To Become a King and a Magician

Tokyo Tower, also known as Japan's Radio Wave Tower.

Before Tokyo Skytree was built, this was the tallest structure in Japan and an iconic symbol of Tokyo. For foreign tourists visiting Tokyo, this place is essentially a must-visit location.

Naoki's desire to come here was partly for sightseeing, but more so for another purpose.

At the top floor of Tokyo Tower.

"Wow! It's so high, Master! This is taller than the highest point of Camelot Castle, right?"

Like a country bumpkin, Mordred ran excitedly to the glass window, looking down at Tokyo below.

"Master! Is that where we got off? That place called the station?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, calm down, you fool. Don't you see people around us staring?" Naoki sighed in resignation, then gave a slight nod to the onlookers. Judging by their smiles, they likely assumed the two were foreign tourists visiting Japan.

Standing beside Mordred, Naoki looked down—indeed, a breathtaking, top-tier view. If it were nighttime, it would probably be even more beautiful. Once Tokyo Skytree is built in a few years, the view from there should be even more spectacular.

However…

"There's nothing unusual from here…"

"Master?"

Hearing Naoki's murmur, Mordred frowned. "Are you still thinking about that weird feeling on the train?"

Naoki nodded. "Something's clearly off with Tokyo. The strange sensation we felt on the train, and the spiritual incidents in Tokyo that Sajyou Ayaka just mentioned… Don't you think there might be a connection?"

"Is there? Maybe you're overthinking it, Master?"

"My instincts are pretty sharp about these things—call it experience. I'm used to days where I stumble into something every time I go somewhere new."

Right after crossing into another world, he got dragged into a Holy Grail War. In London, all sorts of sudden events happened. In Paris, he encountered a giant dragon… With such an obvious anomaly in Tokyo, Naoki was certain he'd get caught up in something during these two days!

"So, Master, coming to this high place… is that related to your instincts too?"

"You could say that. This height lets you see most of Tokyo—it's a great spot for searching for something."

Naoki said as he pulled out a few gems and parchment scrolls from his pocket.

This was Magecraft he'd secretly learned from Rin, useful for checking leyline conditions and, to some extent, for searching.

(First, I'll hide myself… Huh?)

Just as Naoki was about to cast Magecraft to conceal himself and avoid attention, he froze, as if stuck in place.

Seeing him motionless, Mordred patted him. "Master, what's wrong?"

"I can't use Magecraft?"

"Huh?"

Naoki's expression turned serious—he genuinely couldn't use Magecraft.

No, more accurately, using Magecraft was extremely difficult. He could clearly sense Mana and use it, but the construction of magical rituals was incredibly slow, like a computer stuck on loading.

"Mordred, can you manifest your armor?"

"Let me try—Huh?"

A faint shimmer of armor flickered on Mordred's body before vanishing instantly—her situation was similar to Naoki's.

(It's heavily restricting Mana usage… Is there some kind of suppression on the final project?)

"Mordred, how do you feel?"

"Ugh… It's like straining hard to poop but nothing comes out."

A few young people who had been偷偷 glancing at Mordred immediately looked away upon hearing her words—such a statement was just too image-shattering. They had initially thought Mordred, a tomboyish girl in revealing clothes, seemed approachable, but now they completely lost interest.

What a pity her mouth spoke like that.

Naoki, too, was a bit exasperated. "Sir Mordred, I think you need to take an etiquette class after this."

"Ugh… No way, I'll change, alright?"

Etiquette classes—Mordred absolutely wanted nothing to do with them again. Back when her mother forced her to attend them, she felt uncomfortable all over, every part of her body stiff, especially her face. That fake, standard smile was utterly unbearable!

Naoki smacked his apprentice's head with his hand, then said seriously, "It seems using Magecraft in Tokyo is going to be very difficult. No wonder this place has become a desert in the mystic world."

If Magecraft couldn't be used, Magi had no special advantage. Naturally, no Magi would want to come here, and local Magi would leave. Only Church personnel, who didn't rely on Magecraft, would actively come.

(But why is Sajyou Ayaka still here? Doesn't she feel this anomaly?)

In a place where Magecraft is nearly unusable, Ayaka is the only Magus—a combination like a flame burning in a pool of water.

"I remember… she mentioned nighttime, right?"

Muttering, Naoki turned toward the elevator. "Come on, Mordred, let's go have some fun elsewhere until night falls."

"Ah, wait for me, Master!"

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Manaka's consciousness continued to sink.

As if plunging deeper than the depths of Tokyo Bay, a weightless sensation gradually enveloped her entire consciousness. The sound of swirling water echoed in her ears, and the movement of bursting bubbles reached every corner of her awareness.

All her eyes could see was darkness; all she could feel was an endless abyss.

How long had it been?

Since she arrived in this place, how much time had passed?

[Is this the place?]

As if bound by a rope, her sinking consciousness halted. Something was beside her—Manaka could sense it.

It seemed she had arrived at the place she sought.

Her feet touched what could be called ground. Though in the world of consciousness, there were no boundaries, with some thought, a place to stand could still be imagined.

After standing, Manaka looked ahead. As expected, it was still an endless dark world, with faint glimmers of light, fragile like a dream or a mirage that would shatter upon touch.

This was indeed the place.

Moving forward, ignoring the darkness that sought to swallow her, Manaka stepped effortlessly into its depths, as if returning to her own home.

—You've come.

Words carrying that meaning radiated directly into the depths of her consciousness.

Manaka looked forward, her gaze piercing the thick darkness, clearly seeing the existence at its end—another self, one that had changed so much she could barely recognize it.