Two days later.
Tokyo, in front of the Haneda Airport gate.
Dragging his suitcase, Naoki looked at Touko who had come to see him off, "This is far enough, Master, Shiki. Don't you still have to go meet clients for business matters?"
"There's still more than enough time, I can drive you both first and still make it. But you two have so little luggage, I saw you both packing a lot of things yesterday, but you're only bringing this much?"
"If we take it home now, we'll have to bring it back again when we come, it's a hassle, better to just leave it here." Naoki explained, "Blankets, pillows, sheets... Master, when I'm gone, please air them out regularly, the rooftop soil of our office is quite good."
"You've really come to think of that building as home."
Unable to hold back her laughter, Touko nodded, "Before you come back next time, tell me, and I'll air them out. About half a year, I'm really looking forward to when you return as a Festival-ranked Magus."
"I wouldn't dare show off my rank in front of you, who's already Grand-ranked."
Raising his hand, Naoki looked towards Shiki beside him, "Shiki, after I leave, can you take good care of yourself? Don't keep fooling yourself by eating just enough three times a day, remember to go back to the office to eat on time. Delivery is fine, cooking yourself is fine, just make sure you eat."
"None of your business."
Although her words were unfriendly, Shiki's expression and gaze were not as cold as usual.
"I've already noted down your debt from losing to me two days ago, I'll beat you next time."
"So, until you defeat me, you don't plan to let me go?" Naoki laughed bitterly, "In that case, should I just let you win once?"
Hearing that, Shiki immediately grabbed his collar, her gaze as sharp as a knife's edge.
"You dare?"
I would dare—if he actually said it, Naoki estimated this airport would instantly turn into a battlefield.
Releasing Shiki's hand, Naoki smiled casually, "In that case, try your best, I hope when I return, you won't fall asleep during the fight."
"You—"
"Almost, almost!"
Quickly jumping back to avoid Shiki's sudden attack, accepting a large bag from Gray's hand, Naoki smiled at the two of them, "Then I'll return to London for a bit, I estimate I'll be back in half a year, see you later. Master, Shiki."
"Hmm, be careful on your way."
"....."
"Shiki, say something too."
"Farewell."
Seeing Shiki say that with a slightly flushed face, Naoki and Gray couldn't help but laugh, waving goodbye to the two of them before dragging their suitcases into the airport.
Staring at the backs of the two people until they disappeared into the crowd, Touko gently pushed up her glasses, "Returning... it's estimated that in the next half a year, the Clock Tower will be hit by a storm again."
The Demi-Servant who had fused with the power of a Heroic Spirit, the level of mystery of his existence completely surpassed the entire modern magical society. For the Clock Tower, which had been like a calm pool of water, Naoki was undoubtedly a bomb thrown into that pool.
In these two years, Touko had occasionally heard rumors about major events happening in the world of mystery.
The Halloween Black Dog Fairy, the Paris Blue Dragon... if you added them all up, there were probably dozens of incidents.
Although not certain, Touko felt that her cheap disciple must have been involved in most of those incidents.
"A storm of a new era... huh?"
"What are you muttering there, Touko? Aren't you going back?"
"Ah, I'm coming."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At the same time, England.
London, 8 am, waking up to the sound of his alarm, Waver yawned and came down from the second floor.
"Ara, Waver, good morning."
"Hmm..... good morning, Miss Mary."
Seeing Merlin busy in the kitchen, Waver sat down at the dining table and saw a large bag of groceries that hadn't been put away on the table. He couldn't help but be stunned, "Miss Mary, are we having guests today?"
"No."
"Then this...?"
"I received a message last night, Naoki and Gray said they'll be back today, estimated to arrive at the airport this afternoon." Merlin said with a smile, "So, to welcome them, I went to the supermarket to buy all this stuff, and just got back a few minutes ago."
Naoki and Gray were coming back?
Waver's slightly tired face from constant overtime immediately showed a hint of joy, "That guy... is finally coming back. Skipping the entire first semester of third year, only he could do such a ridiculous thing in this world."
"It seems you have a lot you want to say to him?"
"Yes, the complaints I want to tell him are so many, if I said them all, it might take a week."
However, in a sense, Waver was quite grateful to Naoki. After all, during these six months, he had often been tormented to the point of wishing for death by the affairs of the El-Melloi Faction and the work assigned by Kayneth. If Naoki were still around, it was estimated that every few days he would cause trouble that made his blood boil.
It was a good thing he was gone for these six months!
And just as Waver felt relieved that he had survived until today.
*DING-DONG!*
The doorbell suddenly rang once, and before Merlin and Waver had a chance to open it, a loud noise indicated that the door had been forcibly opened by the person who pressed the bell.
Along with hurried footsteps, a pinkish figure quickly appeared in their view.
"Mary! Is it true that that bastard Naoki is coming back!"
It was the idol Lord from the Department of Botany.
Seeing the panting Riddel, Merlin couldn't help but laugh, "Miss Riddel, your information is really fast, I myself only received his contact last night."
"The Department of Botany has spies placed in the Department of Mineralogy, news of Lord El-Melloi going to Japan was sent earlier. A Lord couldn't suddenly go to such a remote country for no reason, the only thing that comes to mind is for that bastard who disappeared for more than half a year."
Although she knew Naoki went to Japan, Riddel really didn't expect him to be gone for more than half a year, making it so that every time she had free time and wanted to find someone to have tea with, she couldn't find him. It was a pity that none of her travel plans for the past half a year involved Japan.
"It seems Miss Riddel really dislikes Naoki, to be so liked by a Lord, he really has his own ways."
Merlin said with a smile as if there was a hidden meaning.
Hearing that, Riddel hurriedly turned her face away and began to explain, "I don't like him at all, it's just that he's one of the few people I can talk to, and he can also give me some advice on idol business. Besides, I've also investigated clearly, he's the one who destroyed my laboratory, I'm just here to settle the debt with him!"
'But that debt was settled a long time ago, and you came directly this early in the morning...'
Waver felt that even if there was no other intention, there must at least be a little bit of one.
"It looks like this apartment will be lively again."