A Gentle, Fine Night (Part 2)

At that moment, Kay suddenly burst into loud, noisy laughter.

"This is... a formal dress?"

Seeing the suddenly speaking Kay in Gray's hand, Aozaki Touko's eyes lit up slightly, clearly showing her interest in it.

"Kay!"

Upon seeing that Kay was still misbehaving even after leaving the village, and even constantly teasing King Arthur, Gray quickly covered him and shook him in her hand to prevent Kay from saying anything strange again.

"It seems to have a high level of intelligence, and even the ability to think independently... Is it a special Mystic Code creation?" Kay's performance undoubtedly piqued the interest of Aozaki Touko, who was already an expert on Mystic Codes.

"..."

Rovey Wei remained silent, as he could easily tell that Aozaki Touko was teasing him. She was simply curious about where he had found a girl who bore the striking resemblance to King Arthur.

"Senior Aoko, I hope you can use your alcohol-fueled brain a little before you speak. Putting aside the most obvious issue of time, the fact that Artoria and I are human and Heroic Spirit respectively means we can't have a child, right?"

"So please think before you speak next time, and don't scare the children."

Rovey said irritably, not forgetting to glare at Aozaki Touko, reminding her to quickly bring back that green-eyed look that was almost like a wolf's.

"Haha, that's true, but I was just joking, don't be angry, Crowley. So what's the name of this person next to you? Could it be... Mordred?"

"..."

Gray's eyes widened; clearly, the name wasn't a pleasant one for her, King Arthur's Shrine Maiden.

Rovey Wei was completely speechless at the unreliable guy in front of him, and he realized that Aozaki Touko really regarded Gray as Artoria's child.

After all, they look so alike, right?

Their striking resemblance, even to the point of being nine-tenths similar, makes it clear that this cannot be merely a coincidence.

"Stop asking questions. She's not Mordred. After all, anyone with a brain would realize that Mordred, one of the culprits who destroyed Britannia, couldn't possibly be a child this age, right?"

Rovey shook his head and replied irritably, "She's my student, Gray. She's a girl from a remote village, not Mordred. But you're right about one thing: Gray does have a significant connection to King Arthur."

To prevent this guy from continuing to make wild guesses and making things even more complicated, Rovey briefly explained Gray's background and situation.

Unlike other Magus, Aozaki Touko was someone he could trust as a close companion or friend, just like he trusted Lev —an important partner with whom he could entrust his ideals. So there was nothing to hide from her.

"Hiss..."

Similarly, after Rovey heard some of the details about Gray's background, Aoko's expression became somewhat strange. For a moment, even the cigarette in her mouth seemed to lose its flavor. Then, she let out a slight sigh, "Bramockya Mausoleum? I heard about that place when I was studying at the Clock Tower. A few unlucky classmates even disappeared there. I didn't expect there to be such a secret there. How interesting."

"After all, England is known as a land where True Magic and mist intertwine, and the mysteries and wonders it holds are far more numerous than one can imagine. Don't forget, the Clock Tower sits atop something."

Understanding Rovey's implied meaning, Aozaki Touko nodded slightly.

As Grand Magus, she naturally knew many secrets about the Clock Tower and understood what Rovey was referring to.

"But then again, it's only been a few days, and you've already gone through something like this since you got back... Tsk tsk, your life is certainly quite colorful."

She raised an eyebrow, then teased Rovey, "Next time there's something interesting like this, why not bring me along? After all, I'm also very interested in things like the ruins of the Age of Gods."

"If going into tombs can be considered colorful, then your life is rather pathetic. Besides, what you're doing isn't an interest in Age of Gods ruins, it's just a desire to hunt for treasures. Do you also want to do archaeological excavations and, incidentally, save cultural relics?"

In response, Rovey didn't hold back.

He then gave a meaningful look to the strange woman in front of him, who was always unreliable and had a peculiar expression, clearly wanting to tell him something. He asked, "Speak, what brings you here to pick me up in person? It can't just be because you miss me or it's a coincidence, can it? What do you want from me?"

"Hiss..."

Aozaki Touko feigned agitation. "Crowley, what kind of person do you take me for? Do you think I'm that kind of materialistic and snobbish woman?"

Isn't that so?

Rovey rolled his eyes at him, then said, "If nothing else happens, then I won't be responsible for anything after this..."

"Hmm... there is something I need to do."

In response to Rovey's question, Aozaki Touko replied leisurely, her hands resting on the steering wheel. She turned her head to look at Rovey behind her with a smile on her face, and her expression also carried a strange undertone.

"To be precise, I'd like to ask you for a favor, something that's neither too big nor too small..."

He held up his finger and made a gesture that would enrage a certain country.

"It really is only a tiny bit..."

'As expected...'

"Hmm... something has arrived?"

Just as Rovey was about to ask, his brow furrowed slightly, as if he had noticed something. Similarly, at that moment, Aozaki Touko's eyes suddenly changed; her smile gradually faded, revealing a serious expression.

"That's right, those troublesome guys are chasing us again."

After a brief exchange of glances, Rovey and Aoko nodded in tacit agreement, deciding to discuss their conversation after they got home.

They had already noticed that several tails had been following them since they left central London. Furthermore, Aozaki Touko, a Grand Rank wanted criminal, was extremely familiar with their scent; they were undoubtedly the Bloodhounds from the Department of Law, back again.

As for why the other party chased after us? Actually, it's quite normal.

After all, Aozaki Touko is still Grand Rank wanted criminal, her name remaining on the Sealing Designation list. Even though Barthomeloi promised to lift the Sealing Designation for her, that was based on her agreeing to join the Aristocratic Faction. With Rovey gone for so long, and the contract kept hidden in the study, no one has given it to her to sign. Therefore, the Department of Law remains extremely wary of Aozaki Touko.

Although they wouldn't launch a direct attack, necessary oversight was still essential. Anyone would feel uneasy leaving a Grand Rank wanted criminal like this unpunished. Looking at the shadows approaching the vehicle through the rearview mirror, Rovey narrowed his eyes slightly, because he had also noticed that they indeed bore the Barthomeloi family crest.

Sometimes dealing with these guys is really frustrating.

They were practically on the same side, yet they still acted like this; it was indeed excessive arrogance.

"Let Mr. Kenneth teach them a lesson in the future..."

Rovey sighed slightly, then glanced at Gray, who had been sitting silently next to him since arriving in London.

"Hey, Gray, what's wrong? Are you in a bad mood?"

"..."

Gray didn't say anything, but her expression and the atmosphere gave the answer.

Rovey could actually understand this, or rather, he would have been surprised if Gray hadn't shown any signs of unease.

After all, no matter how bad the place she lived in before was, it was still Gray's hometown. Suddenly leaving and entering a new world, especially London, was...

A city filled with towering buildings, shrouded in mist, and shrouded in Magecraft.

Gray, coming from the countryside, would definitely feel lost and disoriented. Coupled with Aozaki Touko's bizarre remarks about King Arthur and Mordred, it's only natural that the girl would recall unpleasant memories.

However, remaining passive is not a solution.

So--

"Gray, hold on tight to me."

Rovey suddenly reminded him.

"Huh?"

This sentence startled Gray slightly, because she felt as if her body was being gently lifted up by some force. Then Rovey stood up and sat in the passenger seat, gesturing for Aozaki Touko to give up her seat.

Immediately after Aozaki Touko offered him her seat, he picked up Gray, who was sitting in his lap, and without saying a word, sat in the driver's seat himself. He then manipulated Gray's small hand, placing it on the steering wheel, one above the other, along with his own.

Then, Rovey rolled down the car window.

"Oh, so you're going to drive it yourself?"

Aozaki Touko, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was also somewhat surprised by this.

"Okay, I'll drive it."

Rovey nodded, then looked down at the somewhat bewildered Gray in his arms and said, "You know, Gray, sometimes words aren't enough to truly comfort someone. Many things were already said before we even arrived. If you want to start a new life, you have to accept the new environment and the new world from scratch. Since that's the case..."

As they were talking, Rovey had already turned on the music in front of the driver's seat. "Why don't you try something you've never tried before? I noticed before that you seemed very curious about modern cars, probably because you've never driven one yourself before. In that case, why don't you give it a try?"

"... Rovey."

Gray raised her head and looked at Rovey above her with a puzzled expression.

"So, Gray, are you ready to experience a uniquely modern way of venting your emotions: a wild race in the wilderness? Friendly reminder: although it may look exciting and dangerous, it's actually not safe at all."

"Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh...? Please wait a minute!!"

Gray looked at her two small hands resting on the steering wheel and felt a little scared.

Although she didn't know what Rovey meant by "wilderness racing," she could sense something was wrong just from his tone. Especially when she saw Aozaki Touko the passenger seat looking eager to try it out, she was terrified.

"No, no, no... it still counts..."

Just as she tried to pull her small hand away in refusal, Rovey's two large hands had already firmly pressed it down on her.

"Sorry, this flight is about to depart, and the doors are currently welded shut. The vehicle cannot stop before reaching its final destination."

He lowered his head and whispered in Gray's ear with a somewhat pleasant tone, "Don't worry, although the accelerator is always on my foot, I still control the speed."

"Now I'm releasing the handbrake, I'm pressing the gas pedal, and I'm still holding your hand."

"But what controls the direction is still your emotions! So go ahead, my student, speed along the main road! Until those guys behind you can't see your taillights anymore!!"

" —Gray!!"

At the same time, a cheerful Aozaki Touko stretched her finger out of the window and made a universally recognized friendly gesture towards the Department of Law vehicle behind her, leaving the Department of Law vehicle completely bewildered.

Immediately afterwards, Rovey floored the accelerator pedal.

Then—

Boom!!

When the accelerator is floored, the vehicle vibrates violently, and the engine seems to come alive.

"Charge forth! Troias Tragōidia!!"

"Waaaaaahh..."

Boom!!

The deafening roar was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, almost startling passing vehicles into stopping on the spot, thinking something had suddenly exploded.

The vehicles from the Department of Law behind them had just seen Aozaki Touko's friendly gesture and hadn't even had time to react when the vehicles in front of them shot off like swords, creating a fierce gust of wind on the roadside like a howling tornado.

On the pitch-black vehicle, four different colored lights flickered steadily. This was to prevent accidents from happening, so Rovey directly Angel's Blessing to the vehicle.

In the blink of an eye, a red light flashed across the night sky, followed by a jet-black afterimage that sped along the highway in the suburbs of London, moving with lightning speed like a bolt of lightning in the darkness.

The speed jumped directly from zero to 180 kilometers per hour, and it kept accelerating.

As they passed through a field, they reached a speed of 200 kilometers per hour.

When overtaking several unfamiliar vehicles, the speed soared to 220 kilometers per hour, so much so that the other vehicles didn't even realize what had just passed by.

The speed continued to increase afterward—

The raging wind kept pouring in through the car windows, but under Raphael's protection, the fierce gale eventually left only a refreshing breeze.

Having experienced such a thrilling scene for the first time, Gray had no time to be sentimental. Her attention was completely focused on the road ahead. Her small hands, gripping the steering wheel, were soaked with sweat. Even through the thick cloak, Rovey could feel the sweat seeping from her and her concentration. It was as if she dared not look away from the road ahead for even a moment.

Aozaki Touko, standing next to them, was also excitedly cheering them on; she was clearly enjoying the feeling too.

The black lightning bolt just kept running and running along the suburban highway...

They had gone far beyond the location of the Crowley Family, many kilometers away, and it wasn't until half an hour later that they finally stopped.

Half an hour.

We raced for a full half hour, gradually increasing our speed from zero to 240 kilometers per hour.

In that half hour, they broke the London traffic police's speeding records many times over!

The black lightning bolt had no end; it only stopped when it was completely exhilarated, gradually moving onto a smooth road.

As for those guys in the Department of Law?

It's long gone, probably buried in the dust at some intersection.

On an unknown road, the vehicle finally came to a slow stop.

After such an exciting thirty minutes, Gray raised her white fingers and breathed heavily, seemingly still shaken. Even through the thick layer of clothing, Rovey could feel that she was covered in sweat.

"Whoosh... whoosh..."

"How are you feeling? Are you in a better mood now?" Rovey rubbed Gray's soft little head in his arms and asked in a low voice.

"Too...too..." Gray murmured.

"What's that? Speak louder..." Rovey said with a smile.

"This is so exciting... it feels amazing."