"Is this the place?"
Shinku took the lead, pushing open the front door, with Charlotte and Sigmund following close behind.
Gazing at the familiar decor, a wave of nostalgia washed over her.
This place... it used to be her home.
"Mr. Rutherford said to check the garden."
Charlotte patted her cheeks and headed towards the courtyard.
Shinku followed at a leisurely pace, admiring everything within the mansion.
Soon, the surroundings brightened as they reached the corridor encircling the inner garden. Moonlight filtered through the glass, illuminating the room.
"Charlotte, take it out." Sigmund's low voice broke the silence, snapping Charlotte from her daze as she stared into the garden.
"Mm," she replied softly, retrieving a pendant from her luggage, similar to the one she'd given Alice.
The runes on it were rich with mana, allowing her to see what normally remained unseen.
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte put on the pendant. Sigmund's wings gently stirred the air, a soft breeze seeming to comfort the nervous girl.
Stepping into the garden, she deliberately closed her eyes, focusing her consciousness on the runes.
Before she knew it, a beautiful garden unfolded before her.
It was an English garden in full bloom, with rose bushes everywhere. The branches of a great tree stretched overhead, forming a canopy that blocked out the sky.
Even though it was night, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves.
A place that shouldn't exist, a scene that shouldn't be possible.
An afternoon that would never end—that was this fairy's garden.
A humming melody drifted on the wind, mournful, as if lamenting for someone.
Charlotte turned to look and saw a beautiful girl sitting on a white swing hanging from a tree branch.
Her beauty was truly fairy-like, with long golden hair fluttering in the breeze, glittering in the scattered sunlight. Her bare feet peeked out from under a slightly translucent white dress, swinging playfully.
The girl stopped humming and turned her gaze to the newcomers.
She looked at Charlotte and Sigmund, and like a rosebud blooming, revealed an exquisitely lovely smile.
"It's been a long time, Charlotte, Sigmund."
Sigmund raised a claw, giving a slight wave.
Charlotte nodded in response, speaking a name she hadn't uttered in years.
"It's been a while, Lotte."
Shinku stood at a distance, leaning on her cane, silently watching the reunion of old acquaintances. Unbeknownst to her, she too had stepped into this fairy's garden.
--+--
In the restaurant near the clock tower, Alice and Alice were leisurely drinking black tea.
"You're the one behind the rumors about the assassination attempt on the principal," Alice stated flatly, her eyes on the tall clock tower outside the window.
Rumors of an impending attack on the principal had been spreading through the school lately, their source unknown.
"Correct," Alice replied readily.
"That automaton that blocked the 'Cursed Sword' that night—the school board is very interested in that technology." Alice shrugged. "Some are even considering breaking ties with Britain and aligning with Germany."
"So now we need to show them something." She smiled at Alice. "And let our partners witness our progress towards the Divine Machine."
The result was asking her to help wreck the school.
Alice lifted her gaze, giving Alice a look.
After Frey and Loki reunited, the Night Party was progressing steadily, and it was almost time for Alice's turn as rank 87.
Two maids stepped forward quietly, placing pastries on the table for the ladies.
Suigintou and Kanaria sat to the side, bored and glaring at each other. Kirakishou, unusually not curled up in Alice's lap, watched her two sisters with keen interest.
Alice glanced at the maid standing beside Alice and asked with certainty, "Shin?"
The maid bowed her head in acknowledgment.
"Shin's currently wanted by the Germans." Alice shrugged. "We've done some disguising."
Alice nodded, then asked, "When does it start?"
"Very soon," Alice replied with a smile, delicately picking up a pastry.
No sooner had she spoken than Edward appeared, leading a group of guards towards the clock tower. Among them was even Magnus.
They managed to get Magnus as a bodyguard?
Alice gently lifted her teacup. But he only brought one automaton.
Although his automata possess spatial magic circuits, this was probably arranged beforehand.
Edward staging an attempt on his own life... how interesting.
"Who are you pinning the blame on?"
"Cedric, of course." Alice revealed an impish smile. "We need to squeeze the last bit of value out of that identity."
She checked the time on the clock tower, her smile fading slightly.
"When something falls later, I'll need your help. Give it an extra push."
"The assassin you hired?"
Alice nodded, looking towards Edward in the distance. "A guy with average skills, but easy to manipulate."
She continued.
"Originally, the best candidate would have been Charlotte, but her sister—the perfect hostage—has disappeared. Seems like Germany might be involved in that too."
You sure don't hold back, saying it so frankly.
Alice shot her a glance, then looked back towards the clock tower. A figure came into view.
"Ah, it's that idiot," Kanaria said, pointing at the distant figures of Raishin and Yaya.
What are they doing around here?
Alice looked at Raishin, then at Magnus among the guards.
I see. He's here for Magnus.
It seemed ever since Raishin entered the school, Magnus's public appearances had drastically decreased.
"Just to confirm," Alice gestured with her eyes towards Raishin in the distance. "The assassin isn't him, is it?"
"Of course not."
Just then, an iron ball came crashing down from above.
"It's here," Alice's eyes sharpened. "Please, crush the ground."
Trimmau straightened up, mana activating the 'Ame-no-Tejikara' within her. The gravity on the iron ball increased severalfold, its falling speed instantly accelerating.
At the same time, the guards noticed the iron ball and raised their weapons, surrounding Edward.
Magnus glanced at Raishin ahead of him and called out softly.
"Hotaru."
"Yes, MASTER. As you wish."
The girl-automaton with a fiery character inscribed on her forehead cloth released a wave of magical energy from within. The compressed space manifested as pressure, released in an instant.
The automaton named Hotaru teleported next to the iron ball, swinging her blade down.
But the moment she approached, the iron ball's descent accelerated again, slamming into the ground.
BOOM—
The ground beneath their feet instantly crumbled, revealing a hollow cavity beneath.
Raishin, who was within the affected area, looked utterly bewildered. Before he could process what was happening, a feeling of weightlessness overwhelmed his senses.
The iron ball's impact alone wasn't enough to collapse the ground. The moment it struck, Trimmau had applied dozens of times the gravity to the earth.
"Let's go." Alice looked satisfied at the chasm in the distance, standing up and pointing towards the clock tower.
"There's another way down."
--+--
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.