And when the practical skills classes come to a close in the second half of the year, they almost always switch to self-study. It's a time to hone your strongest magic, or use it to learn new magic.
All the practice of magic is not in vain. The act of consuming magic power varies from person to person, but the act of consuming magic power also increases the amount of magic power you have. The magic power is constantly generated in the body, but only until the vessel is filled. Once it's full, it doesn't increase so that it can be blocked off. However, you can expand your vessel little by little by repeatedly consuming and replenishing it through training and other means. Although there are inborn individual differences, the amount of magic power is the fruit of your efforts.

　In the training grounds, the new students have not yet formulated their tasks clearly enough to train independently. That's why they're eager to continue the mock battle.

　Even in the midst of such a situation, Ars slips into reading alone with brazen nerves. It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for. This is a consideration for mages of the soil system.
　That's why it's a little dusty, but it's also avoided by passing magic power.
　No one was supposed to be bothered by Ars. Everyone was so busy watching and organizing their opponents that the fallout away was out of bounds.


''Don't do it!''
It's good medicine for him. Come on, man. Come with me.

　Tesfia looked down at Ars, who was sitting down while Alice stopped her.
　He didn't even try to hide his disgust and let out a sigh with his fingers between the gaps in the page.
　It was completely Tesfia who was already interfering with his studies.

'You're really persistent,'
Don't take what you've done lightly.
What are you talking about?
Wha--

　Tesfia grabbed Ars's chest and forced him to stand up. However, Tesfia's height is one head shorter than Ars, so she's just grabbing the composition, but her form is filled with anger.

''I won't let you say that I've forgotten you after insulting the Fevel family.

　I don't know if that ever happened. It was only a couple of hours ago, but it was still too trivial for Ars to remember without being told.

''What about it?''
"Hey!　So, what's the matter with you?

　I mean it. It's more important to Ars that he interfered with his reading so much with such things.
　It was really annoying and depressing any more.

'I'm sorry, so just leave me alone.

　He spat out an empty apology and his gaze turned to the open book.

'Don't be ridiculous!

　He was furious, and Tesfia's hand slapped the book.
　The classmates who were watching the game gathered their gazes at Tesfia's angry voice all at once. In an instant, the gazes turned to look at what was going on, and a quietness descended.
　I'm not sure if I've lost my mind or not, but even the students who are in the middle of a mock battle have stopped their hands. It's good because it's training, and this kind of distracted thinking is still the sign of an inexperienced rookie.
　The book that was shot at flew through the air and rolled on the ground with the pages rolled up, sending a little dust flying.

''Fear!

　Quickly, Alice shouted, but it was a warning sign that she had crossed the line.
　Tesfia stepped back in an angry chiding and let go of her hand. Still, there was a fierce resentment reflected in her eyes as she looked at Ars.

　The red-haired female student, Tesfia, would poke at you like this, she must be very proud. To Ars, it was a trivial matter that was too big for her. But to her it's different...but still, she's a child.
　A child who had never even seen a demon, a peaceful child, a child who just enjoyed the sublime bulwark that prevented demons from entering without feeling anything, a child who didn't yet know the reality of the situation, and that was the reason why it was worth it.
　It's a good thing that you've been baptized and trained by adults who are a year or two bigger than you are, since you joined the army. He hadn't taken the path so orderly that he didn't care about most things.
　Still, Tesfia's conduct was unpleasant.

'Stand your ground!

　Ars felt that they had already reached the point where they couldn't pull back on each other.
　He walked slowly to the book that had fallen and sat down to pick it up. Carefully brushing off the dirt.
　It wouldn't go away just by letting him win. He wasn't going to let him lose again, any way. It meant I needed to make it black and white so I couldn't mess with them.

　In the military, there are ways to do things like reign of terror, but it's easy to get people to turn against you. As a mage, you are easily dependent on magic, and there is certainly a tendency to look down on you depending on your rank. Even so, in order not to influence leadership and command, it is thoroughly drilled into your body. Ars himself thinks that's not wrong in one way or another. It's not something to be praised, but you can expect some results.
　The current Ars even thought it was okay to do that much. Naturally, if it wasn't that much, he could even think of wasting his few three years.

　The stain could not be completely removed. She would need to be made to understand the wisdom of magical research for her careless handling of the precious materials.
　I'm not going to be able to get it right.

After school. I'll hold down the training grounds, so you won't have any complaints.
Okay.
Fear, Ars, you're going to...
'And as a condition of being present, it's just you and me. Don't bring any outsiders. I'm sorry, Alice, if it's Alice, you'll be the witness.
That's fine, but...

　Alice's face shows that she wants to stop, but one word is stuck in her throat. It was the result of what they both wanted. Regardless of the circumstances, Ars has agreed to Tesfia's unilateral request, and it has been agreed upon. Alice could no longer do anything but watch.

　Alice's choice was crushed. No matter what the outside world said, it would not be able to be contained. The same goes for Ars.....
　It's a good lesson in the fact that unpredictable situations often lead to conflict.

"After school, we will have a duel on the training grounds. The three of us here alone...




　There was still an hour or so until noon, but Ars quickly changed and left the training ground.
　And the destination is........the Chancellor's office.
　The use of the training ground is applied for through the proper reception desk, but in Ars's case, the order must be kept secret, and he went directly to have the entire place rented out.


'I don't mind, but I'm not going to do it by accident.
Of course.
So who's the idiot who pissed you off?

　The sighing question didn't seem to matter to anyone, though.

'I thought it was Tesfia,'
"Hey!　She's not the son of House Favre.

　The eyes that opened were more ominous than surprised.

'We can't stop ... can we?'
'I can't. The other side is going to interfere with me, and I want her to tell me. Besides, mock battles between students are allowed, and if the chancellor steps in to intercede, it will be even more troublesome.

　He told the chancellor off with a look as if to nail him.
　Then he removes his gaze from himself and closes his eyelids while he lets out a depressed sigh.
　Slowly opening his eyes, Ars's eyes are a clear sign of annoyance.

''I'm cutting down on my time for free, and I just want to get this over with.

　The Chancellor still clammed up to say something, but he seemed to have given up on this one. But in the end--.

The Academy's training grounds are designed to be lower than the military's, so don't go wrong.

　It was a warning that all the damage in the training grounds would be converted into psychological damage, but even if it was converted if the single mage was willing to do so, it would still have serious after-effects.

'I know,'

　With that last, I turned on my heel and on my way back to the door, I found a weapon to use after school.

'Can I have this?'
What's it for?
Of course, it's a mock battle and I have a lot of valuable books on hand.

　Then he randomly picked up the academy's pamphlet on the table. It's thin, less than an inch thick, but it's not a big deal.

''No matter how much it is, that's...''
'That's enough. We know what she's capable of.

　I clothed the chancellor with magic so that he could see the cover of the pamphlet.
　The moment he thought the pamphlet, which had been slightly curved, showed the unique bent of the paper - it stopped moving slightly, as if it were fixed.

　Seeing this, the Chancellor was blindsided and patted his chest as if his worries had faded a bit.

''You don't seem to have anything to worry about. I've never seen a magic grant that beautiful before.''
Thank you. That's why I thought this would be just fine.
Yeah.

　The smoother the flow and transmission of magic power, the more it affects the power and strength of the magic. Even the smallest object is a weapon if it can manipulate magic power to perfection.
　Therefore, if the current Ars used what is called a weapon and gave it magic power, it would be even better than a great sword. He dares to balance it out nicely by lowering its rank to paper.

　However, Ars's thoughts are a little different. In battle, weapons clash and their true value is only demonstrated when their abilities are in conflict.
　In this case, it's a downgrade to weaken Ars's attacks.
　As expected, if it's paper, no matter how much magic power is imparted to it, it's far from leaving brain damage as the chancellor fears. It's a different story if you can activate magic without using a pamphlet.

　I've already discouraged myself from almost saluting due to being in the military rather than being polite, so I bow deeply and leave.

'Well, see you later.'
..........


　It was a hassle to get back to class.
　Not that the stares of his classmates bothered him, of course. It's just that I can't be bothered to go to class after lunch.
　If attendance wasn't involved in earning credit, then he wouldn't go to class by mistake.
　Ars left the school building. He walked unintentionally to the labs.

　His hand to open the key was smooth. It's not that big of a hassle, it's just a matter of passing magic power through the panel next to the door to lock and unlock it. It's not necessarily a good idea to use magic power. The person's identity is confirmed through magical power. This action, which has become a part of daily life, has become a habit so that magic power unconsciously leaks out just by touching the panel.


　Ars took a lonely - although he doesn't feel the slightest bit of loneliness - lunch in his room with a clunky rice ball in hand.
　You can get a good meal in the school cafeteria, but Ars has never gone there. It's because even while you're having lunch, you're reading a book and digging through materials.
　It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends.
　The thought of the inexplicable gaze during the mock battle came to Ars here.
　It was a passing degree but it wasn't a big deal because there was no way the Chancellor couldn't have grasped it when the person staring at Ars was on campus. Assassins, assassins, terrorists, all are too far-fetched to apply. Whatever it was, if they didn't intend to do any harm, there was no need to probe. We'll find out sooner or later. That's the extent of it from Ars's point of view. Of course, this is only possible with a certain amount of anticipation.


　Ars took a glance at the attached room, the open bedroom. A pitch-black attaché case in the corner of his eye.
　It was Ars's only partner who had fought with him on the front lines.　
　Ars's AWR (Aura) is specially made. It can be said to be the result of research. It's a unique swing in the world with its own unique arrangement.
　However, when Ars decided to retire from the front lines, he wished for a life without it. Maybe the reason he brought this is not simply because he can't escape from the military or because it's the result of his research. It may be an immunity, and Ars himself may be unaware that his place in the outside world is what he is looking for.

　It's been more than fifty years since the giant white chalk tower blocked the invasion of demons, but the sky you see from inside is a sham.
　The vivid sky blue of the sky was a filtered, counterfeit view that continued every day. That's why the generation that doesn't know what's outside doesn't know about rain or snow. They don't know about thick clouds or speckled clouds, even a single cloud movement. They don't know that the wind brings the smell of blue, and all they know is that the sky is full of clouds of the same shape, flowing in the same direction every day. The real world is the outside world, where demons abound.
　When I was in the military - although I still belong to it - I don't know how many times I went to the outside world to defeat demons on a mission. However, Ars doesn't know that I was somewhat excited by the world that changed its expression each time I was there.