Only when the swaying red ponytail disappeared from his sight did Elmero II let out a long sigh of relief.
"Teacher … Do you know that girl?"
Grey looked at her teacher curiously. For her, Elmero II's reaction was quite rare. In Grey's opinion, the girl with the red ponytails was beautiful, lively, and gave people a very friendly feeling. But for her teacher, it was as if he was facing a terrifying demon.
"Well … Since you've seen it, there's nothing for me to hide."
Elmero II nodded.
"She calls herself Red Ponytail. Of course, you know that's just a nickname. Her real name is unknown. I've met her several times during the Holy Grail War ten years ago. "
"Huh?"
Upon hearing this, Grey was taken aback.
"Ten years ago? But that girl looks like she's only thirteen or fourteen years old … "
"She looked the same back then, exactly the same as now, as if time doesn't matter to her at all … I didn't expect her to be a member of the Thousand Worlds Tree. This is really troublesome …"
"What kind of place is the Thousand Worlds Tree?"
"It's heresy to the Magic Association."
"Heresy?"
"That's right."
Elmero II stretched out his hand and took out a cigar from his bosom.
"You don't know yet, but the Thousand Worlds Tree used to be a place that housed all kinds of magic families. In the long history of the Magic Association, many magic families declined for various reasons, and the Thousand Worlds Tree took them in and integrated them. It can be said that the Thousand Worlds Tree was an alliance of weak magic families. Of course, the Magic Association at that time didn't care about the Thousand Worlds Tree, but … "
"But?"
"After that, the Thousand Worlds Tree suddenly announced the start of the Holy Grail War and killed the members of the Magic Association. This was equivalent to a direct declaration of war against the Magic Association. The infuriated Magic Association also sent a representative over … "
Elmero II was a little depressed. At that time, he was busy with other matters and couldn't do anything. In fact, when he found out about this matter, the candidate sent by the Magic Association had already arrived in Romania, so he had no choice but to give up.
Now, it seemed that giving up was the right choice.
"What was the result?"
Hearing this, Grey was a little frightened. Although she didn't understand the situation of the Magic Association, she knew that this was definitely not an easy task.
"How should I put it … The result can be considered a draw. There was an internal problem in the Holy Grail War. Although there was a problem with the Magic Association, the Thousand Worlds Tree didn't seem to get any benefits. After that, the Thousand Worlds Tree probably reached an agreement with the Magic Association and migrated to East Asia. I heard they're researching a brand new magic spell there … "
"But what does this have to do with the red ponytail?"
"That guy is a monster."
"Mon … Monster?"
Hearing until here, Grey was stunned while Ermero II nodded.
"Yes, in the Holy Grail War, that girl alone suppressed all of us and our servants … She's the master of CASTER, but even without the power of CASTER, she's enough to fight all the Einherjars. If I have to evaluate her, I'm afraid her ability is at least at the Crown level …. "
Ermero II pondered for a moment and didn't continue.
"Alright, let's go."
"Ah, yes."
Although Grey didn't know why her teacher didn't continue, she didn't ask. Instead, she followed Ermero II and continued to climb the mountain path.
The truth wasn't that simple.
Looking at his disciple beside him, Ermero II sighed in his heart. Just as he said before, the Thousand Worlds Tree had withdrawn from Europe and settled in East Asia. Many magicians believed that they had reached a compromise with the Magic Association and went to East Asia to live in seclusion. After all, it was a barren land of magic, and the Thousand World Trees, who had cut off their connection with the modern magic circle, would not receive support from other families. Basically, in the clock tower, many families saw it as a form of self-exile.
But now, the Thousand Worlds Tree had appeared here.
England.
The headquarters of the Clock Tower.
More importantly, the one who came was the red ponytail.
This was like transporting a nuclear warhead to the border of an enemy country.
It was almost comparable to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
In fact, after the end of the Holy Grail War, he returned to the Clock Tower and inherited the name of Ermero. He had investigated the red ponytail several times. But there was no information. The righteous magician who claimed to be the red ponytail seemed to have jumped out of a crack in a stone.
It wasn't until recently that he received some news from Japan. He heard that the red ponytail was very close to the witch and the fifth mage of the Kunodera family. But that was all. After all, whether it was the witch of the Kunodera family or the fifth mage, they weren't people that he, the Lord of the declining Ermero family, could casually visit.
But now that he thought about it …
How troublesome …
It was rumored that the Thousand Worlds Tree had obtained the third magic. Many people scoffed at the accuracy of this rumor. Their thinking was very simple. If the Thousand Worlds Tree really obtained the third magic, then there was no need to go to East Asia to live in seclusion (or exile). As long as the news of the third magic was released, she could immediately enter the highest level of the Magic Association.
But now it seemed that the situation wasn't that simple. If the Thousand Worlds Tree really obtained the third magic, then the close relationship between the red ponytail and the fifth mage seemed to be understandable.
Then there was another problem.
Why would the Thousand Worlds Tree, who obtained the third magic, leave the central area of magic? To the remote East Asia? And they deliberately cut off all contact with the Magic Circle … What were they trying to do?
Ermero II had a hunch that he would soon get the answer.
And the answer didn't seem to be what he wanted to see.
The City of Stripping.
In its original sense, it was just a castle, or the kind of ancient castle that would appear in various Western fantasy movies. There was a suspension bridge, a moat, a lake, a forest, and a remote area that was rarely visited by humans. Whether it was used as a vampire legend or a secret chamber, it was quite fitting.
However, in the eyes of Fangzheng and Fresh Flower, there was something even more shocking about the castle in front of them.
"Ugh …"
After taking a glance at the castle, Hei Tong Xianhua covered her mouth abruptly as though she had seen something disgusting.
"You see?"
Looking at Fresh Flower beside him, Fangzheng reached out and patted her on the shoulder. A magical glow quietly flashed.
"That's the essence of a magician. Even the castle they built is so disgusting …"
That's right. If others saw it, they would only think that it was an ancient city that had been in disrepair for a long time. But in the eyes of Fangzheng and Fresh Flower, they saw what was underneath its "surface".
It was as if a huge person had been turned inside out like a rubber ball. It was as if the skin had been stuffed into the body and the flesh and bones were exposed to the air.
"Huff … Huff …"
"You have to be careful. Although your [Origin] is indeed very suitable for magic research and learning, the disadvantage is that you're too sensitive. The more you come into contact with these perverts, the more easily you'll become distorted … I'll teach you some defensive spells next time."
"Huff … Thank you, Xiao Hong."
Fresh Flower took a deep breath and calmed down. She wasn't being overly sensitive just now. In fact, the moment she saw the castle, Fresh Flower felt as if she was standing in front of the bloody corpse of a giant. She could even clearly see the decaying internal organs. The nauseating stench of decay wafted towards her, as if she was being pulled into a world full of corpses.
"This is …"
"That's right, this is a magician's workshop. Of course, the appearance of the workshop varies according to personal preferences. But the one in front of us is obviously the super disgusting type. "
Fangzheng gave his evaluation without hesitation. Fresh Flower nodded silently. She had also taken classes in Fiore's magic workshop, but Fiore's workshop gave her a very calm and reassuring feeling. But she obviously couldn't get used to the one in front of her.
"Okay, let's go in."
Fangzheng didn't say anything more. Instead, she walked straight in with Fresh Flower. An old man who looked like a butler stood at the door. He took the invitation, looked at it carefully, and respectfully made way for them. He then sent a servant to lead the two into the castle.
"Clack … clack … clack …"
The sound of footsteps echoed from time to time in the empty castle, making people feel irritated.
"Who else is here besides us?"
Fangzheng asked as he walked along the corridor out of boredom. Upon hearing her question, the servant leading the way respectfully lowered his head and answered, "Yes, Master.
"You two are the first to arrive here."
"Huh? The audience came earlier than the actors. Do these people have any sense of professionalism? "
"Ahahaha …"
Hearing Fangzheng's complaint, Fresh Flower couldn't help but smile bitterly. Although they were indeed here to watch the show, there was no need to say such things out loud. Although Fresh Flower also found that the girl with the red ponytail in front of her hated magicians very much, the way she treated others like clowns … was really interesting.
The servant who led the way didn't say anything. He just brought the two to the reception room, then left. Fangzheng randomly found a sofa and sat down. Then, he took out a PSP and began playing in high spirits.
"It's hard to imagine …"
Fresh Flower sat beside him and looked at the scene around her. Ever since she entered the castle, she had discovered that the owner of the castle had a sincere love for angels.
The stained glass was filled with angels, the pillars were carved with angels, the walls were painted with angels, the hanging pictures were also painted with angels, the decorative patterns of the cabinets, the armrests of the sofa, the surface of the coffee table, and everywhere else one could see, were filled with angels.
"Xiao Hong …"
"Huh?"
"Magicians … Why do they pursue the source?"
Fresh Flower murmured to herself. Of course, she knew that the goal of magicians was the source, but this was something that Fresh Flower, a magical girl, could not understand.
"Who knows, but … I have a few speculations."
With that said, Fangzheng chuckled.
"If you think about it carefully, you'll find the whole thing funny from the beginning."
"Funny?"
"Yes, you should have heard from Fiore that modern magic is in decline."
"Well … I've heard about that."
"In fact, that's true. Compared to these poor guys in the modern era, the magicians of the God's Era were quite strong. They could really achieve what the myths and legends say. Things like Cinderella's Crystal Shoes were nothing to the magicians of that era. However, have you ever wondered why the magicians of that era didn't pursue the Vortex of Origin? They were clearly hundreds or even thousands of times stronger than modern magicians. Whether it was powerful magic, spells, or mysteriousness, they were far superior to modern magicians. Besides, you've read myths and legends, so you should know that many ancient magicians even had the bloodline of the gods. Some were even demigods. With their abilities, no matter how difficult it was to find the Vortex of Origin, it wouldn't be more difficult than modern magicians. "
"Now that you mention it … It does make sense, but maybe some magicians have already reached it before?"
"Hahaha, if there really were such people, they would have been worshipped by magicians by now. Unfortunately, they don't exist."
"Then why is that?"
Fresh Flower's curiosity was piqued. Fangzheng put down the PSP in his hand and thought for a moment. He then revealed a malicious smile.
"I don't know, but I have an interesting guess … Flower, you should know about the messenger game, right?"
"Of course I know."
"Then you should also know that the most interesting thing about the messenger game is that once there are many messengers, the meaning of the last person's words will be completely different from the first person's."
"Hmm … it's really interesting … Huh? Wait, so you're saying …? "
"That's right."
Fangzheng sat on the sofa and swayed back and forth, smiling like a little fox.
"My personal guess is that some great Magician's ancestor told his descendants something along the lines of 'If you want to find the treasures I left behind, go to the Vortex of Origin. You can find everything you want there.' Maybe the magician just wanted to motivate his descendants, or maybe he wanted to give them another way. After all, there was everything in the source. Once they reached the source, they would naturally find what they wanted. In the end, the message was misinterpreted … Hahaha, it's like a pirate telling everyone before he was executed that if you want to find my treasure, go to the Grand Line. A group of people went out to sea for decades. At first, they were looking for treasure, but in the end, for some reason, the rumor gradually became twisted into that whoever found the treasure could become the Pirate King … How about that? Interesting, right? "
"Interesting indeed."
At that moment, an old voice suddenly sounded.
"In that case, are all magicians who pursue the source of magic clowns?"
"More or less."
Fresh Flower stood up in surprise because of the voice that suddenly appeared behind her. Fangzheng was still sitting on the sofa, fiddling with the PSP in his hand.
"What these magicians are doing now is like picking up a fragment from an alien UFO on the beach and hoping to use it to restore everything about the entire alien civilization. There's nothing more ridiculous than this."
Having said that, Fangzheng pressed the pause button and looked up at the door. Accompanied by the faint sound of metal scraping, an old man in a wheelchair slowly appeared in front of them. He looked to be in his eighties, and his entire body was like a mummy that was all skin and bones. Behind the old man was a youth — no, rather than calling him a youth, it would be better to call him a puppet. He was like a robot without self-awareness, pushing the old man's wheelchair while staring blankly into the void.
"Hahaha, youngsters nowadays are all sharp-tongued. Are you the emissaries from that heretic?"
"I don't want to be called a heretic."
Fangzheng curled his lips.
"The Thousand Worlds Tree exists for the sake of this world. At least … it's more valuable than the Magic Association."
"How can a little girl like you understand the ideals of a magician?"
Upon hearing that, the elder frowned slightly and turned solemn. However, Fangzheng swept a glance and lowered his head again.
"Your ideals are worthless to the Thousand Worlds Tree, and they're worthless to this world. Of course, if you like to enjoy yourself behind closed doors, that's fine, but if you disturb others, that's another matter … I don't think the governments of any countries want unexplainable disasters and murders to happen in their countries."
"Hmph!"
The old man's face darkened. Fangzheng had hit the nail on the head. If it was a few hundred years ago, they could still use their mysterious power to cooperate with the rulers. But now, with the progress and development of the times, magicians had gradually been marginalized. Although they could still rely on their wealth and power to obtain a certain degree of support, they could no longer be the same as before.
"I'd like to see what the Thousand Worlds Tree is capable of!"
As he spoke, the old man gently tapped the cane in his hand. In an instant, hundreds of golden butterflies appeared from all directions. They gathered together and pounced on Fangzheng and Fresh Flower.
Facing the old man's attack, Fangzheng did not even raise his head. On the contrary, Fresh Flower was the first to attack.
She stretched out her right hand and quickly drew a series of mysterious characters in the air with her fingers. The next moment, a wall of fire rose from the ground and immediately separated them from the old man. As for the golden butterflies, they were directly swallowed up by the flames and disappeared without a trace.
Then, Fresh Flower waved her hand abruptly, and the next moment, the burning flames quickly retracted. Apart from leaving a pitch-black burn mark on the ground, nothing else seemed to have changed.
"So …"
Only then did Fangzheng put down the PSP in his hand and looked at the old man again.
"Times have changed, old man."
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