Magician in Type-Moon

Page 584

This information instantly caught Matouchi's attention. His gaze, which had been fixed on the distant Styx River, abruptly returned and sharply turned towards Hartres.

The discovery of a "pathway" in the mysterious fairy realm is of great significance.

"Yes, I think that's the path to the Inner Sea of ​​Stars. If it weren't for the need to complete the closed loop, I would probably be happy to explore it."

Hartres nodded firmly, his tone revealing a clear sense of regret.

He clearly stated his speculation: that path most likely leads to the magician's ultimate dream destination—the Sea Within the Stars.

He would never have given up exploring this path that could touch the very roots of the world if there hadn't been a more important goal to be prioritized at the time.

Upon hearing the speculations of "Hoshino Umi" and Hatres, Matou Ike lowered his eyelids slightly, concealing the thoughts that flashed in his eyes.

For modern magicians, the Fairy Realm represents the limit that the Great Spirit Tomb of Albion can reach.

Of course, "arrival" here simply means "arrival".

Without Hartres's talent, even if one were to manage to get in, there would be no way to find the way back.

The Fairy Realm's location within the modern magic system is the farthest point accessible via the path of the Albion Tomb, located beyond the planet's surface.

Entering the territory is a miraculous adventure in itself, while a safe return depends entirely on the explorer's extraordinary talent and luck.

For most magicians, it is merely a forbidden place that exists in theory but from which there is no return.

Combining the legend of Albion, the last dragon, Matou Ike constructed the location of the Fairy Realm in his mind.

It is like a huge, suspended "bubble" that clings to the magnificent outer wall of the star's inner sea, while being connected to the planet's surface through some mysterious "umbilical cord".

It belongs to both, yet is independent of both; it is a paradise in the cracks, far from the mysterious clamor of the inner sea of ​​the star and the mundane strife of the surface world.

This is the Fairy Realm, this is paradise.

From this perspective, it is logically reasonable for Hartres to speculate that the passage he discovered in the Fairy Realm, which points to a deeper direction, is a path leading to the Inner Sea of ​​the Stars.

This aligns with the understanding that the Fairy Realm is a "bubble" closely attached to the inner and outer walls.

However, a cautious question arose in Matou Ike's mind.

A reasonable positioning is not the same as conclusive evidence. The key point is that Hartres did not personally verify that path.

His conclusion was merely a speculation based on the geographical location of the Fairy Realm.

In that unknown realm, a newly discovered path leads to either the radiant and dazzling Inner Sea of ​​Stars or some other, more hidden and unimaginable place.

and so--

"So how many people did you tell this information to?" Matou Ike raised his eyes and looked into Heartless's eyes.

"...Well, although I've praised you many times, I really have to say, Lord Matou, you are truly very perceptive."

Hartres paused for a moment, then let out a sigh that was hard to decipher.

He shook his head, a mixture of admiration and helplessness on his face. Matou Ike's insight always managed to pinpoint the crux of the matter in unexpected places.

He didn't answer directly, but met Matou Ike's gaze, which seemed to penetrate his soul.

Hartles shook his head, while Matou Ike just kept staring at him.

"I've told quite a few people. Basically, everyone I've interacted with should know this information."

Hartres smiled.

He finally gave his answer, his tone relaxed and casual, even with a touch of nonchalant honesty.

It's as if this is just an interesting anecdote, worth sharing with friends, rather than a core secret that needs to be kept.

His smile remained gentle, yet it was difficult to discern whether there was a deeper motive behind this candor.

Matouike simply sighed softly.

The sigh was very soft, almost drowned out by the noise of the flowing magic, yet it contained a complex emotion—

It wasn't anger or disappointment, but rather a sense of relief after confirming some unavoidable fact, even with a hint of... relief?

“That’s great. To be honest, I thought I was going to never get rid of these delusional criticisms.”

Matou Ike's next words confirmed this. His tone carried an almost self-deprecating ease.

"So, you know who my accomplice is now, right?"

Hartres then steered the conversation to a more central level—his allies in the Grand Order decision.

His smile held a hint of amusement, as if he were anticipating Matou Ike's answer.

"Your accomplice in the Grand Decision is Inola, isn't it?"

Without hesitation or testing, Matou Ike directly pointed out the name—Inolei Baljereta, the monarch of the Ninth Department, Creation Department, and an important figure in the power structure of the Clock Tower.

“This is simply a process of elimination.” Matou Ike then unfolded his clear and ruthless reasoning, like deducing moves on a chessboard:

“Since Magdana’s daughter once attempted to kill Hartres’s disciple, it will be difficult for you to cooperate with them.” There is a deep-seated hatred between you and the Magdana faction; cooperation is absolutely impossible.

“May Lydal and Rufreus are thorough aristocrats who have no room for approving of the magical forms of the mythical age.”

May Lidel of the Botany family and Rufreus of the Spellcasting family are staunch supporters of aristocracy, whose ideals are fundamentally at odds with Hatreus' ultimate goal of reviving the magic of the Age of Gods.

"Alga Marie and Inola are actually quite difficult for me to decide, but considering that Monarch Marisbury has his own purposes."

Marisbilly of the Coanimsfia has independent and ambitious goals, making him a difficult and reliable ally for Hartres.

"Ms. Enolae has no complicated thoughts; she chooses to stand on your side purely because it is advantageous to her. Yes, she is as naturally close to power as she breathes. Without any malice, nor does she stubbornly plot against you."

Ultimately, they focused on Inola. Her logic was unusually "pure"—the pursuit of power.

She was not a schemer, nor did she have complex ideological entanglements or deep-seated hatreds; she was simply drawn, like a biological instinct, to powerful forces, favorable situations, and the core of power.

The transformative forces represented by Hartres and his strategic maneuvering in the Grand Order undoubtedly created a highly attractive "power field."

Her support was purely based on self-interest, an almost instinctive act of "taking sides."

Hartres did not deny it, but only deepened the smile at the corner of his mouth, as if confirming Matouchi's accurate judgment.

“Professor Enolae has always been very kind to me. Even with the former Department of Modern Magic, she often urged us to switch sides and embrace democracy.”

Hartres added, his tone carrying a subtle undertone regarding this "ally."

Inole's "goodness" towards him was not a personal favor, but a keen investment in his potential.

Her call to "join democracy" to the Department of Modern Magic was not based on ideological agreement, but rather on a pure consideration of the expansion of the democratic faction within her own camp.

This perfectly confirms Matou Ike's assessment of her as "being close to power as if it were breathing"—her "goodness" and "influence" are all outward manifestations of her instinct to pursue power.

As Hartles finished speaking, Matou Ike slowly closed one eye, his gaze becoming as deep as a vortex in the dark night.

“That being said,” he said calmly, as if every word contained some kind of mystery.

"Ms. Enolae is not going to do everything she can to help you succeed... she is just controlling the game in a way that you can benefit from whether you succeed or not."

He paused slightly, observing Hartres's reaction.

“McGdana may have already vaguely sensed that Inola has some kind of cooperation with you.”

Matou Ike's tone carried a hint of calm speculation.

"That's why El-Melloi II gave up on continuing to investigate the identity of the accomplice. Even if the so-called accomplice were found, what good would it do? It would only cut off all escape routes and make them a complete enemy of that person."

Matou Ike spoke slowly and deliberately, as if everything was under his control.

"Of course, in the worst-case scenario, Magdana's reputation will be damaged because he was deceived. But this loss is nothing politically, and a way will eventually be found to restore it. After all, it is only natural for a monarch to make such a judgment."

As Hartres listened to Matou Ike's words, a subtle emotional fluctuation flashed in his eyes.

He could already guess what Matou Ike would say next, which was—

Chapter 620 Launch (4k)

"So, setting aside the aspects of power and interests, your true ally should be Meastia, who didn't appear at the Grand Order Decision? Or rather, the entire neutralism represented by Meastia."

Matouchi spoke slowly and deliberately.

He revealed Hartres's true reliance beyond the noise surrounding the championship decision—

The absent archaeological monarch of Comeriastia, and the neutralist force he symbolized, maintaining a delicate distance in the factional struggles of the Clock Tower.

This is not a superficial cooperation based on the exchange of benefits, but rather a kind of alignment in ideas or deeper goals.

Hartres did not respond immediately.

He slightly raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the void above, or perhaps simply sensing a light that did not exist.

When that "light" fell on his face, he closed his eyes, as if digesting Matouchi's insight, or as if recalling some heavy past.

“You’re not a detective. Your job isn’t to convict someone in a case… You only dismantle cases when necessary.”

Hartres closed his eyes and spoke slowly.

His voice carried a peculiar calmness, not as a rebuttal, but as a precise description of the essence of Matouchi's behavior.

Matou Ike is not a detective seeking justice or judgment. His guiding principle is based on a certain "necessity".

When the existence of a "case" itself constitutes an obstacle or threat, his duty is to dismantle it—like disassembling the gears of a precision machine to stop it from operating;

It's like dismantling a profound and mysterious core foundation, rendering it meaningless.

Therefore, the criminal's identity is not revealed.

Therefore, no charges will be pursued.

Simply dismantle the case. Like disassembling the gears of a machine.

"So, what are my motives?"

He opened his eyes, a mischievous, slightly provocative smile curving his lips.

Now that Matouike has seen through his ally, what is his more fundamental "motivation" that drives all of this? He is like a riddle-setter, waiting for the other party to answer.

"Through time travel, you are able to observe the Clock Tower and Albion from the perspectives of both your disciple Kuro and your teacher Hartres. Moreover, your companions and disciples, Ashira and the others, betrayed you twice."

Matou Ike did not hesitate; his words, like a cold carving knife, cut into the core of Hartres's experience.

Hartres possesses a unique perspective.

Through his ability to travel through time, he was able to observe and examine the changes of the Clock Tower and the spirit tomb Albion simultaneously, assuming the dual identities of "disciple Kuro" and "teacher Hartres".

This endowed him with extraordinary insight.