The atmosphere of tension was momentary, and for some reason some of the students who saw the crisis situation had their heads in their hands.

　It can be seen that there was probably something like a hunch. It's not just the fact that the problem is that the opponent is a single wizard, Ars. It's a good thing that you are not a stranger to that name now, for better or worse.
　And this is the home of Alpha.

　The reason the students gathered was also to catch a glimpse of one of the highest ranking, Ars. Of course, you can't help but envy your old friends, except for a few acquaintances who have been hiding their identities.
　The fact that they were enrolled in the academy was too exciting and too dramatic for them to aspire to be magicians. That's why I'd like to witness the triumph of the singles with an unorganized mind, as seen in other countries like this.

　But after witnessing the unparalleled disrespect to someone who has mastered such magical wisdom, the area was in a state of despair.


　If one considers the status alone without being a peer, what Noir did was close to extreme punishment. Of course, if Ars is an alpha wizard, that is.
　Even so, from the perspective of someone who doesn't know the individual called Ars, this is a very bad situation. It is perfectly normal for Loki to put a knife to her neck. Normally, the students had to be stopped at all costs, but the line was already crossed as easily as if they were skipping.

　It's enough to make the students feel the urge to run away. Still, none of them wanted to leave. It would probably take a state of dismay at the unimaginable situation.

　Of course, those of us who know Arus better than anyone else will say something else: "Noah, you're in trouble again.

'Noah, you're in trouble again!

　And Tesfia's strange side of sighing and being angry confirmed that this wasn't the first time this kind of nuisance had happened.

'Look, Noah. You're going to bother Felli-senpai again.

　Also, if the word "also" popped out of Alice, it was somewhat obvious.
　Alice's scolding was quite sweet, to say the least. No, no matter how you look at it, it's hard to tell if Alice is really angry.

　The two of them must have eased the tension of the situation considerably. Just like the underclassmen did.

　It's a good idea to have a good time with them. Needless to say, the sensations leading up to those fingers and to the tips of their hands and fingertips remain the same, sharpening their nerves more than the careless words.

　There is no pretense of hostility or countermeasures against Ars, even if the blade is attached to the neck. More than that, it's disgusting - there was no intention to kill him in the first place.

　The only impression I can get is that he's a very clumsy guy for showing his face.

　In fact, Noir is not equipped with greetings, politeness, or any of those common formulaic phrases. I guess that's just as well. Because apart from Ars, who grew up mixed up with adults, she was only educated in assassination only.
　Meeting people, negotiating and even casual banter is something that doesn't make sense to Noir.

　It can only be expressed in actions that derive from such a premise: kill, kill, kill.

　That's why it's possible for Ars to slip away from the blade as easily as it is for him to grab something dangerous with his index finger and two thumbs.

''Oh!　I can't get tired. I was hoping to dance in a frenzy again.
It's not going to be easy at the Academy.

　And kicked off her request. Ars's fingers were pointing at his own neck. Yes, not to the fact that he could easily scratch through it, but to point to Noir's neck.
　There is a black choker, the type that wraps snugly around it like a collar. And embedded in the side was a white and silver plate with a geometric formula painted on it.

　What it was, Ars could tell at a glance. And here, Tesfia and Alice, and even Loki, understood the meaning of her choker.

　As for Loki, at first he really just saw it as an ornament.

　At first glance it is indeed an ornament. However, it's not very desirable from the perspective of those who know what the plate means. It certainly has the meaning of a collar.

''It's pretty well suppressed in terms of magic, isn't it?

　Noir's mouth quirked up at Ars's words, as if he was depressed. This was a lost opportunity because of this.
　The one on Noir's neck is camouflaged as a choker, but it's also a control device that suppresses an individual's magical power. At worst, it's something magical criminals wear.

　The control device automatically disrupts the magic power itself by releasing a certain amount of magic power and following a process that is on par with the higher levels of the composition stage of magic.
　The amount of magic power release and configuration limits can be set, but considering that you are in the academy, the configuration of the highest level magic would be subject to restrictions even if it is wrong.

　It's a good thing that you're able to have a great deal of fun with it. Even if they are not designated as contraindicated, they would definitely conflict with it due to its lethal nature.

　The fight which she wants is the party of madness which can easily die if it makes a mistake. Noir feels a momentary pleasure more strongly than anyone else. It is the only way to realize life.
　That's the only way he can feel life.

　The project of strengthening and nurturing common to Ars, Loki, and Noir. The obsession with life that is unique to those who grew up here - or, to put it more simply, the desire to know the meaning of life. They try to find value in themselves.
　A value that no ordinary wizard can reach at first. Or more specifically, they pretend not to notice and see it. They want that value in a bizarre way.

　In that sense, Noir's moment of realization of life is a crazy one, but what she is trying to say is somehow understandable to Ars. That's why she allowed herself to be set as a target until she regained what she had lost.

　However, if she's not serious, I'm not going to go out with her. Furthermore, I wanted her to at least choose a location.

'I was obliged to put this as a condition to Lord Sokalent and the Chancellor..........'

　Noir, who held up her scythe and played with the ends of her hair with her fingers, opened her mouth in a very good mood. However, a situation that didn't let her tell the rest of the story remained attached to her neck.
　Stopping her words for a moment, Noir turns her gaze towards Ars with a keen look straight down.

''Loki, I can kill as well as you can.
'You can try. 　You don't know what it means to be self-respecting. The folly of throwing away a life that was once saved in vain. Let me tell you something, there is no second time.
You're the one who's so disgraceful for bringing up the past, just because you were one term early.
Your collared pet barks a lot.

　The two sparklers know each other's pasts, but there is something about them that they cannot compromise.
　In terms of grades, Loki has moved up a grade, but in terms of age, they are the same age.

　There is no immediate transition into battle. This is something that can be understood by calmly analyzing the situation. It's impossible for Loki to miss it, but it will definitely be a nuisance to Ars if they actually get into battle.
　Noir, on the other hand, was also too powered down to confront Loki in the current situation. It's still good as long as the cheap provocations are exchanged, as long as the emotional arousal doesn't exceed even reason.

　Fortunately, this exchange was a few years unknown to Noir - that is, a word uttered because he was oblivious to the overwhelming changes in Loki's life - and it helped to bring things to a head.

'If you want this, I can always make you my pet if you want it... oh, that's right. You were already my pet.
..........

　Noir looked down at the sarcasm that was known to go unsaid, with a look plastered on her face.
　But Loki did not show her intended reaction.

　A strange pause descended, and a crimson shone on the white cheeks underneath the silver hair. The feverish face is drawn back by Noir's quizzical gaze.

'No, no!　No, I'm not... yeah, totally...
Hmm.

　Noir's eyes glowed suspiciously as he witnessed the unrest.
　He took a grand dive at the back of Ars, who had already started to ignore him and walk away.

　That impact naturally acts as a buffer as a characteristic of those who should have it.