Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

Shirou frowned: "So you mean it's all my fault?"

"Don't be angry, Shirou is so rigid. That's why you always make Aratama unhappy, isn't it?"

"It has nothing to do with this! Why is Arisu's name here? And Arisu and I are very close... I guess so."

Shirou was teased by Touko as usual.

However, this time when they were arguing, there was an outsider in the agency and the familiar he brought with him.

"So what's going on now?"

Shirou looked around the room, which was filled with monsters, and asked.

When did "Galan Hall" start expanding into new businesses? Are they currently making low-quality B-movies?

"Please spare me, Sister Orange, I can't stand horror movies and gore movies."

Orange smiled and said, "No, Shirou... Look closely, these aren't monster props from the movies."

This is the culmination of over a decade of painstaking research by a magician.

While it's tragic in every sense, let's offer some consolation and positive feedback, considering at least he tried his best.

"…………"

Aruba Cornelius is absolutely certain.

These two people have been disregarding me since the beginning.

It's unbelievable—

It's already come to this.

Despite having an overwhelming advantage, despite having defeated her and proven that Aruba Cornelius was the Clock Tower's most outstanding puppeteer—

Aozaki Touko still looked down on him and even mocked him along with her disciple.

Aruba felt immense shame, and his anger had reached its peak.

"Now you understand, Shirou. The reason I secretly smoke is because I see something so incredibly boring, and I can't stand it if I don't smoke something."

"I'm sorry, I misunderstood you... There's really nothing I can do about it."

Shirou carried Aozaki Touko's body to a corner of the office, gently placed her on the ground, and then turned to face the monster army surrounding him.

Aozaki Touko, having left the boy's body, took off her glasses and stared at the blond magician with an unprecedentedly cold gaze.

"Aruba, you just said this child is my disciple, right?"

In the past, Aruba would probably have backed down in the face of Orange's cold and sharp gaze, but he had just defeated Orange—the shackles that had bound him for so long, called the feeling of inferiority, had disappeared.

"Isn't that right? You always say you don't have any disciples, but isn't he one?"

Seeing that your disciple is just as arrogant and useless as you, I feel relieved.

"I'm so happy! The fun has increased again, Aozaki!"

A crazy smile appeared on Aruba's face.

Torture of Orange alone is clearly not enough to satisfy the harm he has suffered over the years. It's really great that Orange has an apprentice.

"So you're not my disciple, you idiot."

Aozaki Touko said with an expression that seemed to take it all for granted.

"This child is my familiar."

"what?"

Shirou and Aruba spoke in unison.

When did I fall to Beo's level?

Orange is obviously talking nonsense.

She had wanted to say this for a long time, and today she finally seized the opportunity.

Shirou glared at the lying doll, only to see her give him a flirtatious wink.

Orange: Let's just consider this a fan service for the patients?

Shirou: ...There won't be a next time.

"........."

Aruba looked at Shirou again.

Although Orange's statement was absurd, he was naturally suspicious and could not be completely dismissed as a joke by a wicked puppeteer.

Soon, a smug smile crept onto his face: "I see, I remember now, that rumor—"

"Your familiar was defeated by your sister in a duel, so you've found an inferior substitute?"

"Say what you want," Orange said.

"At a time like this, you should keep bragging to me," Shirou thought to himself.

Just then, the monsters that had been waiting in the room moved.

At Aruba's silent command, the monsters pounced on the boy.

Then, in the next instant—

"Spare me, I'm the one who ends up cleaning up after all."

Shirou sighed helplessly, and at the same time, magical ripples rippled around him, and countless swords appeared from the void, turning into a violent downpour.

"——————"

Faced with a storm of countless blades of Noble Phantasm caliber, the monster army created by the magician appeared utterly vulnerable.

In an instant, the room fell silent.

Without exception, all the monsters were instantly killed.

They were firmly nailed to the bare concrete floors and walls of the abandoned building, then vanished without a trace along with the weapons that appeared out of nowhere.

All that remained were the unarmed red-haired boy and Aozaki Touko, who sat in the back with a blissful expression.

"—How is that possible?"

Aruba opened his mouth wide.

Shirou's projection magic trick had left him drenched in sweat.

The fact that dozens of swords reappeared in an instant is beyond the comprehension of the modern magic world.

However, that's not all...

Each sword projected by the boy was overflowing with terrifying magic; even though Aruba was only watching from afar, he could feel the mystique surrounding those swords.

It has been at least a thousand years.

"Who exactly are you...?"

Aruba stared at the boy in astonishment—

He gasped the moment their eyes met.

what is the problem?

This feeling, as if one's soul has been pierced through?

Aruba stopped his trembling legs and demanded in a loud voice, "Kid! Who are you?"

"Hmm, it seems the secrecy surrounding me has been handled quite well..."

"All the information about me at the Clock Tower has been secretly disposed of."

Shirou tilted his head, seemingly lost in thought.

If I ever have the chance to go to London, I must bring a gift and visit Miss Sora to express my gratitude.

"What are you talking about! Who are you? Why are you in Aozaki's workshop!?"

Seeing Shirou's nonchalant attitude, Aruba finally lost his temper and yelled, then looked at Orange behind him.

She spoke with a teasing expression.

"As a return gift for the advice you gave me earlier, I will answer your question on behalf of the child."

"Eight years ago... in that foolish duel between the heirs of the Aozaki family that took place in Misaki City, it was he who defeated my familiar, who was my ace."

"what?"

Aruba's shoulders trembled with shock.

How can this be?

He instinctively concluded that Aozaki Touko must be lying.

Orange's familiar is a golden beast named Luco Beowulf.

Possessing a mystery spanning over 2000 years, the Star Touch (Elf) exists in the modern era, far removed from the age of gods.

As the completed Third Law, it is immortal and indestructible, so it was regarded by Aozaki Touko as a "weapon for the final battle against the Fifth Law".

A magician in "The Alliance of Gods" who had lived for over a thousand years was defeated by that guy; he was a true monster.

That monster... didn't actually lose to Aozaki Aoko, who had mastered the Fifth Law, but to this skinny human brat in front of him?

No, that's absolutely impossible.

But... what if Aozaki Touko wasn't lying?

Aruba raised his magical staff.

「Go away the shadow It is impossible to touch the things which are not visibleForget the darknessIt is impossible to see the things which are not touched」

He chanted the incantation at near-limit speed.

"The question is prohibited The answer is simple"

"I have the flame in the left hand And I have everything in the right hand——"

The lengthy incantation was finished in less than two seconds by the second abbot of the Shubenheim Monastery.

Even the oranges exclaimed in admiration.

She recalled that Aruba had a penchant for chanting that went beyond the necessary length and used a lot of unnecessary verses, but it seems that he has indeed grown considerably in recent years.

In terms of magical destruction skills alone, Aruba is now arguably the best in the Clock Tower.

Aozaki Touko thought to herself, "Although the technology has been honed to its limit, Aruba... your luck seems to be quite bad."

—But then he ran into Shirou.

"I am the order Therefore, you will be defeated securely!"

In an instant, a blue flame, powerful enough to evaporate everything in a flash, formed within the room.

"I already said I'm the one who's responsible for cleaning up the house last, so don't make things worse."

Shirou moved from a distance of ten meters away from Ruba to stand in front of him in an instant, holding a sword in his hand.

When the blond magician was puzzled as to why his magic hadn't started, he noticed that his right hand, which was holding the cane, had disappeared.

"Huh...?"

Aruba brought the severed wrist close to his eyes in disbelief; the cut was so clean it was unbelievable.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

The blond magician belatedly realized what was happening, his face contorted in pain, and he collapsed to his knees, screaming in agony.

He clutched his wrist and began to cast a healing spell. Shirou, of course, did not stop him—after all, if he continued to spit blood, the office would become filthy.

What happened just now was merely a demonstration.

Although Aruba is an arrogant guy, he has the thinking of a magician. Shirou is certain that he will behave himself after he understands the overwhelming difference in strength between the two sides.

Let Orange handle the troublesome matters... He didn't want to get involved in other people's past affairs anymore.

Just as Shirou had predicted, Aruba completely gave up resisting.

His victorious aura had vanished, and he looked lifeless, almost like a corpse.

"This person may look young, but his soul is probably already very old," Shirou thought to himself.