Holy Grail War…?
Fingel stroked his still-rough, unshaven chin, deep in thought. Was this the same thing that had been going viral on Hunter Net lately?
He had indeed seen a post by a user named "Huginn" that featured an incredibly flashy battle video, claiming to be a promotion for the mysterious "Holy Grail War."
But Fingel had always felt it was nothing more than a fight between the legendary God Slayer Shirou and some unknown Dragon King, captured by a drone and uploaded online, where it sparked a frenzy thanks to troublemakers fanning the flames.
With his years of experience as head of the Cassell Academy's Journalism Club paparazzi team, Fingel could tell at a glance that the video was carefully edited — the real battle situation was far from clear.
After all, as a student learning alchemy from the Vice Principal, Night Watcher, he knew exactly how heavy the term "Holy Grail" weighed — aside from its lofty religious and mystical connotations, in Dragon-kind alchemy research it referred to legendary rare items like Dragon King fetal blood or Dragonbone Crosses.
In other words, this so-called Holy Grail War post was most likely bait to lure a bunch of overconfident fools into fighting a real Dragon King.
There was no way the Principal and Vice Principal would actually hand him some holy relic and send him to participate in a real Holy Grail War, summoning Heroic Spirits and all… right?
"Fingel, we've already discussed this. We need to send someone to represent the Secret Party in this Holy Grail War." Principal Angers' voice was low and serious — he clearly meant it.
"Wait, Principal, this…" Fingel was at a loss for words, eyes wide in disbelief.
"That video does have signs of editing," Angers said with a faint smile, "but I'm telling you, this is a serious situation that has already happened."
Then the Principal shifted topics to something that, at first glance, seemed unrelated.
"The day after that Heroic Spirit attack video was released, my office inbox received thirty-four withdrawal requests — all from Eastern Japanese exchange students. The implication is clear: the Eight Families of Saki have torn up their educational agreement with the Secret Party."
"The Eight Families of Saki," Night Watcher said, taking a swig from his beer bottle, "had the only equal partnership with the Secret Party among all the branches worldwide. The educational agreement was a supplement to our alliance pact."
"According to that agreement, they'd send their family's bloodline heirs here to train. When they returned home, they would form the Academy's Eastern Japanese branch. Signing this deal meant the Eight Families officially came under the Secret Party's wing. But now…"
Angers' voice turned cold. "They're breaking the deal. They intend to stand on their own again."
"They used those students as messengers," Angers went on, "giving me the excuse for their breach — that their families need their power to deal with their greatest domestic enemy. In other words, they're implying events like the Holy Grail War were caused by their enemies."
Night Watcher smirked, swirling his beer. "Classic blame-shifting. Dump all the dirt on your enemy to make yourself look spotless."
Angers nodded. "Whatever their hidden motives, the seriousness and reality of the Holy Grail War are beyond doubt. No wonder the 'Clock Tower' and the 'Holy Church' want to get involved."
Hearing two unfamiliar names, Fingel's brain almost froze. Who the hell were they?
"Fingel, remember those two recordings we just watched?" Night Watcher asked.
"Of course! Crystal clear!" Fingel grinned and gave his mentor a thumbs up. "Your taste in women, Sensei, is something I've always admired — beyond compare!"
"Haha! Your flattery skills are truly unmatched…" Night Watcher chuckled, belly shaking — then suddenly frowned and glanced at Angers. "Wait, is that even the right idiom?"
Angers sighed. "Not 'beyond chasing by four horses' — it's 'can't catch up even in a cloud of dust.'"
"Oh, right!" Night Watcher drank again. "Where was I…? Ah, yes, the Clock Tower and the Holy Church."
"The two women in those recordings," Night Watcher said, "were identified by our branches as members from the Clock Tower and the Holy Church respectively. Fingel, did you notice anything?"
Fingel thought back to the girls' combat abilities and finally blurted out: "Terrifying!"
Night Watcher rolled his eyes. "I didn't ask for your feelings — give me an analysis."
"Uh… The first girl seemed skilled in alchemy, but I didn't see her use any Words of Power. The second, a nun, seemed to use physical enhancement — 'Immortality' or 'Bronze Throne'? But…"
"But you noticed they never once chanted in Dragon Tongue, right?" Night Watcher interrupted. "That's right. We've confirmed they weren't using Words of Power at all — but some similar, yet entirely new system."
"What?" Fingel's jaw dropped so far an egg could fit in.
Angers added, "These videos are just the tip of the iceberg. Reports from Europe say many families aligned with the Secret Party have suffered multiple premeditated ambushes lately. The Board of Directors ordered Norma to suppress this information, so students here have no idea."
Night Watcher snorted. "The Board's already fought over it several times. They're convinced it's the work of agents from 'Westminster Abbey' and the 'Order of Solomon,' with the Holy Grail War being another of their schemes."
"They're yelling about the Secret Party's honor and status being non-negotiable, wanting to gather elites from the Execution Department to strike back! Damn it, our boys at Cassell Academy should be the united front against dragons — not private soldiers for the Board's families!"
Beer foam splashed as he waved the bottle angrily, and Fingel dodged nimbly like a monkey despite his bear-like build.
"No. While they're attacking local mixed-blood families, their real aim is to pressure our branches into giving up territorial jurisdiction," Angers said, a strange look in his eyes. He briefly recalled the uneasy peace talks with the Goddess Nuwa in the Divine Land.
"Back to the point," Angers said. "The Clock Tower from Westminster will send people to intervene in the Holy Grail War. The Order of Solomon and the Holy Church insist 'the Holy Grail is a manifestation of God's will and should be taken into Church custody.'"
"This new system and these events are no coincidence. The Secret Party cannot remain uninvolved."
"Speaking of Heroic Spirits, Fingel — what does that make you think of?"
"Heroic Spirits…" Fingel hesitated, then his eyes lit up. "Norse mythology — Odin's Valhalla? And the ID 'Huginn' is one of Odin's ravens."
"Exactly. Considering the 'Odin' that appeared in the Divine Land, we must suspect the Norse All-Father never died at all. From Europe's instability to fresh upheaval in Japan, the same hand is likely behind it all."
Angers' voice was cold and sharp, like a blade about to be drawn. Once again, he pinned the blame squarely on Odin.
"Even last time in the Divine Land, our loss was due to Odin's schemes. Now that he's showing his tail again, we can't be a step behind like before!"
Angers finished, gaze burning into Fingel. The latter looked terrified, seeking help from his mentor.
But Night Watcher's expression was identical to Angers'.
Their eyes seemed to say: "Heaven has chosen you! You will fight in the Holy Grail War!"
Fingel's face fell. He pointed to himself, voice shaking. "Does it really have to be me?"
Has the Secret Party truly run out of people? Is it finally my turn to face Dragon King-level battles?
"Don't sell yourself short," Angers said earnestly. "You're an A-Rank bloodline, a true dragon-slaying elite. You're already a senior — your dormmates have gone for branch internships. If you don't take on an external mission this year, you won't graduate."
"This time, you'll travel to Japan with me. With the Secret Party's resources, finding a precious holy relic is trivial. Just stay by my side — it's not as dangerous as you think."
"Exactly," Night Watcher said casually. "Don't look so scared. If Angers is with you, and we've got the best relic ready, what's there to worry about?"
"Uh… Vice Principal, I've done great in the Journalism Club, and I manage the Night Watcher forum like a pro…" Fingel blinked rapidly, signaling desperately to his mentor.
"…Can I just skip this internship? I'd rather stay single forever in the Academy than go!"
Night Watcher exchanged a puzzled glance with Angers, then asked, "And next year? Stay a fifth year and have your A-Rank dropped a grade?"
Fingel's eyes lit up. "Wait, is that an option?"
"No!" Angers refused flatly, quashing their attempt to trample the rules.
(End of Chapter)
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