The clear seasonal change from fall to winter begins to fill the survival zone.
The sun occupies less time in the sky and the night begins to tint much of the day.

　The third Babel was not equipped with the weather control and pseudo-imaging features of the old days. Such things would never truly free people from the caged world. They will not even understand what is going on until the time of their unquestioning demise, when their deceitful safety myths will be destroyed.

　Therefore, the protective wall that separates us from the outside world is designed to accept the order of nature.
　Babel's role is solely dedicated to keeping the demons away and away from them. That's all that's needed. Anything else is rather superfluous.

　Instead of turning away from it, we face it. That's all, that's all, and that's the shared reality that Ars wants.

　Such a dry wind envelops the academy as well.
　That was the first time those who didn't know the outside world would experience their breath turning white. Even within the academy, some idiots could be seen to become soured as a result of exhaling continuously for fun.

　But it was also a tough season for those who knew the outside world. The magic power that covers the body in a certain proportion can be a protection against the cold, but only those who are tasked with manipulating the magic power as a daily training can do so. For the demons that prey on magic power, half-hearted manipulation of magic power is just a way of letting them know where they are. That's why most wizards use clothing to ward off the cold.


　It's not possible to be happy or sad about the change in seasons, the master of the top floor of the research building is still stuck indoors.

　He was busy with various tasks in the laboratory to take his students to the outside world, even more so than usual.
　It's a good thing that you are in the academy and also have a title as a student, so normally you should be working hard on your studies.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're in the market. This is also the usual scene for Loki to clean up the mess, but this time, she was busy helping Ars with her research, although to a small degree.

　There is no time to do preliminary inspection with this mission, and right now it's a matter of assorting materials and packing them incessantly.
　Ars looks at the map and keeps a detailed terrain in his mind. Normally, he would like to have a little more detailed information about the mission, but that is unavoidable due to time constraints.

　I'm supposed to be able to get detailed information about the mission by asking the client directly. Even though it's a mission of the association, we can't go so far as to disclose our internal situation to a third party.
　Naturally, if there is a problem, you can report it to the association, but the rules are basically set up so that you can't tell anyone what's going on behind the scenes regarding your mission.

　--However, this is the time of the outside mission and this is not good enough information.

　Even though it's a dispatch job for magicians, the situation in the outside world is different from other countries.

　--So that's it. The minimum information for the mission has been included.....

　It's also true that Ars is the only one who gathers information this thoroughly.
　But maybe we should at least tell the details of the request to an association that claims non-interference in the affairs of the country. Whether or not that is necessary is up to the client, though.

''Do we need at least some guidelines...?''
What are you talking about?

　Loki reacts quickly to the monologue he uttered aloud.
　Of course, since he was just monologuing, the conclusion has already been reached. There was no real point in discussing it, and Ars dropped his gaze to the map at hand as if to change the subject.

'As far as this map is concerned, I just thought it would be much different from Alpha in terms of terrain. It seems that the Hydrangee was only focused on defense. In terms of reclaiming territory, it hasn't progressed in any way.

　Of course, the fact that Krokel, the single mage at the time, was not on the outside world was also a major factor. The single mage's main task was to expand their territory, or at least to build a base as a bridgehead.

''The same here...''

　Loki is desperately studying, or rather, packing information into a report on the demons in the vicinity of Hydrangea.
　Along with that, he also compares the demon compendium in the national database. Of course, this is something that can be viewed only because it is military personnel, Ars. Generally speaking, it is organized like an illustrated book, but in terms of the latest data, it is better to look at the compendium.

　The wrinkles between the eyebrows are for the fact that this mission is fraught with difficulty on the surface only.
　If the terrain and climate change slightly, the demons that live there will also change.
　In particular, the kind of demons that inhabit the suburbs of Alpha do not exist in Hydrangee.
　Besides..........

''Al, this is what I mean. Unlike Alpha, there are a few demons in Hydrangee that have not been reported for defeat.

　This is not supposed to happen, but if you encounter a monster and the field determines that it is impossible to defeat it, you may choose to run away. There are various reasons for this, such as carrying a wounded person or after a series of battles in which the magic power is severely depleted.

　But if that is the case - in this case, the target is B-rated or higher - it is normal for them to share information about the demons after returning to their homes and immediately set out to defeat them with a different unit.
　This is because if the monster enters the exclusive territory of another country, it will be considered the fault of the country that discovered it.

　Of course, this also has its pitfalls: if you missed the B-rate, and later raised the rate to A and S, a demon whose body had been transformed to the point where its original form was unknown would be recognized as a new species. That's right, there's no way to tell if it's a new species.
　There is no denying the possibility that the demons that are considered new species are the ones that were missed in the past. That's why, at the very least, the country is responsible for defeating any demons found that have a B-rate or higher.

　If the situation is difficult, they can naturally get cooperation from other countries, but in any case, there will be harmful effects.

I'm sure the association's role is to eliminate these kinds of problems, but it's necessary to understand the situation. However, we can't spend all our time on this. I'm sorry Loki, can you take care of that one?
Yes, sir.

　To be clear, the number and nature of the demons were completely different from the alphas, and their number was easily over a hundred. Ars's suggestion to remember them was absurd.
　Ars's intention was to say as long as he could remember.

　Loki, who was sitting down directly on the floor, not caring about the fact that he was a skirt, and was staring at the Demon Daishiki and the report with his hands, guffawed and held his fists in front of his chest.

''I've already learned half of it!'' I told him reddishly.

　If possible, I would have Tesfia and Alice learn it, but it would be more constructive to have the girls learn something more fundamental on top of their schoolwork.

　Activating the virtual LCD in front of his desk, Ars noticed that he had received a single email. It was from the Association, as he had expected.
　Since receiving the association's request, Ars had been working on another request at the same time. However, it was a one-sided requirement that couldn't exactly be called a request.

　After all, the way Ars, who was most recently short of money, could actually use his brain to earn money like hot water easily.
　In a matter of days, he sold the rights to the basic blueprints and research papers that Ars had devised for AWR. The correct way to do this is to have the information broadcast to the whole world through the association and have it purchased. This is not a request, but a sale.
　Although it was a violation of the rules, they did a good job of it because they paid an intermediary fee.

　The blueprints and research papers Ars put up for sale, the price at that time was several million delds.
　In the end, it seems that the three plans were bought for a total of 40 million derds. The producers of the blueprints and papers were left unmarked, so those who could tell at a glance by whom they were made could see at a glance.

　Ars doesn't know that the expected value calculated by the company and the state that bought it was expected to be in the billions of derds, and that's not something he's interested in. It's also a low price because it's paid for immediately. Honestly, it wouldn't change even if this blueprint was available elsewhere. We've invented magical formulas and magic schematics in the past, but it doesn't matter either way whether they're used for a lot of infrastructure equipment.

　Rather, it was more worthwhile to create them to find a new use for them.


　Anyway, he had received an email reporting that the payment had been made.

　Then, for a little while, Ars tapped on the virtual keyboard and completed the arrangements.
　The work was finished just as the academy's chime rang.

　And as if to see it, there was someone visiting Ars's lab. It was beginning to get dim, and a knock sounded behind Ars with a bang.

　Yes, it's behind him.
　Loki, realizing anecdotally, interrupted his studies and hurriedly made his way to Ars' back. At the same time, Ars also turned his chair around, placed his arm on his elbow, and poked his cheekbones in a dumbfounded manner.

''Good evening. Arus-sama.''
Miss Lynne, that's not the front door.

　On the top floor of the research building, outside the window of the top floor, there was Lynne with a big smile on her face. She was standing on the eaves that slightly connected the floors. Of course, it shouldn't be wide enough for her to smile.
　It wasn't a window to get out in the first place. It was cracked sometime ago so that it could be opened and closed when it was reupholstered, but it's not the right way to use it.

　Before I could think about what she was going to do if I didn't open it, Loki had opened it and said, "It's been a while, Lynne.