The old man looked like a withered tree, almost like the mummified remains of some ancient noble. He fixed Shirou with a terrifying stare and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Ever since Sola-Ui returned from Japan, she has been going on about... a child prodigy she met in the Far East who surpassed Kayneth... Was that you... Shirou Amamiya...?"
Shirou remained unfazed. "Did Miss Sola-Ui really say that? She was exaggerating. I don't have any particular talent."
"That much... I can see for myself... whether you admit it or not..."
Lord Eulyphis, Rufleus Nuada-Re Eulyphis.
This old man was one of the Lords of the Aristocratic Faction, renowned as the leader of one of its oldest and most conservative powers.
"..."
Rin Tohsaka and Luvia struggled to breathe. Even their thoughts seemed to slow.
They were already inside the "Mystic Eyes Collection Train," a place practically equivalent to a demonic realm, and the old man's body radiated an unbearably dense "Aura of Death."
The Lord of the Department of Spiritual Evocation...!
Spiritual Evocation was exactly what its name implied, Magecraft that summoned the souls of the dead and compelled them to obey according to the practitioner's needs.
"All the dead bow before Eulyphis."
The girls had once read those words in a book.
A path of Magecraft that commanded the dead and devoured spirits.
This was the head of the Clock Tower's nobility, one of the twelve who stood at the pinnacle of Western Magecraft...!
And Shirou could face an old man like that without batting an eye...?
Rin Tohsaka let out a sigh too quiet for anyone else to hear.
Amamiya-kun lives in a completely different world from me. I'm the only one who ever thought of him as a rival...
Lord Eulyphis raised his vacant eyes and gave a contemptuous smile.
"Sola-Ui alone would have been one thing... She hardly matters... But to think even Kayneth believed it... Heh... heh heh... heh heh heh heh heh…"
"You do not even qualify as one of those lowly members of the 'New Age.' You are merely First Generation... possessing only a small measure of unusual talent... As a Magus, you are not even third-rate..."
Shirou asked curiously, "Did Mr. Kayneth say something similar to Miss Sola-Ui? That's strange. He's never mentioned anything like that in his letters."
After the Fourth Holy Grail War ended, Kayneth sent him a letter with a New Year's card roughly once a year.
The letters contained little more than Kayneth boasting about his latest achievements or flaunting his blissful married life with Sola-Ui.
The man was so annoying that Shirou had stopped opening his letters three years ago.
The old man continued in his low, sluggish voice.
"Kayneth... is impeccable as a researcher…"
"But he possesses no talent whatsoever for combat... It was only natural that he lost to you in the Fourth Holy Grail War…"
"Hmm... And that is perfectly acceptable for a Magus... The Clock Tower may treat glory in battle as a reward for scholarly achievement... but such impurities are unnecessary to a Magus's development…"
"Possessing such talent is not inherently wrong... but it should never have been given to him..."
So that was it.
Shirou broke into a bright smile. "Old man, you really think highly of Kayneth."
Beneath the old man's dry, withered words, Shirou sensed an intense emotion. A longing for a dream.
A dream that the limits of his own abilities and lifespan would never allow him to reach.
That was why he wanted to entrust it to someone else, so that person might reach it in his place.
And that person was not Lord Eulyphis's successor, nor was it the old man's own son.
It was Kayneth.
Lord Eulyphis snorted.
"Kayneth is my finest disciple... Otherwise, I would never have betrothed Sola-Ui to him…"
"I admit that I also intended to unite the Aristocratic Faction through their marriage... but the results surpassed even my expectations..."
Eight years ago, Lord El-Melloi and Lord Eulyphis's daughter were married shortly after returning to London from Japan.
It was arguably the most significant event at the Clock Tower in centuries, and it directly shaped the political landscape that existed there today.
The Aristocratic Faction already occupied half of the seats among the Twelve Lords. Its only weakness had been its lack of unity, with its members constantly plotting against one another.
That changed after Kayneth and Sola-Ui married.
The Aristocratic Faction gradually formed a relatively firm alliance. Rallying under Lord Lorelei's banner, they came to exercise near-total control over the Clock Tower in practice.
A small ritual in the Far East, the Fourth Holy Grail War, had exerted such a profound influence on the very center of the magical world...
Of course, Shirou knew nothing about the Clock Tower's internal affairs.
From Lord Eulyphis's perspective, both the daughter he had used as a political bargaining chip and the disciple he valued above all others had undergone drastic changes after participating in that ritual several years ago.
And the one responsible for it all was Shirou Amamiya, a First Generation Magus.
For nobles among nobles to be influenced by a commoner was intolerable. It was only natural that Lord Eulyphis would resent Shirou, despise him, and regard him with contempt.
The old man raised his left arm and reached toward the red-haired boy's face.
He curled his fingers. The gemstones embedded in the ten rings adorning them flared with blinding light.
"Wait...!"
Luvia's face instantly went pale.
Was he going to attack them right here!?
Even she had heard that a terrifying monster was sealed within Lord Eulyphis's left hand.
It was an artificial evil spirit created by the Department of Spiritual Evocation specifically for combat. The instant it was released, it would give rise to an enormous army of the dead.
Shirou, however, did not react. He sensed no malice or hostility in the old man's actions.
Lord Eulyphis pinched one corner of Shirou's glasses and slowly spoke.
"These 'Mystic Eye Killers'... someone tampered with them as a prank…"
"They can suppress the wearer's eyes from within... but they cannot protect you from gazes coming from outside... There..."
"Huh...? Really?"
Shirou stared in surprise.
No wonder Yvette had said the Magi aboard the train were staring at him, while Shirou himself had not noticed anything.
So the glasses had cut off his own perception while leaving him completely exposed to everyone outside?
Only one person would pull such a mean-spirited prank.
It had to be Illya.
Shirou had used the "Mystic Eye Killers" to defend himself against her "Binding Mystic Eye," so she must have secretly tampered with the glasses, intending to give him a sudden fright the next time he wore them.
With a click, the old man released Shirou's glasses.
"Fixed..."
"Oh, everything really is clearer now... Thanks, old man!"
"...Hmph."
Lord Eulyphis nodded to Shirou, then left the others behind and walked toward the next car, supporting himself with his cane.
"I can finally talk again! Whoa, for a moment there, I thought I was going to be killed!"
Yvette, the girl with the Mystic Eyes, collapsed into the sofa.
Rin Tohsaka and Luvia were drenched in sweat as well. Both let out long breaths of relief.
"Aren't you all overreacting a little?"
Shirou looked at the girls beside him, prompting Rin Tohsaka to roll her eyes.
"Amamiya-kun... I've wondered about this for a while, but do old people naturally take a liking to you?"
The head of the Fujimura Group, the head priest of Ryuudou Temple...
Every old man Rin Tohsaka knew seemed particularly fond of Shirou.
This guy... It isn't enough that women love him, old people do too? That's terrifying!
Although Lord Eulyphis had left, the two girls who had accompanied him remained.
Noticing Shirou's gaze, the silver-haired girl placed a hand over her chest and introduced herself.
"My name is Olga Marie. Olga Marie Animusphere."
She appeared to be around eleven or twelve years old. Her delicate, refined face carried a confidence and composure far beyond her years. One might even call it arrogance.
Even if it was only a bluff, displaying such poise at her age was still impressive.
Still, giving me such a long name doesn't mean I have any idea who you are...
In the end, Shirou could only manage, "Oh. Hello."
Fortunately, there was someone helpful standing beside him.
The eyepatch-wearing girl leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Shirou-sama, she is the heiress of the Department of Astromancy, the only daughter of Lord Animusphere!"
Another person connected to a Lord?
Could the world of Magi actually be that small? Did people simply run into members of the Twelve Lords wherever they went?
"..."
Olga Marie glared at Shirou with obvious displeasure, as though she were waiting for something.
Yvette repeatedly jabbed him in the side with her elbow. Left with no other choice, Shirou stood and formally greeted the girl.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Shirou Amamiya."
Only then did Olga Marie look satisfied.
"I know. You're the winner of the Fourth Holy Grail War, the one who defeated Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, correct?"
"It was just a fluke," Shirou replied modestly.
"What are you doing at this auction? Is there a Mystic Eye you're interested in?"
Olga Marie's gaze sharpened as she questioned him.
"Well... I'm not sure," Shirou replied evasively.
"Hmph. Even if there is one, you couldn't tell me, could you? You're not allowed to reveal that kind of information before the auction."
"Not necessarily. As long as we're after different Mystic Eyes, talking beforehand could save both sides from unnecessary losses."
"Ha! That kind of penny-pinching logic certainly suits your impoverished background!"
Olga Marie frowned. "As Magi, shouldn't we fight openly and honorably to the bitter end?"
"No. I believe people should always act within their means."
Unlike Lord Eulyphis, Olga Marie was openly trying to provoke him, but Shirou answered each of her remarks in the same mild tone.
Shirou seemed entirely unconcerned, but Rin and Luvia were already seething.
Even if she was only a brat barely into her teens, they couldn't let her keep picking a fight like this...
Just as the two of them were about to lose their tempers...
"Olga Marie-sama."
The blonde girl beside the silver-haired girl spoke up.
She appeared slightly older than Olga Marie, but still younger than Shirou and the others, around fourteen or fifteen years old.
With her lustrous, silky blonde hair and porcelain-white skin, she possessed a delicate charm entirely unlike Olga Marie's.
Yet beneath that adorable appearance, her gaze was remarkably calm and mature.
The girl took Olga Marie by the arm with one hand while gracefully lifting the hem of her skirt with the other and curtsying to Shirou.
"I apologize for the trouble Uncle Rufleus caused you earlier. I am the adopted younger sister of my elder brother Kayneth, and my name is Reines Archisorte."
"You're Kayneth's...?"
First Eulyphis, then Animusphere, and now an El-Melloi.
Half of the Lords of the Aristocratic Faction, or their representatives, were aboard this train.
Seeing the confusion in Shirou's eyes, Reines smiled.
"Although I am his adopted sister, by blood I am actually my elder brother Kayneth's niece. I hope we will get along."
"Wait... Reines, what are you doing? I still have more to say to that man!"
Olga Marie tried to continue arguing with Shirou, but Reines pulled her aside.
"Please excuse us for now. I will return later with Olga Marie-sama so that we may formally greet everyone."
And with that, the two young girls left the car, tugging at one another the entire way.
"My, that's Shirou-sama for you! You truly live up to your reputation as a legend of the Clock Tower. What an eye-opening experience!"
Yvette, who was still lingering beside Shirou, looked delighted. At some point, she had started addressing him by the exaggerated title of "Shirou-sama."
"Lord Eulyphis, Miss Olga Marie, and the daughter of an El-Melloi branch family. They're all people you would rarely encounter even in London!"
"You haven't just captured the hearts of the Aozaki sisters and the witch. Even the Lords of the Clock Tower... How incredible!"
Shirou frowned. "We only happened to run into them. Don't make it sound as though they came here because of me."
"Heh heh~ Who knows?"
A suggestive smile flashed across the Lolita girl's face before she turned toward the center of the car.
A gaunt man dressed in what appeared to be the Rail Zeppelin staff uniform was looking down at a silver pocket watch.
"Very good. Thanks to everyone's cooperation, the train will depart on schedule tonight."
Amid a slight commotion, the whistle sounded, and the car slowly began to pick up speed.
"My name is Rodin, and I am the conductor of this train. I apologize for interrupting your conversation."
The man bowed his head and began his explanation.
He had introduced himself with the same name as the famous sculptor.
"This train will spend four days and three nights making a circuit through the Land of Mist before returning to London."
"During that time, please take your leisure in viewing our collection of Mystic Eyes. The auction you have all been eagerly awaiting will take place on the third day."
"You may have any Mystic Eye you win transplanted immediately or keep it in your possession. The procedure will not take long, so there is no need for concern."
"Guests who wish to exhibit their own Mystic Eyes may approach me, Rodin, by the evening of the third day, which is the day after tomorrow."
"You may also come to me, Leandra, as I will be serving as the auctioneer."
A short-haired woman had appeared beside the conductor.
She wore a fur coat, and a leather strap covered her eyes, yet it did not hinder her movements in the slightest.
"Next, I will show you to your cabins. Please follow me."
With that, the conductor who had introduced himself as Rodin bowed once more.
...
The cabin assigned to Shirou and Rin was exceedingly luxurious while remaining comfortable.
Although the train itself was limited in width, the simple arrangement of the furniture kept the room from feeling cramped. The hazy glow of gas lamps softly illuminated the interior.
The rule was one room per invitation, so every cabin was furnished with three beds.
On the way there, Luvia had behaved with a bashful awkwardness that did not suit her usual dignified manner.
Noticing this, Rin Tohsaka asked tentatively, "Um, Luvia-san... do you want to share a room with Amamiya-kun?"
Luvia nodded, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Ah... yes. It would be nice if I could..."
"I don't mind."
"Really?" Luvia asked. "But Shirou..."
"There are three beds, aren't there?" Rin Tohsaka replied. "Even if Amamiya-kun objects, he doesn't get a say in it."
"Thank you so much! I knew we could become wonderful friends!"
Luvia excitedly clasped Rin Tohsaka's hand, and the friendship between them deepened even further.
I don't mind either, Shirou thought as he silently listened to their conversation.
The three of them entered the cabin.
"Come to think of it, there are only three beds in this room."
Rin Tohsaka planted her hands on her hips and stared at the uninvited guest, Yvette L. Lehrman.
"Oh, please don't mind me~"
The eye patch-wearing Lolita wrapped herself around the red-haired boy's arm. "As Shirou-sama's mistress, I can simply sleep in his bed."
Shirou stared at her. "Yvette-san, when exactly did you become my mistress?"
"Why, just now, of course! The decision came straight from my adorably petite bosom!
"Ah... Would you like to touch it, Shirou-sama? Of course you may, you lolicon! Go ahead and squeeze as much as you like!"
The eye patch-wearing girl smugly rubbed her barely there chest against Shirou's arm, while Luvia's eyes looked ready to spew flames.
For the moment, Shirou focused on peeling the girl off him.
"Aww~ I'd be perfectly happy just sleeping in Shirou-sama's arms."
"Sorry, but there are no spare beds in this room."
Shirou escorted Yvette to the door, sensing that Rin and Luvia's anger was about to reach its limit.
The girl shrugged regretfully. "Oh well... Never mind! There will be plenty of chances in the future."
"Well then, Shirou-sama, I'll be taking my leave. Call me anytime if you get lonely tonight, all right?"
"There's no need for you to visit me. I'll strip myself naked and deliver myself right to your door~ I'm such a convenient woman~"
"Yes, yes."
Shirou closed the door, and silence returned to the cabin.
He might need to make use of the girl's information network later, so he could not afford to offend her too badly.
Shirou had only just boarded the train, yet he already felt utterly exhausted.
Good grief... At least I can finally get some rest.
He walked over to the table and began brewing black tea.
"Come to think of it, our introductions were interrupted earlier."
Luvia looked at Rin, who had only just become her close friend, and realized that she still did not know her name.
She rose from the edge of the bed, gracefully straightened her clothes, and extended her hand.
"I am Luviagelita Edelfelt."
Rin Tohsaka smiled and shook it. "I'm from Japan. My name is Rin Tohsaka."
"Tohsaka... Toosaka...?"
Luvia's expression slowly froze.
"Wait. That family name... I'm certain it belongs to..."
"!?"
Rin Tohsaka suddenly felt as though the right hand still clasped in Luvia's grip was about to be crushed.
The next instant, her entire body flew through the air before being slammed violently into the floor by a flawless over-the-shoulder throw.
"..."
Shirou stared dumbfounded at the brutal scene before him, spilling the black tea he had just raised to his lips all over the floor.
***
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