บท 317: C317
Inside the restaurant.
Shirou glanced at Barthomeloi Lorelei and pulled back the black wall behind him, revealing a crowd of civilians.
"Oh no! It vanished! It just vanished!"
"The walls are disappearing!"
"What in the world is going on!?"
"Oh my goodness... Dear God, I beg you, please don't let anything awful happen to me."
As the black wall began to fade away, the people trapped behind it erupted into panic and shouted in alarm.
Fear consumed them.
Initially, many had hoped to escape through the rear kitchen. But as they opened the door, instead of finding an exit, they were confronted with a bewildering chaos. The scene outside was anything but reassuring, and not a soul dared to go outside.
Such a situation was to be expected. When Nrvnqsr pursued Arcueid, it was only natural that he would leave no means of escape.
And after Nrvnqsr met his demise, Barthomeloi Lorelei, a distinguished Lord of the Clock Tower, had used a spell in the vicinity, ensuring that none of the secrets would leak out.
Glancing around, Caules quickly realized that Nrvnqsr had vanished, leaving behind only a decaying corpse lying on the ground.
Despite the tattered coat and partially discernible human features, there remained a faint trace of recognition—the remains belonged to none other than Nrvnqsr Chaos, the Tenth Ancestor of the Dead Apostles!
Caules was utterly astounded. He never could have anticipated that Nrvnqsr, an enemy so formidable that even the Church's Burial Agency struggled to handle, would meet his end in this very place!
The sheer disbelief of it all was simply overwhelming!
"Fujimaru-sama...!" Caules called out, intending to say something, but his gaze landed on Barthomeloi Lorelei, and he trembled violently.
"Lo- Lord Barthomeloi!" Caules was deeply shocked.
However, both Shirou and Lord Barthomeloi ignored him. Only Arcueid, known for her gentle disposition, responded with a smile. "Indeed," she said, "Shirou just mentioned that her name seems to be Barthomeloi."
No way... This Clock Tower Lord, she actually showed up here, of all places!
Caules couldn't help but break into a cold sweat, unable to conceal the astonishment from his face.
And who could blame him? After all, Barthomeloi Lorelei was a magus who commanded respect at the top of the Clock Tower!
She was revered as the Crownless Queen!
Within the Clock Tower, there existed three factions: the Aristocratic faction, the Democratic faction, and the Neutral faction.
Waver and Kenneth were members of the El-Melloi faction, a part of the Aristocratic faction.
At the helm of the Aristocratic faction, reigning supreme, was none other than the Barthomeloi family—a lineage of utmost prestige and nobility that occupied the highest echelons of the Clock Tower hierarchy.
Those born into the Barthomeloi family possessed a profound sense of elitism and often regarded those outside their lineage with disdain. They held themselves to strict standards, and failing to meet those standards was considered a disgrace.
Put simply, individuals hailing from the Barthomeloi family were deeply self-respecting, filled with pride, and possessed an abundance of self-love.
And before them stood the epitome of this prestigious lineage—a woman widely acclaimed as the greatest modern magus. She was none other than the Queen herself, renowned as the Supreme Mage of the Present Era.
Barthomeloi Lorelei fixed her gaze upon Arcueid, a flicker of hostility shimmering in her eyes. "You must be Arcueid Brunestud, one of the True Ancestors, am I correct?" she stated, her voice tinged with a hint of killing intent.
Arcueid shook her head, her expression resolute. "Wrong!" she declared. "I am Arcueid Brunestud, the Legendary True Ancestor!"
Her face beamed with a relaxed smile, seemingly unfazed by any potential danger emanating from the Queen.
It was a warm smile, but it held an underlying message.
She had an unwavering confidence that Lord Barthomeloi posed no threat to her.
Lorelei's eyes grew colder as she too perceived Arcueid's intention. Her gaze now exuded an intensified aura of hostility, revealing a hint of forbidden magecraft.
Shirou glanced at her and said, "I've heard rumors about the Barthomeloi family's relentless pursuit of Dead Apostles. Apparently, Lord Barthomeloi herself has hunted down and handed over two Ancestors to the Church. However, if you value your life, perhaps it's best to end it here, Lord Barthomeloi."
"What do you mean by that?" Lorelei turned her gaze towards Shirou, her eyes sharp as a sword, living up to her title as the Queen.
But to Shirou, the so-called Queen was nothing but a joke.
He replied, "You should always stay within your limits. Since Lord Barthomeloi is aware of Arcueid, you should understand as well. If you make a move, you'll end up dead. My friend here has a kind heart and doesn't wish to harm innocent people, but that doesn't mean she'll spare those who try to harm her. Take this as a piece of advice, before you tread down an irreversible path, you better stop."
"Yeah!" Arcueid's expression turned fierce as she said, "When I'm angry, I become ferocious, super ferocious!"
Lorelei's expression grew icy as she responded, "Are you underestimating me, friend of Zelretch?"
He nodded calmly and replied, "Indeed, I am underestimating you, Lord Barthomeloi. You haven't yet earned my acknowledgment. And let me correct you on one thing. I am not a friend of that nasty old man. We are enemies with mutual animosity."
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Caules found himself drenched in cold sweat. What had he just witnessed? Was Fujimaru-sama, in the face of Lord Barthomeloi, displaying an unimaginable level of arrogance? This... this was beyond terrifying, wasn't it?
This was the Crownless Queen of modern magi!
Even ordinary magi would tremble at the mere mention of the names associated with the Department of Modern Magecraft Theory. But for those entrenched in powerful bloodlines, the members of the Department held no significance.
However, there was someone who struck fear even into the hearts of the Lords themselves.
And that person stood right before them—Barthomeloi Lorelei!
The Crownless Queen of the Clock Tower, the potential successor for the position of Headmaster of the Clock Tower, the woman revered as the modern Wizard Marshal with authority over the Chelon Canticle Brigade!
Yet, Fujimaru-sama brazenly spoke the word "underestimate" without a care in the world.
Who is he, exactly...
Hold on!
Did Lord Barthomeloi just mention something?
A friend of Zelretch?
Could it be... that magician?
...
Lorelei's gaze locked onto Shirou, her once indifferent expression now turning icy. Being at the pinnacle had always allowed her the luxury of looking down on others, but now, someone dared to openly declare that he was looking down on her! For someone as prideful as she was, especially considering her status as a Lord, this was simply unbearable. If this person were not a friend of Zelretch, Lorelei would have already taken action against him!
"I'll leave it in the capable hands of Lord Barthomeloi to handle this. As a Lord of the Clock Tower, I trust that you possess the necessary skills to handle this matter appropriately," He stated, preparing to depart with Arcueid.
"Hold on!" Lorelei called out, stopping them.
"I've already explained the consequences to you, Lord Barthomeloi. Do you still want to taste the bitterness of death? I advise you to cherish your own life. If you try to harm my friend, an apology won't be enough to resolve the situation."
"You underestimate me, and that's perfectly fine. People of significance often possess strong personalities, and I can be understanding about that. However, there are boundaries between humans and non-humans. Why would you go to such lengths to protect a True Ancestor?" asked Lorelei.
"Do you really need to ask? It's simply because she happens to be one of my friends."
Those words resonated deeply with Arcueid, and her scarlet eyes gleamed brightly.
"Friendship? Such a boring thing," Lorelei commented.
He hadn't reacted immediately upon hearing that, but Arcueid, visibly annoyed, chimed in, "Don't you dare mock our friendship! Or else, I'll seriously get mad!"
"Let's go, Arcueid. We don't need to waste our time on her."
She nodded in agreement, and the two of them casually headed towards the door.
As the two passed by Lorelei, Caules held his breath, fearing a fierce battle would erupt between them given their earlier tension. However, to his surprise, the expected confrontation never took place.
It was really strange!
"Oh, one more thing to remind Lord Barthomeloi," Shirou remarked without looking back, "Being a Lord isn't about projecting a cold demeanor, speaking arrogantly, or seeking adoration from others. It's about handling the aftermath of situations like this. I trust Lord Barthomeloi to take care of it."
With that, he departed.
Watching Shirou's figure recede, Lorelei furrowed her brows.
She was a staunch supporter of aristocracy and had no intention of collaborating with other magi. With her immense power, superior status, and an air of arrogance, she had earned herself the title of the Queen of the Clock Tower. Furthermore, her peculiar upbringing had left her uninterested in matters relating to family or loved ones.
She firmly believed in judging individuals based on their traits rather than their individuality, which resulted in her apathy towards the weak or ordinary. However, when it came to humans possessing exceptional abilities that matched her own, she displayed a certain level of interest.
Despite being a Lord, Lorelei frequently found herself isolated, and this was largely due to her unique beliefs. However, her subordinates, who were under her control, held a deep admiration for her dominance.
This admiration stemmed from Lorelei's fascination with powerful individuals. It was this particular interest that allowed her to tolerate the insults hurled at her by Shirou. She recognized his strength, acknowledging that he possessed the ability to defeat opponents as formidable as Nrvnqsr Chaos, who even posed a significant threat to the Church.
Taking note of this realization, Lorelei turned her head and used her spell on the civilians, trying to erase this encounter from their memories.
For Caules, it was torture. Lord Barthomeloi completely disregarded him, refusing to give him any recognition or attention. Caules wanted to leave immediately, but he was trapped, unable to escape due to Lorelei's influential status.
Why did things have to turn out this way?
All he had wanted was a simple meal, nothing more!
Caules felt an overwhelming wave of sadness, as if he wanted to cry his heart out, but the tears just wouldn't come.
...
Shirou strolled through the lively streets of London, his hands holding two bread rolls he had recently purchased. Arcueid clung tightly to his right arm, a constant smile adorning her face.
"Hey, maybe you should give my poor arm a break. It's starting to go numb!" He remarked, trying to free himself from her grasp.
Looking up at him with a bright smile, she replied, "But we're such good friends!"
"Well, isn't that obvious?" He said, taking a bite out of his bread roll. "Back in Camelot, you've been there for me countless times. If we're not good friends, then what are we?"
Her eyes lit up, and she said, "You know, you're the first real friend I've ever had!"
Shirou looked perplexed as he asked, "Wait, didn't you always say that I'm your good friend? Why does it make you so happy to hear it from me now?"
Arcueid's expression shifted, and she replied, "Because, Shirou, you never really responded to me. I always thought you were just humoring me, treating me like a child."
He took another bite of his bread roll and remained silent. Deep down, he knew that she was right. He had indeed treated her like a child to be appeased.
Just as they were immersed in their conversation, his phone suddenly began to ring. He pulled it out from his pocket and noticed that it was Waver's number flashing on the screen.
After a moment's thought, he answered the call and asked, "What's wrong, Waver?"
"Shirou, I need your help!" Waver's voice sounded frantic and filled with urgency.
...
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