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　It's about time for the first greeting in months, and Ars shifts the topic to the main topic.

'I'm sorry to be so quick, but there are a few things I'd like to ask you.
Yeah. And since we're not going to stand around and talk about it, please sit down.

　Already Ars had been hit by the air of the academy on the road, and he was becoming too lazy to even walk due to the agony. He might be more tired than when he was sweeping up demons in the outside world. The lack of tension peculiar to the academy is giving Ars an unaccustomed tiredness on the mental front.
　That doesn't feel bad again, and so does Ars, for the most part. Maybe it's too late now.

　Loki buys Sisty a cup of tea, as she starts to get up to get up, and Loki buys it for her. He only asked for a simple place, and then began to prepare tea for the number of people with a familiar motion.
　As expected, Tesfia and Alice shrank slightly as there were still sections of them that were deflated in front of the chancellor.

　However, it wasn't long before she realized that Loki's cleverness had been a mistake in itself, when he brought tea for a few people. The three chairs for three people on one side of the table had to be placed with Ars in the middle, because both sides of the table had been hardened by Tesfia and Alice.

　Simply because the Chancellor had moved to one side of the face-to-face table, there was inevitably limited space for Tesfia and Alice to sit, and there was no mental calculation there.
　In the end, Loki received a blank look of gratitude from all of them and reluctantly sat down next to Sisti.

　Seeing that the place was ready, the first person to open his mouth was Ars.

''First of all, it's safe to assume that I've been expelled, right?
It's tempting to reinstate them when you say it so casually.
'Maybe that's not so bad, to be honest. I've wasted my time, though.

　Sisti stopped the cup she was bringing to her mouth once in the middle of the cup. She was hiding behind the tilted cup, but it seemed to Ars that she was smiling a little.
　Once again, Sisty put her mouth on it and felt the warmth spreading in her mouth, down her throat and throughout her body.

'Though, as you've noticed, it's a little different when you say you're expelled.
What do you mean?
"It's not heavy stuff, so feel free to listen. Well, I suppose I'll have to start with us wizards. You have a pretty good idea, though, don't you?

　Silently, Ars nodded.
　It was certainly due to the earlier incident. Before and after the incident, the number of wizards and changes in rankings must have changed significantly.

''I can't say for sure that they were expelled, and most importantly, my lab is still alive and well. If it was the military that seized them, then it was the military that returned them. That means it's the rankings, right?　I expected that.

　Wrinkling his brow, Ars pondered as he snorted one. No, no matter how much he thought about it, there was nothing he could do about it. As a way to buy time for the time being, though, Ars and Loki had been regularly cleaning the demons around each country.

　The change in rankings is directly related to the loss of many magicians.

　Originally, the story from here onwards is generally a matter that is kept under wraps. However, if you are an aristocrat, the Fèvel family would have already grasped the details that were withheld.

　That's why they were allowed to sit together. It's a good thing that the current Ars isn't an existence bound by Alpha.
　Even so, they made Tesfia and Alice promise not to tell anyone about it beforehand.

Although the total number of wizards is the one that has increased drastically, there is still a vacancy for the pinnacle, the symbolic single wizard. There is an unspoken agreement that each country should have at least one single wizard.

　Sisti is narrating the world situation, or more properly, the situation of the mages. From here on out, it's information that both Ars and Loki don't know because they've been out in the outside world.
　And it's also something Tesfia and Alice don't actually know either. Of course, that's just a sign of confusion, so it's not public knowledge.

　Single mages are not just a ranking, their abilities are outstanding. The biggest gap within the rankings of mages is between single and double digits. Simply because the rankings have been moved up doesn't necessarily mean that they have the same fighting ability as a traditional single mage.
　This was also true for Duncal Conzel, who was ranked ninth in Barmes in the past, and even though he was ranked ninth, the difference between him and Garginis, who was ranked eighth at the time, was stark.

'A simple singles advance alone would have placed Garginis Theotolt in sixth, Letty Kultunka in fifth, Fanon Trooper in fourth, Jean Rumbles in third, Vaget Olagoram in second. And first place Ars Regin. So the fact that there's been a vacancy for a single wizard so far means it's not a good situation. In the meantime, though, it seems that some information about single wizards will be made public among the countries after the previous incident.
Ideally, each country should have at least one single wizard on hand.
Ideally, that's what the countries want. Ideally, the countries would have their own agendas, but I'm sure that Balmes couldn't realistically do it either. So we have to rely on the association for that. As you can see from your licence, you're now a member of the association, so the association has got the singles' slot.
I would have preferred that Ilyce be the one to do it, sir.
'That's a tough one. It could discredit the single wizard and removing the framed number one from the rankings would only strengthen the distrust in the countries for whatever reason, right?　It's going to be inevitable for a while.

　Ars seems to have been a bit misinformed about the ranking he holds. Even though he has kept it a secret until now, Ars's various achievements have been disclosed due to the recent attempt to overthrow the state.
　The fact that there is such an easy turnover in the pecking order is an unsettling factor for people.

　I'm sure that Sisti's way of saying that she thinks that the countries have made it so, but in reality it's largely due to the personal feelings of Ilyce. He probably perceived the situation in that area earlier than Ars.
　Of course, even if the association has too much power as a result, there are many reasons for concern, such as the weakening of the training of mages in each country. If this is the background, it can surely be forgiven, but is it only Ars that doesn't feel that this is partly due to Cicernian's intentions?

　However, Ilyce was forced to do so because of this lack of singles. If possible, though, I hope it will be a short period of time before he sits in the number one chair.

　Suddenly, Tesfia interrupts the conversation between Sisti and Ars. The good and bad thing about her is that she seems deflated and can't swallow the question as it is.

'What's wrong with Al being a member of the Society?'
Chairman Ilyce is a pretty high ranking wizard as well, isn't he?

　He then kicks off Alice's doubts as if Loki is going to replace Ars in the race. Of course, all of the knowledge she gained came from Ars.

'Al is concerned that it will create a dependency on the Association. If it's a single dependency, as Alpha was, it can be dealt with domestically, but dependence on the Association will create a huge gap in national power. That's why it's preferable for each country to have a single mage as it has always been.

　Contrary to Loki's divine mouth, the confirming look directed at Ars is a bit proud of himself.
　In affirmation of this, Ars took over while clearing his throat.

''The role of the association is only the distribution of forces. It's preferable that its role is that of a replacement. The worst-case scenario and the usefulness of the association itself was enough for Ilyce alone. And even then, he was the former second place. And that ability isn't that much different from mine.

　In fact, if Ilyce's combat prowess were to be applied to her current ranking, she would certainly be second only to Ars. She also has a different ability that cannot be openly displayed like Ars, and her immortality is still intact.
　A word uttered without a second thought, Tesfia hit her knees on the table once with a clatter and fainted in agony, while Alice only moistened her lips with the tea she brought to her mouth and put her cup back, clattering and trembling.

　Across from her, Sisty was gracefully bringing her tea to her mouth, her thin smile taut. Her thin smile was just taut and not in good shape or funny. It's just an abdication of responsibility: 'I just don't know.

'Though that won't mean much if the association doesn't get official recognition and results, either.
Well, who is Chairman Ilyce?

　It was unlikely that Ars would be able to answer Tesfia's questions. So, for once, he looked over to Sisty to get back to the conversation.
　I wondered if she got the point, and Sisti returned to the conversation with a knowing look on her face. It was also the expression of someone who could know Ilyce's past so clearly that even Ars could see it.

'At first glance, the establishment of the association is a great help to mages, but at the same time, it will be a little while before the effects of the association are seen. And to get back to the beginning, it is not a good idea for the academy to expel you from the academy as easily as it is for the first place. Since the reputation of the school is at stake, it is necessary for you to stay at least until you graduate, even if it is only in the laboratory.......

　Sisti, who choked on her words for a moment, let out a grand sigh.

'It was originally a special exception, but you're only going to be enrolled in it. I've been told by Sisernia-sama to make such a plan. There are no restrictions from the academy. You're free to continue doing what you've always done.
'No, I don't recall ever liking it,'
'Just pretend it's appropriate. No one will complain about it. It's the mouthpiece of the High Priestess.
It's nice that we're actually having trouble finding a place to live.

　But," said Sisti, sticking one of her fingers out to show him the belly of her finger, pointing it at the tip of Ars's nose. It's meant to be a nail-biter.

''Good, now you are the single wizard the entire academy knows. Please keep the unnecessary fuss to a minimum.
I'll keep that in mind.

　A bit of banter followed, and the information gained was well worth making up for the months he had been out in the outside world. Although Ars's laboratory is the site of the academy in terms of physical appearance, as a tenant, all of the costs are paid for by the military. The contract is supposed to last until graduation, but they don't mind having you stay longer than that.
　To supplement Sisti's extra word, she said, "It's also good PR for the institute.

　By the time we had received three cups of tea apiece, the outside had long since sunk into the darkness of night. It's a good thing that you're able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　That posture was very tiring for Ars. After all, he had his head on his shoulder from both sides.

　It was impossible not to acknowledge their efforts, and Ars couldn't be insensitive enough to wake them up by talking about it. Still, as expected, I'm sure he wouldn't want me to drool.
　Sisty smiled across from him in disgust, and Loki gave a resigned grimace.

　It wasn't until just before the girls' dormitory's curfew that Tesfia and Alice had no choice but to be woken up.