Kotomine Kirei left for the Vatican on the first flight available, citing the need to report to the Holy Church as soon as he returned. Meanwhile, I took Kiritsugu Emiya and his family to Misaki City.
Perhaps because the Wizard of Parallelism appeared at an exquisite moment to support Kayneth's testimony and took my nonsense in stride, an official document was sent down from the Clock Tower.
[…Therefore, it is the judgment of the current Department of Policies that the five individuals, including Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, bear no liability regarding their actions in preemptively suppressing said threat.]
[Furthermore, taking the testimonies of Marshal Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg and the current Fifth Magician with the utmost gravity, said malice has been identified as an entity possessing the same nature as the 'Primate Murder' that kills humans. To Tokiomi Tohsaka, who neutralized this threat beforehand, the Department grants a special privilege of immunity restricted to this incident. To the former head of the Matou family, Makiri Zolgen, the rank of Color (Shikie) is hereby bestowed. Finally, let it be known that upon the submission of the El-Melloi head's report, deliberations regarding a Grand (Kan'i) rank shall commence...]
The ancients used to say that life is built on four great connections: academic ties, regional ties, blood ties, and smoking ties. I intended to utilize the second of those—my regional ties.
"Oh my, Karma-kun. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Hello, Yuika-姉san, Ritsuka-姉san."
Waiting for me were the Suse sisters at the Misaki City Catholic Church.
After a brief summary of the Holy Grail War, the pact made between the parties, and the complications with the Greater Grail—which I explained were handled by Kayneth El-Melloi, the Einzbern representative, and the Holy Church's Overseer—the two nodded.
"Things have been quite loud at the Clock Tower recently anyway. There were discussions about what punishment would be appropriate for the Tohsaka family, who closed the gate to the Root, and the El-Melloi family, who were suspected of being involved…"
I didn't need to hear the rest to know what was happening.
The person behind the long-standing impersonation I'd been performing came to mind.
'The Marshal of Magic stepped in. I suppose since an Evil of Humanity manifested during a ritual he guaranteed, it's only right that he takes responsibility… right?'
Regardless, the two shared what information they had.
Ritsuka-姉san, who acts as a spy between the Holy Church and the Mage's Association, informed me that the El-Melloi family would receive a small reward for their merit in resolving the Grail's corruption. Additionally, a student named Waver Velvet, who assisted the El-Melloi head in resolving the incident, was to be awarded the rank of Count (Feth).
"So Waver-kun managed to get a rank out of it somehow."
"So… who are these people, Karma-kun?"
"This is Kiritsugu Emiya-san, the Master of the Einzberns, though he's better known as the Magus Killer. Now that the Holy Grail War is practically over, he's the only one left without a proper backing. That's why I'm planning to recommend our town to him."
"…While the Holy Church maintains neutrality, it might be difficult to accept someone who clearly belongs to the side of the magi, Karma-kun."
"Oh, come on. Do you really think I'd do something so unscrupulous?"
As Yuika-姉san looked at me, prompting me to continue, I began my explanation slowly.
"The owner of this land is Alice-san anyway. And Alice-san is essentially the next head of the Kuonji family. I'm just going to have them settle down in a suitable place."
"…But with someone of his caliber, there might be trouble, no? Sealing Designation Enforcers, for instance."
"I don't think there's an Enforcer alive who could get past Lugh Beowulf."
That was the truth.
Lugh Beowulf, the Golden Werewolf, had at some point completely settled in this town, wandering between my house and the Church, freeloading meals and playing around.
He had already suffered a defeat at my hands and maintained a form of submission, swearing not to go on a rampage. More importantly, excluding outliers like my Human Path… he was absurdly strong. According to Alice-san, he was strong enough to tear even the Thames Troll to pieces.
"Besides, honestly… against a 'magus,' that killer is practically invincible."
"Sigh…"
Yuika-姉san let out a sigh before speaking in a soft, measured tone.
"Honestly, as long as you aren't hiding him inside the Holy Church, we don't have much to say about where a magus resides."
"And if it's a matter of settling on this land, it's something for the Kuonji girl to handle anyway, right?"
"Then I should stop by Alice-san's house first."
Just as I stood up and was about to bow, Sister Yuika reached out and grabbed my wrist.
"Yuika… 姉san?"
"…Karma-kun, did you by any chance do something dangerous during this Holy Grail War?"
"Ah… no? I got caught up in the war, but nothing particularly dangerous happened."
I meant it.
I might have engaged in a life-or-death struggle with one of the Lords of the Clock Tower, fought a Beast that counts as an Evil of Humanity, and received an actual death threat from the Demon God King Goetia, but regardless, nothing *dangerous* happened.
"…Karma-kun's father saw the news and was very shocked."
"Eh…?"
"He stayed quiet because you were sending him messages as usual, but Beo-kun and Ritsuka had to physically stop him from running off to Fuyuki City right then and there."
"Ah…"
Now that I thought about it, I might have been too focused on dealing with the Mystery-related aftermath.
Ultimately, what Angra Mainyu did had half-wrecked Fuyuki City. Even if the citizens' memories were erased, it was reported on the news as a massive gas explosion.
"Karma-kun, I honestly don't know why you keep trying to entangle yourself with the Mystery. But I want to give you one warning. The deeper you step into the Mystery… the more the people around you will be dragged into it as well."
Looking at Yuika-姉san's eyes as she spoke, it felt as though she wanted me to wash my hands of this world here and now.
I truly appreciate it, Yuika-姉san. But I can't give up here.
"Thanks for letting me know, 姉san. Well, I'll be off to Alice-san's place."
As long as that damn Demon God King is targeting me, it is inevitable that I remain entangled with the Mystery.
* * * * *
Five Diddle Diddles damaged. Repair period for the Flat Snark due to overuse: two months.
Normally, this would be a loss worth tens of millions of yen, but Alice-san didn't seem to care much.
Rather…
"You opened even the iron bridge section of the Thames Troll…? You certainly are impressive."
"It's probably just a difference in perception. Misaki City doesn't have any particularly grand bridges, but Fuyuki has that massive iron bridge."
"Hmm… I'll have to research that myself. More importantly, are you alright? Aoko made a huge fuss saying you fought something called an Evil of Humanity."
Alice-san asked while biting into a scone baked by Soujuurou-형. I told her the truth, while leaving out the parts that shouldn't be spoken of—like the Demon God King.
Even for a direct descendant of the Witch of Fairy Tales who had lived through ancient eras, an 'Evil of Humanity' seemed to be a realm of the unknown. She listened intently for a long time to the story of Angra Mainyu's past and his creation process, even offering her own deductions.
Regrettably, the cause of this incident was 'something' that clearly transcended even Alice-san's imagination.
"Anyway, the Thames Troll, the Flat Snark, and the other 22 Mystic Codes have been safely returned."
"You did good work. In a way, this was the first magical ritual you've participated in. By the way, about settling the Einzbern homunculus and the Magus Killer in this land… the Clock Tower won't come here to silence them, will they?"
"The Emiya family's Magic Crest has already been handed over to the Clock Tower. Kiritsugu isn't the type of man who would go crazy and try to reach the Root… so it shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Alice-san pondered for a moment before having Soujuurou-형 bring out some real estate documents. Finding a small villa registered under Soujuurou's name, she handed over the papers.
"The title is in Soujuurou's name. He's using the second floor… so you can put those maids on the fourth floor and the Emiya family on the third."
"…Who lives on the first floor? Since they're practitioners of the Mystery, it might be better to keep the surrounding area empty…"
In that moment, seeing Alice-san's expression stiffen slightly, I could guess who it was.
"Touko Aozaki… I wonder when that puppetmaster plans to take that wolf with her."
"I wouldn't know. Actually, I have business with her anyway, so this works out perfectly."
"…What?"
According to the 'timeline' I remember, an important incident occurs after the Fourth Holy Grail War ends.
Of course, looking at the world-lines as a whole, it wouldn't have a massive impact, and I could have just let it pass… but just as that damn Demon God King intended, if I am forced to participate in the Restoration of the Human Order, I'll need to borrow their strength as well.
[Lastly, in recognition of the merits of Akabane Karma, who participated in the incident as the Master of Archer, the Akabane family is hereby granted the ownership of the Mifune City Leylines and the duty of their management.]
[The Department of Policies and Lorelei Barthomeloi, Vice-Director of the Clock Tower.]
I'm coming for you, Touko Aozaki.
I hope your funds are sufficiently prepared.
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