"Allow me to explain," Lord El-Melloi II said as he walked over and took a seat on a single armchair. "Simply put, I'd like to invite you to become Reines's tutor."
"Huh?"
This time, it was Tenkei Shiomi who was left speechless.
Whether it was Lord El-Melloi II or Reines, the current leaders of the El-Melloi faction truly operated in ways that defied common sense.
To think they would ask the very Magus who killed the previous head of their faction to tutor the heir—someone expected to take control of the faction and eventually rise to the rank of Lord at the Clock Tower. It was a decision that could only be described as... Magus-like.
"Hahaha!" Reines burst into delighted laughter, as though this was a casual tutor interview rather than a serious meeting. "It's perfectly reasonable for Mr. Shiomi to be surprised. But like I said earlier, I'm not interested in revenge. Honestly, I'm far more curious about the abilities of a Magus capable of killing a genius like my brother."
And Reines wasn't just putting on a front.
Before setting out, the faction had been full of warnings about Kayneth's likely demise. But Kayneth never took Shiomi seriously—not even as a potential threat.
Even after seeing how Shiomi could spar with Diarmuid without breaking a sweat, Kayneth only realized too late that those warnings were true. Instinctively, he moved to strike preemptively for his own survival, but after wounding Shiomi, he grew overconfident again.
That constant underestimation eventually led to his death in their final confrontation.
After the Holy Grail War, Shiomi drew significant attention for killing the monarch of the Aristocratic Faction.
Of course, that didn't mean he was condemned for it.
For a Magus, life and death were part of daily life—especially in a blood-soaked contest like the Holy Grail War, where seven Masters and their Servants fought to the death for a single wish.
Kayneth had gone into it with the mindset of playing a game. His death was practically inevitable.
So Shiomi never faced any consequences. On the contrary, the outcome marked his pledge of loyalty to the Democratic Faction. Already on friendly terms with Inorai, Shiomi became a highly valued guest within the faction.
As an unaffiliated Magus capable of slaying a Lord, Tenkei Shiomi embodied the Democratic Faction's ideals and delivered a stinging slap to the pride of the Aristocratic Faction.
Moreover, during the Holy Grail War, Shiomi had uncovered issues with the Greater Grail itself. Working alongside the Tohsaka family, the Einzbern family, and the Holy Church, he helped purify it—preventing a catastrophe and laying the groundwork for future Holy Grail Wars.
Thanks to those two major contributions, Inorai, representing the Democratic Faction, had begun making plans to promote Shiomi to the rank of Brand.
It was an unprecedented move—and naturally, the Aristocratic Faction was doing everything it could to block it. Even now, five years after the Fourth Holy Grail War, the two factions remained deadlocked.
Meanwhile, Shiomi had started paying more attention to the state of the Clock Tower, both for his own sake and for his family's.
After Kayneth's death, the El-Melloi faction collapsed. Outside forces swooped in to seize its assets, and many branch families disbanded after grabbing what they could.
Only one person stepped forward—Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, Kayneth's former fiancée and one of the survivors of the Fourth Holy Grail War. She used her resources and partnered with Waver, who had returned to the Clock Tower on borrowed money, to purchase Kayneth's classroom and reestablish it under Waver's management.
After many twists and turns, Reines, the one most compatible with the El-Melloi Magic Crest, became the successor. She pulled Waver into the faction to manage it and granted him the title of Lord El-Melloi.
As for the "II," that was Waver's own addition.
Whether or not Reines harbored any thoughts of revenge against Shiomi didn't really matter.
From the El-Melloi faction's perspective, trying to get revenge on Tenkei Shiomi was far less practical than cutting their losses and moving on.
After all, no one could say for sure that the Democratic Faction wouldn't one day elevate Shiomi to the rank of Grand or even make him the Lord of a department.
So when the proposal to promote Shiomi to a higher rank emerged, a rumor began to circulate:
"Who knows how many heads from the Aristocratic Faction will roll once that guy becomes a Lord? At this rate, the Clock Tower might soon be ruled entirely by the Democratic Faction."
Although Shiomi would have liked to hold whoever spread that rumor accountable, the source was untraceable. He had no choice but to let it go.
"So that's why you arranged this meeting through Lady Inorai?" Shiomi turned to her. "Should I take this as a sign that El-Melloi is preparing to side with the Democratic Faction?"
Reines waved her hands dramatically. "Not at all! If I really joined the Democratic Faction, I'd need more than one life to survive. But negotiating with them and inviting a top-tier Magus like you to be my tutor? That's nothing out of bounds."
She paused, then glanced at Shiomi and Inorai with a shrewdness that didn't match her age.
"Of course, if I did become Mr. Tenkei Shiomi's student, then someday, if I led the El-Melloi faction to join the Democratic side as your disciple, it would be much safer, wouldn't it?"
If the Aristocratic Faction ever tried to stir trouble again, Tenkei Shiomi would likely stand up in defense of his pupil and factional interests.
In other words, this was a promissory note—a vague pledge to join the Democratic Faction, with no set deadline.
Even so, the mere fact that they could propose such a condition was enough to get someone like Inorai—an experienced political player in the Clock Tower—to broker the relationship between Shiomi and El-Melloi.
"I've never officially taken on any disciples," Shiomi stated plainly once he understood the real purpose of the meeting. "Aside from teaching my own children, I only occasionally give Magecraft lessons to Rin Tohsaka, head of the Tohsaka family in Fuyuki."
"My teaching qualifications are still uncertain. But if you're fine with that, I don't intend to refuse."
In truth, Inorai, Reines, and even Lord El-Melloi II had likely arranged this meeting knowing full well that Shiomi wouldn't turn them down.
After all... the man had a family to support. He wasn't in a position to pass up a stable source of income.
"One last question," Shiomi added, "does the young lady of the Sophia family have any objections?"
Reines chuckled nonstop. "Don't worry. Lady Sola-Ui absolutely doesn't want to see you—and you won't have to see her either."
"Well, that's even better."
Shiomi nodded and shook Reines's hand, signaling the deal was sealed.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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