The Chancellor has presented one condition for the use of the training grounds. Of course, since they are ostensibly students, there shouldn't be any problems with them. It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　The reason for this is because it is different from an official mage license, so the status is different from the other academy students. No, should we call it affiliation?
　There is also the circumstance that the association has only been in operation for a short period of time and that area is still ambiguous. For the convenience of the academy, the convenience of Alpha, the convenience of the association, the magicians, and even humanity, this is all unavoidable, I suppose.

　Just as one cannot live alone, one may not even be able to be alone. In that sense, we will definitely be connected somewhere. It wasn't that they couldn't escape, they might have been made to attract each other to begin with.

　While thinking about such an enlightened escape from reality, Ars entered the training compartment. If he could resume the training he had thrown out halfway through in this way, that would also be good.

　However, if I were to add "from this time on", there is no point in keeping Ars's ranking secret already. Therefore, the condition issued by the chancellor was not to draw a blackout curtain in the training compartment like before. Being allowed to remain in the academy was not only to keep the reputation of the academy intact, but also included the intention of showing the students the power of a single.

　Normally, the dark curtain should be pulled back from the perspective of the secrecy of the magic learned since Loki is also there, but if we talk about her only, the answer was probably already decided at the stage when Ars agreed to the conditions. However, it would be utterly barren if that was the reason why she couldn't participate in the training.
　Loki himself is not satisfied with his current power.

　Naturally, Ars, who was now making his name in the academy as a single magician, had anticipated the danger of the dark curtain not descending. As expected, if Tesfia and Alice were to be taught by an active single magician, the number of students who would gather under Ars would continue to increase. It was a strong student with an indomitable spirit, if they were to be stuck in front of the laboratory all day, they would not know what they were staying in the academy for.

　It's a good idea to have a good time with them.

　It's a good thing that the training that Ars will impose on them from now on is also convenient.

''As expected, the eyes of the students will be painful if we can't put down a blackout curtain.

　Tesfia placed her hands on the hilt butt of the sword-shaped AWR that she held in both hips, as if to give it a rest. The first year students who were training, as well as the lesser but still advanced students, managed to keep up the appearance of training. Their attention was clearly turned to the four compartments they had just entered.

''If it's just me, I'm still getting used to it...''

　The two of them had been using the training grounds while Ars and the others were away, so they were getting used to the first year's gaze. Often times they taught them lightly if they had time.
　So, as expected of Alice, she was getting used to training under the attention. That was the result of striving to be a model for the underclassmen.

　However, that which the two of them felt now was different from the past, and it was a gaze that was close to heat from all directions. There was even a sense of pressure, as if they were taking an interest in it all, as if they were giving a speech in front of the whole school. The two of them didn't have the patience to continue ignoring it with enthusiasm.

　Nevertheless, the two of them now had the same kind of light in their eyes, not as the seniors of the first years, but the same kind of gaze that is directed at them as a lifelong student receiving lessons from Ars.
　Fortunately, if you close the doorway of the compartment, it is difficult for sound to leak out.

'Well, you can't start worrying about it,'
'Yes, I suppose so. At least you don't intend to pry into the magic.

　The eyes of curiosity, which should be called the peculiarity of the students of the academy until now. As Loki has guessed, there is no indication that he even cares about any reservations. They are probably interested in the training that the top talents in the academy, such as Tesfia and Alice, receive.
　They may be thinking of stealing techniques at every opportunity. Such a method of study can be a valuable experience.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about it. It's not so easy to disclose the magic formula. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what kind of magic you can use.
Even if you can actually use it, there's still effects and mileage and all that, so it won't help you if your skills can't keep up.

　The red-haired girl returned her two palms and shook her face full-force. Although Tesfia has also worked on a part of the highest level magic, the [Permanent Freezing Realm 《Nibbleheim》], but it is not as good as the one included in the large collection.
　She must have felt it firsthand. Still, she'd devised her own and put it under the influence to a small extent, so it was a good foothold.

'So what kind of training are you doing today?　Is it a mock battle like usual?

　Alice interrupted the gaze as if it was rushed. She drew her golden spear from the case, a glow that seemed to assert more than ever that she was always ready.

　However, Ars restrains the two bloodthirsty men with a swooping, lifting hand.

''Before we do that, I have a few things to tell you guys.
Well, now that you've taken a turn for the worse you don't have to worry about me anymore. Yeah, I forgive you.
"I don't need your forgiveness!　It's more of a checklist of things to look for before we start training and a report on what's to come.

　After kicking off Tesfia's tea, Ars deliberately changed his face to a slightly divine one. Loki, who must have sensed this, nodded one to Tesfia and Alice.

''What, what........''
Don't be too scared, okay?

　I don't mean to threaten him at the moment. Nevertheless, Ars still had to confirm it. He had to hear it directly from the girls' mouths.

'Well, it's not a scary story, but I just wanted you guys to know a little bit about me. So let me hear that and then give you the answer. And if you still want to continue...

　He didn't even say aloud, "This training.
　But the words that followed, and so on, were readily apparent to Tesfia and Alice. The obvious change in their facial expressions and strong, hard will was evident in their eyes.

　The answer to the question was answered at the stage of the fight with the girls in Rusalka. Still, Ars actually felt the need to hear it from the girls' mouths. No, because Ars himself reminded them that there are times when you have to say it out loud to understand, or not get it across.

'Did Alice hear it from Fia?　............that.
...Huh?
Which one?

　Even Tesfia, following Alice, had a question mark clearly above her head as if she had lost her beat. It wasn't so much the result of bad guessing as it was the result of Ars's crispness being too bad.
　Therefore.

''No wonder the two of them are in trouble on the contrary if Al is in that state. I know it's not something that should be said out loud, but shouldn't we trust the two of them there?

　Ars did his best to keep his eyebrows from leaning up in musing. Loki had even called himself "whatever number" to let Ars know that they were growing in his mind.
　Ars knew that, too. That they were no longer just students.

　Even so, there must have been many opportunities to break off the relationship before. That's why right now, this place is the final turning point. It wouldn't be fair if he was the one choking on that question.

　Ars took a deep breath and forced himself to repel the kind of fear he was feeling for the first time. A selfish feeling of not wanting to let go of this relationship that had connected and continued to connect. A selfish, pathetic, weak heart. Still, I knew that filling in what was missing was surely not weakness.

"I've had to have so many people on my hands. I had to. I killed them when I didn't have to. My hands are already soiled beyond recognition. Didn't you see that?　That's what's at the bottom of me. It's not something I can change now.
But Al doesn't kill as he pleases. There are exceptions, such as orders. The only thing we are taught from an early age is how to protect ourselves, no matter what our nature is. This is the only thing we have been taught to do. In the simplest way, if you want to protect yourself, you have to kill them. But..........in the case of Al, he had the power to take on the back side of this country's situation...... Right?

　Because Loki, who emits with such a voice sound that seems to tremble even now, has seen it up close the unreasonableness that he feels so strongly tightens his heart.
　At the same time, Loki knows better than anyone else that what little is left of Ars's heart is at the root of it. He also knows that the opportunity for him to change, the opportunity to make that little something bigger was after he entered the academy.

　That's all that matters to him now. Now Ars is beginning to realize the little something within. Loki knows more than anyone else that nothing has changed in his nature as he is. He knows Ars more than anyone else. He believes that.

　But it would be nothing but tactless to teach Tesfia and Alice that much. It shouldn't benefit anyone. So the girls have to come up with their own answers in a different way than Loki did. If you continue to stay by their side.

''Ahhhhh yes. We're done with that too, so it's okay.
..........

　Somewhat amused by Ars, who was a little taken aback, Tesfia replied with one eye closed.

I'm sure Alice and I have already decided on that. Otherwise, I wouldn't have continued the training. The fact that Al was throwing people to shreds and throwing people to shreds was shocking, as you can imagine. I couldn't get anything down my throat for a few days because of you, so take the blame!　First you must train us to be full-fledged mages. So that you can choose your own path.
Well I'm sure you're right, but what about Alice?
I'll tell you when you're done. That's the best I can do right now!

　Tesfia's face reddened in protest at being so lightly swept away. It was unlikely she would have been able to bear it otherwise. The embarrassment of speaking her true feelings and the determination she felt again was a sure thing.

　Alice, on the other hand, stared straight at Ars, in direct contrast to Tesfia. The golden spear that she had grasped with such enthusiasm was now buried in the gap between her breasts as if she were embracing it.

''I am. I didn't see firsthand what Al did, but I think I understand what it's all about. Maybe it's a strong statement, but I don't think I feel that way about Al the way he says I do. I don't know if I can put it well, but maybe, you know, I think I still want to be with him more than Al thinks I do. So please keep it up.

　Lowering the golden spear, Alice forcefully lowered her head. Perhaps it was because she couldn't put it into words well that she took the simplest action. It's hard to accept everything, and maybe she doesn't know the reality herself.
　Still, she chooses to move on so that she doesn't regret the present. No, the girls chose to follow the path that Ars had followed in their own way. From the way she walked to the way she decided on a guideline for that. From the way she moved her feet to the way she waved her hands.......she wanted the strength to be able to follow an invisible back to nowhere.

Don't regret it.
Who?
It's a choice you won't regret, Al.

　The two mages looked ahead with a clear goal in mind. Ars would have to focus only on responding to it.

　--I hope. I'll give him the power to not die so easily. There's no such thing as half-strength to be broken in the middle of the road. I'm going to have to give them something better than that, don't I?

　Inwardly, Ars also makes up his mind, for a moment.
　Loki included the two of them in the only smile he had ever directed at the Academy.

　The girls would surely understand Ars. No, they tried to understand him, and for some reason that alone made him happy. That he was the one who could gradually break down his confined shell...that he was brave enough to step out into his circle.

　Loki accepted it with joy, for now.