After all, time is of the essence. Ever since Victor came up with the idea of visiting the Matou family, he had no intention of having a friendly attitude, so naturally he didn't care whether it was a good time to visit now.
As for Beowulf... he was working as a laborer at the Holy Grail, solidifying the surrounding rocks non-stop.
The Matou family's mansion is very easy to find.
Not long after, the two of them stood outside the gate of this huge mansion. Jiuyuan Temple Yuju was the first to look at them: "What do you think, a direct invasion or..."
Of course, it is courtesy before force.
Victor walked straight up and knocked on the door - it took a while, but soon there was the sound of footsteps.
With a creaking sound, the door opened.
The one who came out to greet the two was Matou Tsuruya, the eldest son of the Matou family. Matou Tsuruya didn't seem to notice anything wrong with the two's late-night visit. He just looked at the two strangers with a little confusion, then dismissed the maid behind him.
As usual, Victor took out the seal of Archelot and said, "As a member of the Magic Association, when you come to Fuyuki City, you should naturally visit the local magic family first."
"Are you the current head of the Matou family?"
"Magic Association..." Hearing this, Matou Tsuruno was slightly stunned. He chewed on this familiar but extremely unfamiliar word for a long time, then smiled bitterly and said, "Visit... Ha, to be honest, I actually thought that our Matou family no longer had this qualification."
As a declining mage family, Shinji Matou has not had any talent for magic since he was born, which indicates that the bloodline of the Matou family in the mage world has almost come to an end. Generally speaking, there is really no need to visit such a family.
However, this news is still kept secret, so it is normal that someone still comes to visit.
Matou Tsuruno shook his head slightly and did not continue the topic. Instead, he stepped aside and invited the two to come in, saying, "Come this way. The main room is too old and not very suitable for entertaining guests."
Even if you are curious about the other party's purpose of visiting, you should still make some tea before asking. This is the etiquette of the person being visited towards the visitor.
Although, since taking over, Matou Tsuruno has not seen many visitors from the mysterious world.
Victor entered this mansion complex which looked dilapidated but was at least a luxury mansion. He looked around and found that it was the middle of the night and there were not many maids and servants working there, but there were quite a few, and they were all ordinary people.
The area of the entire mansion covered by magic power is pitifully small.
Gone far.
Victor sighed inwardly, as his predecessor, as a native of a family similar to the Matou family, which was also a small and famous mage family, he knew very well what such a family should look like.
Putting aside whether the descendants have a talent for magic, even if not, the servants and maids should be familiars and some magic apprentices. A large number of barriers fill the family’s residence, with a magic workshop as the core.
These are the dignity of a magic family.
But now, the Matou family doesn't even want this dignity anymore.
Thinking of this, Victor subconsciously glanced at Kuonji Arizuma. The head of the family who gave up the glory of a magician and gave up pursuing the path of magic, such an existence must be very turbid and filthy in the eyes of Kuonji Arizuma, right?
And Youzhu did not hide her disgust.
She frowned, looking at everything around her. There was a faint smell of decay in the air, which was not only the decline of magical talent, but also a mysterious wailing.
"As it stands now, there is really no need to visit."
After the magic sense had been thoroughly scanned, Victor stopped and said simply, "I heard that the child of the Matou family has been confirmed to have no talent for magic, right?"
Hearing this, Matou Tsuruno was stunned for a moment, turned around and finally looked at Victor seriously for a few times, then said coldly: "Ah, are the people in the Magic Association so well-informed?"
"I should be the one asking this." Seeing the other party's somewhat annoyed attitude, Victor laughed softly: "It seems that our information is correct, so... why did the Matou family hide this news?"
"Why should I answer you? This matter has nothing to do with you."
"There are still some." Kuonji Yuzu said calmly. She raised her eyes silently, met the other party's angry eyes and said: "The Magic Association has received some accusations about the magic of Fuyuki City. Since someone has made an accusation, there must be an investigation."
"We are representing Acherot now." Victor added: "You can also explain nothing, but just like this..."
"...Of course, it's for the reputation and status of the Matou family."
Upon hearing that it was the Magic Association's intervention, Matou Tsuruno suddenly became anxious. He was about to continue explaining when he saw Victor shaking his head.
"That's even more wrong. Reputation is understandable, but status..."
"Normally, when a magic family's bloodline becomes increasingly rare, they will only make the information public or report it to the Magic Association, and seek adoption or assistance from fellow famous families. But looking at you, the head of the family, it seems that you have accepted your fate and are living a completely ordinary life."
"And, pardon my bluntness..." Victor pressed on, "The head of the family doesn't seem to know much about magicians. Apart from the issues of adoption and family lineage continuation, when we first visited you, if we hadn't proactively revealed our identities, you wouldn't have even realized that we were magicians."
"..." After hearing these words, Matou Tsuruya finally stopped. He seemed to understand that the visitor was not a good person.
So, after being silent for a long time, he suddenly said: "If you have anything to say or want to do something, why don't you just say it directly."
After saying that, he smiled bitterly again and looked at Kuonji Yuju: "To be honest, I have just become the head of the family not long ago, and I don't know much about your world. In fact, if it weren't for the honor of the family, I wouldn't want to bear this road that is like a curse to the Matou family."
In fact, he was very clear about his position. Since he was a child, he was not as talented in magic as Matou Kariya, so he was abandoned by Matou Zouken from the very beginning. If Matou Kariya had not suddenly decided to give up the way of magic, causing the old man to be furious, he would not have been able to become the head of the family. However, even if he became the head of the family...
Ha ha.
"...You are quite clear about it."
Seeing how straightforward the other person was, Victor didn't know what to say for a moment. He had heard that the other person was addicted to alcohol, sex and worldly things, living a life of drunkenness and dreams, but this kind of person often has his own clear cognition, such as... I am a waste or something.
Forget it.
Victor thought about it and said simply: "In that case, you can go and dismiss the servants at home now. I will give you ten minutes, and then leave here."
Ok?
Victor's words were calm, but they made Matou Tsuruno stunned on the spot. Then, incredible shock exploded in his heart, and he suddenly raised his head: "What did you say?!"
"No, I just concealed the news..."
"It's not just hiding the news, Master Matou." Victor said, "No, or rather, I can't even call you Master."
"Because... you don't have a magic mark, right?"
Seeing Matou Tsuruno's suddenly pale face, Victor smiled indifferently: "The rule of the magic world is that only those who have inherited the magic seal should inherit the position of the head of the family. Of course, accidental situations such as losing it do not count, but the magic seal of the Matou family..."
"It can't be lost, right?"
"Do you understand now?" Kuonji Yuju said calmly, "The real accusation the Magic Association received against you is not about concealing your magical qualifications, but about the deeper secrets behind you."
"Your real patriarch has been accused of using forbidden methods that are sufficient to implement the designated seal to maintain his life and magic research." Victor said coldly: "He needs to be investigated, let him come out!"
Victor deliberately added a hint of magic to this cold sneer, which made Matou Tsuruya's mind shaken and he felt dizzy twice in an instant as if he was hit on the head.
"I...I'll go right away."
He nodded quickly and ran quickly to the depths of the mansion. Several flying insects, following the departure of Matou Tsuruno, buzzed and flew around as if they were startled.
"What a loser I cannot bear to look at." Looking at the other person's fleeing back, Kuonji Yuju said with rare disgust: "It seems that he feels sorry for his own magic, but in fact, he doesn't care at all. It's better to say that he is extremely resistant to magic."
"Yeah." Victor chuckled, "Even if it's a burden, it's only for the assets of the Matou family."
“But this is just an ordinary person. So now, do you still hate Matou Kariya?”
Before Victor came, he told Kuonji Arizuma the story of the Matou family. Unexpectedly, Kuonji Arizuma did not comment on the old bug's behavior, but felt sorry for him and also expressed disgust towards the other person.
That is Matou Kariya.
Matou Kariya gave up magic because of his kindness, but in the eyes of Kuonji Yuzu, this is nothing more than a reason that "is absolutely unacceptable". It is an existence that has given up glory and is completely despised.
Compared to him, she even thought that Matou Tsuruno was good... until now.
Forget it, both of them are hopeless.
Seeing Yuzu's disgusted expression, Victor found it even more amusing. He whispered, "In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the magic of the Matou family would hurt Zenjo Aoi, and if the magic system was a little more normal, Matou Kariya might not give up the emotional competition with Tōsaka Tokiomi, let alone the so-called magic path. He would become an outstanding magician."
"A great magician won't give up his burden just because of feelings or other people, Victor."
"..."
"It really fits your statement."
Victor shook his head and stopped arguing.
This is her. Facing Aoko and Chengzi, she has proved her will countless times.
"Sometimes I really envy you for having such a determined heart."
Victor chuckled and said, "I often call myself a qualified magician, but compared to you..."
"Tsk, come to think of it, there's a good chance we'll have a fight in the future."
After all, given Victor's identity, there are likely to be many things in the future that would offend Youzhu's traditional magician concepts.
"..." Hearing this, Kuonji Yuzu quietly turned around and looked at Victor. Until Victor felt a little guilty, he slowly moved his head away and tilted his head slightly: "Maybe."
Perhaps, an excellent magician would never let friendships or other relationships hinder his magic, but...
Maybe I'm not that good after all?
Jiuyuan Temple Yuju thought calmly. After giving an ambiguous answer, she ignored the confused Victor and looked at the yard that had been fogged up without her knowing when and the densely packed insects. She opened her cherry lips and said, "Are you... ready to start?"
114. Matou Zouken: Are you an undercover agent sent by the church?
For Matou Zouken, today was obviously not a good day. From the magical perception of his familiar "Detective Bug", he felt that the two men were not kind, especially the girl following behind the guy. He did not hide his disgust and was so unbridled that it was about to overflow...
And now, just because of a few words of pressure and a hint from the other party, his "son" actually came running over and exposed his whereabouts? !
What a waste! It makes me so angry!
Although Victor, who possessed magical perception, had already grasped his signs well before deciding to take action.
But to Matou Zouken, who didn't know this, Matou Tsuruno's behavior could be said to have completely disgraced the Matou family!!
However, even though the other party made such a big mistake, in the end, Zouken Matou just sighed.
What else can I do?
This guy is currently the only chess piece that the Matou family can use.
Although Matou Zouken is cruel, cunning and insidious, he is not brutal. In other words, he will never punish the people he expects from him unless they have committed irreparable mistakes.
After letting the other party retreat, he planned to meet the boy himself.
After all, hiding in a corner when his position was exposed was not only useless but also made him lose his momentum. The entire Matou family belonged to his magic workshop. In this environment, he was still somewhat confident.
When a large number of flying insects flew out of the insect warehouse, Victor and Kuonji Yuzu, who were still talking, had already released their magic power tacitly together. The cat bell slowly sank to the ground, and the mist began to rise.
Victor also immersed his magic power into it without hesitation. As the two merged together, his perception began to spread. When the entire world turned into a vast white fog, his perception also accompanied the fog as if he had reached a God's perspective.
In the thick fog, the movements of every flying insect could not escape the perception of the two. Therefore, Jiuyuan Temple Yuju keenly sensed the arrival of the old insect, or rather...
It was a body formed by tens of thousands of insects coming together.
The shriveled and gloomy bald head flashed with gray insect eyes, and the thin body was covered in a green robe, emitting a foul smell of decay. He walked over step by step, leaning on a cane.
"If I remember correctly, the Last Bird Alice should have already flown away from the Clock Tower."
Not only was his body rotten, his voice was sharp and gloomy, even drier than that of the ruler of the undead, Euripides, as if his throat had long been rotten, but he was forcing the sound out of his throat. "And the Clock Tower doesn't seem to have the right to interfere in the affairs of other magus families."
"The Clock Tower has the obligation to protect the heritage of magic." Upon hearing this, Kuonji Yuju explained calmly.
This made Matou Zouken couldn't help but let out a dry sneer.
The so-called protection of the inheritance of magic means that the Magic Association has the obligation to help and assist families that are about to lose their magic path. It sounds good, but there is a second meaning, which is... it has the right to reclaim the magic imprints of families that have lost their inheritance.
The looted Magic Seals would be stored in a huge designated sealed chamber, just like the Magic Seals of Kiritsugu's father, waiting to be studied or inherited by other famous families who have made contributions to the Magic Association.
"I think the Matou family has not reached that stage yet. The recycling...will only be carried out after I die, and then the managers of Fuyuki City will make the decision. It is not your turn to interfere."
After saying that, Matou Zouken tapped his cane and slammed it on the ground. A group of ferocious "blade-winged insects" appeared in front of everyone and said, "You two might as well just state your purpose directly. If you are an evil guest, I will have no choice but to be rude."
"Oh my, you sound so confident. The last old man who spoke to me so confidently... the grass on his grave has grown taller than you." Victor looked at the flying insects in the sky and suddenly said, "Imprinting insects, right?"
"An evil and disgusting secret technique."
“Hahahaha…” Hearing this, Matou Zouken suddenly laughed a few times and narrowed his eyes: “I, a grandson, have the same evaluation as you, but the Insect Manipulator, even if it is not in your eyes, it is still a magic path recognized by the world.”
"Recognized by the world... When did the Magic Association become able to represent the world?" Victor shook his head helplessly and stopped talking. He nodded at Kuonji Yuzu and planned to take action directly.
After all, what Master Chong said was right. Bug magic was indeed certified by the Magic Association and even had a patent certification, but it was not chosen to be made public. There was controversy over whether the core of bug magic, the engraved bugs that could suck blood and vitality, would be classified as a vampire, but it was not a big deal.
Because even if the Crest Worms are identified as blood-sucking species, they are still enslaved and are allowed to be called familiars and be studied and driven.
However, Victor smiled softly and said, "If you change the magic without authorization and transform yourself into a life form similar to the Crest Bug, and ensure your own life by sucking blood and essence, then what is the difference between you and those evil ways of the fallen dead apostles?"
"Here, I can't help but think of a phrase that the church likes to say the most..."
"Heretics must be punished."
……
If you let Victor choose a way to deal with the old worm, he would say that the brain worm is hard to find and it is difficult to kill it completely.
Then Victor can only say that he is still too young.
If the body is hard to kill, then just kill the soul directly.
