Master Ars, which way are you headed?

　Loki, walking silently a step behind me, suddenly asked such a question because he doesn't remember where he was going.
　Because I don't remember where I'm going. It's not that I've heard about it beforehand, so I don't know where we're going.

　But Loki has seen an ominous hint on Ars's back ever since he arrived in Rusalka. He couldn't help but ask as it finally became more colorful.
　It was probably because it was Loki that he could sense it so subtly.

'It's an interesting place to be in Lusarka, too, isn't it?
Yes, yes....

　The empty reply seemed to be an expulsion of the true intentions, not what Loki had intended.
　She gave a dry counterpart and moved closer as if she were peering into the distance. Ars's profile was filled with a bit of apology.

'Different countries have different characteristics. It could be described as a different world.''
Do you like Rusalka?

　Loki asked a series of relatively calm questions. There was nothing for her to think about in response to this question. As a result, it doesn't matter where it is, as long as she can always stay with Ars.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do with it.

　Nevertheless, Loki knows that the student life of Ars at the academy is surprisingly full. That's why he had a somewhat puzzled tone.
　In the unlikely event that he were to move to Rusalka, that would seem to be far removed from Ars's true intentions.

　But it was still a concern.

'It won't just be Rusalka. I'm sure it's not the only thing I know about Alpha, but when it comes to other countries, there's still a lot I don't know. This, isn't it intriguing?
'Yes, of course!'

　Loki's cheeks naturally lifted as his face cleared up a bit when he knew it was unfounded.
　But--.

''That's why we need to get this over with as soon as possible.
...

　With that, Ars took a piece of letterhead from his pocket.

　Loki gasped. It was the letterhead she had seen at the Favell house. She has a general idea of its contents, even if she doesn't know about it.

'Is it Krama?'
'Maybe, it's easier if it's dumb like it's addressed, but there's no element of definiteness I'm almost certain of. And ... there's also ... something else I'm curious about.
'Does it bother you?　It's....

　Loki hurriedly spun out of his mouth as the words came out of his own desire to urge him on.
　It's a good thing that you're a partner, no matter what kind of relationship you have with your partner, Loki has crossed a line that should not be crossed, he thought.

　However.

'Well, Loki can do it. The content is an invitation... but there's a hint that he might know something about my own roots.

　Yes, the letter concluded, 'The one who knows the identity of Ars Reagin.

' --!　Does that mean Krama has something to do with Lord Ars's birth!
You know, but the fact that you know more about me than I do is not entirely without root and branch. I know what I don't know. I'm not sure about that, but I don't know anything about myself. The same is true of the research being done at Rusalka, but it's not something that can be hidden forever. It's also because I want to know what's going on before that, and well, I'm a black box, so to speak.

　The final arrival point of the research Ars does is his own clarification. It is safe to say that he has struggled so far to make that time. He has studied magic, created the AWR, and contributed to making it work without him.
　There was no denying that he loved the research itself, but more than anything else, he intended to seek out clues that would lead him to himself in the process.

　But I only found out what I didn't know. That's why Ars had no choice but to jump at the information that came from an unexpected source. If it is impossible to avoid it because Ars is being targeted, then it's even better to cross over.

But isn't it a trap?
In all likelihood. But there's no way we can crush Krama or find out what he's planning to do. We need to take them up on their offer and find out what they're planning to do.

　Even in Ilyce's words, as long as they are targeting Ars, there will be no escaping the clash. This is also the limit here. That's because the larger the organization, Krama, the more it has grown, the more unruly it has become. And Krama will undermine the country like a virus.

　If you're going to have to deal with them, one way to find out what they're up to is to accept the invitation. And even if it is a trap, the chances of facing off against them head on this time are slim.

"The place is in the outer world, about 10 kilometers from Rusalka.
Isn't that pretty close?
''Oh, that's why if we don't crack it up like a magical battle, Rusalka's wizards should be rushing in right away.
What does Krama want to do?
I don't know, maybe you'll find that out when you get there.　So what about Loki?　After all, when Krama is involved, I can't afford it either.

　It's a natural concern. The possibility that Ars could be saved, but Loki could not, would be more real if the opponent was a criminal comparable to a single.
　However, as if to put such concerns to rest, Loki responded immediately.

''Of course I'll accompany you,''
I know...

　There is already no arrangement between the two of them that regulates Loki's behavior. That's why Ars would ask, but not go so far as to refuse.

'I get it. Well, let's just get it over with then.
'Yes!　But when it comes to the outside world, where does it come from?　It usually takes a long time to get permission from the Rusalka army.
No, they won't give me a pass. You can't just crawl through a security barrier, they'll see it.

　In fact, there's a reason why I have to take her with me right up until the last minute, even if Loki refuses.

'So I want Loki to use his detection magic to find a thin section of the protective barrier.

　Ironically, every time humanity expands its territory, Babel's protective barrier has become less effective. I never thought it would be useful in this place, though.
　It would be difficult to find the gaps that must be there without the ability of a detecting magician.

'Yes, I understand that, but...'
What?

　Turning around, Ars raises an eyebrow.
　Because her expression that followed had changed to one of anxiety.
　I don't have any idea what happened to Ars. Or rather, I've learned a lot of things since I started living with Loki. A woman's mind is something that shifts and changes just like the sky outside, and it's very difficult for Ars to read it.
　So he has no choice but to question it with words. I can barely get a look at his face when I'm handing him the information. It is a great improvement from his point of view, even if it is only for a short time.

'Well, what will Master Ars do with what he learns about you?

　The truth isn't always good. Loki had a glimmer of anxiety about this. A fear that perhaps he would go somewhere far away, passed through his mind.

　No matter how much of a person Loki is, he can objectively understand the abnormality of the person called Ars. The depth of knowledge of magic that even the word "out of line" seems to be too easy to even say. In addition to the rare ability of being systemless, he has the unusual ability to eat magic.
　Every single one of them is extraordinary.

　However, this and Loki's reason for admiring Ars is nothing to do with each other. I believe that the same idea applies to Ars, but on the other hand, once the bad luck comes to mind, it is not something that can be quickly dispelled. It is too unstable and wobbly to be self-contained, much less told to yourself.
　That's why she also brought up the unstable and ambiguous means of words. I'm sure that the words of Ars that I believe in, even if they are lies, will be able to stabilize this instability.


　However, Ars pondered as he tilted his head. It's a very good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's as if he hadn't thought about the question he was being asked.

It's a good idea," he said. Well, that clears up a lot of questions.

'By the nature of being systemless, there should be no inhibition of other systems so it's going to be great, Loki.

　Loki could only stop and look back in stunned amazement as a child's buoyant face was suddenly turned on him.
　And.

''What's wrong Loki?''
Hmmm.....

　He covered his mouth with the back of his hand and the laughter that leaked through the cracks was directed at Loki himself. It was trivial, it was just funny to find out.
　Because the person in question is trying to contribute to the magician, who is ultimately a stranger to him, by figuring out what he is.

　You can say all you want with your mouth. In the end, Ars is useful for the country, even if unconsciously. You should have known that well enough by now, but I found it a little ridiculous that I was scared and frightened.
　And surely Ars would be the same no matter what he was, Loki was sure of it. He would never change in the future, just as he had helped him in the past.

　No matter what stands in the way, he will not change at root. This is the moment I made him feel that way.

　When I thought my stomach was going to twist - although I have only a distant memory of having laughed so much in Loki's experience - my reasoning came back to me in a huff.
　You'll be able to see if you've put him in a bad mood, and you'll be able to look at him wickedly. It's because he was also her favorite part of the usual admonition.
　The irony of these casual exchanges, even warmth, warms your heart and makes you want to stay close to him. Such sarcastic expletives were supposed to pop out........

　But when Loki's gaze lifted slightly, a shadow suddenly descended.
　A hand is on the hair of the silver thread as if it were placed with a poof.

'Nothing will ever be the same.
..........

　Loki swallowed his words and looked down at the fact that he had been able to see through it.

(Not fair.)

　The reason I am swearing so much is because the dark cloud that had been coiling around me a while ago has completely disappeared. I even feel like I'm being played by it. Normally, I would embarrass Arus a bit and get a few words out of him, but this time it's the opposite.

　I feel like I've been beaten to the punch... but that was also handled as a minor matter for Loki, who felt that one thing Arus opened up to him was that he'd reduced the distance between them.




　The process of crossing from Rusalka to the outside world was really smooth. It would actually be easy to overlook along the border between the two countries as outside of their jurisdiction. It can't help but weaken in terms of the weakening of the protective wall and surveillance. That's why the countermeasure called "Sentinel" is taken, but if it's just an ordinary wizard, the possibility that Ars and the others will be discovered is minimized as much as possible.

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

　Then they went straight ahead, but since there was no sound of alarm behind them or any other kind of movement in Rusalka, they thought they had slipped through the sensing of the protective wall.
　Still, we don't know if we will be as successful on the return trip. Therefore, it would be an after-the-fact consent, but there would be no problem if we reduced the number of demons in this area as well.

　This is to make it impossible for the other side to come out strongly in the sense of mitigating blame. Even so, the scolding is likely to be visible.

　As a matter of fact, Alpha and Rusalka are neighboring countries, and since they are connected to each other, there is no significant difference in the terrain. However, the types of demons tend to change inevitably.
　In Alpha, the number of typical low-rate demons is small, while in Rusalka, various types of demons seem to be roaming around.

　In other words, in Alpha, small territorial things are scattered everywhere in a low-rate way, but in Rusarka, the species seem relatively more mixed up.
　The vertical structure of "go with the flow" applies to demons as well, and it's quite common for top-rated demons to be at the bottom of their territories in the ecosystem.

　However, it's hard to believe that a high-ranking demon is on the loose near Rusalka. In other words, this means that the demons of Rusarka are forming cliques across species to survive.

　But that doesn't mean that anything will change.
　For starters, Ars and Loki will slaughter the demons that appear to be in progress in an instant. Even though it's inevitable for Loki's magical characteristics to be flashy, she wants to avoid it. Therefore, when she is advancing straight ahead, she instantly jumps back to the side and catches the demon caught in her detection with her throwing knife to ensure that she catches the demon nucleus.

　However, in Loki's case, there is a limit to the number of knives, and since each one is an AWR, she can't waste them.
　He closes the distance to the demon and collects the knife at the same time as the knife stuck in his chest is charged with electric current and destroys the demon.

　It's really inefficient, but it's also true that throwing knives are hard to handle because they don't have a solid handle by nature.

　The two of them proceeded to slaughter the demons as they spiraled along their route of travel.


　It took them about 10 minutes to reach a distance of about 10km. And when they were just barely able to catch it in their line of sight, they stopped in a tree.

''Arus-sama, is that it?''
I'm sure of it.

　Their eyes were focused on an old tree that they could see through the gaps in the trees. It was a wrinkled bark, a dead tree that looked as if it might fall at any moment.
　However, as far as the surrounding trees were concerned, it was a strange sight, with fresh leaves that were as fresh as the season. It's as if the trees around them are sucking up nutrients from the dead trees.

'Loki, how's the surroundings?　I don't see anything like that over here, though.
''Yes, the only reaction on my end is demons. There are no demons in the hundreds of meters around our destination.
Funny....

　Arus was careful not to let a bad feeling stick to his face and say it out loud.
　It was conceivable that there was some magic that could possibly slip through the detection, which he hadn't summoned, but Ars, thinking it was a trap in the first place, slowly closes the distance, saying, "There might be something there first.

　It's not that there isn't a delayed installation magic as well. Even though it's not a big deal in terms of power, if it's unprotected and a direct hit, a human can easily die.
　I'm not sure I would ever go out into the outside world and be more wary of threats by humans than by demons, which is a strange exasperation. No matter what time of day it was, he would always be on guard. That was a rule of thumb that Ars had developed over the course of his life.
　Of course, the same can be said for Loki. In preparation for the time of need, the detection sonar was sent out every second, dozens of times.

　But when the two of them had closed the distance considerably and landed on the ground and peeked out from the trunk of a huge tree on foot.

''--!
Master Arus?

　Ars let down his guard and began to walk towards the dead tree with his usual gait. And Loki also turned his gaze in the same direction while keeping a vigilance behind him.

''Ar--!

　As soon as he could, he covered his mouth with his hand and held back a scream. The scene that I had seen many times was there. If it was just that, neither Ars nor Loki was ready to rave about it.

　They saw a single wizard pinned to a dead tree. A single stab with a dagger to the chest. It went through and stuck to the trunk like a specimen. He was supported by a single dagger, and his feet didn't even touch the ground.
　The sheer volume of blood is a testament to the horrific nature of the situation. The ground was constantly sucking the blood out of it, turning it black.
　His long hair was hanging down, leaving a trail of hardened blood flowing from his mouth.


　Ars clenched his teeth as he pulled out his knife and held it in a respectful side-hug. The blood isn't completely dried, leaving a scraped bloodstain on Ars's clothes.
　Lying on the ground, Ars clicks his tongue.

I didn't expect them to come in through the gates.