I will finally embark on the road of no return called hero

A thick fog cloaked the train station, swallowing the platform in an eerie silence. Figures waited in the mist—were they people? Or something else? Could something inhuman be hiding among them?

Grey tightened her grip on the cage in her hands.

"Scared?"

"Ah!"

She yelped and immediately crouched down, drawing the attention of the waiting passengers. But when they spotted Lord El-Melloi II standing beside her, they quickly looked away.

"What's wrong, Grey?" Waver asked, adjusting his glasses.

"I-I'm sorry," she stammered, her face burning as she pulled her hood lower. "I just got startled."

Screaming and dropping to the ground over a voice out of nowhere—how embarrassing!

"The Helm of Hades really lives up to its name," Waver mused, glancing in the direction the voice had come from. Cyd must have been standing there, invisible.

"Relax," the unseen presence said.

Grey felt something press lightly onto her head—a warm, reassuring weight. That pure-white hero was trying to comfort her.

"I'm right here with you."

"...Thank you," she exhaled, the tension easing from her shoulders.

She had been on edge. Understandable, considering they were about to board the Mystic Eye train—a place so dangerous even a Lord had hesitated before making a move.

Caules adjusted his glasses and glanced around.

Honestly, him being here was kind of ridiculous. He had all but begged to tag along, and somehow, that reckless move had paid off. As a former "hostage" of the Yggdmillennia, he wasn't exactly well-liked in the Clock Tower, but that didn't matter to him. This was his chance to witness magic beyond anything he had ever known. He needed knowledge—enough to reassure his sister, enough to stand on his own.

And knowing Cyd was here sealed the deal.

After seeing that man's overwhelming strength during the Holy Grail War, Caules had made up his mind—he was sticking to him like glue. Not that he planned to slack off or cause trouble, but with someone like Cyd around, his survival rate skyrocketed.

"Lord El-Melloi II," a voice called from within the fog.

A woman in a kimono stepped forward.

"So, you actually showed up," Waver sighed, already feeling a headache coming on.

Caules swallowed hard and shrank behind Waver. "Th-That's… the Law of the Covenant…"

Not surprising. The Yggdmillennia's little rebellion had been "forgiven," but they hadn't gotten off lightly. The Law of the Covenant had wrung them dry, and now one of its members was standing right in front of them.

Reines had provided the files. Touko Aozaki. The woman who had supplied Waver with information about the Mystic Eye train.

"My, my~ Quite the interesting companions you have, Lord El-Melloi II." Touko smirked, glancing at Grey and Caules.

Grey, she understood. The girl was a powerful asset, practically his right hand. But Caules?

Weak.

In a place teeming with monstrous sorcerers, he was dead weight.

And yet, there was an anomaly.

"You have a trump card, don't you?" Her smirk widened. "And yet, you don't hold it in your hands."

"That's none of your concern," Waver replied coolly, irritation lacing his voice.

"Oh, I'm just curious~" Touko chuckled behind her hand, but her sharp eyes scanned the crowd as if searching for something.

Grey glanced between the two adults, then looked down, confused. The world of magi was impossible to understand sometimes.

Cyd, still hidden, watched Touko with mild amusement. Reines had given him the rundown on these people, summing it up in one simple sentence:

They were venomous snakes, striking from the shadows—or sometimes, right in your face.

Even with her usual elegance, Reines had betrayed a flicker of distaste when speaking about them.

Interesting.

Cyd's gaze sharpened. The thief who had stolen Waver's relic was here, blending in with the passengers. Or perhaps, the entire Mystic Eye train itself was involved.

If that were the case…

He could just beat up everyone and see what shook loose.

It wouldn't be difficult. If necessary, he could rip the entire train apart. But this wasn't his fight.

This was Waver's battlefield. His war. His pride.

So, he would let Waver solve the mystery on his own terms.

But if someone thought brute force could change the game…

Well.

Cyd would happily flip the table and smash their face into it.

A new voice rang out, young but brimming with arrogance. "I heard a Lord was coming, but I didn't expect it to be the so-called 'Modern Magecraft' Lord."

Waver let out a weary sigh.

Of course.

The Mystic Eye train attracted all sorts of people.

And now, another headache had arrived.

Cyd tilted his head, observing the newcomer—a short girl with an air of superiority, as if she were looking down on everyone despite barely reaching his chest.

A magus through and through.

"I'll be blunt," she declared. "This year's auction belongs to the Astromancy Department. We won't lose. Not even to a Lord."

Still a kid.

Olga Marie, daughter of the Astromancy Lord. She radiated unshakable confidence, as if the very idea of losing was beneath her. To her, Waver was nothing but a broke upstart clinging to scraps.

Her words, however, confirmed one thing—this train held a Mystic Eye valuable enough that even a Lord would risk everything to obtain it.

And how did she know that?

That was the real question.

Compared to her bold declaration, Waver remained composed. Exposing your goal made you an easy target. Especially for someone like him—a third-rate magus with no real power. If people assumed he was here for a Mystic Eye, they would focus on that, leaving him free to pursue his true objective—the thief.

Would it really be that easy, though?

Cyd crossed his arms, lips curving into a faint smirk.

Let's see what you've got, Waver.

Show me that unbreakable will of yours.