and the shield that protects your life. I will become your hands and feet to carry out your commands for the sake of protecting humanity."
He paused briefly, then continued,
"I will be your knight—one who will protect and guard you."
Ritsuka gave a moment for his words to sink in.
"So please… lead us. Give us your orders. I place my fate and my life entirely under your care, Director Olga Marie Animusphere."
Silence fell as everyone listened to the sincerity of that vow.
Fwiit~
A long whistle echoed from the water-like communicator.
"Wow… Ritsuka, you're quite the charmer. I bet that woman's fallen for you now," Koko teased.
"Hahahaha! Just as expected of my disciple!" Zelretch laughed proudly.
"Ritsuka, you should be careful. She comes from a noble family, so she probably has very strict rules for a partner," Kagaya advised with fatherly concern.
L remained silent, saying nothing, as if analyzing the situation.
Olga's eyes glistened as she looked at Ritsuka. The despair in her gaze slowly faded, replaced by a new light—like someone who had just found hope and purpose again.
With Ritsuka's help, Olga stood up. She quickly brushed the dirt from her clothes, trying to regain her dignity.
"F-fine! Since you're begging that much, then I'll do it!" she declared haltingly.
Olga immediately turned her back on Ritsuka, hiding her face. Still, everyone there could clearly see that her ears were burning red all the way down to her neck.
Ritsuka simply smiled at the tsundere reaction. Suddenly, he felt a tug on the back of his clothes.
"Brother, you're too kind to her. She insulted me earlier, you know," Rikka whispered jealously.
"Just forget it, Rikka. The Director has a sharp personality, but she's actually a good person," Ritsuka replied casually.
"Right, Mash?"
Mash, whose name was suddenly called, flinched.
"Eh? Y-yes, Senpai!" she answered reflexively.
Suddenly, a familiar voice broke into their conversation.
"Fou! Fou, kyuu!"
A small white-furred creature, about the size of a squirrel, leapt out from behind the rubble and charged straight at Ritsuka at high speed, as if it had found a long-lost friend.
BRUK!
The creature landed squarely on Ritsuka's face, clinging to it tightly with all four limbs.
"Ugh!" Ritsuka groaned, his vision buried in white fur.
"Hahahaha! Ritsuka, it looks like that animal really likes your face—it won't let go!" Koko burst out laughing.
"Eh? Is that a native animal from Ritsuka's world?" Kagaya asked curiously.
"It has a strange form… like a cross between a rabbit, a squirrel, and a dog," L analyzed.
"Gehhh… Damn it. So that creature finally showed up," Zelretch grumbled openly.
"I'm out. I'm not watching this anymore. Call me once that damn animal is gone."
Click.
Zelretch cut the connection unilaterally.
L raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it seems someone here has a dark past with that small animal," Koko commented with interest.
"What's with Zelretch? Did he get bitten by it or something?" Kagaya asked in confusion.
At the scene, Mash panicked when she saw her Senpai being attacked.
"Fou! What are you doing?! Let go of Senpai!"
"No! My brother's handsome face is being defiled!" Rikka cried hysterically, trying to pull the creature—called Fou—off her brother's face.
After a brief struggle, Fou finally released Ritsuka and ended up in Rikka's arms.
Ritsuka rubbed his face, then looked at the small creature. Instead of anger, a gentle smile appeared on his lips—a smile of reunion.
"Fou!" Ritsuka greeted cheerfully, extending his hand.
"Eh? Brother, you know about it too?" Rikka asked in surprise.
"Yes, I do. It's quite famous," Ritsuka replied ambiguously.
Ritsuka took Fou from Rikka and placed it on his shoulder. But instead of staying still, Fou climbed up onto Ritsuka's head and sat there comfortably, as if reclaiming its old throne.
Mash and Rikka froze at the sight. The interaction looked completely natural—like partners who had been together for years.
However, the peaceful moment didn't last long.
Olga, who had been facing away from them, suddenly turned around. Her face, which had been red from embarrassment earlier, was now pale with panic.
"KYAAAAH! W-what are you doing?!" Olga screamed, pointing behind Ritsuka.
"Behind you! Isn't that the enemy?! Battle formation, now!"
A group of living skeletons wielding rusted weapons emerged from the mist—this time more numerous, and much closer.
"When did they get this close…?!" Mash immediately raised her shield.
"Senpai, please give instructions!"
Ritsuka looked at the horde of monsters. Instead of retreating, he formed a thin smile. He walked over to Rikka, took Fou from his head, and handed it to his sister.
"Please look after him for a moment," Ritsuka said calmly.
"Eh? What? Wait—Brother, what are you going to do?" Rikka asked, confused, as she accepted Fou.
Ritsuka didn't answer. The magic circuits in his body glowed faintly as he once again assumed a solid, low stance.
"That stance… Bajiquan?" Olga murmured.
"Senpai! Leave them to me! You can protect Rikka Senpai and the Director from the rear!" Mash shouted, ready to charge.
Ritsuka shook his head slightly.
"No, Mash."
His gaze sharpened.
"This time, I won't hide behind you again. I'll fight alongside you."
"Ritsuka! You're a Master, not a fighter! You should be giving orders from the back—"
Olga's shout was cut short.
BOOM!
Ignoring Olga's protest, Ritsuka launched himself forward into the swarm of monsters with a single step that shattered the asphalt beneath his feet.