"Lady, please come to my office later."
After the incident had settled, Aesc, who had spent a few days experiencing student life, was summoned to Lord El-Melloi II's office.
"Please, have a seat. These are the materials you previously requested regarding the Inner Sea," El-Melloi II said, pulling a file from his drawer and handing it to her as she sat down. "To be honest, our research in this area is quite limited."
"Since the end of the Age of Gods at the dawn of the common era, mysteries from the 'Outside' have been receding to the Reverse Side of the World—just like King Arthur's final journey to Avalon."
"As spirits and phantasmal species completely withdrew to the reverse side, the Clock Tower's access to anything related to the Inner Sea of the Planet vanished. Although, it's said that the previous director of the Department of Modern Magecraft, Dr. Heartless, had his heart stolen by a fairy."
So remarked the current director of Modern Magecraft, Lord El-Melloi II.
Hm?
That name sounded familiar. Aesc lifted her gaze to El-Melloi II.
"Unfortunately, Dr. Heartless went missing many years ago."
Noticing her reaction, El-Melloi II assumed she wanted to inquire further with Dr. Heartless about the Inner Sea of the Planet, and so he continued.
"If I receive any news regarding Dr. Heartless, I will inform you."
Aesc nodded and resumed flipping through the documents.
It was true—the Clock Tower's research on the Inner Sea of the Planet was indeed scarce.
At least, the materials accessible to El-Melloi II weren't particularly extensive.
Oh? The Spiritual Tomb of Albion—they even included this?
A massive, mysterious corpse buried beneath London, torn apart by tectonic shifts, forming an enormous labyrinth deep underground. That great maze was known as the Spiritual Tomb of Albion.
It was said to contain all sorts of materials—dragon teeth, dragon scales, and the like.
Rumor had it it was formed from a great dragon that tried to physically force its way into the inner world, only to exhaust itself and die beneath the earth.
Most of this is useless. I was hoping for something more directly related to Avalon—would've been a good excuse to go whack Merlin again.
Well~ I only made the request to lull El-Melloi II into lowering his guard. Getting this much intel is already a pleasant surprise.
She skimmed through the rest swiftly and placed the documents back on his desk.
"Not helpful, I take it?" El-Melloi II casually lit a cigar.
"Pretty much." Aesc stood up and stretched. "Hmm... Maybe gather more rumors and anecdotes, like that story about Dr. Heartless having his heart stolen by a fairy."
Don't thank me when this info comes in handy later.
She winked at El-Melloi II.
"I understand. I'll broaden the scope in the follow-up." He tapped his cigar, shaking off the ash, but noticed Aesc hadn't made a move to leave. "Is there something else, Lady?"
"Well... I heard that during that Holy Grail War, you summoned Alexander the Great."
"Yes, that's correct. Why do you ask?"
"Then... if you had the chance to see that king again, would you want to?" Aesc thought for a moment before posing the question.
"What...?" Stunned by the sudden suggestion, El-Melloi II didn't even notice his cigar slipping from his fingers onto his leather shoe.
"Lady, what are you implying?" he pressed, quickly regaining his composure.
"Mm~ Just what I said."
The Rain Witch Aesc—both her Noble Phantasm and Saint Graph were tied to memories. According to her Noble Phantasm's nature, she should be able to recreate El-Melloi II's memories of Alexander.
Yeah, let's give it a try.
"My Noble Phantasm is connected to memory. It can manifest fragments of recollection," Aesc pointed to her head. "Pulling out a single scene from your memories of Alexander isn't difficult."
"This..." El-Melloi II rubbed his chin, conflicted.
"There's no danger involved."
"Hmm..."
"It's not reading your mind, so I won't see anything else."
"...Very well." El-Melloi II relented as if a weight had been lifted.
As he sat waiting for the process to begin, he asked curiously,
"Lady, why are you doing this?"
"Call it an apology. Didn't I sit out the whole Marburry Workshop incident?" Aesc summoned her staff and grimoire as she replied. "Sorry—I promised to help you, but I didn't lift a finger when the time came."
Plus, I kinda swiped your family's Volumen Hydrargyrum. My conscience is bothering me a little.
"And King Arthur's Holy Lance—I really wanted to see its radiance when unleashed," Aesc explained. "Next time you ask for my help, I won't refuse."
"No, there's no need to apologize. It was a transaction, after all. I didn't provide the agreed-upon price, so it's understandable you withheld assistance." El-Melloi II responded, seeing the genuine regret in her expression.
Aesc smiled, raised her staff toward him, and said, "Let's begin, then."
El-Melloi II hurriedly straightened his posture.
"Is there anything I need to do?"
"Close your eyes and picture the scene you want to manifest. Since I'm casting this on someone else, I can't delve too deep—I need your focus to anchor the image." Aesc extended her arm, holding the staff above El-Melloi II's head. "So, have you decided on the moment?"
"Ahh... Of course."
"Just to be sure, which moment is it?"
"Naturally, it's the moment I fought alongside my king, charging forth within his Ionioi Hetairoi!" El-Melloi II shut his eyes and affirmed without hesitation.
"Good."
As she spoke, dense mana surged forth, enveloping El-Melloi II completely.
"'Memory of You'—!"
As the incantation echoed, El-Melloi II felt his surroundings shift abruptly.
Liquid enveloped him, giving him the weightless sensation of being submerged.
This is... underwater?!
His body seemed to be sinking.
Feeling himself drift downward, El-Melloi II flailed his limbs, desperate to reach the surface.
But it was useless—as if held in place, his body refused to move.
He didn't dare inhale, fearing his lungs would fill with water.
He didn't dare exhale, afraid he'd never breathe air again.
Every sensation, every signal from his Magic Circuits, screamed that he was truly deep underwater.
"Guh—!"
Overwhelmed by suffocating dread, he exhaled his last stored breath and opened his eyes.
The next instant, El-Melloi II stood upon a vast desert.
Right before him, a towering figure with a bold, exuberant grin—a red-haired king clad in a crimson cloak—held a sword aloft with one hand while gripping his horse's reins with the other.
Behind the king stretched an immense army, every soldier charging forward with conquering ambition blazing in their eyes.
El-Melloi II stared, transfixed, at the king leading the charge. He felt the sting of wind-whipped sand against his skin, the scorching heat of the direct sun.
"My king..."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.