"Teacher, what's wrong?"
After enjoying Lady Crane's performance, Gray returned to Lord El-Melloi II's office, happily carrying her chosen gift.
But the moment she stepped inside, she could tell something was off with her teacher.
Inside the room, El-Melloi II stood facing the window.
Bathed in the setting sun's rays, his gaunt silhouette seemed profoundly weary, as if the wrinkles on his forehead had deepened.
Even the crystal ball he was nearly always holding was set aside.
"It's... it's nothing," came El-Melloi II's exhausted voice.
'Was I too pushy? Maybe Teacher still doesn't like others getting involved in his personal life.'
"Then... I'll take my leave."
Gray, who handled almost all aspects of El-Melloi II's daily life, turned to leave, her confidence wavering.
And promptly bumped right into Aesc, who was just entering the room.
Catching Gray in her arms, Aesc spoke loudly enough for all to hear, "Now's not the time to run away. Boys in their fragile state are easier to win over, you know."
The disciple's face instantly flushed scarlet. At her waist, Add began cackling.
"Don't go filling Gray's head with nonsense!" El-Melloi II quickly interjected, hearing his disciple being led astray.
Jolted right out of his melancholy state, El-Melloi II turned around, massaging his temples. "My apologies, I'll be frank."
"I've lost something... something very important to me."
Gray, now back to her normal self, didn't even need to ask. She immediately understood what he meant.
Sure enough, El-Melloi II revealed the answer in the next moment.
"It's a relic belonging to a certain Heroic Spirit." He produced a letter and continued, "The thief left this behind."
'Is losing relics just part of the job description for the El-Melloi lineage?'
Aesc quipped internally as she stepped forward and took the letter.
"It's an invitation from the Rail Zeppelin," El-Melloi II explained as Aesc began reading. "Any insights, my lady?"
"Hmm... None. There's no sign of forced entry in the room either."
"Then how did it get taken from my..." El-Melloi II trailed off, stroking his chin in thought.
"The Rail Zeppelin... is that the train that collects Mystic Eyes you mentioned before?" Gray, the half-baked apprentice, tried recalling knowledge from their past discussions on the train.
"Indeed," El-Melloi II replied, ruffling his hair in frustration.
'And here I was thinking the Rail Zeppelin had nothing to do with us for the time being.'
No helping it.
He turned to Aesc and Gray with a request. "Ladies, would you accompany me to the Rail Zeppelin?"
--+--
A few days later.
The moonlight tonight is truly...
Impossible to see.
Thick fog obscured most of the moonlight that should have bathed the earth, leaving only faint silver glimpses between the clouds.
Similarly, the dense mist also hid their destination from view.
But as they pressed on, a building gradually took shape within the fog.
A deserted station shrouded in mist, its dark entrance gaping like the maw of some monstrous beast.
'Now this feels properly clandestine.'
The Rain Witch nodded in satisfaction, then briskly strode forward, pulling along Gray, who looked ready to faint from fright.
Seeing Aesc charge ahead so recklessly, Gray quickly grabbed hold of her, trying to stop her from rushing in.
But how could a mere girl's strength hope to restrain a Servant?
The result... she actually managed to hold Aesc back.
Aesc, suddenly halted by an unexpected force, looked utterly bewildered.
'So you're a muscle girl too.'
"Ladies, we're almost there," said El-Melloi II, who had barely kept up with their pace, adjusting his glasses uncomfortably.
Inside the station, a few figures were scattered across the dimly lit platform.
"Long time no see, Lord El-Melloi II."
Before Aesc could get a good look, a familiar, mature woman's voice rang out behind them.
Hishiri Adashino approached, her usual composed smile on her face.
"Why is it always you?" El-Melloi II said wearily. "While I anticipated you might act after seeing the Wills documents, you actually showed up."
Adashino simply smiled without a word.
Before their conversation could continue, a clear, crisp voice chimed in.
"I heard a Lord was attending this time," said a silver-haired girl, around eleven or twelve years old, walking towards them. "I never imagined it would be the legendary Professor of Modern Magecraft."
"My, my..." Upon seeing the girl, El-Melloi II politely inclined his head. "It has been too long, my Lady."
'Look, it's Mini Director.'
Aesc gazed curiously at the loli who was looking up at them with a haughty demeanor.
"I am Olga Marie Asmleit Animusphere," she introduced herself, seemingly sensing Aesc's curious stare.
"She is the daughter of the Lord of the Department of Astromancy," El-Melloi II added from the side. "I'm surprised a young member of the Animusphere family would descend from the mountain."
"I did not come here for pleasantries. Let's get straight to the point," Olga Marie said, her eyes sharpening. "Have you set your sights on a particular Mystic Eye for this visit?"
"Who can say?" El-Melloi II responded evasively.
Sensing his ambiguity, Olga Marie became more assertive.
"Hmph, let me be clear. Our Department of Astromancy is determined to win this year's auction," Olga Marie declared, crossing her arms over her chest. "I won't hold back, even if my opponent is a Lord."
"Wow, scary, scary," Aesc murmured quietly, looking at Olga Marie with an almost fond gaze.
'Mini Director is so cute.'
"Trisha, let's go."
Feeling Aesc's peculiar stare, Olga Marie shot a glare her way, gave a dismissive 'hmph!', and left with the woman who had come to fetch her.
Although Olga Marie had been curt, the bespectacled woman named Trisha bowed slightly towards them before turning to follow.
"While it's natural for the Department of Astromancy to be interested in Mystic Eyes that perceive mysteries, such a forceful attitude... Could a high-grade Mystic Eye be appearing this time?" El-Melloi II glanced sideways at Adashino.
"The Department of Policies has no relevant information on that."
"Even if you had it, you wouldn't share it, would you?"
"My, my."
Adashino hid her smiling lips behind her sleeve, her expression seeming to say, 'You know me so well.'
"The fog is thickening," Gray's soft murmur suddenly reached everyone's ears.
El-Melloi II quickly observed their surroundings. A white mist had quietly enveloped the platform.
As the mist grew denser, the environment around them began to shift, taking on an otherworldly quality.
'This technique... feels worth recording.'
Aesc narrowed her eyes. A grimoire materialized slowly in her hand.
Whooo—
A steam whistle sounded, its ancient tone evoking the resurgence of a bygone era.
Light pierced through the fog, revealing an elegant train car on the tracks.
'Not bad at all.'
Aesc admired the train's carriage, her grimoire furiously recording and analyzing the vehicle.
'Might be fun to make a train like this someday. Roaming around on a train sounds interesting.'
The Witch mused cheerfully.
The classic train on the tracks came to a gradual halt, its refined doors opening.
The light from inside the train illuminated the platform, and the faces of all those standing upon it.
--+--
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.