• Ministry of Magic, Japan •
• Monday, 10:00 AM •
[Kenji Hino — Japanese Representative]
Kenji stood inside a stark white room, bleak and empty save for several large red circles painted on the floor. He positioned himself a few feet from one of these spots—a designated Portkey landing zone—awaiting their honored guest, Albus Dumbledore.
Taking a steadying breath, Kenji adjusted his crimson tie, shifted his dress shirt cuffs to make the silver phoenix-shaped cufflinks more prominent, and gave his black coat a final, decisive tug. Only then did he allow his gaze to drift toward his companion.
His pinky finger twitched at the sight.
The man beside him was a portrait of disarray: hunched posture, tangled hair, an unbuttoned dress shirt over pajama pants, and untied shoelaces.
Kenji fought the primal urge to swat the back of the man's head, restraining himself for one sole reason: this young man was one of the foremost pioneers and the lead researcher of a new branch of magic—technomancy.
'Even so… couldn't he have at least cast a Tidy Charm on himself, or transfigured his clothes temporarily, if only for this meeting?' Kenji thought, taking another deep breath to suppress his frustration.
The young man, Tanaka Kaito—or Kaito Tanaka, in the Western custom—was the new Department Head of Magical Innovation in Japan and Head Professor of Technomancy at Mahoutokoro Magic Academy.
He was a brilliant man, known for his goal-oriented mind and singular focus on advancing his field of study beyond what his grandfather—the discipline's first pioneer, Tanaka Sora—had ever achieved.
It was for this reason, more than any other, that Kenji respected the young man. Still, he needed to remind him that they were meeting the strongest wizard in the world.
"Tanaka-san, please do something about your appearance. Dumbledore-sama will be here at any moment," he said.
The man, of course, didn't seem to acknowledge him, lost in his notes as he kept flipping pages and muttering under his breath.
Kenji felt a vein throb in his forehead. Before he did something he would regret, he took a breath, held it in, counted to ten, and let it out slowly. He had to remind himself that this was not Tanaka's fault; it was the fault of the Minister and the Clan Council.
"Tanaka-san!" he called again. When there was still no reply, he did the next best thing. "Excuse me, then," he said, taking out his own wand and transfiguring Kaito's clothes into a presentable, formal suit.
He then plucked the man's wand from behind his ear, cast a series of rapid Tidy and Cleaning Charms over him, and slotted the wand back into place.
Of course, Tanaka was looking at him now; anyone would, after feeling the sudden tingly sensation of magic and a wave of water scrubbing over them.
"Why did you do that, Hino-san?"
"To ensure you look presentable in front of Dumbledore-sama, of course, Tanaka-san."
"Why would that even matter?" Kaito asked, tilting his head in genuine confusion. "As a matter of fact, why am I even here? Shouldn't the Minister be responsible for something like this?"
The sheer bewilderment in his voice reminded Kenji that no matter how brilliant the young man was, he remained, at his core, socially crippled—a common curse of geniuses, he supposed.
Kenji shook his head slightly. "It is impolite not to look your best when receiving such a valued guest," he explained patiently. "As for the Minister… he was led to believe that personally receiving Dumbledore-sama when he's not here on official business would belittle his own and our country's standing."
"Ah, politics…" Kaito nodded sagely. "The art practiced by the mentally challenged."
Pffft…
Kenji pinched his own thigh, hard, to suppress the laugh that threatened to burst out. He had to remember this room was monitored by the Minister and the Clan Council.
Normally, a remark like that would cost a man his career. But the young man next to him was not just any man; he was the second son of the Tanaka clan's patriarch—one of the three most powerful clans in Japan, alongside the Senju and Uchiha. No one would dare make an issue of it.
That, combined with the fact that we can't afford to antagonize such a talent, will ensure everyone listening simply ignores it, he smirked inwardly, as he closed his eyes.
"Still, this outfit is stuffy," he heard Kaito mutter. "Couldn't you have at least informed me about this yesterday? That way, I could have worn a kimono or something."
"That is precisely what we did, Tanaka-san," Kenji informed him, a vein threatening to twitch again. "I am certain we informed one of your secretaries yesterday, an hour or two after Dumbledore-sama confirmed with me."
"Ah. I must not have paid attention, then."
Kenji decided it was best to stop engaging entirely. He sighed and turned his gaze back to the spot where the Portkey would land.
Fwoosh…
A sudden rush of displaced air, accompanied by a wave of magic, made both men straighten their backs instantly. Their eyes snapped to the center of the red circle, where Albus Dumbledore, having glided effortlessly through the air, now touched down.
"I really must improve our standard transportation methods… these things are rather bothersome," Dumbledore remarked, dusting off his sleeves. Kenji couldn't help but nod in fervent agreement. Portkeys were notoriously rough; one grew accustomed to them, but never comfortable.
"How are you going to do that? Are you trying to find a way to stabilize the spatial ripples, or perhaps recalibrate the—" Kenji's hand shot up, clamping over Kaito's mouth and cutting off the torrent of technical questions as he inwardly cursed his own momentary distraction.
"Hmm," Dumbledore hummed, his bright blue eyes sweeping over them with amused interest before he gestured for Kenji to lower his hand.
Kenji complied reluctantly.
"What's your name?"
X
[Albus Dumbledore]
"What's your name?" I asked the man standing beside a now thoroughly distressed-looking Kenji.
"Tanaka Kaito," he replied, extending his hand without a hint of ceremony.
My smile widened as I shook his hand, ignoring Kenji, who looked on with the pained expression of a man witnessing a social catastrophe unfold in slow motion.
"A pleasure to meet you, Kaito. I am Albus Dumbledore."
"I know," he said with a simple nod.
'Is he autistic?' I thought, trying to recall what I knew about autism while simultaneously observing his directness and lack of social pretense. It was refreshing…
"As for your question," I continued, seamlessly picking up the thread of his interrupted query, "Portkeys are not strictly spatial transportation. They operate more on the principle of magical entanglement over distance. While there is a relativistic relationship to spatial displacement, the foundational concepts and applications are distinctly different. They don't tear through space so much as they… fold the magical pathway between two predefined points, thus shortening the distance."
"No, that's not true… we know how a Portkey operates; we are taught how to create them," Kaito shook his head.
"Sure, but no matter what you read, the fact is that you use intent, incantation, and wand movement when creating one—you have to recall where you want the enchanted object to take you, set a mechanism, etc. How the world and magic interpret such things is not taught in the books," I smiled as he frowned…
Kaito frowned, took out his notebook, and began writing in it fervently. Kenji, meanwhile, was looking at us with a blank expression, as if he had just had an epiphany.
Ahem. I faked a cough to regain his attention. "Shall we get going?" I asked with a smile.
"Yes! Pardon my lack of courtesy, Dumbledore-sama," he said with a small bow, before continuing, "Please, follow me."
And so we did. We exited the Portkey room and stepped into a long corridor that opened directly into an extraordinarily beautiful courtyard. Polished stone paths wound their way through lush greenery and serene water features. A magically created waterfall cascaded into a sizable body of clear water—larger than a pond, yet still smaller than a lake—that took up most of the space in the courtyard. Even the stone path we were walking on right now was a bridge-like path that magically and steadily floated on the water, where a diverse variety of fish, clearly visible through the pristine water, swam about peacefully.
Large sakura trees graced each corner of the biomes of lands that floated on water like little islands of expanded space, accompanied by a carefully curated assortment of other trees throughout.
It was a magically created view that was, in my opinion, far superior to anything our Ministry had back home. It was as if the entire environment was whispering, "Welcome to magical Japan," to anyone who wished to listen.
"This is a splendid way to introduce visitors to magical Japan," I commented as we walked the path leading to an old, traditional Japanese building.
"Thank you, sir," Kenji said with a smile that did little to hide his pride. However, his expression fell the moment he heard Kaito's blunt question.
"Haven't you visited here before?" Kaito asked, his tone purely curious.
"No, not really," I shook my head. "I have visited Japanese magical communities before, but that was a long time ago, a few years after I graduated from Hogwarts, I believe. My entry into the country was not strictly legal back then, and I didn't visit the Ministry because I didn't see the need to."
"Ah," Kaito made a noise of understanding. "Where did you go, then?"
"Oh, I visited various cities, settlements, and shops, and I may or may not have snuck into a few clan compounds to satiate my curiosity about the way of life for Japanese wizards and witches," I said with a smile, knowing full well our conversation was anything but private.
"Did you not get caught sneaking around? That's hard to believe with how many protective…" unfortunately, Kaito's question was cut short, so I didn't know what he wanted to ask…
"Please excuse him, Dumbledore-sama," Kenji said, placing a hand firmly around Kaito's shoulders. "He does not think before he speaks."
I chuckled. "Do not worry, Kenji. I enjoy forthright conversation; no harm is done."
We continued our light conversation for a little while before reaching our destination: a grand, traditional Japanese building with a long, low-sweeping roof of dark grey kawara tiles that curved elegantly against the sky. Its frame was crafted from ancient, richly-grained timber, stained a deep, warm brown that spoke of centuries. Despite its size, the design was profoundly minimalist; no ornate carvings or flashy decorations broke its serene facade.
' I am impressed', I thought, and I truly was—though not by the building or the atmosphere, but by the magic seeping from every crack and grain of this place. I was astonished by the sheer number of enchantments and wards engraved into its very foundation. To my eyes, it looked like a tightly knitted web of spells, a dense ball of protective energy.
"This way, sir," a voice guided me as soon as I stepped through the door, and we were led into a traditional Japanese meeting room. Tatami mats covered the floor, and low, dark wooden tables were set with cushions for seating.
"Dumbledore-sama, this is our Minister, Masamune Saito-sama," Kenji introduced the short man who stood as we entered.
"A pleasure to meet you, Minister Saito," I said, extending my hand. "I am glad to see you are not one for needless formalities, such as receiving me upon my arrival. I find this to be a much friendlier way to meet."
I smiled as I saw the barest hint of a twitch on his face—an admirable show of control for someone so magically weak. I do not say this to be condescending; he truly was weaker than a standard adult wizard.
The minister chuckled slightly. "I, too, find such formalities bothersome. Why complicate things when we can simply meet and talk like proper adults…" He waved a hand and led us further into the room.
Soon we were seated, making trivial conversation, and I felt my attention waning. My eyes wandered around the room, which was starkly devoid of decoration compared to the opulent meeting chambers common in Europe. The only adornments were a single elegant scroll in the tokonoma alcove, depicting a mountain landscape where mythical creatures seemed to fight and move, and a simple ceramic vase holding a single, budding branch.
The room is quite charming when you think about it, I mused. It strips away the feeling of artifice that plagues those obscenely decorated rooms we have back home.
Just then, I turned my head toward the entrance as four new people entered. They were elderly, dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, and moved with a slow, deliberate grace to their seats beside the minister.
"Dumbledore-sama, these are our head elders: Senju Katsuro, Uchiha Ayame, Tanaka Ryota, and Fujiwara Noboru," Kenji announced formally as they took their places.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all," I smiled and nodded at them.
A chorus of replies came from the elders:
"It is nice to meet you too."
"Hmm."
"It is great to finally meet the strongest wizard in the world."
"Welcome to Japan."
They returned the greeting as they settled in. We spent a few more minutes on pleasantries and exchanged compliments, but that, too, came to an end as we approached the real objective of today's meeting.
"Now that the introductions are out of the way, let's get to why we are meeting today," I said in a light tone.
"Yes, let's," the minister replied with a firm nod. "We do have some questions about the true nature of the magic you wish to 'install' at Mahoutokoro Academy, among other technical concerns."
I nodded. "The nature of the magic, as I'm sure you have previously tested and concluded, is a physically manifested form of mental magic. It is quite a close concept to some of the current day fictional Muggle theories about future computers, actually. What I will do is create a secondary access point—a 'server,' if you will—so that everyone can connect their mind directly to it."
"Ahem, yes, we have noted such things," Senju Katsuro said, putting his palms together. "But we are also concerned about the potential for this magic to be compromised. We must be certain it will not bring more harm than good. It is for that reason we need to study the magic thoroughly, to assure ourselves…"
"I have no problem with that. You are welcome to observe as I do the work later," I agreed, completely ignoring the veiled desire in his request. "Plus, the core will remain there, anchored and connected to your school, so you may conduct as many tests as you wish…"
"Yes, we have been informed about the technicalities, Mr. Dumbledore," Fujiwara Noboru interjected, his face impassive. "However, we are also concerned about placing the Imperial family and our country in a position of security risk by allowing you to connect this mental magic directly to our children."
"Are you asking me to teach you how to cast the magic yourselves?" I asked, playing the clueless fool.
"That is exactly what we are asking," the only woman in the room, Uchiha Ayame, replied.
Kenji, who was sitting on my right, stiffened slightly. On my left, Kaito looked up from his notes and eyed me with curiosity.
"I can do that, too," I smiled. "I simply need you to provide an official document stating that I am not liable for any injuries, crippling or otherwise, or deaths caused by your attempts to cast said magic, and we are good to go." My eyes glinted as I spoke.
"Is that a threat?" the Minister asked, staring directly into my eyes, and I once again had to inwardly applaud his courage.
"Oh dear Merlin, no, of course not, Minister," I replied, smiling softly. "But could you please tell me what would happen if a child tried to cast a magic that is meant for a powerful, fully trained adult?"
"Varying degrees of injury and, in some cases, violent death," Kaito Tanaka answered. I could feel everyone in the room suppressing the urge to facepalm.
'I am sure he thinks he was being helpful, but he really was not', I mused as I nodded at him and gave his back a pat.
"Exactly," I affirmed. "I don't want people to think I was responsible for crippling, let alone killing, another country's ruling body."
"Sigh," Tanaka Ryota, who had been silent until now, sighed loudly. "Could you at least tell us the power level one needs to cast said magic on their own?"
"Of course," I nodded. "You need to be on my level to be able to bear the burden of casting the Archive on your own." I let my words hang in the air for a moment before adding, "Here, let me show you."
I then slightly loosened the tight leash I keep on my magic. The floor beneath me cracked, sending splinters flying. The walls shuddered, and the lights flickered off and on. Worst of all was the pressure; every person in the room was pressed down against the tables or the floor by the sheer weight my magic exerted on the surroundings.
It lasted only two seconds before I reined my magic back in. I immediately began casting a series of Restoration Charms—Reparo, Reparifarge (a general reversal spell), and others—to mend the room. I didn't forget to let a wave of healing magic wash over the occupants, mending any potential internal injuries and soothing their frayed nerves.
"I hope you will forgive my poor showing, but I needed to demonstrate the level required for what you asked," I spoke in an apologetic tone. "Don't worry, though. Everything related to the Archive is recorded within it, and anyone who becomes qualified will be able to access the knowledge and cast it later on." I added this last piece to pacify them further.
"Thank you for the demonstration, Dumbledore-sama," the Minister sighed. "And please excuse our poor showing too; we were not prepared for such a thing."
"Ah, Minister Saito, I thought we were past such formalities. Do not worry; we are friends," I said with a wide smile. "And of course, I know you weren't prepared. Although, I must commend you on the wards and enchantments protecting this place. They are exceptionally powerful. It is only because I held no ill will that I still stand hale and healthy."
I chose to ignore the subtle glances the other occupants of the room shared. It was useful to let them believe that was the truth, as it would minimize future complications. Though they did not know it yet, they had all begun to trust me more after feeling my aura—a side effect of the Bright Lord Essence, I was sure.
We continued our discussion, and I secured Minister Saito's future support when I informed them that the Archive would help any witch or wizard, so long as they were not Squibs—or as they are termed in this part of the world, "Cripples"—to gain significant power and advance their magical studies tremendously.
I explained that one of the requirements to advance to a rank like mine was to create or notably advance a branch of magic, as this increase in power was Magic's own reward for our efforts. This served as the final nudge. I even congratulated them in advance on their future prosperity, noting they were already developing a new branch of magic.
"I must admit, I am a little envious of your future development," I smiled peacefully, shaking my head as I took a sip of the green tea they had served. "With a little help from the Archive, Japan is guaranteed to produce at least two individuals of my current power. What a blessing."
"Ahahahah! I am sure Britain will not be far behind, so long as they have you backing them, Albus," Saito laughed, growing decidedly cozy and familiar.
"Too true," Senju Katsuro agreed. "No matter how powerful the future prospects look, you will always be remembered as the man who made it all possible," he said, pausing to take a sip from his cup.
"Eh, I will not be the only one whose name is carved in history, though," I countered, shaking my head. "I am certain that all of Japan, and perhaps the world, will remember your names as the witches and wizards who were first to embrace the change." I stroked their egos just a little more.
The more intoxicated they became with their own fantasies, the less I would have to worry about future troubles from them. The only person who remained slightly suspicious was Fujiwara Noboru, but that was understandable. His clan was, after all, responsible for guarding the interests of the Imperial Family.
Our conversation did not last much longer, for—believe it or not—there is a limit to how much self-praise and ego-stroking one can endure before it becomes redundant. We shook hands, and then departed for our next destination: Mahoutokoro Academy of Magic.
X
• On board the Japanese Ferry Boat •
• 11:50 AM •
[Albus Dumbledore]
In the expanse of the Pacific Ocean, aboard a sleek boat bearing the Japanese Ministry's sigil, stood a man—
'Okay, that didn't go as well as I thought it would be'. I snickered inwardly, abandoning the grandiose internal narration to simply observe the ocean.
Outwardly, I was just standing there on the deck, watching the vessel blitz through the water and enjoying the breeze.
Inwardly, however, my mind was a chorus of simultaneous thoughts.
'This is what transportation should be like', one thread mused. 'I can't even feel the wind beyond a normal breeze, and we are moving at an incredible speed.'
'These enchantments are amazing; the way they work together is extraordinary', another thread observed.
'We should really burn the Night Bus when we get back. Or perhaps open the skulls of British wizards to see why they can't create something like this'.
Different thoughts streamed through my head simultaneously, a courtesy of my newly developed parallel processing and still-evolving mind partition.
It's great what two days of free time for research will get you, I concluded with a sense of satisfaction.
Still, this is weird…
I had been feeling it since we left Tokyo, but the magic here in Japan felt slightly different. It was heavier, richer, and there was something else in it—a quality I hadn't encountered before. It didn't feel like purely wizarding magic…
I had been trying to ignore the nagging sensation since our departure, but the question persisted.
Why did I only feel this change in the magic after we left?
Is it because we are out in the open, where there are no dense wards to interfere with my senses?
That could be it. But I'm still asking the wrong questions, aren't I?
The real question should be, why does the magic here feel different in the first place?
I didn't have time to let my thoughts spiral further, as Kenji and Kaito came to my side, embroiled in an argument.
"…and I think we should distribute it to everyone, no matter their age!" Kaito stated with a firm nod.
"You are not seeing the bigger picture. Giving children unrestricted access would be the height of folly…" Kenji rejected the idea, shaking his head.
"Albus, what do you think?" Kaito asked. His tone was one I had only ever heard from Grindelwald—a relaxed and comfortable cadence used when someone views you as their equal.
Of course, Kenji's reaction was the highlight of the moment. He stopped himself, his mouth still open, and slowly turned his head to observe my reaction.
I, on the other hand, wasn't bothered in the slightest. I simply smiled and answered, "Well, I believe Kaito's idea has the most merit. That way, children would learn quickly and have a much better chance of advancing further than adults." I then turned my eyes to Kenji. "But I can also see your point. However, don't worry. As I informed you all earlier, access to higher-level knowledge is restricted for those without the proper foundation. The last thing we need is an epidemic of teenage dark wizards."
"Hmm, what he said…" Kaito chimed in, and I could feel Kenji's patience finally beginning to fray.
Just as Kenji took a deep breath, a shadow swept over us, blocking the sun and prompting us to look up. A flock of enormous birds was traveling back towards Tokyo, their movements graceful and synchronized.
'Giant storm petrels, huh?' I thought, observing the majestic creatures.
"Those are the day students heading home, Dumbledore-sama," Kenji informed me.
I raised an eyebrow, and he elaborated further. "The young ones, ages seven to eleven. They come to school for four hours a day to study and make friends, so that when they begin their boarding, they don't feel lonely or isolated. It cuts the time needed to adjust significantly…"
"I have to admit, that is an excellent system," I said. "I believe I will be adopting it for Hogwarts, as we were already planning to change the admission age to eleven in the upcoming weeks." My eyes drifted back towards the sea, thoughtful.
"I still don't understand why wizards on the other side of the globe start their formal training at sixteen," Kaito interjected. "It seems counterproductive and dangerous."
"I have a theory, but it is better not to speak of it now. I am certain you will understand once you have access to the Archive, as all relevant data will be stored there," I answered, shaking my head slightly.
I was reasonably sure this global discrepancy was another ripple caused by that reincarnator, 'Idiot A,' messing with the timeline, as I could find no other logical reason.
'But there's no need for them to know about reincarnations and such', I thought with an internal shrug.
It was then that I felt a wave of magic pass through us. It did nothing to us, as we were not Muggles, but had we been, it would have compelled our boat to turn trajectory.
"Muggle-Repellent Wards…" I muttered, as my eyes found the source of the wave: an island just a few minutes away at our current speed.
So, this was Minami Iwo Jima. It looked ordinary to the untrained eye, but mine were not. To me, it appeared as a multi-layered sphere of magic—different wards, barriers, and enchantments intricately interwoven, layer upon layer.
And they said Hogwarts was the safest place on earth, I thought sarcastically, observing the veritable fortress.
To be fair, Hogwarts's wards were ultimately stronger, a result of its potent magical nexus. Here, they had opted for quantity over pure power; not that the quality was lacking, but with only two ley lines meeting beneath the island as opposed to Hogwarts's confluence, they had to compensate with complexity.
"We are arriving…" I heard Kenji say, though I wasn't truly paying attention. I was too absorbed in analyzing the magical architecture, filing away so many ideas to improve Hogwarts's own defenses.
I also noted that the magical irregularities I had felt at sea were less prominent here. They felt muted, suppressed by the dense, "purer" wizarding magic that saturated the island's defenses.
The boat slowed and came to a stop at a magically maintained dock a short walking distance from the island.
As we disembarked, we triggered another wave of scanning wards, this one searching for the barest hints of ill intent or harmful magical equipment.
My two companions seemed either unaware of this intricate magic or so accustomed to it that they didn't remark, continuing to walk and guide me while describing the island's layout.
"…The island is divided into three concentric layers," Kenji said, playing the part of a tour guide. "The outer layer contains the Quidditch pitch and open-area fields for magical experiments and spell-casting."
"The middle layer is where the professors' residences, greenhouses, magical herb gardens, and magical creature habitats are located, alongside a few essential shops."
"Then, there is the inner area, where the main school building is built," he concluded, pointing out the respective districts as we moved.
The experience felt surreal. I—or, more accurately, the original Dumbledore—had visited many schools in his long life, but this was his first time at Mahoutokoro.
The entire island was a sanctuary dedicated to teaching magic. While it had the smallest student body of any major institution, this was because many children in the region were still taught within their own clans or sects. If one went by pure numbers, this school likely housed the highest concentration of Muggle-born students in the world, as it accepted not only Japanese children but also those from neighboring nations.
Our carriage came to a halt at the threshold of the inner area. There, built atop the mountain, stood the school itself: a huge, traditional Japanese structure that exuded an aura of ancient history and immense power.
We were soon received by a group of five people in formal kimonos, their demeanors varying from politely neutral to sternly observant.
The woman leading them had a strict countenance that made me suppress the urge to call her Minerva. She was an elder, her silver hair tied back in an impeccable tight bun, her eyes sharp and missing nothing.
Kenji immediately stepped forward and gave a deep, respectful bow. "Headmistress. Honored Elders. May I present Albus Dumbledore." He then turned to me. "Dumbledore-sama, this is Headmistress Aoki Yuriko, and the esteemed heads of Mahoutokoro's core disciplines."
The Headmistress, Aoki, gave a curt, precise nod. "Dumbledore-sama. Welcome." Her voice was calm, and her smile curt.
Kenji then gestured to the others in turn.
"This is Master Jiro Tanaka, Head of Artifice and Ancient Runes." A stout man with clever eyes and thick-fingered hands offered a grunt of acknowledgment.
"Master Kaito Ishikawa, Head of Magical Zoology and Botany." A leaner man with a sun-weathered face and a curious, gentle smile.
"Lady Hanako Fujioka, Head of Divination and Spiritual Arts." A woman who seemed to be looking at a point just beyond my shoulder, her expression serene and distant.
"And this," Kenji said, his tone shifting to one of particular reverence, "is Lady Tsunade Senju, Head of Medical Arts and mender of the impossible."
A cascade of parallel thoughts erupted in my mind.
'What in Merlin's name is Tsunade Senju doing in this universe?'
'What and who else is here?'
'Well, those are certainly... magically suspended.' My—inner eye—automatically noted the huge, life-giving mounds. They were big and looked very tempting to play with…
Outwardly, of course, my eyes never strayed from a polite and professional focus on their eyes and faces, but I was a man of many talents, so I can see with more than just my eyes.
Still, even Tsunade's... presence... didn't distract me from the monumental implications of her being here.
'What the hell did that ROB-wannabe reincarnator do?' I thought, suppressing the urge to facepalm. 'His erasure feels more and more deserved with every new discovery.'
We were led inside the castle, and I made a concerted effort to engage the professors and the Headmistress in light conversation. However, my primary goal remained clear: I needed to install the Archive as quickly as possible to accelerate the analysis of this world's magical irregularities.
"Before we sit down to continue our lovely conversation," I began, "have you decided where to house the Archive? It needs to be anchored to a ward stone, so you must choose which one and where."
"Yes, we have selected two potential locations and were awaiting your opinion," the Headmistress said. "The first is one of the seven primary warding stones, located in the most secure area of the school. The second is a secondary stone, though it resides in a less secure spot." She looked at me searchingly as she finished.
I wasn't sure what she expected, but it likely wasn't my response.
"I don't particularly care where you put it," I shrugged. "As you will be the one managing, distributing, and ultimately responsible for guarding it, Headmistress."
They looked confused, so I elaborated.
"As I'm sure Kenji has told you, he only needed to touch my interface with his wand to get connected." They nodded. "Well, you will all do the same. My installing it into your ward stone is merely a way to let your infrastructure shoulder the magical energy burden permanently."
"Oh, so that's how it's done..." Tsunade mused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "So you don't want direct access to our core wards, is that it?" I noticed her glance flicker toward her colleagues.
"Hahah, no," I chuckled. "While your wards are powerful, varied, and ancient, I am confident I already understand their principles well enough. I have no need to 'mess around' with them."
They didn't look entirely convinced, but I felt no inclination to prove anything and simply let the matter drop.
"Then the most secure location is best," the Headmistress declared, turning left to lead us deeper into the castle.
We soon arrived at a seemingly solid wall and stopped as the Headmistress began waving her wand, tapping on specific points in a complex, rhythmic sequence.
I, meanwhile, let my gaze wander the corridor, my mage sight following the intricate threads of magic that wove through the air like a luminous tapestry.
Pssssshhhhh~
The sound of a hidden door sliding aside brought my attention back to the group. Everyone was looking at me with peculiar expressions.
"What?" I asked, a little confused about the stares.
"What were you looking at?" Kaito's blunt tone cut through the silence. "They are wondering why you seemed so uninterested in the Headmistress's actions and were staring at something else."
"I see," I nodded in understanding. "Well, I possess a form of mage sight. I was more fascinated by the flow of magical threads in the air than by the passcode to the ward room." I kept my voice calm and my tone friendly. "It's not as if I would benefit from knowing the sequence; I am sure the Headmistress will be changing it presently. It is what I would have done."
"I can see your logic," Kaito commented. "And I would have done the same."
The rest of the group, however, did not look back at us as they filed inside, pointedly avoiding further engagement.
Soon, we found ourselves inside a chamber buried deep within the mountain's heart, the silence so absolute it felt like a physical presence.
Yet, this profound isolation was instantly usurped by a far more powerful one: the heavy, tingling pressure of raw magic saturating the air. In the room's center, set apart by a final, symbolic barrier of a golden rope and its sacred paper tags (shimenawa), lay the source. Seven ward stones, glowing with a soft light, each the size of Hagrid, were arranged in a perfect septagram.
"Alright, please take a step back. I will be starting shortly," I said as I stepped forward, moving past the Headmistress, who had been guiding us.
I didn't know why they didn't point out that the final defense was still active, but I didn't particularly care. I took out my wand, gave it a slight twirl between my fingers, and then made three precise movements. The floor in front of the rope began to reshape itself, forming a short set of stairs that descended beneath the golden barrier.
It was a clever solution. The barrier was designed to defend against attempts to step over or destroy it, much like age lines. By creating a small, six-foot staircase that went under the line, I had found a novel workaround.
I then walked up and headed towards the center of the septagram, completely ignoring the gaping expressions of the other occupants in the chamber.
"Alright, I am about to begin," I announced, addressing them. "Headmistress, please step inside when I give you the signal so I can connect you to the newly created access point."
I received a firm nod in response and began the performance.
I didn't actually need this much effort, but maintaining appearances was crucial. I started moving my hands as if conducting an invisible orchestra, muttering under my breath and conjuring a spectacular show of golden light.
I moved from one stone to another, tapping each one once within its circle, seamlessly connecting the Archive to the ward stones. With each connection, I gained another energy access point and a new scanning location.
The performance lasted exactly seven minutes. I then looked up and gestured for the Headmistress to enter, which she did promptly, having already temporarily disabled the final barrier.
"Okay, I need you to touch my wand with yours and follow my lead," I instructed, extending my wand. She touched it with her own.
She felt the magical drain immediately, if the way her face scrunched into a wince was any indication. I moved, and she moved with me, as we went to touch each ward stone together one final time.
By the seventh stone, she looked exhausted, with sweat beading on her forehead and her hair slightly disheveled.
I extended my hand and touched hers; a golden light enveloped her for a second before I withdrew and began to leave the warded area.
"Come on, let's go and allow the Headmistress to reseal the room," I said, exiting ahead of the others.
Kenji, Kaito, and the rest followed without a word as we retraced our path.
"So, where should we wait for the Headmistress to return?" I asked.
"Oh, let's head to my office. It's the closest from here," Kaito said, overtaking us to guide the way.
Soon, we were inside a room filled to the brim with books, notebooks, parchments, and papers of all sizes and shapes. It looked chaotic but not unclean.
I heard several sighs from behind me, along with a suppressed giggle, as Kaito waved his wand, sending everything floating into the air to clear a space.
"Come on in," he said, conjuring a cushion for himself and sitting down.
I did the same and was soon followed by the rest of the group.
"So, what do you think?" I asked. "How was the magic?"
"I have no idea; I didn't understand anything. All I felt was a stupid amount of magic you were throwing around…" Tsunade said, leaning against the wall.
"Me too, I have no idea what you did."
"Same here."
"Not even the slightest idea."
These were the replies I received from everyone except Kaito. I looked at him, and he tilted his head.
"Oh, I too didn't understand anything," he nodded. I couldn't help but chuckle.
We began talking about the school, its courses, its students, and how it differed from its European counterparts. The conversation was light and lasted several minutes before the Headmistress returned and entered the room.
"Thank you for your hard work, Dumbledore-sama," the Headmistress said, and I noted a new, subtle tone of reverence in her voice.
"It was nothing," I waved a hand dismissively. "We should be thanking you for your cooperation." I smiled as the others in the room inclined their heads in a gesture of respect toward her.
"As I am sure you have all noticed by now, there is a percentage icon in your peripheral vision," I said with a smile, gesturing to my own temple. "That number indicates the Archive is already scanning your environment and compiling data before its full manifestation. I expect it will be ready by tonight. After that, you will only need to grant access to your staff and begin its distribution."
"So, this is it then? You'll be leaving?" Kaito interrupted.
"Kaito-kun…" the Headmistress said, her tone a gentle but firm admonishment. I noticed the young man's back straighten instantly.
"Hahah, yes, I will be leaving shortly," I laughed, checking my pocket watch. "I have an appointment back home in about an hour."
It wasn't that I didn't wish to stay, but I needed to return to the quiet of my own study to think in peace. The peculiar nature of the magic here was giving me a profoundly bad premonition. It sparked a daunting question: what if my purpose isn't merely to raise armies and forge protections for the Muggles?
What if my true task is to use my Archmage Essence to help this world rank up? Because I sure as hell know that not all worlds are created equal, and the world of DxD is most assuredly a higher-ranked reality…
Ugh, this is going to be a pain in the ass, I thought, trying hard to hide my grimace.
================≈≠≈==============