What the heck…?
No matter how you listen, the voice of the young man at the door is definitely Alvin, right…?
But now, Lancer is actually calling him 'father'?
If he remembered correctly, the mother of the rebellious knight Mordred was Altria, and the one who created her was Britain's witch… Morgan le Fay.
Because Lancer has the blood of both the Red Dragon and the White Dragon flowing in her veins, there's no doubt that the White Dragon is her father.
From Kayneth's perspective, his student could not possibly be related to Mordred…
Although Alvin does possess the White Dragon's furnace core, no matter what, he couldn't be the father of ancient Britain's rebellious knight, right?
At this moment, Kayneth was utterly dumbfounded.
Equally dumbfounded was Sola behind him.
The woman's delicately charming face was filled with shock, clearly still reeling from Mordred's earlier 'father.'
Mordred glanced at the engaged couple with a 'why are you two acting so clueless' look and said.
"..Didn't you already know who my father is? Why are you so surprised now?"
'I know your father is the White Dragon… but Alvin only has the White Dragon's furnace core and has nothing to do with that magical dragon of Britain…'
Kayneth opened his mouth, intending to say something more.
But at that moment, another faint knocking sound came from outside, pulling his thoughts back to reality.
No matter what, since it was his student, there was no reason to keep him out…
Kayneth gathered his thoughts and pushed open the door.
What came into view was a young man wearing a long black coat.
His entire outfit was black, yet it somehow made his skin appear strikingly fair… At first glance, he seemed like a harmless boy next door.
Mordred looked at Alvin strangely.
Normally, when Alvin went out, he would wear a mask and a bulky long coat… but today's outfit was quite modern.
The white shirt underneath added a touch of the youthful aura a young man should have.
"..Alvin, why did you come to Fuyuki?"
Upon seeing Alvin, Sola behind him immediately showed a smile..
From her expression, one could clearly see that she was quite fond of Alvin.
As someone born into a mage family, Sola lacked magical talent and thus couldn't inherit the family's Magic Crest, so her father used her as a tool for a political marriage.
Because of this, she initially had no affection for Kayneth at all.
Moreover, although this Clock Tower lord was quite fond of Sola, so much so that he was even called sim..well but, because he'd always been immersed in the world of magecraft, he didn't know how to express his feelings.
So, during that time, the methods Kayneth used to pursue Sola were basically all taught by Alvin.
And during this period, Alvin often visited Kayneth to ask about magecraft issues.
Over time, he and Sola became quite familiar.
"..Reines heard that the teacher was going to the seaside city in the Far East to participate in the Holy Grail War and was always a bit worried… so I came to check."
Alvin paused fot a moment, then continued with a smile: "..Now that I see you're all fine, I'm relieved."
"..It's just a mere Holy Grail War. Your worries are completely meaningless."
Hearing that Alvin was worried about him, Kayneth immediately let out a cold arrogant snort: "..The Holy Grail War only lasts a week. There was no need for you to come all the way here. A week from now, Sola and I will be back."
'If I hadn't come, I'd probably be paying respects at your graves every year by now…' Alvin silently grumbled to himself.
Kayneth was too arrogant.
Because of this, from the first day he arrived in Fuyuki, he looked down equally on every mage in Fuyuki and didn't believe anyone could defeat him.
But in reality, even Kayneth himself could be considered a flower grown in a 'greenhouse.'
—At least compared to someone like Kiritsugu Emiya, a mage killer who had fought his way through life.
But if he told Kayneth now that continuing to participate in the Holy Grail War would lead to his death here… with his teacher's personality, he wouldn't believe it, nor would he back down, right?
To Kayneth's response, Alvin wasn't surprised and just smiled: "..Even so, as a student, I'd still worry… To be honest, when I came to Fuyuki this time, I was really shocked."
"..The Servants in the Holy Grail War seem to be very strong."
Kayneth glanced at the young man unintentionally and said:
"..Though you're not a Master, you seem to know quite a bit."
"..Come in first. Don't wander around during this time… especially at night."
At night, Fuyuki was when Masters and Servants were most active.
This lord of the Mineralogy Department was indeed saying this for Alvin's sake.
Mordred looked at Kayneth with a strange expression, about to speak.
But at that moment, her gaze met Alvin's.
The father and daughter exchanged a glance and, with unspoken understanding, withdrew their gazes.
Kayneth brought Alvin into the house, then let him sit and rest with Sola in the living room.
He himself walked out of the living room alone, heading to the kitchen.
Looking at the white steam rising from the kettle, Kayneth unintentionally glanced at the young man in the living room and calmly said: "..Lancer."
As soon as his words fell, Mordred's figure silently appeared in his view.
"..What's the matter, Master?"
Kayneth turned to look at Mordred behind him and said: "..If I'm not mistaken, you called him 'father' after hearing that person's voice outside, right?"
Although even now he didn't believe Alvin had any connection to the 'White Dragon,' the rebellious knight's earlier address… really made it impossible not to care.
And thinking carefully, it was indeed a bit strange.
In the stories of the Arthurian legend, he had never heard of the 'Night Watchman' having any descendants… especially a descendant with such a complete White Dragon furnace core.
…Yes, from the day Alvin first returned from his time travel, Kayneth had noticed the abnormality in that magic circuit in Alvin's body.
To be precise, what Alvin possessed was not a magic circuit but a complete 'White Dragon furnace core' with immense magical energy.
Under normal circumstances, even those powerful mage families, through successive generations of inheritance, their magical talent is highly likely to become increasingly thin.
Many once-powerful mage families decline for this reason.
However… Alvin's White Dragon furnace core is too vast, and his magical energy far surpasses that of ordinary mages by a wide margin.
If he is indeed Britain's 'Night Watchman,' it would explain why Mordred just called him father.
But no matter how, Kayneth could not believe that the student he had taught for years would be King Arthur's husband… the 'culprit' who caused King Arthur and her sister to turn against each other.
Thinking of this, he stared into Mordred's eyes and said: "..Have you met that child at the door before?"
The latter blinked, and after a brief moment of confusion, nodded lightly: "..I've met him, yeah."
But before Kayneth could speak, she continued:
"..Isn't it normal that I've met him?
Not long ago, so many transmigrators appeared in Britain, and your disciple was the first to be caught and brought to the palace. I saw him the day I entered the palace."
"..But didn't you just call him father…" As soon as Kayneth's words fell, a flash of irritation appeared in Mordred's eyes, and she said: "..Master, if you keep talking nonsense, I'm going to get angry!"
"..I just mistook him at first, that's all… How could I be the child of some brat?"
A trace of doubt and confusion flickered in Kayneth's eyes as he gave Mordred a deep look.
.
.
.
At the same time, on the other side.
Alvin was sitting on a soft sofa, holding a cup of black tea in both hands, looking every bit like an obedient student.
Sola, wearing casual pajamas, exuded a lazy yet charming aura.
Her clear, bright eyes sized up the young man in front of her for a moment and said: "..I say, Alvin, you should know Kayneth's personality, right?"
"..Even if you try to persuade him now, he won't quit the Holy Grail War."
Kayneth has always been such an arrogant mage.
Moreover, this time, his participation in the Holy Grail War has been somewhat known among the Clock Tower's higher-ups.
If they learned he withdrew midway, how would the other Clock Tower lords view him?
And… how would he face his teacher, his future father-in-law?
Alvin nodded gently: "..I know… so I didn't plan to persuade him to quit."
From the moment Kayneth joined the Holy Grail War, Alvin knew it would be impossible to convince this arrogant lord of the Mineralogy Department to withdraw voluntarily.
Whether it was his personality or how others perceived him, he was already locked into this path.
"..I came here this time, on one hand, to confirm whether he's still safe… and on the other hand, to consult Teacher about some questions."
Alvin said.
"..Oh?"
Sola's charming, glamorous face showed a slight raise of her brow, looking very intrigued, and said: "..What sly idea are you cooking up?"
She was already quite familiar with Alvin and had some understanding of the young man's personality.
"..Really just want to ask some questions… no other meaning."
Alvin shook his head with a smile.
Just then, Kayneth walked from the kitchen into the living room, glanced at his student on the sofa, and said: "..What were you chatting about with Sola?"
"..To be honest, I came to find Teacher this time, on one hand, because I was worried about your safety, and on the other hand… I have some questions I'd like to consult about."
Alvin said very sincerely as Kayneth raised a brow slightly.
In the middle of the night, his student came to find him just to ask questions?
'It should be quite important...' With that thought in his mind, he said in a deep voice: "..Speak."
"..I have a friend… really a friend.
He knows a woman who's currently experiencing some abnormalities in her body, unable to draw even a trace of magical energy from the outside."
Alvin said: "..What should she do now?"
This question wasn't exactly within Kayneth's academic scope as he was the lord of the Mineralogy Department.
But he was a genius after all, so, it wasn't hard to give his opinions.
He he pondered for a moment and said: "..Unable to draw magical energy from the outside… that means there's a problem with the magic circuit, right?"
"..In this case, either take a specially made magic potion, or… there's a simpler method."
At this point, he paused and didn't continue further.
'No way..You're pulling a cliffhanger too…' Alvin was about to press further, but when he noticed Kayneth's intentional or unintentional glance toward Sola, making him freeze for a moment.
Wait a minute…
No way.
Is he talking about…
In the Type-Moon world, the magic circuit symbolizes everything for a mage, and the higher the grade of the magic circuit, the greater the magical energy.
Alvin's White Dragon furnace core inherently possessed extremely vast magical energy, which is why, even with the 'Root connection' sealed and Irisviel unable to supply him with magical energy, he could still maintain the 'Independent Manifestation' state.
A Master can replenish magical energy for a Servant… in other words, a Servant can also replenish magical energy for a Master.
But using that method, wouldn't it be a bit…
As Alvin was thinking this, Kayneth suddenly frowned and said.
"..You should worry about yourself first… To be honest, you shouldn't have come to Fuyuki, Alvin."
"..This Holy Grail War is far more dangerous than you imagine."
"..Why do you say that?"
Alvin instinctively asked.
"..It's not seven, but a full eight Servants participating in the Holy Grail War… If I'm not mistaken, this eighth Servant is likely a Ruler responsible for judging the outcome."
"..For this period, just stay in the skyscraper for now… With the magical barriers I've set up, at least it can ensure no mage can breach the defenses here."
Kayneth said.
Alvin silently pondered in his heart.
Indeed… from the moment he entered this building, he had sensed the incredibly complex magical barriers here.
If relying solely on magical means, it would probably be very difficult to breach the defenses here.
But—
"..If, I mean if… what if the enemy uses physical means to break through, Teacher?"
Alvin asked tentatively.
Kayneth couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
To be honest, he hadn't really considered this question at the start.
After all, in Kayneth's view, this is a Holy Grail War involving seven mages.
Physical means… explosives?
Who could do something so devoid of a mage's spirit?
"..And… you just said this Holy Grail War has a full eight Servants, right?"
Alvin said quietly.
"..What if it's not just eight…?"
Since a Ruler could appear, no one could guarantee that something else bizarre wouldn't happen.
Kayneth couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
He suddenly recalled something very important.
In past Holy Grail Wars, the appearance of a Ruler always meant the war had encountered an extremely urgent, special situation.
And this time's Holy Grail War did indeed feature very powerful Servants… but if that were all, would it really cause a Ruler to manifest?
Kayneth opened his mouth, about to speak.
Boom!
However, just as he opened his mouth—
Accompanied by a rapid 'beep beep beep,' an explosive sound thundered deafeningly through the skyscraper!
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.
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