"I guess all geniuses are 'problem children' in their own way, aren't they?"
"Mentor's coming!" Svin's nose twitched as he suddenly sat bolt upright, his posture turning rigid and professional.
"Oh! Right!" Flat immediately stopped pestering Wayland and scrambled to his own seat.
Wayland found an empty spot and sat down, focusing as the lecture began.
By the time the class ended, Wayland hadn't even had a chance to stand up before Flat was hovering over him again.
"Hey, Rising Star! Let's go! Let's all go grab dinner,you, me, Svin, and Gray! We need to celebrate the official formation of the Three Greats of El-Melloi!"
'Why don't you just say we're 'debuting' as an idol group?'
Wayland packed his books into his bag and offered a suggestion. "Let's go for steak."
To be honest, while the foie gras at the banquet had been decent enough, two days of living on localized 'emergency rations' with Reines had left him craving something substantial and familiar.
The 5th Holy Grail War
Charing Cross Road, London.
Wayland stood before a cylindrical, mirror-glass building that looked like something out of a sci-fi film. Compared to the ancient, stone-and-wood aesthetic of the Modern Magecraft department, this place felt like it belonged in the future, not 2003.
The reason he was here was Eliza.
If he was going to undergo the ritual to implant a first-generation Magic Crest, he would need both a pharmacist and a tuner.
After contacting Bazett, he had been told to wait for her here.
But the first person to arrive wasn't Bazett; it was Melvin Weins.
Even though he'd never met the man in person, Wayland recognized him instantly.
The man was... distinctive, to say the least.
Snow-white clothes, snow-white skin, and even his hair and eyelashes were a pure, porcelain white. Only his eyes provided a splash of color,a pale, crystalline blue.
He was carrying a violin case in one hand and dabbing at his mouth with a blood-stained white handkerchief with the other.
"So you're Waver's student, huh? A shame you're not a beauty like Gray-tan."
Melvin offered a familiar greeting, his body twisting in a series of exaggerated, theatrical movements. "I've got to hand it to you,you really are Waver's disciple. You've got the same reckless streak. I've repaired plenty of Magic Crests in my time, but I've never built one from scratch. Don't disappoint me! Cough... cough... URP!"
A spray of fresh blood interrupted his sentence.
Melvin wiped his chin with his handkerchief and continued as if nothing had happened. "Still... why are we meeting in front of the Necromancy division? Don't tell me you're planning to raid the place for a Cursed Core? Because if you are... that would be magnificent! Let's do it!"
'Does Lord El-Melloi II have even one 'normal' friend besides Gray?'
Wayland let out a resigned sigh. No wonder Waver had constant stomach problems; anyone would with friends like these.
"The Necromancy division?"
Wayland realized the confusion. "Wait, I'm looking for the Sealing Designation Execution division. Do you know where it is?"
Melvin looked at him in disbelief. "Every other magus in the world spends their life praying they never run into the Execution division, and you're actually looking for them?"
"I have my reasons. The pharmacist I'm meeting is currently with the Execution division."
"Fascinating!"
Melvin slapped Wayland on the shoulder, looking delighted. "I knew any student of Waver's had to be a bit unhinged. A pharmacist on the level of a Sealing Designation... this is going to be an eye-opener! Come on, I'll show you. The Execution division is located directly beneath the Necromancy department."
"Beneath it?"
Wayland followed Melvin into the building, glancing around as they walked. "You mean it's underground?"
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]
Moved the author note to here, mind u im not the author, just humble translator
[SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR]
A few things about the story's development:
This novel was conceived earlier this year. I actually had three different ideas,one about a Master traveling to the Throne of Heroes, one about a Master in Britain, and this one. I chose this one simply because a friend suggested I make Ereshkigal the heroine.
Initially, I was writing short fanfiction on various social platforms, mostly Fate-related. When I started Volume 1, I planned for Eresh-chan to appear in the Fifth Holy Grail War, but I realized that writing the Case Files arc first would mean she wouldn't show up for a long time. That's when I saw another novel with a cute, personified system and developed the idea for Irigal.
I realize I might have written Irigal's personality a bit inconsistently at the start, and I apologize for that. I also know some readers felt Volume 1's original content went on a bit too long before reaching the Grail War.
Volume 1: The Three Greats of El-Melloi. This volume sets up the world, Wayland's mysterious background, Irigal's true identity, and the Twin Towers incident.
Volume 2: The Goddess of the Underworld. This will cover the Fifth Holy Grail War, following the Unlimited Blade Works route. I personally love Rin Tohsaka and Archer, and the UBW route is less tragic than the others. There will definitely be FGO routes in the future as well.
I'm an 'old soul' when it comes to typing speed; two thousand words usually takes me over three hours. I work a 9-to-5 job and spend my evenings writing. It's a challenge to keep it up, but the support from you all makes it worthwhile.
Thank you again for reading, and I hope you'll stick with me for the premiere!
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