After dealing with the workshop's rampage, on the train ride back…
Lord El-Melloi II rested his cheek against his hand, silently watching the scenery roll by outside.
Gray, seated beside him, couldn't help but worry as she watched him in this state.
"I'm fine." Seemingly sensing his disciple's concerned gaze from behind, El-Melloi II spoke up first.
Just then, Aesc arrived with some food, breaking the somber atmosphere.
"It was his own choice, wasn't it?"
Aesc sat down across from Gray and El-Melloi II, while Reines from the next table also drifted over.
"This matter can't be as simple as it seems, can it, my teacher?"
"Can I really be called your teacher? I haven't taught you anything yet." El-Melloi II shook his head helplessly and pulled out a document. "That woman, Hishiri Adashino, gave this to me before we left. It's information about the Rail Zeppelin, found in the workshop."
"The Rail Zeppelin?" Gray tilted her head slightly.
"It's a train that collects all kinds of Mystic Eyes, traveling endlessly through Europe's forests. Once a year, it holds an auction dedicated to Mystic Eyes. The kinds of people who board that train are… far from ordinary."
"An auction? So there are many who want to collect Mystic Eyes?"
"Of course. But that train has an even more unusual ability." El-Melloi II stared gravely at the documents. "On that train… they can transplant Mystic Eyes."
"Transplant?!" Gray gasped in surprise.
"Yes. Mystic Eyes are rooted in one's very life. Simply removing one is already a near-impossible feat, let alone transplanting it." El-Melloi II interlaced his fingers, resting them before his face. "Finding this document in the workshop suggests that Wills's Mystic Eyes may not have been innate."
"Perhaps before he could even form memories, Wills had his eyes transplanted. Whether it was Trevor's goal in creating that workshop, the creation of artificial fairies, or the final Fairy Door—this entire incident revolved around that Fairy Eye."
When it came down to it, what was Trevor really after?
Did he intend to reach the Root through all this?
But Trevor was already dead, and Wills had departed for the land of the fairies. The buried truth would likely never surface.
The Rail Zeppelin had nothing to do with them, anyway. Instead, a far more pressing matter lay before them—Aesc's identity.
Why had this heroic spirit approached them? That face of hers…
Was she also trying to resurrect King Arthur?!
Thinking this far, El-Melloi II glanced at Gray beside Aesc.
"My lady, given our cooperative relationship, I shouldn't pry too deeply, but…" Remembering that face so similar to Gray's—to King Arthur's—El-Melloi II looked sternly at Aesc.
"Could you at least reveal a little about your identity? If you intend to harm my disciple, I, Waver Velvet, will not let it go."
If they angered her, at the very least, he couldn't let it involve the El-Melloi classroom.
"Wow, what a cool line."
Ignoring Gray's flustered reaction and Reines' teasing, El-Melloi II kept his eyes fixed on Aesc, who had paused in selecting her food.
"There's no need to be so tense." Aesc offered a reassuring smile. "I believe you've already formed some guesses about my identity, haven't you, Teacher?"
"...That's right." Seeming to sense her goodwill, El-Melloi II relaxed slightly. "I've more or less pieced it together."
"The Inner Sea of the Planet, the reverse side of the world—while not exactly equivalent to Avalon, it's often used to refer to it."
El-Melloi II laid out his reasoning based on the available clues.
"You were searching for information on the Inner Sea. You carry a presence similar to that of King Arthur, whom I saw during that war. And that fairy hinted at your own fairy nature."
Hm? That fairy… when we met at the start of this whole affair, couldn't it barely even speak?
Aesc listened to his analysis while musing to herself.
"Finally, considering the kindness you've shown us these past few days while in our company…" El-Melloi II connected all the threads and delivered his conclusion.
"My lady, your identity is…"
"As expected of Lord El-Melloi II. Indeed, I am—"
Mm-hm~ The famous detective El-Melloi II lives up to his name, Aesc thought, speaking in unison with him.
"The one who bestowed the holy sword upon King Arthur—the Lady of the Lake, Vivian."
"Morgan."
Their voices overlapped, but the answers differed.
"Huh?" x 4.
"Morgan?!"
"Huh?!"
Hearing Aesc's reply, everyone present gasped in shock—even Add, who had stayed invisible for so long, cried out.
Aesc, too, was taken aback by El-Melloi II's deduction.
Though Morgan and Vivian were one and the same, El-Melloi II shouldn't have known that. Raising an eyebrow in surprise, she asked, "Why did you think I was Vivian? I've used so much magecraft, after all."
"I thought a fairy who uses magecraft made more sense than a witch with a drastically changed personality," El-Melloi II replied, covering his face.
"Miss Aesc is… Morgan? The witch who destroyed Britain…?" Gray, muffling a suddenly excited Add, looked puzzledly at Aesc. "Miss Aesc doesn't seem like that at all."
"Well~ Let's just say I'm not the Morgan of this world—Pan-Human History," Aesc explained with a shrug.
"…The Second Magic?" Hearing this, El-Melloi II accepted it almost immediately.
"Close enough, close enough." Aesc casually picked up some food from the table and looked curiously at El-Melloi II. "Aren't you curious why I look so much like King Arthur?"
"I've heard that Jeanne d'Arc also looked identical to King Arthur," El-Melloi II replied calmly, also taking some food. "I've reached a point where I can accept just about anything when it comes to heroic spirits."
I hope you'll stay this calm in the future when Zhuge Liang possesses you and your dear stepsister Reines gets possessed by Sima Yi.
After offering that silent blessing, Aesc continued, "I'm not entirely sure of the specifics behind how I arrived here, but you can all rest assured—I mean no harm. Just think of me as a traveler wandering about, collecting interesting things."
With that, Aesc smiled at everyone present and turned her attention to the food.
Reines chimed in then, "Big brother, just let it be. Having a Ghost Liner on our side can only help, right?"
El-Melloi II gave her a strange look. What are you up to now?
"Well~ A magus should use every tool at their disposal, shouldn't they?" Reines met her stepbrother's gaze.
Besides, your adorable little sister here has already paid the price.
"If you want my help, I'll need to study your Volumen Hydrargyrum," the golden-haired witch had said that night, sitting on the bed. "Unless, of course, you'd rather offer yourself."
If she's already studied the Volumen Hydrargyrum, then next time the price might be your dear little sister herself.
Reines stole a glance at Aesc, who was busy with her food, and felt her cheeks grow warm.
Aesc, having secured advantages from both sides, looked up curiously.
Did I just feel someone staring at me?
--+--
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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.