In the world of magecraft, events occasionally occur that shake the very foundations of the ossified systems that govern their exclusive circles.
The Industrial Revolution, which earned the title of a literal 'revolution,' was one such event, and various other incidents and accidents have surfaced over time.
The birth of a Magician, large-scale conflicts, the emergence of new Dead Apostles, and the labeling of Seal Designation targets have all sent ripples of varying sizes through the world of magecraft... but if one were to point to the most significant event in recent memory, everyone would undoubtedly point to the invasion of the Clock Tower by two Magicians.
The overwhelming martial prowess of the Third Magician, who effectively pulverized the Adjudication Bureau—an entity no one dared look up to—and the core of the Aristocratic Faction at its center, was nothing short of a miracle.
The insane technique of summoning meteors, an occurrence that should only be possible in the Age of Gods, forced even the Second Magician, who had entered a state of semi-retirement, and Lord Brishisan to negotiate. Consequently, the Third Magician, Karma Kirigaya, achieved a status where the faction of the Clock Tower could no longer lay a finger on him.
Yet, despite this, the magi secretly held him in contempt.
It was true that he had formed ties with several Seal Designation targets and heterodox ability users, but in the end, those individuals were mere outliers pushed to the fringes by the Mage's Association or the Holy Church. While their individual abilities were certainly superior to almost anyone in the Clock Tower, their coordination as a collective was deemed pitiful.
Because their families were of humble standing, they could not provide proper support, and their lack of funds inevitably meant their intelligence-gathering capabilities were deficient. Since they were nothing more than fugitives and hermits at best, no genuine solidarity could be expected; they were people who ultimately had to survive by relying solely on their own power... that was the perception ordinary magi held of that group.
They were viewed as a social club at best, or at worst, a group that would collapse by infighting among themselves...
Well, to put it more bluntly, it was a sense of relief derived from the fact that their own vested interests and privileges were not being encroached upon.
"The White Wing Lord, Tràum Ortenrosse; the Spider of the Abyss, Luvululilli Paranodalia; the Illusionist, François Prelati... All of them are dead?"
"...According to the reports, Rita Rozay-en and the Rail Zeppelin under her command have signed a mutual non-aggression pact with them."
"The Sovereign of the Adjudication Bureau will be furious when he hears this... If he weren't unable to move due to his period of self-reflection, he would have rushed to Aylesbury Valesti immediately."
"What happened to the other Dead Apostles who were present? Rizo-Waal Strout and Fina-blood Svelten..."
"Nothing has been confirmed, but there are speculations that Altrouge, who has ties to the True Ancestor Arcueid Brunestud, might have intervened separately..."
"Damn it, I need certainties, not speculations!"
The first place to receive the information was none other than the Clock Tower.
Waver, who had witnessed the souls of Tràum Ortenrosse and Luvululilli Paranodalia being extracted and cast into the Naraka Path, immediately summoned a helicopter. Upon returning to the Clock Tower with his apprentices, he conveyed exactly what he had seen. From the auction of the Mystic Eyes to the meteor bombardment and the manifestation of the Third Magic at the end... all of it.
Naturally, some could not believe the death of Tràum, who had lived for countless eons. However, when Olga Marie, the next successor of the Animusphere, and Lev Lainur, a former professor of the Department of Archaeology with a solid standing in the Clock Tower, testified, the Clock Tower began its factual investigation and uncovered the truth.
...Needless to say, the Clock Tower was thrown into chaos, and they were forced to dispatch Seal Designation Enforcers to Aylesbury Valesti in an attempt to scavenge whatever crumbs remained.
"...Could it be that this was the goal from the beginning?"
"I don't think so, Director. The personality of the Third Magician is... well, it's so free-spirited that even I, who has lived through my share of battlefields, cannot fathom his intent."
"Hmph, it certainly seems that way. Good work, Father Kotomine. You may take your leave."
Naturally, the Holy Church, which was in a tacit alliance with Karma, had received information from the two Executors present and Caren from the Burial Agency, yielding the pleasant news that two Dead Apostle Ancestors had been slain.
Although it was only a 'tacit alliance,' and he was a person who used Magic—a miracle strictly denied by the Holy Church—the fact that two Dead Apostles were dead was fantastic news for them. Unlike the Mage's Association, which was currently in a state of high alert, they could comfortably toast to the news.
Furthermore, since the head of the largest faction, the White Wing, had been eliminated and the vampires under him were being shredded by the True Ancestor's claws, it was an occasion for the Holy Church to throw a celebration.
"Still... it weighs on my mind. Perhaps I should have pushed a little harder back then to properly bind him to the Holy Church."
Everyone felt this way, save for one person.
Except for Narbareck, who had granted a bit of 'leeway' in the timeline for concluding the vertical alliance with Karma Kirigaya.
*
The complete destruction of Aylesbury Valesti.
A mutual non-aggression pact with Rita Rozay-en.
Those two were the results gained this time.
"...But the losses were significant too."
First, Souren Araya had simply fled.
He had boarded the Rail Zeppelin with a solemn presence as if he were a major player, but in the end, he ran away without doing a single thing.
This wasn't exactly a massive loss, but... the real damage was elsewhere.
"The King of Demon Gods has now realized my true strength."
Tengai Shinsei and Chibaku Tensei.
These two techniques are ones that the King of Demon Gods already knows, and the cost of using them is astronomical.
However, the cost issue could be mitigated by the insane hellish training I performed on the Moon, and if a top-grade catalyst were used... even without the assistance of Sister Aoko, a true Magician, it was possible to execute meteor bombardments.
Of course, crushing the faction of the White Wing Lord, a potential risk factor, was very favorable for me, and taking down Francesca was the cherry on top... but from now on, the King of Demon Gods will be even more wary of my surprise attacks. Whether it's Tengai Shinsei or Chibaku Tensei...
"I suppose it's a double-edged sword. I solved all the potential danger factors, but at the cost of one of my hidden cards being exposed to the most dangerous guy. I guess it averages out to zero."
"Perhaps it's for the better."
Waver, who was clicking away on a calculator to the side, spoke up.
"Revealing one's true colors requires a specific 'timing.' Now that you've formed an official alliance with the Rail Zeppelin and concluded your agreement with the Holy Church... isn't this the perfect situation to announce our presence?"
"...So, in your opinion, it's finally time to swallow Chaldea?"
"It must be. Since you've officially announced your power like this, you now need to let the world know that you are the master of the House of Einzbern."
Einzbern and El-Melloi.
Individually, they are merely at the level of Clock Tower Lord families, but if the two families unite their power... and if all those I've recruited so far join us, and we definitely seize Chaldea, we will surely emerge as a power capable of overturning the status quo of the three major factions.
"Chaldea, the Atlas Institute, the El-Melloi Faction, and the Department of Modern Magecraft—Lore... This is the extent of the power we've secured immediately."
"You should also categorize the White Princess's faction separately. Gransurg Blackmore and Merem Solomon... and even Arcueid Brunestud."
"Shouldn't they be classified as guest members, technically speaking?"
"I suppose that's true... Anyway, Waver, since we've decided, contact Kayneth El-Melloi now. It's time we finally removed Marisbury."
"...Alright. Shall I contact the Mystic Eyes of Distortion and the Dual Existence?"
"No... I'll handle their instructions myself. If the message comes from you, Lev Lainur or Marisbury might notice something. Instead, start preparing the kids in Lore for graduation. We need to raise staff for the new management."
"OK."
After Waver stood up and left, I was left alone. I slowly organized the table, reflecting on what had transpired and carefully planning the events yet to come.
'...Looking back, it was both very long and incredibly short.'
At first, I knew nothing of the Mystery, but I learned of it through Sister Aoko and Ms. Alice.
I was initiated into the Mystery through Lugh Beowulf and Touko Aozaki... and through Sister Ritsuka, Sister Yuika, and Sister Aoko, I gained connections within the Clock Tower.
In the Fourth Holy Grail War, meeting the Heroic Spirits of the past allowed me to capture an Evil of Humanity, and from that point, I truly began to face the Demon God King, Goetia.
I recruited Shiki Ryougi ahead of time, crushed Araya's plans... and even waged war against the Clock Tower.
I hunted Dead Apostles, restored the conceptual state of Solomon... and eventually, I even completely dismantled the White Wing Lord's faction.
"...I've come a long way. Truly a long way."
At that moment, the phone began to ring with a vibration, and I naturally answered it.
"Communication security—Infinite."
[Communication security—Blade Emperor. So, why are you the one contacting me first?]
"I intend to secure our power base now, Kiritsugu Emiya... I trust your skills haven't gone rusty yet."
[The objective?]
"'Complete Control' of Chaldea. You should be well aware of the conditions necessary for that."
[I see. Do I need to take care of the Magic Crest?]
"No, Olga Marie Animusphere needs to assume the position of a Lord normally. For that, she will need the Magic Crest."
[Understood. I'll contact you when the job is done.]
Touko Aozaki's assault.
The Fourth Holy Grail War.
Shiki Ryougi, Souren Araya, and the declaration of war from the Clock Tower.
The Vampire Incident.
The battle with the True Ancestor, and the revival.
Negotiations with the Holy Church.
The clash at the Rail Zeppelin and its conclusion...
The King of Demon Gods and I have both deployed our available pieces, striking at each other, trading punches and jabs.
I crushed the Clock Tower, driving him toward Chaldea, and by wiping out the faction of the White Wing Lord—where a potential awakening of a Beast of Humanity existed—I weakened the very concept of the 27 Ancestors.
In contrast, the King of Demon Gods attempted to alter history to create a Beast to threaten me, and through unexpected covert operations and political maneuvering, he set me against the Clock Tower or even tried to eliminate that Ritsuka Fujimaru ahead of schedule.
And even in the midst of all this, both of us are hiding our respective decisive strikes...
There are about 7 to 8 years left until the Incineration of the Human Order.
The candidates for Beast status have either been recruited or eliminated, and the sole terminal, Leif Lainur, remains within Chaldea.
"Well then... shall we begin?"
The target is Chaldea... Since I've been on the receiving end for so long, it's finally time for a counterattack.