Mark, the lazy and sly son of a bitch that he was, apparently had never moved out of the first Church I'd met him all that time ago. When I entered, he was standing under the gaze of the Virgin Mary in the stained glass above the podium, staring up with his hands behind his back.
"Hark-"
"Ah, I see you've brought your own child this time." The priest smiled neutrally, adjusting his monocle with a hand. "Oh no, wait, that's the one I lent you. What? Have you grown tired of her?"
I glanced at Caren. She glanced at me.
I could see why he would think that was the case. This goblin was entirely unapologetic-… no, she visibly derived pleasure from making others miserable, much like Reines, except the El-Melloi Princess was much better at hiding it and didn't apologise to God randomly after saying something heinous.
"Father, please don't say those kinds of despicable things in the house of God. People might notice you're not just joking."
Mark shrugged his hands, "But I am just joking. Believe me. I like-…" He suddenly cleared his throat, "That's not important. How may I help you today, my children?"
"Why are you still here?" I asked plainly. "Your mission ended when that Daemon died."
"Oh yes, it did. But I received a promotion after Sancraid ended up dying to you at my behest. 'The careful maneuvering of enemy assets to neutralize a critical threat to the Holy Church'. I had no choice but to accept. And as hardworking and selfless as I am, I personally requested that I be the one to monitor you afterwards."
Sancraid was a Grand Wizard of the Klan… but he'd also been a high-profile target for the Holy Church. A magus capable of killing that slaughterer alone warranted some degree of concern. I knew this before I even went after that piece of shit. But, honestly, I thought the incident would blow over eventually instead of them sending someone to keep an eye-
"You also made sure they didn't just write it off so you could land an easy job, didn't you?"
Mark wiped his hand on his cassock and shook his head from side to side. "Heavens no. How dare you even insinuate that I would use my connections towards such a sly end? I am truly hurt, my child. I thought we trusted each other!"
"Oh we do~! Almost as much as I trust a hungry lion to not try to eat me."
"I am moved by your trust, truly." He wiped a tear from his one naked eye. "Since we trust each other so much, I have to tell you that the official mission is simple threat assessment. Rivals have to keep a close eye on each other, yes?"
The Clock Tower and the Holy Church were always one diplomatic incident away from once again openly being at each other's throats like they'd been throughout their continued existence. Hey, that brought up an interesting idea.
I hummed, "And am I? A threat?"
"Beyond any doubt. If those cardinals find out what you can do-"
"Does that include the reason for my Sealing Designation?" I cut him off.
He nodded simply. "They'd be losing their heads. You did recreate my baptism rites, did you not? It's all but confirmation that magecraft and our rites are the one and same thing. A real threat to the stability of our organisation."
And yet, despite his words, he clearly seemed to be unperturbed. He didn't care. A simple testament to the fact that not all operatives from the Church deluded themselves into thinking they were the one and the same as the magi they called heretics, even if only in being.
"Why don't they know then?" Caren asked for me, eyes narrowed. "I don't think-"
"Don't disturb me when I'm talking, girl." Mark held up a hand, "They will soon. Or, they won't. Maybe I'll decide telling them simply isn't worth it on the off-chance you decide to wage war on us for any actions taken after the fact."
That was where he was wrong. He didn't need to do anything else. I had already decided I wasn't going to be taking any more chances if it put my family or Luviagelita at any kind of risk.
"I see. Well, child, I assumed as much." Mark closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "This is why I requested some aid the moment I became aware of the Sealing Designation. After all, as manic as you may be, you do truly hold your family dear. I'm almost jealous."
From the darkness of the Church came nuns and priests, wielding swords and spears and thick gauntlets and so much more. I didn't count them. I didn't even look at them. I put a hand on Caren's shoulder and snapped my fingers.
And then those beating hearts were gone. Dismembered corpses fell to the floor. Blood dyed the thick carpet over the walkway. Their means of war and violence clambered against the ground. I held no pity for them. From all I'd learnt and seen, most of these people were no better than any one magus.
"I see you've far surpassed your peers." Mark noted calmly, a hand behind his back. "Why not me too?"
I sighed, "I… You're a cool guy, mate."
"That's not the way things work, child. This I promise, every one of these people deserved any misery that came their way. I am not an exception. Do it. Or, things will be worse. Of course, as a sinful man, I would love to live as long as possible. But, you care for Ellie and Louise, don't you? I am the only one who knows. I promise this too, I will not withhold that information. I can not."
His plain honesty… made what I needed to do even more distasteful.
In the end, I was unable to take that step. But when I turned around and saw Nobunaga holding a rifle aimed for the priest's head, I didn't do anything to stop her either. My servant had no qualms or hesitation, she pulled the trigger with calm ruthlessness as I stepped past. I heard the corpse fall against the floor, and all I could do was sigh in disappointment.
This part always sucked.
When we left the Church, I stared at the grey sky in silence.
"Caren, you still have a choice." I put on my usual smile. "I won't retaliate if you decide to run away now~"
In response, the white-haired gremlin with golden eyes simply reached out and gently took a hold of my sleeve before closing her eyes. "You did what was necessary… The Lord will forgive you. I already have."
I rubbed my nose. "I didn't ask you to. Come on, Nobu. We're going to the Clock Tower."
-
Waver didn't know if it was by design, or mere happenstance, that Henry passed by his apartment building that particular day. He called on Gray, and the both of them followed his unruly student as he made his way through the streets of Norwich Proper, then to the Clock to the main body of the Clock Tower itself.
The Sealing Designation had been already approved and announced. To make matters worse, the nature of his Mystic Eyes also became public knowledge that same day. Beyond a doubt, Enforcers of great skill were already on their way to the city, and those on-duty had already been mobilized.
Waver… really had no idea what to do to help. His influence as a figurehead member of the Twelve Lords was middling at best, not nearly enough to overturn a decision of that nature. As a magus, he was weaker still. There was no way for him to choose the path of the strong when it came to offering his aid.
Even if he set aside his pride and dignity as a teacher to make a request of his students, Waver was certain it wouldn't be nearly enough to even dent the Sealing Designation, not when Henry was such a clear threat to their world.
Still, as he trailed behind a student that had long surpassed his very unremarkable self, Waver El-Melloi II racked his brain for any solution. Even a temporary one would do. Yet, nothing quite came up. He had no words to stop Henry. He had no way to save him.
But then, his fear wasn't for his student alone. As Lord El-Melloi II, Waver was no longer certain if even his accomplished peers held any shred of a chance at stopping Henry by force. They had made themselves his problem. His response, Waver knew, was going to be the same.
Like the great kings and heroes of old, he was going to inflict a terrible violence, as was the right of the strong and the exceptional, upon those he deigned his foes… And no one was going to be able to stop him.
What were they going to use? Magecraft? Artificial Mystery? A Mystic Code?
Then, their enemies were guaranteed to seize the opportunity that they themselves were so willing to provide by entering a conflict with a person that had long left even their logics behind.
By the time they reached the London Museum, Waver was already out of breath. His head spun. Gray held a hand to his shoulder, steadying him.
"Professor…"
Waver ignored her, "Henry."
As magi stopped to watch them, and many made a quick retreat, and more still came out to seize the chance to make his abilities their own, his student turned to face him. As Enforcers of the Sealing Designation readied themselves, Henry grinned.
"Not this time, Professor."
With that, he turned to once again face those who had decided to hunt him.
Waver looked at the Archer servant standing beside him. She smiled a terrible smile, and made no effort to hide the amusement she was deriving from the situation as she raised her gloved hand. He realized then, that there really was nothing to do at all.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Clock Tower!" Henry declared with a flair, "Since you've all so graciously decided you have the right to hunt me like an animal, I need to thank you."
He held out a hand, index finger held against his thumb. Lightning flashed, and the world seemed to pull away from whatever he was about to unleash. The very air spasmed uncontrollably.
"I'm going to Fuyuki. You can freely come for me. I don't mind. I permit that. But, if you go for anyone else. You will remember that to be the last day of the Clock Tower. "
"Stop him!" One of the Enforcers shouted over the lightning.
One of his peers moved, but a rifle shot him dead past the first step. In bursts of flame, those same rifles encircled Henry and the Demon King he had summoned as a whim.
"I will hunt down and kill every single magus. Your wish for the Root will die with you."
Easily, calmly, he let the finger go.
And then, the world was gone in a flash of purple.
-
"He really just destroyed most of the London Museum." Reines gently put down her tea, regarding a Waver with a smile that didn't quite reach her ears as Trimmau refilled the ceramic cup. "I mean, most of the artifacts on display are replicas, and easily replaced, but that's the main entrance, you know? I thank my lucky stars his relationship with the El-Melloi didn't progress further."
Waver gripped his head with both hands, groaning. "He did. Bounded Fields and all. Killed over two dozen Enforcers, and who knows how many families are now without a head or an heir. He just made himself the highest priority target!"
The worst part was, Waver wasn't even surprised that things had turned out this way.
Beside them, Gray ducked her head with spinning eyes.
"But… he did make sure no one would bother you, brother dearest." Reines raised a curious brow.
Waver sighed again, "Yes. The others are too afraid he'll go for them too… Still, with Doctor Heartless still running around... and Flat hounding me for whatever spell Henry used... this is a nightmare."
"I'd think it's a nightmare for everyone. Those Bounded Fields were from the Age of Gods, and he dismantled them too... I didn't think I'd see something quite so interesting in my lifetime." Reines kicked her feet up and laughed. "On top of that, he basically declared himself an enemy to every single Department!"
As someone who freely admitted to enjoying others' misery, Waver knew this entire incident was something like a full-course meal at the greatest restaurant in the world for his 'sister'.
"Hm, it seems this person is my kin! The Nightmare of the Clock Tower sounds a lot like my own origin as the Killer Robot From The Future!"
"Trimmau…" Reines massaged her temple. "You're not from the future... What did Flat show you this time?"
-
I hope the writing quality didn't go down. I'm sick af. It's the changing seasons. Fever. Cold. Coughs. And it feels like someone had their way with my throat like in one of those doujins.