Chapter 116: Ace

The flight was scheduled to be this afternoon. That means I could accomplish something before that time arrives.

"So this is Britain?"

"Those infrastructures… Only Merlin could've perfectly designed them before."

"Interesting… These cars are far more efficient than horses."

"I would like to see Camelot. Was its location here the same?"

I spent this time acting as a tour guide to everyone on the Round Table.

"It wasn't. It was turned into a semi-mobile fortress that acts as the Magician Society's headquarters."

I replied to my King who is currently in casual attire. She wore a beige sweater along with a pair of black pants. Although the sweater is loose, a certain aspect of hers stood out.

Really, I am not that used to seeing my King like this.

"According to Lord Nettesheim, it was something King Arthur himself passed onto him. That's how it was used to safeguard our world from threats such as Twilight Syndrome."

"I see…" She muttered. "Where is he now?"

"He… He was declared dead. But, there are many things that suggest he 'disappeared' rather than dying."

In this world, King Arthur was declared 'dead' in the early 200-500 AD. However, even Lord Nettesheim doubted that account.

"He's buried in Glastonbury Abbey."

"That place…"

Sir Bedivere looked complex at the mention of the place.

"We could visit it later if my King wants to." I said. "For now, I will introduce some places here in Britain. There's the…"

The entire group felt 'dissociated' during this tour. While Percival's group didn't mind it, a select few acted distantly—perhaps due to guilt, regret, or something else.

When my King removed her gifts from everyone, it made them more 'humane' compared to before. As such, the aftereffects of the battle left them with a bitter taste.

Sir Tristan is a prime case. Even now, he remained silent throughout this journey. Though, the little girl's condition is worse than his.

After some time, we scattered into several groups. It just happened that I joined the 'younger generation' which included Bors, Gareth, and Mordred.

I decided to separate from them and buy something from Shambles Street. They sell some good crepes in this place.

Knowing their preferences, I ordered five of them before reuniting with them.

"That is..?!"

"Yes. The legendary crepes."

"..!"

Gareth evidently looked excited upon seeing them.

"I'm sorry I didn't have these up there. I didn't think about them until now."

Those three years are mostly spent studying, analyzing, and inventing new things—something that required me to become a shut-in. While I didn't neglect my food choices by eating cup noodles continuously, some of these desserts were neglected by me.

I gave the strawberry crepe to Gareth and Bors. They had the same preference when it came to berries. As for Mordred…

"...Huh?!"

She was surprised by this gesture. I don't know what she was thinking, but she was in a daze until now.

"Try this."

"..."

Mordred stared at the blueberry crepe on my hand for several seconds before accepting it.

"...Thanks." She said in a rough tone.

I kept the remaining two crepes within my grasp. It didn't take long for Gareth to finish hers.

"Here."

I gave her the extra strawberry crepe in my hands.

"You didn't have anything yet, right..?"

"I'm fine."

"Is that so…"

She gave me a look before sneakily glancing at Mordred, who, at this time, also finished up hers. After I gave Gareth her crepe, I looked at Mordred.

"Just in time." I handed over the last crepe. "It's yours."

"...You haven't eaten anything yet."

"Like I've said, I'm good. This is your first time tasting this. Take it."

"..."

Under my persuasion, she took it. A hint of joy could be seen on her complexion, but she tried to shield it as much as she could. It resulted in her being more 'awkward' than the Mordred I knew before.

Still, I could see her shoulders tremble under the black t-shirt that she wore. Much like my King, she also chose pants instead of skirts. Actually, every girl on the Round Table did.

Thus, it felt more like a 'family outing' than anything.

'Let's hope it gets settled here…'

*****

The final stop for their 'tour'.

King Arthur's grave on the Glastonbury Abbey.

A huge number of tourists visit this place every year. The novelty of King Arthur's legend reached the hearts of many.

In a marked land, there was a sign that said:

"Here lies the once and future King."

This place is one of the centers of his legends, and as such, mysteries could be tangibly felt by any Magicians who visit this place.

"...There's someone here."

Artoria went silent as her eyes confirmed the existence of this world's King Arthur. She immediately 'caught' something strange in it.

"...The world's end."

Just as she was able to meet Goetia's eyes and know about its purpose for the Human Order Incineration, she understood the purpose of the so-called 'Twilight Syndrome'.

"...Shit."

"Galahad?"

Nobu didn't respond to her words. He was overcome with a realization to do so.

"The Greatest Evil… Lord Nettesheim's disappearance… Even King Arthur..?"

Suddenly, he saw a metaphorical white line. It served as the connection between him and the other end of it.

[Revelations: EX]

This ability's first appearance was when Galahad appeared and helped him acquire [Ein Sof]. Simply put, it guided him to the 'successful' path. It is something that interferes with space, time, and fate itself to help him attain his desired result.

Right now, all he wants is to verify his conjectures.

'That is…'

The moment his fingertips touched the line, he saw several 'visions'. They are quite blurry, but he could still understand them.

First, it was a man surrounded by thirteen knights.

Second, it was a middle-aged man who wore the magician's outfit.

Third, it was a vision of the Holy Sword being used on something.

Buzz-!

A tinge of pain assaulted his mind. Blood trickled down on Nobu's eyes as a sign of damage on his ethereal body.

Despite those damages, he chose to hold onto it.

The last image entails a huge shadow covering the sky. Every person within the prior visions could be seen in that place.

Similar to Ein Sof, the Holy Sword glowed brightly in an attempt to defeat the Greatest Evil.

Shatter-!

"Keuk..!"

Nobu coughed out blood. He wasn't supposed to be affected as a Magister. His life level is akin to a god's. With his [Infinite Conversion] open, he would even begin to surpass them.

Yet…

An enemy of the world.

He inadvertently recalled Galahad's words. That was what Chaldea would end up in the future. Somehow, that title seemed fitting for the being that he saw within the vision.

As an enemy of a world, it held enough power to go against the world.

"Galahad!"

"I'm alright. It doesn't hurt much. You don't need to worry, my King."

Nobu replied as he wiped his tears of blood with a handkerchief. The same went for the stains of blood that he coughed just now.

He looked at the other knights who were busy looking at other sights within the Abbey.

"I hope you won't tell them about this. It would only make them worry needlessly." He said. "That thing… It's dangerous."

"Is that the enemy of your world?"

"...It is. Only, I didn't know it existed."

"That… It's as strong as Goetia at the very least."

"No… Perhaps even stronger than him." Nobu commented. "I have a feeling that it is the full manifestation of the Twilight Syndrome."

For a while, the King and her Knight dwelled upon this unexpected discovery.

*****

"You can at least speak to them now."

"..."

After the entire tour, I headed to Shiina's residence. Behind me is Melusine. If I didn't convince her to join on the latter part, she might've not been able to speak with the other Knights of the Round.

At the very least, she was there when we visited Glastonbury Abbey.

"What did you see earlier?" She asked.

"There's no need to worry about it."

"Don't try to shift the topic."

"...I am telling the truth when I said there's no need to worry about it. It's about a discovery regarding my world's most troublesome enemy."

I revealed the things I saw in the vision to her.

"The Greatest Evil… It's similar to it." Melusine revealed to me. "There was an Insect of Abyss that sought Britain's destruction."

"How strong was it?"

I acknowledged that Melusine came from the Lostbelts that Galahad previously warned me about.

Meaning, she came on a future timeline—one when Goetia's threat was replaced by an even greater threat.

"Strong enough to destroy our Britain."

"..."

Something similar to that kind of threat…

It perfectly explains why Lord Nettesheim disappeared in the futures I saw. Come to think of it, Suimei still met him a week ago.

Knowing his personality, he would've struck a conversation with me.

Just as I thought of it, something flew in my direction. I took hold of it, revealing a black card with silver engravings.

'Ace..?'

It was similar to an Ace found in a deck of cards. Before I completely processed it, a voice came to my mind.

'Tokyo, Shinjuku Station, October 31, 6:40 PM.'

The card dispersed into thin air as particles of light.

That was him…

Lord Nettesheim.

Those dates… It also coincides with the beginning of the Shinjuku Incident. No matter how many times it repeated on my iterations, it always happened at 7:00 PM.

"It seems like I'll become busy next month…"

*****

"Nobu."

"Are you dizzy? We could take a seat for now."

"No. Restroom."

"Ah…"

Upon our arrival at Haneda Airport, I escorted Shiina to the restroom. I took care of our luggages on the way.

"You have sharp eyes."

"It's not that hard to spot them."

Evidently, it was Shiina's first time taking a trip alone. I am glad that Japan's system when it comes to this is as organized as it could get. We could've opted for the private jet option, but she insisted on the experience of riding a normal plane.

As a result, she couldn't use the restroom until now.

After everything, we are finally on our way to the parking lot.

"Where's the cab?"

"You'll see."

I took out the transponder key from my pocket.

Click-!

The headlights of a customized car lit up. It has a design akin to Konieggsegg's Regera but it is made out of my workshop. The number of functions that it has could surprise anybody.

I nodded at her before she followed along.

Click-!

The trunk opened up. I placed the luggages there before closing it. After that, I opened the right front seat.

"Please, ojou-sama."

"..."

A tinge of embarrassment appeared on her face before she swiftly entered.

I followed next before starting up the car. Skillfully, I got it out of the parking lot before entering the highway.

"Did someone take it here?"

"Yes. I asked an acquaintance to bring it over."

"What about the license?" She asked with curiosity.

"It's easy to deal with it. As long as you have an International Driving Permit, you can drive at my age."

"...You know about many things."

Thinking of my current knowledge, that is not an understatement.

"Yeah, so don't forget to count on me if you need any help." I replied to her. "You are my friend."

…and a past/future girlfriend.

'It sounds very confusing…'

*****

Can someone change drastically within three years?

Based on what Shiina saw, it is affirmative.

Nobu, someone whom she made friends with six years ago, changed so much—in a good way, that is. If he is still childish and says occasional nonsense in the past, he is more reliable now.

He's just like…

'Like…'

For the third time, Shiina felt her heartbeat speed up. This feeling of jittery was something she felt since a while ago. She couldn't understand the reasons behind it, however.

Slip.

She slipped into the floor due to her being dazed.

Bam-!

"Shiina?!"

Nobu swiftly ran upstairs as he heard it.

"Ow…"

"Wait. I'll get some ointment."

He assisted her in standing up before entering his room. Not long after, he came back with a small capped container.

Without thinking much, he held her hand and led her downstairs.

"..."

For another time, she started feeling jittery. It is a feeling that couldn't be easily expressed in words.

"You have to be careful next time, alright?"

Nobu began lecturing her as soon as she sat down on the sofa.

"I wonder how Shiina-jii became reassured to leave you by yourself…"

"We have an acquaintance here."

"Would that person be able to help you at all times?"

"My father trusts her…" Shiina replied. "You too."

"Well…"

Nobu recalled the moment he met her parents for the first time. They immediately recognized him as the son of Akasaka Seiji, an uprising billionaire. Coupled with his maturity and their relationship that spanned over three years, they trusted Nobu when it came to helping Shiina settle in Japan.

After all, it was she who wanted to pursue something in this country. She earned enough fame and merit to the point they gave in to her wishes this time.

'He should have a hidden intent…'

However, Nobu knows that her father is a shrewd man when it comes to maintaining prestige. He has a caring side, yes, but he was the one responsible for raising Shiina's value to the Art Industry.

'Is he…'

Despite not having a thought partition open, he arrived at that answer.

'...Really…'

After all the scheming he had done in Gekai and Jerusalem, he had encountered a 'small plan' once more.

'Is he trying to match us..?'

Those distracting thoughts only occurred within a second. Still, his brief daze was caught by Shiina.

'Nobu is like me…'

*****

Whenever I see Shiina, I am reminded by another friend of mine—Bocchi-chan.

'She's somewhere in Shimokita… I'll give her a visit later.'

My focus went to the breakfast that I was cooking. I woke up early for one reason: to help Shiina prepare for her first day in school. She is a transfer student in Suimei University of Arts.

Yes, it is often a topic that I used to joke around Suimei. It is a big coincidence that a prestigious university has the same name as his.

Of course, I would also like to visit my brother who, by another huge coincidence, attended this school.

"Hm… It's fine."

Cooking is not much different from mixing potions or arranging the ratio of metal alloys. Though, I am still wondering how several magicians have such bad cooking skills—bad enough to turn any edible food to charcoal.

After placing the omelet on top of the rice, I refrained from slicing it in half.

I placed the pan on the sink before going upstairs to visit the bathroom. I didn't use any aprons since I am confident I could do things properly.

"Shiina? How is it?"

"I'm going out."

Hearing those words, I turned over swiftly.

Click.

The door to the bathroom was opened. Steam came out of it—something resulted from the hot shower.

"Nobu."

"I'll go downstairs. Your breakfast is ready after you dress up."

"Alright."

Without opening my eyes, I went downstairs.

"Is this really the best solution?"

If we lived in separate apartment units, I would still need to help her with things like this. That was how it went during the other iterations. I came over to her apartment unit every day to help her get up—until she managed to grasp everything a year later.

I couldn't begin to imagine how she would've lived alone in that dormitory.

But…

Things could get awkward at times. The one from earlier is an example of how it could happen.

"I'll deal with it as it comes."

Just as I said this, it felt like an interlude for the things that are about to come…