章 326: C326
The magi were searching for the Holy Grail that might be hidden within the Castle of Separation.
As they explored every nook and cranny of the castle, from the gardens to the courtyards and even the underground workshops, they quickly discovered that, apart from the exits, they had free rein to roam wherever they pleased.
The magi tirelessly turned the Adra Castle upside down, leaving no stone unturned in their search. However, much to their disappointment, their efforts yielded no results.
With a sense of resignation, they reluctantly retreated to their own rooms, setting up defensive spells to ease their growing unease and restlessness.
What made the Adra Castle all the more intriguing was its collection of seventy-two angel statues. Each statue stood guard over a room, and each room was named after one of the seventy-two divine names associated with the Kabbalah's Tree of Life.
The magi who were invited had angelic names on their invitations, which matched their assigned rooms.
As for uninvited guests like Shirou, they had to fend for themselves and find their own rooms.
Waver and Shirou huddled together, poring over the gathered information and intelligence.
Arcueid joined them, flipping tarot cards in an attempt to unravel the mystery through divination.
Meanwhile, Gray sat quietly beside them, occasionally tapping her temple with a small hand, clearly troubled. The magical ritual that had been triggered as soon as they entered the castle still made her uncomfortable.
On the other side, Luvia paced restlessly in her room, back and forth.
"Miss, you really should take some rest," Auguste, the butler of the Edelfelt family, advised in a respectful tone.
Luvia scoffed, clearly agitated. "Rest? How can I possibly rest with all this chaos going on, being stuck here? The Edelfelt family is not known for idleness, Auguste!"
Auguste maintained his silence.
She slouched in her chair. "And what about that Fujimaru Shirou... Could he possibly be that boy?"
Luvia's expression showed guilt and hesitation.
Originating in Finland during the Renaissance, the Edelfelt family began as mere upstarts. However, through their involvement in global conflicts and entanglement in the magical world's struggles, they gradually consumed the remnants of other classical magus families. Step by step, they grew stronger, eventually establishing themselves as a prestigious magical lineage in Finland and even on a global scale.
However, this ascent came at a cost. The Edelfelt family earned themselves the scornful nickname of the "Hyena Clan," a mocking reference to their ruthless nature and cunning ways.
Their grudges ran deep and could persist for generations, even against their own kin. They were capable of holding a grudge against someone, even if they were relatives, for three generations.
A prime example of this enduring animosity is the Tohsaka family, who were once connected to the Edelfelt family but became bitter rivals during the Third Holy Grail War. The resentment between them remains strong to this very day.
That's precisely why, despite Luvia and Rin Tohsaka forming a partnership as twins and working together seamlessly, they always ended up bickering whenever they crossed paths.
However, while the Edelfelt family harbored long-lasting grudges, they also knew how to deeply appreciate and hold gratitude. At least Luvia did.
Auguste was well aware that Luvia carried a heavy burden of guilt concerning a certain incident involving a boy.
Nine years ago, under the orders of the former head of the family, he and Luvia had journeyed to Fuyuki City to retrieve Rin Tohsaka. However, while they were in Fuyuki City, they were attacked by a fearsome Dead Apostle Ancestor.
Due to Luvia's grave mistake, she had been captured by the Ancestor, which forced the boy to embark on a daring rescue mission. In the end, both the boy and the Ancestor vanished from the world, leaving behind a lingering thorn in Luvia's heart.
Gratitude filled her thoughts, but above all else, it was guilt that weighed heavily upon her. In an effort to atone for her actions, the Edelfelt family had covertly aided the boy's family in various ways.
Yet, the person she truly yearned to make amends with had long since departed from this world. And now, after nine long years, a young man bearing the same name and bearing a striking resemblance to that boy had unexpectedly appeared in their midst.
Given these circumstances, it was only natural for Luvia to wear an expression filled with hesitation and uncertainty.
No matter how one looked at it, the once soft and gentle boy had undergone a drastic transformation, morphing into a fearsome dragon that hunted its prey.
Auguste, a seasoned individual in his sixties, possessed a wealth of experience. His initial encounter with the boy known as "Fujimaru Shirou" left him with a chilling impression, as if facing a formidable dragon whose very nature was to stalk and consume its victims.
Such a sensation was completely foreign to him, even in his interactions with the previous family head.
Luvia's brows furrowed in apprehension as she replied, "How can I? What if I end up mistaking him for someone else? It would bring shame upon the Edelfelt family. And if that muscle woman, Rin Tohsaka, catches wind of it, she'll have yet another reason to mock me."
She sighed, "Besides, our immediate concern should be locating the Holy Grail and finding a way out of this predicament. This is no longer a matter in which the Edelfelt family should involve itself."
Auguste nodded and stayed quiet. For the time being, Miss Luvia seemed to grasp the concept of priorities.
Truth be told, Auguste knew that as long as Miss Luvia wasn't with Miss Rin Tohsaka, she had a knack for distinguishing between important matters and trivial ones.
Just then, an unexpected visitor made their way into Shirou's room.
"Orlocke Caesarmund, dropping by at this late hour. What brings you here?" Waver glanced at the elderly man who was wheeled in by a blond boy, asking about his purpose.
Caesarmund commented, "As I expected, the young Lord is here."
Taking a brief pause, he shifted his gaze towards Shirou and continued, "I'm here to propose a mutually beneficial arrangement with Fujimaru-sama, seeking guidance and protection. It's clear that the Adra Castle poses significant dangers, and I believe that by working together, we can ensure our own survivals."
"Oh?" Shirou raised an eyebrow and directed his attention to the old man, remarking, "If you're looking for a protection, wouldn't it be better for you to seek out Lord Barthomeloi?"
Caesarmund sighed and shook his head. "There's no doubt that the Lord's strength is unquestionable, but let's face it, she's not interested in an old man like me. Besides, when it comes to safety and reliability, having someone by your side who can scare off that Dead Apostle Princess is the smartest move. And don't forget, you even have the white princess on your side. But most importantly, there's definitely some kind of connection between you and the Eternal King."
Shirou chuckled, "They say smart people usually die young."
"That may be true, but it seems like Fujimaru-sama likes dealing with smart people."
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