He had asked for it himself, but Schulte kept his head down and kept his mouth shut.
　He was sneaking around because he was concerned about the eyes of his surroundings. What's more, he never dreamed that Ars and others would notice him.

　However, in fact, Ars and Loki do not know every single one of the students who were watching the game. Unless, of course, they have a killing intent, differentness, or something else that isn't buried among the many.
　A student with curiosity reflected in his eyes is only a crow to Ars and Loki in the eyes of Ars and Loki.

　Hence, there was another reason why the two of them were aware of Shult's presence.

''You're the underclassman Alice was talking about...that you used the [Phoenix]
Ick!　No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. It's just an imitation of form and lineage....

　Shults waving his hands and face from side to side in front of his face just says he's afraid. In fact, I'm aware that I'm too inexperienced to call that 【Phoenix 【Phoenix】.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. Of course, pouring more magic power into it doesn't mean that its size will increase.
　This is because the summoning magic contains a huge amount of information, down to the details of its expression, and is manifested by magic power.

　There are parts of the elaboration of the autonomous program that cannot be elucidated by modern magic science. No, it is not properly published. It is a transcription of the literature of the past, or if you will, of some of the ruins.
　It's not only that, it's that people have been able to handle magic for a long time, and that magic power itself has existed in the body since long ago.

　And the first opportunity to construct magic into magic originated in the discovery of ruins - the oldest description (relic). It was only in recent years that they were found to be magical formulas for constructing magic.

　It's a copy of one of those old documents - the oldest description (relic) - that Ars has succeeded in deciphering, but because of its difficult high-level magic, it's not included in the Grand Encyclopedia Grimoire.

　It's a little suspicious that according to Alice's story, he used the phoenix - for some reason he was half-smiling at the time.
　Because of such an exchange, that's why Ars came to keep it in his memory for a while.


　Since I didn't actually see it with my own eyes, I can't be sure, but even if it was a degraded version, it would be nearly impossible to truly imitate the [Phoenix] in the true sense of the word. In other words, the highest possibility would be to imitate the form alone.

　But even so, it's surprising that the students of the academy handled summoning magic. The point is that he can program a huge amount of information into his magic to specify the shape and similar - and that's just what he saw.
　At the very least, his manipulation skills in magic are different from those of his previous students.

　Indeed, summoning magic and the like is remarkable in its unsuitability. The same is true for Tesfia's [Ice Knight] as well, mages are further subdivided into specialized magic from the systematic division. Among them, the easiest to understand is whether they are good at summoning magic or not.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do with your own personal life. Although there is a difference in degree, Leti is not a very good at it either.
　There are naturally some all-around types that can even do that with dexterity, like Ars, but the tendency is small, and in Ars's case, there is the heterogeneous aspect of carving a single magic formula directly into it.

　The boy in front of me would definitely have an aptitude for summoning magic. To put it simply, he's a scholarly type of magician with a deep understanding of magic.


''Well, for that matter, why should I take the time for an underclassman like you?''
Yes, that's true, but...

　As expected, Schulte knew that it couldn't come true either. It was difficult to even meet a single mage in the first place. The reason why I ran out of steam is probably because I was frustrated at losing to the main one.

　The words that followed did not come out. It is not acceptable to behave as a nobleman and beg for anything more with that lack of civility. From here on out, even the house would be in jeopardy.
　But..........

　The signs of bashfulness had faded for Shults, who had straightened his posture. The expression on his face as he straightened his residence was filled with determination, as if his karma as a magician had won out despite being a nobleman.
　Yes, this opportunity may never come again.

　It's a very good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends. It's a good thing that the experience we've had so far has allowed us to take one more step forward. Even the fetters of nobility were not enough to put a stop to Shults now.

　The entity he wanted to be was right in front of him. So far, we have only selected and adopted what we can feed ourselves, but that is only a piece of the puzzle to become the strongest magician called Ars.
　That's why I felt that if I didn't stop here, I wouldn't be able to gain anything. Because I make it a goal and respect it, everything about Ars makes me evolve every step of the way.

　The gaze peeking through his bangs caught Ars without interruption.

'You're wasting your time standing around, and I'm leaving for now. Until then, I'll use my time.''
'Yes, sir!　I'm sorry to be late, but my name is Schuld Wenkord.

　After all this time, I'll be polite.

　Naturally, I can't think of either Ars or Loki in the Shults' family name. They both know very little about the nobility within Alpha.
　In any case, it's of no interest to them. They have no intention of remembering even ten percent of the names that have been given to their students so far.


　Loki, who walked silently without looking back, walked a little short distance next to Ars. Shult follows three steps behind those two.

''Ah, you're a pain in the ass. When you see one, you become two...''
And the third one.

　Loki's cheeks loosened somewhat as he took over the complaining Ars's words.
　Schulte's offer didn't feel too good, as it reminded him of the two angry underclassmen earlier. But even so, Loki was dismayed at Ars for giving him a chance, and yet he felt as if his hunch had come true.

　It is extremely regrettable that he was interrupted in his return home alone, but he glanced at his consciousness in the background.


　As a matter of fact, Ars thought that his method was a smart way to focus on efficiency. Most of all, it also points to the limits of what an individual can refine within the protected zone of survival.
　Before you don't realize the threat of a threat in your own body, you're only a good wizard who can learn no matter what you do.

　The three of them, including Shults, are also the chaperones of Noir, and Tesfia and Alice have their eyes on him. That's why Ars burned the meddling in Main and Fiona. There was some interest there, though.


　It doesn't take much time to walk from the main school building to Ars's laboratory. And yet, Schulte follows behind without uttering a single word.
　I'm not following you for the sake of having a fun time coming home. You must choose your words, and you must not fail to be polite.

''A, Ars-sama........''

　A voice so weak that it seemed to melt into the stillness of the night rang faintly in the background. A subdued voice that seemed to be wishing in my heart that I wouldn't hear it.

'You don't have to put the sama on.'

　Without looking back, Schulte immediately accepted the words spat out in the direction of travel. Originally, he would have refused to do so too, even if it was right and wrong.
　But for now, he accepted in order not to create a bad impression any more.

''Ars-san may I ask you one question?''
Until we get there.

　Three footsteps could be heard mingling over the paved walkway. Ars with a spare gait, followed by small footsteps.
　And the irregular, hard footsteps, as if they were poking me with crutches every time.

　Once, after taking a big, deep breath, Shults opens his mouth with intent. It's not enough during this limited return trip to ask the main thing what he did and why he did it.
　

''........What is a mage?''
What?
..........

　Ars stopped in his tracks as he walked slightly in the lead.
　He is talking about what is a person, what is life, and what is a mage.......what is a mage? This question encompasses too many conundrums.

　It is necessary for Ars, the researcher, to understand the meaninglessness of what he is trying to say, and at the same time to remember what he needs to say. This may be the first time he has been confronted with a philosophical problem.

　In words, a mage is one who deals in magic and yet confronts threats at the price of life for humanity.
　It is the name of a thing that is not less than that, but instead continues to be more than that.

'You're a romantic dreamer, you. You don't need to know any of that stuff to fight and be a mage.

　Unusually, Ars let out a sigh with tired eyes.
　The boy behind him was intelligent in some ways, but his essence was somewhere else entirely. Maybe he wasn't a bit like him, Ars changed his mind.

　This boy is the type of person who can live beautifully in the outside world. This is not the same as Ars, who only emphasized rationality and tamed coldness.
　However, the irrational behavior that Ars has seen many times in the outside world is surely something that people like Schulte possess. You can't abandon your friends, you can't give up until the end, and you do the folly of compensating for your impotence with life.

It's just that the wizard you speak of is very human, isn't he?　Well, it's deadly.
"--!　You can't do that.

　Just before the research building, Ars and Loki stopped. After a beat or so of contemplation, Ars was about to answer the question he had asked, albeit in a passive manner.
　It seems to me that he must be searching for it himself.

─ Don't worry. I'm sure everyone will continue to fight for something unique and uncompromising to protect and carry through. A wizard is just a generic term, after all. No two are the same. Isn't that why we become mages, to find it?
..........!
Al....

　With an unearned look on her face, Loki looked up at Ars.
　It was the most amazing thing she had ever seen in her life. It's strange that such an abstract word as an expletive could wear so well. At the same time, she realizes that both Ars and herself are still in the middle of the road.

''Ugh ... stop those eyes, Loki. It makes me want to die when I say it.''
I'll join you then.

　Loki gave Ars a smile so carefree that he couldn't tell if it was a joke.