Silver Dusk Palace
"So this is the Holy Grail... Wow, this is the most magical energy I've ever seen."
Observing the jewel-adorned chalice on the table that Ren had brought, Alice exclaimed in awe. The cup radiated magical energy surpassing even that of a Campione.
'Truly astonishing—even an ordinary person like me can feel its sacred aura. As expected of the Holy Grail.'
Standing behind Ren as a maid, Hayasaka—who had only recently been introduced to the mystical world—was deeply moved by the sight of the legendary Holy Grail.
"Alice, when do you estimate you'll finish the magic formula I requested?" Ren asked Alice across from him. His voice was calm but carried the authoritative tone characteristic of a Campione.
"I should be able to complete it before sunset."
"That fast?"
Ren had prepared himself to wait several days for Alice to create the new spell he had asked for. After all, the Holy Grail War ritual was magic from the Type-Moon world.
"Has King Ren forgotten? We already have the Heretic God Summoning Magic. Making slight modifications shouldn't be too difficult." Alice replied confidently.
"As expected of the Sage Princess. That title suits you well."
Ren was certain Alice was being modest. If it were any other witch, even with the Heretic God Summoning Magic as a reference, creating a new spell wouldn't be easy. It had to be said—Alice was in a league of her own when it came to magic, a true genius among mages.
"By the way, Ai, how's your magic training progressing?"
Turning to Hayasaka behind him, Ren inquired.
One of the reasons he had requested a three-day leave from school was to use that time for Hayasaka to study magic at Witenagemot. She wasn't just his maid but also his mistress, which made him feel the need to equip her with some abilities.
Compared to Godou, who had Erica—a knight of the highest rank and a formidable figure in the mystical world—Hayasaka was still a complete novice. She was an ordinary person who had only just become aware of the hidden world beyond the visible reality.
Of course, Ren's intention in letting Hayasaka learn magic wasn't to turn her into a fighter. After all, he himself was a Campione—a Godslayer. There weren't many things that could threaten him. He simply wanted Hayasaka to use magic to make daily life easier—perhaps as household aids or simple self-defense.
"Thank you for your concern, Ren-sama. Everything is going smoothly. I've already mastered a few basic spells." Hayasaka answered, her soft voice tinged with excitement.
There was no helping it—magic, which she had once dismissed as mere fantasy, was now something she could actually learn. The hidden world of magic had opened up to her—how could she not be thrilled?
"Miss Ai is a fast learner. If she had been trained since childhood, with her talent, she might have reached the rank of Great Knight." Alice commented, her tone ambiguous—whether genuine praise or mere courtesy was hard to discern.
"If Alice says so, then Ai's talent must be among the best." Ren responded, though he wasn't entirely convinced of the statement's truth.
Uncertain whether Alice was being truthful or just flattering, Ren still praised Hayasaka. To him, enthusiasm and willingness to learn were far more important than mere talent.
"Thanks to Ren-sama's generosity, I'm able to learn magic. I'm truly grateful." Hayasaka said, bowing her head respectfully.
"Rather than words, show me through your actions."
"Understood, Ren-sama."
Knowing full well that the master she served was a lecherous figure—a mix of a powerful Campione and a man with insatiable desires—Hayasaka began considering what she should do tonight to please Ren.
"Alice, give me some money. I want to go out."
Ren said it without hesitation, asking for money from the girl he had only met a day ago. This entitled attitude reflected his status as a Campione—a being beyond the normal order of the world.
"Of course, King Ren. I'll prepare it shortly."
If satisfying a Campione only required money, Alice was more than willing to comply without the slightest objection.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
After Alice's attendant, Patricia Ericson, handed him a card with a balance of one hundred million pounds, Ren left Silver Dusk Palace.
He declined Alice's offer to accompany him. After all, she needed to finish the magic formula as soon as possible. In his past life, Ren had vacationed in London many times. Though this was a different world, London's landscape wasn't all that different from his original one.
His destination was Portobello Road Market: Located in Notting Hill, it was known as one of the largest antique markets in the world. Besides antiques, visitors could also find vintage clothing, food, and various other unique items.
Ren intended to use his innate ability, Insight Gaze—the power to see an object's information—which had played a major role in helping him find useful treasures during his rise as a Campione.
"Ren-kun?!"
As he walked along the sidewalk crowded with Westerners, Ren heard a woman's voice call his name. When he turned around, he was surprised to see her in London.
"Ichika-san? What are you doing here?"
The woman was the eldest of the Nakano quintuplets and his sister-in-law, Nakano Ichika.
"Oh my, that should be my question~ This is London. How could a high school student like you end up here?"
Ichika approached, staring at him in bewilderment.
"Well, I had some business and took time off. What about you, Ichika-san?"
Not wanting to reveal specific details, Ren redirected the question.
"The film I'm acting in has a storyline set in London."
"I see."
Ichika was an international actress, so it wasn't surprising she was filming abroad.
"Where are you headed, Ren-kun?"
"Portobello Road Market. I might find something useful there."
"Can I come along?"
"Don't you have filming to do?"
"That's scheduled for tomorrow. Today's a free day."
"Hmm... Sure."
"Thank you, Ren-kun. Let's go~"
As Ichika wrapped her arm around his, Ren could feel the soft sensation of her ample chest pressing against him.
'Is she doing this on purpose?'
Not overthinking it, Ren set off with Ichika toward Portobello Road Market.
Their journey to the market was filled with Ichika's enthusiasm. Every few steps, she stopped, drawn to shop displays or items set up along the street.
"Look, Ren-kun! This is a vintage dress from the 1950s!" Ichika exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she admired a pale yellow A-line dress in a small boutique.
"The design is perfect for the costume in the film I'm acting in!"
Ren glanced at it and then explained details about 1950s British fashion history.
"During that time, Christian Dior created the 'New Look' silhouette, revolutionizing post-WWII fashion. Dresses with cinched waists and full skirts became symbols of post-austerity luxury."
Ichika gaped at him, a mix of surprise and admiration in her gaze.
"Wait... You never mentioned before that you knew so much about fashion history!"
"I used to read a lot." Ren replied casually.
"Is this not your first time in London?" Ichika probed.
"Yeah, I've been here a few times." Ren answered vaguely.
They walked side by side, Ichika occasionally holding Ren's arm or leaning against him—gestures that made them look like a couple enjoying a romantic stroll. Passersby even glanced at them with smiles, assuming they were young lovers.
Little did they know, Ren and Ichika weren't lovers but brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Socially, they should have maintained some distance. Yet Ichika seemed either oblivious or deliberately ignored those boundaries.
She was remarkably proactive in her approach to Ren. Every touch, every brush of her body against his felt intentional. She leaned against his arm, linked hers with his, and even whispered close to his ear—all actions typical of infatuated couples.
As a scumbag, Ren didn't particularly mind the situation.
He was a man—why should he complain?
To him, Ichika's soft, provocative touches were just entertainment. After all, he was accustomed to intimate situations with women.
If Ichika herself didn't mind, why should Ren bother refusing?
They continued walking, with Ichika tightening her grip on Ren's arm, as if declaring to the world that they were a genuine couple.