Chapter Eighteen: An Unlikely Alliance

“It was rude of me. May I ask your name...?” Even seeing Weber’s stunned expression, Danic was not annoyed, merely repeating his question in a gentle voice.

“Weber, Weber Velvet. I’m sorry, I was truly out of line just now! This is indeed Professor Kenneth’s package... Are you looking for it?” Realizing what he had just done to the legendary magus, Weber replied in a flustered rush.

“It’s fine. May I simply call you Weber?” Seeing Weber’s response, Danic offered a warm smile, quickly assessing Weber’s attire and bearing. He did not press further about the package, instead shifting the conversation.

“You’re a magus of shallow lineage, aren’t you?” he soon said, with certainty.

“Yes, I only have three generations of heritage...” What’s this guy planning? Is he going to mock me for being a country bumpkin? Hearing Danic’s words, Weber lowered his head. While he could grumble about others’ disdain in private, confronting someone of Danic’s caliber was tantamount to courting disaster.

But contrary to Weber’s fears, Danic’s tone changed, ringing out clear and strong. “Lineage is nothing but a pointless shackle forced upon those of lesser birth by the nobles. They cling to decaying rules and suppress those with real talent.”

Though his words weren’t overtly impassioned, Danic’s calm assertion carried a powerful conviction.

Weber’s eyes widened involuntarily; it was the first time such a legendary figure had acknowledged him, and his supposedly naïve beliefs found rare resonance.

Yet he replied cautiously, “Actually... it’s not quite so—”

Danic caught the unsettled look in Weber’s eyes; a flash of insight gleamed within his own. He patted Weber’s shoulder.

“No need to placate me with empty words, Weber. If you know anything about me, you should understand that my background is hardly privileged compared to the Clock Tower’s nobles. I founded the Thousand Worlds Tree family precisely to cast off the rot of the Clock Tower, to create a haven for truly capable magi, regardless of lineage.”

Danic gripped Weber’s shoulder, his smile imparting a message of goodwill.

“Weber Velvet, I sense buried talent within you. Would you like to join the Thousand Worlds Tree?”

“I—I... of course I would!” Excitement flushed Weber’s face; being understood for the first time left him almost dizzy with joy.

After all, his three generations of heritage were negligible compared to the Thousand Worlds Tree, so there was nothing to lose.

“When you graduate, you’ll always be welcome.” Danic smiled again and extended his hand.

“Well then, may I take a look at Professor Kenneth’s package? I’ll deliver it to him myself, so you won’t have to trouble yourself.”

Hearing this request, Weber instinctively reached out, but hesitated as his fingers touched the package.

Being recognized was certainly gratifying, yet Weber had not been completely swept away. Danic’s praise, no matter how sincere, was at least partly motivated by his desire to inspect Kenneth’s parcel.

Their mutual animosity was widely known. Though betraying that annoying lemon-head in exchange for a bright future sounded tempting, was that truly what Weber wanted?

In that contest known as the Holy Grail War, the revelation of a servant’s true name could determine victory or defeat; surely Danic sought this information.

Weber only wanted to prove his own abilities. If he used such underhanded means to ensure Kenneth’s failure, wouldn’t he become a despicable villain?

“I’m terribly sorry! I really must deliver this to Professor Kenneth myself!” Weber closed his eyes and bowed in apology to Danic.

“Tsk.” Danic’s expression darkened. He reached toward his chest; though the item there was merely a shell, at close range it could cause confusion for a moment. He had no interest in wasting more time with this child.

“Stay away from my student, Danic.” Suddenly, a cold voice interrupted Danic’s action.

Kenneth stepped forward, not immediately reclaiming his package, but rather rudely pulling Weber behind him.

His blond hair was perfectly groomed, though it exposed a somewhat worrisome hairline. He carried himself with the restraint and pride of an old-school aristocrat.

“So you’re really nothing but a man with a silver tongue? Even now, when our rivalry is established, you resort to such sordid methods to gather intelligence.”

Danic, exposed, did not lose his temper. He looked calmly at Kenneth.

“What choice is there? This is the Holy Grail War. In this archaic event, there’s no room for your kind of modern magus. Don’t let yourself get killed out there.”

“I’ll bear that in mind. In the name of El-Melloi, I trust you need no further invitation to leave.”

“Farewell then, Weber. And Kenneth. See you at the Holy Grail War.”

“Hmph.”

Only when Danic’s departure was certain did Kenneth snort, turning a grim gaze upon Weber.

“Weber Velvet. I once believed your narrow perspective was simply a reflection of naïve stupidity, and so I was lenient with you. But to think you now lack the ability to discern right from wrong—at this level, you dare boast about changing the Clock Tower?”

This guy! Always so condescending!

Weber clenched his teeth, restraining the urge to punch Kenneth’s insufferable face. He had just resisted temptation, giving up a seemingly bright future to preserve the fairness of Kenneth’s competition. Why was he being scolded for it?

Driven by youthful defiance, Weber could not hold back and retorted.

“That’s just your lack of vision! Senior Danic sees something in me! He even invited me to join the Thousand Worlds Tree!”

“That’s precisely why I say you’re foolish,” Kenneth’s eyes grew more exasperated. “That man’s nickname at the Clock Tower is ‘Danic of the Eight Tongues,’ a mockery of his methods.”

“He invited you to join the Thousand Worlds Tree? Do you truly understand what kind of family that is? Recklessly dividing magical crests among fallen families, assimilating others’ systems and craft—under such circumstances, their crests serve only to identify kin. The true core remains the pre-existing techniques; those are the credentials for a place in the Thousand Worlds Tree. Without such accumulation, you can imagine the fate of those who join.”

Weber pursed his lips. He was well aware: to choose a family was to choose an allegiance, and once inside, escape would be difficult. Now that his head had cooled, Weber realized why, despite its growing power, the Thousand Worlds Tree had never become a great house within the Clock Tower.

Danic’s practice of carelessly dividing the magical crests that families depended on for their legacy ran contrary to all common sense. Such a family was like a pack of hyenas, surviving by devouring the decaying scraps of mage society chosen by their leader—not a proper lineage.

Even so, Weber remained stubborn.

“So what if I know? I want to join the Thousand Worlds Tree because I admire Senior Danic!”

“How utterly foolish,” Kenneth glanced at Weber. “He’s bewitched you with his own background, as he always does.”

“It’s true, his origins weren’t remarkable, but his magical circuits and aptitude were exceptional. Many families sought to recruit him, but when it was confirmed that his lineage would likely degrade in later generations, he was abandoned.”

“That’s why he could found the Thousand Worlds Tree without hesitation—since he can’t rely on his own blood, his research and legacy can’t be inherited. But even as an enemy, I must acknowledge his talent.”

Speaking of this formidable adversary, Kenneth’s tone remained arrogant, but his gaze grew more serious. “In the study of souls, that man may already have touched the threshold of the Grand rank.”

“As for you, Weber Velvet, I can assert with confidence: even if you possess some talent, unless you turn yourself into a monster worthy of sealing designation, you will never surpass the rank of Lecturer in your lifetime.”

The acerbic evaluation wounded Weber deeply, yet he lacked the courage to protest. His belief that Kenneth lacked vision was, ironically, proof that he recognized Kenneth’s talent. It was precisely because he trusted Kenneth’s judgment of his thesis that Weber had handed it over without hesitation.

“But judging by today, you’re still my student. If I misjudge you, it would tarnish the El-Melloi name. If you truly wish to prove yourself, why not undertake a novel extracurricular assignment? If you excel, I’ll retract my assessment.”

Kenneth turned away, hiding his expression from Weber.

Though it was just a mundane magic contest, the opponent was someone of Danic’s caliber—a genuine threat. Kenneth did not believe he would lose, but was not certain of a resounding victory either. It would be humiliating for his fiancée Sola to witness such a scene, so he had long considered changing his assistant.

Weber’s abilities were unremarkable, but for today’s sake, Kenneth was willing to give him a chance. With the Holy Grail War as his assistant’s proving ground, perhaps afterward, Weber could join the El-Melloi branch family as a reward.

Although his emotional intelligence was low, perhaps due to his privileged upbringing and dedication to research, Kenneth was one of the few magi to possess genuine humanity.

“Your—your meaning is...?” Weber’s voice trembled again.

“Weber Velvet, I am asking if you wish to participate in the Holy Grail War as my assistant.”

“I—I absolutely do! I’ll definitely prove myself to you!”