"Oohhh~"
A flippant voice came from nearby.
It was Irena.
Like a bystander enjoying the spectacle, she had finally found something that made the trip worthwhile.
"How delightful. Since you are also Lord El-Melloi II's disciple, you are welcome to visit anytime." After speaking to Gray, Inorai looked at Irena again. "And what about this dear witch? You seem to have a question as well?"
"No. I just think your ideals are quite interesting," Irena said.
"Oh? Does that mean you intend to join us?" Inorai asked.
Irena shook her head. "No, I'm just a traveler. For a traveler, getting too involved in local affairs is absolutely unacceptable."
"Oh? Then what do you think, from a traveler's perspective?"
Inorai did not think there was anything wrong with that.
But...
Aozaki Touko had said many things to Irena before.
As a Lord of the Clock Tower, she too had Realized a certain problem.
There was a feeling of being unable to "focus."
But... wouldn't it be enough to focus on her foolish disciple?
"Mm... it just feels kind of strange," Irena said. "Pursuing 'art' is all well and good. But the purpose behind your pursuit of 'art' is to reach the Root, isn't it? In that sense, 'art' is not the 'goal,' but the 'means,' right? If art itself could see this, it would be sad, wouldn't it? Can you really create ultimate art this way? No, what I mean is, can art pursued this way truly reach the Root or anything like that?"
Art was not something to be treated so casually.
"..."
A delicate atmosphere fell over the scene.
"Hehehe, hahahaha!"
Inorai burst into laughter again, even more delighted than before.
"What a good question. If one is not pure in one's attitude toward 'art,' one cannot reach the