Chapter 7

Edelfelt vs Matou (Part II)

"What the hell are those creatures…?" Witnessing Akechi's Mystic Code that calls forth insect-like monsters that follow his bidding. The easterner man, Atrum Galliasta, one of the seven master rank students, couldn't help but to have mixed emotion of shock and engrossed.

Hearing his question, the purple twin-haired girl looked at him in response. "That my friend is a Supreme Mystic Code." She answered with an amused grin before shifting her attention back to the fight.

There are three categories of Mystic Code. First is the Auxiliary Mystic Code, this one is used for magical energy amplification or storage, prepared to strengthen a spell. Ren Edelfelt Mystic Code is under this category.

Second is the Specialised Mystic Code. A Specialised-type one performs Magecrafts contained within it automatically when supplied magical energy by its user. While their usage is limited, they can be tremendously efficient in what they do.

Last is the Supreme Mystic Code. A Mystic Code given this title is worthy of symbolizing any one of the families to which the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower and people in the next highest posts belong. Though the Clock Tower organization has long been disbanded and the Matou family isn't part of the group.

However, rumors said that the family is so powerful that it survived for five hundred years. This long lineage of history makes them on the same level of the Clock Tower most influential family called Lord: Nobles. They are objects of fear within the Clock Tower, and they are even well-known in normal society. The one with the shortest family history is five hundred years, while the longest has a history of over two thousand years.

To think that such a powerful tool will be used in this kind of match. Akechi must be so confident in his ability that he didn't need to hide it from anyone.

"Are they Phantasmal Species?" Wodime casually asks.

"Didn't he announce that they came from the Lord of Flies? Must be a Demon-kind so it's most likely they are." The eyepatch woman who was sitting beside him answered.

"Lord of Flies...? Do you mean Beelzebub?! One of the seven princes of hell!?" The youngest among them gasps in realization. "How was anyone able to do such a feat?!" She questions while sending everyone a look of disbelief.

Wodime looks at the old man sitting rows ahead of them. "He must have an idea about that." The man in question is the head of the Matou family, Zouken Matou, teacher of the novice rank, and Akechi's grandfather.

"That creepy old man?" Atrum let out with an unsure smile on his face. "Is anyone else getting a vibe that he's scheming something?" He said before glancing beside him. "Do you think so too, Kazu-kun?"

The short stature young man called Kazu-kun let out an exasperated sigh. "Everyone one here has a scheme. So let's not play innocent here." He replied in a cold tone and piercing gaze at Atrum.

Wodime chuckled and nodded his head. "Isn't that natural for being a magus?" He said in genuine admission. "Regardless if it's good or evil. We magus will do everything to reach our goals. That is our nature, correct?"

They didn't need to voice their answers. All of them knew that it was the truth. But that doesn't save them from questioning each other. Just what are these powerful elites scheming for the war they willingly joined.

With both weapons on his hands. Ren is on full alert while staring at one of the five monstrous insects stalking him. Unlike the rest that has sharp claws, pointy teeth, massive wings. This beast has a whip-like tentacle, razor-sharp peak, and numerous fungi behind its back.

The odds really stack on him suddenly. Just recently, he's only fighting one man, but now he's facing five terrifying creatures by himself. Things really shifted and not to his liking. Now his thinking, how in the world can he overcome this predicament?

Quickly moving away when the beast swings its whip arms. He waited for an opening to retaliate, but his enemy was resilient, sending a barrage of attack without any sign of exhaustion, making it difficult for him to counter. So he's forced to rely on his reflex to avoid getting whipped or coiled.

"How long can you dance around the battlefield?" Akechi questioned.

"I can do this all day." Ren answered without any exaggeration on his tone. He was not only trained to be an agile fighter. He is also honed to have stamina that lasts longer than a 1 to 2 days straight.

"This is going to be fun then." Akechi snicker.

The insect attacking him stops momentarily. Lowering its head to show the funguses attached to its back. Letting a growling sound, a light of eerie green can be seen glowing behind the monster. All of the audience is watching closely and in anticipation of what's going to happen. Then they yelled in surprise when it launched a ball of spores that is heading towards Ren.

"Too slow." He taunted after swiftly dodging the flying projectiles.

"I must say, I'm fascinated by how agile you're, Ren." Akechi commended quite genuinely. "But my intention is not to hit you with that attack. Quite frankly, I'm laying up the real assault." A smile appeared to his face as the ball of spores let out a hissing sound.

Ren scent a foul smell from his behind. Turning around, he saw the ball of spores releasing an eerie green-colored dust that is expanding in the air. And soon after became a cloud of mist that surrounded him. "What?" He let out in surprise.

The Matou family heir couldn't help but to smile after seeing his opponent trapped in the mist. "Now you will never reach your conclusion." He said before crossing his arms in composure.

Inside the mist. Ren kept his guard up, searching around his environment, checking if there was something lurking around. 'I should be able to sprint my way out of this mist.' He thought. Navigating around won't pose a problem since the field he's standing is plain without obstacles.

Added to that. He can clearly see the silhouette of the monster. He couldn't help but to sigh. For something ferocious that is preparing for an ambush, this one isn't doing a great job. Quite laughable for his opinion.

He should get out first and then strike it from behind. With that plan on his mind. Ren was about to run as fast as he could. However-

"Huh…?" Ren let out while plastered with confusion. His eyes are wide while looking around in haste. "What was I doing again…?" He murmured. It's just with him just a second ago but he can't remember.

"I was about to-"

He was then cut-out mid sentence when something coiled around his left arm and swung him in a wide circle before crashing him in the nearest wall. The audience gasped in shock and followed by the crumbling sound on where he painfully collided.

BB then began counting down. Fortunately, he is able to get up not long after, but he's enduring the ache to his back and other bruises he receives. Even so, Ren can still continue this duel between him and Akechi.

'What just happened back there?' Trying to remember what went wrong at that moment. He thought he had a plan set in mind. Yet he cannot recollect its detail and execution anymore. Perhaps he's feeling under pressure right now? That might be the reason why he forgot about what to do?

'No. I doubt that is the reason why.' He said to himself. This isn't his first time fighting. He's also used to staying composed in a similar scenario. What happened there is strange. During that moment, he literally forgot what he was about to do!

He's missing something. That is for sure.

The growling sound returned and it's maker is standing meters away in front of him. Sensing the incoming attack, Ren dashed around to avoid the ball of spores. He's able to make a full circle evading the barrage of projectiles. Aiming his TT33 Mystic Code at the big insect monster, his scent picks up that foul odor once again. Quickly glancing behind, he curses himself for letting his guard down once again.

About to run before the mist spreads again. His leg got pulled out causing him to trip facedown on the ground. "Damn it!" He cried out after seeing the monster whip-like arm coiled on his right foot. The beast then hauls his body, dragging him to the eerie green mist. Pulling out his knife on its holster, he slash the tendril arm with all his might.

Being free from the shackle. His about to sprint out of the mist. But he already got drag deep to remember what he was going to do. And that moment of his bewilderment was taken advantage of by the beast as it crawled closer to its victim.

On the audience side of the arena. A baffled Waver speaks his confusion to the group. "What happened? Why did he stop?" He said before glancing to the side asking for answers.

Luvia also wonders why. She knows her little brother has a keen mind when it comes to fighting. His reflex is also top notch compared to everyone she knows. So what he's showing right now isn't very usual and without a doubt very strange to see.

Ayaka, on the other hand, looks very concerned to her friend's well-being. Despite the mist covering a large portion of the field. Everyone can vaguely see the beating happening inside the cover. "You can do it, Ren." She whispered faithfully under her breath.

"Kariya-sensei do you have any idea of what is happening?" Waver asks the adult man. He can tell that the mist has something to do with it, however, he couldn't discern exactly what it is. But their advisor must know something, after all, he is Akechi's older brother.

Seeing their gazes on him. Kariya could only bite his tongue to stop himself from speaking. Though he knows exactly what is happening, he needs to restrain himself from telling them its secret. Regardless, it's painful for him to see Ren in such a situation but he also has a family to protect.

"Excellent…" Zouken Matou murmured contently. This show of strength is what they need to win the Grail War. Let everyone here see the height of power between them and his clan.

The Mystic Code: Beast of Carnage is a magecraft that is sight to behold. It took hundreds of years of his lifetime to create it. They're powerful beasts that serve the mighty Lord of Flies, Beelzebub. Acting as its royal guard that ravages any adversaries of the prince of hell without any remorse and mercy. They fought angels and devils alike, and even Gods that stood on their way.

Each five of them have unique abilities that could defeat an army with ease. However, the hive, which is the one inside the container and summoned the other four, is the strongest among them all. With that being said, what can a single entity do against these dominant creatures?

The Edelfelt heir is already having trouble against one of them. Speaking the creature name is impossible for any human to utter, which is why Akechi named them after a popular game called chess. The hive being the Queen, the others are Rook, Knight, Pawn, and the one the Edelfelt is facing is called Bishop.

Among the five beasts, the Bishop isn't known for its speed or strength. Quite frankly, he thinks it's one of the weakest among them. However, it's ability to attack its victims mind is impeccable.

The fungus behind its back is the Bishop source of power. It can unleash a ball of spore that once hit something, it will release a mist that goes airborne and expand the area of effect posthaste. Once the enemy is trapped inside and the inhaled mist enters their system. It will attack the frontal lobe of the brain. This part of the brain controls the function for personality, decision making, and reasoning.

This is the Bishop's main ability. By forcing its enemy to completely forget their resolution. They will be trapped inside the mist while the monster stalks them on their bewilderment.

It's the end for the Edelfelt heir. He had his moments in this duel. But triumph won't be on his hand. He's alone against the absolute power of the Bishop. How can he fight on such adversaries?

After getting thrown and landed on the ground in such height. There is no doubt that Ren is beaten while laying on the floor in front of Akechi. "Can't bring your tricks anymore, do you?" He said before shaking his head in amusement. "I'm content in ending this duel now. It's going to be a busy day tomorrow for all of us."

"You're just facing an opponent who's much better than you. Don't feel bad about it." He offered while trying not making it sound condescending. His opponent only is the sound of his heavy breathing while trying to get up with all of his limbs. Although Akechi notices that Ren's right hand is not on sight.

"It's true that you're better than me…" After pushing his body to its knees. Ren looks up, staring into Akechi's eyes, and a smirk slowly creeping into his face. "But I liked getting challenges…" He said and then pushed himself standing on his feet. "Anytime soon...You'll hear me saying those words to you…!"

Akechi flinched and grunted after getting himself headbutted by Ren. "You-!" He yelled in anger before punching him to the chest with all might. Ren coughs blood and tumbles painfully on the floor. Wiping the cut on his forehead, Akechi clicks his tongue, showing the vexation on his face.

Bishop unleashes another wave of spores and targets it to where Ren is laying. Covering the field within a span of five seconds. Akechi staring dagger at the mist. 'I'm going to torture him. Hundreds of lashes until he begged him to stop' He thought before sending Bishop to enter the mist.

'Let's see if you can still get up after this!' His attention then shifted immediately after sensing a movement. It was fast and sudden. And then he realized what it was. Something just came out of the mist!

He saw a figure in a mask, garnished with black tailcoat, and crimson gloves. It's running away from the mist. 'That frizzy black hair. It cannot be…!?' Akechi looks in disbelief after noticing the familiar hair of a certain someone. "How did you get out?!" He asked but Ren kept running.

"Tsk. Whatever!"

The Bishop then chased after Ren. Sending its whip-like arms, targeting his foot to apprehend him. However, the moment it's about to be coiled around his foot, it grabs nothing but thin air. And then a flashing white light is coming from the corner of his eyes, a realization that Akechi refuses to believe.

"Megido Gandr...!"

Once its name is called. A blinding pure colored sphere was unleashed to the scene. Creating fissure and debris on the ground. Causing the air turned untamed on its wake. And a sunlight warm and chilling evening atmosphere covered the field.

A crying roar echoed around the stage while everyone is covering their eyes from the light. Once everything started to calm down, they saw a large crater on the ground, and a burned body of the ferocious beast that once stood mighty.

Akechi couldn't help but to feel a bit shaken from what happened. "How did…" He couldn't feel the Bishop anymore. It has no sign of life anymore. "How did you…" Slowly turning his attention away from the crater, his disbelief is shown clearly on the eyes while facing Ren Edelfelt.

"How did you do it...?" He asks before the disbelief turned into frustration. "There is no way you can think properly while inside that mist. So how?!" Akechi yelled in anger.

"So it's really messing up with my mind, huh." Joker answered. Even without looking at Akechi, he can tell that he is in the state of shock. "I got a hunch that something strange is happening. And I noticed that such an occurrence is only happening whenever that mist took cover."

"I began to wonder how I can escape." He said before removing the crimson glove on his right hand. "Despite being painful. It did work out in the end." Joker then show Akechi his palm drenched in its own blood, and has the word 走る (Hashiru) or run in english, inscribe.

"I carved this with my knife while I was on the ground earlier ago." Looking one last time at the inscribed cut before wearing the glove again. His only hope is that it will not become a scar. "I kept repeating this word over and over again while carving it." Come to think of it, he should just carve it in english instead.

"So when I found myself getting surrounded again. I know that there is not much time left. And a little second delay will make a difference on the outcome." Joker explained before putting his hand on the pocket. "I need to execute this plan before something messes up my mind. First thing I did was activate my Code Cast: Afterimage."

"I was in a rush and created this image to just run." A smile then shown to his face. "One of the good things about this spell is that I can lock a command to it. Even a powerful mind-type magecraft or I could not overwrite and stop it once the command is set."

"Which is why I am able to use a code cast even though I'm under the influence of that nasty mist." Joker said while looking proud to what he did beneath the mask he was wearing. "But that was only a distraction. The highlight of the show is what happened next."

"After the command is set on the afterimage. I've moved on to the next part. Which to activate another my special code cast named Metaverse." He then pointed his finger on the black and white birdlike domino mask he's wearing. "To be frank, I don't know much what happened at that moment, I guess that mist is taking over my mind during that."

"However, I heard voices inside my head, telling me to follow what was written on my palm. Despite my puzzlement, I trust their words and heed the instruction on my hand. And once I'm free, you know the rest that happened."

Understanding what happened. Akechi's able to recollect his usual demeanor. "Is it correct of me to assume that this 'Metaverse' code cast turned your clothing differently?" He said and got a nod from Joker. "It's ignorant for me to think that's all it could do, right?"

"I don't really want to use it in this match. But you push my back into the corner, and I don't really like losing anyway." Joker replied and sheepishly scratched the behind of his head. "If you really want to know its full potential. Then I guess I can say it but only if you trade secrets with me."

"Like why are those other creatures aren't attacking me as a group. Is it because you command them not to? Or perhaps they cannot work as a team? Or maybe there is another reason why." He dauntly asks.

"That is an interesting proposal. Almost make want to accept it. However, I'll refuse, you can keep that code cast to yourself." Akechi answered.

Joker let out a sigh after hearing his reply. "I see…" He then drew out both his weapons underneath his black tailcoat. "I'll just get the answer myself then." The Phantom Thief then dashed high-speed. And just in a span of second, he's now standing face-to-face against Akechi.

Taken by surprise, Akechi instinctively shield himself with both arms, and felt the knife cutting his sleeves and skin. "Edelfelt!" He cried before preparing his left arm in retaliation. But Joker athletically backs away and avoids getting hit by his dominant hand.

"They didn't even react, huh-?!" Joker paused before pointing his finger at Akechi's tattered left glove. "That mark...Isn't that a command seal?" He said in disbelief. The Holy Grail War isn't officially and yet he already has one imprinted on his left hand. No students should have that before the day after tomorrow.

Chatter among the crowds began to brew. Whispering and pointing at the crimson tattoo on Akechi hand. Some know what it is while some don't, regardless, over a year of studying in Tsukimihara Academy, they saw and heard about the meaning behind that symbol.

BB stormingly approaches where Akechi is standing. "Your hand...show it." She coldly demanded the young man. Hearing him let out a sigh, the academy headmaster hand turned to fist after he presented the back of his hand. "Why do you have that...?" Her piercing cold tone slowly became one that sounded very disappointed.

"..." Akechi kept quiet.

"I taught each one of you Master rank students. Each one of you are the brightest diamonds here in this academy. And you, Akechi Matou, stand out among all of them. You're a prodigy, one that can pioneer the new generation of magus of this world. In all honesty, I'm really biased when it comes to you."

"Did something happen that I'm not aware of?" BB asks the young man. "Is it because of inferiority? Desperation? Or what?" Receiving no answer from him. The Headmaster head hung low. "Guess you don't have any intention to speak, huh." She sighs.

"You wouldn't get it anyway." He answered.

Materializing a pointing stick on her hand. She directed it at the Matou clan heir. "Then don't mind me doing my job." Taking a deep breath, she stares at Akechi. "Akechi Matou, due to the evidence of you not following the academy rule, you're hereby sentence to be expelled. You'll be banned from the Far Side Holy Grail War and will be forced to surrender the command seal on your hand." Her announcement caused an uproar from the crowd.

"Do as you told and get out of here." BB venomously said.

"I see." Akechi replied nonchalantly. Though things didn't turn out unexpected and not to his liking. Something like unfortunate events such as this are bound to happen to anyone. Reaching his left hand at BB, the young heir expresses a soft smile on his face. "I'm sorry but I cannot do that." He said before the Queen landed behind his back, it's eyes were radiating in crimson, growling protectively at its master.

"Watch out!" Joker yelled and quickly shove BB away from Akechi. "Ack!" He cried after getting choke on something unseen. His body then started to lift from the ground and get higher in the air.

"You're such a vermin, Ren Edelfelt." Akechi said while staring to his eyes. "To think that you'll cause so much trouble to me." He then let out a sigh. "Regardless, I enjoyed this fight of ours but I must end this now." Snapping his finger. The Queen let out a roar.

"Beast of Carnage : Reject"

An black orb launched from the beast mouth, flying straight to where Joker is, and then expanded into a big bubble that devoured his whole body. The air inside quickly turns from thin into nothingness. Joker quickly found himself getting suffocated from the lack of air. He started to struggle from the force that was crushing him.

Everyone looks in panic as they watch him trapped inside the bubble. A perfect vacuum that rejects oxygen and ambient air pressure around them, completely removing air supply similar to the outer space. Not only that, aside from the suffocation, the pressure would also crush anything inside. That is the power of Beast of Carnage : Reject. A part of the Queen ability.

"This is bad. He's not gonna last long!" Waver shouted.

"Akechi stopped this!" Kariya yelled his younger brother.

"Ren!" Ayaka cried out.

"Hang in there!" Luvia said before leaving her seat and dash toward the stage.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Archer is about to leave their post to come and help. "Rin, I'm going-" He called the girl's name but then realized that she's not with them anymore. Searching for her whereabouts, he saw her running to the arena.

While staring at Ren's approaching demise. Akechi felt a little hint of regret inside him. He should finish this match as soon as possible so that none of this didn't happen. 'I need to get the Holy Grail. No matter what the cost.' Yet despite all of that, his resolve didn't shatter, in fact, it grew stronger.

However, he failed to notice the two running figures coming for him. "Guh!?" Akechi let out painfully after getting punched to the gut and fell unconscious to the ground. The two that're at fault are Luvia and Rin who look at him annoyed before turning their back to him.

"His falling!" came from one of the crowd before they broke into shouting.

Merlin slammed her staff on the ground and summoned numerous layers of flowers that caught Ren's body from its fall. She then quickly ran toward him to check his condition. "He's just unconscious." The beautiful woman smiles in relief after seeing that he is still breathing.

Luvia didn't waste second to not be with her little brother. Ayaka and Waver also came down to see their friend. Kariya, on the other hand, noticed that something went amiss. "Where is Akechi?" He asks.

BB clicks her tongue before putting a hand to her waist. "It seems somebody helped him to escape." She said before shifting the gaze into the only member of the Matou family that is present. "You have lots of explaining to tell, Kariya." The headmaster then looks at the group surrounding the spark out student.

"But that could wait later on. We must take him to the clinic and calm everyone down."

Years before humanity exodus to the virtual world of Moon Cell. Somewhere in the Edelfelt family territory. A beautiful sunny day for the two young children playing inside an establishment.

"How's that for a finisher?!"

After getting his body slammed on the floor mattress. Ren blink several times to regain his focus, but his world kept spinning and spinning. "I'm dizzy." He replied while laying on the floor trying to feel if something was going out of his system.

Luvia put both of her hands on her waist. A smile on her face shows how happy and proud she is. "Fufufu~ I think I'm calling it the vortex of eternal death!" She declared in a tone nothing but enthusiasm. "I copied the move from one of the wrestling tapes that the father has. It was so great~ you should watch it with me sometimes!"

"I think I'll pass. You always try these moves you see in that show on me right away." Ren complained before sitting up straight. Turning around, the only daughter of the Edelfelt pout at him.

"I-It's part of our training, dummy!" She exclaimed.

"Really? Are those wrestling entrance poses you're doing in front of the mirror part of the training as well?" He teased the young girl with a smirk. "You even have those background music playing too." Ren couldn't stop himself from letting out a chuckle when her face began to turn red.

"Y-you know a-about that!" Luvia staterring in embarrassment. "So you weren't knocked out when I'm doing it?!" She exclaimed and her face is more redder than before.

"The only thing you're missing is your screen name." The young boy pondered for a moment before a light bulb shined on his mind. "What about Forklift Lady? It sounds very fitting since you have the strength of the vehicle named after!" He jests but that is the last nail of the coffin for him.

"What a great name...Ren…!" Luvia murmured before cracking her knuckles and unleashed an intimidating aura around her. "Then I guess you're going to be my opponent for my match debu!" She shouted and grabbed him by his feet. "Taste the vortex of eternal death!" She yelled.

"Wait I'm just joking-!" Before he could finish his sentence. Luvia spins him around like the inside of a tornado. Ren can feel his soul leaving his body, heck, the sea of soul might be experiencing this turmoil as well!

Luvia then let him go, dropping Ren on the floor mattress once again. "That's what you get, dummy." She pouted with her arms crossed. It took quite a moment before Ren recovered from the dizziness, he then genuinely apologized to Luvia, and now the two of them lay down on the floor, staring on the ceiling as if they're the sky outside.

"Should we return back to the mansion, Luvia?" Remembering the time that has passed. He asks the girl laying beside him. "Your father will be looking for you, it's your birthday party after all."

"I don't want to go yet…" She answered. "It's full of adults that I don't know there. And there are those annoying marriage proposals from the other clan as well." Luvia sighs while staring gloomingly at the ceiling.

"Marriage proposals? But you just turned twelve." Ren said in disbelief.

"It's a way for most magus families in securing their bloodline and expanding their influence. Letting both heirs be engaged at a young age and get them married when they turn eighteen."

"Since the Edelfelt family has no male heir, and I'm the only child of my father. Continuing the family bloodline is near impossible now, our only option now is to have a powerful clan to merge with and have them carry our legacy." Luvia sits up and looks very gloomy.

"A responsibility that I must carry on my shoulder…" She murmured darkly. Although Father tried to delay it as much as possible but the year is closing in, and as the head of the clan, he also has the same responsibility as hers.

"I wonder what it feels like not to be shackled in this predicament of mine."

"Luvia…" Ren couldn't help but sorry for the young girl. Her situation also reminds her of what happened to one of his friends, Haru, back in his real world. Seeing her like this, there must be something he could do to help.

The girl looked at him and forced a smile on her. "Forget about that. Let's talk about something else!" Luvia said before letting a soft chuckle. She then touches her face and notices something wet. "Wait, is my makeup ruined?" The girl asks in somewhat panic.

"It's been ruined since you started doing those moves."

"No way!" Luvia exclaimed, losing her calm composure. "I can't return to the party like this! Father is going to be disappointed." She said before standing back to her feet while looking around to anything that could help her. Unfortunately, they're inside the training barrack, there is zero chance that a makeup can be found here.

Ren let out a soft sigh. Grabbing the handkerchief on his pocket, he hands it to the panicking girl. "Here, wipe the sweat on your head and you will look fine. Trust me." He said. Those makeup that was applied to her just adds little to her already existing beauty. So even without it, she still looks dazzling with that velvet dress she's wearing.

"Really?" She asks.

Ren nodded his head and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Then I will believe you." Luvia then started cleaning her face with the white handkerchief that Ren gave to her.

Remembering something important. Ren took the paper bag he placed somewhere and gave it to Luvia. "I should give this first before you did that." He said with a sigh. "It's nothing compared to the gift you already receive, and I'm positive that receiving this present is very strange." Taking a deep breath after his explanation. He smiled at her before saying his greeting to her.

"Happy Birthday, Luvia."

Compared to the people that greeted her today. Those who came from the one she cares about are the most important to her. It doesn't matter if she is getting a big celebration or not, as long as they're there with her, she doesn't care much about the rest.

"Let's see what you got for me~" She said before plunging her hand inside the paper bag and taking out the item it's carrying. "Is this a bento box?" Luvia carefully checks the lunchbox on her hand. Opening the lid a little, the smell of the food entered her system. "This scent...Curry?"

"Finding the ingredients took a while for me to gather. Although, I wish I could give you something else."

"What are you talking about! You know how much I love your curry." Luvia exclaimed to the young boy. "I can't believe that such simplicity could be on par against the grandeur food that our chef could make!" She then searches inside the paper bag for any fork and spoon.

"Can I eat this now?"

"The curry sauce might mess with your face though. I don't have any clean handkerchief left." Ren replied.

"I can use the one you give me instead!" Holding the spoon and fork on her hands. Luvia smiled widely as she couldn't wait to taste the delicious curry once again. "Thank you for the food~" She sang before digging in.

Ren knew that Luvia was trained to be an elegant woman. However, if the family retainer or her father sees her like this. They're going to be in pure disbelief and perhaps break into tears.

"Mmm~ so delicious!"

"Slow down, you're going to put sauce on your face." Ren softly reprimands but then again, the first time he experienced Sojiro's curry, he couldn't stop himself for wanting for more. "Here I made you a coffee as well." He offered after filling her a cup.

"It's so unfair that I can't eat this everyday." The girl complained after finishing the curry lunchbox. Taking the cup from his waiting hand, Luvia takes it closer to her nose to smell the warm aroma before taking a sip. "This flavor...it's perfect." She said with a complimenting smile.

"You sure know the type of coffee I want."

"I'm sure everyone on the mansion heard your complaint about its bitterness." Ren chuckled after having a flash of vision on his memory lane. "I was the same when I was a child. You'll like strong taste soon." He said.

Luvia looks at him questioningly. "When you were a child? Aren't we the same age?" She said. Though she's three months older than him. "Acting like an adult now aren't you, Ren-kun?" The girl started poking fun at him. Literally poking his side with a smug look on her face.

'I am an adult. I'm just stuck inside an eleven years old body.' Ren ignored it with a sigh. "Hmm?" Hearing the sound of the door opening. He and Luvia stand up from their feet.

Four men in suits and black glasses entered the building. And from the badge on their chest. They're the bodyguards of the Edelfelt family head.

"There are the two of you." Luvia's father said as he approached his daughter. "I was looking for you. It's about time you started opening the gift they give to you." He said while patting the top of her head.

"I'm sorry for the trouble, father. Let us return now."

Luvia's father nodded but then noticed the items laying on the mattress. "Did Ren give you his gift already?" He questioned and the girl quickly answered. "I see. It seems to me that you like it very much." The family head chuckled in delight.

"It's the best!" Luvia exclaimed.

"I can see it clearly on your face." He said before wiping the sauce on his daughter's face. "Maybe I should give you my gift here as well." Looking behind him. One of the security guards handed him an envelope. "I remember that you've been asking for this since you're a toddler. Though I wonder if you still want it now."

"Ren, I want you to come closer as well." He asks the young man who obliges without questions. Opening the envelope, he reveals a paper and lets the two of them figure out what it was.

"Adoption paper? Wait, don't tell me...Is it for-" Disbelief is written all over her face while looking up to her father.

"Do you remember? You've been wanting to have one. But I've been a widower by that time, and I don't think there is anyone else that you replace your mother in my life." He explained.

"I know that I didn't spend much of my time with you. Being the head of our clan and the strangeness happening in this world, I have been busy and neglected the role of being a father to you. I'm very sorry about that Luvia."

"Which is why I'm grateful that Ren came into our life. He stayed on your side whenever I'm not there. Help you when I can't. And relieve the loneliness that's causing you pain this entire time." Luvia's father put both of his hands onto Ren's shoulders.

"Thank you very much for being with my daughter." He said with a genuine smile on his face. "If it's okay with the both of you. Luvia, do you want Ren to be your little brother? And Ren, are you fine being part of the Edelfelt family, and me as your father?"

"Ren…? As my little brother?" The girl murmured in disbelief. "I'm going to be his big sister? Which means he's going to start calling me Onee-san now?!" Luvia asks in such fervor. "I-i'm okay with it!" She answered. Though she still doesn't know what it means to be siblings. But she is the one and only, Luviagelita Edelfelt, she'll figure it out with grace and quickness.

"However, if Ren accepted this, he'll become the new heir of the Edelfelt family. Which means everything that the heir responsibility is will be on your shoulder from now on. Which include continuing the bloodline and expanding the Edelfelt influence and power."

"All of them?" Luvia whispers softly. Then those includes-

"If I agree then Luvia does not have to deal with those proposals anymore? And since she's not the heir anymore, she'll get freedom to choose what she wanted, right?" Ren asks.

Though a bit unsure about his question. The head of the family nodded to answer all those inquiries.

"Then I'll accept."

Luvia almost goes agape after hearing his reply. "Are you sure about this? Being the heir isn't easy like walking in the park. You don't have too you know…" She tried to talk about it more. But from the look on his face, it seems he already made up his mind.

"I know it doesn't." The young man answered. "But I know you'll be there to help me out, right?" Ren then snickered from the looks he is getting from the young lady. "Besides...I don't want to see you mope around like earlier. It bothers me to be honest." He murmured that only Luvia heard it.

"You…" Luvia let out softly. He did this because of that?

"That sounds wonderful. Luvia, you should help Ren to get all those aristocrat training and other important stuff." Now the Father of both Luvia and Ren clap his hand together in delight. "We should head back now and announce the new heir of our clan."

"Introduce the name of my son. Ren Edelfelt."

He woke up feeling beaten and exhausted. The ember light coming from the room window says the afternoon is about to dawn. "Thank goodness you're awake." He heard a very familiar voice beside his resting bed. Quite funny, he's just having a dream about that time with her a moment ago.

"Luvia." Ren said before trying to move his body into comfort.

"Don't move too much, dummy." She reprimands coldly while lending a helping hand to him. "Here you must be thirsty." Pouring water onto the glass, Luvia gently serves the glass to her little brother.

"Thanks."

After asking the following question about his current condition. Luvia let out a sigh of relief hearing that he was not feeling anything bad. "You sure know how to make me worried, Ren." She said while retrieving his used glass before putting it back on the table.

He could only let out a soft sheepish laugh. It's true, there is no denying it. "So what happened when I lost my lights out." Ren questioned. Last time he remembered before getting suffocated is that announcement from the Headmaster. Something about Akechi getting expelled.

"Seeing that he's going to kill you, me and this other girl, I forgot to ask her name, we rush to the stage and knock him out." Luvia explained though still annoyed on what that despicable man tried to do with her little brother. He's lucky that Ren is fine and awake, if not then she'll be hunting him down even to the end of the world.

"Where is Akechi now?"

"No one knows." She answered. "It seems someone came to help him escape while we're looking after you. The Headmaster suspicion that its either Mr. Zouken helped his grandchild or the heroic spirit he summoned."

"Unfortunately, the Headmaster also suspects Kariya-sensei since he's a Matou as well. He is going through interrogation at this moment so he won't be able to visit you anytime soon."

"It seems to me that the Matou family is out of this Holy Grail War." She said while trying not to sound insensitive since Ren is close to one of them. "Still I wonder why Akechi did that. He should know the severe punishment of summoning a servant before the day of the catalyst selection and the Grail War."

Ren also wonders why. He could only think of a few reasons to do it like getting ahead of everyone. But Akechi didn't need any of that, his ability in magecraft surpasses every student here, and he knows it. So why did he end up doing such foul action?

"Hey don't feel bad about it. It's not your fault why they got expelled, Akechi brought it to himself by unfollowing the rules in the first place." Luvia said to cheer him up.

"Beside tomorrow isn't just an important day since it's the time where we got selected by the Catalyst of our servants. But it's also the day where you'll be officially part of the Master rank students! I know you could do it, Ren~" She sang praise on him.

However, the absent reaction from him made Luvia pouted. "Didn't I just tell you not to feel about what happened?" She said before leaning closer to him and pinching both sides of his cheeks. "Are you listening to me now?" The girl asks while still pulling his cheeks.

"Stop it, Luvia! It hurts!"

The look on her face, she clearly didn't like his response. "You've been calling me by my name since yesterday! If you want me to stop then say that magic word!" Luvia complained before pinching him harder.

"You tend to get so distracted when I call you Onee-san!" Ren cried out in pain.

"I was not!"

"Onee-san!" And just like that, he got pulled into a hug while getting the top of his head patted by the girl.

"Good boy, Renren."

He could only mumble his complaint softly. He really disliked that pet name she gave to him.

"Um, excuse us...?"

Ren's head nervously followed where the voice came from. Standing in the middle of the room is Waver and Ayaka carrying pillows, sleeping blankets, and other stuff with them.

"Renren…?" Ayaka let out. And at the moment, it was the word that shattered Ren into pieces, one that he hides to them for a year is now finally revealed. This is bad, they know about it!

"Pfft-" Did he just hear a snicker from Waver!?

"That's the name I've given to him. Doesn't it sound cute?" Luvia beamed a smile while she asked.

"A-anyway...What are you guys doing here?" Not wanting to dwell in that conversation. Ren quickly came with a question and asked the two.

"We wanted to bring something for you." Ayaka answered before holding tight on the big stuff toy she was carrying. "But then Waver suggested sleeping over here instead since we might not find any more time bonding together after tomorrow." Glancing at the man beside her, Waver nodded his head to him.

"Anyway, I hope this helps you to recover fast." The girl then approaches his bed and hands over the body-sized stuffed toy to him. "Hugging it during sleep will help you to feel energized once waking up. Or so what I feel when I use it." She said quite bashfully.

Ren didn't expect such an item to be with Ayaka. It was a pleasant surprise to him. "Thank you, Ayaka. I think it's already working." He said with a soft smile to the timid girl.

Luvia's instinct suddenly activated. 'This interaction. Are they-?!' Her train of thoughts got interrupted when Waver speaks up next and gives Ren a pile of novels for him to enjoy.

"Though I'm not sure on what kind of genre you like. But I guarantee you're going to like this!" Waver proclaimed confidently.

"Arsene Lupin, huh?" Ren couldn't help but to smile after reading the title. "The title alone is already making me look forward to reading it." He said and wonder what are the chances that it's the same one he read from the book he burrowed back in the Shujin Academy Library.

"We also bought some food with us! So how about we have our dinner?" Waver announce before showing the plastic bag to them. As he distributes the food, a knock from the door interrupts the moment. "Come in." He told them to enter.

A man with a brown-colored large mop haircut entered the room. He wears a robe that has four dics attached at one another hanging on the waist. The mysterious man carries himself like a dignified scholar from the past.

Showing a piece of paper to them. The man's eyes roamed around the room before settling at Ren. "My name is Archimedes. I have an important message for you Ren Edelfelt." He announced a smile that made Ren have doubts about the man's character.

A/N: Here is the monthly update. Wait, didn't I already upload one just a week ago? Meh! I hope you enjoyed the new chapter of the story! Next chapter shall be where our characters meet the servants that will help them to win the Holy Grail War on the Far side of the Moon Cells. And thus the beginning of another merciless war.

Anyway I've been wondering about the possible pairing in this story. I usually do a Ren x Jeanne since many like seeing those two together based on my other story (Fate Extella: Another Link). Some are also fans of Ren x Marie Antointte (Also from Fate Extella: Another Link), I can see why, a thief and a queen being together looks cute. Ren x Martha was also a thing too from some of the reviews I saw (From the same story Another Link). Then again I did make lots of pairings in that story. From Okita, to Nobunaga, and Scathach. It's basically become a harem at that point.

But for this story, I guess I'll hold off the pairings for now, I mean I want the girl to have a reason first for liking Ren and another character. Once that is settled, you'll see some signs about these pairings. Anyway that's that! Thank you for the support and all~

Also for anyone that cares about the character parameters I wrote in the last chapter. Here is for Akechi Matou (For now).

[Magus/Spiritron-Hacker Profile]

Name: Akechi Matou

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Family: Matou (Heir)

Magical Crest: Matou family

[Parameter]

*Rank value will increase per 50 value points. The lowest rank is C- (50 VP) and the highest is EX (650 VP)*

Strength - B- (200 VP) / Physical Strength

Agility - C+ (150 VP) / reflex

Endurance - C+ (195 VP) / Toughness

Magic - A (350 VP) / Magical Strength

Mana - S (450 VP) / Rank will increase the mana points / 1 VP = 50 Mana (MP) (Correct me if my math is wrong)

Mana Points - 22,500 MP / When MP reaches Zero (0) The magus is incapable to fight anymore, cannot support their servant, and has not enough mana to use magecraft. Forcing to fight with Zero (0) Mp will result in death.

[Magecraft Profile]

Magecraft: Supreme Code Cast and Mystic Code, Conquer and Destroy.

Code Cast -

Mystic Code -

Beast of Carnage - Summon Queen (1000 Mp) : Summon the powerful guards for the Lord of Flies, Beelzebub. The queen then called out the other four from the depths of hell. Each one has abilities capable of wiping out armys and causes mass destruction.

The Beasts are named after the pieces of the game chess.

Queen : Can summon the four other guards with ease. And has the power to create repulsive force that can push, pull, and hold any solid object it desires. The Queen also has a powerful ability called Beast of Carnage: Reject (4000 Mp). It allows the Queen to create a perfect vacuum that rejects all air similar to the outer space and pressure that will crush anything inside.

Rook: ?

Knight: ?

Bishop : Can release spores behind its back that create a mist on the surroundings. Anyone that inhaled the mist will constantly feel confused due to the certain part of their brain getting affected.

Pawn : ?

Note : Akechi has two other Mystic Codes that he didn't use this match.

[Personal Skill]

Assasination : Akechi use a fighting style called Snake that was the basis for his means of assassination, keeping him without a weapon so as to allow him an easier chance at getting close to his target. It is a fighting style that aims at vital weak points like the forehead, throat, heart and spine, each strike launched with extreme precision and quick speed to the point where he can deliver three fatal strikes in a single breath.