"No, Luvia."
Smack! Taking advantage of the gap while Luvia was speaking, Rin struck Luvia in the chest with her palm, sending her flying hard into the wall.
Clutching her chest, Luvia stood up with a flushed face.
"Where are you hitting?! Damn it! Rin, don't let me catch you."
Rin assumed a fighting stance and crooked her finger at Luvia.
"Come."
"Damn it!"
Luvia took a deep breath and launched a flying knee at Rin. Rin crossed her arms to block the blow, then planted her left foot between Luvia's legs and drove her shoulder into Luvia's chest.
As Luvia was knocked over, a sharp glint flashed through her eyes. The instant she hit the ground, she wrapped both legs around Rin's left leg and pulled, dragging Rin down with her.
Not good. I can't beat this girl on the ground.
Just as Rin had expected, the moment she hit the floor, Luvia latched onto her. After only a brief struggle, Luvia locked her hands around Rin's neck.
Rin poured a large amount of mana into reinforcing her neck, keeping her breathing smooth as she began trying to pry Luvia's hands apart.
"Stop struggling, Rin. If you admit defeat, I'll let go. Otherwise, I'll choke you unconscious!"
After finally getting into position, Rin struggled to her feet, dragging Luvia up with her. With room to move, Rin unleashed Scorpion's Tail several times in succession.
Because of the difference in height, Rin's legs could only reach Luvia's backside.
Feeling a burning pain there, Luvia involuntarily loosened her grip.
Rin seized the chance to pry Luvia's arms apart and escape her hold.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Luvia covered her backside with a red face, glaring resentfully at Rin, who was some distance away clutching her throat and coughing.
"How did you become so dirty?"
"Cough. It was an accident. All right, let's call it here for today."
Hearing Rin's words, Luvia proudly put her hands on her hips.
"Fine, but you lost today, Rin."
Already somewhat absentminded, Rin waved a hand.
"All right, I lost!"
Hearing Rin concede so easily, Luvia lost her enthusiasm as well. There's no sense of accomplishment at all!
After Waver finished relaying Rin's request to Marisbury Animusphere, Lord of Celestial Mechanics, he went to Kirei's office.
"Master, what did you need me for?"
Kirei, seated behind his desk, looked at Waver as he entered and asked. He first opened a drawer, took out an invitation, and placed it on the desk before speaking.
"Waver, keep this invitation safe. For this Mystic Eye Collection Train trip, bring Gry and come with me."
Waver picked up a chair from the side, carried it over to the desk, and sat opposite Kirei. Then he took a cigar Kirei had already cut and slowly lit it.
"Is this still because of Rin? Master, don't you think you've done too much for her?"
Kirei did not answer Waver's question. Instead, he suddenly began talking about a dream.
"Waver, after I participated in the Holy Grail War, on the first night after returning, I had a dream. A terrifying dream!"
Waver looked at Kirei in confusion, waiting for him to continue.
"I dreamed that I died in the Holy Grail War, killed by Kiritsugu Emiya. Sola betrayed me as well, and then died in that ruined factory. My Magecraft Crest was destroyed, the El-Melloi family fell into decline, and the young Lainas found you and had you inherit my position as Lord..."
At that point, Kirei paused. A trace of fear appeared in his eyes as he picked up the cigar on the desk and put it in his mouth.
Waver took out a lighter and lit Kirei's cigar, asking in confusion.
"Master, it was only a dream. Why do you care so much?"
Kirei exhaled a cloud of smoke and spoke slowly.
"Waver, that wasn't a dream. It was too real. It was as if I had experienced it all once before, and besides..."
Kirei removed his glove, revealing old scars on his hand.
"I've always told you that I got these accidentally during an experiment, haven't I? No! In truth, they suddenly appeared on my hand the morning after I had that dream. At the same time, there has always been a voice in my heart telling me that Rin changed everything, and that only Rin can allow El-Melloi to soar."
Waver's pupils shrank as he stared at Kirei in astonishment.
"Master! Could some Phantasmal Species or some kind of Mystery be behind this?"
Kirei put his glove back on and shook his head at Waver.
"Waver, whatever it is, if it can silently pull me into a dream it wove and leave scars on my hand, then we have no way to resist it, do we?"
Kirei then set down his cigar, rose, and walked to the window. With his hands behind his back, he watched the heavy rain outside.
"Waver, since we cannot resist, we may as well follow 'its' arrangements. Helping Rin has brought considerable benefits to El-Melloi anyway."
Waver picked up the invitation from the desk, slipped it into his coat, then stood and placed a hand over his chest in salute to Kirei.
"Master, I understand."
"Mm, good that you understand. Oh, and don't forget to bring your disciple Gry!"
"Yes, Master!"
Near evening, after spending the entire afternoon drinking tea with Luvia, Rin rubbed her bloated stomach and looked at the rain outside. It still showed no sign of stopping, so she could only helplessly call Waver.
Rin then got up, bid Luvia farewell, and went to the entrance of the shopping center.
Before long, Waver drove up to the entrance.
Carefully avoiding several puddles, Rin walked over to Waver's car, opened the door, and got in.
She accepted the towel Waver handed her and wiped the rainwater from her hair and face.
"Thanks, Waver. Sorry to make you come all this way to pick me up."
Waver put away the towel, started the car, and kept his eyes ahead.
"After receiving your message, I originally planned to send a servant. But I happened to be getting off work, so I came myself."
Resting her chin on her hand, Rin watched the rainy scenery outside and casually asked.
"Waver, do you still have the Holy Relic you used to summon the King of Conquerors?"
"I've kept it very well. What is it, Rin? Is there a problem?"
"Nothing. Just asking."
After the car returned to the castle, Rin went to take a bath alone. Then, led by a servant, she went to the dining room.
Kirei, seated at the head of the table, greeted Rin as she entered before asking.
"Rin, how did you find today's visit to the Clock Tower?"
"Not bad. It truly is the highest institution in the magecraft world."
Sola, beside Kirei, smiled as she spoke.
"Then, Rin, do you plan to take up a post at the Clock Tower? Our Mineralogy Department would be delighted to have you teach there."
Rin first glanced at Sakura and Fujino beside her before slowly speaking.
"I do plan to move my family to the United Kingdom after the next Holy Grail War ends, but there are still some matters I haven't handled. I can't decide about taking a position at the Clock Tower for now."
Waver looked at Rin in surprise.
"You intend to give up the Tohsaka family's leyline and ancestral estate in Fuyuki City?"
"No, only my family will move here. I can entrust the leyline and ancestral estate to Touko Aozaki for safekeeping. If Touko is unwilling, I can entrust them to the local church or other acquaintances. I won't give up the leyline or the ancestral estate."
At that moment, Lainas beside them smiled and said.
"Aren't you afraid that someone will plot to seize your Tohsaka family's leyline and ancestral estate..."
Book recommendation: "The Qingqiu Fox of Gensokyo Is Fiercely Cute!"
Any friends want to join the group? - - -953736220
All right! Maybe, perhaps, or possibly nobody does. - -
Section 67: Chapter 66: The Mystic Eye Collection Train, the Former Director, and the Director
After dinner, Rin returned to the guest room with Sakura and Fujino.
"Master, what's with that Lainas? She kept making those snide remarks."
Rin shook her head, then pressed a hand to Fujino's shoulder as she explained.
"Fujino, it's my fault. Lainas is only worried that I'll take away her status as El-Melloi's heir. She's overthinking things."
"Sister, what is going on?"
"I'm not entirely sure either. I haven't paid attention to news from the magecraft world for a long time. All right, let's not talk about that. Sakura, Fujino, what do you think about my decision to move to London later?"
Fujino shrugged indifferently, then glanced at Sakura from the corner of her eye.
"I'll listen to whatever you arrange, Master. But I don't know whether Sakura can bear to leave her friends in Fuyuki City."
Hearing Fujino's jab, Sakura glared at her. But Fujino was speaking the truth; Sakura truly found it hard to part with her friends in Fuyuki City.
"Um, Sister, if we move to London later, will it be hard to see Aunt Touko, Shirou, Shinji, Sister Taiga, Kallian, and Kirei?"
Rin propped her chin against her hand and leaned on the table, thinking for a while before speaking.
"Kirei's family should be manageable. I can try to have them transferred to a church near London. As for Touko, I can't figure that girl out either. But Shinji and Taiga will probably be difficult to see often."
"Is that so? I understand, Sister."
Seeing Sakura's low spirits, Rin felt a pang of heartache and pulled Sakura into an embrace, comforting her.
"Don't worry, Sakura. Taiga's family has lived in Fuyuki City for generations, so she won't leave easily. Shinji, as one of the Three Great Families, is probably the same. If you really miss them later, you can return to Fuyuki City to visit them anytime. And once Da Vinci achieves that technology, it'll only take the blink of an eye to get from London to Fuyuki City!"
Listening to Rin's comfort, Sakura remained downcast, but she understood that perhaps this was the best possible outcome.
Not wanting Rin to worry, Sakura put on a happy expression.
"That's great, Sister."
Although Sakura looked happy on the surface, Rin, who knew Sakura well, could still tell from Sakura's little movements that it was only an act.
Not knowing how to comfort Sakura, Rin could only hold her and hum the nursery rhyme the two of them had loved most as children.
Seeing the warm scene beside them, Fujino was filled with jealousy. Maybe I should pretend to be pitiful too. Then perhaps I'll be the one lying in Master's arms!
Late at night, Rin lay in bed and opened the System Panel, which she had not opened in a long time.
"System! It's been a long time."
"Rin Tohsaka, what service do you require?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to thank you for your help before."
"Assisting you in becoming a god of magecraft is this system's duty. No thanks are necessary."
"Can you tell me about your origins, System?"
"Rin Tohsaka, you do not need to know yet. When the time comes, you will naturally learn. For now, you only need to know that I exist for you!"
"Heh! Is that so..."
Early the next morning, Rin dragged Sakura and Fujino through washing up quickly. Then, together with Kirei and Lainas, they arrived at a secluded station in the outskirts of London. Soon afterward, Waver emerged slowly from the thin mist with his disciple Gry.
"Rin, you're here?"
Lorelei watched Rin enter the station with Kirei and the others. She haughtily greeted Rin, then handed over the invitation in her hand.
Before you continue