London, England.
The streets teemed with people, the air thick with the scent of fish and chips. Children noisily crowded onto buses. And in a certain inconspicuous alleyway stood a girl.
Her eyes were closed. She wore a white robe, accentuated by black and golden lines that lent it an air of luxury. Though the outer robe was white, the inner lining was a deep blue-purple, dotted with countless stars, bestowing upon the ensemble an unparalleled sense of mystery.
A large white hat sat upon her head, concealing her golden hair beneath its brim. A single silken, radiant lock was tied into a braid that rested over her chest. Beside her hovered a heavy grimoire and a staff.
Anyone with eyes could tell she was a witch. Yet, the passersby and even the animals paid her no mind. No, it wasn't indifference—they simply couldn't perceive her presence, as if the spot had always been empty.
--+--
[Destination Reached – Type-Moon (The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II).]
[Template Adjusting. Changing to – Aesc the Rain Witch.]
[Initiating World Incursion.]
--+--
As if responding to the incessant mechanical voice in her mind, the girl's eyes slowly opened.
"...So typing '1' really gets you isekai'd."
She had been diligently browsing a certain well-known app when a pop-up ad for travel suddenly appeared.
'Type 1 to start your journey to the 2D world~!' An anime-style girl danced, wobbling as she held up a sign.
Remembering how she'd immediately typed '1', the girl let out a long sigh.
"No wonder I got a pop-up. Usually, there's only one ad every twenty pages."
As she spoke, she looked towards the shopfront opposite her. The decorative glass pane clearly reflected her figure. Even with the glasses she now wore, her sparkling blue eyes were unmistakable.
Seeing her current self, the girl suddenly laughed.
"Isekai and a gender-bend into a beautiful girl. Hit the jackpot with both."
With that, she began to stretch and move her body.
"The Rain Witch... Aesc. Right, the new Servant from the summer event."
She tried to recall the relevant information. Hmm... Morgan pressing peanut oil?
Get a grip, get a grip.
This appearance... it should be her first Ascension, a Spirit Origin constructed from memories of her life with the Rain Clan, before all the later events. So, she wasn't the stern Queen yet. Though, bugs were probably still a weakness.
Grabbing the staff standing beside her, she carefully sensed the power she now possessed (Strength: C) and nodded with great satisfaction.
--+--
[Incursion Complete. Identity Data Distributed.]
[Your Identity: A rare magical prodigy who appeared out of nowhere, belonging to no known family or lineage. Currently preparing to enroll in the Department of Modern Magecraft Theory (Norwich).]
[A portal to the next world will open upon reaching certain plot milestones.]
[Wishing you a pleasant journey.]
--+--
The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II. Mainly tells the story of Waver Velvet after Fate/Zero, taking over his teacher Kayneth's El-Melloi family. Though the anime only covered a few cases.
Having seen the anime and knowing the plot, I'm practically invincible now.
Well... first, familiarize myself with the surroundings. Then, go find my teacher-for-the-time-being.
With that thought, Aesc tilted her staff towards the ground. A flash of white light erupted, and a circular pool appeared at her feet. Countless ripples danced within it, like the disturbed surface of calm water.
Her body gradually sank into the watery surface. With a clear, plopping sound, the golden-haired witch vanished from the spot.
Inside a café, the head of the current El-Melloi family—one of only twelve families in the Clock Tower granted the rank of Lord, El-Melloi II—grabbed a bite of food and glared sourly at the golden-haired girl sitting across from him. "What do you want, Reines, coming all the way here during my lunch break?"
His peaceful, pleasant lunch hour had evaporated the moment the two golden-haired girls arrived.
This meal was supposed to be his reward for helping solve a case.
"Eh~ I came all this way to give you the information Luvia dug up for your request," Reines said, before turning a smiling face towards Luvia sitting beside her. "Though it's rather bad news, I'm afraid."
"Indeed. Regarding this 'Holy Grail War'," Luvia began, her expression serious as she looked at El-Melloi II. "The Association's two participant slots are already full."
"Wh—"
"Ah, but there's some good news too, Brother! A new student has joined your class." Beaming, Reines produced a letter and placed it before El-Melloi II's eyes.
"...A student of unknown origins. Is that really good news?" As he looked at the letter Reines handed him, a familiar discomfort began to stir in El-Melloi II's stomach.
"Well~ Agreeing to this should lighten your debt quite a bit. Do your best, Onii-sama."
"...Gray, let's finish up and head back."
"Yes."
"Who'd believe a Lord of the Clock Tower lived in a place like this if you told them? Though it is his own property, I suppose." Outside a reddish-brown, cheap-looking apartment building—conservatively estimated to be a hundred years old—the golden-haired witch smiled, pushed the main door open, and walked inside.
Back inside the apartment, the two residents were dealing with the aftermath.
El-Melloi II stared at the letter in his hand, clutching his stomach as he let out a deep, weary sigh.
The gray-haired girl clad in a cloak and hood hurriedly handed him a bottle of stomach medicine.
"Thank you, Gray." After taking the medicine, El-Melloi II slumped back into his chair, utterly spent.
"Are you alright, Professor?"
"Ah... sorry to worry you." El-Melloi II glanced at the concerned girl, then averted his eyes a moment later, focusing on the letter on the desk. "There are still ways to get a spot in the Holy Grail War. The strange thing is this sudden new student."
Sitting up, he began tapping the letter with his finger. Tap. Tap. Tap. "No background information at all. Just a single name: 'Aesc'. Yet she gets to join the Department of Modern Magecraft Theory directly. Just who is she...?"
Before he could finish his sentence, a slow, light knocking sound came from the door.
"Good evening, Lord El-Melloi II. I am the new student. My name is Aesc." A clear, youthful voice sounded from the other side of the door.
El-Melloi II shot to his feet, his voice dropping to a hushed tone as he addressed the gray-haired girl. "Gray!"
The girl nodded, taking the caged object at her waist and moving cautiously towards the door, her guard up.
"I don't know how you found this place, but I'm sorry, now is not office hours," El-Melloi II called out warily towards the door.
"Please, rest assured, I mean no harm. I was merely looking for a place to stay and happened to notice my teacher lived downstairs. I thought I'd come and pay my respects," the girl outside replied.
Hearing this, the two inside exchanged a look. El-Melloi II gave Gray a nod, and they both approached the door.
"How... coincidental, Miss. However—" As Gray opened the door, El-Melloi II's gaze fell upon the figure standing there.
In the next instant, as the faces of the two inside registered the person at the door, both El-Melloi II and Gray's eyes widened in unison. The appearance of the outsider seemed to strike them with immense shock, the sudden impact robbing them of their breath for a moment.
"You... You are..."
There, standing at the doorway, dressed in a witch's attire, the golden-haired girl smiled back at them.
"Hello, Professor El-Melloi II."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.