Walking in the Question and Answer System of Heroic Spirits

[Grey: "I'm changing again."]

The Second Prince didn't know what to say, and could only look at the box in Gray's hand.

"Yad, you..."

"Hey, hey, don't make that gloomy face, teacher!"

[Yad deliberately spoke loudly: "No, is that your usual expression? Excuse me, hee hee!"]

[Venerable II: "Grey..."]

"It's alright, Master."

Grey lowered her head, obscuring her expression. "I'm so sorry, I think I'm a little tired. May the master go ahead?"

[Second Generation: "...I understand."]

The Second Prince rose and strode forward; now was certainly not the time to waste time here.

Watching the Second Prince's departing figure, Grey whispered, "Can I indulge in a little self-admiration for a moment?"

[Yad: "Please give your orders, young lady."]

[Grey: "...We're a very, very honest duo."]

"...I think so too."

[Yad's voice grew weaker: "Sorry, slowpoke Grey. I'm going to sleep for a bit."]

【"...OK."】

Grey nodded, forcing herself to her feet. The box in her hand fell silent, but at the last moment it transformed into a scythe.

【"it hurts..."】

Grey clutches her abdomen; how much longer can her body hold on?

While thanking Gray for retaining her scythe form even in this situation, allowing her to continue fighting, she quickened her pace, swiftly chasing after the Second.

Rin Tohsaka: "...Grey really has had a tough time."

Ilya: "I wonder if Ad will ever wake up again."

The Conqueror King: "Boy, this won't do. How can you let a little girl protect you?"

Weber: "..."

Fiore: "If it weren't for King Arthur's arrival, she probably wouldn't even be able to stand up to fight now."

King Arthur's arrival in World War V caused Grey's body to undergo another transformation. Whether it's good or bad is unknown, but for Grey now, it should be considered a good thing.

At the very least, her recovery ability is far beyond that of ordinary people.

Grey catches up with the Second King, and the two successfully reach Hartleley's location.

The place where Hartles was situated was exceptionally luxurious.

Several swirling beams of light joined together, reminiscent of the World Tree from mythology.

[Although this is underground, the light adorning the ceiling resembles a starry sky, making it feel like being in space.]

Hartles stood before the Magic Circle, his back to the two without turning his head. After a long while, he finally spoke: "How is the Grand Order decision going?"

"Ms. Enola appears to have requested that the meeting be temporarily adjourned."

Knowing that the other party was deliberately giving him time to contact them, the Second Prince didn't hide anything and said, "There are about fifteen minutes left. It seems they'll decide whether to pretend the meeting never happened based on whether I can stop you."

[After re-establishing communication with Reines, this was the first thing he confirmed.]

Hartles turned around, his face beaming, and said, "Oh dear, this change gave me quite a fright."

[Second Generation: "Me too."]

[Hartres: "In that case, many things will be decided in these fifteen minutes or so, Your Excellency El-Melloi II."]

Koles: "Finally, we're facing Hartres. I'm worried about what kind of trouble might arise."

Fiore: "We can't let our guard down now. Even though Hartres is incredibly weak right now, don't forget Faker."

Shizi Jieli: "According to the usual formula of TV dramas, it's not easy to catch such a big BOSS. Something will definitely happen, and at the very least, we'll have to fight."

[Hartlez: "El-Melloi II, what is your purpose in coming here? Is it to stop me?"]

[Second Generation: "Of course, that's exactly right."]

Hartles said incredulously, "Why? If it were you, you should have already found out about Whydunit. I intend to create a god of magic, and a god at that, Iskandar. You should have no reason to stop me."

[Second Generation: Yes, I must have come to confirm that.]

【"I see."】

Hartles stroked his chin and said, "Why? I always felt that even that beast couldn't stop you."

"Ten years ago, you were eaten by that monster, weren't you?"

[The Second Prince suddenly said, "Or would it be more appropriate to say that you were devoured thirty years ago?"]

【"..."】

Hartles was taken aback, then after a moment guessed, "You've already figured that out?"

Rin Tohsaka: "What do you mean? Heartless was eaten by that monster before? But he's still alive and well, isn't he?"

Koles: "One minute it's ten years ago, the next it's thirty years ago, what does that mean?"

Waver: "Ten years ago...thirty years ago...devoured... 'That would be a more fitting description...'...Hartles plotted to kill Hartles...Kuro Adashino...Mystic Eyes..."

Weber: "Could it be! Hey, you're kidding, right—"

[Second Generation: "Your spell has entered the automatic phase, hasn't it?"]

"That's right, at this stage, even if I die, the spell will continue to operate."

Hartres said confidently, "Heh, you probably know that this spell has exhausted my resources. After all, I had to bring the servant here. She's activated her Noble Phantasm several times, and now she's completely broke."

The Second Prince turned his gaze to the briefcase at his feet and said, "Was the briefcase originally filled with the 'Sealed-Official Magician' and the 'Mystic Eye Holders' you've been storing?"

【"oops."】

Hartres was somewhat surprised, seemingly not expecting the Second Prince to have guessed even this correctly.

[Second Generation: "I initially reasoned that the current Hartles wasn't the real Hartles, but rather Kuro, Hartles's disciple who disappeared ten years ago. However, I've always felt that this explanation didn't quite add up. If Kuro had impersonated Hartles, then Hartles's actions behind the scenes in many cases were far too ingenious."]

"After analyzing this technique, I have to admit, it truly lives up to the reputation of the Minister of Science of Modern Magic. A disciple who has only taken a few years of formal training could never complete such a technique."

Hartres chuckled lightly, "Heh, judging by your style, you should have already confirmed Kuro's background, right?"

"You mean Adashino Kuro, right?"

[The Second Prince said seriously, "Of course I also confirmed that part with Adashino Hishiri. Indeed, the Adashino family is somewhat special for magicians, but the level of their techniques isn't high enough to compare with the head of the class."]

Chapter 368: Hartres, Kuro, and Kuro Adashino

(My brain's been foggy lately, and I keep forgetting to upload chapters.)

[Second King: "Hartles, I've met Doctor Grote, the one who saved you before."]

Hartles was taken aback, then said, "...I'm amazed you managed to find out about something like that."

[Second Generation: "My friend told me the news."]

My friend, how heavy that word is.

[The encounter with Atram was by no means the kind of situation that would lead to mutual affection; his unchanging arrogant aristocratic attitude made them rather incompatible.]

Even so, the other party still left something behind for me.

"Dedicate your life to the most brilliant things."

The Second Prince murmured, "He's supposedly the one who told you that."

Hartles: "Yes, that's exactly right."

[Second Generation: "When he talked about this, he mixed in some strange topics."]

"The doctor said that he suffered from a strange illness while hiding you, experiencing intermittent blindness. However, it's said that the illness was cured after you touched him."

【"..."】

For the first time, Hartres's expression wavered.

[Second Generation: "Isn't this the superpower you gained from the seclusion of the gods?"]

"It's common knowledge in the Clock Tower that you gained some kind of supernatural ability through invisibility. However, no one knows the true nature of that ability. Lord Norwich, who adopted you, might know, but for whatever reason, he wouldn't reveal information detrimental to his adopted son."

Hartracey: "...Yes, that's just how Lord Norwich is."

[Grey: "That, what happened on the Mystic Eyes Train..."]

[While on the Demon Eye Train, Hartres did indeed activate his supernatural ability. That was to summon the Son of Fuhailin from somewhere, to block the train's path.]

[Second Generation: "As Hartles said, it is said that children taken away by the gods receive both blessings and curses, but he received neither a blessing, only a pure curse."]

"The doctor said that no matter what machine they used, they couldn't detect your heart. So, in the area where the lost heart was located, there's probably some kind of alternate dimension, like a rift, that can be manipulated like imaginary magic?"

"The correct answer."

Hartles quipped, "Haha, so every time I use it I almost die. It's like having my heart cut open."