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

Page 14

"Isn't this the perfect stage for me? Professor Kenneth will be there too, the relic..."

With a burning gaze fixed on the package Kenneth had deliberately sent, Webber's eyes blazed with a fire of fighting spirit.

"Just you wait, Professor Kenneth, I'm going to prove you right!!"

Closing his spell, Waver rolled up his sleeves and left the library. Shortly after Waver left, a magician emerged from the shadows and reported Waver's every word and action to Kenneth, who was far away at the El-Melloi residence.

"I understand. Contact the people in Fuyuki and keep an eye on Waver until he summons his Servant."

"Understood, Lord."

After hanging up the phone, Kenneth re-entered the magic workshop, where a doll identical to himself lay quietly inside the now-empty workshop.

"How is the quality of the doll?"

"You can trust me to handle things. You're really willing to spend so much, even using such precious materials. Is it worth it for a disposable doll?"

With a cigarette between his fingers, Aozaki Touko leaned against the wall, her eyes filled with heartache. Without answering Aozaki Touko's question, Kenneth composed himself and lay down on the experimental table.

"If the doll is destroyed, how long does it take for the consciousness to transfer? Is there a rejection reaction when the consciousness returns to the body? Or how long does it take to adapt?"

Extinguishing her cigarette, Aozaki Touko put on gloves and gracefully walked up to Kenneth.

"As you requested, your soul will remain in your original body. Only your consciousness will reside in that puppet. Your body is yours, and the degree of integration is far greater than that of the puppet. You will be back to normal in at most thirty seconds."

"Oh, I see. Then it's all right. I'll have to leave the rest to you. After the consciousness possession is complete, please transplant those demonic eyes into my body. This will allow my body and the demonic eyes to adapt during this interim period."

"You manage your time really well. Leave it to me. A pair of gem-level, almost rainbow-level magic eyes. You've really gone all out for this Holy Grail War."

Aozaki Touko's voice gradually became indistinct. Kenneth, who offered no resistance, fell into a deep sleep under the soothing magic. Looking at the man in front of her, Aozaki Touko took a deep breath and focused intently on placing her magically enveloped hand on Kenneth's forehead.

In a daze, Kenneth felt his body being pulled constantly. When he opened his eyes again, his vision had shifted several positions away from before. His consciousness gave the command to get up, but his puppet-like body only trembled a few times.

Hearing the commotion behind her, Aozaki Touko, who was busy transplanting the Mystic Eyes into Kenneth, whispered:

"This is how it is the first time you use a doll, and since your soul hasn't been transferred yet, you need time to adjust. Just lie down and you'll be able to get out of bed in one night at most."

Kenneth, unable to utter a complete word, gave up responding to Aozaki Touko's idea. He laboriously closed his eyelids and lay quietly in the magic workshop.

"Phew!! Finally finished, I'm exhausted. Let me tell you, boss, this isn't over until every single rune is used."

After an unknown amount of time, Aozaki Touko wiped the sweat from her forehead and slumped to the ground, stiffly turning her head. Kenneth nodded laboriously.

"No...no problem, you...you...you rest for a while...next...transplant a...Command Spell..."

"Hiss—!! Boss, can't you let me rest for a bit? Even farm tools shouldn't be used like this!!"

Under Aozaki Touko's gaze, Kenneth shakily raised his hand, controlling his stiff body, and stubbornly gave himself the middle finger.

Chapter Thirty-Five: Night Talk

With difficulty, Kenneth turned his head and looked at Aozaki Touko, who was lying exhausted on the ground.

"Orange, what is the maximum distance that this doll can separate from my original body?"

"Twenty kilometers, after all, it's not a soul transfer. If you go too far, your control over your body will decrease, and if you go any further, your consciousness will be forcibly disconnected."

After several hours of adjustment, Kenneth was finally able to have a normal conversation. Aozaki Touko, who had regained some strength, didn't stop and, with trembling hands and feet, began to transplant Command Seals onto Kenneth.

"I see. Then it seems I need to find a good place for my body. By the way, Orange, I might need to trouble you again. The goods from Fuyuki City will be delivered soon. If our method doesn't work, I might have to ask you to summon them for me."

At first, Kenneth considered having Aozaki Aoko summon it for him, but then he thought that Aozaki Aoko's mystery might be even greater than the Holy Grail. Putting aside the question of whether the Holy Grail could withstand it, if Aozaki Aoko became the Master, it would definitely raise the ceiling of this Holy Grail War. Faced with such a huge anomaly, if those two could sit still, Kenneth would devour the evil on the spot.

"Fine, fine, what can I do? I'm just an employee, whatever you say is right, boss."

The goods from Fuyuki City were naturally Ryunosuke Uryu. Of course, for safe transport, Kairi Shishikage directly extracted the other party's soul, so what Kenneth received was a living lump of flesh. As for the location to hide the body, Kenneth had already thought it through. That's right, it was Ryudouji Temple, where the floor tiles were famously hard.

Ahem, the above is pure nonsense. Anime is just for fun. If you actually believed it, Kenneth would definitely turn into a pile of rotten flesh for no reason. So this is when Aozaki Aoko needs to take action. At Kenneth's request, Aozaki Aoko has already gone to Ryudouji Temple and used the Fifth Law as a basis to peel off the timeline of a small area.

Similarly, it was precisely because it was Ryudouji Aozaki Aoko that she dared to do this. Ryudouji, as the second most powerful ley line in Fuyuki City after the Tohsaka and Matou families, was built on Mount Enzo, where the Greater Grail is located. The magical power of its ley lines is not a small amount. Karna is a major consumer of mana. Kenneth could definitely not afford the mana consumption of two Servants. The magical power under Ryudouji can completely satisfy Aozaki Aoko's needs while supporting Caster.

When the day of the final battle arrives, Kenneth will rise from his coffin. At that time, at least two Servants and one mage will ask how Kirito can win. Moreover, even if things are exposed, the simultaneous appearance of Aozaki Aoko and Caste at Ryudouji Temple can lull other groups into a false sense of security. Given Aozaki Aoko's status as a mage and Caste's positional warfare, anyone with a brain would not go to Ryudouji Temple alone to cause trouble.

Even if these people form an alliance, Kenneth could still turn against them midway and catch them off guard. In short, Kenneth believes the advantage lies with him!

"Phew, finally done. You're way too cautious. With two Servants and your student, you've got almost half of the Holy Grail War under your control."

Raising his arm and sensing the connection between the Command Seal and his body, Kenneth took a deep breath, and his expression suddenly became serious.

"Orange, you need to understand, I'm not doing this for that Holy Grail, I'm doing it to survive!!"

Caught off guard by Kenneth's inexplicable seriousness, which was a common occurrence whenever Aozaki Touko brought up the issue, Aozaki Touko also adopted a serious expression after realizing there might be some hidden secrets involved.

"And when do you plan to summon your Servant?"

"Tomorrow night, the goods from Fuyuki City will arrive tomorrow night. Once I've adapted to this body and adjusted my magic to its most active state, I'll perform the summoning."

Feeling his body gradually regaining consciousness, Kenneth stiffly raised his arm and reached for the chandelier above his head.

"Orange, if I don't come back this time, I'll have to ask you to help out the El-Melloi family. It would be best if you could hold out until Reines comes of age. You know those old fogies at the Clock Tower; those old foxes won't let go of any opportunity to make a killing."

Although Kenneth initially resisted the reality of his transmigration into the body of Director Ken, as a sane transmigrator, he had at least enjoyed the privileges of the El-Melloi family for over a year. He couldn't just throw his food away. If Kenneth knew the future was dangerous and still wanted to drag El-Melloi down with him, he would really be a scoundrel.

"Oh dear, since you trust me so much, I'll reluctantly agree. Boss, let me make this clear beforehand: if you don't come back, I'm going to bankrupt your El-Melloi family."

Although her voice was flippant, the goodwill within it truly reached Kenneth's heart. After understanding Aozaki Touko's meaning, Kenneth slowly lowered his arm.

"Then go ahead and lose as much as you want. How far can you lose by yourself? Maybe if you lose too much, I'll just rise from my coffin!"

"Ha ha ha ha!!!"

Laughter echoed in the magic workshop. Sensing the heaviness in Kenneth's laughter, Aozaki Touko, who was busy with her operations, shifted her body and leaned against the experimental table before taking out a cigarette from her cigarette case.

"call--!!"

Amidst the swirling smoke, Aozaki Touko looked at Kenneth lying on the bed with a complicated expression.

"To be honest, I had no idea you were this kind of person before I met you. As expected, the rumors about the Clock Tower are just as unreliable as the faces of those old men."

"Actually, I never thought I would become this kind of person. To be honest, if I had a choice, I would rather be an ordinary person."

Kenneth paused, his hand holding the cigarette still. The cigarette that Aozaki Touko had just taken two puffs of fell onto his lap. Kenneth glanced at Aozaki Touko, who was startled by his actions, and stiffly reached out his hand.

"Get me one too! Secondhand smoke is really bad for your health, give me a fresh one!!"

Amused by Kenneth's bizarre thought process, Aozaki Touko took a cigarette from the pack and put it in Kenneth's mouth. After several attempts, she found that Kenneth couldn't move normally at all. So, Aozaki Touko took the cigarette out and put it in her own mouth, lit it, and then put the cigarette back in Kenneth's mouth.

"Since you've paid me, I'll give you my first kiss?"

Kenneth: Meow meow meow? Who are you kidding? Don't think I don't know Orange Pearl Science!!

Of course, Kenneth, who had benefited from the deal, didn't say much. Trembling, he held the cigarette between his fingers, coughed a few times, and then his voice carried a hint of teasing.

"To be honest, Orange, we're such good friends, can we not talk about money? My family is poor, and we can hardly afford to support you anymore."

"What nonsense are you talking about? This is a legitimate employment relationship. You pay, I do the work. Let me tell you, you can't shortchange me a single penny, or I'll squander your fortune on your grave."

"Cough cough—cough cough cough cough!!!"

Kenneth nearly choked to death on the spot after being choked by Aozaki Touko's "dancing on a grave" comment. He struggled to get his head off the edge of the bed and looked at Aozaki Touko, who was all smiles, with a wry smile.

"Ah, it seems I have to come back alive for the rest of my life to live peacefully, otherwise you'll really trample my grave to pieces."

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Handover of the Clock Tower

That night, Aozaki Touko and Kenneth chatted until midnight. As dawn approached, Kenneth realized that he could move his body freely again. He shakily got off the lab table, dragged the stiff-bodied Aozaki Touko to the back of the lab table, and then they left, leaning against the wall. The door closed, and Aozaki Touko opened her tightly closed eyelids, glanced in the direction where Kenneth had disappeared, and then turned over to catch up on her sleep.

After stretching his still somewhat unresponsive body, Kenneth opened the car door and headed to the Clock Tower. As a monarch, Kenneth had a lot of official duties to handle in addition to his daily teaching. Although he had already assigned his work to the department head of the Minerals Department, he still needed to handle the final tasks.

"This is such a hassle. I must retire early when I get back."

Muttering to himself, Kenneth's gaze quickly swept over the documents in his hand. After confirming that there were no problems, he picked up the pen on the table and signed his name. Just then, a pigeon transformed into mercury and slipped in through the crack in the window.

Looking at the letter delivered by the pigeon, Kenneth didn't need to guess what it said. He opened it and, sure enough, it contained Lydia's familiar, arrogant statement.

What's wrong with you? You just disappear all the time. I'm a dignified... (a hundred adjectives omitted)

[Seriously, if a third-rate magician like you is short of money, just say so (crossed out). A third-rate magician like you must be struggling financially. Perfect timing, I need an agent. You're also in the magic world, so I'll take pity on you and give you a chance. Be sure to thank me for my great kindness...]

Don't get any other ideas. I just see how hard your life is, and considering your talent, I'll reluctantly help you this once...

[Stop running around for that little bit of money. Become my personal assistant (scratch that) manager, and while you're at it, write lyrics and compose music for me. Ten million dollars a song, how about it? Aren't you going to thank me for my generosity!]

【...】

Looking at Lydia, whose face practically screamed "sugar baby," it was certain that she came from a poor family. Compared to a mining tycoon like Archerlot, who wasn't from a poor family? Realizing that his plan to seize the family fortune had made great strides, Kenneth's mood, which had been somewhat heavy due to the Holy Grail War, eased a bit.

"Man proposes, God disposes. I was planning to take care of Euryphus and Lydia before leaving, but it seems there's still too little time. Oh well, as long as I can come back, everything will be fine."

Everything was ready, and now it was time to make a final decision. Since there was still some free time, Kenneth decided to tease the tsundere Lydelle before leaving. After writing a long and detailed reply and setting the delivery time for his familiar, Kenneth, who was sitting in his boss's chair, moved back, put his hands behind his head, and put his legs on the table.

Now that it was his last day in the Clock Tower, Kenneth was too lazy to maintain any decorum since it was his office. He closed his eyes and began to review the Holy Grail War in his mind.

"Saber: Artoria, Archer: Gilgamesh, Rider: The Conqueror, Assassin: The Hundred-Faced, Berserker: Lancelot..."

"Is the opening act Ken challenges us at the port? I don't know how the Holy Grail War will develop later, but I'll stick to the original story from the beginning. That way, I can maintain some control and see if anything goes wrong..."

"According to the original story, Director Ken went to the Einzbern to provoke them (and get shot), right? Should I still go? Emiya Kiritsugu is blowing up the building; we could use that..."

......

'Knock knock knock.'

"Lord, Lord Euryphus wishes to see you."

The knocking interrupted Kenneth's thoughts, and Kenneth, preoccupied with trivial matters, immediately showed his impatience.

"I understand. Please inform Lord Euryphus that I will be there once I have finished the finishing touches in the Minerals Department."

"understood."

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Kenneth put his legs down from the table, rubbed his head, and stood up.

"Eulifis wants to see me at this hour? What's the matter? How troublesome!"

After reviewing his actions over the past few days and finding nothing unusual, Kenneth suppressed his doubts. He delayed for half an hour before leaving the office, setting up a protective barrier, and then, regaining his serious demeanor, strode towards the Department of Spirit Summoning.

"Teacher, I'm here."

"come in."

An aged voice came from behind the door. Sensing that the barrier on the door lock had disappeared, Kenneth pushed open the door and stepped into the smoke-filled office. As soon as he opened the door, a strong smell of potions rushed into Kenneth's nostrils. He could distinguish the ingredients of the potions in the air, and a sense of doubt arose in Kenneth's heart.

"A magic potion to boost energy and strengthen the body? Something's not right!"

Looking at the pale-faced Lord Euphoria before him, Kenneth became even more certain of his suspicions. In Kenneth's memory, this Euphoria from ten years in the future was alive and well. He had only been away for a short time, so how could such a drastic change have occurred? Something was wrong.

“Kenneth, it feels like just yesterday you were able to stand on your own. Come to think of it, it’s been fifteen years already.”

"Teacher, you're mistaken. If it's from when I became your apprentice, it's been 17 years."

Upon receiving Kenneth's denial, Lord Euryphus showed a look of sudden realization, his cloudy eyes flickered, and his voice was immediately replaced by one of aged innocence.

"I'm getting old, it's been 17 years, I can't keep up with you young people anymore."

The strange feeling grew stronger, and Kenneth realized that Euryphus was trying to appeal to his emotions, so his brain started working at high speed.

"Teacher, what's wrong with your health? Why are you using all these things? The El-Melloi family has some treasures; I'll have Roy send them over right away!"

Having understood the old fox's intentions, Kenneth immediately cooperated with Euryph, quickly stepping forward and retrieving the familiar that connected him to his family.

"No need, it's an old ailment. I'll be fine after a rest. We haven't had a chat in a long time. You're about to head to the Far East. Although it's just a small ceremony, you'll still be away for a while. I wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you before you leave."

"It was my oversight. I've been so busy with family matters that I forgot about you, teacher. I'll put aside the Holy Grail War to take care of you."

Having observed Kenneth's behavior, Euryphus, after a fit of coughing, quickly waved his hand and said:

"No need for that. What will people think if you change your plans for an old man like me? It's just a small ceremony in the Far East. People who don't know the situation might think that our Clock Tower is afraid of war. Young people should go out and travel more. I can still manage. I want to see you and Sora get married."

"Good grief, they finally slipped up!!"

After understanding Euryphus's meaning, Kenneth immediately began to think of a solution.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Pulling Ends

Following Euryph's words, Kenneth immediately revealed an expression that said, "It is our duty to restore the glory of the Clock Tower."

"The teacher is right; I was inconsiderate."

"It's alright, it's alright. You're still young. We old guys might not see the sun rise tomorrow. We really want to see you and Sora get married...cough cough cough!!

Seeing that the old fox looked like he couldn't breathe, Kenneth quickly stepped forward, picked up the teacup, and handed it to Lord Euphoria.

"You won't live to see that day. Even an insect can live for hundreds of years. You people are still lacking ways to prolong your lives, so why don't you just leave it here!"

He was internally cursing, but Kenneth still had to continue acting out this scene of filial piety between teacher and student. He squeezed out a few crocodile tears, and his voice trembled slightly.

"Teacher, what are you saying?! Teacher, you are strong and healthy, you will see that day."