"So it really was you."
Inside a hidden bounded field, Daniel had just entered when he spotted Aoko Aozaki sitting calmly in a red armchair, surrounded by numerous floating virtual screens.
"Are you going to stop me?" Aoko asked, expression serene as ever.
"No need. It's not like he'll be in any danger. Actually, this magic is... really quite fascinating."
As he spoke, Daniel walked over to watch the screens with interest. On them was the Second Lord—no, Waver Velvet—seated in a Modern Magecraft Theory class, but as a student. The instructor was none other than Lord El-Melloi himself: the late Kenneth.
"A virtual reality constructed with magecraft... impressive. If he ever met Kayaba Akihiko, they'd probably get along well."
The Second had previously gathered five students in an attempt to dispel the projection magic placed on him, but that had failed. And after that, he attended a school reunion—still in the appearance of his teenage self.
At that reunion, a former classmate named Amleth Wodhan had revealed that it was he who cast the projection magecraft as a demonstration of his recent advancements. The whole reunion, in fact, had been orchestrated as a showcase of his improved skill.
Unfortunately for him, the plan quickly unraveled. The control of the spell was suddenly hijacked by another classmate—Camus—who transformed the virtual scenario into one that transported Waver back ten years into the past.
This magic wasn't malicious; Camus simply wanted to relive the days of her youth. She had been in love with Waver since their student days. Had Waver not gone to Fuyuki for the Holy Grail War, perhaps the two of them might've ended up together.
"Looks like he's catching on. Even with memory suppression, there are some things you just can't hide."
On the screen, Waver had initially gone along with the illusion—attending class, doing research. But soon, inconsistencies started bothering him. His memories might have been blocked, but his accumulated knowledge couldn't be suppressed.
"Oh? Looks like they've entered the simulation too. Well, enjoy yourselves."
Noticing that Lainis and Gray had infiltrated the virtual reality, Daniel gave a light shrug and left the room. Since this was simply an old flame's farewell and not a hostile act, there was no need for him to interfere.
As for why Aoko got involved—based on her previous actions at the Twin-Faced Tower—he assumed it was purely for fun. After all, this magic was quite an impressive work.
"Goodbye—or maybe it's better to say 'until we never meet again.'"
At Big Ben Station, Camus and Waver exchanged parting words. After Lainis and Gray helped Waver break the illusion, he woke up, and the projection spell faded away.
The aftermath was surprisingly tidy. Apart from Amleth Wodhan being arrested by the Department of Law, the rest of the alumni quietly dispersed. No serious damage had been done.
Amleth's downfall came from the revelation that he had plagiarized Camus's research to attain his rank. While the Clock Tower's standards for promotion were usually airtight, the chaos following Kenneth's death during the Holy Grail War had allowed Amleth to slip through the cracks.
The real kicker was that he had failed to properly replicate Camus's spell. And yet, using her research, he had managed to draw in substantial investment—including money from Lords like Olga-Marie and even a loan of 100 million USD from Waver's best friend, Melvin.
This reunion had been Amleth's last-ditch effort to salvage his reputation using Waver's name. But when Camus and Aoko turned the tables, his fate was sealed.
"What's the matter? Regret letting her go? Then go after her."
Lainis teased Waver with a playful but ambiguous smile as he stood frozen, watching Camus's retreating figure.
"There's no need. Leaving the Clock Tower is what's best for her."
Camus's magic crest had been severely damaged in a lab accident years ago. Without it, her future as a magus was essentially over. Many magi give up their path entirely in such cases.
Her return to the Clock Tower had been her way of saying farewell. Now, she was a successful CEO—wealthy and thriving by mundane standards.
"Let's head back."
"Projection magecraft… as a shell, huh? That's an interesting concept."
Daniel had gained unexpected insight from Camus's spell. It had never occurred to him that projection magecraft could be applied in such a way.
"So she's already left again… I guess I'll have to wait for another chance."
Daniel had originally intended to speak with Aoko about her unique magecraft, but she vanished from the Clock Tower before he could. Still, another opportunity awaited.
"The Mystic Eye Collection Train—finally."
Just days after Waver recovered, a new incident struck. His most prized relic—the Emperor's Cloak Fragment—was stolen. The thief was clearly a skilled magus, having bypassed his bounded fields with ease and even left behind a letter and an invitation.
Naturally, it was an invitation to the Mystic Eye Collection Train.
The thief had been remarkably thoughtful. In case Waver couldn't acquire an invitation himself, one had been provided. That saved Daniel the trouble of hunting one down himself.
While Waver could probably have obtained one through his position, it would have cost a small fortune. Mystic Eye Train invitations were limited, nontransferable, and highly coveted. They changed hands for enormous sums—or were stolen outright. Waver, of course, wasn't the type to resort to theft.
"I've always been curious about that train. I'd like to buy some Mystic Eyes. How about I come along?" Daniel proposed as Lainis and Waver discussed the situation. He had been preparing for this event for quite some time, even saving up a large fund.
"I'll have people search for the thief."
Knowing how much the relic meant to Waver, Lainis personally took charge of the investigation and borrowed several of his students—Flat, Svin, and Luvia. She also contacted the Enforcer Lionheart to help track the culprit.
Kairi Shishigou.
On the day of departure, Daniel and Rin were surprised to find a new face among the group—Caules, a student of Waver's and heir to the once-prominent Yggdmillennia family.
Originally, his sister was supposed to inherit the family title, but she had abandoned the magus path. Though many considered Caules to be untalented, Waver recognized his aptitude for lightning magic and had even bought the Baghdad Battery from Atram for him.
"…This must be 'Hatrice,' huh? No obvious flaws. Could be a projected shell."
Daniel scrutinized Caules, suspecting he might be someone else in disguise—possibly the mysterious figure who kept causing trouble and even summoned a Heroic Spirit later. But without proof, and since the man hadn't interfered yet, Daniel chose to let it go.
Soon, the group of five reached an abandoned station on the outskirts of Big Ben. Noticing Gray's confusion, Waver explained:
"The Mystic Eye Collection Train doesn't travel on ordinary rails—it runs through a spiritual leyline. The invitation is the key to opening that alternate space."
This train's annual auction was a major event in the mage world. Magi pulled every string to get invitations, hoping to buy powerful Mystic Eyes.
"Teacher, someone's coming."
As they waited, other magi began to gather. Since this was the only station within London where the train stopped, it served as the central boarding point.
"I didn't expect to see you here."
A voice drew their attention. A tall, pale girl with long white hair walked toward them—it was Olga-Marie, daughter of the Astromancy Department's Lord.
"Lady Olga-Marie," Waver greeted with surprise. Although he was a Lord himself, his political status was far beneath hers.
"This year, the Astromancy Department will obtain the prize Mystic Eye. Don't expect me to go easy on you."
"You overestimate me. You know the state of El-Melloi's finances. We can't afford to compete."
Mystic Eyes were valuable, yes—but that also meant they came with high price tags. The El-Melloi family was still in debt, and had no chance of buying anything substantial.
"I am curious, though—why would you come in person?"
As important as the auction was, it didn't normally warrant the personal appearance of the Astromancy Lord's daughter.
"Teacher! Teacher! I know the answer!"
Before Olga-Marie could speak, a voice rang out. A pink twin-tailed girl in a white lolita dress bounced over—Yvette.
"…Yvette."
Just hearing her name made Waver's stomach ache. Among all his troublesome students, she was by far the worst.
Still, her appearance wasn't surprising. Her family specialized in crafting Mystic Eyes, and this event was basically a holiday for them.
"It's me, teacher! Rumor has it there's a Rainbow-Rank Mystic Eye in this year's auction! That's why everyone's come!"
"Impossible."
Waver immediately rejected the idea. He didn't possess a Mystic Eye himself, but having grown up around Lainis, who did, he understood the rankings well.
Rainbow-Rank Mystic Eyes were legendary. You didn't find them—they found you.
"Well, most people think it's fake. But no one wants to risk missing it if it's real. Look—even the Department of Law is here."
Following her gaze, they saw a woman in a black kimono approaching—Reines Rindou, from the Law Department.
"If it's real, it could shift the balance of power at the Clock Tower. The Law Department won't let that happen."
Every time the auction ended, blood was spilled. If you couldn't buy it—you could always steal it. That was how many thought.
"A Rainbow-Rank Mystic Eye, huh? Bold claim. Other than Shiki Ryougi's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, what else even qualifies?"
While others may have possessed the same kind of eyes, only Ryougi Shiki's were considered Rainbow-Rank.
Eventually, the train arrived on schedule. From the outside, it looked modest. But inside, it was unbelievably spacious—clearly the result of spatial manipulation.
"This is nice. Orange juice and a roast chicken, please."
Sitting down, Daniel ordered from the magical menu. The items appeared on his table instantly. The auction was still three days away—the train had stops to make. Until then, all meals and accommodations were covered.
Everything on the menu could be summoned at will. This novelty amused Daniel greatly—but earned him condescending looks from nearby magi who treated him like a country bumpkin.
"…Why is someone from the Holy Church here?"
At the next stop, a new passenger entered—dressed like an Executor of the Church. The moment he appeared, tension skyrocketed.
The Mage Association and the Holy Church had always been at odds. Though they kept things civil on the surface, behind the scenes, their encounters nearly always ended in bloodshed.
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