As a warrior, Scáthach was incomparably proud. She would not cater to anyone. She was born into the ruling class, possessed the bearing of a king, and understood that she was meant to reign over all things as a queen who brought happiness to her people.
And no matter how one looked at it, Scáthach was undoubtedly an extraordinarily powerful and suitable Heroic Spirit. As the Shadow Queen who possessed the Wisdom of the Haunted Wasteland in Celtic Mythology, she was far stronger than the originally planned Caster, Cú Chulainn.
Although the Class she had manifested in this time was not the most suitable Lancer but Caster, this was not much of a problem for the Queen of the Land of Shadows, who had mastered all Primordial Runes.
She only needed to use Runes to make slight adjustments to her Spirit Origin and this fabricated body, and she could possess both the Caster and Lancer Classes at once. Even if the altered version was not as powerful as a genuine Lancer's attributes during her normal era, it was already more than enough for her.
She had also offered her help and advice regarding the difficult problems Rovey was working through.
The reason the Magic Workshop had been placed underground near the gymnasium was because this location was closest to where the Greater Grail would descend. By affecting the Leyline here, they could use the flowing mana to strike directly at the Greater Grail when the time came, gaining a tremendous advantage.
However, if all Rovey wanted was to win the Holy Grail War, he would not have summoned Caster.
What he wanted was the true Holy Grail, an untainted one. Since he knew that the troublemaking Einzbern Family had summoned Avenger, Angra Mainyu, during the Third Holy Grail War, he had formed his own plan.
He would summon a magus from the Age of Gods and preside over a purification ritual with her, then claim the true Holy Grail after winning the Holy Grail War.
Although Scáthach's appearance had greatly exceeded Rovey's expectations, and although her personality was not really suited to being a Caster who fought from a fixed position, none of that mattered.
Without question, Scáthach was talented and remarkably perceptive. From the very beginning, she had been the one who understood that he was different from ordinary people. She possessed a precise eye capable of seeing through others' qualities and dispositions, especially whether they were ordinary humans or not. She could see a person's talent and potential.
Even the mad dog Cú Chulainn, renowned in Celtic Mythology, had been discovered by her in this manner and placed under great expectations. Likewise, she regarded the interesting Master before her with the same intention of nurturing him. Therefore, she had not personally presided over the magecraft ritual. She merely tossed him several Primordial Runes related to purification, mana, and curses, pointed out a few issues, and left Rovey to complete it himself.
And the result...
Wasn't this quite good?
"You did quite well. Have you already understood the few Runes I gave you? Your rate of comprehension really does surprise me..."
As she swept her gaze over the ritual array Rovey had completed in the workshop during this time, even Scáthach could not help letting out a sigh of admiration.
"Honestly, your talent in magecraft is almost excessive. Even among my disciples, this pace would put you at the very top. And the secrets you possess make me curious as well. If it is you, then perhaps after everything is nearly over, you may truly be able to accomplish the thing I have been waiting for."
"The thing you have been waiting for... You really do trust me."
Hearing Scáthach mention that matter, which vaguely gave him a headache, Rovey did not respond directly. He merely smiled helplessly.
"This is not trusting you. It is trusting my own judgment. After all, that is why I came here, and why I ended up together with you, is it not?"
"Yes... Then I thank the Queen of the Land of Shadows for her favor. In any case, I will do my best."
Rovey shook his head, not intending to dwell on such matters right now.
"That would be best." Scáthach nodded slightly.
"By the way, you actually went to investigate with Aoko... I thought neither of you had the personality to do something like that."
Just a short while ago, Aozaki Touko, who had returned not long before, had informed him by phone that they had discovered the Einzbern Family's Servant and Master out on the streets.
From her description, he learned that one of the Servants was a small Heroic Spirit with golden hair and emerald eyes. That person should have been Saber, while the white-haired one was an artificial human from the Einzbern Family.
From Aozaki Touko's description, Rovey immediately understood that they had happened to run into Irisviel and Artoria while shopping.
This information was extremely significant to Rovey. It allowed him to confirm in advance that the group with the sword-wielding Heroic Spirit had not changed. It was still King Arthur, Artoria, paired with Emiya Kiritsugu.
That was enough.
"Mm, we had not planned to."
In response to Rovey's question, Scáthach nodded without hesitation before saying,
"We merely happened to encounter them on the street. Still, I did not expect that aside from the two of us, there would be other Masters and Servants in this era bold enough to openly show themselves. Should I say their skill gave them courage?"
So you do know you are not supposed to openly show yourselves...
Rovey gave a wry smile. He was truly helpless when it came to this somewhat self-centered queen.
"By the way, Aozaki Touko told you all the information, right? Master, the other side consisted of an artificial human and a sword-wielding Heroic Spirit. They must be the Einzbern Family's participants you mentioned."
Scáthach shrugged and continued.
"However, although the two were very close, that artificial human was wearing gloves that concealed her Command Seals, so I could not determine whether she was definitely the Master."
"I see... Understood."
Rovey nodded at that, agreeing with Scáthach's assessment. He had long known that Irisviel was merely a smokescreen Emiya Kiritsugu had put forward.
"By the way, Scáthach, where is Aoko? Why didn't she return with you?"
After talking with Scáthach for a while, Rovey finally noticed that Aozaki Touko had not returned with her this time. That surprised him somewhat.
Given that woman's shameless personality, should she not have stayed by Scáthach's side like a lackey, trying to please her in order to obtain Runes? Why had she suddenly disappeared? Had she changed her ways?
"Oh, that interesting little girl."
When Rovey mentioned Aozaki Touko, Scáthach answered casually,
"I gave her a Primordial Rune just now. She is busy finding somewhere quiet to study it, so she did not return with me this time. She said she seemed to be going somewhere called the Hyatt Hotel to rest. Nothing should happen, right?"
"The Hyatt Hotel... Hah, she really knows how to pick a place."
When he heard that name, Rovey's expression changed almost imperceptibly. At the same time, he silently prayed for her.
I hope she is okay...
"By the way, Master, what do you think about the battle plan I suggested before?"
"After my brief contact with that golden Saber today, I am certain that if I take the initiative to release my presence and lure the Heroic Spirits from other groups into challenging me... they will take the bait."
Recalling the Artoria she had met that day, Scáthach spoke with great certainty.
"And because you were not by my side today, they will most likely have already mistaken Aozaki Touko for my Master... So when the time comes, she can appear together with me."
"Have Senior Aoko appear in public with you in my place... Mm, it is highly feasible. It really is a good idea, except..."
He glanced at the eager Scáthach before silently complaining,
Shouldn't this be Lancer's role? You are Caster right now...
But he also understood that even if he tried to reject it, the Queen of the Land of Shadows would most likely not agree.
So Rovey decisively nodded and directly approved Scáthach's proposal.
As for whether Aoko was willing... that was unimportant.
With her personality, as long as he offered a few more Primordial Runes when the time came, she would definitely agree gladly.
After all, puppets that could be replaced at any time as long as there were sufficient materials were far less valuable than the inheritance of Primordial Runes from the Age of Gods.
"Then it is settled, Master. Aozaki Touko and I will go into battle and meet that Saber from today. Although I did not spend long with her, I could sense the pure and clear fighting spirit within her. She would be the perfect opponent for an opening battle."
Seeing Rovey agree, Scáthach could not help smiling. She then offered some praise for Artoria, whom she had encountered that day.
"Mm... Then let us settle it for now. Before that, I need to investigate whether... my unlucky teacher has arrived here as expected."
I Was Betrayed Twice (2/4)
Lord of the Mineralogy Department, Director of the Spiritual Evocation Department...
Leader of the El-Melloi Faction, one of the youngest Color-Rank Magi in the world, a super genius with the potential to reach Grand Rank in the future...
These were all my titles, positions, and prestige. Each identity and public office was more powerful and exalted than the last.
My name was—Kayneth El-Mello Archibald.
It was a name nearly everyone in the world of magecraft knew. As the ninth head of the prestigious Archibald Mage Family, he possessed not only an eminent status but also talent and wisdom rarely seen in the world. Without a doubt, he was a heaven-blessed prodigy upon the path of magecraft.
With such abundant resources and a resounding reputation, his future was limitless. He was absolutely not comparable to a mediocre magus like Tokiomi Tohsaka. Even when facing the legendary Grand Puppet Master Aozaki Touko, Kayneth was confident that he was no inferior to her.
No inferior to her... Hmph. Perhaps with his own talent, he would soon surpass that Grand Puppet Master by a vast margin!
Yet even a genius like him had troubles he could not solve. Especially over the past week or so, Kayneth's mood had been exceptionally foul. The situation had even deteriorated to the point where this genius of magecraft needed to take a few fast-acting heart pills just to stabilize his emotions.
The reason was that the events occurring around him recently had left his feelings more complicated and difficult to judge than anything he had experienced in the previous twenty-plus years of his life.
Several months ago, his prized disciple, the sixth head of the Crowley Family, Rovey Crowley, had suddenly left the Clock Tower after asking him for an extended leave. Rovey was a Clock Tower magus who practiced Alchemy, someone Kayneth valued and intended to recruit. Yet after departing, Rovey never returned. He had even missed the carefully arranged ritual for his promotion to Pride.
Kayneth had begun publicizing Rovey half a year in advance. He had intended to introduce Rovey to his teacher, Lord Yulifis of the Spiritual Evocation Department, after Rovey advanced to Pride. He would then use the opportunity to bring the Crowley Family into the El-Melloi Faction and help his prized disciple enter the Aristocratic Faction. Yet all of that preparation had come to nothing, making Kayneth feel utterly miserable, as though all his efforts had made him look like an idiot.
Because of this incident, Kayneth had lost face before the factions of the Clock Tower. Worried as well by his disobedient disciple's prolonged absence, he spared no expense to search the world for Rovey's whereabouts.
Only recently had a magus from the Intelligence Department reported to him, "Your disciple has appeared in the Far East and has made contact with a local Mage Family. There is a high probability that he is still staying in that city."
Once he learned that nothing had happened to Rovey, Kayneth secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Everything else was secondary. As long as that little bastard who had not contacted him in months was alive, it was fine.
However, when he heard the name of the city Rovey had appeared in several months earlier—Fuyuki City—Kayneth could not help raising his brow.
Fuyuki City...
This city was hardly famous, not merely on a global scale but even within the Far East. It was just an obscure rural backwater on the map.
But the name was far too familiar to him, because the magecraft ritual he had planned to register for was being held in that very city—Fuyuki City.
The Holy Grail War... Fuyuki City, and now his disobedient disciple as well...
From these fragments of information, Kayneth gradually understood many things.
So that brat had secretly gone to participate in some provincial magecraft ritual behind his back?!
As a teacher, Kayneth was naturally furious that his student had concealed this from him, left without saying goodbye, and would rather miss the promotion ritual Kayneth had arranged for him than attend some provincial magecraft ritual.
This also renewed the interest of Kayneth, who had originally decided not to participate in the Holy Grail War because he was worried about Rovey's safety.
He had no interest in the Holy Grail War at all. At most, it was just a gathering of provincial magi. But... since that disobedient disciple was over there, he had every reason to go personally, give him a proper lesson, and make him pay for what he had done.
As a teacher, he had the duty to appear when his student strayed from the right path, correct his mistakes, or expel him from the school—or even execute him as punishment...
If it had been another Lord, being treated like this by a student would certainly have turned teacher and disciple into enemies. But he was a magnanimous man, so he was willing to give that disobedient disciple another chance.
He would go there himself, demonstrate his true abilities as a teacher in that provincial magecraft ritual, completely convince Rovey, bind him, bring him back, and hold the promotion ritual again.
What he needed to do now was simple: purchase a Sacred Relic, prepare a Mana Furnace, study the rules of the Holy Grail War, and make more Mystic Codes.
Although Kayneth looked down on such a provincial magecraft ritual, and neither the Tohsaka Family nor the Matou Family was worth his attention, he truly had no choice but to be cautious when it came to his beloved disciple.
His dual cultivation of Alchemy and magecraft allowed Rovey to flexibly wield many magecraft Mystic Codes. His dual Wind and Water attributes perfectly suited many of the El-Melloi Faction's theories and Mystic Codes. Even Volumen Hydrargyrum could be used to near perfection in his hands.
Others might not know it, but as Rovey's teacher, Kayneth could not possibly be unaware of his abilities.
Leaving aside everything else, Rovey's theory of the Hallcraft, the Mobile Magic Workshop, which combined Alchemy Arrays, magecraft, and Mystic Codes, was more than enough material for promotion to Pride or even Color Rank.
Therefore, he truly could not afford to let his guard down in the slightest against this beloved disciple of his. Otherwise, he might really suffer an upset.
According to the usual plot of movies, a disciple would betray his master, and the teacher would pursue the disobedient disciple. They would battle for three hundred rounds in some uninhabited place, locked in an unbreakable stalemate. Then, relying on his extensive experience, the teacher would gradually gain the upper hand, strike the disciple down with one palm, bind and suppress him, and have him face the wall in repentance until he was slowly reformed and returned to the right path.
But there were also plots where the sect leader was no match for the traitorous disciple, was caught off guard during battle, had his weakness seized, and was slapped to death in one blow. The traitor would then escape and wreak havoc everywhere.
Given Rovey's ability, the second possibility was not impossible. In fact, it was highly likely!
As a genius, and also the person who understood his student best, Kayneth naturally considered such a possibility in advance.
He was arrogant, but he was not an idiot. There were countless geniuses in this world, and naivety in the brutal environment of magecraft could cost one their life.
Therefore, he directly abandoned his absurd original plan of bringing his fiancée Sola-Ui along, participating in the provincial magecraft ritual while taking a vacation. Instead, he actively prepared for battle, ready to have an earth-shaking master-disciple duel with his disobedient disciple in a city of the Far East!
However, just as he had finished making Mystic Codes, renting a Mana Furnace, and selecting a suitable Sacred Relic, with only his departure remaining... something even more infuriating happened.
The top-tier Sacred Relic he had just selected was gone!
And according to the courier's testimony, the person who stole his Sacred Relic had to be that commoner student who had recently made some outrageous remarks and was eagerly courting disaster—Waver Velvet.
The stolen Sacred Relic was a corner of the cloak of the King of Conquerors, Iskandar, the legendary ruler who had built an empire spanning Europe, Asia, and Africa. It was a treasure among treasures, one of the finest even among Sacred Relics, and a trump card he had intended to use to suppress his disobedient disciple.
Yet he had not expected that before his trump card could even be brought out, someone would intercept it halfway.
For this war, he had spent this period preparing carefully and proceeding cautiously, guarding against every Lord trying to sabotage him, all so he could capture Rovey and bring him back. But who could have imagined that at the very moment when everything was nearly complete and he was about to strike, his Sacred Relic would be gone! And it had been stolen by an incompetent fool he looked down upon.
Without question, this had completely exceeded Kayneth's expectations. In order to participate in this magecraft ritual without worries and bring back his disobedient disciple, he had gone to great lengths to guard against the watchful eyes of every faction and the mutual sabotage between Lords. Yet he had failed to guard against betrayal from his own student.
And twice. A full two times!
After these two experiences, Kayneth finally understood what it meant to guard against thieves day and night, only to be robbed by someone in his own house.
He had been betrayed twice, both times by his own students. This undoubtedly dealt a tremendous blow to Kayneth's proud heart.
But by the time he realized it, it was already too late. Waver, who had stolen the Sacred Relic, borrowed money from a classmate and flew to the Far East, to that same destination—Fuyuki City.
Fine, fine, fine... Fuyuki City again. Every last one of them was rushing to Fuyuki City, and they had all taken Sacred Relics or Mystic Codes from him. Truly, the same teacher could not produce two kinds of students.
One had used his status as Kenneth's personal disciple to move freely through his home, taking away a great many Mystic Codes and materials in one sweep, along with a fragment of a Noble Phantasm, before secretly fleeing to a small city in the Far East to prepare for battle. The other had directly stolen a fragment of his cloak just to make things worse for him.
Never mind that idiot Waver. Rovey absolutely should not have done something like this!
He had been raising Rovey as his successor. He had even intended to arrange for Rovey to marry into the family once that younger relative of his had grown up a little, then gradually hand the El-Melloi Faction over to him. Yet Rovey actually dared to treat him like this? This was the most despicable betrayal.
Kayneth's life was perfect, and it would certainly be happy as well. Betrayal was absolutely not permitted!
Before you continue