Tesfia let out a breath of relief. It was probably because she had been able to fulfill her promise to her mother.
　At the same time, it reminded her of the problems that had not been resolved.

　There was another concern, another worry, another concern, another fear, another fear in the tesphere.
　So I couldn't be honestly happy.

　It was only shelved, though it was put off for now. The discussion with my mother was one-sided and not something I could avoid. Now I regret that I wish we could have talked more, but the frustration of not being able to speak in front of my mother left me unable to formulate the right words.

(Engagement........)

　The harsh words were still haunting Tesfia heavily now that she was back.

'Fear?'
'Ah!　Yeah, sorry, let's go.

　They went back to the dorms once for communication and to drop off Tesfia's stuff.
　That's where the future plans were thrown in.

'You guys, go eat your lunch. Me and Loki will be out of the room for a bit, so we won't be back until around 1pm.
Yes, sir.
Yes.

　Alice's gaze, which replied vivaciously, turned in another direction for a moment.
　Maybe it was because she looked back. It was just a word she couldn't ignore.

　Alice pushed her depressed best friend back as she took Tesfia's luggage in her hand.

'We should go too.'
Yes, sir.

　After this, the strategy meeting based on the final confirmation with Ferrinella will be held in the Chancellor's office for some reason.

　Normally this would be unnecessary, but since it's a big job for Felinella, she wants to be thorough. Ars also had to keep track of the movements of the military and other things since he was no longer on assassination duty.

　Right after Tesfia and Alice left the room, Arus and Loki followed suit.

　There's a concept of seasons, but just because it's summer doesn't mean it's going to be an extreme heat wave. It's only +/- 5 to 10 degrees from the temperature based on spring. The number of rainfall is also fixed for the year - you can't call it rain because it's just water sprayed on the ground.
　So it's not so hot in summer, even if you don't wear light clothes.

　And yet, the chancellor's office is air-conditioned.

"Why don't you save money?
It's okay. It's my magic.

　If you look around, you'll notice the absence of that kind of equipment.

　Felinella is already stationed at the far end of the three-seater sofa on one side.

　Across from that is the seat that the chancellor always sits on, and the choice is next to Felinella - although I simply don't want to sit next to her.
　Felinella straightened up her residence and suggested that I come in.

　I accepted the invitation and just before I was about to move my feet, Loki gingerly passed Ars and sat next to Felinella.
　And--

Master Arus, come in.

　Ars gets a headache when Loki further recommends the next to him. What if I say something like, "It's like a seat"?

(An unnecessary word?)

You're having a hard time.

　Huffing and puffing, the chancellor puts his hand to his mouth and recommends the empty one.

"..........

　Looking back at the chancellor with an unexplained gaze, Ars has taken a position next to the chancellor.

　Two jittery eyes are turned to Ars to see if he is puffed up, but he doesn't care and opens his mouth.

'So the Chancellor asked the Governor after all?
Yes, of course.

　The Chancellor cut off the dumbfounded Ars as a matter of course.

　From the front, Chancellor and Arus are on the left, and Felinella and Loki are on the right.
　A map of the target locations is spread out on the table.

'So, why are you here, Chancellor, will you be participating in the operation?

　Als was grateful, but inwardly he concluded that it was unlikely.

'I still have an example to work on.

　It seems that this chancellor has a headache as well. Then why is he there, the three of them wondered. No, maybe Felinella knows.

'Isn't it strange that our school's students are involved and I, the chancellor, am not aware of it?

　It was a natural course of action. It doesn't help, though. What you are saying from the standpoint is a good argument.
　The Governor has been beaten back. I'm not sure if this is the true spirit of a witch, but it is Ars's impression that he isn't playing the role of chancellor for Datei.

　It seems to me that it would be better to consider that the name of the former single is still in effect.




　The siege mages were still only a few in number, and the number of three-digit mages was small. Of course, the double-digit mages are still out due to missions such as investigating the outside world.

''Feri, how many experimental bodies do you have?''
I'm sorry. We're sorry, sir, but we've only identified eight individuals.

　It's not natural to assume that that's all there is. That's probably why Ferrinella said in a roundabout way that he hadn't been able to confirm it yet.

'It's good that there are so few of them, but I don't see how someone who at one time claimed to be a researcher could be so dumb as to do that.
Yes.....

　The Chancellor sidesteps the exchange with a question.

'But if you can't confirm it, even with detection magic, it's the only way to be sure.

　Loki disagreed with this. It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm sure the other party is aware of that, since this time it's a difficult environment to detect because it's underground.

　It's no wonder that Ferrinella has a lot of excuses to say. This is the kind of blind spot that cannot be avoided due to the nature of magic.

'And you saw that, Chancellor. The experimental body was unperturbed by serious injuries. In other words, it can't be measured by common sense.''
That's right.

　I don't feel remorseful for the snakes. I just agree. Even though he was a former single, he probably had no connection to the behind-the-scenes work. Of course, due to his magical aptitude, it's likely that he's not suitable for interpersonal work.

　Ars returned to the conversation.

'Feri, even me and Loki might be able to take it down if there are more than fifty experimental bodies out there.

　As expected, it would be a different story if they were all coming towards Ars, but it's hard to think of such a thing.

''There aren't many high-ranking mages, but there are quite a few of them, so I thought it would be okay.
Who's in charge?

　When it comes to a physical battle, unless you're quite familiar with the place, it will quickly collapse.

　Felinella was a little stagnant. It is because the evaluation of Ars that he heard was scary and included the possibility of causing trouble. That would be a concern that only a blood relative could have.

''Well ... my father ...''
"Lord Vizerist!　Then we don't have to worry about it.

　His immense trust was due to his experience of his skills, including his personality. Although intelligence work is his main occupation, Vizayst was originally a man who made a name for himself in the outside world. Even as a commander, Ars knows that he has achieved a lot of success through his manipulations.

　Felinella was relieved. It was a moment that raised the stock of her father, Vizayst, rather than the other way around.

'Is that so?　I've only met you once.
Lord Viziest knows all about the war with his detection magic.

　The fact that Loki could single-handedly handle a surveillance system led by Loki in extracurriculars, to say the least, was enough to make Loki gawk in admiration.

'I'm an expert when it comes to interpersonal matters,'

　Felinella also appreciated her father's abilities there, who was also her teacher.
　Felinella nodded without hesitation in response to Ars's gaze, which was directed at her to be questioned.


　Even Viziest shouldn't be able to do anything that could be called a formation. The numbers were so numerous that the chain of command was limited to one person.
　470 people, that's the number of mages that were raked in. Of those, less than sixty were three-digit mages.

　There should be no place for a three-digit wizard to be able to deploy a thick siege successively.
　Ars won't interfere in this matter either. This is a confirmation process, and more importantly, the soil is different.

''Speaking of which, Felli isn't going to participate, is she?

　This was in the category of helping out, and Lord Viziest felt that he couldn't overlook letting them participate in the actual operation.

'He yelled at me severely,'

　I guess it's just an overzealous imitation. If the students are involved, it will be a disaster if something happens. It could spill over to the chancellor.
　Even if he is a nobleman and will eventually serve in the military, he is still just a student.

　That could be said for Ars and Loki, but it would be difficult to refuse under the Governor's orders.

　He nodded that this decision was correct.
　However--.

I was allowed to participate on one condition.
What?

　The bare voice belongs to Ars.
　He certainly didn't say, "I don't.

And what are the terms?

　Loki asked after a moment. The emotionless face was unsure of what he intended to do.

'If you're Mr. Ars's assistant, you've been approved.
...!

　With a big smile on his face and a big smile on his face, he puts pressure on Ars, who is slanting across the street, without saying a word.

　Next to him, a bewildered-faced Loki turned his face to me in fear.

''Oh dear........''

　The older man next to him, who was obviously amused, in the direction of completely ignoring him.

　What he was thinking, Ars couldn't understand what Viziest was thinking.
　If it was support in the rear, it was still low in terms of danger. That being the case, the home base that Ars is heading to is expected to be the most fierce battle, so it's like sending them to the dead ground.

　However, judging from the way Felinella said it, it seems that Ars doesn't have the authority to make a decision.

''........I understand.

　I can only answer that.
　It doesn't mean that we have more baggage. As a three-digit mage, Felinella, who is a three-digit mage, is helpful because she originally wanted to have strength. However, there was the anxiety of not knowing what Viziest would say if he tried to injure her.

　Felinella happily said, "Thank you very much! I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier," he said, his face fading as if it were the end of the world. It's a very depressing feeling, to the point where you feel as if something black is bubbling up from around you.

'Felli's detection is where I want it, and there was a chance that Loki and I wouldn't be able to deal with the unforeseen, so that's helpful.

　It's true that the addition of Felinella would be useful to Ars and Loki in terms of making up for the lack of ability.
　Loki's emotions would be the equivalent of retraction if it was necessary to accomplish the mission.

　Ars looked back at him sharply, "It's good to float, though.

'But I'm not going to babysit you, you know.
Yes.

　It's still a mission. Slowing them down would only add to the damage unexpectedly.

　Loki looked at Felinella with a slight scrutiny as Ars's harsh words came out.

　As a fighting force, Felinella is perfect, since she is fighting off the bandits alone.
　But whether she can be ruthless is another matter. If there are concerns after all this time, that's what it would be.

　And then I thought about the motive for getting Felinella to participate. In other words, Viziest's intentions.
　Mostly to gain experience, or maybe he stepped in to make sure there was no chance of that happening beside Ars, the first place finisher.
　Either way, Ars meant to tell him to protect himself at the very least, but that would not be the case.


　By the time he realized it was well past 1pm.
　That included the chancellor's tea.


　♢ ♢ ♢　


　After Tesfia and Alice left the lab.

　Alice still thought that there was a lump on Tesfia's face, as if she was in distress.
　Whatever it was, she would just have to wait for Tesfia to tell her herself.

　And it was only a short time ago that Alice had made up her mind.
　Alice's brain was occupied with something else, something more.
　So the lack of conversation isn't just because the air is awkward.

　We were halfway to the girls' dormitory when I heard, "Ah! Alice sounded apologetic as she remembered, "I'm sorry.

'What's wrong, Alice?'
I'm sorry, Fear, I forgot something in the lab.
So I'll be back later.
I'm so sorry. It's really important. Go on ahead. I'll be right back.

　I handed the bag to Tesfia and before she could open her mouth, Alice ran.

　It was quite forceful, and it took me a moment to realize that it might have been unnatural.
　Right now, she was more in a rush to get back as soon as possible than anything else.

(Al should have left as soon as I left the room...)

　The lab is empty now.

　When I entered the lab building, I ran up the stairs as if I were flying.

　She was aware that she was doing something suspicious. Still, Alice saw something uncontrollable in that room.

　The lock on the door also registered that Tesfia and Alice could enter the room at any time.
　So it wasn't difficult to enter Ars's lab, which was empty.

(Yes this is just a confirmation. I could be looking at this wrong.)

　I slide my body out of the space that is opening, waiting for the door to open slowly.

　At a glance, he heads to his intended location.
　It's a bundle of papers placed haphazardly on the base of an instrument that was also used to inspect Alice.

　Grabbing it carelessly, the first page Alice sees.

'----!

　On it was the name of the target, Gudma Verkhong.

'Is this a mission order?'

　It was the first time I had seen it, but the fact that Gudma, who was supposed to be wanted, was the target seemed to suggest the errand Ars had mentioned.

　I turned the page and saw the designated date and time. This was now corroborated.
　That Ars is undertaking this mission........

　Knowing Alice's past, I was terribly angry that Ars had hidden this from me. Unknowingly, his hand tightens in his grip on the paper.

　The picture of Gudma, it matched the old ... the Gudma that Alice knew.

　Alice makes a distorted expression as she sees her chance to see the hatred that is rising in her heart.
　The face is not one of anger. Her closed mouth opened slightly, creating a distorted arc.
　It's almost as if he's laughing out loud now.

'We can part ways now.'

　He looked over all the pages and bit his lip.
　The reason behind Ars hiding this from her was because she thought about Alice. But she couldn't let her thoughts go that far now. A sinking pain of betrayal shook her heart.

　The fact that Ars hadn't let her know was probably to keep Alice out of it.
　This was not the time to take it easy.

　At that point in time, Alice suddenly realized that she was doing something she was guilty of, and hurriedly ran out of the room.

　The thought of not leaving a trace is not in Alice's mind.
　As she left the room, the bundle of materials remained firmly in her hand.
　So in Alice's mind, resentment at being hidden and guilt at having acted in a manner akin to trespassing are mixed together.

　Then, for the first time, she thinks about it. He feels betrayed by Alice, even if it was out of concern for Gudma, and he has betrayed the trust that he trusted and allowed her to enter his room.

　It didn't change Alice's behavior, but it was inevitable that she was in an unstable spirit.
　Even though she knew it would interfere with Ars's mission, the thought that it was her problem was treated as paramount in Alice's mind.