Chapter 501

It's like not wanting to face reality.

At the same time, her voice was trembling, as if something was gripping her throat tightly.

Normally she could calm down, but now she just can't control herself!

Erice isn't Erice, but her Grandmother, Manazuru Chitose. Yet Erice has those feelings for Novia, and so does Chitose. How can they have such a relationship?! Mom, I'm so Sorrow...

Without intending to calm Tiamat down, Chitose walked up to her, suddenly raised her hand in greeting with a "Yay!"

"Long time no see, Tiamat."

"You seem very happy, Manazuru."

"Oh, can you tell?"

In response to Alice's question, Chitose glanced at Novia and then deliberately spoke loudly and clearly, "After all, it was your invitation. If there's really something going on, I hope you can tell me. You don't just want to look at me as your aunt, do you? That's not true, is it? You don't even have the courage to say hello, and you just dare to watch from here. That's impossible."

"... Didn't I already say it wasn't me?"

Alice looked at Chitose, who was unusually lively today, with a hint of helplessness. She glanced up at Novia and met her gaze. "Eh--ah, well, how should I put it--"

The Witch didn't understand why she was avoiding his gaze, so she could only awkwardly look away.

However, Chitose seemed satisfied with this, and with a smile that seemed to be searching for an accomplice to a prank, she strode toward Novia.

"I'm used to it, so I haven't changed it much for many years. Is there anything strange about this outfit?"

"It's beautiful. What material is it made of?"

"The feathers of the Eastern Spirit Bird, eternally frozen even at room temperature; the original feathers used as exorcising amulets; the dust scattered when the Void Shadow vanished; the ominous bones entangled by curses; the Vow -bound substance resembling ashes after burning..."

Chitose crossed her arms and poured out a whole string of things, some she could understand and some she couldn't, but Novia understood it instantly.

In short, the Black Sailor Uniform was created using a great deal of resources and precious materials.

"How about that? Pretty impressive, right?"

Manazuru Chitose's joy was evident on her face.

"I truly deserve to be the victor of the Holy Grail War."

"I understand this without you having to tell me, Your Chitose."

Novia nodded in complete agreement. "By the way, where's Lucius? Isn't he with you?"

"There was a recent murder case involving the theft of Command Spell, and he took charge of it. Otherwise, it would have been quite interesting if he had come."

Lucius might not know who the Demon King is, or he might not think that the silver-haired Erice resembles anyone, but he would definitely recognize Novia now in physical form. In fact, his biggest purpose in coming to the Present World was to see her again.

"... Since there's a case, you should be handling it together with Lucius, right? It's selfish of you not to take it seriously; at the very least, you should ask for leave."

Erice was resting her chin on her hand on the Sofa, suddenly spoke, her displeasure evident in her eyes.

What's wrong with you, you tyrant, Chitose?! You're acting like a little girl; anyone who didn't know better would think you're Impostor. You're the renowned Stigmata! This guy is nowhere near as good as Lucius. Why are you so interested...? Could it be that you still have feelings for him?

You bastard, Chitose! How could you face your grandfather? How could you face your father? How could you face your mother?!

"Erice..."

The Chitose called out hesitated for a moment, then her eyes flashed with a mischievous glint before she suddenly reverted to her usual cold expression Magecraft.

"I started this, so I'm responsible for it to the end. There are a hundred different kinds of happiness in a hundred people. My duty is to protect this city and provide people with ways to achieve their own happiness. If you confuse my freedom with my selfishness, I will punish you."

"Chitose..."

Erice wanted to refute him sternly, but swallowed her words at the last moment.

Because it is the truth, Manazuru Chitose is not a leader who was crowned based on the hopes of the masses. In the hearts of young girls, she is a dictator that can be seen everywhere in history, a tyrant with absolute power Violence —that is, an incurable tyrant, and at the same time, she is her Grandmother, so she dares not resist.

But for some reason, Erice felt that Chitose was in an unusually good mood. Of course, she could tell it was because of Novia, so she could only glare at him fiercely.

"... Actually, we're going to Tokyo this time, Erice."

"Tokyo?"

Erice couldn't help but murmur, while Chitose suddenly fell silent as well.

It's that word again. Every time Erice tells someone that word, her heart is stirred. Seeing that Erice doesn't know how to react, Chitose gives her a helpless smile for a moment, an expression that looks like she might burst into tears at any moment. This makes Erice subconsciously touch her ear.

For her, the scar from when her Grandmother accidentally cut her ear while cutting her hair when she was four years old still remains.

"... What's wrong, Chitose?"

"It's nothing, because Erice, you're Nami's only daughter."

Novia gave a faint smile. "Everything that happened on that land would probably be an indelible and tragic memory for anyone who experienced it. Please don't take offense."

What is he saying...?

Anyone who knows my background would surely say I'm a relative of that Manazuru Chitose, or some unruly granddaughter, and that's why he called me that. This person knows my mother...

Having met Novia many times, Erice also created a profile of him based on the principles of Night Watch work.

His stern demeanor exuded a kind of awareness and resolve typically found in soldiers who had faced life and death on the battlefield. Yet, miraculously, she also retained the sensitivity usually found in ordinary civilians.

A kind-hearted older brother next door, and a second-rate Magus.

This was Erice's previous assessment of Novia.

However, some questions still puzzled her. Novia, Chitose, and her mother seemed very close, but why didn't she remember him at all? Until she found out the reason, Erice was very wary of him. She wanted to ask more questions, but she couldn't because she was afraid.

Deep down, Erice kept crying out, "If only I didn't know!" But--

"Are you... going to leave me again... and go away by yourself...?"

Part of the whisper was just Erice's bluff, but Novia, who had been silent until then, immediately reacted upon hearing it.

He understood, of course, that Erice was just bluffing and hadn't recognized him as the Demon King. Therefore, he could simply ignore her words. However, after learning about Erice's life over the past five years from Yama, he still felt a little reluctant to do so.

"You're just putting on an act, but it should be almost time, after all, you're all grown up now."

"... If you don't tell me, I won't leave you, and I'll do everything I can to interfere with your communication with Chitose and Tiamat."

Erice bit her lip, trying hard not to let anyone see her pathetic tears, even though she was actually completely incapable of shedding tears.

"Haha, how could you say something so troublesome?"

Novia's tone suddenly turned into something like telling a ghost story, "So, let's go to Tokyo together, Erice."

"... ah?!"

After seeing everyone off, the Witch, having finished her Black Tea and warmed herself, continued reading her Book as time slowly passed.

Of those who had visited this Kuonji, he was not very familiar with them.

Parents, friends, Aoko, Manazuru, Erice, Tiamat, Novia.

There will probably be other guests visiting here in the future.

This is because the Western-Style Mansion, situated in the 'past', is always very conspicuous, and it's impossible to predict how many people will live there in the Future.

However, compared to herself, these two are still better, Alice warned herself, as her mood became increasingly strange.

I'm feeling a bit sleepy. I'll close my eyes and take a short nap.

But in her light sleep, Aoko Aozaki seemed to hear a mournful laugh coming from somewhere, and at the same time felt something about to overflow from her body.

"What a pity, we're back to square one again. Don't give up until the very end, but swallowing a live animal whole is too barbaric, isn't it?"

"Soon, right in front of you."

"That person, right?"

"Before your face becomes mine, embrace it, bathe in it, dissolve in it, my lovely Alice."

Stepping off the underwater tram, the pitch-black depths of the seabed were clearly visible. Logically, at this depth, even Sun shouldn't be able to illuminate the area to this extent.

"The surrounding area is being corrected using sensors left over from Tokyo."

Manazuru Chitose explained this.

As a former metropolis, Tokyo is a melting pot of cultures, boasting diverse cultural and architectural styles. To put it nicely, it is diverse; to put it bluntly, it is an Order City, especially evident in the post -New Era.

However, after collapsing and becoming ruins, only a small number of people remained, with only a few Night Watch operating in this Tokyo submerged by seawater.

"Greetings, Manazuru. Greetings, Lord Manazuru. I am grateful for your visit to Tokyo from Shinjuku amidst your busy schedule. I am John, the Alchemy who was in charge of the Night Watch in Tokyo and formerly served under the Atlas Institute. This is my Servant, the Assassin Cleopatra, the Cleopatra."

A handsome man with skin as white as milk lowered his head solemnly, and standing beside him was a noble-looking woman with blue hair.

"... Is Dr. John Nasno here too?"

Erice suddenly spoke up.

Servant John Snow, one of the Servant appearing in Fr.

He is the head of the city's health department in Marseille Mosaic City City, and works with his Master, who is in charge of care, not only providing medical advice but also paying close attention to the contamination caused by Magecraft.

As an England doctor in the early 19th century, he made significant contributions to the prevention of infectious diseases and even assisted the famous Queen Victoria in childbirth. Compared with medical giants such as Koch, Pasteur, and Kitasato Shibasaburo, his global fame may be slightly less. However, for Eri, who had lost her Demon King Erice, Dr. Snow was a trustworthy person who took good care of her.

John Snow disliked others interfering with his work and kept his distance from Manazuru Chitose, maintaining a completely neutral stance.

Erice knew him because he had once asked her to do a secret job through City AI. Conversely, the girl, who was Night Watch, had also sought his help when handling certain cases.

"Dr. Snow is currently preoccupied with some matters and is therefore unable to receive you all at the moment. He apologizes greatly. This young lady must be Utsumi Erice, the granddaughter of Manazuru Chitose, right? Yes, she is an excellent Night Watch. I hope you and your Grandmother will have a safe and peaceful 72 hours from now on."

Um?

The moment John Dee saw Erice in person, he realized the 'abnormality' about her.

That is, the 'Evil Spirit' became incredibly compliant, completely losing their ability to bewitch and sway them, and instead became extremely obedient and docile.

Why is Dee so concerned about the 'Evil Spirit' possessing Erice?

Because that information was essentially malicious, like 'Black Mud,' many years ago, when Dee was plotting it, he had already used the highest level of Partitioned Thought to determine, and could be said to be a prophecy, the most likely situation for Erice that time:

A torrent of blood will overflow her sides, and she will wail in its fury; the blood will not only pollute her Divinity heart, but will also flood everywhere, burying far more people than the Living People, and committing far more evil deeds.

Worse still, she will succumb to evil.

Just as Egypt was lost, so too were the gods and men there abandoned.

Therefore, she must eventually stand in the wilderness, facing the south wind as the sun sets, bowing in reverence; and when the Sun returns, she bows again to the east.

But at this very moment.

At the bottom of Erice Sei's pupils, a flame burns—a passion that will never be lost, whether it be fear, humility, or self-torture.

Dee wasn't particularly surprised by this; if a wise person should know everything beforehand, then they certainly couldn't be Ignorance of this.

"Then, I'll trouble you to show us around Tokyo."

Novia moved closer to Dee and placed her hand on his shoulder. "You should know him well, John."

"... Okay, of course, yes."

Seeing John nod, Novia immediately continued, "Speaking of which, haven't we met somewhere before?"

No, that's not true.

Dee smiled and said, "Of course, if you want to play this game of being overly familiar, you can really play for a long time. I invite you to play by yourself until the ground beneath your feet collapses. As for me, I don't need to; long, long ago, the shadow of death was closer to me than the veins on my neck. To quote a beautiful verse from the Quran— "

"Let me think about it."

Novia, who interrupted Dee, said bluntly.

"Your next line is supposed to be: 'If you could truly make me cry, my tears would corrode your face.' That should be it, right?"

"... Huh?"

"Could I have guessed wrong? Surely not."

"Haha, no, you're right."

Dee admitted, scratching her neck shyly, her expression suggesting the two were longtime friends who hadn't seen each other in years.

"As you said, it would still be embarrassing if others saw through me. Yes, that's probably what I think... Were you once a member of the Atlas Institute? I haven't seen any of my fellow students in a long time since the Academy disbanded."

Like the Atlas Institute, the Atlas Clock Tower met its demise, at least on the surface in this New Era.

"Let's assume so."

Although Novia never studied at the Atlas Institute, she had in-depth exchanges with Sion, so she could be considered a member of the Atlas Institute in a way.

"Oh, no wonder you were able to say what I wanted to say. You must be one of the best in my class. You'll undoubtedly become an instructor, and maybe even the Director."