“Silence!”
An elderly voice processed through electronic synthesis rang out through the pitch-black space.
The crowd that had been arguing only moments earlier fell instantly silent.
Eight screens floating in midair emitted a blue fluorescence, showing only blurred human silhouettes.
All that could be heard was the strange humming sound coming from those screens.
In the exact center of the circle formed by the screens stood a giant round table.
Twelve people sat in order around the table, each sitting upright with solemn expressions as they looked at one another.
Directly above the table, a colorful holographic projection was playing on a continuous loop.
It showed a girl wearing a pure white, sacred iris-patterned magic battle skirt locked in fierce combat.
This was no doubt the “theme” of the current meeting.
“Directors of the Executive Council, there’s no point in dragging this out any further, is there? You ought to give me an explanation by now.”
An unquestionable inquiry came from within one of the screens.
“Heh heh, no need for you to trouble yourself, Elder. We have already settled on a general plan.”
One of the people seated at the round table opened his mouth to reply, completely unfazed by the pressure in that voice.
The person on the screen chuckled, showing clear distrust.
“Oh? Then I would very much like to hear how you plan to solve those few problems.”
Before the people at the front of the table could begin their explanation, the sound of high heels striking the ground echoed one after another throughout the entire space.
Click-clack… click-clack…
A golden-haired magical girl dressed in luxurious golden attire slowly walked out from the depths of the darkness. Her pleasant voice reached the ears of everyone present.
“Everyone, I have a way…”
All those present were startled, except for one man seated at the table who merely smiled calmly. This was clearly his arrangement.
…
“Shut your mouth! You’re nothing more than a magical girl. This is a sacred place for people of our standing. How did you even get in here?”
“Heh heh, the way I see it, rather than exhausting ourselves with schemes, it would be far simpler to just kill her and be done with it…”
“Simply killing her would only satisfy your private desires. Where does that leave the association’s interests? Such malicious intent! Such malicious intent!”
The crowd had clearly lost patience with the remarks of this magical girl who had barged in without knowing her place. Of course, some were also seizing the chance to attack one another.
“Silence! I know you. You understand her very well, don’t you?”
“So tell us. What do you intend to do?”
The electronically processed elderly voice rang out once more. Everyone else present fell silent as if a mute button had been pressed.
Hearing this, the golden-haired magical girl slightly bowed, lifted the hem of her skirt, and performed a formal curtsy.
Then her eyes burned with intensity as she gazed at the white figure on the screen. The corners of her mouth slowly curved upward. Her lips moved faintly, as if she were saying,
“Next… the real show is about to begin…”