"Do you like it?"
"If it's not enough, I've got plenty more. You can come to me anytime."
A familiar, sharp-tongued voice softened unusually at this moment.
"...Yes, I like it. Thank you... Uncle?"
"Uncle, huh... Not bad."
A timid little girl answered softly, sitting in a luxurious room.
Across from her, a certain blonde lemon-head's heart nearly melted. He gazed at the girl as if she were a rare treasure, his eyes filled with admiration.
Sitting on the bed's edge, he spoke gently to the girl, explaining their relationship.
You're Roy's adopted daughter, and I'm Roy's professor.
A professor is like a father, so I'm your grand-professor.
To Kayneth, still enthusiastically expounding his greatness, Sakura Tohsaka only nodded quietly. Too young to understand what this lemon-headed uncle meant by Clock Tower Lord or the glory of the El-Melloi school...
She only knew from Roy-nii that it was a place for learning.
In the future, she and her sister would likely study there.
So, was the Clock Tower a new kindergarten? And this lemon-headed uncle her professor...
"Um, Roy... Is Professor Kayneth's state really normal?"
Waver, seeing Kayneth like this for the first time, was visibly shocked, even uncomfortable.
It was hard to imagine the sharp-tongued Professor Kayneth showing such a gentle expression, especially to a little girl he'd just met. Did he really like children that much?
The truth, of course, wasn't as simple as it appeared...
As a veteran magecraft aristocrat, Kayneth wasn't some shallow fool who valued appearances.
He didn't care about Sakura Tohsaka's looks—such vulgar, meaningless things. What he cherished was her unique magecraft talent!
Imaginary Numbers attribute, and top-tier potential—this was extraordinary...
Without exaggeration, her raw stats surpassed even his own talent. A true gem of the magecraft world! It was hard to believe such a miracle stood before him, how could Kayneth not be thrilled?
With talent rivaling the Age of Gods, if guided properly, she'd undoubtedly become a Lord-level magus in the future.
Even with Kayneth's high standards, he gave Sakura the highest praise, his gaze filled with unmatched satisfaction.
"Ahem, Professor Kayneth, don't get so excited at first meeting. You'll scare Sakura with your enthusiasm."
At Roy's reminder and Sakura's timid glance, Kayneth reluctantly pulled his gaze away.
Indeed, with such a treasure, such a genius, he couldn't be too eager or forceful. He needed to treat her with the care one gives a loved one...
To establish himself as a respectable elder.
To Waver's whispers, Kayneth scoffed. This mediocre fool couldn't even grasp the essence of the situation.
"Hmph, Waver, what would a useless guy like you understand?"
"Do you know the astonishing talent and potential this girl possesses? Without exaggeration, she could reach Barthomeloi-level achievements!"
His gaze left Sakura, and Kayneth's attitude reverted, immediately scolding Waver.
"Forget it, a mediocrity like you could never comprehend this miracle... But joining this Holy Grail War was worth it. To find such a treasure—doesn't that outshine some fake Grail?"
In high spirits, Kayneth didn't bother with Waver. His mind was filled with visions of Roy marrying into the family and the El-Melloi school's rise.
Not only would the Crowley family merge inseparably with El-Melloi, but it came with two geniuses—one, Roy, likely to become a [Grand], and the other, this Imaginary Numbers prodigy. With him at the helm, they could achieve a feat of three [Grand] magi in one family. By then, the El-Melloi school's influence in the Clock Tower would soar.
"Huh, Professor Kayneth, you're always scheming about me, and now you're eyeing the little girl I just adopted? Planning to take us both..."
Hearing Kayneth's unmasked ambition, Roy felt helpless.
"Hmph, dream on, kid."
"Besides me, who's qualified to teach such a genius? You? Or that mediocre Waver?"
Kayneth snorted disdainfully, once again wounding the innocent Waver.
Roy could only sigh helplessly.
He had indeed brought Sakura to curry favor with Kayneth, knowing geniuses cherish geniuses, especially those destined for the El-Melloi school. Naturally, Kayneth doted on this future member.
But more importantly, the purification ritual had begun, filtering mana from the tainted Holy Grail and Fuyuki's leylines, causing a rapid rise in ether concentration, nearing Age of Gods levels. It was no place for a young girl like Sakura to stay.
Aoko Aozaki was still in the basement with Irisviel, exploring human mysteries, and had no time to care for her.
As for Scáthach? Forget it—her personality and methods made Roy grateful she wasn't causing trouble. Expecting her to care for a child was less likely than hoping Gilgamesh would.
Hiding Sakura in some corner of Fuyuki, only to be found and targeted, was a foolish move Roy wouldn't make. So he brought her along temporarily.
In this perilous Holy Grail War, with him and three Servants, this was the safest place.
Initially, hearing Roy brought a little girl, Kayneth, the workshop's owner, had been dismissive.
He thought a genius like Roy neglecting magecraft to adopt a child was a deviation from the true path. He hadn't raised Roy to be some degenerate noble collecting children!
But he didn't say much—his building had plenty of floors, and one girl wouldn't disturb him.
Then...
When Roy brought Sakura, Kayneth cast a grand amnesia spell on himself, naturally forgetting his earlier disdain, doing a complete 180, and performing the scene before Roy and Waver.
From the moment he saw Sakura, his eyes locked on her, never wavering.
Not only that, Kayneth interrogated Roy afterward, asking: Is this your adopted daughter? Where did you find such a talented girl? And so on.
Roy spun a vague excuse.
He said he'd visited the Tohsaka residence in Fuyuki, where he met Sakura. Tokiomi was struggling with the issue of magecraft succession, unable to train two heirs, so Roy took her in.
Magic Crests weren't an issue for his family—whether through alchemy or division, it was easily managed. Raising such a talented girl was no problem.
In fact, securing such a heir was a massive gain for him.
Hearing this, Kayneth couldn't hold back.
He first praised and envied Roy's luck, then criticized Tokiomi's incompetence for giving away such a treasure over a Magic Crest issue.
Then, realizing there were two such treasures, his boldness surged, urging Roy and Waver to raid the Tohsaka residence, target the golden Heroic Spirit first, and grab the other prodigy, Rin Tohsaka!!
To Kayneth's plan to abduct a young girl, Roy and Waver shook their heads like rattles.
Attacking someone's home to kidnap their daughter was something they couldn't do...
Roy also knew Gilgamesh's strength in this war. While the Golden King was an obstacle he'd have to overcome, now wasn't the time, so he firmly stopped Kayneth's absurd idea.
He urged him to focus on the bigger picture, the bigger picture...
Not just Roy, even Fionn felt targeting the King of Heroes first was unwise, quickly dissuading Kayneth from the impractical plan.
"..."
After calming down, Kayneth realized abducting someone's daughter was indeed improper.
He was a Lord, not a bandit.
Though the Tohsaka family's lineage wasn't long, their ancestor Nagato Tohsaka, a disciple of the Magician of the Second Magic, gave Tokiomi some renown in the Clock Tower. As a fellow aristocrat, if Kayneth did this and word spread, it would tarnish the aristocratic cause, giving the democrats ammunition.
Weighing the pros and cons, Kayneth reluctantly abandoned the tempting idea, deciding to focus on surviving the Holy Grail War first.
But in his heart, he'd already claimed Sakura as family.
Roy was destined to marry into his family, and Sakura was Roy's, so by extension, she was his! An El-Melloi!
The logic was airtight!!
Her successor would be Roy, and Roy's would be this girl, forming a perfect lineage.
Three generations of top-tier talent could ensure the El-Melloi school's resurgence for centuries!
So, in front of Waver, he did a complete 180, treating this first-met girl like an elder would.
He showered her with rare gems and magecraft tools that would make Tokiomi jealous, insisting Roy bring Sakura to study with him later.
Roy was nearly a lost cause, but this time, he'd personally train a genius heir!!
In short, he was in high spirits, his earlier anger at the two troublemakers gone, certain a bright future awaited.
Seeing Kayneth act like a general on a stage, Waver didn't know what to say, only sighing inwardly.
Unlike the still-optimistic Kayneth, he knew Kayneth's fate in other world lines.
Thinking of the vibrant, scolding Kayneth before him, who might soon die tragically...
His heart felt uneasy.
He raised his hand, wanting to say something, but the words stuck, unsure how to begin.
He couldn't just blurt out, "Professor Kayneth, you'll die..."
That would only earn him a scolding with no real point.
Under Waver's pleading gaze, Roy steered the conversation back on track.
"By the way, Professor Kayneth, that item I asked you to analyze before I left—any results yet?"
Roy smiled at the smug Kayneth, asking.
While speaking, he blinked, making a gesture with two fingers that might offend certain pickle-loving cultures.
"What's that mean?"
Though Waver didn't understand, Kayneth was all too familiar with the gesture.
It represented the size of a bullet.
And Roy had indeed given him a bullet before leaving—a...
A terrifying bullet that chilled him, capable of killing a Lord.
At this thought, Kayneth's joy returned to calm.
"Hmph, it's done. Did you think I'd... No, never mind."
Halfway through, Kayneth snorted, glancing at Roy without elaborating or boasting about his professorly greatness.
As a Lord, he wasn't foolish or naive like Waver.
The bullet's technical content was negligible—even a magecraft novice could unravel its secrets upon inspection.
So why would his disciple, troubled by such a simple thing, seek his help?
The reason was clear with a moment's thought.
He was reminding him, urging him to stay calm and cautious.
If even a small bullet could threaten a Lord's life, what about the other threats in this Holy Grail War?
If careless, even he could die...
"Though it's a bit redundant, I'll give you credit for some conscience."
Looking at the smiling Roy, Kayneth shook his head slightly, speaking in a barely audible whisper, to which Roy only smiled without responding.
In the unspoken understanding between master and disciple, the matter was settled.
But compared to Roy, Kayneth glanced at the clueless Waver, his irritation flaring again.
For Roy's concern, timely intelligence, and bringing a prodigy, his past sins could be forgiven.
But Waver... still a mediocre failure.
Even in war, he was in this half-baked, confused state. With a top-tier Servant like Rider, he couldn't control him, and his own magus talent was utterly average, barely managing basic mana supply.
Half-baked skills, a muddled mindset, and a Servant unable to perform fully—a walking debuff. Kayneth couldn't fathom why this kid was bold enough to join such a magical ritual.
Though still resentful of Waver's betrayal and relic theft, Kayneth was more concerned about his lack of growth.
Knowing the war's cruelty, he understood that if Waver stayed this way, he might actually die.
So...
"Waver Velvet! What are you standing there for? Get over here! To keep you from dragging us down, I'm giving you an extracurricular lesson now!"
The sharp voice jolted Waver's dazed heart.
He looked up toward the voice, but only saw Kayneth's back as he walked away.
"Professor Kayneth, I..."
As the figure receded, he reached out, wanting to say something.
But Roy's earlier reminder became clear, stopping him from speaking.
"What 'I'? Useless fool, get over here! I'm swapping out your worthless magecraft tools for something better!"
Kayneth's voice echoed in Waver's mind, and he could only follow dejectedly.
"Hey, Queen Scáthach, you were a professor to countless heroes. Do you think Professor Kayneth's approach is right?"
Watching them leave, Roy asked Scáthach, who had just returned from setting traps.
"I don't know. Your modern teaching methods are too different from my time. A student like him wouldn't survive to graduate under me."
Scáthach shook her head bluntly.
"Hiss... That's harsh." Roy clasped his hands behind him, giving a wry smile. "He clearly cares about his students but always puts on this lofty act. Is that a professor's dignity? professors are such a hassle..."
"But while pride plays a part, if Kayneth explained it directly, with Waver's half-baked mindset, he'd probably grumble inwardly, 'You're just jealous of my research talent and won't admit my success.' Only through failure can he grow."
"Who knows? Some good intentions..."
Even Scáthach felt some sympathy for Kayneth's efforts to teach such a student.
"Yeah, they're both stubborn and proud, both bearing the El-Melloi name..."
Roy smiled, reaching for the remote on the sofa and pressing play.
"Some things, if said directly, lose their effect. They need time to sink in..."
***
If you enjoyed this story, don't forget to drop 5 stars and your power stone. And if you want to read more than 70 chapters in advance, feel free to visit: pat reon . com / KangTL