After seeing Arcueid off with a gaze, and looking back at the mark on the back of his hand, Naoki planned to return to the apartment.
However, before he could take a step, someone suddenly appeared on the bench beside him.
"Don't rush off, young man. After settling the girl's affairs, let's settle yours."
The person sitting on the bench spoke in a voice that was somewhat old but full of vigor.
It was an old man, looking quite aged, perhaps around fifty or sixty years old. He wore a large cloak, and from his posture, he looked quite sturdy.
Naoki recognized this person, not only because he knew him in his previous life, but also because he had seen his portrait in the Clock Tower library in this life.
—Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg.
A top-tier Magician known as Old Man Jewel and the Second Magician, a Magic Marshal of the Clock Tower.
"This small Misaki Town has actually attracted two Magicians."
"You know me. Well, it's not surprising, but there's no need for me to introduce myself, it would be troublesome." Zelretch said as he stood up, "Arcueid—you've been taking care of that girl all this time. Although I've also been keeping an eye on her, this time the situation was indeed a bit bad for her. Among the many parallel worlds I've observed, her endings of death or rampage are not few."
Was he referring to the various endings of the Tsukihime story?
"If the situation had developed like that, it would have inevitably caused problems in the end, but thanks to you, those problems were avoided. For your service in saving me from this trouble, allow me to thank you in advance."
"Huh... no need for thanks."
"Hmm, indeed there's no need to thank you, because although you helped me avoid one problem, you also caused a big problem for me."
As he said this, Zelretch's expression and gaze instantly looked displeased, pointing at Naoki's chest: "Because of the existence within your body, the rate of decline of the mystery concentration in the real world is accelerating. The time of the Greater Source's regression—the time of the apocalypse—has advanced by at least 50 years."
"Eh? That serious?"
"It can't be said to be too serious, it will come sooner or later anyway. But what's certain is that this incident has greatly affected modern society. Although the Church tried its best to cover it up, mystery is still unavoidable and some of it has been revealed—the first principle of the Clock Tower, you have clearly violated it."
Hearing that, Naoki unconsciously frowned: "Wasn't it not me who deliberately revealed it? Basically, wasn't it all caused by Vlov losing control and rampaging, as well as Roa?"
"Do you think the Clock Tower will accept such a reason?" Zelretch smiled, "After a while, the Clock Tower will send people to investigate. You, as the involved party, won't be able to escape. No matter the reason, the reality is that you caused the revelation of mystery. The foolish group from the Department of Law won't show any mercy."
"Then I wouldn't mind if the Clock Tower lost a department."
Actually, he definitely wouldn't go that far, but if the Clock Tower really wanted to blame him, then Naoki definitely wouldn't accept this loss—at least he would destroy half of the Clock Tower.
These words instantly made Zelretch laugh: "A very good answer, but your actions will cause even more trouble. Although those people are weak, foolish, and like to cause problems, for the current magic society, the Clock Tower's existence is still necessary."
"So, this time I came to see you as a mediator, Natsukawa Naoki."
"I will pressure the Clock Tower on this matter. I still have a little face there. Besides, for Misaki Town, although it's a bit troublesome, I will at least help a little."
"Then what do I need to pay?"
"No need to pay anything, you just need to leave this world for a while." Zelretch explained, "I can indeed suppress it, but those kids are already very skilled at pretending to obey while secretly resisting. Sooner or later they will come after you, and you won't be able to avoid them. Of course, you can resist, but that would be the same as me owing the Clock Tower a favor."
"So, I have to go to another world to avoid them?"
"And also help me settle some matters." Zelretch smiled, "If you have to wait here for this matter to pass, I think about 5 years should be enough."
5 years?!
"For that long?"
"It's okay, just giving you an estimated time, to make it easier to remember."
"Have to go?"
"Just to be safe, nothing is absolute. Doing this is the safest. Besides, those little Clock Tower kids... Haaa."
Regarding the Magus generation, Zelretch didn't have much to say either. Although from his perspective they were all talented, they actually liked to play politics and engage in internal struggles. Why didn't they learn from the Atlas Institute and the Wandering Sea?
It could only be said, tiring. In order not to let these people act out of line, Zelretch was quite worried.
"Just consider it understanding the difficulties of an old man like me, young man."
"Whatever, just consider it a vacation. Unfortunately, I still wanted to finish my doll first. Like this, I don't know how long it will be delayed."
"Projecting an image in your mind onto an empty doll, creating a versatile doll that can change shape at any time—a good idea. With that tool, it's just a matter of time. But creating such a thing just to satisfy your own desires, you're really not a Magus."
Naoki shrugged: "I already achieved the main goal of a Magus once. Learning Magecraft is also just for my own purposes, regardless of whether it conforms to the standards of a traditional Magus or not. In that case, if I go to another world, will you send me?"
"There's no need to rush this. Two days should be enough. And you don't want to just leave alone, right? Other people don't matter, but I don't believe you can leave that little sister of yours behind."
"Gray..."
This was indeed true. Naoki was really uneasy about leaving Gray to live here alone for five years. Although among the people he knew, there should be many willing to take care of her, but... letting those people take care of her, he might as well take Gray with him.
Besides, there was also Merlin.
After all, they had already kissed. Leaving without saying a word was truly scumbag level—he wasn't a scumbag!
"Once you've decided on the person you want to take with you, I will naturally appear before you."
"I understand."
As soon as those words were spoken, Zelretch disappeared before Naoki's eyes, directly leaving through space displacement? Truly coming without a trace and leaving without a sound, just like the rumors said.
'But... going to another parallel world? I wonder if it's a world I know. If I go to places not written by Nasu, it might be a bit troublesome.'
'Speaking of 5 years later... that's the year 2004... meaning I'll return right when the Fifth Holy Grail War starts.'
The Fifth Holy Grail War.
The war in 1994, the Holy Grail War ended with Tohsaka Tokiomi ordering Gilgamesh to destroy the Holy Grail with a Command Seal, but that only destroyed the materialized Holy Grail. The Greater Grail's formula should not have been affected.
That meant the Fifth Holy Grail War would still be held as usual, and since Gilgamesh wasn't materialized, the situation of the Fifth Holy Grail War should also be different from Naoki's memories.
No, basically, since the last Fuyuki Holy Grail War wasn't the Holy Grail War he knew anymore, Morgan, Arthur, Manaka—it had already deviated somewhere!
"Whatever, let time tell. The matter of five years later can wait for five years later. For now..."
Go back first and discuss the matter of traveling to another world.