About half an hour ago.
While Kayneth was still fretting over the future of this Holy Grail War, strategizing with Fionn about their next moves, an odd pair of fellow disciples was dawdling through the hotel below him.
"Waver, is something wrong with your legs? Or are you coming down with a tremor... We've been trudging along this short two-hundred-meter stretch for nearly ten minutes since we entered."
"..."
"You look like a convict being marched to execution."
Feeling the countless curious stares from passersby, Roy continued dragging Waver beside him, grumbling helplessly.
"By the way, aren't you terrified of Professor Kayneth? I heard when you publicly challenged his lecture with your thesis, you were quite bold, weren't you?"
"Huh? How do you know about that, even though you're not at the Clock Tower?!"
Waver looked at him in shock.
"Well, that was the grand masterpiece of our future El-Melloi II, so it's only natural I'd know about it, right?"
Roy teased with a smile.
...
In the vast hotel, the two men had been tugging and pulling since they entered. To be precise, Roy was dragging a trembling Waver along.
If it were two close male friends playfully shoving each other on the street, that would be normal—no one would find it odd, as boys of any era enjoy such antics.
But if the actions were overly entangled, that was another story...
Add to that Waver's petite stature and delicate features, and their behavior seemed a bit too intimate, sparking some less-than-polite assumptions in the minds of onlookers.
After all, while society promotes romantic relationships between men and women, and human biology aligns with that, there are always exceptions that go against the grain.
At this moment, they were clearly being mistaken for such a case, drawing varied glances.
"Waver, if you're not ready and still hesitating, you can go back and think it over slowly, or write a letter to Professor Kayneth and wait for him to come to you."
"But I still think it's better to face him in person. Admitting your mistake directly might at least cool his temper a bit."
Roy rubbed his head, looking at the still-shivering Waver with a helpless tone. "Besides, it's just seeing Professor Kayneth. We've met him plenty of times at the Clock Tower. Is it really worth getting this worked up?"
"If I hadn't stolen Professor Kayneth's relic and used it to sneak here..."
Waver stared stiffly at the glaringly obvious magecraft workshop above, already imagining Professor Kayneth's gaze, which could practically devour him.
He turned to Roy, hoping for a clever solution, but Roy just waved it off and said calmly, "Don't look at me. You only stole a relic and talked back. My sins are way worse—I didn't just take a relic from Professor Kayneth's house, I also swiped a bunch of his magecraft tools... And it's been nearly half a year since I last contacted him. He's definitely angrier at me than at you."
"You sound proud of that!!"
Hearing Roy's far greater misdeeds, Waver's face shifted, his already anxious heart now completely sunk.
He seriously suspected that when Professor Kayneth saw them, he'd blast them with high-level magecraft without a word.
By any reasonable standard, their actions were akin to betraying their master or defying their mentor in a chivalric tale.
Instead of lying low somewhere, they were brazenly showing up at their professor's magecraft workshop—practically taunting him to his face.
What, were they supposed to walk in and say: "Roy saw your future, Professor Kayneth. You'll die tragically in the Fourth Holy Grail War, your Magic Crest reduced to one layer, and I'll succeed you as El-Melloi II. Now we're here to save you."
Then, of course, Kayneth would be so touched that he'd forgive them both, and the three would join hands to overcome all obstacles... Yeah, right!
No need to think—standing in Kayneth's shoes, two rebellious disciples suddenly returning to say you'll die and they're here to save you?
Anyone with a brain wouldn't believe that! It sounds more like provocation or a curse.
In Waver's view, rather than a heartfelt reunion, it was far more likely Kayneth would seize them, clean house, and punish them.
So... should he just leave?
Waver sighed, staring stiffly at the building before him.
A magecraft workshop, and a highly sophisticated one at that, set openly in this city without any attempt at concealment.
Such confidence, bordering on audacious, could only come from someone like Professor Kayneth in this Holy Grail War.
His strategy was simple: boldly expose his position to lure enemies with ulterior motives, then eliminate them one by one.
A straightforward tactic, one only someone with absolute confidence in their strength could employ.
Maybe he should just leave...
Reaching this point, Waver instinctively swallowed, taking a step back.
Though he felt deeply sorry for Professor Kayneth and knew he had to make amends, perhaps... he didn't need to face him directly, right?
Instead of diving headfirst into Kayneth's workshop to meet an uncertain fate, he thought it might be better to pour his emotions into an email or a phone call, waiting until Kayneth's anger cooled before meeting him... maybe?
Waver shook his head inwardly.
No, there's no time... The Holy Grail War lasts only seven days, and Professor Kayneth dies during it, meaning he might have less than six days left.
He couldn't afford to delay...
"You're not thinking of apologizing through something as insincere as an email or phone call, are you?" Roy ruffled Waver's hair. "You know time's tight. In this limited window, if you want to save Professor Kayneth, there's no time to waste. Every second counts."
"I know..."
Waver nodded, his expression still deeply troubled. "But I'm really scared."
"Hey, being scared won't help, right? You did it, so you own it. A man has to take responsibility for his actions. Look at me—I'm here too, aren't I? If there's punishment, I'll take the brunt first, right?"
Roy smiled at him, then shifted tone. "Besides, Waver, at this point, do you think you can back out? Even if you choose to be selfish, would your Rider agree?"
With that, Roy waved toward Iskandar, who had been following them in spirit form without appearing.
The King of Conquerors, who spent his life conquering and forging achievements through countless battles, would never tolerate deserters among his ranks... especially not Waver, whom he was starting to acknowledge as a companion.
Though he hadn't appeared, it was only to avoid interfering with Waver's resolve—this was Waver's choice to make.
As a king, he understood that his Master could only grow by overcoming this hurdle himself!
That said, it didn't mean he'd tolerate a deserter.
He gave Waver only...
Face it.
Go face it.
Bravely face it.
Those three options. If Waver didn't face it, this king would make him face it.
After all, he was a resolute and domineering king.
"I get it. Let's go together. If I'm going to die, at least you're with me."
Finally, Waver sighed as if accepting his fate, following Roy dejectedly into the area of Kayneth's magecraft workshop.
A magecraft workshop is essentially a "different realm" created by a magus to hone their craft. No matter how powerful a magus, if they're not the workshop's owner, their magecraft or mysteries are heavily restricted.
For a magus, the workshop is like a camp—their first and final trump card. To deter overconfident challengers or lowly thieves, workshops are typically rigged with numerous layered defensive spells.
Thus, the moment the two stepped inside, a powerful weakening force hit their bodies.
This made Waver, already lacking confidence, feel a chill. At this point, if Professor Kayneth wanted to do something, he'd have no way to resist.
Unlike geniuses like Roy and Kayneth, he couldn't construct a full magecraft workshop, but he had enough knowledge to understand. He couldn't fathom how Roy, clearly inside the workshop, remained so unfazed.
Fortunately, on the way to the workshop's core, there were no ambushes from familiars or Servants, and some magical spells seemed to deliberately avoid them.
Perhaps Kayneth was wary of Rider's high mobility causing havoc, or maybe it was daytime, and he didn't want to disturb ordinary people and expose the mysteries. More likely, he felt dealing with Waver and Roy didn't require the workshop's full power.
As a Lord and their professor, if word got out that he needed a workshop to handle his students, he'd be the laughingstock of other magi.
So, under the gaze of an invisible pair of eyes, they reached the core area—the door to Kayneth's room.
To give them a lesson, or perhaps to test his students' skill, Kayneth didn't open the door immediately, wanting to see what they'd do.
Would they use Rider or Caster to force their way in?
Or would they counter his workshop with magecraft?
He wanted to see what these two troublemakers could do.
But when Roy pulled out a megaphone and began an impassioned recitation of a love letter, Kayneth's composure finally broke.
—Bang!
With a muffled sound, the workshop's door opened without hesitation before the two rebellious disciples.
The atmosphere instantly grew heavier.
Waver's heart sank completely.
"Let's go."
Roy beckoned.
"I know..."
"Know, my foot. If you really knew, you wouldn't be kneeling on the ground." Roy rolled his eyes.
"Get moving!"
At Roy's urging, Waver was kicked through the core area's door, then advanced nervously, step by hesitant step.
The corridor was lined with countless magical wards and various familiars, the sight alone making him shudder.
Finally, under Roy's prodding, they quickly reached the workshop's final point—the door to Kayneth's room. Waver could already imagine Professor Kayneth glaring at the door with a stern, impatient, furious expression, waiting for them to enter.
At the last moment, Waver and Roy exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.
...Knock knock.
With a low knock, they spoke in unison.
"Excuse us, Professor Kayneth."
Then, Roy took the lead, gently pushing open the unwarded door and pulling Waver inside.
In the room, Kayneth, waiting for some time, sat in a chair, turning to face them.
"Roy Crowley and Waver Velvet, you two have given me quite the chase..."
As Professor Kayneth's familiar face turned, his sharp, expected voice called out their names.
"Especially you, Waver Velvet!"
"Yes, Professor Kayneth!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Waver, already nervous, flinched, his body reflexively straightening as he bowed to Kayneth.
"You're as foolish as ever, aren't you?"
Kayneth criticized mercilessly.
Waver sighed, having anticipated this.
"I'm sorry, sir, I shouldn't have..."
"Let's put aside the relic theft for now. Tell me about the foolish mistake you made this time! I taught you in class what it means to enter another magus's workshop!"
Kayneth eyed him, deliberately raising his voice. "Look at you now! You didn't even prepare proper magecraft tools before barging in. What are you here for? To die? If I hadn't noticed, the workshop's wards would've been enough to wipe you out!"
"Do you think I'd go easy on you for old times' sake, or that you and Roy together could subdue me, a Lord, in my own workshop? If that's your plan, I won't hold back..."
With that, Kayneth stood, snapping his fingers.
—Click!!
With a crisp snap, countless magical wards hidden in the workshop activated simultaneously, endless familiars rallied around him, and a terrifying surge of mana gathered at his feet.
At that moment, even Fionn, waiting in the shadows, stepped forward, facing Iskandar, who had just materialized from spirit form.
The room's atmosphere turned deathly still in an instant.
He looked to Roy's side but saw no trace of Scáthach or Caster, prompting a cold question.
"Roy, where's your Servant?"
Compared to Waver's timidity, Roy was far calmer.
The moment Kayneth's anger flared, the Volumen Hydrargyrum Fluid in his pocket activated its protection mode, encasing him. A transmutation array, calculated from jewel magecraft and the Volumen Hydrargyrum, rose beneath his feet, countering Kayneth's workshop and nullifying its weakening effects.
"Hallcraft... I didn't expect you'd make such progress so quickly. Is this the prototype of your theory?"
Seeing the Volumen Hydrargyrum and the array at Roy's feet, Kayneth's furrowed brows eased slightly.
"Using alchemy and workshop interoperability, assisted by tools for computation, to create a mobile magecraft workshop in a short time—what you call a Hall."
"When you complete this theory, it might be enough to make you a [Brand], or even... a [Grand] magus."
Seeing Roy's achievements, he commented calmly, his expression less angry than it appeared.
This let Waver breathe a sigh of relief.
"I admit, compared to Waver, your talent surprises and delights me. But do you think this alone can defeat me?"
Kayneth glanced at Roy, his earlier ease gone, his eyes growing serious. Even with the workshop and Lancer's help, he knew his odds weren't great.
After all, his opponent might have three Servants, including top-tier ones like Iskandar and Scáthach. He and Fionn alone couldn't win.
But he wouldn't lose face.
As a professor, his dignity wouldn't allow him to flee before the fight even started, especially in front of his students.
If he ran scared, how could he face himself? How could he stand in the Clock Tower...
So, Kayneth steeled himself, ready to face his two rebellious disciples in a final battle in his workshop.
"Now let me show you what a Lord-level fight looks like!!"
But as he raised his hand, preparing to strike first, Roy, who had raised the transmutation array, slowly lifted both hands in a gesture of surrender, then boldly dispelled the magical array beneath him.
And he answered plainly.
"I surrender."
"Eh?!"
The swift surrender stunned Waver, who was ready to have Rider whisk him away, and made Kayneth, prepared for a desperate fight, frown slightly.
"What game are you playing?"
***
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