“Haaah~~~ My shoulders are so sore.”
“Aoko, can you please tone down your ‘guonan’ vibe?”
Rhode looked at Aoko opposite him with disdain.
After a few bottles of alcohol, the Magician Young Miss placed her heavy chest on the table to relieve the burden.
The soft mass wrapped in her T-shirt rested on the tabletop, jiggling slightly like a pure white Pudding.
Aoko’s actions left Morgan and the surrounding diners dumbfounded, but Rhode was already accustomed to her post-drinking behavior.
More than two hours had passed since then; it was now 5:30 PM.
The Izakaya had reached its peak hour, bustling with activity.
The trio in the corner of the pub had long finished their initial Sake.
Now, a pile of empty beer bottles sat before them, and in the center of the table, a Hotpot with bubbling, rich broth simmered.
Since we’re here, we might as well solve dinner too, Aoko decided for Rhode’s wallet 10 minutes ago.
“Well, to be honest, I was originally planning to participate in the Holy Grail War too.”
Aozaki Aoko rested her chin on one hand, using her chopsticks to rummage through the Hotpot.
It was clear that she was very envious that Rhode could participate in the Holy Grail War with such an incredibly beautiful girl like Caster.
Morgan, sitting diagonally opposite Aoko, had a completely different demeanor from Aoko.
Perhaps it was truly befitting a Princess of Britain; she elegantly chewed her food in small bites from her plate.
“Speaking of which, this Holy Grail War even has Kenneth, the Genius of the Ore Department, participating. Never before has the Magic Association sent such a high-ranking figure to the Far East. The matter of his student stealing his prepared Holy Relic also caused a lot of embarrassment for the entire Clock Tower. Rhode, are you listening?”
Rhode nodded, busily stuffing fried chicken into his mouth.
“Aww, I know, I know. Kenneth’s Holy Relic was apparently stolen by one of his students, right?”
“Heh, you’re not from the Clock Tower, yet you know even this internal information. I’ve always wondered if you really have Clairvoyance?”
Aozaki Aoko recalled the past, the first time she met Rhode with her friend.
Even then, just like now, before she could say anything, Rhode had already revealed Aoko and Alice’s identities and intentions.
“I already told you I have Clairvoyance.”
“Hmph… I don’t believe it. Every time I bet on horse racing with you, I lose all my money.”
Aoko’s face lengthened, and she fell into thought, holding her chopsticks.
Although she said she didn’t believe it, she truly felt that the boy had eyes that could see through everything.
That indifferent gaze could never be considered offensive.
Yet, Aoko often felt as if she were stripped naked, letting him freely examine her body and mind. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Before Rhode, she had nowhere to hide; everything about her was known to him.
Even Alice…
That child, who would absolutely never trust someone she didn’t understand, would only open her heart to the enigmatic Rhode.
A hint of shyness and annoyance flashed through her mind, and Aoko suddenly blurted out.
“By the way, Rhode. Let me test you, do you know what Holy Relic Kenneth prepared again after the theft?”
“So, you know?”
Aoko raised her cute eyebrows, looking pleased: “Of course I know.”
“Aoko… I will die before I share secrets with you.”
Rhode twisted his mouth: This guy is already eager to reveal the Holy Relic someone else prepared at the drinking table!
“Well, don’t say that. For a perfectionist Lord of the Ore Department, having information known by the enemy beforehand has always been irrelevant.”
Besides—
The Holy Relic Kenneth prepared was the type that couldn’t be countered even if known in advance.
Rhode scooped a meatball from the Hotpot and put it into his bowl.
“The Holy Relic Kenneth re-prepared is for summoning Diarmuid, the first warrior of the Knights of Fianna. Am I right?”
“Eh?”
Aoko blinked.
Although Rhode wore a confident and smug expression, the answer was completely wrong.
“Aoko, don’t underestimate my connections in London. I’ve actually already formulated a strategy to deal with Kenneth. Hmph, but then again, how could a bookworm who only does research in a laboratory be my match…”
“Master, you seem to have guessed wrong.”
Rhode was gesticulating wildly with his chopsticks, when Morgan, who was stirring a small dish of wasabi with her chopsticks, suddenly spoke without lifting her head.
“Huh… Is that not it?”
Aoko shook her head, then smirked: “That’s surprising, Rhode can guess wrong too. Has your Clairvoyance finally stopped being useless for more than just gambling?”
“…”
Munch, Rhode put the Arctic fin into his mouth.
Kenneth’s Servant isn’t a Berserker?
It was somewhat unexpected, but still within the realm of understanding.
“It’s a fragment of the Round Table.”
When Aoko said this, the air suddenly became quiet.
“The fragment of the Round Table prepared by the Department of Spirit Evocation, with that, Arthur or a Knight of the Round Table can be summoned. Although the Holy Relic of the Celtic hero Diarmuid was initially considered, Kenneth ultimately chose the Knight of the Round Table, which possessed greater uncertainty. Sigh… What’s wrong? Why do both of your expressions look a bit strange?”
Even the thick-skinned Fifth Magician noticed something was amiss; she looked across the table, puzzled, as subtle expressions appeared on Rhode and Morgan’s faces.
Knights of the Round Table, huh…
Rhode narrowed his eyes slightly.
It seems this Holy Grail War is going to turn into a Britain civil war.
However, since Kenneth’s Servant has changed, the possibility of other Masters changing their Servants must also be considered.
The first one to consider, of course, is Yuusheng Ryunosuke, the original Caster’s Master.
Since I summoned Caster Morgan, he probably won’t summon Gilles de Rais anymore, right?
No — considering Gilles de Rais’s Berserker aptitude, he might be the one who doesn’t change at all.
Forget it, it’s all the same.
Rhode had long decided that the first thing he would do when he returned to Fuyuki was to eliminate Longzhijie.
“Aoko, your information was a great help.”
Rhode smiled.
“This way, my win rate in the Holy Grail War will increase.”
“Did I help you? You only know that the opponent is a Knight of the Round Table, right?”
Aoko showed a somewhat happy expression and swayed her body.
“Yes, honestly, it was a great help.”
Rhode glanced at Morgan beside him: his Servant is practically half the mother of the Round Table; he has as many strategies as he needs.
“Alright, alright, Aoko. Let’s keep drinking.”
Rhode raised his glass to her.
“…Oh, oh.”
Just as they were about to toast, Morgan, who had been silently eating and drinking, suddenly raised her glass too.
“To the victory of the Holy Grail War, cheers.”