In truth, Reines sought out Caren to talk not only because they got along due to their similar personalities, but also for a much simpler reason.
She felt uneasy about attending the social gathering alone. Depending solely on the autonomous humanoid formal wear, Trimmau, wasn't nearly enough. With so many Magus in attendance, any unexpected incident would leave her helpless.
She needed someone trustworthy to serve as her escort.
Naturally, her first choice was her current tutor, Tenkei Shiomi.
Having him around might be an exaggeration to say that not even half the Clock Tower could stop her—but it wouldn't be far off.
However, Shiomi had never been particularly fond of such events. Sometimes he'd show up, sometimes he wouldn't—no one could be sure.
If he chose not to go, Reines figured she'd have to ask him for an alternative form of protection.
For instance, there was Gray—the young gravekeeper who moved into Shiomi's house three months ago. She had once demonstrated the shadow of the Holy Lance's power at the Separation Castle. In terms of strength, she was more than capable of serving as a bodyguard.
Though she had formally joined the Clock Tower and became part of El-Melloi II's class, she showed no intention of moving out.
She practically looked like she'd already been taken in by Shiomi.
Thanks to the precedent set by Sakura and Caren, rumors had begun to circulate that Gray had been adopted as his third daughter.
Of course, it was Flat, a student of El-Melloi II, who spread the rumor—so no one really took it seriously. Only Flat continued trying to confirm it.
"In return, let me share a little intel I picked up from Trambelio," Reines offered, returning the favor. "It's about the Fifth Holy Grail War."
"Oh?" Caren perked up, listening closely.
Regardless of the content, intel was still intel. You had to hear it first to judge its value.
"The Association still hasn't finalized a plan. Due to interference from the Department of Astromancy, several factions are now vying for the remaining slot," said Reines.
Caren nodded. "I know. One side is the Association itself. They're planning to send one of the most powerful current Sealing Designation Executors—Bazett Fraga McRemitz. The other is Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, who joined the last Holy Grail War with your brother, Kayneth."
Shiomi had already looked into Sola-Ui's intentions for participating again, for various reasons.
Apparently, she was hoping to use the Holy Grail in Fuyuki to revive Kayneth, who had died in battle.
After all, his body was still magically preserved in the Sophia-Ri household—neither cremated nor buried. Shiomi had once thought the two had little affection for each other. But perhaps Kayneth's self-sacrifice had finally made the young lady realize something she'd long ignored.
After all, at the time, Shiomi had considered sending both of them off together—so neither would be left behind to suffer.
"It's not just those two," Reines added. "Apparently, there are also newcomers offering money to buy the selected Magus's spot."
"That doesn't sound very realistic, right, Gray?" Caren turned to the girl who had been quietly eating.
Gray quickly looked up. "Eh… Ah… I suppose so."
She wasn't familiar with the details and had simply been listening with a learner's mindset.
As Caren pointed out, Sola-Ui would never accept such a deal. After all, only the Holy Grail could grant the wish of resurrecting the dead.
Because the last Holy Grail War had nearly cost her life, Sola-Ui's brother had been firmly against her participating again.
As for the Sealing Designation Executors, they were even harder to pin down. According to Shiomi, they were like mission machines—each one a powerhouse in battle, but completely lacking in basic common sense outside of it. Even a slight disruption in their logistics could seriously hinder their operations.
"Oh dear, just thinking about the Holy Grail War makes me feel like my brother doesn't stand a chance," Reines said, entirely unbothered. "Hopefully, all the contenders will fight over the remaining slots, and he'll give up on participating altogether."
"Father feels the same," Caren replied bluntly. "He said the professor is better suited to teaching from the sidelines than charging into battle. If he hadn't summoned Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, last time, he probably would've died in the war."
After all, until Shiomi discovered the Greater Grail had issues, his plan had been to eliminate the other Masters and Servants one by one—at most sparing Tokiomi, with whom he'd made a gentleman's agreement.
"Then I'll have to trouble your father to help persuade my brother. Now that the El-Melloi faction has splintered, I'm the only one left trying to uphold the name, and it's hanging by a thread," Reines said, resting her chin on one hand. "It'd be quite a hassle for me if talented people like him were lost to the Holy Grail War."
Reines spoke in a half-serious, half-joking tone, and Caren didn't take it seriously.
Though she, like Reines, enjoyed watching others suffer, Caren had her limits—one of which was never persuading others from the sidelines to step onto a battlefield where death was all but certain.
A line she wouldn't cross...
Or maybe, Caren thought, it wasn't really her own boundary, but one she inherited from her father—just following it as if it were second nature.
If she didn't, she wouldn't be able to live a "normal" life.
Shiomi struggled with this too.
But Caren couldn't bear to see him suffer.
Perhaps that was what they called favoritism.
After more than ten years, she had indeed gained a lot.
After giving a half-hearted agreement to Reines' final not-quite-a-request, Caren and Gray wrapped up their tea party and left the Archisorte household on Sura Street.
"Do I really... have to go too, Caren?"
Walking home, Gray looked at Caren beside her.
"Didn't Blackmore's gravekeeper tell you to go out and see the world?" Caren replied with a calm smile. "Now that you've entered the Clock Tower and are a registered Magus, it's important to understand the Magus society a bit more."
"Well, that may be true..." Gray looked uncertain.
She knew full well that even if Caren said nothing, Shiomi would end up taking both of them to the gathering anyway.
Sakura was too busy to care about these superficial events, and Morgan had zero interest in mingling with ordinary Magus.
So this outcome was only natural.
What Gray didn't notice, though, was that as she fretted, the corners of Caren's mouth subtly curled upward.
A shy and introverted gravekeeper, forced to attend an extravagant social gathering...
Caren never got tired of that reaction.
It only made her more eager to see what amusing things might unfold at the event.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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