Whoosh—
A small spacecraft descended at the edge of the city.
Setsuna and Gudako jumped down from the ship. Several ahoge Kings came along with them.
They had all changed into casual clothes, brimming with curiosity about the human civilization of this era.
"Whoa—"
"It's all back."
"This is... the original world."
Outside Chaldea, Earth had once become a barren void. Every trace of civilization had been completely erased.
Now, human civilization had returned to its original worldline.
Before them stood a prosperous city.
Everything looked no different from twenty-first century human civilization.
Neon lights flickered. Traffic streamed endlessly.
Pedestrians hurried along the streets. Car horns, chatter, and the blare of outdoor advertisements rose and fell one after another.
Unlike ordinary Earths in other worlds, even though the Age of Gods had ended, this world still retained a certain degree of mysticism, controlled by a small number of magi hidden within society.
After the incineration of Human History was undone and rebuilt, a period of confusion had spread through human society.
Governments and ordinary citizens alike were desperate to understand what that "blank period of time" had been.
"It's nice—"
Gudako held Setsuna's hand as they strolled through the city, showing him the scenery she knew so well.
"Mm... It's nowhere near as good as the capital of the Starsea Empire. No cute little girls, no all-purpose Bulins, no angels who can do everything."
"It's just a place mixed with all sorts of strange people... but it was my home. Commander, I wanted to show you."
She could not quite explain why she felt compelled to do this.
From the perspective of the Starsea Empire, Earth seemed backward. Yet as her original world, it carried a certain sentimental weight.
"Feels like... she's changed a little?"
The ahoge Kings whispered among themselves behind them.
They noticed a subtle shift in Ritsuka Fujimaru's demeanor. She no longer seemed as prone to going off the rails as before.
"Look, it's here!"
When they reached the station plaza in the city center, Gudako pointed at the open space in front of them.
"Mm... Back then, Chaldea disguised itself as a blood donation van and tricked me into getting an aptitude test."
"And then... they recommended me to Chaldea. The staff member who fooled me even got a bonus to buy a car."
She recalled how she had been lured into Chaldea.
"Looking back, I guess I should thank him...?"
Pfft—
Setsuna nearly burst out laughing.
Gudako led him wandering aimlessly through the city.
After saving Human History, she simply wanted to see the results of her efforts and relax for a while.
"Oh, right. I know a buffet that's pretty good. Cheap and worth it. I used to eat there a lot before going to Chaldea."
"It's perfect for us!"
She tugged Setsuna along through twists and turns until they arrived at a rather large restaurant and took their seats together.
"This place is open all day. Regular meals during the day, late-night snacks at night."
"Buffet... what does that mean?"
Alter asked.
"You pay per person and eat as much as you want."
"Really?!"
The ahoge Kings looked around eagerly, itching to begin.
The owner glanced at Setsuna surrounded by Alter, Saber, Lancer, and the rest of the beautiful girls, quietly amused.
One guy bringing this many girls to a buffet was basically handing over free money.
Gudako merely smiled.
One hour later.
He nearly dropped to his knees in front of the ahoge Kings.
"I beg you, please show mercy and let me go. Go to the restaurant across the street instead?!..."
"No. Since we have paid, we must honor the contract."
The King of Knights refused solemnly, stacking plates into a tower taller than a person.
"However, we will consider your proposal. More importantly, proprietor, when will the late-night menu begin?"
"Hm? Three hours? That is acceptable. We can continue eating in the meantime."
"..."
"...Do you have a grudge against that other restaurant's owner?"
Setsuna could not quite follow.
"I just wanted to find somewhere to settle them down. A buffet is perfect, isn't it?"
"If the ahoge King is happy, then we're happy too, right...?"
Gudako whistled and clung to Setsuna's arm.
After arranging for the ahoge Kings, it became a world for just the two of them.
They continued walking, passing through narrow alleys until Gudako stopped in front of an apartment building.
She tilted her head back, lost in memory.
"Mm... I used to live here. Commander, want to take a look?"
She led the way.
Relying on memory, she found her small apartment.
Pushing the door open revealed a typical single-room apartment common in island nations. It looked exactly as it had when Ritsuka Fujimaru left.
The room was generally tidy.
Clothes and books lay scattered across the desk and bed.
It was clear the owner had left in a hurry, never imagining she would go on to shoulder the responsibility of saving the world.
"Ah..."
Returning to a familiar place filled Gudako with emotion.
She dusted things off and tidied the scattered items.
"It's nowhere near as nice as where we live in the Starsea Empire, but this is where I used to study and live. Commander, this is me."
"Just an ordinary high school girl... Though why is it always high schoolers who have to save the world?!"
She laid bare this side of herself before Setsuna.
Not Chaldea's Master, but an ordinary girl—Ritsuka Fujimaru.
"Have a seat."
Gudako rummaged through the fridge for a while, rinsed a cup, and poured him a drink.
"I don't have much to offer you... Anyway, it's not expired. Probably."
"...If you want something to eat, I can just create it."
"That's different!"
Gudako protested.
"Isn't there that mouth-chewed sake made by beautiful girls? Would it be the same if you just created it yourself? Which would you rather drink?"
"..."
Setsuna did not quite grasp the connection.
"I have more confidence in the taste of what I make myself."
"What if it's made by a pretty shrine maiden at a shrine?"
"Hm? You mean Mitsuha? ...That would be fine."
"Wait here. I'll make it for you in a bit."
"No need."
"—Are you looking down on me?!"
They bantered back and forth.
From Gudako's past life to plans for the future.
When it came to verbal sparring, Gudako was one of the rare few who could keep up with Setsuna. Their thought processes were astonishingly in sync.
"Ah... Chaldea's definitely going to have a ton of work later. Just leave it to Doctor Roman. He's best at handling that messy stuff."
Gudako yawned.
"Like you said, we can even go check out the Lostbelts. Ugh, another thrilling adventure."
"..."
Setsuna felt something subtle.
It was the first time he had seen Gudako this lively and proactive. Perhaps after restoring Human History, she had finally relaxed.
Even if more challenges awaited, at least one monumental task had been completed.
"..."
Before they knew it.
Night had fallen.
The bustling city outside the window gradually quieted, replaced by a tranquil starry sky and distant scattered lights.
Setsuna glanced at the time and prepared to stand.
"Alright. I've accompanied you reminiscing and wandering around all day. Should we head back?"
"Mm..."
"Wait."
Gudako tugged at his clothes.
She looked up, speaking somewhat shyly.
"Commander, um... how about we stay here tonight?"
"Hm?"
Setsuna laughed.
"You want me to squeeze into this little apartment with you? To relive your past? ..."
"Mm..."
Gudako puffed out her cheeks.
"It's small, and the bathroom only fits one person. It can't compare to the ship or the capital at all..."
"But this is my home. A girl is asking you to stay over! Commander, are you really going to refuse even that?"
She seemed to muster enormous courage, a faint blush spreading across her face.
"Alright."
Setsuna nodded with a smile.
"But this is a single room... So do I sleep on the sofa or the floor?"
"Hey?! As if!"
Gudako stomped her foot.
"Oh right! There's one more thing..."
"Um, do you remember what I said at the Grand Temple of Time before I went to fight Goetia?"
Thump—
Setsuna flicked her forehead.
"You mean the flag you raised? Don't go around raising flags for no reason. You almost didn't make it back."
"And don't randomly activate EVA again. That thing's dangerous for you."
"But I won in the end..."
Gudako muttered while holding her head.
After hesitating for a moment, she took a deep breath.
"Now. Now! It has to be now... If we go back, I won't get another chance..."
She encouraged herself.
From her bag, she pulled out an exquisitely wrapped gift box and held it out to Setsuna with both hands.
"Commander, I've wanted to give this to you for a long time... I just never had the chance. Hmph... Who told you to have so many girls around you?!"
"I wanted to wait until we finished saving Human History and Chaldea settled down... ahem."
"Anyway, please take care of me for the rest of my life! ...Ah no, I don't think I can die. Then please take care of me from now on!!"
She expressed her feelings somewhat flustered.
Though she usually seemed a bit unreliable, at this moment she was uncharacteristically shy.
Carefully, with a hint of unease, she lifted her eyes to look at him.
"Mm..."
Setsuna had always felt that getting along with Gudako was like being with a good brother. Today, he suddenly realized that when she quieted down and blushed, she was actually quite adorable.
After spending so long together, they were practically in perfect sync. He only needed to say half a sentence for Gudako to know the rest. They had not even needed the usual process of nurturing feelings.
"Say something... Don't just leave me hanging here..."
Gudako muttered softly, head lowered.
"Alright."
Setsuna accepted the gift, pulled her into his arms, and gently lifted her chin.
"Mm..."
This time, the girl did not flee with a red face. Instead, she rose onto her toes and met him halfway.
"..."
"Commander, I've always lived alone. There's only one quilt and one pillow at home."
"So... you have to hold me tight."
...
"Mm..."
After getting her wish fulfilled, Gudako slept until she woke naturally in her small apartment.
Only when sunlight filtered through the window and spilled across the room did she reluctantly lift herself from Setsuna's embrace.
A space that had once only been enough for one person to live and rest in now felt slightly cramped.
Yet for the two of them, it was just right.
The somewhat crowded single bed had given her the perfect excuse.
"Commander, are you awake?"
Gudako quietly poked Setsuna.
"No."
He answered with his eyes closed.
"Oh? Then I'm going to draw a turtle on your face."
The girl extended her slender fingers and casually traced a few lines across his cheek.
Looking around at the familiar room, she sat on the bed hugging the quilt and suddenly let out a silly giggle.
"What are you grinning about?"
Setsuna flicked her forehead.
"Nothing..."
"I was just thinking—we met so early. Why did we have to wait until now?"
"Obviously, I was here first! Whether it was meeting you or arriving at the Starsea Empire..."
Thump—
She was flicked again.
"No white academic debates allowed."
"And weren't you the one who kept running away at the critical moments?"
Despite her usual carefree attitude, when things truly reached a decisive point, Gudako was actually quite shy—far less straightforward than certain shipgirls who would never back down once they made up their minds.
"Ugh..."
The girl thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"Forget it. Back in school, I used to fantasize about what kind of boyfriend I'd find someday..."
"Oh?"
Setsuna listened with interest as she rambled on.
"You know, the typical high school girl fantasies. Handsome, a little taller. If he's strong and has some special skill or talent, even better..."
"And who would've guessed I'd end up going to Chaldea to become a Master? Geez... Though Commander, you exceeded my expectations by about five thousand percent."
"Other girls only dare to dream about some foreign prince or corporate CEO. You're several tiers above that."
"When others go driving for fun, you can take me out in a spaceship. Mm."
Pfft—
Setsuna realized that Gudako actually had quite a girlish side. At her core, she was still an ordinary girl.
Seeing that it was about time, Gudako yawned and hopped out of bed.
She slipped on her shirt and coat. Even in winter, she insisted on wearing thin black tights with a short skirt, showing off the vibrant youthfulness of a young girl.
After all, she had undergone super-enhancement surgery. Extreme cold no longer affected her in the slightest. She could dress entirely according to preference.
"Mm, Commander, the bed looks cracked. It's your fault. Compensate me."
Gudako glanced down.
"Oh."
Setsuna reconstructed it with the Authority of Reason.
"That's cheating!"
She bantered with him for a few more moments before finishing up washing.
Standing before the mirror by the window, she combed her orange-red hair, tying it into a single side ponytail with a hair tie, then adjusted her clothes.
Humming a cheerful tune, she carefully tidied herself up.
"..."
Setsuna found her adorable when she was quiet.
There was none of her usual offbeat or mischievous demeanor.
Anyone looking at her now would think she was the childhood friend next door who knocked on your door at eight in the morning to wake you up for breakfast.
"This is nice."
He sighed softly.
Perhaps their relationship had been slightly misaligned before. He had nearly treated Gudako like a good brother.
"Mm..."
Gudako opened the window to let in some fresh air, allowing more of the winter sunlight to pour into the room.
"Okay, all done!"
She regained her energetic expression, planted her hands on her hips, and stood in front of Setsuna.
"Commander, time to get up!"
"Let's go catch some jellyfish... oh wait, I mean, let's grab a few aliens and roast them!"
...
Vrrr—
The spacecraft took off once more, picking up the ahoge Kings who were still feasting at the buffet.
After touring the reborn human civilization for a while, they returned to Chaldea.
"Master, this era is quite excellent."
Alter sat in the main control room, clutching a family-sized bucket of fried chicken and eating heartily.
"Human civilization does possess many admirable qualities. The invention of paying once to eat unlimited food is a great advancement for society."
"...The owner had no objections?"
"None."
Alter patted the holy sword at her waist.
The ahoge Kings were full of praise for modern human food. Only the King of Knights and the Lion King remained unimpressed.
"When we return to the Starsea Empire, I'll broaden your horizons. Over there, meals don't cost money at all..."
"..."
Setsuna discovered that the ahoge Kings were surprisingly easy to win over. Once one or two were settled, food-based bonds could handle the rest.
Alter, Saber, Lancer Alter, and Caster gathered together for a harmonious feast.
Only the Blanket King glanced at the Lion King and Lancer Alter and couldn't help feeling that their figures were on an entirely different scale from hers.
Lancer was comparable to shipgirls. She herself was utterly unremarkable.
All forged from the same stone sword.
"Ah, when we get back later, we should say goodbye to Doctor Roman, right?"
Gudako said casually.
"Now that Human History has been restored, we should at least have some peace for a while."
"If anything weird happens again, they can just call us... Mm, anyway, Doctor Roman can handle the daily stuff."
"Oh right, I remember Chaldea still has the remaining Masters? There were forty-eight in total. In the end, I was the only one left to save the world. The others were cryogenically frozen, right...?"
Chaldea had prepared forty-eight prospective Masters. After Lev's explosion, only Gudako remained active. The others had been frozen in storage.
With Human History restored, those preserved Masters would begin to thaw.
"So many things to deal with ahhhhhhh!!!—"
Ritsuka Fujimaru suddenly realized that postwar cleanup was a massive headache.
Whoosh—
As they returned to Chaldea,
They immediately sensed the air pressure drop by several degrees in the main hall.
A solemn atmosphere hung everywhere. Every staff member wore a grave expression, as if facing a formidable enemy.
In the conference room, representatives from the Mage's Association and various organizations filled the seats, engaged in intense discussion with Roman.
"The Clock Tower has arrived."
A staff member whispered.
"That fast?!"
Gudako quietly tugged at Setsuna.
It was obvious that the Mage's Association was paying very close attention to Chaldea.
Roman's expression was serious as he held a stack of documents, explaining the situation to the delegates as if delivering a formal report.
"In the year 2016, Chaldea detected an anomaly in CHALDEAS. Within the Earth simulation one hundred years into the future, we observed the extinction of civilization and the disappearance of humanity."
"Chaldea hypothesized that the cause of this abnormality lay in Fuyuki in 2004 and decided to conduct a Spiritron Transfer experiment."
"However, including the originally prepared candidates, forty-seven Masters were annihilated due to sabotage."
"Only one—an unofficially registered candidate, the forty-eighth prospective Master, Ritsuka Fujimaru—successfully performed Spiritron Transfer and became the final Master, embarking on the mission to restore Human History."
"Chaldea cooperated with Mr. Setsuna to correct the seven Singularities, identify the Final Singularity, defeat the Demon God King responsible for the incineration of Human History, and fully restore human history..."
"That concludes Chaldea's full report."
He did his best to explain every action Chaldea had taken.
At its core, Chaldea was a magus workshop funded by various nations and the Mage's Association, combining the functions of research institute and observatory.
To them, the Mage's Association was effectively a superior authority, overseeing Chaldea's activities.
"Additionally, former Director Olga Marie unfortunately perished during the attack. Therefore, I have temporarily assumed the position of Acting Director."
"...Ah, they've returned."
Upon seeing Gudako, Roman waved.
"Tch—"
A few years ago, Gudako would have shown great respect toward Mage's Association inspectors.
Now, however, she had no fondness whatsoever for people who came knocking to cause trouble.
"Mm..."
"Ritsuka Fujimaru, in recognition of your achievement in restoring Human History, the Mage's Association will soon confer upon you a rank title."
Roman said.
"Mm... Based on your magecraft proficiency, you should qualify for the rank of Cause."
Different ranks symbolized the Mage's Association's recognition of a magus' accomplishments. From highest to lowest: Grand, Brand, Pride, Fes, Cause, Count, Frame.
Cause was neither particularly high nor low. To ascend further required significant achievements in the field of magecraft.
As for Grand, only a handful existed.
"And this is the assistant you mentioned?"
A magus noticed Setsuna.
"Are you also a magus? From which family? Hm... Your name does not appear in the Association's registry."
"We will need to conduct a background investigation. Additionally, after evaluating your qualifications, we will assign you an appropriate rank as well..."
His tone carried the arrogance of a superior addressing a subordinate.
The Mage's Association held oversight and disciplinary authority over Chaldea. Though magi lived hidden within society, their internal circles were rigidly hierarchical.
Noble lineages and prestigious houses looked down upon ordinary people.
"Heh."
Gudako snorted, utterly uninterested in any rank.
Tilting her head, she looked at the delegation from the Clock Tower.
"And you think you're qualified?"
"Honestly, I think the Mage's Association might be a little too urbanized."