The association's headquarters, built on a vast site, is fully utilized.
　A paved road extending in a straight line to the headquarters. There were well-developed gardens on either side of it, and further back, a simple training area seemed to be fully equipped.
　Of course, Ars, who had stopped by at the time of construction, knew most of the site. The association's headquarters was uniquely built, and from the front, it was reminiscent of an old era-style castle. It has seven vertical spires, with Babel just behind it, creating a majestic beauty that even smells religious.

　It is an architectural style like a kind of heritage. From the front, it looks like a series of castles, but if you look at it from the side, it is connected to the training and other exercise facilities and the building that houses the training facilities. The structure itself gives the impression of being old-fashioned, but the materials and technology used are state-of-the-art.

　The first thing that catches your eye is the huge stone pillars directly in front of the building. In the center of the row of beautifully polished pillars, there is a gate with a large opening.
　There are many people coming and going, but most of them seem to be wizards and employees.
　There must have been a surge in the number of people registering to the association's affiliated mages, but to some extent, the chapters placed in each country have already been able to deal with this.

　It's not just a matter of time before you get a chance to see them, but also a lot of people bowing to them as soon as they see Ars and Loki. It's not just the person who will receive the request from now on, or perhaps to report directly to the fact that the request was carried out, but in any case, the role itself is not only to oversee the branch, even though it is the headquarters.
　Naturally, the training of wizards is done just as diligently as the branch, and the screening of registrations and the scrutiny of requests should also be done here.

　The scene is reminiscent of the mansions and palaces where heads of state would live.
　Ars provided the funding, but of course countries were also supporting it financially, and it seemed to be taking a bite out of this design as well. It's an artistic construction that would draw attention to itself even if you touched it.

'It's the kind of design that a bunch of hard-headed people would think of,'

　Ars, looking on in dismay, was struck by an impulse that was hard to enter.

''It seems so artistic... but... no?''

　In Loki's eyes, this headquarters seems to be a passing grade. As expected, if one were to mention sense of taste, Ars doesn't have the slightest bit of confidence. It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what's going on in the world.

It's a good idea, but it's also a good idea to have a good idea of what the old people like.
Yes?　Al, who's old?

　Loki's face was laughing as he dexterously turned his head only eerily - turning a shadowy smile to ask the question.
　It couldn't be my imagination that I felt like I had stepped on something. It was just that as Ars, I thought it was quoted that this kind of artistic merit was only understood when you were old enough to understand it.

　You will find that you will be able to get a better idea of what is going to happen to you.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it's a very good idea to have a good idea of what to expect. It's a very disciplined and formal feeling like the military.

　Seeing the receptionist and window directly in front of him, Ars let out an exclamation of admiration. The reception desk seems to be basically manned by a female clerk, with an electronic bulletin board behind it. The display shows something about the request.
　With the sight of Ars and Loki, the association headquarters request order window went quiet as if it had struck water.

　Even with a quick glance around, one could see mages wearing cloaks and insignia with logos, indicating Association mages. However, the people here might not only be newcomers, but also those with the title of mages.
　The training and experience that they had accumulated even at a glance wore an atmosphere of such proficiency.

　-- that's a reasonable ranking.

　It's an air that can be felt well in the military. There's a tension that's separate from the respect for Ars.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. All of the association's requests are scrutinized at the headquarters. They are especially cautious about requests involving the outside world and the military, which are mostly trustworthy requests.
　The requests that pass the review go from the headquarters to each branch and are added to the request database at the same time.

　Basically, if a request meets the requirements, the first to receive it is the winner. When a new request is added at the headquarters, it appears on the huge screen in the headquarters rather than being added to the list of requests that can be accessed through a license or other means.
　If you wait here, you'll be able to receive your request before anyone else.

　In any case, it should be difficult to compete for orders since the majority of the Society's mages are scheduled to be sent to Balmes soon. It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　That's why it's easy to tell at a glance that the mages who check the requests directly at the headquarters are strong men with experience in the outside world.
　In the center of the entrance hall of the headquarters, Ars and Loki naturally looked around. Not only the mages and clerks, but many here were just watching from a distance. It was probably due to the magic power that was leaking out of Arus.

　Although it is necessary to sensitively perceive the magic power, there are those who can sense it as an innate sign, even if they are not magicians. In short, they can sense the atmosphere that is difficult to approach from the magic power.
　Of course, it can also be said that it's because of the way Ars looks at you and your ranking on the edge.

It's a good thing that the association is functioning well. The situation with the Hydrangee, I'm sure the association will have no choice but to cooperate.

　The outside world of the Hydrangee is that which lightly goes beyond common sense. Since Ars, who has been crowned with a single, albeit crookedly, says so, a wizard who knows nothing about anything will be as confused as a rookie. And like a rookie, he or she will surely die a quick death after a trivial mistake.
　That's unbearable.

''I don't intend to interfere with the management of the association, but I can't pass by turning a blind eye, either.

　It is also because he had a vision of the way he was petulant to Ilyce later on that he went this way.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one who's been in a position to see this.

"Thank you, Arus-kun, Loki-san.

　The nimble-footed man brought his hands up to his head and shook them violently from side to side. He looked relieved, as if he had found his only acquaintance in a foreign land.
　And all at once, the gazes directed at him also indicated that his interest had shifted.

　The man in the white coat is just barely in his twenties and barely old enough to endure with his fingertips hooked. Of course, he's probably not the only one who is obsessed with age. I don't know if you can call it a researcher's way of thinking, but basically, he always says that he is always running out of time.

　Anyway, he is a man who has been teaching at the Second Academy of Magic since this school year - his name is Claisman.
　His face as a lecturer is a temporary one, he is also a researcher like Ars. Both Ars and Loki attended his first lecture as a new lecturer - wearing a mask as much as a pervert.

　Although top-secret, as a young researcher, Instructor Kreisman was also a member of Babel's analysis team. He hadn't shaved since he hadn't shaved since, and his beard had grown around his mouth and chin to hang over his momiage.
　It seemed to make a jolting sound when touched.

'It's unusual. The Association, and that's the headquarters of the Association, has a Claisman instructor.'
I thought I would never have a chance to go to this place, but I couldn't say that for the longest time. It's a good thing that you are able to get a good idea of what to expect when you go to class, because the chancellor has been very attentive to your needs. In this case, it was nice to have you there, Ars.

　Like Loki, who tilts his head slightly, Ars also has his doubts. It is inexplicable that the lecturer and researcher, Instructor Kreisman, would visit here in the first place.

　Perhaps realizing that he was attracting public attention, Kreisman began to lead them to move to a different location.

　As they walked down the cobblestone aisle, Instructor Kreisman spoke up, his voice low and hushed.

'Actually, I have something I'd like to get into the ears of Chairman Ilyce, but I only have the title of a teacher, and he refuses to let me in. The Babel case is not made public, so I can't be so quick to mention it. I was at my wits' end and then I found Ars.

　As expected, with a single magician in the heavens, he thought that he would not be refused.
　However, the questions were still growing.

''But if the heads of countries have formally formed a team to figure it out, hasn't the head of state already told us?''
... hmmmmm.

　It was Loki who voiced such a question, and at her question, Teacher Kraithman made a reluctant face as he slurred his words.

'You don't mean by 'unauthorized'?'
'No, no!　I can't do such an ungodly deed....

　It's almost certain. It is a characteristic of researchers that they tend to misread these deadlines. That's right, too, because a researcher is a person who is obsessed with a single thing.
　I also hear that a researcher like him can have his work suppressed by his superiors. I'm not sure if this is true or not.

'Professor Klaisman, leaking information is a mortal sin because it's a matter of case. And you'd tell me about it.
'No, no, no, so no!　I'm in the loop, and I have your permission. I'm only telling you because you're on the list of people to report to us for analysis.
Well I thought it would be something like that.

　As expected, Ars, a renowned researcher, couldn't have been added to the Babel clarification. He had a feeling that the report would come up at some point. In the first place, it was also Ars who stopped Babel from functioning and developed the third Babel. If that's the case, it's perfectly legitimate for the heads of state to think that it would be useful for some kind of research, such as improving the function of Babel.

　I'm not a fan of that.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of who is on that list.

In other words, you mean that Ilyce is also on the list?

　Shaking his head with a grunt, the Claisman teacher looked around once, as if to save himself the trouble.
　It's probably to see if anyone is listening in. Of course, if there was such a person, Loki would have already reported it to him.

I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do, but it's a good idea to report what we've found out at this point in time, and that's why I'm going to go there in person. I've been thinking of reporting this to Ars, so it would be great if you could tell the chairman about it. I'm not very good at communicating, and I have a habit of breaking things down.

　It's not a good idea for the academy's instructors to be doing that, but for Als to understand that feeling well. It's probably because they construct their stories based on the assumption that they know what they're talking about, or maybe it's because they just say what's on their mind.

I don't mind that, but can we do it while we walk?
What the f*ck do you mean by that? You're the one who said it's private.
'That's why. It's just small talk and no one will care.
'I'm just reporting, and I'm cringing. I've never had such a heartbreaking challenge before.
But please don't give me any unnecessary words.

　Instructor Kreisman was already sweating and was quite nervous. This would be the first time in his life that the game of life was on the line for him, not being a mage.
　To begin with, Loki would be monitoring him to some extent, and even as he spoke, Ars would be paying attention to his surroundings.

　It's not an outstanding skill, but it can't be helped that he's not familiar with detecting these kinds of signs unless he's in the military.
　As for Loki, who probably isn't on the list, Ars will agree to take responsibility for him.
　As expected, the head of state and others won't see it as a problem. It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them, because they were there when Babel stopped functioning.

　However, Loki quickly said, "Al, don't you know where Mr. Ilyce is? He threw the key question behind him.
　Ars was going to ask the receptionist where he was first.

Hmmm, it's okay. It's generally accepted that a high-powered person is in a high place.
Oh, that's great.

　It wasn't a compliment, but the fact was that I'd just never heard of a governor or someone in a high ranking position being on the ground floor. Alpha's military headquarters also work upstairs as they get higher in rank, and that's how the departments are arranged.

　I'll find the stairs and go up there first.

'So what's that report about?'

　The Kreisman teacher whispered even more, his mouth spun small and unnaturally squeezed toward Ars.

'There is an underground in Babel. This was discovered as soon as we began our investigation, and when I say underground, I don't mean that there is any equipment, I just mean that there are traces of interrupted excavation work. There was a lot of earth and sand in the basement.

　-- It should have been a research facility originally, and that was known when we entered. But the main experiments, including important equipment, should have been upstairs....

　It was not unnatural for the facility itself to have a basement. Especially in the case of outrageous research, the facility should be kept out of sight. Many of the researches conducted by various countries in the past were also conducted in places that were hidden from the public eye.
　It was in the center of Babel that Croquel's sister, Latifah, was used as a human pillar and was being used. From the surrounding structure, the center is the most effective place to supply magic power, because it can easily spill over to the tower of Babel. The experimental compartments and so on should have been held on the relatively upper floors.

　In the first place, there should have been no connecting passageway leading to the lower floors. Of course, Ars knew very little about the inner workings of Babel, so it was impossible to assert that there were none.

''So?''
'Here's the thing,' he said. We're actually in the process of clearing out a pile of dirt and debris that was supposedly from the construction of Babel, and they found a huge underground tunnel. That was a week ago.

　For the first time, Ars's face, which had been lightly listened to as a chit chat, was turned to the Claisman teacher beside him. Not that he was surprised, nor was it a known fact.
　Babel's doubts, which had not been dispelled all this time, were now building up in Ars.

　His emotionless eyes told him nothing.
　Loki's shoulder, walking two or three steps behind him, perceived the deviation and turned his languid eyes to Ars. It was Loki himself who had seen Ars's face of enthusiasm for many studies and other activities.
　Even the slightest quirk of his habits is something he now thinks he is well versed in.

　Unlike the times when it was a groundbreaking idea or a clue to a stalled research project was found, it was a face that Ars would occasionally give up on because he was thinking too far ahead. For example, he said that he often didn't know where the research was going to end up and what would not be beneficial, or what would go badly for people, and so on, at the beginning.

　So the research progresses, and at a certain moment Ars calculates six months or a year ahead of time when the research will come to fruition. As a result, he gives up on it. A sense of being too focused, a sense of being able to predict the future, not through conscious calculation, but through thought itself, independently.

　There is not enough material to describe it in words, or a good reason to abandon the study, even at this stage, for Ars to explain it. However, from his experience, even if he continues, he has no choice but to give up the helm as soon as the numbers are available.

　The current Ars must have predicted an unfavorable outcome with near certainty.
　Loki was well aware of the eyes that could be considered cold-hearted. It is true that this is the eye you have when you concentrate and arrive at a result that forces you to abandon your research. But it's similar to what Ars shows when he detaches his mind, when he detaches his emotions.

　They were empty eyes that contributed to Loki's anxiety.