Chapter 381: [381] The Mage’s Association Platform

Words : 1814 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Chapter 381: [381] The Mage’s Association Platform In the dim, empty room, the sense of distance had become unnaturally distorted. It appeared impossibly vast yet oppressively narrow at the same time. A candle at the center cast a hazy glow over the faces of the men gathered there, rendering everything indistinct. The air in that undefined space was thick with an indescribable tension. Like groomsmen at a final bachelor party or unemployed men whose wives and children had left them, the three men exchanged gloomy glances, their expressions clouded with worry. "After returning to my room, I found the walls covered in magecraft formulas capable of blowing up the entire building," an elderly man spoke first. Though short in stature, his back was straight, and the wrinkles on his face gleamed like finely carved wood. This was Rocco Belfeban, Department Head of Summoning—rumored to have held his position for over fifty years, though no one could say for certain. A young man nodded in response to the old man’s hoarse muttering. "All the spirits in the Spiritual Evocation Department’s storage room were affected, as if suppressed by something at the top of the food chain. If they didn’t obey, these precious specimens would perish by the next day—or so the note left for me claimed." The speaker was a handsome red-haired youth whose gaze carried both strength and nobility, his refined features marking him as someone of high status. His words carried a sense of duty. His name was Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri. As the successor to the Department Head of Spiritual Evocation, he also held the position of a first-class lecturer at the Clock Tower. "Hmm, so you were threatened as well," the old man murmured in agreement before turning his gaze to the last man, who remained silent, his long, disheveled hair framing a face twisted in displeasure. "What say you, Lord El-Melloi?" Lighting a cigarette with the candle’s flame, Waver slowly turned his head and exhaled smoke. "It’s ’the Second.’ While I appreciate your attempt to respect my wishes, please add ’the Second’—otherwise, that damned name El-Melloi just makes my skin crawl." Without waiting for Belfeban’s reply, he continued: "Compared to you two, my situation is far more straightforward—the assailant has taken the El-Melloi princess, my adopted sister, hostage." "Oh?" Bram raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Even the supreme Mystic Code of one of the Twelve Families couldn’t stop them?" Lord El-Melloi II tapped his cigar. "No need for probing, my friend. This is not something a magus can defeat." Before the heads of two major departments, Waver remained unflinching as he uttered that word once more. "After all, what we’re dealing with is a Servant." Servant— The moment the word left his lips, the other two magi in the room instinctively held their breaths. With the information about the Greater Grail already leaked, how could the Mage’s Association be unaware of this forbidden term? They were the crystallization of humanity’s fantasies across time, the most noble phenomena—and for magi, the most powerful and overwhelming entities imaginable. If it weren’t for the various flaws of the subcategory Holy Grail Wars, where Servants place enormous demands on leylines and face numerous restrictions—making it impossible for them to stray beyond certain boundaries—the Mage’s Association would have long since been targeted by those with ulterior motives. Yet now, Lord El-Melloi II claimed they had encountered a Servant... "Don’t tell me a Holy Grail War has broken out in London?!" Bram slammed the table, unable to conceal his agitation. For the Mage’s Association, allowing a group of walking nuclear warheads to brawl right under their noses... was nothing short of terrifying! "A reasonable guess, Mr. Bram." The fourth voice in the room came from a black-robed figure who had appeared without warning. No alarms, no defenses—by the time Bram and Belfeban snapped to attention, the robed man had already pulled out a chair and seated himself at the head of the table. "Please, take your seats, the three individuals responsible for handling the Yggdmillennia defection." "...Where’s Reines?" Lord El-Melloi II glared at Sakatsuki as he dragged over a chair and sat down. "Sent her back." The young man answered casually, as though he’d merely released a stray cat. "She was sensible enough not to threaten me before leaving." Here, Sakatsuki deliberately let slip a trace of killing intent, instantly plunging the already tense room into a bone-chilling cold, as if filled with blocks of ice. "Otherwise, the outcome wouldn’t have been so pleasant." Submit or die. The young man’s actions made this point unmistakably clear, and the two seasoned veterans, well-versed in power plays, couldn’t possibly miss it. "If you truly are a Servant, then threats from us magi would be nothing more than a joke." Belfeban and Bram exchanged glances before speaking in turn. "Then, what kind of transaction do you require from us?" "Transaction... Hmph, quick to reframe things, aren’t you?" Sakatsuki drummed his fingers on the table. Having visited the Clock Tower before, he was long familiar with the nature of these magus-politicians and didn’t take offense. "Call it a transaction if you like. I only ask three things of you—" "First, I need absolute authority over the ’Cleanup Team,’ naturally for the purpose of quelling Yggdmillennia’s rebellion." "Second, I require a token symbolizing the Mage’s Association, with privileges at least on par with a bishop of the Holy Church." "Third, I accidentally wiped out a magus family. I need you to help cover it up." "Wait." Belfeban raised his hand, interrupting Sakatsuki. "You’re saying you destroyed an entire magus family? What was their name?" "Correct." Sakatsuki nodded. "The head was an old man—my summoner, whom I killed. I didn’t bother learning the family name, nor do I care. But I do have their Magic Crest in my possession and can provide their address." As the young man spread his hands with a smile, a black Magic Crest materialized in the air, radiating an eerie, unsettling glow. "I see." Faced with the perpetrator who had mercilessly slaughtered an entire family and even stripped their Magic Crest, Waver remained unfazed, nodding in understanding. "So that’s how you slipped in unnoticed. It seems the Mage’s Association’s overseers left a loophole for you to exploit." "As expected of Waver, always sharp." Sakatsuki nodded with a smile, enjoying the pained expression on the Lord El-Melloi II’s face at hearing his original name, then shifted his gaze to examine the other two contemplative magi. For an organization as vast as the Mage’s Association, Sakatsuki’s request appeared simple on the surface—just help cover up the incident and provide a symbolic identity rather than a practical one. In return, they’d gain servant-level combatants joining their cleanup crew to assist in their campaign against the Yggdmillennia. Yet these old foxes could clearly see through Sakatsuki’s intentions. His actions were essentially using assistance against Yggdmillennia as leverage to demand the Mage’s Association declare their stance—which was why Waver had immediately said he couldn’t make the decision alone. The first condition represented Sakatsuki’s offered assistance and benefits. The second condition was the rights he demanded from the Mage’s Association. The third condition served as Sakatsuki’s threat, implying he could destroy a mage family just as easily as he could turn the Clock Tower upside down. "Still, I have one question." Perhaps dissatisfied with Sakatsuki’s high-handed attitude, Bram rapped the table as he voiced his skepticism. "What exactly does Yggdmillennia possess that makes you think even fifty elite magi couldn’t defeat that gathering of trash?" "Haven’t you realized it yet? Waver understood immediately from the start." Sakatsuki fixed his gaze on the head of the Spiritual Evocation department, his chilling smile accompanying the answer: "Because Yggdmillennia’s side has long prepared servants to welcome you fools." *** The door opened as Bram and Belfaban hurried out without looking back, while Sakatsuki, draped in black robes, exited alongside Waver. Under the pressure of his intelligence, all three magi had agreed to his request, though heated debates still arose over details as they stubbornly defended the Clock Tower’s—or rather, their own—interests. Belfeban, for instance, had declared before providing credentials that the Association wouldn’t interfere or take responsibility for Sakatsuki’s actions—implying they wouldn’t be blamed even if he destroyed the world. Bram, as head of Spiritual Evocation, naturally demanded spiritual data on the servants—mirroring exactly what his counterpart would do in another timeline. Then there was Waver Velvet. He was far more direct—aside from essential materials, he claimed all the family’s assets, funds, and spoils for the Modern Magecraft department. "Though a family drained dry by demons could hardly fill your El-Melloi debts, could it?" "Just politically appropriate overreach." Waver had grown accustomed to Sakatsuki’s uncanny knowledge about him, focusing instead on another matter. "That emergency mechanism of the Greater Grail you mentioned earlier—was that serious?" In the meeting, Sakatsuki had dropped another bombshell to pressure the two men into agreement. "The Greater Grail implements auxiliary functions related to the Holy Grail War—like Command Spell redistribution—based on circumstances. Though the probability is nearly zero, when all seven servants are unified under one faction, a contingency system activates to devise countermeasures." In the timeworn corridor, Waver stopped abruptly, his gaze burning with intensity. "——At that time, the summoning of seven additional Servants to oppose the original seven becomes a possibility." "Yes, precisely so." Sakatsuki nodded. "This is the battle we will face—an unprecedented war involving fourteen Servants. What’s the matter? Eager to reunite with your king?" "How do you even know about that... Never mind." The long-haired man, handsome yet visibly weary, shook his head. "I’m not yet mature enough to face him again. Just an idle thought, that’s all." "Then, like those two, focus on gathering the relics and selecting the candidates, Waver." Sakatsuki chuckled lightly, patting him on the shoulder—his face, of course, still hidden beneath his hood. "I’ll have the cleanup team activate the Greater Grail’s preliminary system. After that, my assistance to the Mage’s Association ends here." "Yet the Mage’s Association stands behind you now, becoming an unseen force in your favor." Waver rolled his eyes but didn’t complain further. Instead, he waved at Sakatsuki and turned to leave. Their terms and demands had already been exchanged. Having secured the promises and concessions he sought, Sakatsuki no longer had any reason to remain at the Clock Tower. "Then, let’s go." With one last glance at the Clock Tower, Sakatsuki turned away, dissolving into the twilight like a drop of ink merging into the vast hues of dusk. All preparations were now complete. The next step was to raise the curtain on the Holy Grail War. *** Hey readers! Want to read ahead? ???? Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance Chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster. ????patreon.com/aarvan????

Chapter 381: [381] The Mage’s Association Platform

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