Chapter 38
Chapter 4 – Magical Fluctuations (6)
The discussion at the meeting continued.
I shook my head. What was happening? Why did I feel this way?
Could it be...
I turned toward Miss Sophia, the one who had just unsettled my heart.
I wasn't certain... but was it magic?
I didn't know what kind, and I'd have to ask Lijedahl later to find out.
At the moment, that woman didn't seem to be casting anything on me. The turmoil in my chest gradually calmed.
What exactly was she after...?
"Everyone, should we consider forming a team?"
Mr. Helles's voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the meeting.
"And why would that be?"
It was Miss Merina—someone who had exchanged pleasantries with Helles earlier, but now looked like a different person, sharply challenging him.
"If we want to avoid alerting the Academy of Sciences and still uncover the truth, we must form a team. We need to gather intelligence, scout the enemy, then infiltrate and get to the bottom of this."
"And how are we supposed to trust you? Until now, you've been the loudest advocate for war."
"What other choice do we have? Are we going to send Miss Lijedahl and the Task Force again?"
Helles's face darkened, his temper flaring.
"Even during the time we've spent talking here, the Academy of Sciences may be talking too. They could seize this chance to start a war with us. If they strike first, we'll be on the defensive. But if we uncover the truth and quickly withdraw from London, we'll preserve our strength. Think about it!"
"Enough."
President Wolf's two words carried a deadly weight, and a chilling aura instantly filled the hall.
"This is a discussion, not an argument. And at this point, swift action is required. If the Academy of Sciences truly uses this as grounds for war, do not place blame on the Task Force or Miss Lijedahl. It is thanks to them that we even caught the scent of truth..."
Wolf rose to his feet, and murderous intent swept across the chamber.
"If those people from the Academy of Sciences come for us, we will answer with grand-scale magic."
With that, he struck the floor with his staff. The resounding crack echoed through the solemn hall.
That killing aura could not be hidden—it was a force no ordinary person could possess or even comprehend. But I had faced people like this before, people who radiated such presence, so I held my ground without flinching.
The same could not be said for those beside me. Anna and Jona were visibly shaken by his overwhelming aura.
"Wah... Anna... he's so scary..."
She whispered so faintly it was almost like a mosquito's buzz.
I read her words from her lips and saw the two girls clutching each other's arms tightly, trembling. A wave of pity rose in me for the children.
But since they were shivering like that... perhaps I needed to help.
"Don't be afraid."
I spoke gently to them.
"Take a deep breath. He won't harm you. Miss Lijedahl and Mr. Ken will protect you."
They looked at me, and gradually began to settle.
"Ahaha, that's right! Miss Lijedahl and Mr. Ken are strong, too, yeah."
Jona was the first to snap out of it, and with her encouragement, Anna calmed down as well.
But from that moment, something struck me as strange.
Why? Why were they so strongly affected?
I glanced around and saw others reacting in much the same way. Most of those in the Fifth Ring seemed unaffected, but in the middle rows, many looked just as frightened as Anna and Jona had.
Yet the ones in the front row showed no signs of distress at all.
... Magic.
Was this the President's magic?
"Ahem."
President Wolf sat down, withdrawing that suffocating aura.
Almost immediately, those who had been caught in fear recovered their composure.
So it was...
Forget it. Best not to dwell on this.
"Let us continue."
The President's tone softened considerably, his words carrying warmth this time.
"Very well. Does anyone else have an opinion?"
Mr. Henry, calm as always, addressed the Round Table members.
"..."
The chamber fell silent.
"Miss Merina, do you have further doubts regarding Mr. Helles's proposal?"
"... Of course I do. If I am to commit forces, I must be certain of their credibility."
A courageous woman indeed—still unyielding even beneath such pressure.
"Very well. Mr. Helles, can you provide assurances?"
"Yes. Any forces contributed by supporters, when not in combat, shall be under my coordination. However, ultimate command will remain with their original leaders. Only in operations against the Academy of Sciences or hostile forces will I lead directly. Beyond that, I will have no authority over their troops. Furthermore, I will compensate any losses, and once the operation ends, I will ensure fair payment for those requisitioned."
His anger had eased, and his concessions carried real sincerity.
The Round Table members looked at one another in astonishment, seemingly unable to believe such a compromise from him.
"All of this is for the sake of the Magic Association."
Helles spoke as though to crush all lingering doubts.
A silence followed.
"My side trusts Mr. Helles with the use of troops. We are willing to enter into an alliance."
The first to speak was Mr. Ken—an unexpected move.
Even more surprising, I hadn't even known Mr. Ken commanded any forces at all.
"My side also places its trust."
...
In the end, out of the thirty Round Table members, thirteen agreed to lend their forces to Mr. Helles.
The number was expected, and Helles showed no sign of displeasure.
"Thank you for your trust. This support will be enough to sustain the operation."
Among those thirteen, Mr. Ken placed his trust, Miss Merina placed hers, the eight members of the War Party pledged their aid, and even Mr. Henry gave his support. But among them was one person whose decision truly surprised me...
Miss Sophia.
I was already shocked that Mr. Ken would lend his aid, but with this mysterious woman doing the same, I couldn't help but feel a faint sense of danger.
"The council will record this matter in the meeting archives. Mr. Helles, thank you for your dedication to the Magic Association."
With that polite announcement, Mr. Henry moved to the next topic.
"Mr. Helles's operation plan will be discussed later with those who offered their aid, at the War Affairs Council. For now, let us move to the next matter of this assembly."
... Things weren't looking good for us. We lacked the means to provide support, which meant we had no authority to interfere in the investigation. If they uncovered the secret behind the source before us, what then? Frisse would surely be used by the Magic Association.
... No, that's not right. Frisse is sealed. Only Lijedahl may be able to undo that seal. It should be nearly impossible for the Magic Association to break through it.
But... even so, the situation was far from favorable.
How do we break this deadlock...?
"This matter shall be presided over by Miss Lijedahl."
"Huh?"
"Eh!?"
Both I and the two young ladies beside me reacted in surprise to the unexpected decision.
I watched Lijedahl rise to her feet. As before, when facing the assembly, she carried herself with severity and sharpness—the natural poise of someone born to high station.
"Wow, we get to hear Miss Lijedahl give a speech!"
"Quiet..! Jona!"
Though they whispered, I still heard Anna and Jona clearly.
I had to quiet the two children first. Whatever Lijedahl was about to say would surely be important, and for safety's sake, they needed to listen to it.
"What Miss Lijedahl is about to say should be very important. From down here, it might be hard to catch everything, so listen carefully."
"Oh! Okay."
"Sorry, Mr. Will."
"Ah, it's fine..."
After my gentle reminder, the two behaved and quieted down.
"I thank Mr. Henry for granting me the floor. But before I begin, I ask that my assistant, Mr. Will, join me on stage. With his abilities, he can help me reach the best conclusions."
A shiver ran through me. I looked toward the front.
The Round Table members nodded in agreement, as if to say Lijedahl's words were only natural.
I hadn't expected to be called up again. My thoughts ran bitter:
When will you finally tell me your plan outright?
But overthinking was pointless. I couldn't show a shred of hesitation.
... Hopefully, this will be the last time I stand beside the Table of Truth.
I straightened my back and rose.
"Mr. Will is going up too!"
"Shh! Jona!"
"Anna, aren't you looking forward to it?"
"... Fine, I'll admit, I am a little curious."
Their innocent chatter made me smile inwardly, but I set it aside and walked forward.
Just like last time, I followed the same steps up to the platform.
"You left me with a poor impression before, but I have to admit—you do have some ability."
Miss Vianna said this as I passed. I turned, offered her a polite bow, and moved on.
I took my place behind Lijedahl, who stood in front of me with her back to me.
But as I stepped into position, I noticed—just barely—that the corner of her lips curved into a faint smile.
Heh. So she's glad to have me at her side.
"Now, I will begin by addressing the issues revealed in the aftermath of the magical disturbance caused by the fluctuation."
Lijedahl clasped her hands behind her back and spoke with solemn focus:
"In my experience, dealing with unknown magic and uncontrollable situations is rare. But tell me, do you all know what the recent magical fluctuation has led to?"
"Magical disorder."
Almost everyone knew.
"Correct. But a magical disorder is not caused solely by a fluctuation."
Her words fell into silence.
"... In truth, we have lost most of the ancient tomes left behind by the mages of old. They contained countermeasures for every kind of magical anomaly, as well as vast stores of knowledge. To my knowledge, there are three external causes that can trigger magical disorder: large-scale, intense magical fluctuations; multiple people casting massive-scale spells simultaneously; and magic concentrating too densely in one place, destabilizing itself."
As she finished, she drew out a map, levitating it into the air with air magic.
She pointed to three locations: the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and London Bridge.
"The three locations, as reported earlier by Mr. Helles's Task Force, form a triangular area. Within this area lies the possible source of the magic disturbance."
The moment her words fell, Mr. Helles spoke up:
"Yes, but the source has already been identified."
"No, what she means is that there are other factors causing fluctuations in the source's magical output."
Mr. Colleman, who hadn't spoken for a long time, suddenly addressed Mr. Helles.
That immediately drew attention. I studied the old man's expression—he was deeply serious. My instincts told me that something within that triangular zone was connected to him.
"... Yes, Mr. Coleman is correct. There are additional forces influencing the disturbance."
Miss Lijedahl pointed toward the area around the Thames River inside that triangle.
"Remember what I said earlier—how excessive concentration of magic can lead to instability?"
At once, the room reacted.
"You mean, a gathering of mages is causing this?"
"Yes."
Mr. Helles asked in surprise, and Lijedahl answered with ease.
"But how do you intend to prove it?"
That was President Wolf's question.
Lijedahl ignored him, instead turning her gaze toward me.
"Will, did you notice...?"
Her eyes clearly signaled me to respond.
"The city is brightly lit, yet hardly a single person can be seen outside."
... No people?
Wait—that's the connection!
The world around me dulled to gray, sounds vanished, my body lost sensation, and time itself seemed frozen.
I had drawn upon the Tarot card.
My thoughts sharpened. The pieces began to fit.
First—the city lights. To Lijedahl, a woman of the Middle Ages, "bright" could only refer to the neon lights. She didn't know the term, but I understood.
Yet this was 1920. Energy efficiency was nowhere near modern standards. If neon lights were still glowing at such intensity even deep into the night, that had to mean crowds—districts where people lingered until dawn.
And yet... "not a single person in sight"?
... Of course. It was a magic disorder.
Yes, the very theme at hand—instability. Those affected would only be mages.
My Tarot's effect faded just as the conclusion crystallized.
"Miss Lijedahl, the reason those neon lights still shine while the streets are empty is because a great number of mages have rooted themselves there. And they, too, have fallen victim to the magical disorder. Isn't that right?"
"Precisely."
She acknowledged my deduction with satisfaction.
A murmur rippled through the chamber as members of the Round Table fell into private discussions.
"Well done, Will," she whispered, just for me.
"Mm!"
I gave her a simple reply.
A moment later, Mr. Ken spoke up:
"Miss Lijedahl, since the result is just as you predicted, shall we attempt to recover those mages?"
"If possible, yes. But searches around the Tower of London will be under tight watch. Whether we can succeed is uncertain."
"Understood. If we manage it, not only will we retrieve our lost mages, but our forces will also grow stronger."
"Wait. Are you so certain?!"
"Wait, Mr. Igell, are you so certain? What if it's not the case?" Miss Vianna said to him, seemingly having a purpose of her own.
"I trust Miss Lijedahl's judgment."
Mr. Igell's trademark smile never faltered as he delivered his answer.
"... I can assist in retrieving the mages and provide cover as well."
That startled me. She had always been staunchly pro-war—I never thought she would bend. Even if her motives were to strengthen military force, her actions showed the War Party was willing to cooperate with the Revivalist.
The other War Party members, however, remained silent.
"Apologies for the interruption," one Revivalist suddenly declared. "I will also support Mr. Helles's Task Force."
"And I as well," said another.
As expected, such a move inspired the others—one by one, the Revivalists were beginning to trust Helles.
Miss Vianna's eyes flicked toward me. Our gazes met. She gave me a thin, disdainful smile.
I had studied human psychology intensively—her expression carried not malice, but a sense of honor and recognition. In other words, she felt she had regained some ground against me.
"Since Miss Lijedahl uncovered this truth, should she not also join the team?"
Mr. Ken asked her.
Perfect timing. That gave us the excuse we needed to join.
"Very well, I accept," she answered without hesitation.
For us, the risk was minimal. We had no wealth to seize, no army to betray. Just two people—a mage and her assistant. Even if ambushed or ensnared, we could retreat. No ordinary assassin could harm us.
"Does anyone else have questions?"
Mr. Ken asked.
No one spoke.
"Then this matter is concluded."
Miss Lijedahl picked up smoothly:
"President Wolf, if you would—"
"Wait."
A crisp, clear female voice cut through the hall.
... Trouble.
Miss Sophia.
"I, too, will support Mr. Helles—together with my Coven of Witches."
Witches?
Both Lijedahl and I shuddered at the word.
Her eyes swept over the two of us, and her smile only deepened.
"Very well, the Council acknowledges your decision. It shall be entered into the record."
At that moment, Mr. Henry rose to his feet and gestured for Lijedahl to sit. The closing remarks would be his to deliver.
"President Wolf, will you conclude the session?"
President Wolf stood. At once, the entire chamber followed suit.
"After three days, this council finally reaches its end. Following this meeting, I ask each of you to fulfill your duties. Once the source of the magical disturbance is confirmed, I shall bring order to the Magic Association from top to bottom."
He drew in a deep breath.
"Thus, I hereby declare the Council of the Magic Association—adjourned!"
With the tap of his cane, the meeting came to a close.
This final session had gone far smoother than the two before it, and I exhaled in relief.
Yet rest was still beyond us. The war council awaited.
"Everyone, the meeting is over. Take a break for now—we reconvene at three this afternoon for the strategy session."
Mr. Helles addressed us, and we accepted with silent acknowledgment.
...
December 26th, 1920 – 12:18
The council was over. Lijedahl and I were tired, yet oddly invigorated.
We sat together on the hotel sofa—she scribbling notes, me checking my tools and weapons. We worked while we talked.
"Will, did I scare you by pulling you up on stage like that?"
"I'd really prefer it if you'd tell me your plans before acting on them."
She laughed softly.
"Sorry about that."
"When you asked me that question, I had to use the Tarot card ability just to figure out your hint."
"I knew it. I figured you'd use it."
"Why gamble like that? Honestly, I didn't even think I'd be much help up there."
"I was worried it'd be like last time—too many people closing in, hard to slip away. With you there, I have a fallback."
"Huh? That's the only reason?"
"Yep. Just that."
She flashed a playful smile, eyes glinting faintly yellow.
"That can't be all. I've been your 'assistant' long enough to read your little tricks."
"Oh, you're no fun. Must you dig so deep?"
She set down her pen and said:
"With you there, it's easier to handle Sofia and Vianna—and to sway the others."
"I get the part about swaying people. Folks need a figure to anchor their trust. That's why you had me answer the question, too, isn't it? Repeating it twice to make it stick?"
She nodded lightly.
"So why do you think I can 'handle' those two women?"
"Haven't you noticed? Sofia's attention is fixed on us. Your presence splits her focus. And Vianna—the last time you left her speechless. She's forced to split her attention, too. She's no fool; if she tried to undercut me again, I might not get out clean. That's why I called you up."
"You really do trust me."
"Mhm. How did you know?"
I couldn't help but laugh at that, shaking my head.
"Putting that aside, I still can't read Sofia at all."
"Will, there's something about her that bothers me."
"Witch?"
"Exactly."
I didn't think that was a coincidence.
"Will, her repeated hints unsettle me. I can't make sense of them."
"She chose to join our team at the end. That means she's after something."
"Could it be Frisse?"
"She's the Witch of Memory. Could be. Or it could be you—you're the Witch of Time."
"True. But she shouldn't know that. I sweep this room every time we return—checking for any lingering spells, any magical residue."
"Same here. I check too."
"Then she can't know about me. It has to be Frisse."
Our quick deduction at least clarified one of her vague motives.
"Finally, a glimpse of what she's thinking."
"Ha. But there are still plenty of mysteries."
"These three days have worn me out. No more mental battles after this."
"Who knows? Once we find Frisse, we'll have to leave this era anyway."
"I know. You still want to save the next one, don't you?"
"I'll do everything I can to save them. And my magic's been recovering. I should be able to keep traveling. Will you keep helping me?"
"What, you think I'd stay behind in 1920?"
"You could."
"Really?"
I caught a flicker in her expression; her eyes shifted slightly.
... So she didn't like that joke.
"I'm kidding. I'll keep traveling with you."
Her expression softened, just a little.
"Besides, helping you isn't so bad. I don't mind going on a few more adventures with you. And maybe by following you, I'll end up back in 2030."
"Ah... Maybe when I gather all my sisters and use our magic together, we can return."
"I'm looking forward to that day."
I smiled at her as I said it.