Chapter 369

Caules: "Damn! This ghost thing can also release poison!"】

Kairi Sisigou: "Poison again. I have a psychological shadow about this thing now."】

Empress: "Hehe."】

Rin Tohsaka: "What should we do now? Gray is stuck!"】

Waver: "Should I say, where are the people? Should I say such a large Department of Sealing Designation, and no one came to help when the monster escaped?"】

【Just then, the surrounding floor suddenly rose, hitting the chicken head's lower jaw from bottom to top, interrupting its poison release, and turned into a sturdy metal cage to trap it.】

【It was that fat employee; he finally knew to help.】

【However, the monster attacked the cage violently, and every strike made the cage bend significantly, emitting a sharp creaking sound.】

【"Damn! My body after retiring from active duty can't Matsuwanko Matsuwanko Take it. Ashira!"】

【"Wait a little longer, Kalg."】

【The answer came from the door the monster ran out of.】

【"──Flow. ackward."】

【Accompanied by this spell, the monster suddenly swayed, and green blood gushed out from its body like a balloon bursting.】

【Even so, it still attacked the cage tenaciously for a while, before finally falling to the ground.】

【After observing for a few minutes and confirming that the monster really had no movement, the person who just chanted the spell approached the iron cage cautiously.】

【That was a black-skinned woman, her eyes also shockingly black.】

Rin Tohsaka: "Phew, finally solved."】

Kayneth: "Flow magic, this is rare."】

Sola: "Flow?"】

Kayneth: "As the name suggests, it is magic that controls the concept of flow. Although it is troublesome to cast, the effect is very strong."】

Kayneth: "Look at the video, that woman is making the monster's blood flow backward, causing it to lose its combat ability."】

Waver: "Didn't kill the opponent?"】

Kayneth: "That is a precious asset of the Department of Sealing Designation, how can it be easily killed."】

【"... reat, it's still alive."】

【The woman breathed a sigh of relief after checking the monster, and then looked at Waver and the others.】

【Waver: "Was that just flow magic?"】

【Woman: "Yes, because I often fought with this kind of mutant chimera in the labyrinth before. It's been a long time since I teamed up with him like this."】

【"I am Ashira Mistras from the Materials Department. This time it was truly rude, Lord El-Melloi II. This was our negligence."】

【The fat employee also bowed in apology: "I am Kalg Isred from the Management Department of the Department of Sealing Designation. Please Matsuwanko Matsuwanko Take care of me."】

【Immediately, Ashira took them into a room that was intact.】

【"... hese two are the disciples of Heartless I had an appointment to meet."】

【On the way, Waver whispered to Gray via telepathy.】

【Gray was stunned; she didn't expect it to be these two.】

【After all, the style of these two didn't look like mages at all, but more like civil servants.】

Rin Tohsaka: "Eh! It's these two?"】

Waver: "Heartless's disciples, it really is for this."】

Kairi Sisigou: "Being able to find them before they disappear, we might be able to get some clues."】

Waver: "This, it's hard to say."】

【"I want to ask you two something."】

【Taking a light sip of black tea, Waver also got straight to the point.】

【Ashira: "About our teacher?"】

【Kalg: "It's a pity, we haven't seen Teacher Heartless for ten years."】

【Waver: "Speaking of ten years ago, was that when Dr. Heartless left the Modern Magecraft Department?"】

【Kalg: "Exactly. Later, the Modern Magecraft Department operated for a while in a state where the Department Head was vacant. Of course, that was until you took office as Lord."】

【Waver: "What kind of person was Dr. Heartless before?"】

【Kalg: "Hmm, we really can't say we understand everything about that person... Just, let me think, he was very caring. Whether it was to survivors like us or to his original students, he treated everyone equally."】

【Waver: "But I heard that the five survivors, including the two of you, were treated well as disciples of Dr. Heartless."】

【Kalg: "Haha, 'treated well' is too exaggerated. We are outsiders after all. As I just said, just treating us equally might be considered 'treating well' in the eyes of others... Ah, as the Department Head of the Clock Tower, he was unbelievably gentle."】

【Well, you really can't tell they are talking about the same person.】

【Heartless, what exactly is the true face of this guy?】

Rin Tohsaka: "I feel like they aren't talking about the same person."】

Caules: "That cunning and ruthless Heartless is actually so gentle in the hearts of his students."】

Fiore: "Did something happen later that made his personality change drastically?"】

【Ashira: "Teacher Heartless was also particularly committed to education in the twelve departments... Let me think, I feel he was looking at different places than other lecturers."】

【"'Dedicate your life to the most brilliant things.' This was the teacher's catchphrase."】

【"'We are tightly connected creatures. Since we are running toward the past as mages, we must always face those who are already connected to us, and realize those who will continue to connect with us. However, you are still the unique you at the same time. Then, at least you must dedicate yourself to the things you think are brilliant.'"】

【Hearing this, Waver was stunned.】

【This way of living is exactly the same as someone else.】

【Thinking back to the words Heartless left on the Rail Zeppelin, did he discover brilliant things in the Holy Grail War?】

【Waver: "Shouldn't we always pursue the Root?"】

【Kalg smiled bitterly: "Of course, that's exactly right. Even if many mages, including myself, indulge in the struggles of the Clock Tower and lose their sense of justice, it's the same. However, that person seemed to be looking at something even more different... I feel that way."】

【Waver: "... see."】

Rin Tohsaka: "I feel more and more like it's two people."】

Kairi Sisigou: "If his personality didn't change, then this person is hiding too deep."】

Waver: "If that's the case, then it's too terrifying."】

【After a long silence, Waver finally got to the point.】

【"By the way, do you two know the news about the disappearance of Dr. Heartless's disciples—the survivors like you?"】

【The scene fell into silence again.】

【Kalg: "... f course I know. Because 'Jorek Kurudes', who disappeared recently, was not only in the same team as us before, but is also my younger brother."】

【Waver: "I see. Excuse my rudeness—"】

【Kalg: "No, this is understandable. He has a different surname than mine. After my brother left the labyrinth, he was registered in the Kurudes family of the Opening rank."】

【Waver: "So that's how it is. It's common for survivors whose strength is appreciated to be adopted by families without heirs."】

【Kalg: "Yes, my brother is very excellent. In Albion, he saved my life I don't know how many times."】

【Waver: "In any other team, you wouldn't find a partner as tacit as you and Jorek."】

【Kalg: "If that's the case, it's really happy to hear."】

Kairi Sisigou: "It seems like he is intentionally avoiding this topic."】

Waver: "He really knows something, but it looks like he doesn't want to say it."】

Waver: "Unfortunately, we're going to return empty-handed."】

【They talked like this for about ten minutes, and it approached the end.】

【Kalg: "Lord El-Melloi II, I also want to ask a question, would you mind?"】

【Waver: "Of course I don't mind."】

【Kalg hesitated again and again, and said: "You should have made a name for yourself by surviving from that Far Eastern magic ritual called the Holy Grail War."】

【Waver: "... hat about this?"】

【Kalg: "No, I just think you are a bit like survivors like us. From this perspective, you are the most successful person in the new generation of the Clock Tower, right? How about it? What do you think of your current status? Does becoming a Lord and achieving success make you feel the world has become brilliant?"】

【"..."】

【After thinking for a moment, Waver said seriously: "I just feel very tired."】

【Kalg: "... s that so? Is that how things are?"】

【The answer was short, but it seemed to have brought him some touch.】

【Waver: "This might not count as a decent answer."】

【Kalg: "No, that's enough. Thank you, Lord El-Melloi II."】

【The conversation ended there, and Waver and the others took the elevator and left the Department of Sealing Designation.】

【After they left, Kalg murmured: "... o you think Gesherz and the others' disappearance was directed by the teacher, Ashira?"】

【"It's impossible for it to be unrelated."】

【Ashira said lightly: "That person should have already learned what we did. He not only appeared on the public stage after ten years, but the team has also become this situation; it would be a miracle if there were no connection."】

【"Mages shouldn't easily say that word."】

【Kalg said bitterly: "If that's the case..."】

【Ashira: "... hat's right. Goodbye, Kalg."】

【Kalg: "Are you leaving here? However, this is the safest place in London, you should know that."】

【"Even so, I have to go."】