Attack / The Attacker-Aozaki Touko

However, at that moment, there was a knock on the door, followed by a voice:

"I'm sorry to bother you so late. Is Ms. Aozaki there?"

I apologize for disturbing you so late at night.

After welcoming the visitors into the room, the guests first apologized to Touko Aozaki.

"No, I'm just a little surprised."

Touko Aozaki adjusted her glasses; the languidness she had shown while playfully teasing Wang Xiaoming was gone, replaced by an intellectual elegance that she exuded while working.

"You still come at a time like this—[Silver Princess], Estella."

[Silver Princess] nodded slightly, then turned her face to Xiaoming standing to the side:

"I didn't expect Mr. Wang to be here too."

"It's okay, don't worry about him."

After giving the man beside her a disapproving look, Touko Aozaki asked him why he had come.

"... I have a request."

"For [Silver Princess] to come alone at this time, it must be no simple request."

"After all, here, you're probably the only one capable of accomplishing this."

"Then please tell me what you need me to do and what the payment is. If it's suitable, I'm not unwilling to accept your commission."

[Silver Princess]'s gaze swept over Wang Xiaoming again, then a hesitant expression appeared on her face. However, she quickly made up her mind and voiced her request—

"..."

"Huh? Are you serious?"

After hearing what Silver Princess asked for, Touko Aozaki and Wang Xiaoming exchanged a glance, clearly noticing the surprise in each other's eyes.

"That's right, please help me!"

Seeing the resolute expression on [Silver Princess's ] face, Touko Aozaki nodded thoughtfully, then turned her gaze to Wang Xiaoming beside her:

No wonder she wanted to avoid you.

In response, Wang Xiaoming could only shrug innocently.

"Don't worry, this guy won't tell anyone. So, let's talk about the reward you can offer."

Seeing that [Silver Princess] was still somewhat restless, Touko Aozaki comforted her before asking about the reward.

As for [Silver Princess], after recalling the rumors Lord Baruereta had mentioned about the two of them at the banquet, and secretly admiring her "skill in managing her husband," [Silver Princess] breathed a sigh of relief and stated her conditions:

"I know what you want, your [lost memories], right? I will return those [memories] to you after this is all over."

"See, my guess was right after all."

After giving Wang Xiaoming a smug look, she turned her attention back to Touko Aozaki [Silver Princess] and said to her:

"Alright, I won't ask any more questions about the reasons. The reward you've offered is more than enough."

In other words—

Upon hearing Touko Aozaki's words, [Silver Princess's ] voice trembled slightly with excitement.

"Yes, I granted your request--"

As if responding to the other person's expectation, Touko Aozaki nodded:

"From this moment forward, I will temporarily be his enemy—Lord El- Lord El-Melloi II."

Touko Aozaki, upon uttering these words, completely disregarded the presence of a so-called [Guardian of El-Melloi] in the room.

(Xiao Ming: Don't I have any pride?)

Oops, I seem to still owe quite a few updates. I'll make up for it when I have time (runs away).

Chapter 331. Attack

The next morning --

The rising sun cast a vivid shadow of the tower onto the earth.

The cool southern breeze of autumn caressed the green grassland. Admiring the scenery before him, the Lord El-Melloi II's brow, furrowed from excessive thought, unconsciously relaxed a little.

"Brother, although the investigation is important, as your sister, I still hope you can take better care of your health."

Sitting next to the Lord El-Melloi II, Reines frowned and spoke to him, her tone unconsciously carrying a hint of resentment.

Because she had been transferred away from the crime scene by the Lord El-Melloi II the previous night, Reines only saw her brother a few minutes ago. Judging from the dark circles under his eyes, he had clearly stayed up late again last night.

"Because things have progressed somewhat, I stayed up a little later."

"Hmm, have you found anything?"

The Lord El-Melloi II's words instantly dispelled the sleepiness that had been plaguing Reines since she woke up.

"Um."

Nodding, the Lord El-Melloi II took a folded handkerchief from his pocket and unfolded it in front of Reines.

"This is?"

"Lady, there's something I'd like to confirm with you."

Looking at the powder in the handkerchief, Reines's eyes showed a hint of doubt. However, the Lord El-Melloi II did not answer her question, but instead brought up an unrelated matter:

"Have you heard about [Iselma] attending an underground auction a while ago, Lady?"

"Hmm, it seems to be an underground auction only for members. It's said the highlight of the auction is something imbued with the blood of Phantasmal Species."

Upon hearing the Lord El-Melloi II's question, Reines paused slightly before replying, "Although many Magecraft desired that item, its unique nature—whether as a base for a spell or as a catalyst for that ritual—made it top-tier, driving the auction price extremely high. In the end, only two remained in the competition."

"Is one of them [Iselma]?"

"That's right--"

Reines nodded, confirming the Lord El-Melloi II's guess. "At that time, only Lord Byron and --"

[Atram Galliasta Galliasta from the Middle East]."

Atram Galliasta Galliasta, Magecraft from the Middle East, is an extremely wealthy man who owns dozens of oil fields and doesn't even know how much money he has.

"But this nouveau riche, who was determined to get that item, lost to Lord Byron at the auction. This news was ridiculed by many at the time."

"In other words, that item ultimately ended up in the hands of the [Iselma] family."

"But what does this have to do with us?"

Of course there's a connection.

I had considered whether [Iselma] had intended to frame us from the beginning, but the potential gains were far from offsetting the risks. If the benefit was to win over [us (El-Melloi)], it should be done with minimal expenditure. This situation is far too complicated. Putting aside our own mistakes, [the Department of Law (Barthomeloi)] couldn't possibly stand idly by using such an obvious trap to win us over."

Looking at the powdery substance in the handkerchief, the Lord El-Melloi II gave a meaningful smile:

"However, it now seems that [Iselma] itself has a problem."

"Dear brother, do you know that you look like a villain right now while you're laughing?"

Upon hearing Reines's complaint, the Lord El-Melloi II hurriedly coughed.

"Well, my brother has always had a tough time, though it's hard to be too specific. If I don't complain about him, he'll just become even more twisted."

"Am I just imagining things, Lady, when I sense malice in your 'more'?"

"Hmph. I was full of malice from the start. Now that you're telling me this, it doesn't bother me at all."

Perhaps it was the Lord El-Melloi II's expression that gave her confidence, Reines reverted to her usual Demon self.

"Professor, Professor--"

Suddenly, a loud shout came from afar. Looking in the direction of the sound, the Lord El-Melloi II saw a figure rushing towards him.

"Professor, professor, something terrible has happened!"

As the figure drew closer, the Lord El-Melloi II recognized it as the disciple he had sent out to keep watch. Looking at the panting disciple, the Lord El-Melloi II frowned and asked:

"What happened, Flat Escardos?"

Flat Escardos pointed in the direction he had charged from and said:

"Lu Xi'an has been attacked!"

In the woods on the outskirts of [Iselma] territory--

"Awooo!!!"

Svin let out a dangerous roar towards the front.

The magical roar could even briefly disrupt the flow of magic among Magecraft, but it had no effect on the attacker before them. Because the attacker was neither Magecraft, nor—

Human beings.

The enemy before Svin had unusually long arms; where there should have been five fingers, sharp blades had been replaced. The joints of his legs were twisted in opposite directions, and his upper body was tilted forward at an angle almost touching the ground.

It was a strange [doll].

"[Automata]...?"

Svin instinctively Flat Escardos. He wasn't that idiot Flat; as the most senior student in the El-Melloi Classroom, Svin recognized the thing in front of him at a glance.

Because they hadn't figured out where the enemy came from, they sent their companion Flat Escardos, to inform the professor. Now it seems like a wise choice.

Perhaps sensing that the blond boy in front of him was trying to stall for time, the automaton silently lowered its center of gravity. The next second, it charged towards Svin at an astonishing speed!

Seeing the doll's superhuman speed of movement, Svin dared not be careless:

"Pallida mors (Pale Death)."

As the incantation was chanted, Svin's hair began to stir. The hair itself seemed to transform into a living creature, writhing and growing rapidly, covering his back. The boy's canine teeth also transformed into enormous, sharp fangs comparable to blades.

Svin Gulashet's appearance had changed. His bulging muscles made him look just like the legendary Phantasmal Species —the werewolf.

His body was covered in hairs as hard as steel needles. No, the essence of his body hadn't changed. Upon closer inspection, his clothes and shoes were completely intact. It was the unusually dense magical energy surrounding the boy that made him look like a werewolf.

Perhaps it should be called, Phantom Wolf.

--[Beastly Magecraft]

This is Magecraft that has absorbed the nature of beasts; it's Svin's signature skill. Facing the inhuman automaton, Svin also displays his strongest fighting stance!

Svin jumped up.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of hard objects colliding echoed through the woods. Svin's magically conjured claws clashed repeatedly with the puppet's blades.

However, due to the overly tough "fur" on Svin's body, the doll's sharp blades seemed to be ineffective. Realizing this, Svin stopped paying attention to the doll's ineffective attacks and instead focused its claws on the doll's "joints".

Not long after, the doll, its joints dislocated, fell miserably to the ground.

Looking at the doll struggling helplessly at his feet, Svin instinctively breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to retract the Magecraft. However, the voice that suddenly came from beside him made his heart tighten again—

"Back up!"

(Above)

Chapter 332. The Attacker - Aozaki Touko

"Step back--"

"!"

The unfamiliar voice that suddenly came from behind startled Svin for a moment, but his body's instincts made him subconsciously follow the voice's instructions.

The next second--