The night was shrouded in heavy clouds.
Aesc walked alone atop the train's roof.
Having finished setting up the bounded field in her room, she had ventured out to explore.
Little Habetrot had stayed behind in the room, and Lord El-Melloi II seemed to have turned in early, having pulled another all-nighter the previous day.
Gray had obediently offered to wait up for Aesc's return, but Aesc had shooed her off to bed with a 'I might be out all night.'
The wind howled fiercely across the roof, yet Aesc's searching eyes remained completely unaffected.
Mmm-hmm, she'd already figured out the principle of how the train traveled along the leylines.
But understanding the mechanics was only one of her reasons for being here.
If she remembered correctly, it was on the very first night aboard the train—tonight, in fact—that he was supposed to summon his Servant.
And tomorrow, he would make his move, striking to kill Trisha when the train came to a stop.
Recalling this intelligence, Aesc continued her search for the location where the mastermind would summon the Servant.
Ugh, this train and the surrounding space have already become semi-alienated, it's all a bit blurry. After searching for so long, I've got nothing to show for it.
Aesc shook her head in frustration.
Even if the Rain Witch's Fairy Eyes are a lower grade, I shouldn't have failed to detect the magical surge from a Servant summoning...
Whoosh—
Suddenly, a sharp sound of something cutting through the air came from behind.
A figure, gripping a dagger, was charging towards Aesc's back at incredible speed.
I see. So, he's already completed the summoning? From where?
Drawing a green-bladed longsword from her cloak for defense, she blocked the attack. The clash of their weapons sent a few sparks flying into the night.
In that same moment, Aesc got a clear look at her assailant.
Neatly trimmed, slightly wavy black hair fluttered in the wind. Her eyes were heterochromatic, one gold, one silver. Her supple form was clad in simple leather and metal armor, and the empty scabbard at her waist was likely meant for the very dagger she now wielded.
"Quite sharp perception," the woman said with a fierce grin.
She stomped hard on the roof, using the force to push Aesc back several steps.
It's just magical perception. I don't have any real skills as a warrior.
"Thanks for the compliment."
Aesc's azure eyes fixed intently on the woman opposite her, both hands gripping her longsword tightly.
The woman flourished her dagger and, in the next instant, launched a fierce slash towards Aesc.
Aesc raised her longsword to meet the attack, and their weapons collided once more.
"Never thought I'd encounter a warrior like you in this era," the woman continued praising Aesc in her hearty voice, but the movements of her hands never slowed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!—
Their blades weaved and clashed, gleaming with a silvery light in the darkness. In mere moments, Aesc and the armored woman had exchanged several blows.
After a few such exchanges, the dagger suddenly shot towards Aesc's head from an extremely tricky angle.
As if certain this strike would land, a triumphant smile bloomed on the woman's face.
Thump—
But the next second, the woman was sent flying backward.
On her end, Aesc was calmly retracting her slender, long leg.
Good thing I was one step ahead.
Brushing off a slight graze on her shoulder, Aesc raised her longsword again, ready for more.
"That was a fine kick, though you're lacking a bit in strength," the woman said, having twisted in mid-air to land steadily on the roof. She glanced at the footprint on her abdomen and let out a hearty laugh. "Are you a Saber?"
"Did it show?" If she thinks I'm a Saber, I'll play along.
So, Aesc prepared to sheathe the longsword in her hand at any moment, ready to pull out her spear and staff to give this Servant a real surprise.
As expected of a warrior from the Age of Gods. It'd take some effort to subdue her using just swordsmanship.
Water Mirror magecraft is too conspicuous... but then again, with the sky this overcast, a little rain wouldn't be out of place, right?
Aesc kept her eyes locked on the armored woman opposite her, her longsword held level as if poised for a thrust.
Just then, the woman across from her slid her dagger back into its scabbard and spread her hands open.
"This was just a greeting for now, unknown Saber."
With those words, the woman sprinted into the distance. A single ray of sunlight broke through the clouds, and her form dissolved into spirit particles, fading away like dust motes in the emerging light.
As the woman vanished, Aesc returned her longsword to her cloak and gradually relaxed.
"It's already this late?"
Watching the sun rise, Aesc stretched her arms high above her head.
"Time to head back for breakfast."
"Quite a few of the items in this auction were contributed by guests who received invitations directly from the Rail Zeppelin itself," Yvette explained to Gray, waggling her finger.
"So, they invite people to come and sell their Mystic Eyes?" the straightforward Gray tilted her head, confused.
"It's hardly that proper," Yvette chuckled softly, picking up a piece of toast. "Those who receive an invitation and choose to ignore it often end up forcibly kidnapped. They're later found as corpses, their eyes gouged out. In short, the invitation is a message: 'Value your life? Then hand over your Mystic Eyes quietly.'"
Seemingly spotting a certain man, Yvette's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Ah, Professor, over here!" Yvette put down her toast and patted the seat beside her. "Come, come, sit here. Your lovely student is here too."
So, the only reason she invited me was to snare the Professor?
Gray stared impassively at Yvette, who had earlier been so enthusiastically urging her to sit down.
Lord El-Melloi II walked over and sat down next to Gray with an utterly indifferent expression.
"Ehh~?" Yvette looked at him, her face a picture of disappointment.
This was the scene that greeted Aesc when she found Lord El-Melloi II and the others.
Well, a fine day starts with breakfast.
Even though Lord El-Melloi II showed no reaction, Yvette continued her relentless teasing without pause.
"Ah, Miss Aesc, we're over here!" Spotting Aesc, Gray quickly raised her hand to signal their location.
Aesc sat down next to Yvette, observing the furrowed brow of Lord El-Melloi II opposite her.
Picking up a piece of toast casually, she asked, "What's going on?"
"I just went to ask one of the attendants," Lord El-Melloi II replied, pulling out the invitation and waving it slightly for emphasis. "There's nothing more to be traced from this invitation."
"Of course there isn't! They're anonymous invitations, after all. It'd be so boring if it were the same batch of people every time. The auction sends out dozens of these anonymous invites every year," Yvette explained, swirling her glass.
She then thumped her chest lightly with her hand. "You should've just asked me about something like this, Professor. No need to go bothering the attendants."
"The reason I don't is your assigned homework," Lord El-Melloi II scowled, his expression so grim it seemed someone might drop dead any second. "I want a ten-thousand-word report on 'Why I Don't Do That' when we get back."
"Ehh~ Professor, you have a Mystic Eye too, don't you?" Yvette flailed her arms playfully, coquettishly. "It's called the 'Evil Eye'."
"...When are you going to jump off this train?"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.