Outskirts of Trifas, Romania.
As one of Romania's great families, the Yggdmillennia Clan ruled this city with an iron grip.
Though Trifas was hardly developed and boasted no famous tourist attractions, it possessed the largest leyline network in all of Romania—even Fuyuki's Mount Enzou couldn't compare.
That was why Lord Darnic had chosen this place as the clan's base, scheming to raise open rebellion against the Mage's Association.
Call it foolish, call it naive, or simply the last straw in enduring endless scorn.
The Yggdmillennia knew full well the depths of the Clock Tower's might, and yet still they chose to rebel.
The Clock Tower might be led by just three aristocratic houses, but in truth it was a collection of more than twenty mage families, any one of which could easily wipe out Yggdmillennia.
Even so, once they seized the miracle of the Holy Grail, the clan would never abandon their dream of vengeance—of trampling those noble families' pride into the dirt.
And so the Holy Grail War began. The largest ever, with fourteen Heroic Spirits clashing in pairs, each strike enough to flatten the entire city of Trifas.
Now, on a winding highway in the suburbs—
A white-gold Infiniti tore down the road. In its back seat reclined the Clock Tower's most wanted fugitive, Rhodes—or rather, he was lying with his head resting on RyuZU's lap.
When designing RyuZU, Rhodes had pushed her agility and physical optimization to the limit. The result: her long legs carried a supple, sensual weight, and as a lap pillow they were nothing short of flawless.
Of course, this was merely the maid's "atonement." After deceiving Rhodes, RyuZU had lived in constant unease. Taking full advantage, Rhodes had saddled her with all sorts of "excessive" commands. The lap pillow was among them.
Rhodes had already lived eighteen years in this world. They were all adults. A little shamelessness in word and deed was to be expected.
Just then, a bus drifted past the speeding Infiniti. Feeling the reckless "RoadKiller" skill of its driver, Rhodes' expression darkened.
"Catch that bus." Half-lidded eyes, still on RyuZU's thighs, Rhodes gave his order to the maid behind the wheel. "Force it to stop. Everyone prepare for battle."
It wasn't just because of bad driving. He had a far more pressing reason.
"Yes, Master." The maid's soft voice carried a heavy weight, her delicate face set with resolve. From beside her, another maid pulled out a massive, black, brutal-looking weapon from the door compartment.
An RPG-7. Common enough on the black market, a leftover from Soviet stockpiles. Crude, heavy, beloved by zealots and warlords alike for its simplicity and raw destructive power.
But this one wasn't ordinary. This RPG-7 had been modified by Rhodes himself, its power raised to terrifying levels.
The warhead was packed with alchemically enhanced explosives, laced with shards of artificial gemstones imbued with Mystery—more than enough to punch through a magus's defensive wards. Runes and formulae were carved across its frame. Once fired, no amount of evasive driving would keep the target from becoming a blazing fireball.
"Target locked. First-Circle Divination—Preemptive Strike, activated." The maid's voice was calm, but pity flickered in her dark eyes.
The trigger clicked. With a hiss, the rocket trailed white smoke as it streaked toward the bus full of "passengers."
"Boom!"
The result was predictable. The bus took a direct hit. The specialized payload ignited, and in an instant the vehicle became a rising sun on the highway.
The Infiniti braked hard with a screech. Yet the automaton maid's precision driving left Rhodes resting comfortably on his lap pillow, undisturbed.
"Damn it! Who the hell are you?!" a roar rang out as more than a dozen scorched figures staggered from the burning wreck.
They were the "Hounds" of the Clock Tower, bred and trained killers sent to take Darnic's head and purge the Yggdmillennia.
But where once they had numbered fifty, a single Arcane-modified RPG had left barely a handful standing.
"Very well, since you've asked so sincerely…"
One maid stepped out of the car, RPG resting on her shoulder. No longer the cool and dashing "driver," her expression was tinged with awkwardness—clearly compelled by Rhodes to utter something embarrassing.
"To prevent the world from being destroyed…"
The RPG-wielding maid got out from the other side, sliding another round into the launcher.
"…And to protect the world's nuclear peace."
"To uphold love and justice…" RyuZU followed, gracefully alighting from the car. She, too, wore a flustered look as she parroted the ridiculous lines Rhodes had given her, even as she held the door open for him.
"Ahem… yeah, I can't keep going. That's just too embarrassing," Rhodes said with an awkward laugh, ignoring the murderous glares of his maids. He turned instead to the baffled Clock Tower Hounds, smiling as if greeting old friends.
"How about this—you walk away from Romania, and I won't have to spend tonight replenishing RyuZU's mana. Deal?"
"You killed so many of our comrades, and you think you can just—" The leader, his white suit blackened with soot, started to bluster.
Rhodes cut him off with a nod toward RyuZU.
"Take care of them. And don't forget the line, RyuZU."
"Yes, Master." Her face flushed with shame, but in her heart still weighed the guilt of deceiving him. As penance, she curtsied gracefully, lifting the hem of her gown. From beneath the silken layers, two obsidian scythes slid free.
"The World!!!"
RyuZU bellowed like Dio himself. And… nothing happened.
"What, are you clowns putting on a circus act?" one magus jeered.
Rhodes chuckled and nodded. "Exactly. Every monkey deserves the thrill of being toyed with—just before it dies."
"Plop…" Something fell. Then another. Then another.
The sound echoed among the magi.
It was corpses. It was blood. It was chunks of flesh and shattered bone.
The Hounds—those same few who had staggered from the flames only moments ago, including the loudmouthed leader—were no more.
All that remained was a scatter of meat and gore.
They had been sliced apart.
Frozen corpses, caught in the instant of stopped time.
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Author's Note: Are you liking this novel so far???