It felt like groping through an endless, thick fog—a sense of bewilderment flooded Alice's mind.
"Ugh… Aah…"
A pained groan escaped her throat as Alice clutched her head tightly.
Inside her, the magical circuits were stirring, dancing with something like joy, as if welcoming a long-awaited presence.
A mist materialized out of nowhere in the room, and a girl who looked strikingly like Alice suddenly curled her lips into a grin.
"Hehehe…"
An eerie laugh echoed between the walls.
What… is this?!
Charlotte, who stood beside her, felt the hairs on her nape stand on end. Her shoulders trembled involuntarily. Sigmund spread his wings, watching the spirit with sharp vigilance.
The spirit girl, Alice's double, glanced around before clutching her own head just as Alice had.
Then, with a sickening crunch, the upper half of her head exploded. Flesh and blood splattered in all directions—impossible for a being without a real body, yet blood gushed forth nonetheless.
Inside the remaining half of her skull was no brain, but a pool of vivid, crimson blood.
Even with half her head gone, the girl's laughter didn't stop.
That bewitching laugh went on and on, unbroken.
Fighting against the dread, Charlotte struggled to command her wind spirit to summon a breeze, carrying herself and Alice away from the laughing spirit.
"The First! The First Witch—aaaaah!!" Robin flapped his wings in panic, letting out a sharp, piercing cry.
An abnormal surge of magical energy spilled out of Alice, rushing toward the dolls usually connected to her.
In an instant, Trimmau melted into a pool of quicksilver and seeped back into Alice's necklace. In another room, where Irori was undergoing a check-up by Shouko, her body abruptly froze.
Suigintou and Shinku rushed to Alice's side. The Rozen Maidens, with their minimal daily magic requirements, could still move freely.
"We must return to the mansion… before my face becomes Yumina's…"
Alice covered her face, fighting through the disorientation, forcefully restraining her magic.
In the distance, Souseiseki and Suiseiseki simultaneously opened an entrance to the N-Field. Black feathers, crimson roses, and pure white thorns lifted Alice gently.
Kanaria opened her parasol and flew ahead, while Hinaichigo was picked up by Charlotte, following close behind.
In the blink of an eye, they vanished from the room.
The grinning spirit remained, laughing as blood slowly dripped from the ruined half of her head.
Drip.
With the sound of falling blood, her form dissipated like foam, leaving no trace behind.
--+--
"Irori? What's wrong?"
Shouko frowned, watching Irori suddenly grow uncomfortable.
Her body showed no issues; her magical circuits were normal.
Irori clutched her chest, the world before her gradually blurring.
This is… that strange magical energy, similar to that night…
Something must have happened… to Lady Alice…
As if manipulated by an outside force, her circuits activated involuntarily. The temperature around Shouko began to drop, and a faint white frost formed on her skin.
A bitter cold wind swept through the room. The potted plant by the window curled in on itself, as if bracing against an early winter.
Komurasaki glanced worriedly at Irori, then tugged Shouko's hand, trying to pull her away. "Master, you can't withstand Irori's cold."
"No… Irori, she—"
Before she could finish, the spread of frost halted abruptly.
Irori gasped for air, slumping into a chair.
Shouko hurried over to examine her, while Komurasaki ran to the telephone and dialed Alice's dorm.
And by the window, unnoticed, the potted plant that had curled up moments earlier straightened its stem and swayed softly.
--+--
"Haa…"
Alice sipped her tea, now at the perfect temperature. The fragrance of black tea helped soothe the lingering disorientation in her mind.
After returning to the mansion, Yumina had fallen asleep at once.
Why did Yumina awaken so suddenly…?
The First Magician—Yumina.
In the world of Type Moon, there were five Magicians. To be precise, four were still alive today, yet five still remained in existence.
Yumina, user of the First Magic, had died so completely that not even a shadow or trace of her remained.
And yet, because of that death, she had entered a state where she was practically unkillable.—and might even be resurrected in her descendants.
Alice narrowed her eyes slightly, her fingers unconsciously stroking the teacup.
But none of the Ploys had ever triggered such a reaction before. Even the Wander Snatch had only made her emotions slightly harder to control.
This wasn't really about the Ploys. What stirred Yumina was always Aesc's magecraft…
Was it because both were applications of the First Magic? Or was it because it was fairy magecraft?
She set down her cup, and Trimmau, standing nearby, quietly refilled it with tea.
Unable to reach a conclusion for now, Alice shook her head, casting those thoughts aside.
"Are you still unwell?" Shinku asked. Suigintou looked over as well, while Kirakishou stroked Alice's cheek with a pained expression.
"I'm fine now," Alice said, offering a faint smile to those around her.
"What was that about?" Charlotte asked, turning to Robin after a glance at Alice.
She'd heard his panicked shrieks clearly enough.
"Well…" Robin glanced at Alice. Seeing no objection, he explained, "Remember what I told you before? About the first witch who created the Three Great Ploys? That was her just now."
His explanation was still vague.
He had mentioned it at the amusement park. Charlotte tilted her head, still not quite grasping the connection.
Before she could think further, a hurried knocking came from the door.
A few seconds later, Trimmau led Shouko and the others inside.
"There's something," Shouko said before Alice could speak. "Irori's evolution has accelerated."
Irori stood behind Shouko, a somewhat flustered smile on her face.
"…Because of what happened earlier?" Alice extended her magical senses, probing the changes within Irori.
"So you did know what was going on." Shouko nodded, taking out her pipe and settling onto the sofa.
"Soon, the life force accumulated inside Irori will reach its peak."
"I see…"
Alice nodded softly and looked at Irori. "Are you afraid?"
Irori blinked, then lowered her head, pressing her lips together.
After a long silence, she whispered, "A little."
"It may be late to ask this now, Irori… but do you wish to become this kind of 'human'?" Alice gazed into Irori's eyes as she spoke.
"The Divine Machine is a perfect life form, and humans are far from perfect. Becoming one isn't just about turning human. Perhaps… you might even become a 'god'."
The Divine Machine… the Third Magic.
Those who become Magicians are no longer ordinary humans.
After Aoko became the Fifth Magician, she never aged again.
"We can still stop this for you."
Hearing Alice's words, Irori smiled again—the same gentle smile as always.
"Master has already told me all this."
The sun was setting, its dim orange light spilling into the mansion, illuminating the curve of the girl's lips.
She smiled softly. "To become such a being, and to be able to help Master and you, Lady Alice… Irori is honored."
"Thank you."
Alice closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.
"If you ever want to come back but lose your way, call for me."
Alice stood and walked over to Irori until they were face to face.
"I'll bring you home."
The sun slowly sank below the horizon, and darkness gradually swallowed Irori's smiling face.
But the next moment, the electric lights flickered on, and that beautiful smile reappeared in Alice's sight.
Along with her soft reply.
"Okay."
Smoke curled through the air—Shouko had lit her pipe for the first time inside the mansion.
The action immediately drew a sharp glare from Alice. "Don't smoke in the mansion."
"Alright, alright."
Shouko watched the two standing together, smiled, and turned toward the garden.
She'd said it before, hadn't she?
This really was a good place to be.
--+--
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.