Don't Call Me Master, Call Me Director

"Your hairline says it all, you've definitely been drinking a lot of water this year."

Low EQ: Your hairline is receding.

High EQ: You've been drinking too much water in Britain.

Crack.

A crack appeared in the teacup Kenseth was holding.

Chapter 45: Kenseth: Do You Have a Problem With Me?

"My hairline is a hairstyle issue, it has nothing to do with hair volume."

As Waver opened the office door, he heard his teacher's voice arguing like a roaring dragon.

Without even looking, Waver guessed someone had come to the Clock Tower.

"Ah, I've been here, I'm leaving now."

Without a second's hesitation, Waver turned and stepped out of the office, preparing to close the door.

Unfortunately, no matter how fast Waver moved, it was too late.

"Waver, where do you think you're going?"

Kenseth called out to Waver.

"Uh..."

Waver's hand visibly paused as he replied awkwardly, "I saw you were busy, Teacher, so I didn't want to disturb you."

Kenseth beckoned with a finger and commanded, "Get in here."

Waver tried to struggle a bit more, "Isn't this a bit inappropriate? You and Matou-san are making decisions, it's not like I, a nobody, get to interfere..."

"If you keep hesitating, you'll never inherit my research in this lifetime!"

"You're using that to threaten me again..."

Waver sighed deeply.

Despite his reluctance, Waver resigned himself to entering the office.

This is all for my research.

Waver convinced himself.

But he knew himself that this was just an excuse.

The real reason was simply that he couldn't refuse his teacher's request.

Back then, his research was attacked by everyone. His thesis defense had been flawless, answering every question posed.

But those high-and-mighty traditional Mages, simply because of his bloodline, made things difficult for him, even resorting to personal attacks.

It was Kenseth who stood up to support his views and recruited him as his disciple—though perhaps Kenseth's only motive was to recognize his talent.

When everyone at the Clock Tower ostracized, gossiped about, and humiliated him due to his diluted Mage bloodline, only this teacher was willing to support and protect him.

Although he never said it aloud, his gratitude was etched in his heart, as this trust was one of the few sources of warmth Waver had at the Clock Tower.

Therefore, when Kenseth proposed giving up his position as Head of the Mineral Science Department to take over the Modern Magecraft Science Department instead, and when everyone else couldn't understand the reason for Kenseth's choice, Waver was the first to stand up and support Kenseth's decision.

However, no matter how much he supported his teacher, Waver felt he still had a bottom line, and that bottom line was Matou Shinji.

It was because of this guy's instigation that Kenseth gave up the Mineral Science Department, fourth among all departments, and switched to the most mediocre Modern Magecraft Department.

Not only that, but every meeting with Shinji meant he would be saddled with a lot more work.

Waver was diligent and hardworking, but he wasn't a masochist; how could he possibly enjoy working to the point of having no rest?

In short, in Waver's eyes, Matou Shinji was a scheming advisor who only gave his teacher bad advice, and furthermore, his natural enemy.

So, if possible, Waver really wished he could avoid Shinji.

Especially since he had recently tricked Shinji using Miss Flora in Cannes, which made Waver even more worried about how the other party would retaliate.

"Oh, Waver, don't look at me like that~ I'm not a demon."

Shinji, sitting on the sofa and drinking tea, offered a smile he thought was gentle.

Waver slammed the table and retorted loudly, "Cut the crap! Even demons aren't as scary as you!"

Teacher, why do you insist on dragging me into this?

After complaining, Waver secretly cast an uncomprehending glance at Kenseth.

Can't you bear to let me suffer alone?

Kenseth shot him an exasperated look.

It seems they're both having a tough time.

Touko, who had already turned herself into a piece of office furniture, thought silently.

"Matou Shinji, you didn't come here just to pilfer my tea, did you?"

Seeing Shinji leisurely sipping his black tea since he arrived, Kenseth, whose patience had reached its limit, finally spoke.

Snap.

Without any preamble, Shinji slammed two FZ project proposals onto the desk.

"Here, my new works."

"Couldn't you just do that yourself?"

Kenseth, stroking his entirely bald forehead, let out a long sigh. "Didn't we agree on this from the start? I wouldn't pry into the specifics of your filming, as long as you could guarantee your work met the required standards."

"It's because there will be two characters, you and Waver, in the story," Shinji explained. "So I thought I should get your opinion. Will you be playing yourself, or will you have someone else (Yan Qing) play you?"

"Wait, why are there characters for both of us, but you're only asking the professor?"

Waver, sensing something was amiss, quickly interjected.

"What are you talking about, Waver?" Shinji said as a matter of course. "As the face and star of the Modern Magecraft department, you naturally have to play yourself."

"Then why can the professor have a stand-in?"

"Your professor is the department head; he's busy and might not have the time."

"..."

Waver really wanted to say that he was much busier than his professor, but under Kenseth's intimidating gaze, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

Seeing his apprentice was being sensible, Kenseth nodded with satisfaction. He picked up the proposal on the coffee table and began to read.

"Since Matou Shinji, you're being so cooperative, I'll see just how you plan to promote me."

Waver also picked up the other proposal. Having resigned himself to his fate, he now just wanted to figure out how busy he would be based on the project outline.

He didn't expect that after reading the proposal, Waver would be utterly floored.

"Shinji..."

Waver put down the proposal and quietly lit a cigar.

"Yeah?"

"Are we friends?"

"Of course."

"Then why are you trying to frame me?!"

Waver, sitting on the sofa, suddenly exploded. He grabbed Shinji by the collar and shook him violently.

"Stealing the professor's catalyst, opposing him in the Holy Grail War! How could I possibly do something like that!!"

Facing the frantic Waver, Shinji said with a serious expression, "Waver, calm down. This is just a movie proposal. Anyone who seeks authenticity in a fictional story must have a screw loose."

"Then don't use our real names!"

"Matou Shinji! It seems you're very dissatisfied with me!"

Kenseth's expression wasn't good either after reading the proposal.

In fact, it would be strange if Kenseth's expression was good.

After all, his fate in the script was beyond words. First, he was cuckolded by his own Servant, then beaten into a crippled state, forced to rely on a wheelchair, and finally, schemed against to the point where he couldn't live or die, only finding release through Saber's mercy.

If a person could still laugh after experiencing all that, they would definitely have some serious mental issues.

Not to mention, Kenseth also felt that Shinji's script was subtly referencing his own dark past.

Kenseth gritted his teeth and said, "Matou Shinji, if you have something against me, just say it directly. No need to beat around the bush."

"I don't have anything against you," Shinji said directly. "This was written purely for the overall atmosphere of the story. Didn't you see that my Matou Family fared even worse?"

"..."

Kenseth realized he couldn't refute that.

Indeed, if his own fate was merely personal tragedy, then the Matou Family was a coffee table filled with tragic and dire events.

Since Matou Shinji was ruthless enough to blacken his own family, Kenseth found he couldn't say much.

After all, the other party had already stabbed himself six inches deep; for him to just complain about being stabbed in the back would seem like he was deliberately exaggerating his suffering.

Waver, beside them, was puffing on his cigarette. He believed that Matou Kariya's ending in the script was due to his complicity in framing Shinji. Therefore, the story's atmosphere was just bullshit, and Waver had reason to believe Shinji had written it intentionally.

Unfortunately, before Waver could warn his professor, Kenseth himself spoke up.

"Even for the sake of atmosphere, isn't my fate excessively tragic? To be crippled by a mercenary and forced into a wheelchair! I am a dignified Lord of the Clock Tower, don't I have any pride?!"

Kenseth tried to salvage some dignity for his character in the script.

"Isn't it normal for a rationalist to lose to a pragmatist?" Shinji spread his hands. "Besides, what's wrong with using a wheelchair? Legs are just decorative; the higher-ups won't understand."

"Then you sit in a wheelchair for me! Also, who are these higher-ups? Are there any higher-ups above me at the Clock Tower?"

Shinji pointed a finger at the ceiling. "Yes, the Dean."

"Who knows if that old geezer is already in his coffin."

Although Kenseth spoke dismissively, his voice unconsciously lowered, as if he were saying the most audacious thing in the most cowardly tone.

Even though the Dean hadn't shown his face in years, everyone still felt an instinctive fear towards the old man.

Kenseth glanced at the proposal again, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.

"Matou Shinji, you're not planning on leaving anytime soon, are you?"

"Of course not," Shinji nodded. "FSN is about to have a massive release in Europe and America, isn't it? I plan to wait until the first round of box office results are out before I go. That way, I can conveniently poach a bunch of Mages."

"Be careful when you poach people, don't get beaten up by their teachers," Waver reminded him irritably.

"Don't worry, I'll absolutely adhere to the principle of voluntary participation." Shinji finished all the black tea in his cup.

"Alright, I'll think about it. I'll give you my answer then."

Kenseth nodded slightly, placing his hand on the proposal and gently stroking it.

"Then it's settled," Shinji patted his butt and stood up. "Oh, right, Waver. Notify everyone that we'll have a meeting after the movie is released."

"Got it."

Although Shinji didn't specify who "everyone" was, Waver knew he was referring to their collaborators.

Before leaving, Shinji kindly said to Kenseth, "Hey, Kenseth, I really suggest you stop drinking British water. If your hairline keeps receding like this, your lemon-shaped head will turn into a tea egg. Your image won't look any better than you sitting in that wheelchair."

"You brat! Get out! Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're my collaborator!"

Amidst Kenseth's roaring, Shinji shrugged, grabbed Touko's hand, and grinned as they left the office.

"So, junior. Where are we going next?"

Touko glanced at the sky, which had completely darkened outside, and asked helplessly.

"If you hadn't said that last sentence, we might have been able to crash for a night in the Modern Magecraft department. Now, we'll probably have to sleep in the School's courtyard."

"What are you talking about, senior? The night has only just begun."

Shinji said, holding Touko's hand and walking down the corridor towards the depths of the Clock Tower.