Chapter 91 - Prologue: Reines El-Melloi Archisorte (1)

The year was 1999, five years after the Fourth Holy Grail War.

London, Clock Tower.

"I heard you met Touko?"

In the reception room of the Department of Creation, a woman in her seventies, her hands lined with wrinkles, held a teacup and posed the question to Tenkei Shiomi, seated across from her on the sofa.

"Not exactly," Shiomi replied with a nonchalant tone.

Last year, he had visited Tokyo for some matter and briefly met with Touko Aozaki. Whether the one he met was the real Touko or a doll acting as her substitute was something even Shiomi couldn't confirm.

In fact, as far back as the late '80s, Touko had already sought Shiomi out. After all, parading around under the guise of being her disciple for so long was bound to draw the attention of the real person sooner or later.

After a bit of friction, they became acquainted.

Shiomi not only refused to take part in any missions to designate Touko for sealing, but also used his position to pass information to her. Of course, Touko was notoriously elusive—more often than not, she simply borrowed money from him.

"What, did she stand you up?" the old woman asked.

"No, she just didn't give me the money I asked for. We went back and forth a bit, then parted ways." Shiomi rested his chin in his hand. "And don't start lecturing me about dereliction of duty. I resigned from the Sealing Designation Executor list a long time ago, Lord Valualeta."

The woman speaking with Shiomi was none other than Inorai Valualeta Atroholm, head of the Department of Creation at the Clock Tower, also referred to as the department chair—and the mentor of the aforementioned Touko Aozaki.

Despite being her teacher, Inorai was a quintessential Magus. She had once trained Touko, but also strongly endorsed her sealing designation.

She never allowed personal feelings to interfere, executing political maneuvering as naturally as breathing.

So when it came to Shiomi, she did what she could to court him, aiming to elevate him as one of the leading representatives of the Democratic Faction among Magi.

"Hehehe..." Inorai chuckled lightly.

Shiomi didn't care whether she believed him or not. The truth was, he had asked for money and hadn't gotten it. If anything, he'd only gotten himself entangled in further complications.

Besides, Touko had already left Tokyo. Even Shiomi didn't know where she had gone.

"So you called me here just to ask about Touko. That's all I can tell you," Shiomi said with a shrug, though he didn't leave right away.

Inorai would never summon someone without a deeper purpose. If she had invited Shiomi here, it meant there was more she wanted to ask.

"I hear your daughters are nearly junior high age?" Inorai asked.

"The older one will start next year. The younger still has another year to go," Shiomi replied, seeing no reason to hide it.

In recent years, Sakura had grown rapidly as a Magus, and Shiomi had already begun discussing her future with her.

Should she begin formal Magecraft training at the Clock Tower next year, or continue her regular schooling and decide on the path of a Magus later?

With Sakura's current talent, even if she didn't join the Mage's Association, she wouldn't be passively drawn into Magecraft-related affairs just because of her potential.

And just as expected, Sakura expressed her desire to delve deeper into the world of Magi. Shiomi had no reason to stop her.

"No wonder I recently saw a file about a girl with the same surname as yours being sent to the Clock Tower," Inorai said with a soft chuckle. Her aged face deepened with more lines, making her look even more wrinkled.

"Yes, I was the one who sent it," Shiomi replied.

The Clock Tower had no shortage of young students entering to study Magecraft, so Sakura didn't particularly stand out. At most, only the more curious students might discover that she was adopted.

"Well then, that works out," Inorai suddenly said, though her meaning was unclear.

Shiomi didn't press for an explanation.

Then, almost as if it had been rehearsed, just as their brief exchange wrapped up, someone knocked on the door to the Lord's reception room.

A blonde girl walked in, appearing about the same age as Caren. Her skin was porcelain-smooth, and she moved with a graceful poise as she adjusted her skirt. But what stood out the most was the determined look in her fiery red eyes.

She couldn't have been much older than ten, yet the resolve in her expression made it hard to imagine what she might have gone through in her short life.

Her crimson eyes swept over Shiomi briefly, then shifted to a deep azure.

Mystic Eyes.

Shiomi instantly understood—this girl possessed Mystic Eyes and had just used them to examine him.

Trailing behind her was a tall man with long hair, towering more than half a head above her.

"Waver Velvet..." Shiomi spoke his name, then corrected himself, "No, I should call you Lord El-Melloi II now. It's been a few years—you've really changed."

"On the contrary, you haven't changed at all." El-Melloi II exchanged pleasantries with Shiomi, a faint smile breaking through his typically stern demeanor.

Five years ago, Shiomi looked only a few years older than Waver. Now, he appeared even younger than the current El-Melloi II.

Of course, it might simply be that El-Melloi II had been overworking himself, aging prematurely as a result.

"A Magus needs to know how to take care of themselves," Shiomi said with a light tone, then shifted his gaze to the young girl standing in front of El-Melloi II. "And this must be—"

"I'm Reines El-Melloi Archisorte," she said with a mischievous smile. "Foster sister to Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald—the man you killed during the Fourth Holy Grail War. Puts things into perspective, doesn't it, Mr. Shiomi? Though technically, I'm his niece by blood."

"I see." Shiomi gave a small smile and glanced toward Inorai. "So, Lord Valualeta sold me out to the El-Melloi faction for revenge? Wouldn't fighting here be a bit inappropriate?"

Reines strolled over gracefully and sat beside Shiomi, acting like a child seeking attention from an adult—but the presence she carried was not to be underestimated.

"Of course not. If a fight broke out now, I'm afraid the Department of Creation and the Department of Modern Magecraft would be switching hands by tomorrow," Reines said, locking eyes with Shiomi. "Besides, even before my brother entered the Holy Grail War, many within El-Melloi warned him that it would mean certain death. But he went anyway—and, just as predicted, was killed by you. Even if El-Melloi seeks revenge, it won't come so easily."

"Is that so? Then what brings you to me?" Shiomi took a playful tone, treating Reines like a child. "Young lady of the El-Melloi family?"

He reached out to pat her head. Reines didn't shy away, playing along like an innocent little girl.