As I thought, or should I say, as a matter of course, it was the strange gazes of the entire class that greeted Ars as he came out of the examination room in question.

　Ars crosses his arms as he leans against the wall beside Tesfia, who has settled down in a position where he can be seen to avoid it.
　Tesfia is sitting to hold her legs, and beside her, her sword was propped up against the wall.

　It's even sad that he doesn't have anything in his right hand at a time like this.

　Alice had already moved on to the examination, but the fact that Tesfia was here like this meant that she hadn't been called in yet.

''What was that just now?''
Sounds like your equipment was malfunctioning.

　Tesfia also made an unreservedly skeptical face at the obvious falsehood.
　When it comes to the equipment exploding, it's true. Even if it was caused by Ars's magic.

'You're lying.'

　So cut and discard the line.
　He looks up quizzically to Ars, who is standing next to him.

　The color of that eye is thought to be depressing to Ars. So with the right argument--.

"You're prying.

　It goes without saying that this is the minimum manner of being a magician.

''........Hmph!

　Tesfia must have realized that, because she turned her face back to the front of the room with great vigor.

'Maybe we'll get a chance to see it if we ever have to go into a real battle.
....

　I muttered something like that.
　It was like talking to myself, but the next time Tesfia's name was called--.

''Then I'll catch up with you quickly.

　I didn't recognize Tesfia's expression as she said it clearly, but her voice was overlaid with a hint of determination.
　He stretched out to lightly relax his body, and with a firm step, he gripped his sword and made his way to the training grounds.



　Alice came out to replace her, but she asked me the same thing as Tesfia, so I'll skip it.
　You'll need to use the following tools to help you learn the basics of the game.


　♢ ♢ ♢　


　It's lunchtime, a little late because the morning exams are all over. Late simply means that the time didn't go as planned, and it's not Ars's fault.
　Back in the classroom, we each spread out the lunch we brought with us. Some head to the school cafeteria, others buy snacks from the store.

　Not that Ars isn't his, either, but when he reaches an empty seat...!

I forgot.

　This is a continuation of my carelessness, partly because I haven't slept. In a sense, it was every time I forgot because I wasn't in the habit of preparing lunch before that.
　Ars plopped down on the desk as it was. He was sleepy, but it was even more troublesome than that. Both of them must be jumbled up by now.

　But not long after he turned over.

'Can you open up there?'

　And so on, the sound of the bag rubbing against my ear interrupts my sleep.
　I can't even look up and open my eyes only thinly.

　I see a brand new bag in front of me that I think I bought.

'You didn't bring anything with you, did you?'

　I heard Alice's voice on the other side, and the sound of the harp, like the mermaid, brought out more sleepers.
　It was also the sound of a voice that could not be ignored in response to a question. Or rather, there was no doubt that it was well-intentioned.
　When I looked up, I was already settled in the chair I'd brought with me. He came all the way to the sideways desk next to me.

'Here you go,'
Can you give me that?

　If it was Alice who handed it to me, I could have thanked her right away, but when it was Tesfia, I couldn't help but check.

''I got it from the store, so it's not much, but...''
I'm sorry.

　I can't help but wonder if there's something going on... not that it's a thing, Ars weighed himself.

'It really isn't much,'

　Of course, lip service?　It is.
　It was supposed to be a conversation starter, a spice for a fun lunch.

'Then don't eat it.'
I'm sorry...

　It's been taken away from me like a bludgeon. I don't even want to bother taking it back.
　Ars isn't very good at flattery or getting into useless conversations.
　It's not so much that he is not good at speech, but he felt a gap in the sensibilities of his age group.


　Ars, who managed to regain it through a sincere apology, switches the topic to the next exam.
　What he holds in his hand is a sandwich. Because of its prestige, it is wrapped with high quality ingredients, even if it is in a store, and the sandwiches are more tasty than expected. The two of you are having a similar lunch.

Next up is a mock battle.
".........!

　They stopped at the content.

'Where do you get all this information?　Source.

　It's not so much a cheat as it is a cheat because he knew about it, but if you say that the source of the information is the Chancellor or something like that, it's inevitable that there will be unwanted smoke.

''If we're going to measure the exact ranking of mages, it's just that it's the only way to do it.

　I'm not exaggerating about lying. They and the other new students have probably never measured the rankings before.
　In that respect, Ars has experienced it often in the military, so once you understand the purpose of the exam, what you do should be much the same.

''In this case, it's customary for the mock battle to be against a higher-ranked opponent.

　Since there is no more than 1st place Ars, Ars doesn't usually measure in mock battles.
　Rather, mages in actual battles don't insist on measuring so much. This is because there is little point in accurately measuring the constantly fluctuating rankings.
　Although they are required to do so once a year, few of them take the measurement seriously.

　When Ars said what would happen, the chancellor's mouth made his face twitch as if he couldn't help but do it from the way he spoke.

'This is the number of people. I think we're dealing with upperclassmen.'
Oh no...
Can we win?

　If the two of you are good enough, though, you could conceivably be up against the most senior students or faculty.

''It's better if you can win, but you won't lose your ranking just because you lost. Rather, you measure your rankings accurately by attaching an opponent who can't win.

　The positive aspects of the class in the morning will be added to the score, and the downward revision will be applied in the afternoon mock competition.
　Considering their rankings, it's not hard to imagine that they will be addressed with a reasonable ranking in the school.

　The reason for this is that the opponents of the measurement will go on the offensive in stages. There is even a manual for this. At first, they would start out in a defensive position... and once they had demonstrated their abilities for a while, they would go on the offensive to measure the combat ability of the person being measured. For this reason, a lower-ranked player will not be able to fully demonstrate his or her abilities.

"I'll take the win no matter who I'm fighting.
..........

　The only thing that's kept my spirits up is my enthusiasm, but Ars, who is fighting a battle with Tesfia, just kept his mouth shut.


　Lunch break is over, and each class lazily heads to the training grounds.
　This time it may have taken even longer, and other classes were still sitting in the training grounds in a chaotic manner.
　I'm sure the same as the morning exam, the inside of the place is divided into 10 sections where magic is being used. The sounds of battle resounded in many places.

　The students of the other classes gathered underneath Tesfia and Alice first.

　As expected of a popular person, Ars sits alone in a less popular corner with his back to the wall.


''Fia, Alice, did you hear that?''
What?

　They tilted their heads at the sudden question.

''I heard that senior Bace was the opponent in the fourth exam room.

　Delka Basse, a third year, four figures in the 1000s, a celebrity who is no stranger to the academy. He has already received a job offer in the military service as well as a job offer in an actual combat unit that operates in the outside world.
　Even among the aristocracy, he is not to be snubbed, and his caring nature makes him a target of the underclassmen's attention.

"Soo.
That's great.

　Tesfia was less surprised, and Alice was exaggeratedly mended. The two of them had only had their names memorized by a senior three-digit mage named Felinella, and in addition to that, they had been hand-swiped by a single Ars, so now they were not even surprised by that degree.

''........Isn't there something strange about the two of you?''
I'm not so sure.
Hmm....

　I respect that. Still, they were far from the point where the two of them were aiming for.
　Maybe that's why the two of them didn't have the time to pay attention to such things right now.

''Fear, you used to ask me where we ranked in the school.
Wait, don't be silly.

　He buzzes his hands in front of him in a hurry to deny it, but a chase comes from next to him.

'You sure did do that Fia, didn't you?

　I don't see the teasing element there, but the sight I remembered was amusing and Alice broke out in a giggle.
　It didn't bother her much now. They both realized why.

　He turned his gaze away from the dark-haired boy for a moment.

'Well, when you see that.'
Yeah.

　The corners of her mouth lifted in a knowing look. Alice smiled and Tesfia was dumbfounded.

　The boy's neck is limp and prone, as if he's asleep, and there's no strength in his neck. You could almost hear him breathing in his sleep even from a distance here.

'What's that, tell me about it?
No.

　The languid conversation continues after that, and a relaxed atmosphere surrounds them.
　When the training ground switches to Ars and his class, the students of the other classes surrounding them wave and leave.


　After all, Ars was the first one to be called by name.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

'I wonder who's going to deal with that guy?'

　Such a simple question was spun while staring at Ars's back as he stumbled along.

'Like the chancellor?'
No way.

　The feeling that it was going to be important again passed through them, but they could only smile bitterly.
　Still, if you remember the word "match format," you'll have an irrepressible curiosity. It's natural to want to see the first-ranked fighter in battle, since he or she didn't do a good job of showing off his or her abilities in the match against Tesfia.

　That's why the two of them who tried to approach the examination room, which they had entered unannounced, were reprimanded by the teacher who was giving them instructions. Snooping is an abhorrent behavior, and since the exam is in progress, it is inevitable that they are suspected of cheating. The two of them managed to avoid crossing the line, but their faces were covered with a hint of disappointment. It was a shame.



　When Ars stepped into the testing center, the chancellor was naturally waiting for him. However, it was clearly different from the morning.
　This is because there was another person joining the chancellor there besides the chancellor.

　A girl with silver hair.
　She looked a little smaller than Tesfia. Her hair, like a silver thread that reflected the lighting, fell forward and below the jawline, a beautiful front-down form. The light was reflected from the bangs, and the clear eyes looked as blue as the azure sky.
　Although he was dressed in a training uniform, it was not the school's designated one. It was a familiar outfit that Ars was familiar to him. It was the one used in the military.

　In addition, the expression that is neither laughing nor angry is intangible and lacking in emotion. It is exactly like a doll. The neatness of the face is such that it would be more convincing if it were called a doll.

　You're going to be able to find out more about this.

'Is that the guy you've been watching?

　The silver-haired girl trembled her shoulders for a moment, wondering who that guy Ars said was pointing at her.
　The gaze she felt during the first mock battle, and the gaze directed at Ars afterwards, tells her that the girl in front of her is the one she's looking at.

''You noticed after all.
So you're saying that the military sent you?

　The chancellor pretended to scratch his cheeks and smiled in an embarrassing way.

　Then the silver-haired girl stepped forward and propped herself up on one knee.

'I am pleased to meet you for the first time, Lady Ars. I'm Loki Rabehel, sent by the Governor to watch and partner with you.

　He turned his head down and said simply.

''Floor number 1034 it's the 58th position of the search.

　It's a mage who specializes in the ability to detect monsters and probe the core, which is the life of monsters.
　Because of the rarity of this ability, only mages with more than double digits can have a partner who has a probe.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.

"I don't need it.
Of course I know that.

　It was played quietly, face down, in a high, beautiful voice.
　The rest of the story was spun as the chancellor took over.

'Loki has no experience as a partner. That's why you're going to be the one to guide him as well.
I think it's more of a surveillance thing.

　Ars was wasting too much time to take on any more trouble.

'I don't need it. You have enough oversight of the Chancellor.

　By extension, he cites the consultation and implies that it's the reason he's wasting his time.

'I'm too busy...'

　My eyes were swimming.
　There is no reason for you to be monitored.

I'm going to talk to the governor and withdraw my offer. You can't afford to let that happen.

　He shelved himself and bought into the elimination of the nuisance.
　The words "no need" made the silver-haired girl's shoulders jerk up.


'Loki is excellent...'

　That's a phrase that's almost become a common phrase when it helps Ars, and it's here and there.
　Even Ars, as expected, would not repeat the cheap assurance.

'How many people are you trying to push?'
''Well, well, anyway, you're going to be simulating the exam with her, so we don't have to jump to conclusions.......

　I felt that the purpose of the exam had changed in a rather forceful development, but as long as the name of the class is struck, I'm hesitant to go against the chancellor.

　After all, seeing the ability of the girl named Loki doesn't change the result.

''I understand.''

　One of the factors for taking on the girl named Loki was that she seemed somewhat familiar, but more importantly, she was old enough to be called a girl and wearing a military uniform, which was probably the most important reason.

'Thank you,'

　Loki's expression as he looked up, another tension could be seen in his face.
　It was a glimpse of a different kind of determination than borrowing a chest for first place.



　The mock battle was soon to take place.
　The Chancellor kept his distance in the center, waiting for them to be ready. (Loki's mind ready, to be exact.)

　Loki's hand doesn't hold anything in it, as does Ars.
　And this is not something that Ars thinks of as a lick.

　It's a good idea to have a concealed weapon, which can be an advantage in interpersonal combat. It's a good thing that you have experience in the war against people. However, it's no wonder that it's part of the training menu once you join the military.

　Just before the start, I could see that the magic power was concentrated in Loki's arms. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for, but it's not a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for, because it's not a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

''Arus-sama, if I can get even a single sword in, would you keep me by your side as a partner?''

　Ars was amused by the conditions that were thrown at him as he peered at them. Loki's expression even seemed to say that she didn't want any rough edges.
　She still wants a fair match, even though she knows she's in first place.
　So Ars raised the corner of her mouth and flexed her fingers in a coy smile so that she wouldn't realize she wasn't just an idiot.

'If I can get in.

　Loki bowed deeply. Although he is small in stature, an atmosphere that suggests his numerous real-world experience covers the area.
　The familiar seriousness of familiarity felt after a long time with chirping. Ars chuckled at it with a cool face.

　And when his face returned, Loki's complexion had switched to battle mode.

　As soon as the Chancellor saw that the stage was set, he sounded the signal to begin.