I, Kenneth, am going to get to the root of the problem today.

Page 7

"Could it be that he/she is with..."

"Shh!"

Realizing she hadn't guessed wrong, Aozaki Aoko took a deep breath, and the aura of law manifested, freezing the surrounding crowd in place like a slideshow.

“I’ve already separated this area from the timeline, so there’s no need to worry about those two bastards finding out.”

"Is this the power of the law? How amazing!"

After marveling at the power of magic, Kenneth looked at the magician walking among mortals again.

"Aoko, do you know about Absolute Future Vision?"

"Absolute future vision, the eyes of God that transcend 'prediction' and 'determination'... You didn't go to Japan just for this, did you?! How is that possible? How could those two bastards allow someone with such eyes to exist?!"

As expected of a magician! He immediately launched into insults at the Counter Force, which ordinary magicians would avoid at all costs. Kenneth, who was struggling to breathe under the pressure of the Counter Force, said: "He's a big shot, I can't mess with him."

Looking directly at Aozaki Aoko, Kenneth nodded firmly. Without giving Aozaki Aoko much time to react, Kenneth continued to explain:

"At first I didn't believe it either, but the El-Melloi family's investigation couldn't be faked, so I went to Japan to verify it, and that's how I met that fortune teller with absolute future vision in the alley."

“From her, I learned about my future: a dark future, a future of certain death, an inescapable future. My only path to survival was shrouded in a fog, and that fog pointed to the Holy Grail of Fuyuki City.”

Over the time it takes to drink a few cups of coffee, the easygoing Aozaki Aoko had already come to regard Kenneth as a friend. Now, faced with such a future, Aozaki Aoko didn't know what to say.

"An unavoidable death? Did you destroy the world in your past life? How could those two things target you like this!"

"Wait a minute, you wouldn't happen to be...? Or rather, is there any possibility that you might be...?!"

At that moment, Aozaki Aoko also realized something. The moment she awakened the Aozaki family's magic, the malice those two things showed her, the pressure of being at odds with the world—if it weren't for the magic recorded in the magic crest that relieved the pressure for her, she would have definitely died on the eve of awakening the magic.

Taking a deep breath, Aozaki Aoko looked at Kenneth, who still had a calm expression, with a complicated expression on her face.

"Those two things are still so disgusting. It seems you have no choice but to go on this trip to Fuyuki."

"That's right, my only way out is the law that constitutes the Holy Grail. Even if it's incomplete, I must obtain it. Only then can I break free from the control of those two and escape my life as a puppet."

"So, you want me to help you?"

"Yes, I want to hire Aoko. I think those two won't give me a chance to get the Holy Grail, or they'll use some emergency measures. Facing those monsters who overwhelm me in terms of mystery, I'm afraid my abilities will be insufficient to deal with them."

Kenneth's bluntness was not unexpected for Aozaki Aoko. Without much consideration, Aozaki Aoko slammed her hand on the table.

"I'm definitely going to help you out. Those two did a lot of dirty tricks when I awakened. Now that I have this rare opportunity, I'm going to make sure they're completely humiliated!!"

Chapter Seventeen Lydia: That's right, Kenneth was just pretending all along.

As expected of Aozaki Aoko, she walks the world freely and unrestrainedly, acting entirely according to her own heart and interests.

"So, Aoko, you've accepted my request. In that case..."

"It's not a request, it's help. We're friends, isn't it only right that I'd go to great lengths for a friend? It's rare to meet a magician like you, I don't want to be attending your funeral any sooner than expected!"

At this moment, Kenneth felt the overflowing personal charm of Aozaki Aoko. Even though his initial motives were impure, Kenneth now genuinely wanted to be friends with Aozaki Aoko.

"Oh, I was being presumptuous. I'll punish myself with a drink."

Seeing Kenneth consuming his beverage like alcohol, Aozaki Aoko spat out the coffee in her mouth.

"Are you kidding me? You're punishing yourself by letting me drink properly instead of drinking juice. What's the big deal?"

"Isn't it because the conditions don't allow it? How about we go somewhere else?"

"elbow!!!"

In response to Kenneth's suggestion, Aozaki Aoko slammed her hand on the table and stood up. Immediately afterward, a monarch of the clock tower and a magician walking among humans appeared in the bar, arm in arm.

"You're definitely different from those old fogies, hiccup~ I never expected the Clock Tower to have a magician like you besides that guy, hiccup~"

"That guy? Hiccup~"

"Hahaha, you're such a loser, you're drunk after just a few drinks, hiccup~"

In response to Aozaki Aoko's mockery, Kenneth said: If it weren't for Director Ken's poor health, in my previous life, Kenneth would definitely have shown Aozaki Aoko what a drunkard's drinking capacity was like.

After mocking Kenneth for a while, Aozaki Aoko downed the beer in her pineapple cup in one gulp, revealing an extremely satisfied expression.

"You should know her, she's Lydel. She got some Flora flower seeds and asked me to deliver them to Yuzhu, hiccup~ You've probably heard of Yuzhu too, I'll introduce you two sometime, hiccup~"

"Hiccup~ That fairytale witch? Hiccup~ I know her, I know her, I definitely want to meet her sometime, hiccup~"

Just as the two were chatting casually, the bar's main door was pushed open, and Lydel rushed over, grabbing Aozaki Aoko's T-shirt.

"Aozaki Aoko——!!!"

"You stood me up again!! Let me tell you... Lord El-Melloi!!!"

Rubbing her ears, which were aching from Lydel's shock, Aozaki Aoko looked at Lydel, who had suddenly fallen silent, with a flushed face.

"You mean this guy? We got along really well and lost track of time. You guys probably know him too, right? Don't just stand there, come and have a drink with me. This guy is such a loser."

"You—!! Him—!! How did you two end up together?!"

At this moment, Lydel's brain, as barren as her chest, completely shut down. She knew Aozaki Aoko's personality, but how could Kenneth have become like this? As a member of the aristocratic faction, Lydel already thought she was quite out of place, but she didn't expect Kenneth to be even more of a heavyweight, throwing his monarchical status to the back of his mind and getting completely drunk in this place.

"Hiccup~ You know, this guy is totally my type. We're best friends now, what's wrong with best friends having a few drinks, hiccup~"

Now, Lydia was completely dumbfounded. She knew Aozaki Aoko's temperament well; she would never be interested in a traditional magician like Kenneth. What had happened before she arrived? How did these two completely unrelated people become such close friends?

"Lydel, let me tell you, this guy is completely different from those old fogies. If I hadn't had a proper chat with him, I would never have imagined that the rumored El-Melloi was actually the same kind of person as us, hiccup~"

"The same kind of person? Lord El-Melloi? No way!!"

Making an extreme facial expression, Lydia pointed incredulously at Kenneth, who was slumped on the table. But noticing Kenneth's drunken state, Lydia began to believe Aozaki Aoko's words to some extent.

"Was Kenneth's past behavior all an act? Was he, like me, pretending to be someone else for the sake of the family's reputation?"

Recalling Kenneth's previous actions of going against Euphoria for the sake of the family, Lydel was instantly convinced by herself.

"I see. It seems that he and I are indeed the same kind of people. He is a very responsible man. He has been pretending for his family for twenty years. These twenty years must have been very hard, after all, our family backgrounds are very different."

Suddenly, Lydia felt a sense of empathy for Kenneth, and a bold guess immediately popped into her mind.

Since Kenneth's previous behavior was all an act, then his marriage to Euryphus...

Once the idea took hold, it wouldn't go away. Looking at Kenneth, who had no monarchical demeanor whatsoever, Lydia's supposedly clever brain began to work frantically.

"That can't be right. Kenneth's attitude towards that young lady doesn't seem fake. Even though the young lady of Euryphus has always been lukewarm towards him, he hasn't given up... Wait, no!! The man in front of us can pretend for the sake of his family's reputation for twenty years. It's possible that he would force himself to fall in love with a woman he doesn't love for the sake of his family's interests."

"That must be it!! What man would relentlessly pursue a woman who ignores him, especially one like himself? Could it be that Solau's father is Lord Euryph, not only his teacher but also the monarch of the Conjuration Department? To maintain the friendship between the two families and for the benefit of the clan, you actually went to such lengths!!"

In an instant, Lydia felt she understood again, and her gaze toward Kenneth became heavy.

"So you've been carrying so much? Perhaps only at times like this can you finally relax. Tomorrow when you wake up, you'll have to face all those things that have been tormenting you again."

If Kenneth knew what Lydia was imagining at that moment, he would jump up and say: Yes, yes, that's right, it's me.

"Oh, I see. He must be living a very tiring life."

After waiting for a long time, Aozaki Aoko was immediately puzzled when Lydel blurted out those words. But when she thought of the world's malice towards Kenneth, Aozaki Aoko's voice became melancholy.

"Yes, his life is not only tiring, but also very difficult."

"Um!!!"

Aozaki Aoko's answer immediately caught Lydel's attention. Considering their previous conversation and Kenneth's drunken state, Lydel naturally assumed that Aozaki Aoko was affirming her.

Similarly, although it was unclear how Lydel came to the conclusion that Kenneth was tired, Aozaki Aoko, knowing that the existence of those two could not be mentioned to ordinary magicians, wisely kept her mouth shut.

And so, through a series of coincidences and misunderstandings, Lydia has become completely transformed.

Chapter Eighteen: The Gradual Infection in Dihua

After seeing Kenneth off to the El-Melloi family's car, Lydel, standing in a row with Aozaki Aoko, watched Kenneth leave with a complicated expression.

"What's wrong? Don't you know each other?"

Noticing her friend's unusual behavior, Aozaki Aoko rested her drunken head on Lidel's shoulder. In the past, Lidel would have definitely pushed Aozaki Aoko away, but today, Lidel was too heavy-hearted to pay attention to Aozaki Aoko.

"No, I only really got to know him today."

"Truly understand?"

Sensing Aozaki Aoko's doubts, Lydel shared her conclusions, which she had repeatedly verified. Thus, under the combined influence of being drunk and being a local, Aozaki Aoko's already muddled brain briefly went blank before she readily accepted Lydel's interpretation.

The next moment, as she watched the car disappear, Aozaki Aoko's mind drifted back to her earlier chat with Kenneth.

I firmly believe that capable people deserve special treatment, and mutual respect is the prerequisite for good cooperation. Just like that puppeteer, her magic attribute is the same as mine, both of us have the attribute of wind. I am already bound, so how can I restrict her freedom? The free wind should not be confined in a cage.

"I'm already bound..."

"How could I, who am bound, restrict her freedom..."

"The winds of freedom should never be confined in a cage..."

Kenneth's words kept echoing in Aozaki Aoko's mind. Before, she only thought that Kenneth was someone who understood her. Now it seems that Kenneth's words were not only spoken to her, but also to Kenneth himself.

Under the influence of Lydia, Aozaki Aoko inevitably went astray. Recalling Kenneth's calm in the face of his future death, Aozaki Aoko's gaze into the distance became solemn.

"The free wind should not be bound. I am the free wind, and you are the wind too... Are you saying those things because you envy my freedom?"

Aozaki Aoko, who thought she had figured everything out, sniffled, her voice becoming increasingly melancholy.

"He was really tired. Life was tormenting him, and the world was full of malice towards him." — Aozaki Aoko

"Yes, he had too much on his shoulders, and he kept forcing himself." — Lydia.

At this moment, the two people, who were referring to different things, inexplicably came to the same conclusion.

-------------------------------------

After a drunken Kenneth returned to the El-Melloi house, Reines, carrying large bags and small packages, also returned with Sakura Tohsaka and Fujino Asagami. Not seeing Kenneth, Reines immediately looked at Roy, who was standing in front of the door.

"Uncle Roy, where did my brother go today?"

When faced with Reines, who had been adopted by Kenneth, and recalling Kenneth's attitude towards her, Roy, Kenneth's personal butler, did not hide anything and directly told Reines about Kenneth's whereabouts.

"Please don't tell anyone, Miss. Lord met Miss Blue today, and the two had a very pleasant conversation. Lord is a bit of a drinker, and I was only able to find Lord after being notified by Lord Acherlot."

Reines, whose scheme against Kenneth had failed, widened her eyes immediately upon hearing Roy's explanation. While Sakura Tohsaka and Fujino Asagami might not know who Miss Blue was, Reines knew very well. As a magician walking among humans, Miss Blue's personality was a headache for many magicians. And now, her brother was actually chatting with her and even drinking with her. Given Kenneth's usual elegant demeanor, this was hard for Reines to accept.

"No, my brother usually only does that to deal with other families. If that's the case, then it's possible that he's doing this to win over that mage. As expected of my brother, I still have a lot to learn from his skills..."

After her unauthorized actions, Reines looked at Roy with a serious expression.

"How is my elder brother now?"

"Lord has already gone to bed. If Miss has any urgent matters, I can go and inform Lord."

"No need, it's nothing urgent, let your elder brother get some rest."

Upon learning that Kenneth was already resting, Reines, who considered herself the most dutiful sister in the world, naturally wouldn't disturb him. After instructing Roy to take good care of Kenneth, Reines returned to her room with her two little followers.

......

"Ouch, my head hurts. Sure enough, Director Ken's health is too poor. He's been neglecting his exercise. He must strengthen his body in the future."

As a magician, Kenneth could have chosen to use magic to dispel the alcohol, but under the circumstances, influenced by Aozaki Aoko, Kenneth didn't want to do anything to spoil the fun, so he simply let his body be numbed by the alcohol. It was without Kenneth's knowledge that Aozaki Aoko and Lydia fell into a strange cycle.

"However, the result was quite good."

Kenneth took out a piece of paper from his pocket and looked at the phone number belonging to Aozaki Aoko. A smile involuntarily appeared on Kenneth's lips. With Aozaki Aoko's help, Kenneth felt that his future was bright.

"Brother, are you awake? I have some questions about the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid technique that I would like to ask you."

Reines's voice rang out from outside the bedroom. Kenneth straightened his somewhat disheveled clothes and said in a slightly hoarse voice:

"Go to Workshop No. 5 first, I'll be there shortly."

"I understand."

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Kenneth got out of bed, took a shower, changed his clothes, and then stood in front of the No. 5 Magic Workshop. After confirming that there was nothing amiss in the workshop, Kenneth pushed open the door.

"Where did we run into the problem?"

Upon hearing Kenneth's voice, Reines bowed slightly and showed him the mercury in the test tube. Sensing the magic of the Moon Spirit Essence in Reines's hand, Kenneth realized the problem without Reines speaking.

"The base of the Moon Spirit Essence is fine, and the subsequent spell inscription is also fine. The problem lies in the magic circuit that connects the two. The Moon Spirit Essence is a highly precise Mystic Code, and ordinary materials are not suitable for its calculations. Go to the warehouse and get some hair from the Fantasy Species. Only materials like that can meet its transmission requirements."

"I understand, thank you for clearing up my doubts, elder brother."

Waving his hand, Kenneth, who rarely had a moment of free time, didn't sit idle. He took out his Moon Spirit Essence Liquid and continued to optimize it. As a man with a normal XP system, since it was his familiar, Kenneth had to do his best.

Chapter Nineteen: The Fat Sheep's Reputation is Known to All

At the end of 1992, at the El-Melloi residence, after enjoying Lydel's tsundere behavior through his familiars as usual, Kenneth, with a satisfied expression, stuffed a whole bunch of PUA into a pigeon.

"Knock knock knock, Lord, I have a letter for you."