Bailonz Street 13

Chapter 175. Reality and Unreality (2)

It was Lily’s business card. It had a phone number, email address, and social media ID. She seemed to work as an illustrator. Though the card only showed her name… it didn’t matter. I pocketed the card and looked up.

“Oh, right. Lily…”

Empty space greeted me. Lily was nowhere to be found. The stones on the table were gone too.

…It was like seeing a ghost.

I returned home in a daze. My mind was in chaos while packing.

Am I crazy? Or is the world crazy? What happened here? I was sure we’d succeeded in sealing the worlds. Then why, why…

If we ultimately failed, where did all those people’s efforts go?

Packing for three months filled my carrier to bursting. Winter clothes took up especially much space.

This wouldn’t do. I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against the tightly packed carrier. My head was a mess.

“Hah…”

If this world remained the same.

If time had simply passed in <Misty London>, whether merged or not. I had to confirm.

“I need to go to Greenwich.”

Yes. Greenwich. That was the only connection.

I don’t know how to use glass. Carelessly imitating Liam could be dangerous. Since I happened to meet a British magician, I should at least ask her. And if Greenwich really exists…

I might be able to resolve these inexplicable symptoms somehow.

And I’ll know.

Whether I truly returned, or if… I’m still an outsider.

* * *

When I arrived at 2, unfamiliar air mixed with perfume scents greeted me.

During my three-month stay here, I would search through newspapers and books, visit remembered places, and dig up traces of Bailonz Street and Liam Moore.

In the streets passing by the taxi, I spotted familiar scenes. That’s where the old Scotland Yard building used to be. Ah, Hyde Park. We had quite a history there. It gave me an odd feeling. My head was spinning.

‘How can a country I’ve never visited feel so familiar?’

And not just familiar—I even knew how to quickly navigate through the spider-web-like alleys to reach destinations. Just glancing at a map, I could sense where my accommodation was located.

I’m not sure if this is wise. Coming all the way to London because I met monsters and magicians is honestly crazy enough. Let alone signing a long-term accommodation contract? I must be truly mad.

Honestly, it’s frightening to think monsters might exist beneath this peaceful London’s surface.

And yet… when the possibility arose that Liam Moore wasn’t just a character from a game or a distant world, but someone who once existed, my heart stirred. As if saying these memories weren’t false.

An inexplicable joy gradually welled up.

“Liam.”

It had been a long time since I’d spoken that name aloud.

Throughout my college years, I never once spoke Liam’s name. I feared saying it would make me miss him, would bring back his voice, warmth, and scent that I was barely managing to forget.

And now, I was once again dwelling on Liam Moore.

The last time we spent together before I left crept up from my memories. His voice whispering while holding me came back too.

“You always make me reckless…”

Making me fly to England on a faint hope despite knowing it’s impossible, making me search despite finding no mention of Hisford anywhere.

I stashed my carrier in a corner and gathered my phone and change. I locked the hotel door carefully and went out.

London’s gloomy climate felt familiar now. Rather, I’d become someone who found sunlight strange. So much so that I needn’t mention how startled I was seeing Seoul’s bright sky when I first woke up. Back then, everything felt foreign, like someone who’d returned from abroad.

A car was waiting in front of the hotel. Lily was leaning against it and greeted me with a bright face. We’d communicated a few times through messenger since parting that way in Korea.

“Jane!”

Lily ran to me and made a quick kiss sound on my cheek. I lightly patted her shoulder in return.

“Lily. It’s been a while. Thanks for the bracelet.”

“Nothing happened?”

“Of course not. Look. All limbs still attached.”

“Jane… you make such brutal jokes.”

Do I? After experiencing so many arms getting torn off and bodies being pierced, now it just… pain felt sweet. Twenty-first century magicians are fragile. You think life is bitter? After experiencing the nineteenth century, everything tastes sweet to me…

I obediently got into the passenger seat. While fastening my seatbelt, Lily spoke to me.

“Jane, you said you had something to ask?”

“There’s… information I want to find. Something I can only find in England. It’s about magicians.”

“Are you looking for a magician?”

“…Among other things.”

Where should I start asking?

Do you know Liam Moore? Know Hisford? Hey, I used to live in 1870…

I’d be lucky not to get chased out as a crazy person. After much deliberation, I carefully opened my mouth.

“Please tell me how to get to Greenwich.”

“You can just take the train.”

Huh? I hurriedly changed my words.

“No, not that Greenwich. I mean the Meridian and…”

“The prime meridian is Greenwich too.”

I stopped talking and studied Lily’s face.

Something was off. Lily seemed completely unaware of Greenwich.

No, wait. She’s a magician. How could a magician not know about Greenwich? I rolled my eyes in confusion. Then where do magicians come from? If not Greenwich, who organizes the magicians?

“…How do magicians operate now? Don’t you have some way to gather?”

“Most of us work independently, like freelancers. When incidents seem likely to occur, we gather at… the company. We’re disguised as a company here in London.”

My head hurt even more.

Right, times have changed. They can’t keep coming and going through doors in suspicious areas forever. Magicians wouldn’t stay hidden either.

Just over a hundred years had passed. I needed to know what had happened in London during that time.

“I want to know about the history of magicians… where should I go?”

“The company has an archive. With my guarantee, you should be able to access it.”

Lily looked sympathetic seeing my confused expression. I must have looked quite desperate. It felt like someone had grabbed and snapped the thread-like hope of reaching Liam Moore.

But I couldn’t give up. Isn’t it human nature to want to know at least where someone’s grave is if they’re dead? Even if I’m the only one left living with these memories.

“I’ll help you however I can, Jane. Don’t make that face.”

“…Thank you.”

I barely squeezed out a response. Lily gave a gentle smile and drove toward the City of London. She took me to a place among the clustered buildings, and as we entered the underground parking lot, a strange sensation came over me.

Whoosh.

It felt like dropping from a height. I felt slightly nauseous. Clutching my seatbelt, I barely managed to speak.

“Just now…”

“You noticed?”

“Something… felt different.”

Lily answered calmly.

“It’s a spell that prevents non-magicians or those with ill intent from approaching. Since this place is exposed, we need this protection to avoid attacks.”

I see. Seeing as I passed through safely, it seemed fine. I’ve never harbored ill will toward magicians. With the world changed, my enemies are those outside, the monsters that threaten our peace.

“What year’s records do you need?”

“1870 to 1871.”

“That’s quite old?”

“Back then… um. Someone in my family received help from a British magician.”

Actually, I was the one who received it, but no need to explain that.

Lily pressed the elevator button firmly. Basement level 1, Archives.

“Oh, Lily.”

A woman who appeared to be in her thirties, wearing thick glasses, greeted us warmly. Seeing how much she resembled Lily, she must be family or a relative.

“You brought someone new? A recruit?”

“No. When I was in Korea because of that ghoul, she helped me. She’s a magician from there. She’s looking for someone.”

The woman pushed up her glasses and examined me. She seemed to be assessing whether I could be trusted. Then she reached a clear conclusion.

“If you helped our Lily, you’re a friend. What do you need? Who are you looking for?”

Steadying my trembling voice, I answered.

“…Records from 1870 to 1871.”