Head of Mineralogy, Director of Spiritual Evocation…
Leader of the El-Melloi faction, one of the youngest Color-ranked magi, a super genius with potential to reach Grand…
These are my titles, my prestige. Each one grander than the last.
My name is Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald.
A name nearly universal in the mystic world, I am the ninth head of the prestigious Archibald family. Not only is my status illustrious, but my talent and intellect are rare. Undoubtedly, I am a prodigy of magecraft.
With such resources and renown, my future is boundless, far beyond mediocrities like Tokiomi Tohsaka. Even against the legendary Grand puppeteer Aozaki Touko, I'm confident I'm her equal.
Equal? Hmph, with my talent, I'll soon surpass her!!
But even a genius like me has unsolvable troubles. This past week, my mood has been especially foul, to the point I'd need heart pills to stay calm.
Recent events have been more perplexing than my first twenty years combined.
Months ago, my prized disciple, sixth head of the Crowley family, the Clock Tower alchemist-magus I aimed to recruit—Roy Alexander Crowley—took a long leave and hasn't returned, even missing his Pride-rank ceremony I'd arranged.
Having promoted him for half a year, planning to introduce him to my professor, Lord Yuliphis of Spiritual Evocation, and absorb the Crowley family into the El-Melloi faction, his absence left me humiliated, my efforts foolish.
Losing face at the Clock Tower and worried for my wayward disciple, I spent heavily to track Roy worldwide.
Recently, the Intelligence Department reported: "Your disciple appeared in Japan, contacting a local magecraft family, likely still there."
Relieved he was safe, I cared less about the rest. That months-silent troublemaker was alive.
But hearing he was in Fuyuki City raised my brow.
Fuyuki…
Hardly notable globally or even in Japan—just a speck on the map.
Yet, it was too familiar. It's the site of the magical ritual I planned to join—the Holy Grail War.
Fuyuki, the Grail War, and now my wayward disciple…
From these fragments, I pieced things together.
So, that kid hid from me to join a backwater ritual?!
As his professor, his secrecy, absence, and prioritizing a rural ritual over my planned ceremony infuriated me.
This even swayed my initial disinterest in the Grail War.
I had no care for it—just a local magi gathering. But with my disciple there, I had to go, teach him a lesson, and make him pay.
As a professor, I must correct a student's wayward path, or expel and punish him…
Other Lords might turn hostile, but I'm magnanimous, willing to give him a chance.
I'd join, show my mastery in this rural ritual, subdue Roy, and drag him back for his ceremony.
My tasks were simple: acquire a relic, prepare a mana furnace, study the Grail War's rules, and craft Mystic Codes.
Though I scorned this backwater ritual and families like the Tohsakas and Matous, I couldn't underestimate my disciple.
His dual mastery of alchemy and magecraft, wielding various Mystic Codes, and wind-water affinity perfectly suited El-Melloi theories, even optimizing the Volumen Hydrargyrum.
Others might not know, but as his professor, I knew his prowess.
His Hall Technique, blending alchemical arrays, magecraft, and Mystic Codes for a mobile workshop, was enough for Pride or Color rank.
I couldn't afford carelessness, or I might lose.
In typical tales, a disciple rebels, the master pursues, they battle fiercely, and experience wins, subduing the disciple for reform.
But sometimes, the master falls to the disciple's ambush, killed, and the traitor escapes to wreak havoc.
With Roy's skill, the latter was very possible!!
As a genius and his professor, I foresaw this.
Arrogant but not foolish, naivety in magecraft's harsh world is deadly.
I scrapped my absurd plan to bring my fiancée, Sola, for a ritual-vacation. Instead, I prepared for a cataclysmic master-disciple clash in Japan!
But as I crafted Mystic Codes, rented a mana furnace, and chose a relic, something infuriated me more.
My top-tier relic was stolen!
The courier confirmed the thief was that reckless commoner student, Waver Velvet, who'd published audacious theories.
The relic was a fragment of the Conqueror Iskandar's cloak, a supreme treasure, my trump card to subdue Roy.
Yet, it was intercepted.
I'd prepared meticulously, guarding against other Lords' schemes to reclaim Roy. But a talentless student I disdained stole it.
This was beyond my expectations. I'd thwarted all factions and Lords, but not my own students' betrayal.
Twice, no less!!
These betrayals taught me: guard day and night, but a house thief is hardest to stop.
Twice betrayed by my students, my proud heart was wounded.
By the time I reacted, it was too late. Waver, stealing the relic, borrowed money from classmates and fled to—Fuyuki City.
Fine, Fuyuki again. Everyone's flocking there, pilfering my relics or Mystic Codes. Truly, a master doesn't raise two kinds of students.
One, my prized disciple, raided my home for Mystic Codes, materials, and a Noble Phantasm fragment, then fled to Fuyuki. The other stole my cloak fragment to cause more trouble.
Waver's foolishness aside, Roy shouldn't have done this!
I'd groomed him as my successor, planning to marry him into my family, passing the El-Melloi faction to him. Yet he betrayed me so vilely?
My life is perfect, meant for happiness. Betrayal is unacceptable!
Furious at the double betrayal, I held an impromptu combat class for all El-Melloi students, a heartfelt master-disciple exchange.
That day, they tasted my iron fists of love, carried back with puppet aid.
They were shocked to find their professor's freeform combat was professional-grade, shattering training puppets with bare hands.
Is this a fake Lord?
They wondered.
…
…
"Phew…"
During the Grail War, in a towering Fuyuki building.
A tall, lemon-haired noble overlooked the city's nightscape, the highest vantage point, giving a sense of control.
"Ready, Lancer? Per my plan, strike first to draw out other Servants. Any issues?"
"No, my lord. Your plan is flawless. I'm eager to serve."
As Kayneth spoke, a refined voice replied, golden sparks revealing a Lancer-class hero, responding respectfully.
"Good. I leave it to you."
Pleased with his obedient Servant, Kayneth's frown eased, his demeanor softening.
Only after betrayal do you value loyalty…
He mused, reaching toward the night sky.
"Roy, Waver, you traitorous disciples. This time, I'll show you consequences."
His gaze was resolute, his words unyielding.
***
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