Chapter 7: Hollow Trust

In the beginning, there was no light, only an infinite amount of darkness.

"She" as a being didn't exist yet.

"She" didn't have a body or a mind yet, "she" was only a cluster of variables, of positives and negatives. Not a being, but an arrangement of alternating electric currents.

But suddenly and without warning, her form began to take shape, and she started learning things, words, concepts.

Ships, humans, humanity, wisdom cubes, weapons, royal navy, artillery, maids, sirens. The information was so vast that her inexperienced mind was quickly overwhelmed.

Her confusion only got worst as the first vestiges of colors started to be capture by her eyes, eyes that had never see the light of the day before were blinded by the potent white light bulbs hanging from the ceiling.

Before her eyes could get accustomed to that new stimulus, another strange new feeling shocked her brain. She began to feel something pressing every part of her body, touching her extremities one by one. It wasn't a gentle touch; instead, it was quite rushed and violent.

She didn't like that.

Her eyes gradually began to properly work, and the pool of random colors started to take on forms. The most predominant of them were white; there were large white forms around her, touching every inch of her being.

She really didn't like it, no one bit. She wanted them to stop, but she didn't even know how to communicate with them, nor did she have the strength to stop them.

So she resigned herself to her fate. She wasn't even a complete being, to begin with, she didn't have wishes, ambitions, or objectives. So why even care?

However, another one of her senses was put to work before she could abandon her sense of being.

She heard something, for the first time in her life, a sound reached her ears.

"Re…"

It wasn't a proper word, and it was barely audible. However, she couldn't ignore it.

"Re…re…"

It sounded familiar, but how can it be familiar? She hadn't existed for more than a couple of seconds, so why did she know that voice?

"Releas…"

She couldn't contain herself. She ignored the figures in white that still covered most of her field of view, and began to search for the source of the voice.

"Release."

And she found it.

It was a naked girl, her stature was short and her long hair was blond. She also was being surrounded by the same white figures.

It was the same as her. They were the same.

"Release me."

No, that was incorrect.

"Release me, now!"

They weren't the same; she was destined to stand on top, someone who had to bear the responsibility of commanding a country and its people. Someone who will make decisions that would change the entire world.

"Release me now! It's an order!"

Someone who shouldn't be touched by such filthy hands.

With a violent move, she pushed aside the white figures that surround her.

And at that precise moment, she felt something hard and metallic appearing on her right hand. It was also the first time she had felt something like that, but she didn't need to see it to know what it was or how it was used.

It was a gun, and it was used to exterminate those white things.

I slowly opened my eyes, only to close them again after being blinded by the bright light of the day.

I wanted to turn around and go back to sleep peacefully.

"Ahh…"

However, the pain on my back indicated very clearly that I was not in my comfortable bed.

I forced my eyes to fight the brightness of the day and looked around. I found the familiar sight of my apartment, but I wasn't in my bedroom like I should, no, I was sitting in a chair, in the living room.

"…Why?"

Why did I sleep here? Did I feel asleep without reali-

My train of thought suddenly stopped as I noticed I was not alone. A person, more precisely a woman in a maid uniform, was just in front of me, watching me with a tired stare.

"Have you finally woken up? It's noon already, pest."

I instantly threw myself back, throwing the chair to the floor and almost falling along with it.

"What the fuck are you doing in my house!?"

"You brought me here."

"I brought you-!?" Memories of the night before started to flow in my brain, as my past actions suddenly made me crash into reality. "Arghhh…of course, I brought you here." I facepalmed hard.

"Do you always forget about what you did yesterday or only when it's convenient for you?"

"Leave me alone, I am not good if I don't sleep at least six hours uninterrupted." I started to rub my eyes to get rid of the crusting on my eyes."Wait, why are you speaking as if we were old friends, didn't you have a mission to interrogate me or something?"

"…"

The maid didn't say anything, but she clearly looked angry.

"…I will take your silence as confirmation that you still hate my guts." I said that and went to the bathroom.

It might be because I was still half asleep, but the situation didn't make any sense.

I thought that when she woke up, we would start fighting again, and I would have to convince her to hear me out. Instead, she seemed calm, or rather, she was forcing herself to remain calm.

What the hell happened in those four or five hours I was asleep?

I turned the faucet and started washing my face in the hope that if I finally woke up completely, the situation would begin to make more sense.

However, as I opened my eyes, I found her face reflected in the bathroom mirror.

"You will have to come with me."

"Jesus!" I got spooked again. "You are doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

Then, the impossible happened.

"You are far too wimpy for someone who faced a Siren alone." She said as a small smile appeared on her face.

"…so you can smile after all."

Another expression this time: shock. She even brought her hand to her face, as if inspecting if there was something wrong with herself.

"You must be imagining things." She obviously denied it, her smile disappeared, and the usual deadpan face returned.

"Sure." I left the bathroom, feeling a weird sense of victory, and went towards the kitchen.

"Don't run." I was followed by the tireless maid.

"I am not running, I am waiting for you to explain anything to me." I opened the fridge, only to realize it was almost empty. Tea it is, then. "But I am also at my house. So don't blame me if I try to follow my usual routine, to at least try to have some kind of normalcy."

I reached for a teabag on the top shelf above my head and then started filling a teapot with water.

"You aren't capable of being normal, not after what you have done."

"…"

My hands stopped, and the water began to overflow the teapot.

I know that she didn't mean it; she couldn't possibly know what happened in Chaldea. However, that doesn't mean her words didn't hit a bit too close to home.

"…what do you want from me?" I looked back at her; this time, my voice had a serious tone.

"It pains me to say it, but it seems you are not totally useless. That's why; her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has requested your presence." She said such a thing without batting an eye.

"…come again?"

"You heard me, don't make me repeat myself."

"But…Queen Elizabeth… as the Queen of this country?

"Yes."

"…"

I was utterly dumbfounded. I didn't know what I expected, but it was certainly not this.

"So even the government is involved…" I couldn't escape from the shock. "I should have known, those Sirens aren't just your everyday threat…"

"Have you finally understood the magnitude of this conflict?"

"More or less." Having barely digested that new information, I went back to making my tea. "So I take you are part of a secret organization that fights against those Sirens?"

"…you seem to understand things too quickly for someone who says he doesn't know anything." She commented, doubtful.

"Well, it's not my first time." I whispered as I put the water to boil.

"What?

"Nothing." I should be careful around her; there some things that don't need to be said. "So you are so kind of superhuman soldier or something?"

"Human?" She repeated, but with some kind of repulsion. "I am nothing like that."

"Well, you sure look like one." I turned around to face her again as I waited for the water to boil. "Then what are you, if you allow me to ask?"

"We are weapons."

"Weapons?"

"Human-made weapons, created with the purpose of protecting humanity from the threat of the Sirens."

So they are human-like beings that surpass humanity in strength and speed, but that for some reason follow human orders too.

That doesn't sound familiar at all.

"As for the reason we have a humanoid appearance." She continued. "You will have to ask our creators." That last sentence was spoken with disgust. It was clear that this "weapon" didn't like much the ones she had to protect.

"Your creators, huh? They must be either too old-fashioned." I turned off the fire and took the hot teapot with a folded napkin."Or perverts to make you dress like that."

Her immediate response was to put a pistol in my forehead.

"This is the uniform of the Royal Maids." Her words were far more forceful this time, even while maintaining a somewhat neutral expression, she managed to sound angry. "A representation of the oath we took when we joined the Royal Navy, our loyalty, and our conviction to serve the Queen to the very end."

I stared at her for a couple of seconds, a bit surprised by her reaction. Her fierce gaze told me that I had touched a delicate subject.

"…sorry, it was a joke."I apologize, not breaking eye contact. "I didn't mean to ridicule something you hold dear."

It seems like that apology caught her off guard because once again, she wore an expression of disbelief.

"Something I hold dear…" She lowered the weapon as she said those words.

"I, too, have things that I consider precious." I continued talking; in the hope of lighten up the mood. "So, I understand how you feel."

" That's wrong."

"Hmm?"

"A weapon… does not need to hold something dear." Her words had a tone of confusion, as she herself didn't believe what she was saying.

"Ah…I see." Those words didn't match her previous reaction, she was clearly contradicting herself.

I chuckled.

"What's so funny?" She wasn't amused.

"Nothing." I continued talking, while I took a couple of cups and started pouring tea in them. "You don't need to be ashamed of having something important for you. If you do have emotions, then it's probably unavoidable that you would find things you like more than others, even as a weapon."

"I am not…"

I put a cup in front of her.

"…"

And our conversation suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong? You don't like tea? Or is it that your kind can't drink things?" She was looking at the cup as if it was the weirdest thing ever.

"Why are you giving me this?"

"For you to drink it?"

"I am asking why you want me to drink it. Is it poisoned? Did you tamper with the tea in some way?"

"…No?" Now it was my turn to be confused. "I just prepared it for me, so I thought you may like some?"

"Why?"

"…to be a good host? I don't know. Don't make it difficult for me, if you don't like want it, then just leave it there." A brought my own cup to my lips.

She stared at me unconvinced, then at her cup, then back at me. After repeating this process for a couple of seconds, she finally took the cup on her hands and drank.

"Arg." Her reaction wasn't a pleasant one.

"Well, I guess you don't like tea after all."

"Tea? Do you call this tea?"

"Last time I checked it was tea."

"It tastes horrible." She drank some more. "Truly, you can't even do this right, pest."

"And you can? Is making tea one of your abilities as a weapon?"

She suddenly stood up, looking fired up.

"You'll see."

Then she entered the small space of the kitchen and started looking around the shelves, probably searching for utensils that I don't have.

I chucked. It was actually good to know that she wasn't some kind of emotionless robot. Even if she said she is a weapon, it's challenging to look at her like that.

Or maybe it just me, I could never see my Servants like that either. They had their goals, they liked things and disliked others, they got along with others just fine or hated them to death. How could I see them as just a cumulus of mana if they felt so real?

Maybe she is the same.

"Do you have a name, weapon?" I asked.

"Sheffield." She said, not stopping to look at me and continuing her labor.

"Ritsuka." I drank more of my "horrible" tea. "It's nice to meet you, Sheffield."

"That's all I have to report, sir." Marcia finished her report and waited patiently for her superior to respond.

The burly man in front of her was sitting behind a desk a bit too small for him, tiredly looking at some papers, which seemed to bear no difference with the stacks piling up on his desk.

He wore a black military uniform similar to the one Marcia had, only differentiated by the presence of a few badges and a different insignia on its shoulder. The black cap that completed the uniform was absent, showing a shaved head.

"Haydes." He started, his fierce stare was only worsened by bags under his eyes. "Are you telling me that you lost one of the Prototypes?"

"Yes, sir. I let her go knowing that something like this could happen, I have no excuse." Marcia braced herself for the inevitable reprimand.

"…"

The man took a deep breath, as a clear expression of exhaustion appeared on his face.

"What are you waiting for then? Go look for it now." The man said, in tone unexpectedly calm for the current state of affairs.

"S-sir?" The Commander was clearly confused. She had expected a 30 minutes long rant about how useless she was and how vital the prototypes were to simply lose one like that.

"Go. Look. For. It. Do you need me to spell it for you, Commander?"

"No, Sir!" Marcia responded. "However, as I stated in my report, a search party had already been deployed and working since last night."

"That's not nearly enough." He threw the report on his desk." Send the entire regiment posted in the laboratories."

"But sir, if we do that, we would be vulnerable if…"

"If the other prototypes tried to escape? For the love of God, Haydes!" He stood up and hit the desk with both hands, the stacks of papers trembled. "You know as well as me that if they really wanted to escape, then mere soldiers with guns wouldn't be enough to stop them. If they are still in the laboratories, it is because they have a reason to remain there."

He walked toward her and began to speak more quietly.

"Or have you forgotten why you were put in charge? There is nothing in your report about prototype 01 after all these months. Are you actually working on getting the information we asked for, Haydes?"

"I…haven't forgotten about my mission, however the Sirens…."

"The Sirens are under control, which is hardly true for our own weapons." He frowned. "Or should I remind you about the 02 incident?"

"No, sir. I remember it well."

"Then move your ass at once and mobilize the people in the laboratories! I don't care if they are soldiers, scientists, or the fucking janitor; send them to search for the missing prototype, now!"

"Yes, Sir!" She said, and quickly left the Admiral's office.

Once she had left, and the Admiral was left alone in his office, he took a cigar box from his breast pocket and withdrew a cigarette, smoke prohibition be dammed.

After lighting it and getting his dose of nicotine, he quietly stared at the mountain of papers in his desk.

"….!"

Suddenly, he hit the desk with all the force he could muster, the stacks of papers suddenly flew around him, and fell inevitable on the floor.

"Bitch." He said to himself, a vein almost popping out of his forehead. "You aren't the one whose head will roll if that thing doesn't appear soon."

Marcia left the military base and was about to return to the laboratories when she spotted a figure on the other side of the street. She couldn't miss her, not when her maid uniform was so noticeable.

She quickly approached her.

"What are you doing here, Belfast?" She asked, a bit on edge.

"Good day, Commander." The maid nodded. "How did it go?"

"I asked you a question, what are you doing outside the laboratories?"

"Don't worry, I have permission." She showed her a small electronic device pinned to her clothes. "They are hearing us right now to confirm that I don't venture too far."

It was true, due to her successful repelling of various Siren's incursions on the sea. Belfast had gained some degree of freedom to move outside the base as long as she doesn't go far, and they can pinpoint her location at any moment.

"They should have informed me first, though. What were they thinking….?"

"I am guessing most of the personnel is in turmoil because of Sheffield's disappearance."

"Did they find anything?"

"No, and that's precisely why they allow me to come to meet you. I would like to join the search forces, Commander."

"…"

Marcia had already thought about asking for her help. As long as they did it at night, she can cover more territory than dozens of them in little time.

"Before I give you permission, I have to ask you something."

However, something had been bothering her since she wrote her report a few hours ago.

"If it is within my knowledge, I'll be glad to answer."

"Alright, then." She looked directly at her. "Who is "the man of the shield"?"

At that moment, Belfast's regular neutral expression crumbled.

"I-I am not sure what you are referring to, Commander?"

That was a lie.

Belfast doesn't usually lie to her, so it was easy to know when she actually did it.

Her subordinates informed her that prototype 02, Elizabeth, had rambled about this "man of shield" the other night. She had purposely hidden this to the Admiral. In part because she didn't want to stress him more than he already was, and in part, because she didn't have enough information to assess the nature of this person.

But now she had a confirmation, Belfast knew about this mysterious man.

"Your Queen was screaming about some man of the shield last night. I take that you know what she is referring to?"

"N-no, sorry. I have no idea what she means." Belfast seemed extremely agitated.

"…If you don't want to tell me, then it can't force you." She said drily and started to walk towards her car.

"Commander!" Belfast stopped her. "I really don't know anything about that." She repeated, but this time, she pointed again at the electronic device on her clothes. "That's the truth."

After a few seconds of confusion, Marcia understood what she meant.

"…I see, just wanting to be sure." She dropped the issue; she will have to find some other time to ask her, one when no one is listening. "Let's return to the base, for now, I'll drop a few things there, and we can resume the search for Sheffield."

She still didn't know if she can fully trust the maid, but she really hoped that whatever she had to say would help her decide.

"Understood, Commander." Belfast said and followed behind her.

However, just as she was about to get into Marcia's car, she took one last look at the large military base behind her.

And her eyes narrowed.

"And?" She looked at me, fiercely.

"…." I lowered the cup of tea and looked at it for a couple of seconds.

How?

This was just normal, supermarket tea, and not even the good quality one; I brought it because it was on discount. How did she manage to make it taste this good? I didn't see her do anything different or unique with it.

"Well, it's alright, I guess."

"Just alright?" She asked, doubtful.

"I mean, it's tea. It tastes like tea. Nothing more, nothing less. " I tried to hide the fact that my own tea tasted like dirty water compared to this.

"I should have known that you would have no taste for things like this, pest." She commented, resigned, as she tried to take the cup from my hands.

I quickly move it out of her reach.

"Wait; let me try a bit more, maybe I will understand if I keep drinking." I said; as I drank more of that rich tea.

She looked at me as if I were a disappointment to the human race, but ultimately didn't say anything.

So we remained like that for a while, I secretly enjoyed my tea while she watched me with a strange interest.

Naturally, after a couple of minutes, it started to feel a bit awkward; she kept looking at me without moving a single muscle.

Which reminds me…

"Hey, how long were you awake while I slept in the chair?

"I didn't sleep."

"Eh?"

"I regained consciousness just when you were breaking the lock to enter the building."

"But then….why didn't you say anything?"

"Would you have done that in my position?"

"…fair enough." I drank more tea.

"I used that time to search around the apartment."

I almost spit my drink.

"You did what!?"

"Unfortunately, apart from the lack of proper cleaning, I didn't find anything incriminating."

I release a deep breath.

"Of course, I am just a teacher, you know? You won't found anything weird here besides my students' homework."

I don't even have a proper workshop like most magi do, really the only thing out of place here is…

"That shield, however." She continued as if reading my mind. "It's something I have never seen before. Sturdy enough to defend against a Siren attack, but also light, to the point a hu-" She stopped for a second, as if she had made a mistake. "To the point, you could wield it with one hand."

I didn't miss that remark.

"If you are accusing me of something, then at least say it clearly so I can defend myself."

"Very well. The truth is that you aren't human, are you?"

"Pffff..." I couldn't contain myself, and from my mouth came an explosive laugh.

Sheffield, on the other hand, wasn't amused at all.

"Hahaha, sorry." I tried to stop my laugh. "It's just that you say so seriously…hahahaha."

"It's no use denying it." She gave me a dead stare. "I saw you fight with the Siren, a normal human can't reach the speed or strength you showed there."

"Hahaha, it's alright. I guess it's a natural conclusion to reach." I finally manage to stop my laugh. "But don't worry, I was born human, and I am still human."

Probably will die human too.

"That doesn't explain how you were able to fight a Siren."

"Well." I allowed myself a small smile. "You aren't the only one who has secrets." I once again brought my cup to my lips, only to find that it was empty. "Hmm? Do you have more tea?"

She was about to retort when suddenly an expression of surprise appeared on her face.

"Yes, I am here." She said, but not to me, as she stood up and walked towards the window. "How long do we have?" It seemed that she was speaking to someone in her head.

I was about to ask what she was talking about when I heard someone knocking the door with force, which was followed by a scream.

"It's the police! Ritsuka Fujimaru, are you there!?"

I looked at Sheffield.

Sheffield looked at me.

"Who…?"

"Shhhhhh." I quickly silenced her, as I approached to whisper. "It's the police! To think that they would actually come…"

"What are you waiting for then? Make them go away."

"But what if they want to come in for whatever reason? Could it be that they found something about me…?" I started looking around my apartment. "They can't see you here, hide!"

"We don't have time for that." Sheffield didn't seem to mind the policeman shouting outside the house. "I was instructed to bring you to the Queen now."

"What!? I am not running away from the police! Much less to go who knows where to meet a Queen!"

"To a subterranean military lab."

"What? This is not time to joke around!"

"I don't joke around." She was indeed, completely serious.

"….good, now I have a reason not to go."

I am not getting anywhere close to a closed space where I could potentially be locked in.

"I don't care if you want to or not, the Queen gave me an order, and I am going to fulfill it."

"Oh no, you aren't going to mess my life more than you already have." I turned around and try to reach the door. "I am going to open that door, so hide or get out of here!"

She appeared in front of me, blocking my path.

"No, you won't."

"Yes, I am!" I tried to forcefully get her out of my way.

Unfortunately for me, due to these hours that I have more or less peacefully talked with her or maybe because I was in a hurry to open the door. I had forgotten that she was, in fact, stronger than me.

She took my hand, and with a single move, I was already on the floor.

"You aren't going anywhere but with me." She made sure to lock my right arm behind me and put all her weight in my back, leaving me no room to escape.

"Maid…!"

You leave me no choice then. I quickly intoned my aria of reinforcement.

"What are you mumbling-?"

She didn't get to finish talking, as the arm that she was holding so tightly began to glow green. With my newfound strength, I manage to break her hold and get her away from me.

"Those lines…" She made her guns appear on her hands. Was a fight between us inevitable?

"Ritsuka Fujimaru! I am coming in!" The policeman shouted as I stood up. "One."

He started counting.

"Two."

We looked at each other again.

"Three!"

"Good day, officer!" I manage to open just before the policeman could knock the door down. "What seems to be the probl-"

"Mr. Fujimaru!" I was interrupted by the voice of a woman. "Thank god! I thought something horrible had happened to you!" She made an attempt to enter the house to hug me, but I hold the door half-open with force, stopping her.

This woman, Mrs. Nasby, was one of my neighbors. She was one of those stereotypical middle age women that seem to have too much time on their hand, and the only way they could normally escape from the boredom of the routine was talking about other people, usually behind their backs.

I couldn't say that I got along very well with her, and while I appreciated her concern about my safety, my arm was still covered in glowing green lines behind the door, so entering the house was a big no.

"I am fine, thank you." I looked back at the policeman. "What happened, officer?"

"Are you Fujimaru Ritsuka?"

"I am."

"Why didn't you come when I called you?"

"Ah…well, I am a heavy sleeper you see, and on the weekend I tend to wake up a bit later than usual, you caught me still half asleep." I came up with the quickest excuse I could find.

"I see." The man didn't look convinced for some reason. "Anyway, sir, are you aware that your door is broken?"

"My door is broken…? Woah! I didn't notice! When did this happen?"

Man, I suck at lying.

"The front door was also forced open, and one of the windows in the corridor was broken too. Did you happen to hear something last night? It's possible that burglars entered your apartment."

"Eh…no, sorry. As I said, I am a heavy sleeper. I could probably remain sleep even if someone did enter."

"I keep telling him, Mr. Fujimaru." Mrs. Nasby interceded. "I have talked with everyone on this floor and no one heard a thing last night! Everyone, myself included, slept like babies."

"Nobody heard anything…?"

I am pretty sure the drones weren't doing that much noise, but me breaking the window definitely must have awakened someone. Was I just lucky?

"You sure nothing is wrong, sir?" The policeman still looked doubtful. Was he thinking that I was hiding the criminals in my house or something…? Although, I was the one who broke those things, so maybe that's technically correct.

"Yeah, don't worry, everything is alright."

"Ok. I will still recommend that you check your belongings sir, in case something of value was stolen. I'll be visiting the rest of the neighbors if you want to file a report later."

With a nod, and a "have a good day" the policeman left, leaving Mrs. Nasby and me alone.

"Well, I'll better do what the officer told me. Good d…"

"Ah, wait a minute, Mr. Fujimaru." I tried to close the door quickly but the woman stopped me. "There is still…something that I wanted to talk about."

"Uh, sure." I tried to hide my annoyance. "What about?"

"Well…it's a bit…."

"…?"

Now, this was strange.

Normally, Mrs. Nasby is a real chatterbox; there were times when it seemed like she didn't actually have the ability to shut her mouth for more than a minute. This was the first time I had seen her so subdued since moving here.

"I…didn't want to talk about this in front of the policeman but… I mean, they would believe I am crazy, right? But that can't be! Not when it also happened to the rest of the neighbors…!"

"Eh…Mrs. Nasby?" I tried to calm her. "I am afraid I don't follow you."

"You see…I had a dream."

"A dream?"

"Yes….you…you saw it too, don't you? The blue eye?"

"Excuse me?"

The expression in Mrs. Nasby turned into a strange mix of emotion; there was disappointment, surprise but also…fear?

"Ah…uh…okay…nevermind." She said, nervously. "It must have sounded really weird to you, right? Hahahaha."

"Hmm, no…not at all. But are you okay? You look a bit pale.

"Oh no no, I am totally fine!" She didn't seem fine at all. "And…I remembered that I had something to do so I'll be going now. Good day Mr. Fujimaru."

Before I could say anything else, Mrs. Nasby quickly walked away… no, she basically ran away.

"Well, that's a thing that happened." I said to myself, a bit confused as I closed the door.

Mrs. Nasby looked genuinely scared, to the point that I was starting to feel bad for her. I wondered what exactly could have happened to put her in that state.

"A dream…about a blue eye? Where have I heard something similar?"

I was pondering about the meaning of that when I noticed that I couldn't see the maid anywhere.

"Sheffield! You can come out, they already left." I shouted while looking for the maid. But I got no response. "Sheffield?"

My eyes suddenly found a piece of paper lying on the table where we were before. There was a single word written on it, in big black letters.

"TONIGHT"

And obviously, Sheffield was nowhere to be found.

I decided not to wait for Sheffield's ambiguous night period and spent my day trying to actually fix some of my problems.

So after calling to get my door fixed sometime in the week, I decided to partake in the infamous act known as going to the grocery store. My fridge was empty this morning after all, and I didn't plan on having only tea for my next meals.

And here I was, after fighting for my life against a supernatural being that seems to defile reason and wresting with a trigger-happy maid a couple of hours ago, asking myself if I wanted to make something with potatoes tonight.

It was so ridiculous that I had to laugh.

Even though my normal life was slowly crumbling around me, I still found myself trying to do mundane things.

"…"

I wondered, would I be able to enjoy these tranquil moments the same way after this? My life had been relatively peaceful for a long time, but things are changing, again.

It's happening again, just like it happened before. That day, when I took what I thought would be a simple job in an organization called Chaldea.

I still remember most of it. I was just out of school and I needed money but didn't want to ask my parents.

So when I saw that flyer, I didn't think it for a second. They just needed to take some of my blood, and I would get pay even if they didn't find what they were looking for.

A simple, easy way to earn money.

And once I had been done with that, I would have visited the sea with my friends, just like we had kept saying since 8th grade. A fun trip, which I would remember for years to come.

However, they found it, they found that I could be a Master.

And everything changed.

"Life just doesn't go according to your plans, does it?" I said to the potato in my hand, as if it could answer me.

"It sure doesn't."

To my surprise, someone answered me.

A bit stunned, I turned back to see the owner of the voice.

It was a woman, but not one I remembered ever meeting. After all, there was no way I could forget someone like her.

Almost as tall as me, strong silver eyes, straight long hair of the same color, and quite pretty to be honest, to the point that I forgot how to talk upon seeing her.

Not to mention that her attributes were…generous, to say the least. The clothes she was wearing, a baggy sweater that did nothing to hide her cleavage and a skirt accompanied by black stocking didn't help at all to make me regain my speaking faculties.

Some time passed and for some reason, she didn't say anything either, so we kept looking at each other for a solid minute.

That until I remembered that I still had a potato in my hand like an idiot and my brain started working again.

"Ah, sorry." I apologize for no reason. "I was talking to myself."

"It's true, though." She finally spoke again; her voice had a tone of melancholy. "Life isn't always how we want it to be."

The sudden philosophic topic stunned me a bit, but I did understand what she meant.

"Change is difficult, isn't it? More when you are forced to."

"Indeed." A sad expression appeared on her face. "One day we think we have our path already decided, we spent our days working towards that path, just for everything we believe on, to change in a single day."

"…."

Even though I didn't know her, I could guess she had it hard too.

I kind of wanted to cheer her up a bit.

"Well. I don't know anything about your problems, but at least you weren't found out talking with a potato in the market, so you already better than me, right?"

Was that the best joke I could think of? Really? I am an Idiot.

Despite my horrendous sense of humor, I could see her smiling a bit so I will consider that a win.

"So do you usually come here to speak with the potatoes?" She continued the joke, a bit cheered up.

"Maybe, do you usually come here to talk about life with strangers?

"Maybe. This time, however, I was looking for the tea section. Do you happen to know where it is, potato-talker?"

"Ah...yes, I think you just need to turn the corner and walk for a bit, you should be able to find it easily."

"I see, thank you." She made a small reverence, for some reason. "I hope you get a hold of your life, potato-talker."

And after a final look, she continued her way.

"Potato-talker, huh? Could that be the worst nickname I got in my entire life? Probably." I said as I fill my basket with potatoes. It's been a while since I ate mashed potatoes, so let's go with that.

Also, they had to pay for making me look ridiculous.

Having brought what I wanted, I decided to head back to my apartment. The sky was still orange-tinted, so I should have time to make dinner before Sheffield's antics.

That if whatever Sheffield has planned for tonight allows me to actually eat something.

I was trying my best not to be worried about that, but I was still curious. Was she going to drag me to that military base she talked about? I really don't want to go such a place. The thought of getting locked frankly scared me a bit.

Despite all this, I was free now; and I wanted it to continue being like that.

"Hmm, where could it be…?"

A now familiar figure pulled me out of those thoughts; it was the same woman from before. She was looking at the floor, as if looking for something.

"…."

Maybe I should continue my way. I would normally ask what happened but we didn't actually know each other and I didn't want to look like a stalker...

…

…

…

Oh, fuck me.

"Is something wrong?" I approached her after all.

"No, I am…ah, you are the potato person!"

"Potato person? Is talking with potatoes suddenly my only defining trait?"

"Haha, sorry. I forgot to ask your name."

"Well, I forgot too, no hard feelings. I am Ritsuka."

"Bel." She extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Ritsuka."

I shook her hand; her grip was actually stronger than I thought.

"Presentations aside, are you looking for something?"

"Ah, yes, I am dumb. I lost one of my earrings." She touched her ear where the earring should have been.

"And it fell around here?" I said as I started looking around.

"I think so...ah, but it's okay, you don't have to bother looking for it."

"Its fine, it shouldn't take too much time."

Or so I hoped, I still have to meet Sheffield after all.

"Really? It's starting to get dark; you wouldn't want to be home late." She said, as if reading my mind.

"Don't worry; my apartment is just a few blocks from here." I kept looking around. "Also, shouldn't have I been the one to say that? Did I lose gentlemen points perhaps?"

"Yes, minus three points for not mentioning that, however, I can add five for helping me."

"And where does that leave me?"

"Minus thirty-six."

"That low!?"

She chuckled.

I was glad; she really seemed to have cheered up.

"Could I get ten more points if I find the earring?"

"You could get more than that."

"…"

Wait… Is this happening? Are we actually flirting?

Nah, it couldn't be, she is just being friendly. Or maybe that conversation we had early made her more open with me despite being a stranger.

As I thought that, I heard a "clink" behind my back and immediately turned around.

"There it is." I kneeled to pick the heart-shaped earring. "How weird, I thought I looked around here before. Did I miss it?"

"You found it!" Bel looked happy, and in what I thought was a disproportionate gesture of gratitude, she hugged me "Thank you, Ritsuka."

Her hug was also quite firm, despite her delicate appearance, she was actually quite strong. Also, "something" was pressing against me, "something" that I rather not think about.

"Eh…you are welcome?"

"That'll be twenty points." She finally separated from me, she was smiling.

"So, I am at minus sixteen now?"

"Minus sixty-five."

"Somehow I keep going lower!?"

We laughed like a pair of idiots.

Truth to be told, I was actually enjoying spending time with Bel.

"Well." However, everything must come to an end sooner or later. "I better be going now, as you say it's probably a bit late."

"Too bad, another minus five for not suggesting accompanying me to my house."

"Sadly, I am not that bold."

"You are kind, though."

"Well, I try to be."

"Can I invite you a few drinks to repay your kindness?"

"…"

She is nice. I would like to know more about her.

"Thank you, but someone is waiting for me in my apartment."

However, I can't. I am no position to start a new relationship now.

"Oh well…maybe some other day?"

It doesn't matter if it's romantic or just as friends, adding her to my mess of life will only cause her problems, more than the ones she already has.

"It's my girlfriend." I lied. "She is the one waiting for me."

"Ah…I see."

"Yeah, sorry for making things awkward."

"No, no, it's okay." She seemed a bit disappointed. "I understand."

I won't lie, I was a bit sad; she really seemed like a good person. But precisely because of that, it's that I shouldn't involve her in my problems.

"Well, then." I prepared to leave. "I am going now."

I walked a few steps when I remember something.

"Ah, I also hope you get a hold of your life, Bel."

And with that, I walked away, sincerely wishing her the best.

Until I heard her voice again.

"You too, Fujimaru Ritsuka."

I stopped.

"Wait, did I tell you my surname?"

As I turned back, I found no one.

Bel had disappeared.

"I am back." I said as I opened my still broken door."Sheffield, you back? Can I eat before you start bothering me again?"

"Welcome back." Someone who wasn't Sheffield greeted me. Just like her, she was wearing a maid uniform, the design was slightly different, but it was impossible not to see the resemblance.

"…."

Our eyes met once again, but they no longer carried the same feeling as before. In her eyes, that I had found sadness and happiness alike, now I found nothing like that, only a serious, detached gaze.

"So that's how it is." I said, drily.

"Indeed." She answered; her voice was also devoid of emotion.

I walked toward the kitchen and left the supermarket bags there.

"It wasn't a coincidence that we meet, right?"

"No, I had been tracking you for about an hour."

"And you didn't lose the earring at all."

"I had it in my pocket the entire time."

"I see." I waited a bit before continuing. "I will tell you what I told Sheffield, I am not going anywhere close to a military base."

"I know, she told me. That's why I decided to come."

"That's why you decided to put that little act?"

"I had to know what kind of person you were."

"You should be content to know that I am a naïve idiot." My voice has a little edge. "Where is Sheffield anyway?"

"I asked her to wait a bit before coming back, so I can explain the situation."

"There is nothing to explain. Call her so we can be done with this, weapon."

"Weapon?" That word seemed to catch her by surprise a bit.

"You are a weapon, just like Sheffield, right?"

"That's correct. My name is Belfast, I am the Head Maid of the Royal Navy." She lifted her skirt a bit. "At your service."

"Bel…Belfast. So you didn't totally lie, huh?"

"…"

She looked a bit dejected, but I didn't care this time.

"I…deeply apologize for that. I hope this little stumble doesn't affect your opinion on the Royal Navy. Her Majesty would really appreciate your help with future threats."

"My help?"

"We have failed to procure a dependable human asset for months. Her Majesty thinks that you would be a perfect candidate for that role. In other words…"

"Belfast." Sheffield appeared, entering through the window like it was the most natural thing to do. "Don't take hasty decisions, we still don't know if…"

"Her Majesty had already decided, and after our brief interaction, he has gained my approval too." She said, her voice had a tone of command.

Sheffield frowned but didn't say anything. Was it because Belfast was her superior?

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

"Fujimaru Ritsuka. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, leader of the Royal Navy, would like to appoint to you as the Commander of the fleet, as well as the Master of the Maid Corps. "

…!

"W-what….? What did you just say?"

Master...a Master?

"You'll be in full control of the Shipgirls of the Royal Navy during the battle with the Sirens, as well as in any other necessity you may require. The only thing we ask in return is your loyalty to the only true Queen of this country."

END OF CHAPTER 7

AN: Online classes are hell

Hopefully, this longer chapter will make up for my absence this month.

I am tired, I am going to sleep now.