"Really?"
May stared at the blue-haired boy, whose hair she had successfully mussed into a bird's nest. Seeing him disheveled seemed to improve her mood significantly.
"You looked pretty interested back there," she teased, smoothing her skirt. "But look, if you really have your own plans for a disciple, I won't interfere. I'm not that possessive."
"I really don't," Rimuru shook his head.
He noticed the hallway was filling up with students between classes. With a subtle flick of his finger, he cast a localized Bounded Field of Silence around them to ensure their conversation remained private.
"Speaking of which," Rimuru asked as they resumed walking, "won't Kayneth trying to shove his students onto me piss off the Eulyphis faction?"
"Why would you ask that? Of course not," May replied, looking confused. "Kayneth is the successor to the El-Melloi Title, but that doesn't mean his entire biological family falls under that banner. The Archibald family possesses its own Magic Crest, independent of the El-Melloi office."
She paused, then smirked dismissively.
"Though, truthfully... the Archibalds are nothing special. If it weren't for a freak genius like Kayneth popping up, nobody would even care about that family name. I honestly don't know where he gets the audacity to look down on other lineages."
Rimuru listened, offering a silent rebuttal in his head.
That might be true, May, but right now, you have to measure him by the name 'El-Melloi', not 'Archibald'.
In the world of Mages, a "Family" wasn't defined by blood relations, but by the Magic Crest.
Since a Crest could only be passed to one heir, Mages often had to adopt or branch out to ensure survival. If a family's bloodline ran dry of talent, they would adopt an outsider to inherit the Crest.
Kayneth was the current holder of the El-Melloi crest. Therefore, he was El-Melloi first, and Archibald second.
"Ugh..."
Seeing May's expression darkening again at the thought of her rival, Rimuru wisely decided to shut his mouth. He pivoted to the other question burning in his mind, the one that could confirm his timeline theory.
"By the way... Hey, May-dear!"
"Huh … Speak."
"What year... is it exactly?"
"???"
The next moment, Rimuru felt a gentle, warm touch on his forehead. May looked down at him, her face filled with genuine concern as she checked his temperature.
"Huh?! What are you doing?!"
Rimuru slapped her hand away and looked up, only to be met with a gaze that said, 'Oh no, the brain damage is real.'
"No fever..." she muttered.
"..."
Rimuru felt a wave of melancholy. Honestly, he didn't want to ask such a stupid question either!
But this was the Stone Age of technology. Smartphones didn't exist. The internet and computers were still running on DOS.
There were no digital billboards flashing the date and time on every corner like in the future.
He had tried to deduce it from the environment. Based on the fact that Mahoyo (Night of the Witches) had happened seven or eight years ago, and factoring in May's current age, he had guesstimated it was the late 80s. But he needed precision! He was desperate!
Fortunately, even though May didn't understand his internal suffering, she answered the question honestly.
"It's 1987. Why?"
1987! That meant the Fourth Holy Grail War, which takes place in 1994, was still seven years away.
Rimuru's brain kicked into overdrive. He felt a mix of disappointment and relief.
Disappointment because seven years was a long time. It meant his foreknowledge of the plot was useless for nearly a decade. He had to survive and grow without a guide.
Relief because seven years was plenty of time to prepare. He wasn't being thrown into the grinder immediately.
But the lingering sadness remained. It meant he was stuck in this world for at least seven years.
Seven years… How many seven-year periods does a human get in one life?
Watching Rimuru's expression shift from relief to depression, May grew even more confused.
"Is there something wrong with the date?"
"No... just remembered some things."
They walked deeper into the Clock Tower. The crowds of students thinned out as they reached the more restricted areas.
"Say," Rimuru started, keeping his voice low. "If I wanted you to keep an eye on a certain Magus family... would that be difficult?"
"Hm? That depends on which family."
May stopped walking. Her playful demeanor vanished, replaced by the seriousness of a Lord. She looked at Rimuru intently. "If it's someone like Kayneth..."
"No, no, no! It's just a run-of-the-mill family in the Far East. They used to have some fame, but they've fallen into decline."
Rimuru blinked, pausing for a second before adding, "Actually, whether we monitor them or not doesn't really affect me personally. But... if I don't do something, I'll just feel bad about it."
"The Far East?"
May fell silent. For some reason, her mind immediately drifted to her best friend, a certain black-dress-wearing, cold, calculating, belly-black Alice Kuonji.
She eyed Rimuru suspiciously. Was he doing this on purpose?
When it came to the Far East (Japan), Alice Kuonji held significantly more influence than May did. The Kuonji estate was practically local royalty there, whereas the Archelot family, despite being massive capitalists in the UK, had limited reach on the other side of the planet.
It was the classic case of "The Emperor is far away." The City Capitalist vs. The Country Gentry.
But... May was stubborn. She could concede on other things, but when it came to Rimuru, she refused to hand the reins over to her childhood friend.
"If it's just an ordinary Magus family, it shouldn't be a problem..." May muttered to herself, already scheming. "At worst, I can just organize a concert tour in Japan and go there personally..."
"You are definitely getting the wrong idea here."
Seeing May descend into deep contemplation, likely calculating the logistics of an invasion, Rimuru hurriedly waved his hands to stop her.
"I just asked you to keep an eye on them! I have my own plans for the rest. I don't need you to launch a crusade!"
Good grief. If I let a Clock Tower Lord storm into Fuyuki City seven years early, who knows how the Holy Grail War will mutate?
"Just... watch them?"
May stared at Rimuru with suspicion. The playful gleam in her eyes vanished, replaced by a terrifying, cold seriousness. She lowered her voice, the temperature in the corridor seeming to drop a few degrees.
"Rimuru. I am being serious. If they have offended you, or if they have insulted your honor... just say the word."
She stepped closer, her voice barely a whisper but heavy with the weight of her lineage.
"Trust me. Extinguishing a third-rate Magus family in the Far East? For the Archelots, or for the Tempest family of old, it would be as effortless as blowing away dust."
Her eyes flashed with a ruthless, aristocratic cruelty.
"If someone has trampled on your dignity, you don't need to endure it. If you want… you know…"
"..."
Rimuru looked at her. He felt a warm fuzzy feeling in his chest at her unconditional loyalty, but it was quickly overshadowed by the cold sweat running down his back.
"It's really not that serious," he said, wiping his forehead. "There are just some things over there that I need. But... now is not the time."
And, he added silently, I might want to change the fate of a certain pitiful girl while I'm at it.
"Is that so?" May stroked her chin.
She felt Rimuru was focusing on trivialities. If he really wanted things, he should focus on reclaiming his Lordship. With that power, he could take whatever he wanted.
But she chose to respect his decision. At least he had a goal now. It was infinitely better than the depressive, catatonic state he had been in for the last few years.
"Fine. I agree to your request. But if it involves surveillance in Japan..." May sighed. "I suppose I'll have to ask Alice for a favor."
She looked back at him. "So, what are the characteristics of this family?"
"Characteristics? No need for that. The Matou family of Fuyuki City. They should be famous enough, right?"
"The Matou?"
"Yeah. Matou."
….
4 more to go…