Shinji Matou at Your Service-Chapter 926 - : Once Again

Because they were traveling on a specially modified private jet, flying directly without any layovers or transfers, Waver's group, although departing two days later than Bazett, arrived only half a day later. This was because Lorelei had deliberately chosen an airport farther from Fuyuki instead of the closest one, F Airport.

The reason, of course, was to avoid being noticed by Shinji. Ever since he gained fame after the 2001 battle that defeated the Night of Wallachia, Lorelei had been sending people to Fuyuki to conduct intelligence operations in secret. Their tasks included eliminating spies from other factions and protecting Shinji's family. These operations required an intimate knowledge of Fuyuki, even more so than the locals, so Lorelei was well aware of the changes in the city. She also guessed the purpose behind the Matou family's involvement in the city's surveillance system. She didn't want Shinji to know of her arrival, preferring to take a roundabout route rather than risk being discovered.

Her strategy proved successful. Four hours after entering Fuyuki, Shinji still hadn't come knocking — enough time for them to drive around the city in circles and still have time to spare.

This also had to do with Waver's choice of location as a base. It was in the mountains outside of Miyama Town, neither a tourist spot nor a residential or commercial area, and not a major traffic hub. Unless the entire Fuyuki city government went mad, there was no way they would install surveillance cameras in such a remote place.

Of course, there were many other places where one could avoid surveillance, but this secluded area was chosen for a special reason. It was the site of the most important turning point in Waver's fate — ten years ago, he had conducted a summoning ritual here and successfully summoned the man who changed his life.

Ten years later, War vewould summon that man again. This time, he would stand tall and report to him that he hadn't disappointed his expectations and had completed his orders. Even though the relic he possessed could only summon that particular man (with one exception, who was now standing nearby), Waver still chose the same place. Not only was it the same location, but he also replicated the entire ritual process exactly as before.

Though not particularly fit, he walked five kilometers up a mountain to a dilapidated chicken coop, where he bought three chickens. It took him more than half an hour to catch the chickens and put them in a cage — no small feat, as anyone who's tried catching free-range chickens can attest.

This task would have been much easier if Waver had allowed his students to help. Flat, Svin, and Gray had all offered their assistance. Apart from Flat, who was just there for the fun, the other two were more than capable. Svin had the instincts of a wolf and a natural hunting ability. Gray, having grown up in the countryside, was no stranger to livestock, and with her superior physical abilities, catching a few chickens would have been a breeze.

But Waver refused, not only declining their help but also chasing them away, insisting on doing it himself. Even though it took him half an hour, his coat got covered in chicken droppings, and he looked a mess, he didn't change his mind. In the end, he smiled like a child, drawing cries of "Professor's gone mad!" from Flat and Svin.

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Even Lorelei, usually calm, and Faker, cast strange looks at him — a man of Waver's stature, a high-ranking member of the Clock Tower with hundreds of elite followers, someone who could shake the world of magecraft, was personally handling three chickens, making a mess of himself, and yet smiling happily? Who would believe it?

What they didn't know was that Waver had done the same thing ten years ago. Out of a normal person's conscience, he hadn't used human blood, and out of fear of pain, he hadn't used his blood. He had chosen animal blood as a substitute. He thought it would be easy to find such offerings, but it had taken him half the night to find a household with chickens in the mountains, and after another hour, he was covered in chicken droppings, his hands bleeding from pecks, and it was nearly dawn by the time he got his three sacrifices.

Now, in the same coop, with the same breed of chickens, he had caught them in half the time, without getting as dirty or injuring his hands. He wouldn't have to endure the chickens crowing for another day, so how could he not be happy?

"See, this is growth! I haven't wasted the last ten years," Waver thought to himself. Though he looked foolish to others, he didn't care at all.

Dragging his excited but tired body back to the campsite on the mountainside, Waver continued to work alone, wielding a kitchen knife to send the three noisy chickens on their way. He carefully timed it, drawing the summoning circle while the blood was still warm.

At that moment, Lorelei was on the verge of a breakdown, just like Waver had been at the London airport. She even began to doubt whether choosing Waver as an ally had been a mistake.

"All this effort just to summon with chicken blood? I know the Modern Magecraft Department has been short on funds lately, but using such low-grade materials? If you were unprepared, you could have told me. I brought better supplies."

Unable to understand what Waver was thinking, Lorelei decided to leave for now. It was better not to be present at such a time, especially since they might have to fight later in the Holy Grail War. She also needed to prepare her summoning.

Waver, however, ignored her, fully focused on the ritual in front of him.

In the elimination, there is withdrawal, drawing the four retreating circles, and then surrounding them with the summoning circle... The order must not be wrong.

"Close, close, close, close, close."

He said it five times in a row.

"But when full, it must break."

Chanting the incantation, Waver carefully dripped the fresh blood onto the ground.

His emotions and intentions were forgotten as he concentrated entirely on the ritual about to begin.

Feeling himself converge into a single point, his nerves tightened, and all unnecessary sensory functions were shut off.

Unlike nerves and blood vessels, unseen circuits were running throughout his body.

As he sensed the invisible currents flowing within, the man uttered a prayer for himself and a curse to the balance of the universe in the ancient words of a summoning spell.

Then, a miracle occurred, and legend descended.