Magician in Type-Moon

Page 505

The cage was tall and sturdy, and every inch of its iron walls made a piercing sound as the monster struggled frantically.

It angrily swung its massive claws and scythe-like forelimbs, each strike causing the iron cage to twist violently and creak as if it were about to break at any moment.

Despite this, the cage remained sturdy and showed no signs of collapsing.

However, each of its strikes caused the cage to bend dramatically, producing a sharp creaking sound.

The new magician, still forming hand seals, stared at the beast.

He was the anatomy bureau employee who had just fallen to the ground.

"Ugh! This is terrible! My body can't handle being retired from active duty. Ahira!"

"Wait a moment, Karl."

The answer came from the door that a wild beast had broken through.

"──Flow backward (Go against the current)"

The last line is probably a magician's incantation, a short phrase of the spell "One Count".

As the incantation was uttered, the beast suddenly began to sway.

Green blood gushed from the beast's body like a bursting balloon. Even so, it stubbornly attacked the cage for a while before finally collapsing to the ground after a violent shaking.

Then, the person who had just chanted the incantation cautiously approached the iron cage.

"...Thank goodness, he's still alive."

She whispered this.

She was a dark-skinned woman.

Her equally strikingly dark eyes stared directly at Matou Ike and Yvette, her movements decisive and efficient, giving the impression that this woman had always lived like that.

Matou Ike looked back at the two of them and asked:

"Was that a flowing magic trick?"

"Yes, because I used to fight these mutated chimeras in the labyrinth all the time. It's been a long time since I've teamed up with him like this."

She replied with a polite bow.

“I am Ashira Mystras from the Materials Department. I am truly sorry for my rudeness, Mr. Matou. This was our oversight.”

Another employee brushed the dust off his clothes and bowed in greeting.

"I apologize for the late greeting. I am Karlgard Israel from the Department of Secret Relics Dissection. Nice to meet you."

Chapter 563 Brilliant Things (4k)

That was a combination that was hard to ignore.

Although they appeared to be around the same age, both around thirty, both the Black woman and the overweight man stood out conspicuously in the clock tower.

The two were wearing the same staff uniforms, and their appearances differed considerably from those of traditional magicians.

He lacked any of the usual air of mystery, and instead seemed more like a businessman or scientist from the general public.

Words cannot accurately describe the unique aura of these two individuals that sets them apart from the traditional image of magicians.

The man wiped the sweat from his brow, his gaze falling on Matou Ike and Yvette, clearly assessing the visitors' identities and intentions. His scrutinizing gaze held both wariness and a hint of curiosity.

"You weren't just capturing fantasy species, were you?" Yvette asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes," the Black woman replied calmly and easily.

"We are observing the bioecology of Albion, the Tomb of Spirits, although this is only a limited study. The creatures here are indeed quite different from the fantasy species still found on the surface, aren't they?"

The joyful expression on his face seemed to indicate that he had completely forgotten about the creature's attack on others, a reaction that, in a sense, was very characteristic of a magician.

Even regarding the battle just now, she might only feel that she had gathered useful information.

Matouchi didn't seem to have any intention of blaming them further.

Although logically, this is the scene where questioning and investigation should take place, Matou Ike's sensitivity—at least when the other party is a magician—always adjusts to the world of magicians.

Whether Yvette held a similar view or had handed over the command of the negotiations to Matou Ike, she did not attempt to interrupt.

At that moment, a Black woman named Ashira reached out towards one of the intact doors.

Yvette clearly didn't rush to interrupt, seemingly unwilling to wrest the initiative in the negotiations from Matou Ike. She remained silent, her eyes revealing a patient observation and waiting.

The Black woman, Ashira, quietly walked to the side and reached her hand towards one of the intact doors.

"Please come with me." Her tone was still relaxed, yet carried a gentle invitation.

She led Matouchi and Yvette into the reception room and served them black tea that was no different from what was on the floor.

It was an extremely simple room.

There were only two sofas and a glass table.

Several lamps were mounted on the wall, emitting a soft glow, seemingly emphasizing a minimalist design philosophy.

Although everything seemed simple, the unique atmosphere still gave people a sense of hidden luxury.

The same applies to the previous access control cards; the Bureau of Secret Relics Dissection seems to have no qualms about introducing science and technology.

"I would like to ask you two something," Matou Ike said calmly, getting straight to the point.

Upon hearing this, Ashira, who was sitting at the other end of the table, slowly spoke up: "Is it about our teacher?"

"It's a pity that we haven't seen Mr. Hartress for ten years."

Karl replied while wiping his sweat.

He seemed to be someone who sweats easily, and although the atmosphere wasn't tense yet, he seemed to be feeling some pressure himself.

The two were once students of Dr. Hartless, whose name still holds a certain prestige in the magic world and the Clock Tower, yet it seems that many people do not know much about him.

"Speaking of ten years ago, that was when Dr. Hartless left the Department of Modern Magic, wasn't it?"

Matou Ike continued, staring sharply at the other person.

“That’s right.” Ashira nodded, a hint of emotion in her expression.

"After that, the Department of Modern Magic remained vacant for quite some time. After all, many students were still in a period of turmoil at that time, and the leadership of the department was unstable."

Karl continued wiping the sweat from his face; he was clearly nervous. In his view, this past event was neither easy nor unforgettable.

He looked up, his gaze drifting somewhat unfocused over Matou Pond, as if trying to figure out the other person's purpose.

Matou Ike simply nodded slightly, his gaze never leaving them.

"So, what kind of person was Dr. Hartracey before?" he continued.

Ashira and Karg exchanged a glance, as if pondering how to answer the question.

Finally, Ashira spoke up: "Well, we really can't say we know everything about that person."

Her tone carried a hint of helplessness, as if the passage of time had gradually blurred her memory of this point.

But she continued, "However, I can say that Dr. Hartrace is a very caring person. He treats us survivors who have come back from the brink of death as well as the original students equally."

Her tone softened, and her eyes revealed a hint of nostalgia.

Karl chuckled softly, seemingly trying to lighten the somber mood of the conversation:

"Ha, that's an exaggeration. We are, after all, different people. As I just said, the fact that he treats us equally is enough for others to consider it a great favor."

He looked up, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes.

“To others, we are survivors, test subjects, or even seen as a kind of ‘resource,’ but Dr. Hartless never showed prejudice. His selfless care was incredibly gentle.”

He paused, clearly feeling deeply about what he had just said.

Then he added:

"As the dean of the clock tower, his gentleness is truly a rare find. Which other department leaders don't have a somewhat cold management style? Only he... can still maintain patience and respect for students even when facing enormous pressure from the department."

Matou Ike listened quietly, his expression remaining largely unchanged. His gaze lingered on Ashira, as if waiting for her to continue.

“Mr. Hartles was also particularly dedicated to education in the twelve subjects…” Ashira murmured softly, as if recalling past scenes.

“Let me think… I feel he has a different perspective than other lecturers.”

Her tone held a hint of contemplation, and Karl turned to look at her, seemingly awaiting further explanation. Then, he spoke softly, as if responding to her unfinished words: 'Dedicate your life to the most brilliant things.'

Ashira nodded, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.

Her smile was unlike any other smile; it contained a profound emotion, as if all the years had been condensed into that one moment.

“That’s the teacher’s catchphrase,” she said softly.

Karl looked at Ashira with a barely perceptible tenderness in his eyes.

"That's what our teacher often said—he always encouraged us to give everything to pursue those truly glorious and brilliant things."

Ashira lowered her head slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then continued:

"We are interconnected beings. As magicians, our lives are destined to be closely linked to certain events and certain people in the past."

In any case, this connection will not be easily broken.

We must always be aware that those who were once connected to us still leave their mark on our lives and will continue to accompany us into the future. But at the same time, you remain a unique individual.

Her voice became lower and more resolute, “So, at the very least, we should dedicate ourselves to those things that we believe are truly brilliant.”

The moment those words were spoken, the entire room seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

Yvette listened intently, her originally relaxed expression now showing a hint of seriousness.

"Shouldn't a magician always be pursuing the root?" Matou Ike's words gently broke the brief silence.

The root, that fearsome yet alluring word.

The Vortex of Origin—the ultimate goal that magicians will inevitably pursue.

Perhaps it is more appropriate to describe it as "nothingness," an ineffable existence that is the core of all magic, the goal that every magician constantly strives to achieve by spending their entire life and risking their fate.

All efforts seem insignificant in order for some day, some moment, some successor to reach that root in the endless loop.

“Of course, that’s exactly right.” Karl gave a bitter smile, a smile that conveyed both helplessness and resignation.

"Even many magicians, including myself, eventually became entangled in the power struggles within the clock tower, losing sight of their original ideals and righteousness."