At the sound of Colonel Bordeaux's hurried voice, Ars cowered lightly before getting down to business.
　Even if the colonel was in a hurry and these issues were urgent, if he couldn't share the urgency of the situation, it would take several steps before a decision was made. In other words, it would take time.

　Currently, though, the new single mage, Lehail, is probably wielding his shrewdness in the outside world.

　The air in the place was beginning to tense up with the reports of Ars, who was about to speak. Some of them even started to light their cigars.
　They have information that Ars and others don't know, and they imagine based on that. They envision a situation that they cannot be optimistic about.

　Ars glances at the slender man with the cigar on. He must be cross-legged under the desk. He noticed the restlessness of his gaze and took a bite, then crushed the tip of the cigar to extinguish it.
　As the stagnant purple smoke spread thinly across the conference room, everyone's attention was focused on Ars.

'This mission. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see it in person.

　While looking at the situation, Ars cuts out. They are not discouraged, rather they are in a tone that seems to even express relief.
　Of course, only Colonel Bordeaux across the street wrinkles his brows and looks straight back at you. He said that at the beginning of the mission that he didn't expect it, but of course he didn't think that a single mage would move and leave empty-handed.

'Continue, Lord Ars,' urges Bordeaux.
　I had a feeling that we could have a good relationship with him, and even Ars looked a little disappointed as he narrowed his eyes.

'It's a blunder on our part, but may I ask one thing?'
'Of course. I'd like to hear a frank opinion, even if it's not from my own magician... or in regards to the depths.

　Bordeaux doesn't seem to be in a bad mood at Ars's offer, and directs a nascent expression at him. This is because it is not an opinion about the mission, but an opinion to intervene in the military.
　But..........

''This is my opinion from the neutral position of an association mage.
Hmm, I'll allow it.
'I've made some blunders, but it's nothing short of extraordinary out here. Colonel, the difficulty of the mission alone is equivalent to a double-digit class mobilization. The rate of the demons we've encountered alone is several A-rated ones. It's not a rate we would normally encounter frequently. You knew that, didn't you?
'I'm guessing that's because you had these girls along for the field trip.

　I didn't expect that," Bordeaux said, his wrinkles deepening as he let out a small sigh.

　In the end, the end result is a watered-down argument. The past is not going to get us any further by looking back on the past, Ars decides.

The first thing I want you to understand is that the demons here are very different from those in other countries. Before starting the investigation of the Night Meeting, we had an encounter with the [Night Walker], followed by the appearance and engagement of the [Nameless No-Face]...

　A groan arises at Ars's report, but it quickly turns to admiration and praise.
　Since [No-Face] itself is classified as an S-rate demon, its defeat is good news for the Hydrangee Army.

''We succeeded in defeating it, but we can no longer afford to investigate the Night Meeting. But.........the troops were smart enough to go investigate instead.

　Loki's bruised face deflects for a moment as Ars digs back in again, a little sarcastically.
　He pokes his finger at the back of that single core stretched out from behind.

　Ignoring that weak assertion, Ars proceeded to speak.

''What she saw at the place where the [Night Meeting] was held. It's a demon, to put it bluntly.''
And what is it?
It's an unidentified demon. But from what I've heard, its rate is SS.

　The heart-stopping shock caused everyone to clang their chairs loudly.

''So, regarding the demon's report, and its inadequacies, do you know of a B-rated demon called [Rutted Snake (Kuchinawa)]?''
'So what?　There have been reports of sightings and even defeats of these demons in other countries as well.

　A high-ranking official wearing round glasses slowly opened his mouth. His hard, tanned skin was etched with wrinkles so deep they were impossible to remove.
　This one voice of the old man was more tense around him than that uttered by Bordeaux. So much so that he could tell by his current reply that he had the highest status in this group.

　Ars looked back at the masterful eyes behind the old man's glasses and nodded.

　Loki, she lightly instructs him, and she starts to explain on behalf of Ars.

''The [Rutted Snake (Kuchinawa)] is not a particularly rare demon, but even if you go back to the record of defeating the Hydrangee, there are no reports of it... even though there are reports of sightings. At the same time, reports of [Night Walker] have been increasing rapidly for about a month now.

　Loki, who explained in a matter-of-fact, clerical manner, pointed out the faults to include and shut his mouth.

　The colonel may have a point to make on that, but he took over without pause, as it was completely irrelevant to what Ars was trying to say.

'It's unnatural for the rates to be so high and frequent. Well, that's fine. The problem lies in the fact that the demon she saw was very similar to [Rutted Snake (Kuchinawa)].

　Wide-eyed, Bordeaux immediately asks back.

'Lord Ars didn't see it firsthand, but isn't that what you expected?　If it's a "rut snake," then the SS rate is too high.
'Well, it's all about anticipation. It's just that, Loki it would be better for you and us to not judge it as an S-rate, as far as she's concerned, so that you won't misjudge the way you're dealing with it,
I see.

　Some of them were so obsessed that they immediately started up their virtual keyboards and were creating something crazy.

'I'm sorry, Colonel, but this isn't the end of the story. Rather, it's just the beginning.
What?
The movement of the [Night Walker], or maybe that's not all.
'You're missing the point. I'm going to put a certain amount of trust in Lord Ars's words, even if it is my personal opinion. Do you think I'm not aware of your achievements as a researcher as well as a single wizard?　None of us here will take the word of a single wizard lightly.
'Then perhaps we should think of the [night party] as a sort of cannibalistic ritual. I've seen traces of the night party taking place, which confirms the speculation.
The evidence is...
There was nothing clean.

　Several men sitting on either side of Ars, who shook his head, stood up, clinking their chairs.

'Then it's still a guess, isn't it? And similar pursuits began to concentrate on Ars one after another.

　But the actual Ars, without changing a single expression, develops a fearless smile. It's as if he found pleasure in giving rational logic to an incomprehensible phenomenon.

'There's nothing left, why consider it zero. Nothing left is a fine answer. The number of demons gathered there on the night of the night party must have been as many as a thousand. Certainly, considering the speed at which the demons were moving and other factors, the time I went to see them was too late. But a strategy meeting with that many people gathered in one place?　A revelry?　If not, what is it?

　The questioning Ars didn't wait for a response, but lifted the corner of his mouth with a quick squeeze.

'When it comes to what demons do, it's the same as it always has been. It is to eat. 'Who?'　If there are no humans there we'll be left with our own kind.

　If we consider the phenomenon of 【Night Meeting】 as a basis, then the demon called 【No-Face (No-Face)】 seems to have inherited the traits of 【Nightwalker of the Dark Night】 somehow. If we follow it up to this point, there is probably no doubt about it.

　Yes, the demon that the Hydrangee Army had missed out on had evolved into something more powerful and unique. Unlike the [Evil Food], it was not an abnormality caused by an individual, but rather an evolution as a fully-fledged species. The demons had found a way to do that.
　No, there had been signs of it before, and it was always something that someone was worried about to the point of sounding the alarm. In other words, the mutants are the signs of it. Not a mutation caused by a magical information body that preyed on and incorporated humans, but a forced mutation caused by kindred eating and cannibalism.

　Assuming that, the demon in the form of a giant snake that Loki says he saw would make sense. The process leading to cannibalism is synonymous with preying on animals and insects. Therefore, one could think that primitive factors influenced the final shape change.

　If one of these stories makes sense, then the reasoning behind it is.........

Loki......
Yes.

　At Ars's call, Loki stood next to him and slid one arm out of the gap in his robe.
　The pattern, drawn in a black, ink-like substance, had become firmly entrenched in his skin. It was a geometric, or more specifically, an artificial design. To the viewer, one might call this pattern art.
　If you look closely, it looks more like an imprint than an ink, more like an imprint, a mark made by being pressed against it.

'--!
What's that?
..........

　A series of astonished looks came from her mouth. Of course, it was only Colonel Bordeaux who had an immediate idea of what the strange markings on her arm were.

'That's enough,' said Ars, gently pressing a hand against her back, and she drew the conclusion as it was.

'The Colonel has noticed that this was put on by the SS rate of the snake she says she saw. As far as I can see, they are probably similar to markings. Not that it's harmful, but the demon will definitely be able to figure out where Loki is at first.
''Lord Ars........that is, that mark is very similar to one of the characteristics of the [Rutted Snake (Kuchinawa)].
"Yes, fortunately, it is similar to a magical array. I'm sure it's the prototype of what we call a [lost spelling].

　So to speak, the [Lost Spelling] is the deciphering of this hieroglyphic-like symbol, and the problem lies in the fact that there are no documents describing this process.
　It would certainly be classified as the oldest of the knowledge known to Ars.

The reason they are called [Rutted Snake (Kuchinawa)] is because the marks that are made when they come in direct contact with the skin are in the shape of ruts. The reason they are called "Rutted Snake" is because the marks are made by direct contact with the skin and look like ruts.

　Of course, there are other demons that attach markings to wizards as well. Their purpose is largely twofold: those used for tracking and other purposes, and those used to neutralize or limit the opponent in battle.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.


'We'll deal with Loki's markings here. That's all we have to report for now.
But I got it.

　Then, with Ars and Loki in front of him, the Colonel immediately sent instructions to all of them to begin preparing their superscriptions. He then announced the names of several people and issued a proclamation to solicit their supporters.
　It was a matter of national importance, and the dignitaries left the room in a hurry, leaving the colonel behind. At the tail end of the room, Ars and Loki look at the old man, the only one who is considered to be of the general class, as he crosses the room.

　It wasn't simply that Ars hadn't left the room with them because he hadn't been given permission to do so.
　It was to get them to reveal information that they knew and Ars and the others did not. The quality of the words came from the Colonel himself.

'Well, let me ask you something. I'm afraid that's what it's all about.

　Colonel Bordeaux rubbed his chin a few times with difficulty at the sound of Ars's voice and took his seat for the first time this time.

''This is a notice that ran throughout the country and to the military. As you know, Lord Ars, each country has already begun to investigate and vigorously hunt for demons in pursuit of the goals they have set for themselves.
Especially Iberis, Halkapudia, and Rusalka, though their military capabilities make this an urgent matter.
'And Alpha, of course, but that's where the military was shaken up last night. The wizards are not even aware of it yet. We're still in the process of sorting out the information somehow in the upper echelons.
Not really.
'Oh, I have to say, it sucks. A demon believed to be SS-rated has been found in Iberis.
Well, that's a recipe for disaster, isn't it? But I'm pretty sure that's where Vaget Oragoram, number two, was.
...that's the problem.

　Activating the virtual LCD, the Colonel flipped its screen into two parts so that Ars could see it.
　One was encrypted and could not be read instantly.
　And on the other, the deciphered content filled the screen in detail.

　Before he could even try to read it, the colonel himself began to explain.

'It seems that Iberis was marching with an elite force, led by the second rank. And on the third day, it seems that the detection mages have confirmed a magical reaction in the old city area where they found it. Vaget, whose form is unknown, still approached up to 1km, did not allow any fighting and withdrew. The troops were planning to march all the way to the limit of the territorial expansion line at once, he said.
..........

　That decision was difficult, Ars thought. Generally speaking, he judged it to be a lack of strength and a battle that could not be won. At least that's how the countries would judge it.

'This is going to be a busy one.