"..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Olga Marie were both stunned in place for a moment.
They hadn't expected Tamamo-no-Mae to ask such a question at this time at all.
Could it be that she had the ability to read minds?
Seemingly noticing Fujimaru Ritsuka's and Olga Marie's reactions to her, Tamamo-no-Mae quickly spoke again.
However, this time, she was explaining her reasons for doing so.
"Um——" Tamamo-no-Mae said softly, her golden eyes looking at the two girls.
"If this concubine didn't see it wrong, you two have actually been watching this concubine and Master, haven't you?"
"And when this concubine kissed him, both of you showed very surprised expressions."
"Therefore——" Tamamo-no-Mae's gaze swept over the two girls.
It was a very gentle but also imposing gaze, a way of acting that perfectly fit the identity of a fox spirit.
"This concubine believes... that you both like Master, am I right?"
"..." Olga Marie was a little sweaty.
She hadn't expected Tamamo-no-Mae, who seemed to have her attention completely focused on Ian, to have time to observe herself and Fujimaru Ritsuka.
And from her description, it seemed she had noticed the two of them from the beginning, but had just kept silent.
Was this the insight of a fox spirit?
Olga Marie was somewhat surprised.
Similar to but different from the Director, Fujimaru Ritsuka, although also surprised by Tamamo-no-Mae's keen observation skills, didn't feel intimidated by it.
She directly replied to Tamamo-no-Mae.
"It seems you know." Fujimaru Ritsuka said honestly, her brown eyes looking at the fox spirit.
"I... do like Ian."
"..." Tamamo-no-Mae's two fox ears twitched.
Clearly.
She also hadn't expected Fujimaru Ritsuka to express her feelings so directly.
The fox spirit frowned slightly, a hint of thought in her expression.
Olga Marie was quite nervous—Fujimaru Ritsuka's straightforwardness was very dangerous.
Without knowing Tamamo-no-Mae's thoughts, she had so rashly confessed her feelings.
If the other party didn't accept this feeling, there was a high probability that she would go berserk on the spot!
She didn't want to see Chaldea suffer such a thing again!
But then again——
Could Tamamo-no-Mae's abilities support her in doing such a thing?
Olga Marie couldn't help but wonder in her heart.
Fortunately, the situation that the girl feared didn't happen at all.
After hearing Fujimaru Ritsuka reveal her feelings, Tamamo-no-Mae not only didn't show any anger, but instead subconsciously took a few steps back.
Her appearance looked as if she had learned some terrible omen.
However, she seemed to quickly realize that this wasn't quite right. After straightening her posture, she continued to ask:
"Then——" Tamamo-no-Mae looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka, her golden eyes filled with curiosity.
"Miss Fujimaru Ritsuka... does my Master understand your feelings?"
"Of course, he understands." Fujimaru Ritsuka still didn't intend to hide anything.
"We... even sleep in the same bed."
"..." Olga Marie looked speechlessly at Fujimaru Ritsuka after she said this.
She really wanted to cover the other girl's mouth and tell her not to say another word.
This was repeatedly stepping on Tamamo-no-Mae's landmines!
What if she really "exploded" later?
But the development of the situation once again exceeded Olga Marie's expectations.
After hearing Fujimaru Ritsuka say this, Tamamo-no-Mae not only didn't get angry, but instead looked a little uneasy.
Her fingers rubbed against her kimono, revealing a cautiousness in every movement.
"Miku..." Tamamo-no-Mae muttered softly, her golden eyes looking thoughtful.
"Then can this concubine understand it this way?"
"You have feelings for this concubine's Master... and he knows and accepts your feelings, is that right?"
"..." This was the first time she had heard someone summarize her relationship with Ian so simply and clearly, and Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded without even thinking.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"..." Tamamo-no-Mae fell silent.
And seeing her like this, Olga Marie realized that the situation seemed to have reversed a bit.
Why did it feel like she was the one who was afraid?
But before the Director could think too much, Tamamo-no-Mae nodded thoughtfully, then spoke again.
"This concubine understands."
After saying this, the fox spirit from the Heian period turned her head and looked at Olga Marie on the other side.
"Then——" Tamamo-no-Mae's golden eyes turned to Olga Marie.
"Miss Olga Marie... is your situation the same as Miss Fujimaru Ritsuka's?"
For personal reasons, Fujimaru Ritsuka still liked the Director very much.
After all, this was the person who taught her celestial magecraft—although she hadn't finished learning it yet.
So when she heard Tamamo-no-Mae's question, she also looked over.
As for the answer... Fujimaru Ritsuka could actually roughly guess it.
Olga Marie, who suddenly became the focus of both their gazes, immediately became shy.
But——
Thinking of Tamamo-no-Mae's reaction when she heard Fujimaru Ritsuka's answer, she didn't feel as nervous as before.
After all, the other party hadn't gotten angry, had she?
Thinking this way, Olga Marie had some of her own little thoughts.
"Cough cough." She cleared her throat and began to answer Tamamo-no-Mae's question.
"If you're going to ask like that——" Olga Marie said, her amber eyes flickering slightly.
"My situation can be said to be the same as Ritsuka's, but it can also be said to be different."
"Eh?" Tamamo-no-Mae's two fox ears twitched slightly.
"Miss Olga Marie, what do you mean by that?" Tamamo-no-Mae asked, her golden eyes filled with curiosity.
"Well..." Olga Marie's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Didn't Ritsuka say that she and Ian have slept in the same bed?"
"I..." The girl's fingers rubbed against the hem of her skirt.
"We've gone a step further than that."
"..." Tamamo-no-Mae's pupils widened slightly—an even more shocked expression than before.
And Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at Olga Marie with a puzzled expression.
"W-when did that happen?!" Fujimaru Ritsuka asked, her brown eyes wide with surprise.
"How come I don't know?"
"Well..." Olga Marie's voice became quieter. "It was a few days ago."
"Ah?! Could it be when you suddenly came to our room, Director?!" Fujimaru Ritsuka exclaimed, her eyes widening in realization.
"...Yeah." Olga Marie replied softly, her cheeks burning.
"We did it on that bed."
Recalling the experience of being thoroughly "puffed" by Ian, but feeling so comfortable that she couldn't resist, Olga Marie was so embarrassed that she could barely speak.
But looking at Fujimaru Ritsuka's shocked expression, she felt a somewhat inexplicable joy, as if she had won big in some way.
However, this joy didn't last long before being directly interrupted by Tamamo-no-Mae's next words.
Looking at the two girls before her, her expression became somewhat awkward.
"Then——" Tamamo-no-Mae said hesitantly.
"Besides you two, is there anyone else like this?"
"..." Olga Marie and Fujimaru Ritsuka fell silent at the same time.
They looked at each other, then said the same name together.
"That would only be Mash. / Mash!"
Hearing a new name again, Tamamo-no-Mae was taken aback for a moment.
But she quickly restrained this emotion, then continued,
"Then in that case——" Tamamo-no-Mae said softly, her golden eyes looking thoughtful.
"Can you take this concubine to see her?"
"Eh?!" Olga Marie and Fujimaru Ritsuka exchanged a look, and finally nodded hesitantly.
It was something that would be known sooner or later anyway.
Might as well get it over with now.
Having received the permission of the two girls, Tamamo-no-Mae turned back to Ian, who was still chatting with Da Vinci, and "reported."
"Master, this concubine would like to go out with them for a bit." Tamamo-no-Mae said politely.
"Sure." Ian didn't hesitate and directly agreed to Tamamo-no-Mae's request. "Go ahead."
"Hmm~" Tamamo-no-Mae turned back to look at Fujimaru Ritsuka and Olga Marie before her.
"Please."
"Then I'll send a message right now to ask where Mash is!" Fujimaru Ritsuka took out her phone.
More than ten minutes later.
The group arrived in front of a room door.
Knock knock knock—— Fujimaru Ritsuka knocked on the room door, then called out rather cheerfully,
"Mashu~" Fujimaru Ritsuka called out, her brown eyes sparkling.
"I'm here, hurry up and open the door!"
Not long after Fujimaru Ritsuka called out, the door opened with a snap.
But it wasn't Mash who came to open the door, but Mordred, who was yawning.
"Whoa——!" She looked at the three people outside the door with a puzzled expression.
"Why are there so many people all of a sudden?"
"Eh?!" Fujimaru Ritsuka was also surprised. "Mo-chan, why is it you? Where did Mash go?"
"I'm right here!" A familiar voice came from behind Mordred.
But the scene that matched it was a little off.
Standing there was Mash, who had changed into a maid outfit.
Her left hand held a broom, and her right hand held a feather duster.
And Fou was lying leisurely on her shoulder.
"Fou~"
"Eh? Why isn't it just Ritsuka?" Mash tilted her head, her violet eyes looking at them curiously.
"And..." Mash squinted slightly, looking at Tamamo-no-Mae behind Fujimaru Ritsuka and Olga Marie.
"Who is this?"
"Wait a minute!" Olga Marie interrupted the pink-haired girl.
"Mash! What's with that outfit you're wearing?" Olga Marie asked, her amber eyes wide with surprise.
"This..." Mash lowered her head and muttered softly.
"Because I have to take care of Mo-chan... so wearing these clothes will be more convenient."
"Take care of Mo-chan?" Fujimaru Ritsuka asked, her brown eyes filled with confusion.
"Yeah." Mash nodded. "Senpai is busy, so I'm the only one who can take care of her."
"First, I'll clean the room, then cook something for her."
"We're even going to play cards together later."
"..." "..." The room fell into silence.
For Fujimaru Ritsuka, this silence was even more explosive.
You had to know——
She was Mash's nominal Master!
How come the other girl was now serving Ian's Servant, Mordred?
Realizing that her words had made the atmosphere strange, Mash wanted to explain something.
But Mordred next to her took the initiative.
She imitated her father Ian, protecting Mash behind her, then said with a very serious attitude:
"Don't blame Mash." Mordred said firmly, her green eyes looking at them.
"It's because I don't know how to use these things... that's why I asked her to come over."
"As for cleaning the room and stuff, it's also because I was too lazy to tidy up, Mash is just kindly helping me."
"If you want to blame someone, then blame me."
Mordred hadn't inherited much else, but her personality was in the same vein as Ian's.
She would never deny the mistakes she made.
But——
Whether she could make up for them was another matter.
"I didn't say I was blaming you." Fujimaru Ritsuka scratched her cheek. "I was just a little confused."
"Yeah, yeah." Olga Marie also helped smooth things over.
"No one thinks it's wrong... we were just a little surprised."
"Is that so?" Mordred breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's good then."
"I thought you were going to tell my fath... Master about this."
"..." "..." In the end, she was still worried about being reported!
Mordred was still that mischievous child.
However——
The situation quickly changed drastically with Tamamo-no-Mae's voice.
"Um——" Tamamo-no-Mae looked at Mordred with a gentle smile.
"Are you also Master's Servant, just like this concubine?"
"Huh?" Mordred followed the voice and then noticed the beautiful fox spirit.
"Whoa——!" She shouted again. "A talking fox!"
"..." Tamamo-no-Mae wasn't angry at Mordred's unintentional offense; she merely smiled slightly.
"If you want to describe this concubine that way, it's not entirely wrong."
The fox spirit's attitude made Mordred realize that she seemed to have said something impolite.
She quickly apologized. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"
"It's alright." Tamamo-no-Mae shook her head. "You were just saying what you thought."
"However——" Tamamo-no-Mae's golden eyes turned to Mordred.
"Can you answer this concubine's question from just now?"
"Are you also Ab... Ian's Servant?"
"Yeah." Mordred nodded. "Of course, I am."
"Then do you also have a very deep relationship with him?" Tamamo-no-Mae asked rather euphemistically.
But what she didn't know was.
The saber Mordred was completely confused—without "knowledge correction," she had difficulty understanding euphemistic words.
But when she saw the blushing faces of Fujimaru Ritsuka and Olga Marie, she quickly realized that this was definitely not a question to be answered in the negative.
"Yeah!" Mordred put her hands on her hips.
"Of course, I've had a very deep relationship with Master!"
"He likes me a lot! He even praised my performance as amazing!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the room naturally fell silent again.
Except for Mordred, everyone realized how weighty her statement was.
And Tamamo-no-Mae wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at Mash, who was standing at the very back.
"Then——" Tamamo-no-Mae's gaze turned to Mash.
"What about your situation? What stage have you reached with my Master Ian...?"
"Eh?!" Mash hadn't expected to be asked such a question at all.
But she also noticed the expressions on Fujimaru Ritsuka's and Olga Marie's faces.
This seemed to be a question that had to be answered seriously.
The pink-haired girl lowered her head, her face and ears turning red as she replied:
"As for me... it's reached the point where I can eat Senpai's ****." Mash said softly, her violet eyes downcast.
"The taste and everything... I've already memorized it."
"..." "..." Mash killed the competition in an instant.
Tamamo-no-Mae covered her forehead.
She gave a wry smile. "It seems... although everyone's progress is different, you all seem to be very close."
"But even so——" Thump.
The fox spirit knelt on the ground, shamelessly begging the others.
"This concubine still hopes to receive a chance to marry him... from all of you."