The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II
The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II is a Japanese light novel series written by Makoto Sanda and illustrated by Mineji Sakamoto. Officially part of the Fate series, it began serialization by Type-Moon under the Type-Moon Books imprint on December 30, 2014 to May 17, 2019. The novels are set between the events of Fate/Zero and Fate/stay night, focusing on Lord El-Melloi II, a former master who now investigates several mysteries after his participation in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Two media adaptations were officially made: a manga adaptation by Makoto Sanda with illustrations from Tō Azuma began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace magazine on October 4, 2017 and an anime adaptation by Troyca, which adapts the Rail Zeppelin chapter, aired from July 6 to September 28, 2019.
Story
Taking place 10 years after the events of Fourth Holy Grail War and 2 months before the events of Fate/stay night, the story focuses on Lord El-Melloi II, formerly known as Waver Velvet, a successor of Kayneth and former master in the last Grail War, who is now a professor under the ranks of the Mage's Association. In his years as a professor in the Clock Tower, he is acting as the temporary head of the El-Melloi household until a proper successor can take over. But when strange mysteries involving magic start happening around London, he teams up with a mysterious person and apprentice named Gray in solving many mysteries and cases involving magecraft and hidden conspiracies driving the Mages' Association.Characters
Main Characters
;Lord El-Melloi II;Gray
;Add
;Reines El-Melloi Archisorte
;Flat Escardos
;Svin Glascheit
;Caules Forvedge
;Melvin Weins
;Doctor Heartless
Servants
;Faker – HephaestionMedia
Novel
The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II was written by Makoto Sanda, considered to be his first work after being approached by Type-Moon. During a session of tabletop RPG game Red Dragon, alongside Nasu and Gen Urobuchi, Nasu asked Makoto if he could actually write a story for the Fate Series. It was then on TYPE-MOON FEST on July 2012 that Nasu asked Makoto to write a story for Waver Velvet/Lord El-Melloi II, on which he agreed. The first novel was first published by Type-Moon under their Type-Moon Books label on Comiket 87 on December 30, 2014. The tenth and last was published on May 17, 2019. It was illustrated by Mineji Sakamoto. Kadokawa Shoten later released the novels in a paperback edition.A sequel novel series titled The Adventures of Lord El-Melloi II was announced in December 2019 for release in Q4 2020.
Manga
A manga adaptation by Makoto Sanda with illustrations from Tō Azuma began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace magazine on October 4, 2017. As of December 2019, five volumes have been released so far.Anime
An anime adaptation of the novels, which only adapts the Rail Zeppelin storyline was announced at the Fate Project New Year's TV special and animated by Troyca. Makoto Katō directs the series with Ukyō Kodachi as its writer, while Yuki Kajiura composes the music for the series. Jun Nakai is the character designer, while Ei Aoki is credited as supervisor. It aired from July 6 to September 28, 2019 on Tokyo MX, BS11, GTV, GYT, and MBS. Kajiura composed the series' opening theme song "starting the case: Rail Zeppelin", while ASCA performs the series' ending theme song "Hibari", with lyrics written by Kajiura. Aniplex of America and Crunchyroll streamed the series in North America, Central America, South America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. AnimeLab streamed the series in Australia and New Zealand. Funimation also simulcasted the series in their streaming site in North America.| No. | Title | Original air date |
Video games
Characters of the novel series also appeared in Delightworks's mobile Role playing game Fate/Grand Order as special servants based on the characters. Waver Velvet/Lord El-Melloi II is a main five star Caster-class Servant under the name of Zhuge Liang and has appeared in the Fate/Accel Zero Order event as a main character. Gray, Reines and Luvia all begin as servants from the Lady Reines' Case Files collaboration event.Stage play
A stage play adaptation based on the novel's "Adra Castle Separation" chapter, opened in January 2020, while preview performances began on 14 December 2019. Voice Actors Daisuke Ono, Akio Ōtsuka and Takumi Yamazaki, who voice Add, Rider and Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald respectively, reprised their roles for the play.| Character | Actor |
| Lord El-Melloi II | Yuya Matsushita |
| Gray | Saho Aono |
| Flat Escardos | Takeru Naya |
| Svin Glascheit | Ryūjirō Izaki |
| Reines El-Melloi Archisorte | Kaho Amasaki |
| Heine Istari | Hiroki Hyakuna |
| Jirōbō Seigen Tokitō | Yūya Kido |
| Flueger | Shinya Matsuda |
| Boyservant | Fūta Kimura |
| Rosalind Istari | Ribeka Tanemura |
| Waver Velvet | Shinichiroh Ueda |
| Luviagelita Edelfelt | Nami Tamaki |
| Orlocke Caesarmund | Osamu Kaō |
| Hishiri Adashino | Kazuho Sō |