"Huh? What's going on today? Why are so many people gathered in the square?"
"You didn't know? They're members of the Giant Slayer Squad."
"Not just them. Some of the original 88 Witch Corps members who followed the Patriarch are here too."
"Those people gathered over there... Are they from the Magic Array Research Association?"
"Well, well. You don't often see all these people together..."
"True. Especially the association lot. Don't they practically live in the Library?"
"Who knows? Let's watch and find out."
"Whatever it is, it can't be simple."
The square beside the Perching Giant Tree buzzed with voices.
The noise drew the attention of many nearby Black Witches.
But once they saw who was there—some sitting on Wooden Crates, some standing with a hand on their hip, and others floating in the air—they grew curious. Why had all these people come here?
After all, these three groups rarely crossed paths.
They might keep in touch online, or rather, through Card chats.
But offline, in their work and daily lives, they almost never met outside a few points of overlap.
That was what made it interesting.
That was what stirred everyone's curiosity.
That was what made them want to stay and see what happened next.
And so...
Plenty of people who had no research to do and no shift to work that day gathered around the square.
They all wanted to see what this group, whose members ranked among the finest Black Witches, was about to do.
They did not have to wait long.
Soon after all three groups had more or less assembled...
A Portal opened beneath the Perching Giant Tree at the edge of the square.
Everyone turned to look.
A black-clad figure walked out of the Portal under their watchful eyes.
Silence—
Everyone stared at