Once I had finished learning the basic orthography of Runes and the fundamental applications of Formalcraft, Alice-san handed me something quite familiar.
"This is an Azoth Sword, a type of Mystic Code."
"Ah..."
"It may resemble a dagger, but it is not intended for killing. The primary purpose of this blade is to amplify the owner's magical energy and assist or strengthen the execution of magecraft. It is a type of magic wand. Typically, it is an item a parent passes to their child upon reaching adulthood, but it can also be given by a teacher to a disciple."
'Actually, no. This sword is definitely for killing.'
'If you combine Fate/Zero and Fate/stay night, doesn't it kill at least two people? Plus one Servant taken out... that makes three...'
"You cannot yet use the Fairy Tale Magecraft, but since you have mastered all the basics of Formalcraft and can now use Gandr... consider this a gift to mark your graduation, of sorts."
"...Thank you, Alice-san."
"Don't mention it. So, what do you plan to do now? Even if the Jewel Old Man awarded you a Rank, you still have much to learn. Honestly, the Department of Botany wouldn't suit your traits, but if you're determined, I could recommend you to Yumina... or perhaps Valuay, which has ties to Aozaki."
"To be honest, I feel like entering the Clock Tower right now would be premature. I don't mind the idea of entering itself, but aside from my Rinnegan, my talent isn't exactly exceptional, is it?"
No matter how great one's Magic Circuits are, the power of magecraft is fundamentally determined by how long its history is.
Waver Velvet, representing the third generation of his line, was dismissed as mere third-rate. A lineage must persist through several generations at the very least to even be called a magus family... To put it simply, the society of magi is one steeped in extreme conservatism.
Naturally, those with Mystic Eyes or aberrant abilities are treated as mutations and fail to receive proper evaluation. In worst-case scenarios, there is even the possibility they might be seized for a Sealing Designation simply because their Mystic Eyes or special abilities are connected to the Root.
"True. Since your family has no prior connection to Mystery, you would likely be looked down upon by the Clock Tower."
"Furthermore, the Rinnegan is a bit of a concern. Even if Aoko-姉 and Alice-san watch my back, the Department of Law's influence is not something that can be ignored."
Of course, Aoko-姉 does commit the madness of absolutely crushing the Department of Law in the future, but the chances of her extending that protection to me are depressingly low.
First and foremost, since I possess eyes connected to the Root, my Sealing Designation is practically a foregone conclusion... Of course, Zelretch and the Director of the Clock Tower are keeping information about me quiet for their own reasons, but could I really move around the Clock Tower openly without being caught?
...The correct answer is to avoid doing anything dangerous.
"And above all, I have work to do."
"Work to do? Come to think of it, you mentioned you know the future through knowledge from the Root. What do you intend to do?"
I suddenly fell into thought.
The Fourth Holy Grail War, the so-called Fate/Zero.
What if I involved Alice-san in it?
But I abandoned that idea immediately.
Alice-san is the nominal owner of the land known as Misaki City. She is in a position where she must not leave this territory recklessly.
"Ah, by any chance, could I obtain a Holy Relic?"
"...A Holy Relic?"
"Yes. Preferably one related to the Round Table if possible."
"Since Fairy Tale Magecraft is related to legends and stories, we might find something if we rummage through the storehouse. But why a Holy Relic? If you're thinking of going to Brishisan, you should stop. That is an institution directly under the Director of the Mages' Association."
"Don't worry, I don't plan on heading there."
The Third Holy Grail War has already proceeded as scheduled.
The Tsukihime timeline weighs on my mind, but several years remain before the reincarnation of Michael Roa Valdamjong appears in Misaki City.
Therefore, I will first deal with the matter of the Fourth Holy Grail War, which concerns me the most.
"Have you ever heard of the Holy Grail War?"
* * * * *
Magi are arrogant, aristocratic... and at the same time, fools.
...Or so people think.
However, if you look closer, you can see that such a notion is incorrect.
Take Tokiomi Tohsaka, the very symbol of an aristocratic magus.
One might think this madman was a prideful fool, but he was a man who plotted to deceive Gilgamesh himself and force him to commit suicide via Command Spell. Until Kotomine Kirei betrayed him, even Gilgamesh hadn't noticed that fact.
Of course, he is heavily criticized for adopting Sakura into the Matou family and for his attitude toward his wife, but as established in the original work, he sent her to the Matous because he sincerely wished for Sakura's success.
Furthermore, every piece of magecraft this man uses involves jewels. Considering that Rin still possesses numerous gems despite Kotomine Kirei squandering a significant portion of the inheritance as the estate's executor after Tokiomi's death, one can get a rough idea of his financial power.
Next is the famous Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald.
Though he is often criticized for his arrogance, aristocratic nature, and stupidity, the opposite is true if you look closely.
His arrogance was closer to the confidence born of his exceptional skill. His aristocratic tendencies weren't even that prominent. Stupidity? If he were stupid, he wouldn't have earned the title of 'Lord,' a leader of one of the Clock Tower's faculties.
...Therefore, I will pull them in.
Ignoring Zouken Matou because he's a piece of trash, there are four individuals participating in the Fourth Holy Grail War who could be considered a 'Golden Network.'
The notorious Magus Killer Kiritsugu Emiya and the Einzbern Master, Irisviel von Einzbern.
The aforementioned magus Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, Lord El-Melloi. And our 'Great Big Ben London Star,' Waver Velvet.
In Kiritsugu Emiya's case, his connections are lacking, so he's secondary, but Kayneth is a man holding the title of Lord El-Melloi and the position of Faculty Head of Mineralogy.
Furthermore, he isn't someone who possesses ingratitude as a passive trait like a typical magus. If I help him while he's on the verge of death in the Grail War, he could certainly become a vital connection for me.
"Lord El-Melloi... I've heard the name. I heard he was recently awarded the Rank of Brand, but is he really participating?"
"I'm certain of it. There will be others besides him... but for now, he is the only official participant from the Clock Tower."
"...Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald is certainly someone who holds significant weight in the Whaling Conference. If the Einzberns are also assisting, it makes sense. But are you planning to risk your life for that? There should be ways to live quietly instead."
...Unfortunately, that is impossible.
Within ten years at most, vampires will appear in this crazy city, and the world might end.
If it were somewhere else, I might have just ignored it, but this is the city where I live, and the world I live in.
Since Kishua observed it directly, this world is now treated as a distinct Human Order... therefore, I must protect this world. Only then can I survive, and only then will my precious people survive.
"Since I don't know the future you see, I cannot oppose your decision."
"Haha, I'm sorry."
"...It's your decision; there's no need to apologize to me. So, should I lend you a Ploy Kickshaw?"
"...Huh?"
"If you want, I can lend you Flat Snark. Or perhaps Thames Troll would be good."
'...Wait, hold on. Aren't those your family heirlooms?!'
* * * * *
In the end, it was decided that the talk about Mystic Codes would happen later.
Instead—though I'm not sure if it serves as a replacement—I made another proposal to Alice-san.
"A disciple? If you're talking about a disciple, I already have you. And in any case, the Witch of Fairy Tales lives for ages. There's no need to take on a disciple now."
"Haha... but it's still nice to have one. There's a girl with the Imaginary Number attribute who is scheduled to be adopted into another family soon."
Regardless, I need to make preparations in Fuyuki City.
If I were to set up a workshop during the Holy Grail War, it was obvious a crazy Magus Killer would come to crack my skull, yet wandering around aimlessly meant I'd be constantly wary of the Assassin of the Hundred Faces or King Iskandar.
'So, I'll infiltrate in advance.'
Entering another magus's territory without notice is essentially a declaration of war. I will visit him properly, and as payment for my stay, I will offer a solution to the headache of the local Second Owner, Tokiomi Tohsaka... his two daughters.
Tokiomi must be agonizing over which of his twin daughters to pass his Magic Crest and magical foundations to, while also worrying about the future of the other daughter.
Eventually, he decides on the Matou family... but even he felt uneasy about Zouken Matou. Naturally, Sakura ended up suffering like hell because of it.
...So, I'll pluck that sprout beforehand.