Visitor (Part 2) / Tsukasa Kadoya

"Um."

Although somewhat puzzled, Flat Escardos obediently left the office.

After Flat Escardos left the office, Lord El-Melloi II took a deep breath, walked to the table, and picked up the visiting card.

Strangely, the Lord El-Melloi II did not rush to open the envelope after picking it up. Instead, he began to carefully examine the patterns printed on the cover, which were usually used to indicate identity.

If Lord El-Melloi II's memory is not mistaken... the coat of arms on the envelope in his hand right now should be the unique emblem used by Lord El-Melloi, his teacher, Kayneth El- El-Melloi Archibald.

"Who exactly is it...?"

Looking at the envelope in his hand, Lord El-Melloi II fell into deep thought.

Chapter 171. The Visitor (Part 2)

"Without a doubt, this is the kind of emblem my deceased sworn brother would have used."

In the apartment where Lord El-Melloi II lived, a young girl sitting in a reception chair put down the "envelope" in her hand and then picked up the black tea placed on the table.

This was a young girl who exuded nobility simply by standing there, and elegance simply by sitting there; she was at most about fifteen years old. Beside her was a mercury-like object, like a female mannequin, standing guard like a maid.

The girl's name, Reines El- El-Melloi Archibald, was given to the man formerly known as El-Melloi Waver, who was then bound to the Archibald Family as his true successor.

After all, compared to himself, a self-taught "Lord El-Melloi II" leader, Reines had a much more detailed understanding of family affairs. So, upon receiving the mysterious visitor's invitation, the first thing Lord El-Melloi II did was to summon his nominal "adopted sister" to verify the authenticity of the letter.

But--

"This makes things difficult..."

After hearing Reines' conclusion, Lord El-Melloi II's forehead wrinkles deepened even further.

Out of respect and guilt towards his teacher, Lord El-Melloi II had already sealed away his belongings and personal items.

But unexpectedly, something related to him appeared before my eyes...

"Although I had seen it many times when I was tidying up his desk before, I never expected to see the same pattern used by my 'sworn brother' again. Could it be that his resentful soul has come to take revenge on you?"

Why are you so calm?

If the Archibald family has fallen into its current state due to mismanagement, shouldn't you, as the rightful heir of the family, be the first to bear the blame?

Seeing the girl's "amused" expression, Lord El-Melloi II couldn't help but sigh.

Reines, however, responded nonchalantly, "Isn't it common sense for an older brother to stand in front of his younger sister?"

"That was truly a nightmare!"

Lord El-Melloi II looked as if his head was about to explode.

Thump thump thump--

Just then, a sudden knock on the door interrupted their conversation, or perhaps it was a prank by Reines?

However, in any case, Lord El-Melloi II, having escaped from his stepsister's clutches, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Please come in--"

"... Sorry to bother you."

As soon as the Lord El-Melloi II finished speaking, the door to the room opened. A small, hooded figure carefully avoided the bread and books scattered on the floor before approaching the two people in the room.

"Gray ~"

"Hello, Reines."

Upon seeing the small figure shrouded in a hood, Reines smiled affectionately. The girl she called "Gray" peeked out from under the hood and nodded to Reines.

"What's the matter?"

Upon seeing that the visitor was his disciple, Lord El-Melloi II scratched his head and asked her a question.

Someone has come to visit you, saying they have already sent a visiting card.

As Gray spoke, her gaze fell upon the visiting card on the table, and at the same time—

"Did you call him over?"

Reines looked at the Lord El-Melloi II with a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

"Well, although I don't know what their purpose is, since they've handed me this, I feel I'd be letting my teacher down if I didn't meet them in person."

After shaking the envelope on the table, Lord El-Melloi II rose from the sofa and turned his gaze to his disciple:

Where is he now?

He is currently waiting in the waiting room.

Upon opening the door to the waiting room, Lord El-Melloi II immediately saw the visitor sitting on the sofa.

His black hair and oriental features subconsciously reminded the Lord El-Melloi II of the battlefield ten years ago.

"I'm sorry, I was rude."

Upon realizing he had been lost in thought, the second Lord El-Melloi II immediately apologized to the visitor opposite him. However, to his surprise, the visitor was not displeased by his absent-mindedness. Instead, the visitor looked at him with a "interested" gaze.

Although he didn't understand why the other person had such an expression, there was something else that concerned him more. He handed the envelope to the visitor, Lord El-Melloi II expression serious.

"Could you please explain the origin of the patterns on the visiting card?"

"Sure..."

However, to the Lord El-Melloi II's surprise, the other party did not seem to shy away from this issue.

"But before that, may I ask you a question?"

"Speaking."

"Waver Velvet, in the last Holy Grail War, was the Servant you summoned the 'King of Conquerors' — Iskandar?"

"..."

Lord El-Melloi II never expected the other party to ask such a question; it was a secret he had kept hidden deep in his heart.

He had participated in battles and summoned Heroic Spirit to fight alongside him. At that time, he felt fear and envy towards "his" enormous body, and was also inspired—and then, there was the final farewell.

"Waver Wilbert, would you like to become my subject?"

"Of course, my king—"

The conversation with that king still echoes in his mind, and a smile naturally appears on his lips whenever it is mentioned.

However, while his participation in the Holy Grail War wasn't exactly a top secret, it was clearly not something that everyone should know the details of.

For example--

"Huh?!"

A small gasp, followed by the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground, instantly drew the attention of the two people in the room.

Looking around, one could see two small figures rolling onto the carpet in the reception room, where the door had been opened.

"Oh My God--"

Upon witnessing this scene, Lord El-Melloi II couldn't help but let out a painful sigh, clutching his forehead. However, Reines, one of the two culprits, seemed oblivious to this, instead pulling her "accomplice," a nervous Gray, to sit beside the Lord El-Melloi II, seemingly ready to listen closely to their conversation.

"I hope you don't mind."

After finally calming himself down, the Lord El-Melloi II apologized to the visitor, and after receiving a reply that he was unharmed, his expression turned serious again.

"To answer your previous question, I can say with certainty that the Servant I summoned in the previous Holy Grail War was indeed 'The King of Conquerors' — Iskandar. Now, shouldn't it be your turn to answer my questions?"

"Ah, of course."

Upon hearing the Lord El-Melloi II's question, the visitor answered very readily:

"--If you're willing to believe it."

Chapter 172. Tsukasa Kadoya

The visitor recounted not only his own origins, but also the gradual growth of a boy from another world during that battle, which was depicted in the visitor's words and circulated into the minds of Lord El-Melloi II and the others in the room.

"..."

After listening to the visitor's story, the Lord El-Melloi II fell into deep thought. Although it sounded somewhat unbelievable, what the visitor said was not impossible.

Second Magic True Magic —capable of observing countless parallel worlds and traveling between them—is currently used by only a handful of people in the world who can wield it freely... Could it be that this visitor is connected to that person?

Moreover, the [Fourth Holy Grail War] he described seemed to be a replica of the Subspecies Holy Grail War that I had participated in ten years ago...

Only--

"So, what is your purpose in coming to this world, even at the cost of using the Second Magic?"

"Participate in the Great Holy Grail War."

Without the slightest hesitation, the visitor stated his purpose. "Therefore, I want to use the El-Melloi faction's influence in the Clock Tower to help me obtain a spot in the Mage's Association competition."

Why?

Lord El-Melloi II's gaze was somewhat taken aback. Although he didn't know where this person had learned about the "Great Holy Grail War," that was no longer important. But to go through worlds to participate in the Great Holy Grail War... was he trying to use the Holy Grail to fulfill some wish?

But the next second, the Lord El-Melloi II's question was answered--

A long, narrow box suddenly appeared in the visitor's hand, but even with the box as an obstacle, it could not conceal the magical fluctuations emanating from within.

"This is... a sacred relic?"

"Um."

"Ah... I think I understand how you feel."

Seeing the man staring at the long box in his hands, the Lord El-Melloi II scratched his somewhat disheveled long hair:

"Even a weathered man probably has moments when he retains his childlike wonder... Really. The Holy Grail War is such a ritual, there's so much romance in it."

The image of the giant from ten years ago subconsciously surfaced in his mind, and a smile naturally bloomed on the Lord El-Melloi II's lips.

"I originally thought the enemy was only Gray, but I never expected my brother to..."

The Lord El-Melloi II's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden whisper. He saw his troublesome "adopted sister" whispering something to his disciple.

"..."

Perhaps unsure how to respond to Reines' question, the hooded girl could only nod obediently.

However, as the one who started it, Reines clearly wasn't going to end the topic so easily. She moved her face closer to the somewhat uneasy Gray, a mischievous expression on her face, and said again:

"But to prevent my brother from making a similar mistake again, Gray, you have to do your best! In a sense, you are your brother's last line of defense. Hmm, that's a big responsibility, isn't it?"

"I will try my best..."

"That's enough, stop setting a bad Gray!"

A stern, slightly aggrieved reprimand came from Lord El-Melloi II's mouth.

"I'm just helping you teach your lovely disciple."

Reines spoke to her elder brother in an innocent tone, but anyone with eyes could see the joy in her heart.

This situation makes one think of her as a mischievous owner gleefully observing their cat's puffed-up fur and glaring eyes. It must be admitted that what determines the hierarchy between people is not age difference, but some innate factor.

"Ah--"

Clutching his neck, the Lord El-Melloi II let out a groan that sounded like a scream. In all his "contests" with his "adopted sister," he finally realized once again the insurmountable gap in their strength.

"I apologize for making you laugh."

It seemed that they only realized there was an "outsider" present halfway through, and the Lord El-Melloi II, suppressing his stomach pain, apologized for their rudeness. Unexpectedly, the other person waved his hand and said with a smile:

"It doesn't matter."

However, judging from the other person's expression, it wasn't that they didn't mind; rather, it seemed like they were used to it.

"According to your previous account, Kayneth survived to the end in that Holy Grail War?"