Fujimaru Ritsuka actually harbored a secret—one concerning his very origins: he might not belong to this era at all.
Though it sounded utterly unbelievable to others, it wasn't until a few years ago—after someone pointed out that his recent behavior had become inconsistent with his usual self, and memories from another place gradually grew clearer in his mind—that he finally dared to tentatively accept this possibility.
Unlike his current peaceful life in Fuyuki City, another place called Chaldea had suffered a catastrophic disaster.
The observatory had been engulfed in an explosion, and as one of the candidate Masters, he himself had been caught up in it.
At first, those memories were only fragmented and hazy—but by the time they became vividly real and crystal clear, he'd already been living here for over a decade.
He still couldn't definitively say whether this world had implanted false memories into him, or if he'd simply awakened recollections of a distant, alternate reality. Yet in practice, after spending a year pondering the matter, he chose to believe the latter—precisely because he hadn't pursued the other memories any further.
Now, he was following instructions from his older sister, who was currently studying at the Clock Tower in London, to pick up her teacher at Fuyuki City's only airport.
"Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald…" Muttering the absurdly convoluted name—complete with middle names—written on his slip of paper, Ritsuka sighed inwardly.
Memories from both worlds confirmed one undeniable truth: the Fujimaru siblings were, through and through, country bumpkins. They'd even struggled to make ends meet at times, so the idea of international travel had never even crossed their minds.
"Be sure to address him respectfully as Lord El-Melloi. Show him the utmost respect. Escort him precisely to the Fuyuki Grand Hotel. Under no circumstances should you anger him. As long as you behave politely, demonstrate proper decorum, and give him a good introduction to Fuyuki City, your task will be complete—and you'll receive a generous reward." After reciting his sister's text message in a near-monotone voice, Ritsuka felt as if ten thousand imaginary horses were thundering through his mind.
Just who is this guy? Is he really a "teacher"?
After carefully rereading his sister's newly sent instructions several times, Ritsuka finally confirmed that this incredibly troublesome Englishman was indeed his sister's esteemed mentor—certainly not some random, pompous British nobleman who'd popped out of nowhere.
Moreover, his sister had explicitly mentioned in her message that her teacher had come to Fuyuki City to participate in something called the Holy Grail War.
What she didn't know, however, was that her seemingly harmless little brother had already activated the summoning circle she'd forgotten to erase—and thereby claimed one of the slots in the Holy Grail War himself.
"What on earth should I do now…?" Glancing at the glaringly conspicuous crimson magical crest on his right hand, Ritsuka pulled his warm black gloves back on. His movements were perhaps a bit too abrupt, allowing a sharp, icy gust of wind to slip down his throat and trigger a couple of involuntary coughs.
Ultimately, having made up his mind, he decided to follow his sister's advice for now: first, locate and receive this apparently high-maintenance individual.
...
Location: Fuyuki Airport
Though Fuyuki City wasn't particularly large and lay relatively close to Tokyo, for reasons unknown, it nonetheless boasted an international airport. Moreover, thanks to its surroundings, the airport apparently attracted wealthy Europeans as well.
For instance, Ritsuka knew that deep in the forests on Fuyuki's outskirts stood a castle built long ago by Germans—one whose ownership had remained astonishingly intact all the way to the present day.
Rumor has it that people still lived there even during the World Wars, and to this day, the castle was meticulously maintained by successive generations of caretakers.
All Ritsuka could do was sigh in awe: the rich truly were a different breed.
Thus, nursing a vague sense of resentment toward the wealthy, he waited at the entrance of the modest Fuyuki Airport—until he finally spotted the person he'd been expecting.
However, he was visibly taken aback, because the pair before him presented a striking contrast.
First, there was the man whose hairstyle resembled nothing so much as a giant golden lemon—an enormous, slicked-back pompadour that, even by the standards of a rural Japanese teenager in this era, looked excessively old-fashioned.
Clad in a retro-style azure robe reportedly associated with the Clock Tower, he resembled a devout monk more than anything else. With that kind of aura, he certainly wouldn't be winning over any girls.
Beside him, trailing just behind, stood a stunningly beautiful woman. The vibrant, youthful energy she radiated struck Ritsuka as oddly dissonant—because, at first glance, these two seemed utterly mismatched.
The Englishman walked with his eyes fixed straight ahead, as if utterly indifferent to his surroundings, treating his visit to Fuyuki—a tiny, backwater city at the far eastern edge of the world—as if it were merely a trivial ceremony beneath his notice. In stark contrast, the woman's eyes sparkled with curiosity, much like a sheltered noblewoman experiencing a stable or open meadow for the very first time.
In temperament, demeanor, and disposition—they were clearly people from two entirely different worlds…
Having silently drawn this conclusion, Ritsuka steeled himself and walked straight toward them.
Time to unleash the English skills that reigned supreme at Homurahara Academy!
"Excuse me—are you the esteemed Lord Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, one of the distinguished Lords of the Clock Tower and its youngest-ever lecturer in Spiritual Evocation, accompanied by your lovely fiancée, Miss Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri?"
Caught off guard by this sudden interjection from a stranger, both Lord El-Melloi and his fiancée Sola halted in their tracks.
Kayneth's sharp, authoritative gaze swept over Fujimaru Ritsuka, instantly making him feel a subtle but undeniable pressure—though within that scrutiny, Ritsuka also sensed a flicker of approval.
"You must be Fujimaru's younger brother, the one who remained in this remote corner of the Far East?" Kayneth's tone was unexpectedly pleasant—likely because Ritsuka's earlier, painfully exaggerated flattery had struck a deeply satisfying chord.
The professor's expression softened into one of clear satisfaction. "Your sister has performed exceptionally well in my classes, and she's mentioned you to me countless times, insisting your talent rivals her own."
"Well… there wasn't much choice," Ritsuka quickly swallowed the half-formed complaint about "just wanting a peaceful life" that had nearly slipped out.
Meeting Kayneth's gaze without flinching, he replied smoothly, "My family's not well-off. Just covering my sister's expenses in London has stretched us to the limit. She's always been passionate about magecraft—though it's really only with her generation that we've truly begun to walk this path."
"Nonsense—she's excelling brilliantly. In fact, I've recently been preparing her application materials for the title of Pride."
…What on earth is that?
Though Ritsuka's Homurahara Academy–dominating English allowed him to catch the specific term, his face twitched involuntarily. He had no idea what "Pride" meant in this context—but nodding politely was always the safe move.
"You must be exhausted from your journey. My sister specifically asked me to meet you at the airport and help the esteemed Professor Kayneth become better acquainted with our city."
"A mere speck of land like this…" The haughty, lemon-haired nobleman began to voice his usual condescension—
—but was promptly cut off by the woman behind him.
"Kayneth! Even the noblest of knights must familiarize themselves with their battlefield, wouldn't you agree?" The red-haired woman offered a gentle, knowing smile—effectively rescuing the momentarily flustered Ritsuka.
Of course, her real motive was likely just to explore a bit; though Japan held little interest for most magi, for Sola—whose life had been dictated by arranged marriage—this rare trip abroad was a precious opportunity.
"Of course, Sola. You're absolutely right." Kayneth immediately shifted tone, nodding agreeably without a trace of his earlier arrogance. "Then, Ritsuka-kun, if you would kindly lead the way."