As a Ninja, All I Want Is to Live Off Others in Type-Moon Chapter 33

The master was a blonde little girl about Higashino Kanade's age, with looks no less stunning than Luvia's and an elegant, mature style of dress.

The maid was a young beauty with mercury-colored skin. Rather than calling her human, it would be more accurate to call her an alchemical product.

This master-and-servant pair was none other than Waver's nominal younger sister, Leysritt El-Melloi Archisorte, and Trimmaou, the female Automaton that had gained a personality through the Moon Spirit Marrow Fluid.

"Hello."

Reines gracefully lifted her skirt in greeting, then left.

Grea, meanwhile, looked uneasy and muttered, "Master has probably gotten himself into trouble again."

Waver's main profession was that of a first-class lecturer at the Clock Tower. His side job was solving problems for others as a detective.

In order to pay off the El-Melloi family's debts as soon as possible, Waver was often entrusted with private jobs by his younger sister Reines, from which he collected an appropriate fee.

Waver had gone to Adra Castle at Reines's behest as well.

When they pushed open the door to Waver's office, everyone immediately saw him slumped on the sofa, puffing hard on a cigar.

Waver wore a deeply worried expression. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes had grown more pronounced, and the cigar in his hand was nearly finished, yet his tense expression showed no sign of easing.

"I've brought your payment."

Higashino Kanade took a small booklet from his clothes and tossed it onto the table in front of Waver.

Like parched earth finally receiving sweet rain, Waver opened the booklet with an excited smile, then scrutinized the information inside with a serious expression.

This was the agreement Higashino Kanade had made with Waver at Adra Castle. The booklet contained everything Higashino Kanade knew about the Fifth Holy Grail War.

Waver quickly flipped through several pages, and his newly relaxed brows furrowed again.

"Why is there only information on Caster, Assassin, and Berserker? What about the rest?"

"Waver, although you deduced the Truth of the Legacy, what you provided wasn't worth all the information I know. Put simply, you don't have enough money."

Higashino Kanade sat down opposite Waver and leaned back comfortably against the soft sofa.

"Are you a vampire?"

Waver covered his face in pain. He could feel his stomach starting to ache again.

"One piece of information for one price. I'm not trying to cheat you. Besides, I'm not a Dead Apostle."

Higashino Kanade spread his hands and shook his head helplessly.

Waver lit another cigar, then turned away irritably, apparently unwilling to look at Higashino Kanade's ugly face any longer.

At Adra Castle, Higashino Kanade and Waver's contributions had been roughly a six-to-four split. Waver knew that without Higashino Kanade, it would have been difficult for him to discover the truth alone, so receiving information on only three Servants was reasonable enough.

What truly annoyed Waver was Higashino Kanade's expression, as though he had him completely figured out. Despite being so young, he was every bit as cunning as Reines. He was practically a male version of Reines sent to torment him.

"...Tell me. What else do you want? Other than money."

In the end, Waver bowed his head to reality and spoke his compromise with great difficulty.

Waver had his own aspirations. He dreamed of summoning that King in the Fifth Holy Grail War, then walking toward victory alongside him, proving that he had not betrayed the life the King had saved.

"Don't worry. You're my nominal master. How could I possibly ask you for money? I only came to ask two questions."

Higashino Kanade wore a kind smile, looking every bit like a dutiful disciple before his master.

"Waver, have you heard of the Mystic Eyes Collection Train?"

Waver thought for a moment before replying, "I've heard some rumors, but not much."

"I'm very interested in the Mystic Eyes Collection Train. I want to attend its auction this year too, but I don't have any money, so I can't buy an invitation. What do you think I should do to board the Mystic Eyes Collection Train?"

"What are you going to the Mystic Eyes Collection Train for? You can't buy Mystic Eyes without money." Waver asked curiously.

"I have a reason I absolutely must go. Help me think of a way to get an invitation without spending money." Higashino Kanade gave a bitter smile. The system was forcing his hand too.

At that moment, Luvia, who stood behind Higashino Kanade, leaned close to his ear and breathed hot air against it. In a sultry voice, she said, "Spend one night with me, and I'll take care of the invitation."

"Are you telling me what to do?"

Higashino Kanade pushed Luvia's head away in annoyance and continued discussing a solution with Waver.

P.S.: Second update.

Luvia and Lucia were impossible to tell apart...

Waver's Choice

"Hmph! Such an unromantic man."

Luvia stuck out her tongue in displeasure and decided to stop paying attention to this blockhead.

"I've heard that the Mystic Eyes Collection Train runs along Ley Lines. Once it starts moving, the train itself becomes otherworldly, making it difficult for outsiders to enter the carriages. Even you wouldn't be able to force your way in." Waver analyzed.

"So without an invitation, getting in is basically impossible."

"Yes."

Waver nodded, pinching the bridge of his nose as he thought.

"Mystic Eyes Collection Train, Mystic Eyes Collection..."

Higashino Kanade pondered the matter. As he thought, he could not help recalling how Orochimaru had sought out Second Uchiha.

Second Uchiha had the Sharingan, and Orochimaru coveted his body, so he came looking for him.

He had the Sharingan too. There was no Orochimaru in this world, but if the people of the Mystic Eyes Collection Train learned about the Sharingan, would they come looking for him on their own?

The more Higashino Kanade considered it, the more viable the idea seemed.

Although his two-tomoe Sharingan was weak and might not even reach Gold-level, he could bluff!

If he built up the Sharingan's reputation, perhaps the Mystic Eyes Collection Train would contact him. Then he could casually mention that he wanted to visit the Mystic Eyes Collection Train, and wouldn't the invitation be his?

Higashino Kanade shared his idea with Waver, though he concealed the Sharingan's true abilities and merely embellished its description with several additional powers.

"I thought you would try to find a way to sneak in. It seems I underestimated you."

Waver looked somewhat surprised, and the way he looked at Higashino Kanade changed slightly.

It was not that Waver could not think of such a method. He had merely been a step slower. Given time to think, he could have come up with the same approach as Higashino Kanade, or perhaps an even better one.

"Given the current situation, this method is highly feasible. But the difficult part is how to publicize it. How will you make Magi believe in the power of your Mystic Eyes?"

"That's where I'll need your help, my dear Teacher Waver."

Higashino Kanade smiled as he poured Waver a glass of water and respectfully handed it over.

Waver's eye twitched as he hesitated over whether to accept it.

"Master, please help your junior disciple." Grea also began pleading on Higashino Kanade's behalf.

Waver's stomach hurt even more. Higashino Kanade had only been his disciple for a few days, yet his personal disciple was already pleading for him. Did she not feel even a little sympathy for her own master?

"...Fine. I'll help you with this, but I want the remaining information on the Holy Grail War." In the end, Waver accepted the glass.

"Two pieces. Lancer and Archer."

Higashino Kanade raised two fingers.

"Three! Include Saber's as well. In a few days, I'll write a research report on your Sharingan. By then, many important people will know about it." Waver firmly raised three fingers.

"Fine." Higashino Kanade nodded.

Waver let out a long breath, took a sip of water to wet his throat, and continued weighing the pros and cons.

"Building hype isn't something that can be done overnight. My report can help somewhat, but you can't rely entirely on me. We can't rule out the possibility that your Sharingan won't enter the public eye until after the Mystic Eyes Collection Train has already departed."

"Don't worry. There's a free promotional event waiting for me tomorrow afternoon. I'll make the name of the Sharingan shake the Clock Tower." Higashino Kanade thought of that white-haired girl.

"It's good that you're prepared."

Waver continued considering countermeasures, but his face suddenly darkened, as though he had remembered something unpleasant.

"You seem to have been avoiding information about Rider all along. I thought Rider was on my side, so I didn't pay attention before. Is there something wrong with Rider's information?"

After saying that, Waver suddenly slammed his fist into the sofa. His normally composed state of mind violently wavered.

"Could it be that Rider's Master isn't me? That I didn't participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War in the future?"

"...As expected of Lord El-Melloi II. You guessed correctly."

Higashino Kanade applauded Waver's brilliant deduction, deeply impressed by his formidable reasoning ability.

"How could that be? Master has clearly been working toward a spot in the Holy Grail War all this time. Why didn't he participate?" Grea opened her mouth in shock, unable to believe the answer Higashino Kanade had just given.

"...Why?"

Waver rubbed his face with both hands and looked at Higashino Kanade with a haggard expression, as though he had aged more than ten years in an instant.

"I've mostly forgotten the exact reason, but it seems you voluntarily gave up your qualification. As for why you gave it up, you should understand after some time. Oh, and that bit of information was free."

Waver leaned back against the sofa. It was as if all the strength had been drained from him, and he stared silently at the ceiling for a long time.

The best way to break a person was to first give them hope, then despair.

That was exactly what had happened to Waver. At first, he had been overwhelmed by the information Higashino Kanade provided. His mind had been filled with scenes of reuniting with the King and winning the Holy Grail War together. Yet Higashino Kanade had suddenly told him that he had not even participated in the Holy Grail War. How could that not drive someone to despair?

Seeing Waver's spirit sink to rock bottom, Higashino Kanade felt that even his conscience could not bear it anymore.

He had taken advantage of Waver and his disciple for so long. If he could not even offer a few words of comfort, that would be far too heartless.

"Waver, the future isn't absolute. As long as you want to, you can participate in the Holy Grail War. You can think of it as an if route in a game."

"The decisions you make at crucial moments will affect the course of your future. In other parallel worlds, perhaps something happened that kept you from going, but in this world, you still have the chance to choose. What I saw was merely one version of you on an if route."

Higashino Kanade scratched his head and explained with a smile.

Waver was silent for a long time. He lit a cigar, took a deep drag, then laughed at himself. "I really am pathetic. I was already thinking of giving up before I even began. After all these years, I haven't improved at all."

"That's not true, Master! In my heart, you are someone incredibly dependable, an exceptionally outstanding Magus." Grea denied it passionately, seeming like an entirely different person from her usual shy self.

"You truly are kind, my lady."

Waver gave a bitter laugh. His complexion was much better than before, though perhaps only he knew what he was thinking now.

"Tell me the next matter."

"Are you sure you still need information about the Holy Grail War?" Higashino Kanade asked in return.

"I'm sure."

"Fine. I won't cheat you either. Once this matter is done, I'll tell you everything I know."

Higashino Kanade had been a ninja in his previous life, after all. He still possessed basic professional ethics. Waver had sacrificed so much, and he would not dismiss him with just a few words.

P.S.: Third update.

Authors who want to exchange promotions with me, please send me a private message with your QQ. Also, the account I use to read and the one I use to write are separate, so I'm sorry that I can't see messages immediately.

Let me explain: the Mystic Eyes Collection Train has very good credibility. They would not do something like murder and robbery.

An Explanation Regarding the Previous Chapter

I saw that some people in the comments did not understand and asked why the protagonist wanted to make his Mystic Eyes famous in order to attract people from the Mystic Eyes Collection Train.

The question I saw most often was why the Mystic Eyes Collection Train would not simply murder and rob him, kill the protagonist, and take his Mystic Eyes directly. I'll explain that here.

First, the Mystic Eyes Collection Train is in business. Some of the Mystic Eyes they auction are created by Dead Apostles, while others are put up for auction by people who willingly sell their Mystic Eyes. In the original work, Calebro Frampton boarded the Mystic Eyes Collection Train because he wanted to sell his Mystic Eyes.

Some people ask why the Mystic Eyes Collection Train does not simply murder and rob people for their Mystic Eyes.

My explanation is that if the Mystic Eyes Collection Train did such things, how could people like Caleb, who sell their own Mystic Eyes, feel safe doing business with them? Why could I not entrust them to a safer seller instead? Those who bought Mystic Eyes would also worry whether the Mystic Eyes Collection Train might kill them and reclaim the Mystic Eyes for another auction. That would be equivalent to cutting off their own source of income. How could the Mystic Eyes Collection Train continue doing business?

My conclusion is that the Mystic Eyes Collection Train would not do something as reputation-damaging as murder and robbery. Even if they wanted Mystic Eyes acquired that way, they would take in Mystic Eyes others had obtained through murder and robbery. As businessmen, why would they dirty their own hands?

In the original work, Caleb was framed, which led to his Mystic Eyes being reclaimed. After he cleared his name, the Mystic Eyes Collection Train quickly reinstalled his Mystic Eyes. From this, it can be seen that the Mystic Eyes Collection Train does possess business ethics.

Therefore, I believe the protagonist's method of making his Mystic Eyes famous to attract the Mystic Eyes Collection Train is not wrong.

Also, let me respond to the earlier issue of the protagonist placing a bounty on someone in the assassin world.

First of all, the assassin world does not reveal information about its employers. That is the most basic rule. Moreover, Luvia's family already has a terrible reputation, and plenty of people want her head. So even if one more bounty appeared, Luvia would not care. Dealing with assassination attempts was already an ordinary part of life for her, so the chance of her placing a counter-bounty on Olga Marie was very low.

That is my explanation. Lastly, I hope the votes stay safe.