"I didn't pay much attention before but… Henry, you changed something about my vessel. I don't think even the Archer Class is supposed to have the Independent Action Skill at this rank." Nobunaga stared at me from across the dining car, straddling a chair as she tilted her head. I'd been waiting for her almost-comical hat to fall off because of that the whole morning, but it never seemed to happen.
Thinking about it, there was probably something supernatural to that. When she'd torn all her clothes off before, the hat stayed then too. A part of her existence, her legend or simply her eccentricity, I wasn't quite able to tell yet.
Oh well.
I shrugged and stuffed a sausage into my mouth. "Yeah, the vessel is created when you're summoned, by the summoning spell…"
"Even I know that." She huffed.
"I just tampered with the summoning spell too. Well, you can just call it a personal touch. I also may have made the mana consumption a bit more cost-efficient. Of course, I'd have done more, but it's a new code so… I'd have to use it repeatedly to figure out how to tamper more."
Hey, that was a pretty interesting idea.
"Mmm… I don't quite get it. But, if it lets me be around more, I'm happier!" She threw her hands up in surrender, and threw a look at some of the other guests around us, "That said, you occultists never quite change up, huh? Still clinging to the past when you could have much more interesting things in here."
I said guests, but it was mostly people I knew, namely Hishiri and Olga Marie… along with the Professor, Gray and Caules. All of them shared a simple trait. They were magus. When a weirdo like Nobunaga appeared on the train, it was the most natural thing in the world for them. They were all the same, or at the very least, used to the self-importance and 'odd' way of life common to members of the Clock Tower, and the Mage's Association at large.
Although, the Professor was staring at me exasperatedly.
"You'll get wrinkly, Professor~"
The Lord El-Melloi II rushed over to my side and pulled my ear. "The last person known to tamper with the summoning itself was my teacher, the former Lord El-Melloi."
So someone had beaten me to it-
"If he could do it, then so can I. After all, I'm just better than you chumps."
The Professor groaned. "Lord Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald was a Brand-ranked magus. The youngest in the history of the Clock Tower to attain it, even."
"Yeah, so what I said, I'm just better."
He looked like he wanted to throttle me.
"Consider this, maybe sharing this publicly isn't a good idea with how delicate your position is at the moment."
I hummed. "Yeah, the Clock Tower and the Holy Church have been all up in my business for a bit now. Don't worry about it~"
After all, my reason for answering the Rail Zeppelin's 'invitation' was to fix that very issue, in the only way people like these understood.
I gave my Professor a charming smile to ease his worries.
"Henry, do you have a bomb on you?" He deadpanned.
"…No."
"Then why are you looking away?!"
The auction was to be held today, right after breakfast even. It'd be much more amusing to see his unfiltered reaction then than tattling now. So, I remained quiet until he gave up and walked back to join his other students with his head hung low. My servant took that opportunity to sneak up on me.
"Are we doing something of a devious nature?"
"We shall indeed engage in no small amount of tomfoolery."
I locked gazes with my Professor, then grinned at Nobunaga. She grinned right back. Admittedly, hers was a lot more unsettling with how her eyes seemed to blur like fire.
"How very immodest, my Master."
Apparently, she was already bored with the whole Hen thing… or she was just playing into my bit. Again, there wasn't really any way to know what went on in her head. Actually, I was decently sure NOTHING went on in there except what amused her. A proper admirable way to live life.
I looked over at the other guests once again.
"Wait a second, where's Karabo Frampton?"
"He is with the staff, I believe. After all, he did come here with the intention of removing and selling his Mystic Eyes." Hishiri answered smoothly, one hand over the other, "I might even be the one to buy them, truth be told."
I narrowed my eyes, "And why 'might that be'?"
"He does possess a rather interesting ability. The Department of Policies has encountered him before." She explained no further than that, only offering a sweet smile. "Could it be that you want to know? That you can't wait for an hour more? Ah but no, that would be childish."
Was she… Was she trying to-
"Get these grade-schooler provocations out of here, lady." I shoo'd her with my hand.
Nobunaga took one look at my reaction, then turned around and gave the woman double thumbs down.
"I am not entertained at all! Even my monkey would be better!"
"Well, I'm quite sorry I have more important things to do than sit around all day and come up with silly provocations."
"Gahaha! What a sore loser!" Nobunaga pointed a finger and cackled.
Shrugging, I joined her.
My Professor groaned audibly. Caules laughed nervously, patting his shoulder to reassure him.
Breakfast concluded swiftly, and eventually, Leandra funneled us into a car that looked like it'd be part of an actual train for once, with a narrow walkway that had multiple seats to either side, all facing the front. The few guests that were actually on the train took the frontmost seats, while various animals and birds of prey began filling up the rest.
I saw eagles, rats, ravens, crows and owls and all manner of other creatures, standing perfectly still in their seats. They watched us with unnatural gazes. Considering the modifications and wrappings on some of them like an extra eye or two sets of wings, I didn't need my eyes to know that they were familiars.
"So, those're the buyers."
"No, they're clearly just for display. You say weird things sometimes, Master."
"I'm not the one who spent an hour just flushing the toilet cause it was 'fascinating', Nobu."
"It was. It was very fascinating! They didn't have any back in my time."
"Uh huh."
Caules sat on my other side, tapping his fingers on his knees uncomfortably. He waved his hand at me, "H…Hi Henry."
"I forgot you were even on here…" I spoke honestly.
It wasn't even my fault. The same happened in class too. He was a bookworm that didn't even speak unless called out and forced to do so, usually busy tinkering with some mystic code or trying to figure out how to work modern tech like a PC into magecraft. All in all, he was pretty forgettable but, he was still my boy.
He sighed. "I don't blame you. You and Gray have been doing incredible things while… I've just been investigating. I mean, that's really all I can do. I'm not very-"
"Nerrrrd." Nobunaga hollered. I smacked her shoulder, "You called him that yesterday! Why are the rules only for me? I'm the one who made them."
"So, what did you figure out?"
The 'Demon King' grumbled when I ignored her, crossing her arms and sinking into her seat. A moment later, she was squirming again like sitting there was the hardest thing to do. Really, she needed to be patient like me.
"Well, the Mystic Eyes of Binding and the Mystic Eyes of Flame are what they will show first."
Those names were self-explanatory. I considered them for barely a second before deeming them useless.
"The main items seem to be well… Mr. Karabo's eyes and, yours. That is, what most of these people are here for. I suspect the eyes will go for quite a lot but… Henry, are you sure it's worth it?"
"Yeah."
He snorted involuntarily. "If that's what you want."
The Professor, who'd been sitting quietly in front of us the whole time, turned back, "Henry, remember the plan."
"…What plan?"
"I know who the Master is. He's here with us, likely."
I nodded, and he returned his attention to the Mystic Eyes on display.
"Due to the present nature of the global market, the designated currency this time will be the US Dollar! Without further ado then, let us begin this year's auction!" Leandra announced with a twirl, smiling wide and confidently.
Sadly, it mattered little what his investigation and his 'Near' levels of investigative abilities had turned up. The master of Hephaestion mattered little. The rest of the guests mattered little even though I wouldn't touch them. The train itself was all that mattered to me, this time.
It was regrettable that I had to go against his wishes, but I'd made my mind up the moment I laid eyes on that letter of invitation. The letter that was supposed to be left in place of my little sister.
I didn't particularly care for my life so long as I had fun.
I cared for my family.
Both the Mystic Eyes of Binding and Flame were quickly sold. I didn't even pay attention to whoever managed to shell out the cash. It was probably Yvette.
"Now, for an interesting turn of events, the holder of the next item on sale is here with us today!" Leandra bowed with a hand to the side. Then, she pointed her gloved finger right at me. "It is that gentlemen from the Clock Tower! From what we've been told, his eyes are a particularly incredible set, and for a first, we shall identify them in front of you all as an apology for the incident with the Child of Einnashe!"
Inhaling deeply, under the confused gazes of my peers, I stood up and walked up to Leandra's little podium at the head of the car. The gathered familiars eyed me in silence, waiting and plotting. I didn't know who was behind any of them. I didn't care.
A trepid silence descended over the car.
What was it going to be?
Who would react first?
Who was going to outbid the others?
Would it even be worth it?
From nowhere, an ethereal woman with no features took shape beside me. The representative Rita Rozay-En had left behind to keep the training running when she fled from the conflict with Touko Aozaki on this very train.
A face that had no eyes observed me.
Hands that had no colour reached for my eyes.
Calmly, I ran a hand through my hair.
Hers froze long before it ever reached me, simple unable to cross the 'meagre' distance between us. She tried harder. Nothing happened.
"Mr. Henry, what is the meaning of this? You were to sell your eyes. How will we do that if we don't even identify them?" Leandra asked, visibly confused as she took a step closer. "The representative is the only person who can take them safely. Even if you have no intention of selling them, let us at least identify them-"
I held my index finger against my thumb, my magic circuits surged to life.
"Henry, don't-"
"Why are you so-"
"Allow me to identify them for you instead."
Leandra whirled towards the voice. I merely cast a curious glance.
The door at the far end slid away. Hephaestion stepped inside first. She smiled at me, then leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. After her, an unfamiliar man stepped inside. His skin was sickly pale, his hair was fiery red. He looked at me amiably, as if I were an old friend.
A crimson cloak draped from one shoulder, a darker one draped from the other, tied around his neck. Underneath, he wore a suit blue as the sea.
Her Master. Finally, the one responsible for the clash of the Dead Apostles had decided to reveal himself. I was elated.
"Henry! Stop him!" My Professor urged suddenly, jumping to his feet.
I put a hand to my chin, "Oh?"
"Yes, after all, I've seen the world through them before. Yesterday even."
Hmm. So that was how he blocked my vision. He simply hijacked control of it somehow.
Nobunaga's voice rang in my head.
"Do you choose secrecy like your peers, or will you become a blaze that devours without exception? Either way, I'll help out."
Well, my choice was obvious.
-
Hope you enjoyed.
Please don't forget to comment without restraint. I need to know if I did this well.