To be honest, Aslan did not have any strong aversion to this Lemonhead. Upon reflection, the guy didn't seem to have any serious flaws—aside from the pride typical of an old-school aristocratic magician. Of course, being a genius, he was inevitably a bit self-righteous. But with Kayneth's talent and ability, he certainly had the right to be.
Come to think of it, Kayneth might be the only one in the Holy Grail War who consistently upheld the traditions and dignity of a proper magician. He didn't secretly collude with the supervisor, didn't blow up any buildings, and didn't recklessly overload his summoning ritual with unstable magical energy.
As for supplying mana through dual contracts, that was the product of legitimate research, wasn't it? Kayneth was determined to fight as a true magician, while everyone else seemed to have abandoned the moral principles of the craft.
If his relic hadn't been stolen, at least his fiancée wouldn't have become so love-brained—and perhaps they wouldn't have both ended up riddled with bullets. Then again, even if Kayneth had successfully summoned the King of Conquerors, they would never have been compatible.
All in all, Aslan saw this lemon-headed man as a somewhat overconfident antique—a man defined by his faction and ideals.
At least with someone like that, you wouldn't have to worry about being stabbed in the back… unless there were very special circumstances. And if he were your enemy, you wouldn't need to fear underhanded schemes—again, barring exceptional conditions. Kayneth was someone who valued both his family and his fiancée.
So long as you steered clear of those two sensitive areas, Lemonhead might actually be a friend worth having.
By now, Aslan figured, Lemonhead was probably already considering whether to participate in the Holy Grail War. It certainly seemed like he was eager for an opportunity to prove his strength. After all, Kayneth was regarded at the Clock Tower as the magician most likely to challenge the current holders of the Crown. Of course, the Crown of this era was nothing like what it had once been in the distant past.
Kayneth, for his part, held a favorable impression of Aslan. A young genius who had mastered the ancient fairy script—something many veteran magi still couldn't read—was no ordinary student. In a place like the Clock Tower, teeming with talent, he was a rare standout. Kayneth believed that Aslan might one day challenge the Crown himself, with the fairy script as his foundation.
Still, it was rather strange. Whether it was in the world of FZ, FGO, or Apocrypha, Kayneth always summoned Diarmuid, always participated in the Holy Grail War, and always met a beautiful defeat. The conditions for his victory were simply too narrow.
Asking Diarmuid to set aside his knightly pride? Nearly impossible. The man's wish, after all, was to remain loyal to his monarch as a true knight.
As if noticing Aslan's gaze, Kayneth tilted his head slightly. He had plenty of patience for this boy genius. If he couldn't be patient with the truly gifted, how could he ever tolerate the dim-witted students in his class?
A bunch of useless students, alas.
Kayneth was a genius. Naturally, he believed most students were unqualified.
"What is it? Fairy script genius of the Archaeology Department—do I have something on my face?"
Aslan stared at the lemon-headed man in front of him. As someone who prided himself on his fashion sense, he found such a hairstyle borderline criminal. He would definitely have to witness this year's Holy Grail War firsthand. After all, these wars often became the catalysts for larger crises. Which meant he'd be running into this lemon-headed guy again by year's end.
Wait a minute. I'm a 1,500-year-old man who still cares about his appearance. Why doesn't a guy in his forties bother with this at all?
"I feel that Professor Kayneth is a bit too serious in daily life. That kind of attitude suits a school setting and maintains a teacher's dignity—but Professor Kayneth has a fiancée, right? When you're with her, this kind of rigid style feels too monotonous. Maybe you should check out some fashion magazines and try something new."
Kayneth didn't interpret Aslan's comment as a challenge to his authority. In truth, he was vain enough to appreciate compliments from a gifted student. What teacher didn't enjoy praise from the talented? And as a proper educator, he knew better than to let that appreciation turn into favoritism—or disdain for others.
Well, theoretically, at least. In Kayneth's private view, none of his current students were worthy of his time.
Aslan, on the other hand, possessed both talent and charm. And of course, Kayneth also truly admired Sora—whether due to respect for his mentor or something more personal. True, relationships between magi lacked the heat and passion of mundane romance, but even so, the connection between him and Sora had become a little too plain.
In any case, Aslan's words had piqued the monarch's interest. Kayneth had been immersed in magical studies for so long that he'd paid little attention to the mundane fashion of modern society. Could it really be an issue of image?
Kayneth nodded thoughtfully. "I'll consider your suggestion. But speaking of this overseas assignment… we really shouldn't have gathered so many professionals in one place."
He lowered his head, resting his chin on his hand. He wasn't stupid. He could see the situation clearly. As the leader of the El-Melloi faction, he'd been targeted more than once. He just didn't know what form the scheme would take this time.
Or perhaps… he should stir the waters himself. After all, taking down a faction was difficult, but creating trouble? That was easy. If they couldn't kill you, they could at least disgust you.
This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. But smearing the El-Melloi faction wasn't so simple. Their goal was probably to eliminate or cripple the genius in the Archaeology Department—then spread rumors that Kayneth, unable to accept being overshadowed, had arranged for the boy's demise.
Whether people believed it or not didn't matter.
What mattered was that it sickened him.
-End Chapter-
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