As Holmes surmised, all things inevitably leave a trail.
Even the Fifth Magic, which pushes risks into the future, and the Second Magic, which summons versions of oneself from parallel worlds, leave traces behind. One can detect the use of True Magic through the damage inflicted upon the future or the world-line.
Much more so for those who are not Magicians, but rather a blatant Beast of Humanity and its subordinates; they cannot help but leave behind their residual echoes.
"No dust, no traces, no footprints, not even the scent of a ritual of magecraft. Or did they use teleportation from an internal point to an external one?"
[The probability of that is low. Kayneth and Waver have been taking turns monitoring the Clock Tower, and they say there's no trace of anyone using the secret passages or transport devices inside.]
Romani began to rebut Holmes's assertion that there might be traps or secret mechanisms within the Clock Tower that they were unaware of.
"But isn't it possible those two are simply unaware of them?"
[I'd say that possibility is negligible. Waver, despite his demeanor, is a famous figure who received permission to explore Albion from Brishisan, the Director of the Clock Tower. And Kayneth is a Lord. Of course, if someone is holed up inside a Workshop pulling strings, we'd have to look for other possibilities.]
"In the end… we must enter and investigate personally."
Tristan spoke with a heavy sigh.
"There shouldn't be a problem. Holmes is quite capable himself, and if I focus on defense, even Tristan would find it difficult to pierce through me."
"Yes… that is true, but 'Magecraft' always has a way of deviating from the scope of human common sense."
As I pulled the door with Bansho Ten'in, it opened smoothly without so much as a creak—contradicting the lack of recent use. Instead of a corridor illuminated by classical decor and candlelight, we were greeted by a massive, cavernous space that exuded a sinister atmosphere, reminiscent of a haunted house.
[It is certainly the entrance to the Clock Tower… but the atmosphere is different in many ways.]
"Waver, you're here? What about Roman?"
[Taking a short break. Olga Marie knocked him out.]
"Good call. That man needs some rest… Anyway, do you sense anything strange?"
[I cannot tell through the monitor. To begin with, if you want to grasp such things, wouldn't your Advisory Detective be more useful?]
"That is true."
As if pleased by Waver's praise, Holmes lightly bit down on his pipe and tapped the floor several times with his cane.
"First… I have something to ask the only proper magus among us, Master Kirigaya."
[To be honest, it is questionable whether we should call that fellow a proper magus.]
"I agree with that sentiment. Master is less like a magus and more like… well, considering that magecraft is not his ends but his means, and that his primary method is physical force, I would say he's more akin to Sir Merlin…"
"Hey, what was that?"
"…I apologize. I misspoke."
After reacting sharply to Tristan's sudden nonsense, I cleared my throat and looked back at Holmes.
"Anyway, what was it you wanted to ask?"
"Ahem, ahem. Nothing much. Just your perspective on flight magecraft. Many humans recognize flight as a romantic ideal and have developed magecraft regarding it… I want to ask about the utility of such magic."
"Utility aside… it's a total bust. Flight usually falls into three categories."
[Reversal of force, direct application of force, and the conceptual act of flight itself, which is an outlier.]
The 'direct application of force' here literally refers to the repulsive force itself.
Pushing off the ground to remain suspended in the air… maintaining 'levitation' rather than actual flight. That is the first type of flight magecraft.
"Reversal of force refers to forcibly reversing a force that should naturally act on you through magecraft. Gravity reversal or anti-gravity… that sort of thing. The effect is superior to simple levitation, but the consumption of prana is extraordinary."
For the record, the flight I use is also a technique that combines the powers of the Deva Path.
I fly using Shinra Tensei as if pushing off the ground, and I use Bansho Ten'in to forcibly pull my body toward a specific target point. To put it simply, I use Shinra Tensei and Bansho Ten'in to substitute for the application of magnetism, repulsion, and attraction.
"Flight itself… well, there's nothing to say. Implementing the very concept of flight through magecraft consumes a ridiculous amount of resources. At that point, it's more efficient to just buy a private jet."
"I see. I understand perfectly. In that case, excluding what is impossible in our current state, there is only one conclusion I can draw."
"And that is?"
"In the Clock Tower, the headquarters of the Mage's Association… there are no people."
"…No people?"
"Let me correct myself. It would be more accurate to say that no 'living entities' with cognitive abilities exist here. Unless they spent the entire day flying, it is impossible to leave so few traces. Even if they used flight magecraft, it would be difficult… Simply put, there are no magi, no ordinary citizens, no summoned Servants… and no turned Mafia in this place."
*
The first person to object to Holmes's deduction was none other than Waver.
[That is impossible. We have been continuously observing the Mage's Association from this side, and that headquarters is indeed the base of the Mafia.]
"However, Master Magus, as you know—once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. And the truth we see now… is that there are no living beings here."
[Are you saying Chaldea's systems are flawed?]
"Regrettably, that possibility also exists."
As Holmes spoke with a teasing tone, Waver countered with displeasure.
[And the possibility that your deduction is wrong?]
"If Holmes's deduction was off, then the clues themselves must be wrong. If so, we would have to start the reasoning over from the beginning… but that is not the important part. If this is not the base of the Mafia, then where exactly is their base?"
[…Is it possible they are hidden within the Workshops or classrooms of other magi?]
"I'm afraid not. I deployed the Animal Path as soon as we entered."
Within the Workshops of the magi, various rats and dogs—weak, but belonging to the Age of Gods—were already scouring the area. I even checked the office of Lord Brishisan, who was absent for some reason, and the room that only Elder Zelretch can use.
"They are definitely not here. Regardless of Holmes's deduction, it's highly unlikely that my Animal Path summons would fail to find them."
[Subspace or Imaginary Number Space… no, that can't be.]
"We should keep that in mind. But finding that would take a long time and… you know, right? Even for me, opening an Imaginary Number Space is impossible. I'd need the help of a user of the Fifth Magic or Alice-san, the Witch of Fairy Tales."
"Pardon me, but is your private chat nearly finished?"
Holmes interjected.
"It would be best for us to return now."
"I agree, Master. There seems to be nothing to gain from lingering in a place like this."
As Tristan plucked his harp and seconded the opinion, I began de-summoning the creatures of the Animal Path.
"I suppose so. Let's head ba—"
And it was at that moment.
[Night. Has. Fallen.]
"…What?"
Outside, the sun should have been at its zenith. By the clock, it was only just past 11:00 AM.
[Mafia. Please. Lift. Your. Heads. And. Find. Someone. To. Kill.]
An incantation that should not have been heard echoed through the air…
"…God damn it."
Before we knew it, we were surrounded.
Dozens of blackened Mafia members stood there… accompanied by one man with a stern expression, preparing to discharge bolts of blue lightning.
"Hmm, how unfortunate."
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