Judgment

"Is this the magic of the [spiritual veins]?"

Rodin and Leandro's expressions began to turn into horror.

It is common knowledge in the Magecraft world that magical energy flows within [spiritual veins]. However, no matter how powerful Magecraft is, they cannot freely manipulate the vast magical energy within these [spiritual veins].

Even the master, one of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors of his own family, could only rigidly set the track of the [Rail Zeppelin] on the spiritual vein.

But right in front of Rodin and Leandro...

As they watched the magic emerging from the spiritual veins create a clear track ahead of the train, the two train crew members, who could be considered half-immortals, subconsciously swallowed.

"It's all done now, we should be able to move on."

The sound that reached their ears again snapped them out of their shock.

"Thank you so much."

Looking at the seemingly delicate and petite girl before them, their tone unconsciously carried a hint of humility.

"Now that the main branch of the [spiritual vein] has been confirmed, the train will resume its journey immediately. Please return to your carriage and prepare patiently while the auction begins."

"Ms. Lily, how did you do that?"

After leaving the control room, Shirou asked Lily with some curiosity. Although he knew that his teacher (stepmother) was already highly skilled in Magecraft, the scene he had just witnessed was still too shocking, making him wonder how the girl in front of him had managed to do something so incredible.

"It's actually very simple."

Upon hearing Shirou's question, Lily answered directly.

"This train has a basic detection barrier that can detect the location of the spiritual vein, which is why the train can always stay on the spiritual vein."

However, the sudden appearance of that huge thing outside caused the detection barrier to fail. So I took control of the train and reinforced the entire train's barrier, so that the train would no longer lose its way."

"So, you've now taken control of the train...?"

This familiar tactic suddenly reminded Shirou of someone ten years ago who had also used this almost snatching method to steal someone else's barrier.

That's right.

Lily's unhesitating answer made Shirou's lips twitch unconsciously.

[I guess it's true that it's the same person...]

Shirou, forcibly suppressing his urge to make a sarcastic remark, still muttered something to himself.

Then Shirou suddenly remembered something else—

"And what about that [track]?"

Shirou still can't forget the path formed by the magic power that mobilized the [spiritual veins].

"Those are just little tricks."

Lily blinked, then continued, "Because of that big guy, it's difficult to mobilize the magic of [Mana], so we can only use the magic from the [Spirit Vein] to make it look like we're doing it."

"Just putting on an act...?"

Seeing the girl pouting and looking somewhat dissatisfied, Shirou was once again certain in his heart:

This stepmother is just like her father—

He's a cunning and scheming person

Standing on a huge rock some distance away from [Child of Einnashe].

The female Heroic Spirit clad in red armor, Hephaestion, watched as the train sped along the purple tracks, breaking through the blockade of the [Child of Einnashe] in the blink of an eye. Hephaestion murmured to herself:

"Master, it seems your plan has failed."

The rest, will be added next time.

Chapter 363. Conviction

Welcome back!

After the train started moving again, Shirou and Lily returned to the carriage, and just as they stepped into the carriage, they suddenly heard a burst of applause.

Those who left before are still here, clearly waiting for news. And now that the train has restarted, it obviously means they've succeeded. Although they don't know what method the two used, it's still much better than us getting off the train to fight [Child of Einnashe], isn't it?

"Well, now that everyone's here..."

However, before the relaxed atmosphere could dissipate the shock from the earlier accident, an untimely voice suddenly rang out in the somewhat cramped space.

Hishiri Adashino, the female Magecraft from the Department of Law, smiled slightly at Shirou and Lily before turning her head and scanning the living room again.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but Shirou felt that Hishiri Adashino's smile just now was a little strange... as if he had seen it somewhere before.

[It's probably just my imagination]

Thinking this, Shirou, regaining his composure, turned his attention back to Hishiri Adashino. Hishiri Adashino's gaze swept across the carriage, and after confirming that no one had left, the female Magecraft from the Department of Law smiled gently at everyone, then continued:

"Then let's continue our previous topic."

The moment Hishiri Adashino finished speaking, Shirou could clearly feel an uneasy atmosphere spreading through the slightly crowded space.

Why are you making those faces?

Hishiri Adashino, seemingly oblivious to the atmosphere, continued, "I simply want to help this young lady find out who killed the servant who grew up with her."

[Nobody would believe you!]

This was the thought that flashed through the minds of all the Magecraft present at the same time.

Everyone knows that Magecraft are driven by self-interest, and this is especially true for Magecraft with a background in Department of Law.

But so what?

Putting aside the fact that everyone had already agreed to cooperate with the investigation, the other side is now in the right, and no one can find fault with their efforts to help the victim's family find the murderer.

Everyone's attention quietly shifted to Olga Marie, who had been standing next to Hishiri Adashino with a tense expression since the beginning.

Honestly, if anyone is foolish enough to stand up and openly disagree, then when the train arrives at its destination, it will probably be the time when [Department of Astromancy] holds them accountable.

After all, not everyone can withstand the wrath of a [Lord].

"Since there are no objections..."

As she spoke, Hishiri Adashino suddenly pulled a pack of cigarettes from her sleeve and, under everyone's watchful eyes, skillfully lit one for herself.

"Then, I'll just offer my personal opinion."

No one responded; the people present were probably still reeling from Hishiri Adashino's sudden change in style.

After leisurely exhaling a puff of smoke, Hishiri Adashino continued:

"I had already confirmed this with Miss Olga Marie beforehand—the deceased Trisha possessed the [future-seeing] Mystic Eyes."

"How could this be...?"

Suddenly, someone in the crowd uttered this exclamation. But who said it was no longer important. Because the Magecraft present already understood the implied meaning behind Hishiri Adashino's words—

"Logically, Ms. Trisha, who possesses [future vision], should have been able to see the moment she was attacked and thus avoid the fatal crisis, thereby saving her life... But she still lost her life, and even her head."

"So, Ms. Trisha didn't [see] it, right? Just like Father Kabbalah said—..."

Among the crowd, Caules had been slacking off for a long time, revealed a thoughtful expression.

Father Kabbalah, who possesses the [Past Tense] Mystic Eyes, investigated the crime scene and concluded that he [couldn't see clearly].

[The scene before and after the head fell off is very blurry and unclear.]

This is how Father Kabbalah answered at the time.

"Of course he couldn't see it, because the severed head didn't fall to the ground."

"What do you mean, Miss. Hakuno?"

Even the Lord El-Melloi II, who originally had his own ideas, was thrown into disarray by Hishiri Adashino's baffling words.

"Regarding this issue, how about we ask our witness to come forward and explain with the evidence?"

Without directly answering the Lord El-Melloi II's question, Hishiri Adashino gently turned her head, casting her gaze upon her target—

"Miss Olga Marie, please show everyone [that thing]."

Upon hearing the instructions from Hishiri Adashino, the silver-haired girl subconsciously bit her lip. Then, as if she had thought of something, she took a few deep breaths and reached for the box at her feet.

Click.

As the box was opened, a few strands of long, golden hair spilled out from the initial gap. However, the box was far too large to fit a person inside.

Then, as the box was gradually opened, it came into everyone's view—

Blonde hair, forehead, eyebrows, closed eyes, and nose appeared one by one, eventually forming a familiar face.

[Only the face].

"This is Ms. Trisha's..."

Lingli nodded, confirming the low murmur of the disciple standing beside the Lord El-Melloi II Prince.

"That's right. This is the [head] of Trisha Philoz, who went missing previously."

"... What's going on?"

The moment Trisha's head appeared, the impact on everyone was like a bomb exploding.

However, despite the surprised and uncertain expressions on everyone's faces Hishiri Adashino calmly said:

"Her head was hidden by Imaginary Number Magecraft spell. I think it was probably a seal set up by Trisha Philoz herself."

"Trisha hid her own head?"

Hishiri Adashino's answer was utterly baffling.

What exactly happened to cause this situation?

Trisha's head, which was thought to have been taken away after her death, was actually hidden by Trisha herself. So who cut off her head? No, how could she possibly hide her own head? It's not like Magecraft trick involving a decapitation.

"It seems that Trisha Filoz already sensed the fact and manner of her impending death, which is why she pre-positioned a void pocket where her head would land."

Because of Hishiri Adashino's absurd remarks, the atmosphere in the carriage gradually began to stir.

"What are you talking about? Trisha's realization that she's going to die means..."

"It's because of futurism, isn't it?"

Yvette, who came from a family with a family of Mystic Eyes, clapped her hands as if she had just thought of something and said:

"Although the exact time is unclear... perhaps it was shortly after I sat down in the chair... when I foresaw that I would die by decapitation. Therefore, I had to do something within my power before I died. I think that Magecraft of setting up a pocket in the void should only require [one count] to complete, right?"

"... Yes."

Olga Marie nodded slightly in agreement to Yvette's guess, a deep sorrow in her vacant eyes.

"For Trisha, it was Magecraft that could be performed with just her will."

"That's truly enviable. It's a pity that Magecraft attributes can't be changed."

In Magecraft, the so-called "imaginary number" is defined as "something that is possible but does not exist in the material world." Such an attribute as the "imaginary number" is extremely rare, even within the entire world of Magecraft.

Therefore, it's understandable that Hishiri Adashino have such feelings.

"Ah, right, right. Just as Miss Olga Marie opened the Void Pocket, Miss Trisha's head wasn't quite dead yet. After all, time is completely stopped in the Imaginary Number Magecraft spell."

That's right, even without time to write a single sentence, she still chose the most straightforward message before she died. What do you think was the only word she left behind with her last breath?

Naturally, no one could answer that question. In the silent carriage, Hishiri Adashino stubbed out her cigarette and continued:

She was referring to -- [Kabbalah]

But today is my birthday, and I've already made it this far.