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　It was just after noon when Ars and the others returned to the Hydrangee Military Department.
　As they approached the military headquarters, the number of personnel devoted to defense was noticeable. The mages dressed in unfamiliar military uniforms welcomed Ars and others with open arms, as if they had already heard the news.

　It's not that they will actually escort you back, but even so, they gave you detailed instructions on the safe path.

　Both Tesfia and Alice would have noticed that there was some kind of expectation mixed in there. Before Ars was a single wizard, it might have seemed to them that this supposedly battle-hardened outside world had changed.

　Even if it was a den of demons, the path they were accustomed to walking would have provided them with some emotional support. But to them, the outside world spreading out in the Hydrangee had already been transformed into a nebulous world they had never heard of. A strange fear was prevalent, as if they had been thrown into a strange land.

　Even Ars couldn't help but feel that the vague word "outside world" must be a living thing at the same time.


　For humans, the natural enemy is undoubtedly a [demon]. However, the natural enemy for demons is........
　Thinking up to that point, Ars blocks out his thoughts.

　While multifaceted research on demons is advancing, ninety percent of it has not been proven enough to be presented at an academic conference. Any research has only a degree of durability that cannot be called an achievement, and that is a subject that is considered impossible in today's world.

　Like an endless maze, it is inevitably impossible to leave the realm of speculation.
　And then there is one of the conundrums regarding demons. Humanity has been considered the top of the food chain, but behind that term lies the position of demons.
　The term "food chain" itself may not apply to [demons], but looking at the current situation where we are living in a corner of the world, it seems as if the current human race is being raised by demons.

　It's a treacherous argument, but can't we say that demons are still inferior to humans as a species?

　--When demons no longer need human magic........

　Following Ars, who was walking silently, Tesfia and Alice seemed to be relieved to have a temporary relief that they had returned safely, as well. Nevertheless, while the crisis-like tension was released, the military of the other country was busy stiffening their expressions in front of the solemn appearance that swallowed the four of them.

　--The fact that demons eat humans is itself irrelevant to the survival of demons. Even if you go back in past history, demons have evolved in the context of a species. Evolution can range from being suitable for the environment to protecting oneself from external enemies. Tch, is it too late?

　Running his hand over his mouth, Ars thinks deeply. Could what he saw really be a speculation, or in this case, would it be better if it wasn't? After taking a leap of faith in his thoughts, Ars had such an inappropriate concern that maybe it was still good while the demons were eating humans.

　In any case, this mission was an unworthy kind of work.


　One neatly-dressed woman stood at the main entrance of the Hydrangee military headquarters, and as soon as she confirmed the arrival of the four of them, she greeted them with a beaming smile. She is an envious young woman with neatly coiffed hair and light make-up, unbecoming of a stiff military man.
　It would be more convincing if they said she was an image girl.

　I don't know how long she had been standing there waiting or waiting, but in any case, it would be impossible to find out from her appearance.

The woman who bowed deeply, "Thank you for your efforts," followed by an apologetic, "I'm sorry to say that we've arrived, but Colonel Bordeaux is waiting for you," she turned her attention to the passage behind her. That passageway, if you will, refers to the relatively sparsely trafficked passageway of a back door or side street.

　Although it was tempting to take a break, Ars and his team were immediately ushered into the conference room they used when they arrived.
　Since they understood that the situation was that urgent, Ars had no objection to it.


　In the conference room, not only Colonel Bordeaux, but others of similarly high rank to him, were gathered around a simple folding desk. It's not just a matter of how much time you have left, it's also a matter of how much time you have left.
　The only person who looked at Ars and the others who entered the room there was Bordeaux, who was standing alone directly in front of them.

　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about," said Bordeaux to Tesfia and Alice, who were clearly deflated.

''I'm sorry, sorry. You guys were there too. Forgive me if I'm a bit harsh on many of you. It's kind of my job to keep the wrinkles in place for a while, you know. Think of me as a vegetable or something.
Well, but that said...

　Tesfia turns her attention to her bewildered comrade, Alice.
　As expected, it was incredibly uncomfortable in a place where so many of the colonel class faces had gathered, and if they were to give her a single stare, she would hide behind Ars in a row.

'Just me and Loki can do the debriefing, so you guys stand back.
I will.

　Tesfia and Alice, who were offered help in a whisper, left the room first so as not to be rude. Needless to say, their behavior until they left the room was mindlessly hurried, as if they were holding their breath.

''You mean you are taking the situation that seriously,''

　Confirming that Tesfia and Alice had completely disappeared, Ars cut him off candidly.
　The remaining Loki also weighed in on the reality of the situation, which was heavier than the word "heavy".

'The correct answer is that there are those here who are weighing in heavily, Lord Arus. Unlike the system of other countries' armies, the Hydrangee is not designed to allow the entire military to move with one voice of the Governor. Under the leadership of a superior officer who unites dozens of troops, targets are established that are the basis of the operation. The Governor's single-mage unit is the center of the Governor's jurisdiction, and each unit is assigned and authorized in accordance with the proposals raised from below. Of course, there are priorities for that as well, and if they are low, they will be dismissed.

　Unknowingly, with a feeling of getting involved, Ars brought the faces into view.
　It's not just the number of medals on their chests that have been gathered here, but also their military uniforms suggest that they are not necessarily Colonel Bordeaux's men. Some of them were a year or two older than he was, if only in age.

　Undoubtedly, this conference room is undeniably disproportionate. For a room they usually use for meetings, this place has a simple atmosphere similar to a wizard's operation room.
　There was little more than a simple, reassembled desk and a hard chair that they would not be able to sit in for hours.
　At best, daylight coming in through the curved front-facing glass windows softened the atmosphere, but it also reflected nothing. But it wasn't enough, either, due to the curtained-off screen that projected nothing.

　Nevertheless, from the number of people gathered here, Ars was also beginning to somewhat read the intentions of the people.
　The word "priority" includes the level of trust and importance involved in it.
　What are the factors that determine the prioritization of these priorities........

''Support........''
That's right. 'That's right. The appeal to the Governor, signed by the officer and above, is a matter of objective importance and has a great deal to do with policy. Ultimately, it is the Governor's call, but not to be dismissed without a fight.
I see.

　These methods would work well if the military was not infested with bad bugs.
　The army was able to function independently in the military because former head Rafcenal had never intervened in the military at all. It is also certain that the current head of the army, Laurent, who was a force split with Rafcenal, was behind it.
　In order to get under the authority of Rafcenal, who had the power to appoint and dismiss the Governor at the time, the authority of the Governor was distributed and the policy of the army was decided on the principle of majority rule.

　Such groundwork had already been laid in the Hydrangee Army.

''You mean, we need to identify a general threat to this one, about the mission, is that what you're saying?

　A nod came back, but Ars frowned suspiciously.
　Bordeaux also saw that we had noticed, and immediately stuck out his arm.

'I'll tell you everything later. You'll hear about it eventually, but I'll hear the report first.

　With a sincere look in his eyes, Bordeaux uttered it with a quivering beard and unbending intent.
　Loki had already noticed it, too.
　Without looking at anyone, Loki squinted at the situation itself, which was full of discomfort to begin with. More to the point, he couldn't understand why they didn't try to hide that feeling of discomfort.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　There was no need to check again in the first place. The mission assigned to Ars and others is not that important, and at the same time, it is something that is not expected.
　It's a good thing that the current state of the Hydrangee is such that a new single wizard is welcomed, and the inexplicable phenomenon of the time to come is making it difficult for us to do what we've been doing from the start. It should have been this one thing, to set out to wipe out the demons to pay the bill for the past....

　Loki anxiously looked at Ars, who was standing a little ahead of him.

　The answer that both Ars and Loki had arrived at was the same. It lies in the dissolution of the phenomenon of the nocturnal meeting, and the collapse of this premise. In other words, an event is happening that stands alongside the matter that should be unanimous in the consensus of the military. And that too while Ars and others are out in the outside world.

　That's why it's being filed up and is gathering support to be recognized as a priority.