The driver adjusted his gloves, then asked again.
"No need. The New Year has just passed. Since I'm paying a visit, knocking on the door myself would be more sincere."
Rejecting the driver's suggestion, Rovey handed him a fairly large-denomination bill and did not take the change. Since it was the New Year, even for a first meeting, it was nice to seek a little good fortune. The extra could count as a New Year's tip. He then waved, got out of the car, and snapped his fingers at him.
Snap.
A crisp sound rang out.
Then he gave his instruction. "Leave this place. Remember to delete the dashcam footage, then forget that you brought me here."
"Okay..."
Bang.
Before long, the car door shut.
After Rovey got out, the dazed driver nodded blankly, then stepped on the gas and sped out of the suburbs.
About five minutes later, outside the Tohsaka Residence.
Knock, knock, knock—
Walking up the stone steps to the door, Rovey lightly grabbed the metal door knocker on the Tohsaka Family's gate and struck the iron door heavily. The enormous noise from the clashing metal startled even the sparrows resting on nearby branches into flight.
"..."
Yet after knocking for quite some time, he received no response. Feeling the icy touch against his palm and looking at the iron gate before him, stiffened by the winter cold, Rovey could not help feeling speechless and helpless.
If he were visiting an ordinary household, even entering without permission would probably only be regarded as bad manners, earning him a scolding from the homeowners. At worst, he would be treated as a thief and thrown out. But visiting the Tohsaka Family was entirely different.
Unlike ordinary people, for whom a home was simply a place to live, a home held another, deeper meaning in the eyes of a Magus.
A home was a base for storing one's research results, a place to shelter oneself, an inviolable sacred domain—in other words, a Magic Crest, or a Magic Workshop.
So if Rovey dared to force his way in or attempted to sneak inside, the Magus within would notice and regard him as an enemy invading the workshop. In a Magus's eyes, that was equivalent to declaring war.
So no matter how helpless he felt, Rovey could only stand obediently in the snow and knock.
—Knock, knock, knock!!
Several more minutes passed without any response, and Rovey pulled the knocker again, continuing to knock obediently.
"Is the Tohsaka Patriarch at home? Rovey Crowley, Crowley Patriarch and Magus of the Clock Tower, has come to pay a visit to the Tohsaka Patriarch."
As he knocked, he raised his voice slightly, hoping someone inside would hear him.
At the same time, Rovey's eyes twitched, and he increasingly felt just how bizarre and troublesome these classical Magi were.
Just like some of the old-fashioned Magi at the Clock Tower, Tokiomi Tohsaka was a thoroughly retro Magus. He seemed to have experienced none of the conveniences brought by technological progress.
He was clearly an important and wealthy figure in Fuyuki City, rich enough to live in such a large residence, yet he did not even install a doorbell. What era was this? They still had to knock with a door ring like it was the Edo period. It was impossible to understand how their minds worked.
Their means of communication were even more ridiculous. Who would believe that the prestigious Tohsaka Family did not even have a telephone? Even if one wanted to send a calling card in advance, one had to write a letter and have a familiar deliver it. It was not only troublesome, but exhausting.
Did Tokiomi Tohsaka really think such antiquated methods were stylish? Or had the Industrial Revolution simply passed the Tohsaka Family by?
If they were pursuing thrills, why not take it all the way?
They might as well throw out their electric lights and flush toilets too. Returning completely to a medieval aristocratic lifestyle would be far more stylish. Then they could see how many days they lasted.
Of course, Rovey could only complain silently in his heart. He was on their turf, after all. Even a powerful dragon did not suppress a local snake. As a Mage Family aristocrat who had traveled all the way from the Clock Tower, he had better keep a low profile here. Besides, he had come to abduct their daughter, so his attitude and etiquette had to be impeccable.
Suppressing his extreme irritation, Rovey finally waited for the gate to open after standing outside in the snow for around seven minutes.
Creak!!
Hearing the sound of the metal mechanism opening from within, Rovey, standing in the snow, quickly returned from his thoughts to reality.
"Welcome, Crowley Patriarch."
As the gate slowly opened, a deep, refined, and amiable male voice sounded beside him.
Rovey turned his gaze toward it.
After the courtyard gate opened, a middle-aged man with refined features, a red goatee, and a well-fitted red suit emerged with a cane in hand. He greeted Rovey, who had been standing in the snow for quite some time.
Following behind him silently was a figure in green: a beautiful mature woman with long, smooth black hair, well-proportioned features, a voluptuous figure, and the air of a graceful Japanese lady.
At this moment, during the New Year, as the mistress of the Tohsaka Family, she had accompanied her husband outside to receive this guest who had come from afar.
As for why they had taken so long to come out, it was because Tokiomi Tohsaka had wasted some time choosing a suit so that the Tohsaka Family would not lose face before an outsider.
Although Aoi Tohsaka felt that making a guest wait in the snow was even more discourteous than worrying about a suit, she could not stop her husband and could only follow him out to welcome the guest.
The red suit, the goatee, and that deliberately elegant posture he maintained at all times—this was indeed Tokiomi Tohsaka. The famous Scapegoat of This World in the Type-Moon World was highly recognizable.
As for the other beautiful lady, she should be his wife, Aoi Tohsaka.
After this familiar-looking, well-mannered middle-aged man appeared, Rovey merely swept his gaze over the pair before quickly withdrawing it. Then he politely inclined his head and offered a greeting.
"Happy New Year, Tohsaka Patriarch, Lady Tohsaka."
"Happy New Year. It has been a while, Mr. Crowley."
Tokiomi Tohsaka, who had just come out of the courtyard, smiled and nodded, returning the appropriate greeting.
When dealing with a Clock Tower aristocrat from such an ancient lineage as Rovey, one had to be properly polite. As the hosts, the Tohsaka Family absolutely could not lose their manners and become a laughingstock before a Mage Family from the Clock Tower.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Rovey while wearing a refined smile, Tokiomi Tohsaka extended an arm to guide the young man he had met in London a year ago. From beginning to end, his manners were flawless.
"This way, please."
"Alright." Rovey nodded lightly.
Led by his host, Rovey strolled through the sizable courtyard, taking in the scenery of the Tohsaka Family estate step by step.
Like those Mage Families that enjoyed decorating their facades to display their family's prosperity, the Tohsaka Family's courtyard was also luxuriously decorated.
Gravel paths, gardens, hedges, and lamp posts inlaid with rubies—every suitable decoration was present. It fully displayed both their extravagance as the local overlords and the wealth and prestige expected of a Mage Family.
However, while such a worldly layout might indeed intimidate ordinary people, it was merely average to Rovey, who was also a Magus.
Luxurious?
A little, perhaps, but it was really just normal Mage Family standards.
There was nothing especially precious here. It did not even compare to his own family's arrangements, and compared to old aristocratic families, the difference was not minor.
After all, his teacher's residence was the kind of place that truly flaunted outrageous wealth and extravagance.
So compared with those sights that looked impressive but had no practical use, what Rovey truly cared about were the barriers deployed by the ruby lamps, the familiars scattered throughout the estate, and the many magic arrays hidden in the corners. The layered defenses formed by these arrangements made the Tohsaka Family's courtyard nearly impenetrable.
It seemed Tokiomi Tohsaka truly placed great importance on his family's base. At least in Rovey's eyes, this was already a heavily guarded Magic Crest. Fortunately, he had not acted recklessly earlier, or dealing with these magic arrays would have been quite troublesome.
Rovey only glanced around and did not investigate further, much less explore without permission. Instead, he quietly followed behind Tokiomi Tohsaka, conversing with him as they took a hidden side path around the courtyard's arrangements and headed directly for the front door.
Tokiomi Tohsaka was quite satisfied by this, and his favorable impression of Rovey silently rose a little.
As expected of an aristocrat from London. Although his family had encountered some misfortune, the nobility inherited in his blood had not faded. His etiquette and upbringing were proper, which pleased Tokiomi as well.
Upon reaching the entrance, Tokiomi Tohsaka gently pushed open the front door of his residence.
"Please come in, Mr. Crowley."
"Alright..."
Before Rovey could reply, the moment Tokiomi Tohsaka opened the front door himself, they suddenly heard a rather hurried set of footsteps racing down the wooden staircase.
"Father!"
Immediately afterward, a lively but somewhat childish girl's voice sounded in their ears, causing Tokiomi Tohsaka's expression to stiffen abruptly and turn rather unpleasant.
Hearing that childish voice, Rovey's thoughts stirred, and he turned his head to look. A young girl was running toward them, wearing a red butterfly hair clip and black twin-tails, with an adorable, childish face.
In Rovey's eyes, she was like a lively little fairy in winter, bouncing over to Tokiomi Tohsaka before affectionately grabbing his sleeve.
Only after noticing Rovey beside him did she realize there was a guest in the house today. She then gave him a curious look and asked, "Who are you?"
"Rin, what kind of behavior is this, rushing around so carelessly? And do not be so rude to a guest. Have you forgotten the Tohsaka Family's etiquette?"
Witnessing his daughter's poor behavior with his own eyes, Tokiomi Tohsaka's face visibly darkened.
"Y-yes, sorry!"
Hearing Tokiomi Tohsaka's somewhat displeased rebuke, Rin Tohsaka, who had been in high spirits moments ago, shrank back. The smile on her face withered like a dying flower.
After all, Rin Tohsaka was only six or seven years old. Being suddenly scolded by her father, of course she would be frightened.
"..."
Seeing this, Aoi Tohsaka opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something, but realizing there was an important guest present, she remained silent for fear of upsetting her husband.
"My apologies. My daughter is somewhat ill-mannered. I've made a spectacle of myself before you, Mr. Crowley."
"It's alright, Tohsaka Patriarch. During the New Year, it is a good thing for a child to happily welcome her father home. If anything, I am the one intruding."
Seeing this, Rovey took the initiative to smooth things over for Tokiomi Tohsaka.
Then he crouched down and looked at the somewhat downcast little girl before him with a smile.
"Hello, little Rin Tohsaka. Don't be afraid."
"My name is Rovey Crowley. If you find that difficult to say, just call me Rovey. It's nice to meet you."
"...Rovey Crowley. Are you a foreigner?"
Rin Tohsaka stood there, quietly repeating the somewhat strange name.
"Rin, introduce yourself to the guest," Tokiomi Tohsaka said.
She did not remain puzzled for long. Prompted by Tokiomi Tohsaka beside her, she gathered herself and introduced herself to Rovey according to the etiquette her father usually taught her.
"Um, nice to meet you. My name is Rin Tohsaka. Please take care of me."
"Mm, Rin is such a polite, good girl."
Rovey gently patted her little head in comfort. Seeing this, Tokiomi Tohsaka's expression finally eased slightly.
Just as Rin Tohsaka finished speaking, another little girl in a purple dress emerged from the living room under Aoi Tohsaka's guidance.
She also had black hair and a round, adorable face, but she appeared far less lively than Rin Tohsaka. Her expression was timid, and judging from her appearance and temperament alone, she somewhat resembled Aoi Tohsaka, the mother beside her.
After hearing Tokiomi Tohsaka call for her, she followed her mother out of the living room, then walked up to Rovey and introduced herself as she had just been instructed.
"Happy New Year, big brother. Hello, my name is Sakura Tohsaka. It's nice to meet you."
Watching his second daughter complete the Tohsaka Family's etiquette properly, Tokiomi Tohsaka showed a gratified smile. He did not forget to educate his somewhat reckless eldest daughter as well.
"Rin, you must learn more of the Tohsaka Family's etiquette from Sakura. That careless behavior from earlier is unacceptable. You must maintain elegance at all times."
"Oh, I understand, Father." Rin Tohsaka pouted unhappily.
At the same time, the corners of Rovey's lips curled into a faint, imperceptible smile upon seeing Sakura Tohsaka.
She really is still here...
My timing calculations were correct, he thought to himself.
"Alright, alright, Tohsaka Patriarch. It's the New Year, so do not scold the children. Being as lively as Rin is exactly how children her age should be."
Suppressing the smile on his lips, Rovey finally took the initiative to end the boring subject of the Tohsaka Family's insistence on elegance.
Then, under Tokiomi Tohsaka's somewhat surprised gaze, he took two prepared gifts from his pocket and handed them to the two little girls before him.
"Here, Sakura and Rin. These are gifts I prepared for you, and New Year's gifts as well."
They were two beautiful gemstones of different colors. The ruby was for Rin Tohsaka, while the purple gemstone was for Sakura Tohsaka.
"So pretty!"
Upon seeing the ruby, Rin Tohsaka instinctively accepted it and cried out happily.
Sakura Tohsaka, meanwhile, turned her head to look at Tokiomi Tohsaka beside her.
Although Tokiomi Tohsaka was somewhat surprised by Rovey's generosity, he did not hesitate for long. He smiled faintly and nodded.
"Accept it. It is a token of the Crowley Patriarch's goodwill."
Tokiomi Tohsaka then turned and left, taking the initiative to arrange a place for his upcoming conversation with Rovey.
"Thank you, big brother!"
Rin Tohsaka happily raised the ruby in her hand and thanked him.
"Mm, thank you, big brother."
Before you continue