Wherever there were people, there were conflicts. How could the Clock Tower be any different?
The Mage's Association was a nominal self-defense organization formed by people who studied magecraft, regardless of nationality or school. Its mission was to manage and conceal the existence of magecraft while further developing it.
It possessed military force to protect itself from threats such as the Holy Church and other magecraft organizations, maintained research institutions for the further development of magecraft, and enacted laws to curb crimes committed through magecraft.
With the beginning of the Common Era, True Ether completely vanished from the world.
However, the disciples of Solomon, the Mage King, founded an academy with the aim of "passing down Mystery as a field of study."
After that, many supporters and followers emerged across the world. These supporters built numerous magecraft cities, but those cities were successively shut down during their confrontation with the Holy Church. As a result, all their functions became concentrated in the Clock Tower established in London.
By around the thirteenth century, whenever the Mage's Association was mentioned, it generally referred to the Clock Tower in London—the Origin and highest institution of learning.
Kenneth's return did not draw much attention from ordinary students. After all, he had returned less than two months after Waver at most. Aside from some gossip about Waver taking over his classroom, there was little for them to say about a private arrangement.
But there was some unrest among the upper ranks. Most people had assumed that Kenneth would never return, or had even died, and were preparing to divide up the extra benefits when Kenneth came back.
Kenneth made his return very high-profile because he wanted everyone to know that he was still alive. He knew perfectly well that, during his disappearance, many people would have been eyeing his interests. He had to crush those thoughts immediately.
Of course, none of that concerned me. I merely needed to borrow Kenneth's title as a Lord to arrange for Rin and Sakura, and have him introduce me to a few important figures. First, though, I intended to see Waver.
As soon as Waver learned that I had arrived, he hurried out to greet me. Beside him were his good friend Melvin Vines and a tiny Laines El-Melloi Archisorte, who looked to be only about five years old.
Since he was not short on money and had Kenneth's instructions, Waver had not gone to visit Iskandar's homeland, and none of the subsequent events had occurred. His relationship with Melvin was simply that of friends, with no debt issues between them.
We exchanged a hug upon meeting. If a fujoshi had passed by, she surely would have thought it overflowing with bromance.
He introduced his friend and young girlfriend. The young girlfriend kept calling him "Brother." (Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi's love began with murder.)
Out of polite concern, Waver asked about my current situation. The result was that he dragged me off to listen to him pour out his grievances—how this person obstructed him, how that person mocked him, and how everyone looked down on him.
That was only natural. The Clock Tower revolved around its twelve Lords, and the great magecraft families were divided into three major factions based on their political stances: the Aristocrat Faction, the Democrat Faction, and the Neutral Faction.
Aristocrat Faction: It advocated following established customs, believing that only those who had been chosen should study and improve magecraft. Led by Barthomeloi, its members included El-Melloi, Yullyphis, Animusphere, Gausling, Acherot, and others.
Democrat Faction: It advocated opening the doors wide, granting outstanding talents the status they deserved, and balancing magecraft society itself. Centered around Trambelio, it included another great noble family, Balueretta, as well as Edelfelt and others. Represented by Mayasthea, it included Bricisan and Gigumale.
Neutral Faction: Unlike the other two, this faction did not possess a unified internal will. Several families had merely gathered together because they wished to prioritize research over ideology. It would not be surprising if they fell into internal conflict at any time.
They were usually collectively referred to by the name of the most powerful Mayasthea branch.
These factions despised and restrained one another, but because they understood that each was indispensable to the Clock Tower, they normally would not completely crush their opponents.
Ridiculously, Waver could only be considered a commoner by birth, yet he bore the title of Lord El-Melloi II. A commoner mingling among nobles was a disgrace in the eyes of nobles and a traitor in the eyes of commoners. There was no way he could have been comfortable.
I spoke with concern. "Fortunately, Kenneth has returned. Things should become easier for you from now on." I also told him that my main purpose in coming here was to send a few people to study and to meet several people along the way.
Before long, Rin and Sakura's enrollment had been settled. Once a Lord spoke, everything became a minor issue.
I solemnly said to Waver, "I intend to entrust the two of them to your care."
Waver hesitated. "Shouldn't there be better choices? I might not be able to teach them well."
I refuted him. "I believe in your ability. If you truly lacked ability, Kenneth would not have asked you to replace him. You need to believe in yourself." (You are a man with the Eyes of Discernment.)
He then reluctantly said, "Fine." (PUA successful.) From then on, the El-Melloi Classroom had two more legends.
"Come, Rin, Sakura. Call him Teacher." With that, the first task was resolved. From then on, during my time with Aoi, I only needed to guard against Fujino. Heh heh.
Rin and Sakura seemed to have been arranged to live with Laines. I wondered what kind of story the three of them would have in the future.
Kenneth had only just returned and was mainly occupied with handling matters within his faction. For the time being, he had no intention of returning to the classroom, nor did he intend to take back Waver's title.
Late at night, after confirming with Kenneth the time for an introduction to Animusphere—the following afternoon—I returned to my residence. That was right; I had my own house in London.
Alone in bed, I thought about the tangled relationships within the Clock Tower. It was still too early to get involved with too many people. I should focus on Animusphere instead.
Set a small goal: become Chaldea's deputy director. Once the negotiations are settled, take a trip to Spirit Tomb Albion, then visit a village in the mountains of Wales to see whether I can lure her out.
Bringing home a tiny Gray to raise would be wonderful. With Kenneth alive, Waver's future had already changed. Whether there would still be Lord El-Melloi II Case Files was another question entirely.
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