Chapter 42
Chapter 5 – The London Triangle Operation (4)
December 30, 1920 – 10:30
I dragged Lijedahl up onto a secluded riverbank. Once ashore, I couldn’t stop coughing up water.
“Cough—cough—cough!”
I hadn’t swallowed much water, but I didn’t know how Lijedahl was doing.
Immediately, I checked her condition—laying her flat on her back and feeling for her breathing.
Her breathing was normal, her mouth unobstructed. Next…
I hesitated for a moment, then decided to unfasten her coat, leaving only her shirt, and began chest compressions.
“Cough—cough!”
Lijedahl coughed twice, then rolled over and started vomiting uncontrollably.
After about two minutes, she began to recover.
“Cough—cough! Will? Did we… succeed?”
She sounded worried, so I said:
“We did.”
“Ha… haha… cough!”
She coughed a few more times, finally spitting out the rest of the water.
“Ugh… freezing…”
“Hah… being alive is already something to celebrate.”
I took her coat, wrung it out, and handed it back, then did the same with my own jacket and gave it to her.
When the rush of adrenaline wore off, the cold hit me hard.
Late December in England—and after plunging into icy river water—my body was shaking uncontrollably.
“Sigh, you’re right… this is awful.”
I tried moving around to warm myself up, but it didn’t help much.
“Miss Lijedahl! Mr. Will!”
I instinctively reached for my holster—only to realize my gun was gone.
Damn it!
My heart sank.
Then I turned and saw the newcomers—a group of women in black robes.
…The Coven of Witches.
“Miss Sophia sent us! Before anyone else finds you—quickly!”
Only then did I relax a little, though the cold still bit to my bones.
We followed the Coven of Witches through the alleys.
Since our clothes were soaked, they gave us black robes to wear.
I looked a little out of place in the group, but Lijedahl blended in perfectly.
…The Coven of Witches. Why exactly were they called “witches”?
There were only about twelve of them—likely a small rescue squad. I didn’t know how the other mages’ evacuation was going, but since the magic circle had been dispelled, there shouldn’t be any major complications. The only real concern left was the Academy of Sciences.
“Please hold on just a little longer—we’re almost there,” said one of the women leading the group.
“All right… though right now, I’m too cold to use magic.”
“Ah… we’ll find a way to warm you up soon.”
They moved swiftly through the maze of alleys. I could still keep pace, but Lijedahl’s body had stiffened from the cold; one of the members carried her on her back.
“The surrounding… ngh—how’s the evacuation of the nearby mages?”
Lijedahl shivered as she asked.
“Miss Lijedahl, most of the mages have been safely evacuated. A few fled and remain unaccounted for—we’re waiting for word from Mr. Igell’s unit. They’ve already arrived and are sealing off the area.”
“Good…”
That’s when it hit me—without a gun, and barely keeping up, we were defenseless. Lijedahl couldn’t use magic in her state either. We were sitting ducks.
…I could only hope I was overthinking it.
Soon, we reached a dark alley—spacious, but its light was mostly blocked by tall buildings. The Coven of Witches gathered there.
Someone sat on the stone steps in the middle. It was Miss Sophia.
Unlike her elegant, noble appearance during the meeting, the woman before me now had shed all pretense—dressed in simple clothes and the black robe of the Coven, she looked like a woman who had spent years struggling in the backstreets, yet somehow retained her grace.
Though she looked every bit a noble, the way she sat so casually in this dim alley spoke volumes about her adaptability.
“You’re finally here. Where are Miss Lijedahl and Mr. Will?”
“Here, Miss Sophia—we’ve brought them.”
The women stepped aside, revealing us.
“Thank you all. To everyone in the Coven of Witches as well.”
“We dare not take credit.”
Then she walked toward us.
The member carrying Lijedahl gently set her down. I turned to help support her.
“Let’s skip the formalities for now. Lijedahl needs warmth first.”
Before Sophia could say a word, I cut in.
She looked slightly surprised—then that familiar, mysterious smile returned.
“Very well. Ina, come here.”
“Yes.”
One member stepped forward and conjured a flame in her palm.
The heat washed over us—it felt wonderful after that freezing escape.
“Ahh…”
Lijedahl’s face softened, visibly relaxing.
“Your fire… you were the one who attacked us earlier, weren’t you?”
The woman flinched, the flame flickering wildly with her panic.
All around, the others tensed, ready to fight. Even Sophia’s face darkened—but Lijedahl’s next words shattered the tension.
“There’s no need to be nervous. I’m not angry—you were ambushed before, after all.”
She smiled gently, and the witch visibly calmed. The atmosphere eased.
“Miss Lijedahl, you really are approachable.”
Sophia smiled, stepping closer.
“Miss Sophia, most of the mages have evacuated, yes?”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
Lijedahl exhaled in relief.
“Then tell me, Miss Lijedahl—why did you and Mr. Will dive into the river’s center? There was a massive tornado there—a phenomenon I’ve never seen before. What happened?”
Lijedahl glanced at me, just as puzzled. She clearly didn’t know what had happened afterward.
“Uh, I’ll answer that. The river’s center was the core of the magic circle. Miss Lijedahl was dismantling it. She used air magic to protect us, but the spell got a little… out of control.”
I summarized lightly, and Sophia seemed to understand.
“To dispel a magic circle that quickly… that’s an extraordinary level of mastery.”
Sophia couldn’t help but admire her.
“But we still have many issues to resolve. We can’t lower our guard yet.”
Lijedahl shook her wet clothes and said, “Then let’s head back to the hotel. Mr. Igell and Mr. Helles didn’t lead their teams personally. We should meet with them and plan carefully.”
“I agree,” I said, waiting for their decision.
“Fine.”
“I’ll go along.”
Meaning no objections. That settled it.
I glanced at the Coven of Witches and Sophia, still not sure what their true motives were.
“Let’s stay a bit longer, Will. I still need to warm up.”
Compared to when I first met her, Lijedahl seemed to feel the cold much more now.
“Are you still cold, Miss Lijedahl?” I asked gently.
She thought for a moment, then smiled softly.
“‘After you’ve felt the cold once, you’ll know how to keep yourself warm the next time.’
A kind person once said that to me.”
Even without noticing the color of her eyes, I could feel the warmth in her gaze.
She… still remembers that.
I felt my face heat up and turned away quickly.
Sophia gave me a sly, knowing smile that only made things more awkward.
“Then rest for now, Miss Lijedahl. Mr. Will, may I have a word with you—alone?”
“Of course, Miss Sophia.”
I wasn’t as cold anymore. My clothes were still damp and uncomfortable, but it didn’t hinder me.
“This way.”
Sophia led me out. I noticed the subtle change in her expression—and knew what it meant.
I shook the water from my shoulders.
She walked ahead, her back to me. The Coven members respectfully made way.
I flexed my wrist, staying alert.
She led me out of the alley into a narrow gap between buildings, where a few rays of sunlight pierced through. Then she stopped.
No one else was around. Just the two of us.
Distant traffic and voices could be faintly heard—but otherwise, silence.
She stood in the shade; I couldn’t see her face clearly. She, however, could see me—standing in the light.
So I stepped back, leaning against the cold wall, away from the sun.
“Mr. Will, being too clever isn’t always a good thing.”
Her voice was calm, carrying an air of mystery.
“But that cleverness has helped Miss Lijedahl’s operations quite a bit, hasn’t it?”
I crossed my arms and countered.
“Perhaps.”
She smiled faintly—mocking, perhaps.
“Then let’s stop with the riddles, shall we, Miss Sophia?”
“Heh.”
I saw her shift slightly in the darkness.
“Mr. Will, answer me this—when you and Lijedahl heard the name ‘Coven of Witches,’ why did your expressions change? I saw hers clearly.”
I froze for a second. I hadn’t expected her to notice that.
“Why were you paying such close attention to her expression?”
She made a small “oh,” surprised, though I couldn’t tell if it was genuine.
Dealing with someone like her meant never letting her control the pace.
“Before I answer, tell me—why do you ask?”
“Curious, aren’t you? As a member of the Table of Truth, do you really think my reasoning is something you need to know?”
A sharp counterattack. I decided to retreat strategically.
“You’re right—it was rude of me to overstep. Then likewise, I have no reason to answer your question.”
I bowed politely.
“In that case, I’ll take my leave.”
I turned to go.
“She’s connected to the Witches, isn’t she?”
I stopped without meaning to.
“You stopped walking—that means I’m right.”
…Hah. She got me.
I turned back. Playing dumb wouldn’t help anymore.
“Then you, Miss Sophia, are connected to the Witches as well, aren’t you?”
“I never said that.”
“And I never said Lijedahl and I were.”
It had been a while since I’d met someone who could spar like this verbally.
“Miss Sophia, yes—we know of the Witches. But we have no affiliation with them.”
“Are you sure? Isn’t Miss Lijedahl tied to the Witch of Time?”
“How did you learn that? We only know of the Witch of Memory—we’re not familiar with the Witch of Time.”
Neither of us could see the other’s expression clearly in the dim light, which made our words even harder to read.
“...The Witch of Memory.”
Her tone betrayed a flicker of thought.
“Interested in the Witch of Memory, are you?”
“Heh. And you’re interested in the Witch of Time, aren’t you?”
“If you’d like, we can exchange information.”
I offered the proposal and waited for her response.
“…How much do you know?”
“That depends on your answer.”
“And will I hear it from you—or from Miss Lijedahl?”
Cautious as ever. She wouldn’t walk into any traps.
“Miss Lijedahl knows far more. I’m merely her assistant—but I can share the basics.”
“What kind of basics?”
“Events leading up to the sealing.”
“…Tempting.”
Her voice carried a smirk—apparently pleased with my reply.
“And what will you offer in return?”
“A general location for the Witch of Time.”
“We already know that. Your information’s useless to us.”
“What?”
She let out a short, surprised laugh.
“You… us?”
“Yes—us.”
I waited for her next words. She quickly composed herself again, her voice calm.
“Then, since we’re on the same side, we might as well be honest.”
“And what makes you think we’re the same?”
“Mr. Will, you’re a smart man. I’d rather not waste breath.”
By now, I understood her aim clearly—she was after the Witch of Memory.
But her motive still eluded me.
“It’ll be hard to cooperate without trust. Even if we are so-called ‘allies,’ we don’t know your intentions. If you want cooperation, show some sincerity first.”
A long silence followed—then she seemed to decide something.
“We’re searching for the Witch of Memory. We must rescue her.”
…Still not the full truth, but enough.
By admitting that much, she’d already bound our fates together. Cooperation was now inevitable.
“Then we share the same goal,” I said at last.
She stepped forward into the sunlight.
Her face—stunned, almost disbelieving—was illuminated.
“Glad to be working with you, Miss Sophia.”
I extended my hand.
“…Heh.”
She stared for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“Impressive.”
She clasped my hand.
…
December 30, 1920 – 13:52
“You really are something else—partnering with those also searching for Frisse, all without telling me.”
We had returned to the hotel, showered, changed, and I’d told Lijedahl everything that had happened with Sophia.
“But we still don’t know why she’s looking for Frisse.”
“I don’t care.”
Lijedahl said it casually.
“Whatever her reason for rescuing Frisse, I’m here.”
The way she said it carried a quiet but undeniable force.
Though I wasn’t entirely sure what she meant.
“You? Why say that?”
“Even though breaking that magic circle earlier was messy, and my mana’s less than one percent of what it used to be—there’s no way anyone from the Coven of Witches could defeat me.”
Her gaze sharpened—her eyes turning grayish.
“And besides… I have you.”
Then they softened again—tinting yellow.
“All right, all right, you’re right. I still have your magic in me.”
I smiled and nodded.
“Uh… but are we sure it’s okay to just come straight back to the hotel?”
Lijedahl asked.
“Miss Sophia said her people would handle things. And…”
There was something more pressing.
“Mr. Helles, Mr. Wolf, and Mr. Ken are all at the hotel. We need to discuss this strange air magic circle.”
“You’re right—and I think I already have an idea.”
Lijedahl rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” I said tiredly, standing up and patting my empty holster.