Fate: How About a New Savior?

What the Princess of Gold said was indeed true. When Magecraft reaches a certain stage, its underlying theories can suddenly break down. Many Magus Families that had endured for centuries were wiped out simply because they failed to anticipate the exact moment their techniques would become obsolete.

"Then it's no surprise," Shiomi said, looking at the Princess of Gold. "Iselma's ritual has become dangerous enough that you've had to consider self-defense. But Mr. Byron won't listen to your warnings."

"You're absolutely right," the Princess of Gold nodded deeply. "At this rate, either my sister or I will surely die when the ritual fails."

To devote oneself to Magecraft—that was the resolve shared by the noble Magus of the Clock Tower.

But the fact that the Princess of Gold had come to an outsider for help, simply because she didn't want to die pursuing magic, meant that Iselma's Magecraft had already crossed the line. It was no longer refined and efficient, but a fuse waiting to ignite, destroying generations of accumulated achievements.

"Still, instead of going to Ms. Inorai, the head of your household, you came to me..." Shiomi trailed off, feeling a twinge of hesitation.

"Because you're different from other Magus, Mr. Shiomi," the Princess of Gold said plainly.

Among Magus, moral virtue wasn't a prerequisite. Those who claimed that "humanity should transcend Magecraft" had no place as leaders.

Yet Tenkei Shiomi was well-known within the Clock Tower—partly because he was one of those rare individuals who consistently placed humanity above all else.

If that were all, he would've been mocked.

But the Magus he had trained, like Caren and Sakura, were among the most gifted of their generation.

So while most Magus disagreed with his ideals, they found it hard to argue against the results.

Shiomi had never expected that, one day, someone would come to him seeking help precisely because of that reputation.

Clearly, the Princess of Gold had done her research. She understood Shiomi's principles well: if someone in danger, who posed no threat, appeared before him, he wouldn't just stand by and watch them die.

"I'm busy, but helping you isn't out of the question. Hiding a few people isn't hard for me," Shiomi said, slouching his shoulders. "But like I said earlier, I'm aligned with Valualeta. If Lady Inorai comes asking why I did this... I can't exactly say I was swayed by your beauty."

It was a practical concern—but even the Princess of Gold didn't believe that excuse.

A Magus who wasn't interested in the Iselma family's Magecraft, nor moved by the sisters' overwhelming beauty, wouldn't be able to face Lord Valualeta with such a flimsy justification.

"Of course. I'm not coming empty-handed," the Princess of Gold said. "To get a Magus like Mr. Shiomi to act, naturally we've prepared a fitting reward."

"What kind of reward?" Shiomi asked with interest.

"A reward that can resolve your most pressing concern," she replied, rising from the sofa. "I know your daughter is going to participate in the upcoming Fifth Holy Grail War, and I also know some things haven't been properly prepared."

Then she added, "Please come to my room tomorrow morning. The tower's back door will be open, and the room is sealed with a magical lock—no one else will be able to enter. We'll talk about the Princess of Silver then."

With that, Diadra left the room.

Shiomi couldn't help but chuckle. She had clearly come prepared.

What surprised him most was that she even knew Sakura's holy relic hadn't been fully arranged yet. She'd certainly done her homework.

"Father really knows how to charm the ladies. The Princess of Gold, whom none of the guests had ever seen before, actually came to visit us. Help her escape, won't you?" Caren opened her eyes and glanced slyly at Shiomi. "In another situation, this would sound like a cue to elope. I wonder what Mother would think if she found out?"

"What are you even saying? Don't be ridiculous." Shiomi smiled as he gently ruffled Caren's soft, slightly wavy silver hair. "I have no interest in artificial constructs. The Iselma family's achievements don't even compare to a single strand of your hair."

Caren gave a quiet smile. "I hope you say that in front of the Magus of the Clock Tower next time."

"You just want to watch the drama unfold, don't you?" Shiomi smirked.

At that moment, Gray spoke up. "So, do you think the Princess of Gold genuinely wants your help to escape?"

"That's a good question. You can't judge things by appearances alone. Even if her reasoning and logic are sound, I can't completely dismiss the idea that this is Valualeta testing me. After all, I've been Reines's tutor for quite some time. It's only natural that voices within the faction might question my position, which could have prompted Lord Valualeta to orchestrate something like this," Shiomi said, praising Gray's insight.

"But the Princess of Gold said she had prepared something very important for Sakura," Caren added. "It must be a holy relic, something that meets her needs."

"I heard that Iselma acquired a particularly valuable Magecraft tool at an underground auction. She even clashed with a new Magecraft noble from the Middle East who was planning to join the Fifth Holy Grail War," Shiomi analyzed slowly. "If that's the item in question, then it's definitely suspicious. It was purchased under the Iselma family's name, so it's hard to believe the Princess of Gold would be allowed to use it for personal purposes."

Gray looked a bit concerned. "So, it's a trap after all?"

"And if it is?" Shiomi raised an eyebrow. "I've faced worse. If Valualeta really wants to test me, so be it. And if the Princess of Gold is telling the truth, then securing the relic for Sakura as soon as possible isn't a bad outcome either."

Especially in the former case—if Valualeta was beginning to show signs of distrust—there was no longer any need for Shiomi to uphold noble pretense or remain loyal to their side. After all, Barthomeloi had made more than one attempt to recruit him. He wouldn't even need to take action himself—if he were ousted from the Democratic Faction, the banner he'd helped raise would naturally collapse.

Shiomi hadn't responded to Barthomeloi because his footing in the Democratic Faction had always been solid, and Lord Valualeta had always placed great trust in him. He had no intention of betraying his allies for a petty gain. But all splits begin with the tiniest cracks in trust.

It was Inorai who had introduced Shiomi to Reines, a member of the Aristocratic Faction, as her tutor—and now it was Inorai who was testing him. That alone meant Shiomi had more than enough ways to handle whatever trials might come.

"Things might not end up that bad."

Seeing Shiomi get serious, Caren had no choice but to temper the mood with a slightly more cautious tone.