Chapter 51: Sacrifice for greater good, Alvin
"Why are they still not out yet?"
Outside the magic workshop, Reines, wearing a navy-blue round hat and dressed with noble elegance, frowned slightly and muttered aloud.
Then, she turned and suspiciously looked at the boy beside her.
"Alvin… do you have any idea?"
The latter shook his head with a confused face. "How could I know what the professor's talking about? I've been with you two the whole time."
"Oh… really?"
Reines's tone was laced with meaning. She carefully examined the boy. "If I remember correctly, it was right after you tested your magic circuit that my brother stayed behind to talk with Miss Aozaki, wasn't it?"
At her age, Reines's curiosity was naturally strong.
Add to that Alvin's earlier mysterious behavior, and her interest had now fully flared up.
"Reines, don't make things hard for him… I think Professor Kayneth likely instructed him not to tell anyone."
It was Gray who gently spoke up at that moment.
Reines sighed. "Gray, it's exactly because you keep covering for him that this guy acts so shamelessly in front of you."
"I'm not really covering for him, just speaking the truth... If it were something he could talk about, Alvin wouldn't hide it from us,"
Gray said softly.
Yeah… Gray really is the type who would be an especially considerate wife.
No matter the situation, she'd always think of others first...
Alvin listened to their conversation in silence, then spoke at the right time:
"It wasn't anything big. The professor just mentioned a few things to watch out for when we return to Britain tomorrow."
However, Reines still looked skeptical. "If that's all, then why keep it a secret from us?"
"Because I've given Alvin a task."
Just then, a deep male voice came from the door of the workshop.
The three of them instinctively looked up, and there stood Kayneth, emerging from the magic workshop with a dark expression.
Behind him, Aozaki Touko wore a delighted smile.
It was no surprise, while she wasn't exactly short on money, the feeling of getting paid for nothing at all was on a whole different level.
Making fifty million off one doll… even in the magical world, that was rare.
Under their gazes, Kayneth soon approached the blonde girl and said, "Reines, come back with me to the El-Melloi family for a bit."
A flash of confusion passed through Reines's eyes and asked reflexively, "What for?"
Kayneth's voice was heavy and slow: "King Arthur and Merlin are both missing. It's likely that Morgan le Fay will soon take full control of Britain..."
"Before the next wave of transmigration begins, we need to prepare in advance."
In the previous transmigration, Kayneth had already confirmed cooperation with King Arthur.
But no one had expected that witch would storm the palace alone… and become the current Queen of Britain.
Alvin couldn't help but say, "Didn't we agree to cooperate before?"
Kayneth cast him a flat glance. "So you really think that witch would negotiate with you?"
"Alvin, you may be a bit clever, but you still lack foresight in major matters."
Now that Morgan held the reins, future policies in Britain concerning the capture of transmigrators would only become harsher.
From the moment she took the throne, Kayneth had abandoned the idea of negotiation.
"Actually… there might still be a chance to cooperate. If we had someone to act as a mediator," Alvin muttered.
At those words, Kayneth couldn't help but give a mocking smile. "Are you joking?"
"Or are you saying you want to be that mediator?"
Alvin possesses the "White Dragon's Core" within his body, if he really goes to find Morgan… it's obvious he's just asking for trouble.
At that time, the negotiations might not even begin before they'll have to start planning his rescue first.
"Actually, it's not like I can't be the one to act as the negotiator…"
However, just as Kenneth was deep in thought, Alvin's voice sounded again.
The man couldn't help but freeze for a moment, but before he could say anything, a gentle and calm voice came from behind as Aoko Aozaki said,
"My lord will take care of this matter. You just need to ensure your own safety, Alvin."
There's really no need… Alvin was about to say something, but then Kenneth spoke again in a low tone, "This matter ends here. Also, from now on, half of your classes will be handled by her. Don't go to the wrong classroom."
Aoko Aozaki will personally teach Alvin?!
Upon hearing this, the two girls present both seemed visibly shocked, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Although they vaguely sensed something unusual from what just happened in the mage workshop, they still hadn't expected that after the two Clock Tower top mages discussed things, the conclusion they came to would be this…?
Half the time will be under Aoko Aozaki's instruction… this essentially meant that Alvin had become half a disciple of this Grand-ranked magus?
And her brother actually agreed to something like this?
Reines quickly looked toward Kenneth with a trace of surprise in her eyes.
And soon after, she noticed that the expression of the Lord of the Mineralogy Department was quite clearly displeased.
If Alvin's magic circuits were just like they used to be, Kenneth naturally wouldn't care. After all, he had more disciples than he could count…
But possessing the White Dragon's Core also meant that Alvin could very well become the next Grand magus.
This achievement, raising a Grand magus, should have belonged solely to Kenneth, yet now…
Kenneth slightly restrained his emotions and said coldly,
"Additionally, Miss Aozaki and I just discussed, and she believes that being a magus is a highly money-consuming profession.
The materials you'll need in the future can be provided directly from her side…"
Hearing his words, Alvin's heart leapt with joy, though his face showed a rather shy expression. "That… doesn't seem very appropriate, does it?"
Kenneth gave him a look and nodded. "Indeed, I also think it's inappropriate. So I turned her down for you."
Alvin: "?"
Kenneth continued, "Miss Aozaki has a special status within the Clock Tower. Her willingness to instruct you is already quite rare.
If she were to also provide you with a large amount of magical materials, I believe with your personality, you'd feel guilty."
It's not like I'd really feel that guilty… Alvin opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But in the end, he swallowed it down after Kenneth's next sentence.
"Whatever materials you need from now on, just have Reines come to me"
In fact, rejecting Aoko Aozaki's good intentions was also due to Kenneth's personal motives.
It was obvious Aozaki came this time to steal his disciple.
If she were allowed to further gain Alvin's gratitude with such a gesture… then he, the teacher, would basically become one in name only.
For someone with Kenneth's personality, that was absolutely unacceptable.
After chatting with everyone for a bit, Kenneth soon left the mage workshop together with Reines.
Aoko Aozaki looked in the direction Kenneth had left, with a faint smile on her lips, then softly said, "Though he has a bad temper, he's still a decent teacher, I suppose."
Alvin softly responded with an "Mm": "He's not a bad guy, just a little stingy sometimes."
"People who are proud to the extreme are often like that. They can't easily accept that someone else might be better than them."
"Let's end the small talk here. Before the crossing begins, there's one more thing I need to explain to you all."
As she finished speaking, Aoko Aozaki casually glanced toward Gray and said, "Gray, how many transmigrators have seen you so far?"
Gray gently shook her head: "Ever since I arrived in Britain through the crossing, I encountered the Knights of the Round Table, and was brought to the royal palace. So apart from Alvin and the other two, no one else has seen me."
"Good… Remember this well—under no circumstances can you let anyone find out about your presence in the royal palace."
Aoko Aozaki's tone became exceptionally grave: "If anyone does find out… I can't guarantee your safety."
Gray's heart trembled, and she quickly lowered her head with a soft "Mm."
"Why bring this up so suddenly?" Alvin couldn't help but ask.
"Her magic circuits are very special."
Aoko Aozaki said in a low voice, "This kind of magic circuit—I've only seen it in magi from the Age of Gods."
"And besides, didn't Kenneth also say that she looks very much like Morgan, and that they both have silver hair, right?"
"If the people of the Clock Tower find out about this… do you think there might be some unpleasant rumors?"
For example… the reincarnation of the witch.
Alvin's heart trembled.
Indeed…
He didn't know whether it was because the official history had changed or what, but logically, Gray should resemble King Arthur… Yet right now, her appearance was practically a spitting image of Morgan in her girlhood.
What the hell is going on?
"And instead of worrying about others, shouldn't you be worrying about yourself first?" At that moment, Aoko Aozaki's annoyed voice snapped Alvin back to reality: "If Morgan finds out you're inside the royal palace… you should know what would happen, right?"
Morgan le Fay's goal is the resurrection of the White Dragon. If she discovers that the descendant of the White Dragon is also inside the palace… no one knows what kind of experiments she might perform on the boy.
"She's already seen me."
Aoko Aozaki had just thought of that when the boy's voice sounded making her mind blank for a moment as she instinctively looked at Alvin.
"Hah?"
After a brief moment of stunned silence, she took off her glasses and let out a confused sound.
"Didn't you already figure out that Morgan came to the palace for a reason? If she didn't know I was here, why else would she come?" Alvin shrugged.
Aoko Aozaki froze for a moment, then subconsciously said, "But you're still fine right now…?"
In Aoko's eyes, the only reason Alvin was still safe wasn't because Morgan had suddenly become merciful, it was simply because she hadn't found Alvin in the palace yet…
Yet now this guy was actually telling her he's already met Morgan?
Alvin said casually, "A lot of things happened… but anyway, if you're willing, I can be the negotiator. Maybe I can help ease the tensions between Britain and the traversers."
Aoko Aozaki's brows furrowed slightly.
Just how many secrets is this guy still hiding?
Morgan le Fay… Even Aoko's first impression of this woman was nothing flattering, "schemer" was the word that came to mind.
She's the type of witch who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals… If she truly discovered the one who possesses the White Dragon's Core, how could she possibly stay silent?
Aoko Aozaki's beautiful eyes flickered. After scrutinizing Alvin for a moment, she suddenly asked, "Are you serious? Do you really have the confidence to persuade Morgan?"
Alvin nodded seriously.
"If all goes well, she shouldn't refuse."
The Clock Tower wasn't actually as weak as outsiders imagined, and Morgan was a master of potion-making… If the right incentive could be offered, then cooperation wouldn't be out of the question.
Aoko Aozaki thought silently for a moment, then finally made up her mind and gave a slight nod. "In that case, I'll head to the Department of Legal Affairs right now."
Matters involving internal arrangements of the Clock Tower were usually handled by the Department of Legal Affairs.
Ever since Morgan rose to power, the Clock Tower had already been prepared for the worst.
But if possible… no one really wanted to become enemies with Ancient Britain.
…
In the blink of an eye, a day had passed without anyone noticing.
And in just this one short day, the upper echelons of every faction had already held meetings and consultations.
The Clock Tower alone had held four full meetings between yesterday and this morning.
Each faction ultimately reached different conclusions… some believed they should resist with all their might, while others thought it better to lie low and endure in silence.
As for the Clock Tower, under Aoko Aozaki's guidance, they decided to attempt a plan that sounded like something out of a fairy tale, which was the cooperation with Morgan.
One must know, that witch was considered an unreasonable and extremely dangerous being; before this, no one had even considered the possibility of cooperating with her.
Even Aoko Aozaki herself only settled on the cooperation plan after repeated rounds of discussion.
After the final meeting ended, she returned to her mage workshop, collapsed onto a soft sofa, gazed up at the ceiling, and murmured to herself, "The rest is up to you, Alvin…"
Although she still had doubts about Alvin's words, since the boy seemed so confident… she figured she might as well believe in him this once.
By that evening, the magi had all returned to their rooms, quietly watching the deep blue countdown floating before their eyes.
Time remaining until return to Britain: "30 seconds."
Alvin was also in his room, silently watching the countdown.
When the number ticked down to "1", he gently closed his eyes.
In an instant, soft white light enveloped him.
While the modern world had entered dusk, Britain was still bathed in a lazy afternoon.
Sunlight streamed through the window, the slightly dazzling rays causing Alvin to frown faintly.
Then, he slowly opened his eyes.
The bedchamber was empty.
Well it was understandable after all, Morgan had said earlier that she was going to brew a potion.
…Though Alvin had no idea what that potion was for.
With these random thoughts in his head, Alvin was just about to get up and go out for some fresh air.
At that moment, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of a golden ahoge bobbing by the window.
Alvin paused for a moment, and quickly recognized who that ahoge belonged to.
"Little Mo…?"
The moment the boy's voice sounded, the ahoge stood up like an antenna.
Immediately afterward, Mordred poked her head out, "staring" at him from beside the window.
What is this brat up to now…?
Seeing this, Alvin's eyes flashed with a touch of suspicion.