Chapter 3 – The Magic Association (5)
December 25, 1920 – 6:30
Christmas.
As expected, looking outside at this hour, those laborers at the bottom of society certainly don't get to enjoy such a luxurious holiday.
I still wake up very early. My thoughts are always clearer in the morning.
Yesterday's eting was utter chaos. The situation is now mostly understood, yet no solution ca out of it. I suspect that today's eting will try to avoid heated argunts, instead tossing out new issues to steer the various factions toward addressing them. But the problem is...
Right now, the War Party is surely eyeing the sudden newcor, Lijedahl, with predatory intent—along with one unknown pawn, naly .
It wouldn't take them much effort to dig up our identities, which ans... our situation is rather dangerous.
In this eting, we may have to take asures again to prevent those hot-headed war advocates from threatening us. As for Mr. Ken's faction, we can't place too much trust in him either.
"Wi~ll."
The sudden voice made pause for a mont, but I quickly realized—it could only be the lazily drawn-out tone of Lijedahl, just waking up.
I kept my eyes on the window and said.
"Why are you awake?"
Only then did I draw the curtains closed and turn to look at her.
Her eyes weren't even open, her whole body wrapped up in the blanket like a cocoon, hair ssy.
"I kn~ew it."
"You shouldn't be talking yet. Wake up properly first."
She slowly cracked one eye open and said to .
"You always wake up this early. I end up waking around the sa ti because of you."
"But I've never seen you actually get up."
"I usually just open my eyes to see if you're there. If you are, I go back to sleep."
"Why?"
"Because you'll call anyway."
"... Fine. Whatever makes you happy. Go back to sleep."
I had nothing more to say.
"Okay."
She turned over, closed her eyes, and instantly fell asleep again.
Such a stark contrast. Yesterday at the eting, her presence was commanding, nothing like this.
Oh, right—I forgot she's soone with extre contrasts in personality.
Well, that's not necessarily a bad thing. I've gotten used to living with her anyway.
Instead of looking down again, I shifted my gaze to the distant Tower Bridge.
That iconic structure is one of London's defining landmarks.
Thinking about London's architecture... I rembered the Tower of London had once been used as a prison.
... Could it be that the Witch of mory, Frisse, is being held there?
But right now, there's no way of knowing. Even if we could get inside, finding her would be another matter entirely.
Too difficult. And there's no real proof she's even in London.
Maybe... I should ask Lijedahl?
"Will, I felt it. The flow of magic in London is definitely abnormal."
Just as I thought of her, she suddenly sat up in bed, her voice filled with urgency—completely different from her usual sleepy tone.
She flung off the blanket, still wearing only a thin nightgown, got out of bed, strode to the window, yanked the curtains open, and looked out.
"... It's gone."
"What's gone?"
"For a brief mont, I sensed an imnse surge of magic. Frisse is in London, releasing her power continuously."
"What? Did you sense where she was?"
"... It disappeared. With just those two seconds, I couldn't pinpoint her location... Damn it!"
Lijedahl slamd her fist against the wall in frustration.
Then she quickly cald herself, forcing her composure back.
"Sigh, haha. Didn't I say last night? Slowing ti really does help. If only I had the Hermit's ability, I'd know exactly where she is right now."
I wanted to say sothing, but seeing she had already adjusted herself, I replied instead.
"At least we now know she's in London. Funny enough, I was just wondering if she might be here, and now it's confird."
I kept my tone deliberately light.
"Oh? Then why don't you take a guess where she is? Maybe we'll find out soon enough."
Seeing she was in the mood to tease, I knew she was fine.
"All right, after that little scare—are you going back to sleep? Or brushing your teeth first?"
"Mmm, now I feel a bit sleepy again."
"Hurry up."
"Fine..."
...
December 25, 1920 – 8:30
As always, at the sa ti, we were already prepared to face the storm of public opinion.
Mr. Ken had, as usual, arrived early. But this ti, Anna and Jona were nowhere to be seen.
"Where are the two girls?"
I asked.
"In this kind of situation, it's really not suitable for them to attend. I'm afraid that if they witnessed the ugliness of human nature, they might end up becoming mages who distance themselves from the Magic Association."
I understood. After all, they were still children.
Lijedahl pressed further.
"But is it really okay to just leave them at the hotel?"
Mr. Ken chuckled and replied.
"I'm not worried. They're my students, and they've also received your unique form of teaching. Their magic might still be immature, but they can protect themselves."
He paused, then added.
"They beca mages at such a young age—their talent already surpasses mine. Besides, I've placed a barrier outside their room. Nothing will go wrong."
Hearing this, Lijedahl finally relaxed.
"All right then, let's go."
The three of us placed our hands on the invitation once more and were teleported again.
...
The Magic Association's hall was already filled, every seat occupied. I returned to my usual spot. Aside from the absence of the two girls, there was nothing unusual.
Hmm... without their playful chatter beside , it did feel a little quiet.
"Hey, Sir."
I heard soone calling softly. Turning my head, oh—it was that young man who had once stolen from .
"Sir, you were incredible. I listened yesterday and felt even more ashad of myself."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Because you understood us so well, yet I went and did sothing so foolish. I'm really sorry."
"... Sigh, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Eh? Wha—oh, ah, I see. Yes, nothing happened."
Only now did he catch on. I decided not to say more.
"But sir, I was truly moved yesterday. I've never felt so liberated before. When you tore away the masks of those hypocrites right in front of the big shots—every one of us apprentices was moved, and we all admire you greatly."
I gave him a polite smile.
"You should be thanking Miss Lijedahl, and... let's stop whispering. The eting's about to begin."
"Right, right."
After saying that, I glanced around. The apprentices and assistants on my level occasionally turned their eyes toward , casting looks of approval.
So of those in the fourth ring also glanced my way with expressions of relief, while those further up front stared at with predatory intent.
Haha... looks like I've gotten myself into trouble.
But I knew, soon enough, those people in the front rows would shift their attention—directing their hostility toward Lijedahl instead.
Which ant a bloody storm was inevitable.
Dong...
The heavy bell that signaled the start of the eting tolled. Everyone stood, and the mbers of the Round Table began making their way to their seats.
I noticed the eyes of the crowd focusing on the President, on Mr. Ken, and on Lijedahl. The other Round Table mbers all wore grave expressions. Clearly, last night's fierce conflict had left them sleepless—a common affliction of political schers.
As Lijedahl passed my row, she shot a fleeting glance, subtle enough not to draw attention. I instantly understood her state of mind.
Her eyes shone gray with a trace of icy blue, which ant she was serious—and sorrowful.
Perhaps sothing had happened while the Round Table mbers gathered, though I had no way of knowing.
What I did know was that she wanted to convey sothing to . Sothing important, perhaps... but how could I possibly grasp it?
All I could do was adapt when the ti ca.
Once all the Round Table mbers were seated, we sat as well.
As always, President Wolf was the first to speak.
"Yesterday's chaos—I expect not to see it repeated today."
His gaze was sharp, and I could tell that every Round Table mber was in a particularly severe state of mind.
"The agenda from yesterday's session has been confird: no effective organization was possible. Thus, the eting has decided to set aside yesterday's main issue for now, and instead address another matter of great importance."
President Wolf turned to Mr. Henry.
"Yes."
Henry rose, holding a docunt, and said gravely.
"Then, once again, I will announce today's agenda."
He stepped forward and handed the docunt to President Wolf.
"To uncover the cause of the recent magical fluctuations, and to reassemble the nation's mages."
... Now I understood why they all looked so grim.
Not because the magical fluctuations were all that severe.
But because that final line effectively endorsed the Revivalists' stance—or at least part of it.
Sure enough, I imdiately sensed the hostility of the War Party in the inner rings toward the Revivalists.
... Could this eting end up splitting the Magic Association—already in decline—apart?
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(T/N): Change > magical surge to magical fluctuations
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