Chapter 1: Master Candidate

Chapter 1: Master Candidate

September 1st, 2003. 

Clock Tower, outskirts of London. 

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Li Xiang heard someone speaking in the darkness.

"Your name?"

What's all this noise? High school exams are over, can't I just sleep in?

A gentle breeze suddenly swept through the room.

A few seconds later, an unusual, rhythmic sound began to echo.

"Light source."

It felt like someone had flung open the curtains on a summer morning, flooding the small space with an overwhelming and intense light.

"Ah! My eyes!"

Caught completely off guard, Li Xiang cried out in pain, raising his hands to cover his eyes.

What's going on? Who's playing a prank on me?

His last memory was of lying on the couch, playing a mobile game.

"Awake now?" A man in front of him clapped his hands, and the blinding light vanished. He examined the young man in front of him with a smile, "Sleeping during an entrance exam doesn't leave a good impression on the examiner."

Entrance exam? I already graduated from high school, where's this entrance exam coming from?

Li Xiang slowly opened his eyes.

A cane, a pipe, a top hat, and an old-fashioned gentleman's suit—it was like something straight out of a Sherlock Holmes movie.

A feeling of unease naturally welled up inside him. It's 2020, who still dresses like that?

"Now that you're awake, let's continue with the exam."

The middle-aged man conducting the exam glanced at the confused and bewildered Li Xiang, picked up a sheet of A4 paper, and repeated his earlier question: "Your name?"

My name? I'm not Taki Tachibana, and you're not Mitsuha. 

Am I dreaming?

Or did my parents finally stop hiding the truth and send someone to reveal that I'm actually a rich second-generation heir?

Or maybe some big shot has taken a liking to me, and passing this exam will make me the heir to a fortune?

Lost in his wild thoughts, Li Xiang instinctively answered, "Li Xiang."

"An Easterner? That's rare," the examiner tapped his pipe and his tone grew serious. "For the next set of questions, you must answer truthfully. No lies whatsoever. This will determine whether you pass the entrance exam."

Li Xiang, caught up in the atmosphere, nodded seriously.

"Gender?"

"?"

"Nowadays, young men are prettier than women, and women are more handsome than men, so it's important to be clear."

Seems like you've got a story there.

"Male."

"Age?"

"Eighteen."

"What are your thoughts on celestial bodies?"

What kind of strange question is that?

Images of the sun and moon immediately popped into Li Xiang's head. After a moment's thought, he replied, "Celestial bodies move along predetermined paths and influence our Earth to some extent, but they seem too distant for me to really care about."

"A very standard answer." The examiner's expression remained neutral, offering no feedback. "Do you believe there are life forms or gods on celestial bodies beyond Earth?"

Been reading too much Lovecraft?

Li Xiang hesitated, then said, "There should be life, given the vastness of the universe. As for Outer Gods? Ancient Ones? Eldritch entities? That sounds more like something out of a novel."

"Then for the sixth question: Do you think the future predicted by astrology is real, or is it just a fantasy created by people?"

"Huh?"

Li Xiang looked up in shock. He was now certain he was dreaming.

The examiner tapped his pipe on the table, "Don't get distracted."

Watching his movements, Li Xiang suddenly pinched his left wrist hard with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand.

Ouch!

The examiner looked at the pained expression on Li Xiang's face in confusion. This kid... Maybe there's something wrong with his head.

He tapped the table again, "Li Xiang, please remain calm."

Li Xiang exhaled slowly, realizing something impossible but also the most logical explanation.

He had transmigrated!

Stay calm!

Even if I haven't eaten pork, I've at least seen pigs run. (T/L: Chinese idiom meaning that even if he hasn't directly experienced something, he knows enough from observation.) As a long-time reader of web novels, transmigration is something I'm quite familiar with.

First, I need to figure out my situation.

"I don't know," Li Xiang answered after a moment of silence. "I know nothing about astrology."

"An honest answer." The examiner glanced down, his eyes scanning the text on the paper before pausing. "One last question: Who gave you your acceptance letter?"

Li Xiang's face was full of confusion, "Isn't the acceptance letter from you guys?"

"Maybe I didn't phrase it clearly. Think carefully—who handed it to you?"

"Who handed it to me..."

Damn it!

Why don't I remember anything? It's like I've transmigrated into someone who doesn't exist in this world—no traces, no memories.

"As expected. According to the rules of the Mage's Association, ordinary people involved in mysterious incidents have their memories erased."

By all rights, an ordinary person shouldn't have received this acceptance letter, but the letter clearly had Li Xiang's name on it.

The examiner fell into deep thought, not noticing the tense, almost fearful expression on Li Xiang's face.

Mage's Association?!

A chill ran down Li Xiang's spine.

Mage's Association and memory erasure—this kind of rare setup only reminds him of one thing.

Type-Moon, the world created by the writer Nasu Kinoko, which tells the story of mages pursuing the Root, with the most famous being the Holy Grail War—a battle royale for a wish-granting artifact known as the "Holy Grail."

No matter how fascinating this story is, there's no doubt that it's an extremely dangerous world, where even the protagonists might not survive.

Help! What do I do now that I've transmigrated into the Type-Moon universe? How do I stay safe?

Li Xiang anxiously ruffled his hair.

"There's no need to think about it any further. Regardless of how you got this letter, it's clear that the holder—meaning you—has already become a student of the Clock Tower under the Mage's Association. And as a special student, you have the privilege of choosing your preferred department. Allow me to introduce myself: Wenze Clairladdin, a first-class lecturer in the Department of Astromancy. If you're interested in astrology, celestial mechanics, or mythology, I recommend you join our department." (T/L who is this supposed to be? i cant tell, the chinese name is different from the normal one, could be oc tho)

Wenze stood up, picked up a book from the table, and handed it to Li Xiang. "This book is a detailed introduction to the twelve departments of the Clock Tower. You have time to decide which one you'd like to join."

Li Xiang took the book and looked at the title, *Introduction to the Twelve Departments of the Clock Tower*. He wanted to ask, "Can I not choose? I just want to be an ordinary person."

But Wenze didn't give him a chance to speak and waved him off, "Someone outside will take you to the dormitory in District 13 for rest."

Bang.

The office door closed behind him.

Li Xiang shook his head, still dazed.

He suddenly remembered something and quickly checked both hands, examining them thoroughly.

"Thank goodness, no Command Seals. At least I'm not being forced to participate in the Holy Grail War. If I just stay safe and don't do anything reckless at the Clock Tower, I should be fine."

[Dear Master, long time no see! Chaldea Human Order Foundation Artificial Intelligence Support System has officially started. Main quest generated: First main quest, please participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War and achieve victory. Command Seals being issued. Congratulations, Master, you are now a candidate for the Holy Grail War.]

Congratulations, my foot! Stay away from me!

Li Xiang looked at the red Command Seals on the back of his right hand, feeling utterly hopeless.