The first to speak up was Loki, who was the first to notice the deviation. Then Tesfia and Alice.
　Alice greeted them with a clean smile, as if a possession had fallen off completely.

''Arus-sama, are you hurt........''
It's the same as when I left.

　He replied with a dumbfounded look on his face, but this isn't the first time Loki has been concerned about me.
Maybe that's why I didn't think this exchange was too serpentine either.

'Let me at least stop the bleeding,'

　As for Loki, he was referring to that injury. It would be impossible to ignore the chiding tone from above.

'All right,'

　With the job done first, Ars surrendered himself with his hands in the air.
　Loki ripped his own battle suit from his sleeve in one fell swoop. Just when you think that nothing is that far, it's later.

'You could have used mine,'

　I lifted the edge of my robe. It's simple to make and there are many alternatives.

You dropped it on the floor once, but if mold gets into it, it's a big deal. Mine isn't dirty.

　Ars couldn't find the words to argue with him if he was told to do so.

　And as for Loki, he was driven by the pride that he was the only one who should take care of him in a worthy manner. Of course, there is no small amount of frustration at having taken Felinella in lieu of his partner.

　Maybe it was non-negotiable as an outlet for that.

　He takes off his robe so as not to touch the wound. This, too, by myself, and the moment I raised my arms, my miffed gaze strained to not allow any further movement.

　It was a situation where I couldn't make the slightest movement as I was being treated. Both physically and emotionally.
　In the meantime, a blunt voice is thrown at Ars, who slumped his shoulders.

'What have you done, you've made the ground shake so far.

　Tesfia decides that it was caused by Ars.
　The eyes, which were tinged with a light of curiosity just because they were hit, were depressing.
　It's magic, of course, and it would be snake oil to return the word "magic".

''.........''

　He looks back and forth at the smaller girl, but doesn't look away from her. It's a ring that seems to say that the one who averts his gaze loses.
　Ars's choice is to strike out--.

''........more than that.''

　It was not. Averted by shelving it for the first time without stepping into the ring.

"Hey--!
But more importantly, Alice...

　The treatment ended when he was wrapped around her shoulder and tied in a tight knot. It was only a first aid measure, but it seemed to have stopped the bleeding.
　When Arus briefly thanked him, he proceeded to Alice. As expected of Tesfia, she didn't interrupt any further.
　A meditating Gudma lay behind Alice.

''Are you sure it was a good idea?''

　Gudma's body showed no signs of injury other than the wounds she had sustained in the battle with Ars. In other words, Alice must have seen the end of the madman without putting her hand down.

　There was no regret on Alice's face.

'At first I thought it would be by my hand, but then I realized it wasn't.

　Alice turned and looked down at Gudma's corpse with tenderness.

'What I couldn't forgive was myself, my powerless self who couldn't do anything about it. That doesn't mean I can forgive Gudma for what he did, but I don't think my stopping him here will change anything.

　Alice's words, spoken so matter-of-factly, had a joyfulness to them, as if she had discovered something new.

'I see,'

　If that's what Alice herself decided to do, then as Ars, she would just accept the answer.
　Even if he succeeds in his revenge, it won't change anything. The revenge of her parents, the anger of being forced to experiment on her, and the killing of Gudma will be accomplished on the surface. But those things will never heal Alice's wounds.

　That's not to say it doesn't make sense. If it's not a conclusion driven by hatred, but an answer you've come to on your own, then it's surely a path to healing.
　After that, time and companionship will gradually fill the emptiness that has no place to go.

　It was because of Gudma's research that she had met her best friend. That wasn't exactly what Ars had said when he said it wasn't all bad because of the magic factor deficiency.
　Meeting Tesfia is definitely a hard thing to get. It really wasn't all bad, Ars looked sideways at the red-haired girl.

'Alright, let the army take care of the rest and we'll go home.

　I turn my back and head back the way I came. None of them show their tired faces. This would have also helped the girls to grow up.
　This mission was still better, Ars is relieved to hear. Sometimes you have to do a mission that is akin to a massacre. It's probably a good thing that it's not a scene that the girls could ever see.

　Tesfia and Loki turn away to take the lead.

'Besides, Al looked like he wanted me to not kill him.

　Maybe that's why. It was Ars who offered the choice not to put his hand down.
　As for Alice, she intended to talk to herself, not expecting a response.
　But ...

Did I look like that?

　The curt reply was released as he walked. Words that had no place to be included, words that I was not even aware of.

''.........!　I was, you know, like this sad.

　Nimbly approaching next to him, he folded his hands behind his back and folded his hips to look into Ars's face.
　His face made an expression as if he was about to cry.

'Who has such an ugly face!
Ugly I'm not being honest anymore.

　This time he broke out in an amused sort of way and let out a giggle.

　I'm not going to be able to get it right. At the same time, he muttered inwardly, "I see.
　Alice seemed to be completely blown away.

　That made Ars's footsteps light. Of course, the person himself was not aware of that.
　At any rate, it's because I don't remember making such a face on purpose. I think that Alice might have seen it wrong.
　He's the one who doesn't do such a wild thing as mentioning it.

　It's enough to say that this is a good thing. I feel like I'm getting carried away. It's all good as long as the result is good," he said, when the process is not that great.
　But for once, Ars chuckled, if the result was this smile on Alice's face, it should be a good thing, he thought.


　♢ ♢ ♢　


　It's a simple thing to call a headquarters. It can be said to be unique to the Viziest. This is because its appearance is reminiscent of the old generation.
　It's a very good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends.
　The magic of the Viziest has to go to the site. Even so, he can cover an area of several kilometers, and it is even whispered that he is unrivaled in large-scale operations.

　His achievements are countless, and he is one of the most powerful families in the aristocracy. The medals neatly lined up on his left chest speak for themselves.

　It's probably a day when Ars stepped into the tabernacle-like tent.
　Instead of leading Loki, she sent Tesfia and Alice home first, she grudgingly accepted, but that disgruntled face made Ars twitch in his cheeks that he might need some kind of a good mood.

　Visaisto was in front, and Felinella was across from him.
　They seemed to be discussing something.
　That, too, would be cut short by Ars's arrival.

'Ooh! You're here, it's been a while.'

　The heavily seated Vizayst is renowned for his detection magic, but he is actually a martial artist, which is evident by his stocky physique; he is still a capable man in his mid-fifties and still shows no signs of slowing down.

　It was once bragged to me in the past that he had been active in the outside world as a double-digit magician when he was young.

　In fact, anyone who knows this bold man's working days would snicker at the mention of detection magic.

　The short gray hair mixed with grey hair dates from that time. In other words, he was nine years old when he was first assigned to the Viziest unit. About seven years have passed and it's still the same.
　In fact, it's not so many years since we've seen each other that it's been so long. It's true that we don't see each other very often, but when we are sent on an assassination mission, Viziest's troops are usually the ones doing the intelligence work, so we are indirectly quite familiar with each other.

''Lord Viziest will be the same.

　It's not a social call, it's a true statement. Probably the damage was minimized this time as well.
　Their appearance, as well as their manipulations, should not have waned.

''I'm sorry, I didn't expect you to have that many in place. My mistake.
You can't cover it up with a bunch of contraindications.
We need to address that as well.

　This is a man who doesn't let his failures go unchallenged. He'll find a way to find out if it's forbidden.

But Bellick, you know, I didn't know you went to college.

　Ars had to smile bitterly about that.

　He would be the only one who could call out Governor Bellick. It seems that Bellick and Viziest are old acquaintances, and in contrast to the hard-charging Viziest, who is a fierce competitor in the outside world, Bellick, who has made many accomplishments in command, has been promoted to his current position.
　It is said that Viziest retired from the front line as he grew older, but as a result of still clinging to the active role, he has settled into his current position. He used to be a mage who excelled at detection, but he didn't like it because of his own rigid personality.

　So maybe that's why he had the heart to go to the front line if he was in an absolute predicament even now.

''Even so, you're in a tough spot too.
...a lot of things.

　I'm sure Felinella has already told him some of the story.

'If I had failed.............how is that possible?
No, it's just a little chilly.
Hahaha that was a good experience.

　He opens his mouth pleasantly in a sarcastic tone and laughs.

'And yet you look different,'
Okay.

　It's not like we haven't seen each other for years, so I'm not sure. Of course, Ars isn't aware of it either.

'I smell like a human being.'
...!

　Is it a compliment?　I can't explain it. I couldn't help being at a loss for words.

'I'm glad to see you're having a good time. I was surprised when Beric told me you'd offered to retire.
I'm sorry to have worried you.

　So Vizayst's lifted cheeks descend and he turns into a soldier's face.

'I'm not worried about you. You're on our side, you know.'
..........

　Ars quickly realized what that meant. An air of heaviness. Not the kind of solemnity, but a pressure to be mastered. It was a word he could see through.

'You just need me; the progression of the A-rate alone would do enormous damage to the Alpha now.

　After a beat, the sound of Ars' cold voice relaxed the tense air. It was an everyday occurrence in conversations with Viziest.

'As usual, it's telling.'
It's mutual.

　Vizayst lifted his cheeks, showing his teeth.

This is a no-go on the case, so let me tell Bellick that it's all good.
Thank you. But I have to go see the Governor once.
What, you did it again?

　Ignore the unprovoked accusations of "another".

"It's a private matter.

　When he heard that, he gave a boring cheekbones. Then Ferinella, who had been silent until then, interrupted.

''To the subject of command...''

　I'm impressed that Ars makes a firm distinction in that stranger's way of calling him that. On the other hand, even if you know in your head that this is a father, it would be uncomfortable because it doesn't look like Felinella, the Viziest, who was called Father.

'It was. 'Ars, your instructions to Felinella could have prevented Gudma's research from leaking to the outside world.........'

　I guess that means you're in over your head.

There's a high level of internal interest in this research.
It's...

　The word suggests involvement.

'No, I've done my research, the top is white. So, what do you think of the study from your point of view?

　Ars hesitated. It was a material that was too good to be dismissed as all meaningless. It would be useful for fundamental research into the light system.
　But--

'It would be better to destroy it. It's too sweet.

　It was unlikely that the military, the foundation of the country, would mess with the forbidden, but there was certainly a temptation enough to deceive.

'All right. Felinella.

　It was an immediate answer. Viziest also took a glance at Ars's research. When he gave that instruction, he performed a dainty bow and Felinella left the tent.
　Probably only three people here know that she brought back the materials.
　As for Ars, it was surprising that he was even letting them do that.

　There would be no problem since the goal of accomplishing the mission Bellick gave out also included the erasure of the research data. Perhaps it was because he was afraid that it would be leaked to the outside world, but it must be too strong a poison in any case.

''By the way........''

　The sudden cut-off, and that it had nothing to do with the mission, was evident from the face that looked off Felinella's back.
　It was truly the face of one parent.