You can't keep flaying me, Loki. Loki, why don't you come train with us?

　He tried to say something like, "I'm going to try to get in a good mood," but it wouldn't be very effective.
　Loki, who had been left out of Ars's lab, had naturally intended to follow, but on the day of the event, he was told that Loki would have to watch Alice's training.
　You could call it a true shell.
　Normally, Loki would take a bite out of it, but this time, since it was Ars who was invited, Alice was also away, and the reason being that if that was the case, there would be no one left to watch the training.
　Not to mention, Loki still hasn't reached his previous task of expanding his detection range, so he doesn't have time to take it easy either.

''If there are no results when Al comes back, it won't be good, right?


　The lack of supremacy in her voice bothered me, but it wouldn't do any good to spend it idly.
　You can't concentrate, even with Alice.

　Since the incident, it could be said that the distance between Loki and Alice has narrowed somewhat. In no small measure, Loki's spine had been scraped off.

''The magic competition is coming up soon, we should get into it.
What is it?　It.

　It was the Seven Nations Goodwill Magic Competition, a magic competition held between students from different countries.
　As for Loki, he entered the school only to be by Ars's side, so it's no wonder he didn't know about it. You can say that you are simply unfamiliar with it because you spent all your time fighting with demons.

''Since the summer break is in September, it's an inter-student magic competition that takes place in October or so. Don't you know?
Yeah, I don't know and I'm not interested.
'But it gets talked about pretty much every year. It gets relayed, and as it is, the place you're assigned to is...

　When I was about to say that he was going to be assigned to a unit, I swallowed with a chuckle, wondering if it was something that Loki had no connection to.

'Maybe Loki will be chosen, I think. The academy's name is on the line, you know. He shouldn't be able to decline unless there's a very good reason.
'It's all right then. I have a noble reason for taking care of Master Ars,
Huh.

　Probably not, Alice scratches her cheeks and cheats.
　Perhaps a selection committee has already risen up and is working to select the students to compete.
　I remember around the time I started to think about it.

'Come to think of it, Al might be in the mix too.
"Hey!　Please say that first.
'Al said he didn't want to leave, though. Mr. Bellick was very motivated.

　The selection process for the Seven Nations Friendship Magical Tournament is mainly up to the selection committee, but out of the ten slots in a school year, the selection committee chooses five players per school year. The remaining five are chosen by the selection committee in order to ensure equality. This is unique to the Second Academy of Magic, and other academies in other countries have their own selection criteria.

　It's a good idea to have a large number of students in the academy during the summer holidays to prepare for this.
　Basically, the number of boys and girls in one grade is as small as 10, but once they realize the importance of this tournament, there is no doubt that there are no students who will back down. Anyone can participate in the preliminary round, and if they work hard enough, they may become a member of the tournament.
　That's how high the profile is.
　It would make sense to look at it as a competition at the national level. It would be understandable if you could say that the prestige of a country's future wizards was at stake.

　
　You can see that this is a big event in the sense that it's a place to keep your eyes and ears fixed on talented wizards from now on.

　Although it is a bit of a red herring, a problem arises every year when they try to recruit wizards from other countries.
　The choice is actually left to students who aren't in the military, but it's not uncommon for them to not look too good to the other country and for negotiations between countries to heat up behind the scenes.

　However, knowing this, it's only the very talented ones who will mess with a wizard from another country.
　Therefore, if someone accepts the solicitation, it is an unspoken understanding that the country that scouted him or her will pay a small amount of transfer as a deposit.
　It can be money, territory, valuable magic books, and so on.
　In some cases, in order to avoid problems, they scout each other one by one.

　It's also a place where contestants are recognized for their abilities as wizards in the school and where they can decide on a good job.
　Although there are exceptions, such as some nobles.
　In other words, can we say that the appeal points are different? It's a ruthlessly useful event in the sense that it's a place to spread the name of the nobility.

''Reluctantly, but if Ars-sama is going to participate in the event, I can't afford not to participate as well.

　One could guess that whoever had heard Loki's words like that would have said he didn't really want to leave, but Alice didn't miss it. That the little girl's eyes were glaring fearlessly.

'But then, if you're only training for detection...'

　A good performance would be inevitable for a triple-digit wizard who was outstanding among the first years.
　Alice remembered Loki's overwhelming ability, who was one year younger than her.

''Ah, if Loki's ability is good enough as it is, I think it's good enough as it is.
That too, I suppose.
Hey!　Loki, you just gave me a cold look.
No, you are mistaken.

　He returned to his training with a bare face, but Loki's mouth was slightly lone.





　The date had changed and the Buddha's face was there, even more so than yesterday.

'Why don't you come back!
I don't know why.
'You're staying over, I feel the need to threaten the Favell family with what they're doing for once.
I don't think that's a good idea.

　The two knives pulled out of their hips with a chirp, rubbing themselves against each other.
　However, Loki has no intention of doing so. After all, he may not be able to get rid of the uneasy feeling that he is going somewhere out of sight.
　It may be that just having someone to let out such resentment doesn't cause too much stress.
　Well, if this is the case tomorrow, it will be too late.

　So in this case, the chime announcing a visitor was just bad timing.
　If the landlord, Ars, were to return home, he would have come in silently.
　A gaze aimed at its prey like a ravenous beast is cast through the door. Naturally, it's Alice's choice to get out.
　When the visitor is shown on the room's monitor, Alice's feet instantly change to running feet.

''What's wrong, Felli-senpai?''
Oh, Alice. Just in time.
It's not a good situation.

　'Haha,' said Alice with a wry smile, indicating behind her.

'What's the matter?'
'Al was invited to visit his parents in Fia, and he hasn't come home yet.
Flosse-san's place. So you don't have Mr. Ars and Fia now?
What can I do for you?　I'll let you know if it's not an emergency.

　Felinella hesitated.
　There was a trivial desire of a maiden in love that she wanted to see him properly if possible, but this time she had to keep her personal feelings to herself because she had some business to attend to. If they had more time, they could have changed their minds.

I know. 'I'll ask you to do it. It's something that has to do with both of us.

　Already Loki's fierce eyes are ringing out and getting ready to entertain his guests.
　It's for external use with the switch if you are a guest to Ars.

　As the cold tea and tea-bowl are set on the table, Felinella opens her mouth.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good idea to make sure that Loki, Alice and Fia are the first-year representatives.
"....!　Really?!
'Yes, even though it's mainly practical skills, you can't play the top performers of the half-year.
You'll both take it, won't you?
'Of course. I don't think Fear would ever say no.
I'll accept, too, if Master Ars is competing.

　Felinella, who until then had not cracked a smile, but the mention of that name made her expression slightly cloudy.

''Of course I would like Arus-san to appear, but rather than that, I have an order from above...''

　Loki's expression brightened with a puff, but he and Alice looked at each other at the choking Felinella's way of saying it.

'With Ars-san's performance, the backlash at the selection committee is so great that we can't screw it up.
'No!　It's just that these fools don't know what Master Ars is capable of.　
Yeah, but that's the kind of thing the chancellor wants to hide as a matter of fact.
I guess that means Al's manipulation of the grades has backfired.
Yes.

　The selection committee needs to select students who will not be an embarrassment to the school. This is because the results of the examinations, which are more or less superficial, are referenced. Of course, it is the evaluation of the practical test that is important.

　It's a good thing that you have a good idea of what to expect.

I'm not sure if that means that Ars-sama can't participate?　Then I'm not going to leave either.
"....!　Wait a minute!　In Ars-san's case, it's just that we can't get a recommendation from the selection committee, and I know it's bad, but the only way we can get you in the top spot in the selection tournament is if you get a top spot.

　In other words, Ferrinella was guilty of making him go through the trouble. Originally, she didn't think the Chancellor should screw it up.
　The students have the right to decide most of the student magic competitions from the selection process.
　Only a few of them know about Ars's abilities, and the only way to get the right to compete to everyone's satisfaction is to finish at the top of the selection matches.

''Therefore, could you please tell Ars-san and Fia?
Wanna...
'I understand. I'll let Master Ars know.

　Loki is not going to give up a single word of advice for his role to anyone.

''You're freshmen and I'm sure you don't know a lot of things, so don't worry about that, as soon as the contestants are chosen, we'll get together to discuss that,''
'I understand. Felli-senpai will be there too, right?
Of course. I don't mean to say it myself, but the members of the selection committee have to be the best students in the school who have already been selected. I should be a third year student.

　Felinella dared to cut off her words, daring that it would sound a little pompous if she said this further.
　It's inevitable that both the rankings in the school - with a few exceptions - will come around to Felinella, who is at the top of her abilities. The title of nobleman would also be in effect in this case. After all, with the exception of the chancellor, he is also the person the students of the academy admire.

''I'm running late because I had to do something right after the holidays.

　Felinella overflowed.
　Alice posed an innocuous question.

''As I recall, it's October, and the tournament seems a bit early to be preparing for it now, are we behind?''
Yes, it's a long selection process, but there's also the training. The events are simple and the same every year, and they're mainly individual competitions. But the players in the school have to train during the time before the competition. Last year I was so busy that I didn't have a lot of time off.

　Moreover, it is not a good time. However, even if we take into account the announcement of the grades, we still have to start the summer vacation.
　It's not a good time to start before the summer break, but with the announcement of the results, it's still summer vacation.
　If the contestants are still decided, there will be more time to spare.

　The only thing that helps is the simplicity of the events. It's a real battle style mock-up, just like the ones held in class - although on a different scale.
　It's a form of opponent battle, but others are more practical and allow you to bring in AWR, and most of the time you can use weapons that are intended for demons, such as flying tools.

　But there was another matter that bothered me. After all, the second magical academy has not won a championship in the last few years.
　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the top. "This is the year we win," of course Sisti has been told from above.

　He said that it was a bit of a disgrace that the Alpha rankings, which have shown overwhelming results in battle, were faster to be counted from the bottom.
　We need to show the rest of the world our overwhelming power so that they don't think we have the momentum for now. Even if we have a physical partnership, there can't be an unconditional transfer of power, such as the development of a country's own infrastructure. It's only an agreement in the sense of protecting Babel and protecting humanity from demons.
　For that reason, in order to gain an advantage in the dispatch of wizards and so forth, the Seven Nations Magical Friendship Tournament was the perfect place to do so.


　Naturally, Felinella is careful in selecting people with the intention of aiming for the victory.
　It's a very good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you want to do, but it's certainly possible to grab the points in the first year division if Ars is going to participate. That alone is enough to have a chance to get a shot at it. If there is a problem, it will be the third year. At this time of the year, students who have not yet decided where they will be assigned will not be able to compete.
　Although it is possible to show off just by participating in the competition, it's still a small thing. It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get out of it, even if you want to improve your magic and go to a better unit.

　Then what about the students who have already been assigned to the unit?　It may be the first year students' idea that it is easy to talk to them. Since the training has already begun and some of the credits at the academy are exempted, there are not a few students who don't come to the academy for training without waiting for graduation.

　What's going to happen? Even if Ferrinella thinks about it here and now, there's no way she'll come up with a good answer.
　The cups for the three of us are already empty when I notice. It was only because of Loki's words that she noticed the passage of time.

It's almost noon, but would you like to have some lunch, Felli-san?
"He--!　It's that time!　I'm sorry, I have a lot to do after this.

　He refuses with an apologetic chuckle. The gesture is unquestionably perfect.
　It's so brilliant that Loki is more troubled by it than the other way around.

''I see, I'd love to see you next time you come.
Thank you. I'll be happy to join you then.

　Loki's was not as ladylike as Felinella's, but Felinella could see that there was no pretense there, and smiled as well.
　Loki and Alice walk you to the front door, and then Felinella, who has her hand on the knob, looks back at you and says, "That's right.

'Watch out, the selection match is right after the holidays, so tell them that too.
Yes, sir.

　Alice smilingly adds that she'll tell him.
　When the door closes completely and Felinella's back is completely closed, Alice lets out a breath of relaxation, as if she was a little nervous.

''Even so, as expected of Feri-senpai. Your every move is so ladylike.
'That's how much of an aristocrat you are, I suppose.

　They looked at each other and giggled. It was because they thought of someone else at the same time.

'I don't know, Fia seems to be aware of it too.
'Yes. You're only aware (...)

　When I think about the difference between Tesfia and Felinella, I wonder if they're the same noblemen and how different they are. As for Alice, I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just that there are many different types of nobles.

　If Loki, on the other hand, has a mocking smile mixed in, no one here would be able to notice it.