In a reception room just inside the school's main gate, a gentleman sat on a sofa.
He was tall and slender, with an intellectual face that made him look every bit the researcher.
Just then, a knock came at the door, and a young girl was ushered inside by a guard.
Fretting nervously, Frey stood before the gentleman, the black wolf-like automaton standing behind her.
"Uu... You... You called for me, Father?"
Frey asked in a low voice, her gaze fixed firmly on her own feet, not daring to look up.
The gentleman on the sofa offered a gentle smile. He rose to his feet, greeting the arriving girl.
"No need to be so tense, Frey. I merely wanted to see how my dear daughter has been lately."
"...How I've been?"
"Indeed. Recently, it seems you've acquired a new puppet?"
The eyes hidden behind Frey's hair widened instantly, and her body gave a sudden shudder.
The gentleman gently placed a hand on her shoulder and asked softly, "Where did it come from?"
"...It... It belongs to a classmate."
The gentleman chuckled lightly, his tone exceedingly mild. "It's normal to have friends. Bring them to see me next time."
"However, the Night Party will begin soon. Don't disappoint me. I have very high expectations for you."
As if suddenly remembering something, he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a photograph.
"Ah, yes, that's right. I have a gift for you."
The photo showed over a dozen dogs—hounds, terriers, various breeds—but each one was fitted with the same type of armor.
Seeing the photo, the tension in Frey's expression gradually eased.
Yet, her demeanor then turned somber.
"Uu... Um, Father... What about the thing we agreed on...?"
"Of course I remember. You just focus on completing your task. As long as the testing proceeds smoothly, everyone can live together again."
"...I understand."
Frey slowly raised her face, her red eyes now clear of hesitation.
--+--
"I asked for you."
Alice reclined in her chair back at the dorm, one leg crossed over the other.
"Fairies are closer to natural phenomena, really. They possess a cruelty and coldness that's hard for humans to comprehend, much like naive children."
"As humans grow up and establish their own worldview, they start to reject that kind of cruelty, or subconsciously shy away from it. That's when communication between humans and fairies ends."
"Did Charlotte, in the past, reject a fairy? Refuse one?"
As if struck by a thought, Charlotte shuddered all over.
Noticing Charlotte's reaction, Alice raised a delicate eyebrow.
"See why you can't see them now?"
Charlotte nodded silently, bowing her head as she pondered something.
Sigmund on her shoulder also let out a sigh.
It seemed they'd found the reason.
Alice stroked Kirakishou's head while the puppets behind her packed things away.
School was already out for the break, and outside the window, students bustled toward the main gate.
Of course, some students planned to stay at school throughout the holiday.
"So..." Alice lifted her eyes to look at Alice. "Why did you come?"
Alice tilted her head in confusion.
"I had my bird deliver the letter directly to Edward's." Alice glanced in the direction of the Headmaster's residence. "Didn't he tell you before to stay away from me?"
"I don't know either." Alice tapped her lip. "Ever since that night, Father seems to have suddenly changed his attitude."
"As if he doesn't care anymore."
--+--
Inside the Headmaster's office.
A man of about eighty, with white hair and leaning on a cane, sat opposite Edward.
He was Percival, the Head of Machine Medicine and the senior faculty representative.
"You're just letting Alice get close to her?" he asked with some sarcasm. "We all saw that giant. Or... are you planning to take a gamble?"
"Heh... I knew I couldn't hide it from you."
Edward smiled wryly and nodded.
"The methods this Miss Kuonji has displayed so far are... unstoppable."
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"Believe me, Percival. I can feel it. The Divine Machine will be born soon."
Percival just looked at him with a hint of mockery. "All that talk, and you're really just saying you can't beat her, right?"
Edward gave him a helpless glance, raising his teacup to his lips.
Since she couldn't be stopped, and their goals aligned, he might as well let her do as she would.
--+--
"Alice."
Lost in thought, Alice snapped back to attention and looked at Alice.
"Get me a medical exemption certificate for the Night Party."
Hearing this, Alice immediately understood Alice's plan.
She curved her lips. "OK. 'Miss Kuonji gets headaches and feels unwell upon stepping onto the Night Party stage'—how's that?"
"Whatever."
Alice gave an 'OK' sign and slowly stood up.
"Well then..." She blinked at Alice. "Merry Christmas."
The silver-haired girl walked toward the door and opened it. This time, there were no other visitors waiting.
The sound of her footsteps gradually faded into the distance until they vanished completely.
The sounds of packing in the room also slowly ceased. The puppets had already picked up their own cases, though most things were left behind in the dorm.
"Time to go."
Alice tapped the table lightly. Charlotte, who had been pondering with her head down, immediately looked up, glanced around at the situation, and silently rose to her feet.
Sigmund sighed helplessly, his tail lightly tapping Charlotte's neck.
Realizing her own state was a bit off, Charlotte patted her cheeks and then asked, "I thought we were asking a teacher? How come Bernstein came?"
"The Headmaster is also a teacher." Alice put on her hat and led the puppets out.
"Eh?"
Charlotte's eyes widened in surprise, and she hurried to catch up with Alice's steps.
The girls walked briskly, soon exiting the dormitory building.
The winter wind whistled, rustling the leaves by the roadside. Alice pressed down lightly on the cotton hat atop her head and looked up slightly.
A crimson young dragon flashed past the edge of the sky.
"Bernstein is related to the Headmaster?" Charlotte asked softly, close to Alice's ear as they walked down the main path.
"Her real surname is Rutherford."
Charlotte's face showed dawning comprehension. "Kinda sounds like a topic from a third-rate gossip paper."
"'My Classmate's Secret Identity is the Headmaster's Daughter' or something."
Exiting the school gate, the Kuonji residence stood not far away.
"Is that your favorite kind of newspaper?" Sigmund asked, perched neatly on Charlotte's head, swishing his tail.
"Sh-sh-shut up!" Charlotte grabbed Sigmund, her face flushing crimson, and said fiercely, "As if I'd ever read that sort of paper!"
The cold wind howled, its chill gnawing at everything in the world.
"Any leads on Spirit Magic?"
Alice's voice interrupted Charlotte's fussing, and she immediately deflated.
"...Not yet." Charlotte grabbed her own elbow, lowering her head uncertainly.
"Take your time."
Having said that, Alice suddenly stopped walking, her gaze shifting to the street beside the western-style house.
"Trimmau."
Her light utterance reversed gravity.
"Whoa!" A flustered cry emerged from the empty air.
As the magecraft dissipated, three figures appeared, suspended mid-air.
Alice looked at the purple-haired mature woman in the middle, her eyes narrowing slightly.
The woman smiled wryly and waved at her.
"Come in for a visit?"
The black-haired girl softly invited the mature woman currently being held aloft in the air.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.