“Ah, refreshing.”
Returning to the association building’s eting room, Tsheringen lightly stretched.
The ti now was 10 p.m.
We set a new record of 23 cases today.
‘This actually worked….’
Unbelievable.
“Lucas, you have unexpectedly good stamina.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. We handled seven cases together today, but you don’t seem tired at all. You must have been training diligently in the anti.”
I answered with a smile.
I hadn’t been diligent, but I did train anyway.
The reason I was less tired than before was probably because the insane attacks from Leo right after visiting the archbishop were just yesterday dawn, without rest.
That day’s training alone increased my health value by 0.1 points imdiately. That was a value that normally took over a week of training to gain.
Anyway, I was tired, but our fatigue seed to have a different standard from others.
Elias’s groaning ca through the artifact.
[I handled 10 with Narce, I’m dying, guys….]
[You’re the one who said let’s do 20, and now you act like this?]
[Hahaha, don’t fight~ Now for half a year, the record won’t be broken, Elias, satisfied?]
[Of course!]
I listened to the conversation of Elias, Leo, and Narce, and opened the eting room door. As soon as I opened it, I could see Elias grinning with shining eyes.
As expected, these guys were quite lively too.
“We’ll be in the newspaper tomorrow.”
“I already got a contact from the professor.”
Leo held out a letter.
[What on earth is happening there?]
The professor’s letter was intense from the first sentence.
It was a letter sent when we resolved the 15th report, and from start to end, it was like above.
Elias smiled and said.
“Tomorrow, 30 cases….”
“Say sothing that makes sense. From tomorrow, we have no ti because we need to greet the academy representative team.”
Leo cut off Elias’s words.
The students who seed pleased with setting a new record sighed in relief at that.
Still—even if throwing out absurd numbers—since Elias focused on handling rampage reports without digging up new incidents elsewhere, it was reassuring.
Thus, that day’s schedule ended with protocol rehearsal and handling twenty-three rampage reports.
What did it an that it ended with that.
Surprisingly, the stalker didn’t show his face last night either.
‘Ah, these bastards.’
The next day, dressed in protocol attire and coming to the cadet dormitory, I sank into thought while looking at the friends busily preparing.
I wasn’t waiting for that stalker, but if he didn’t co to see for two days, reasonable suspicion couldn’t be avoided.
He was clearly preparing sothing grand. Either the dioceses were fighting fiercely over plans regarding Pentalon, or setting up the foundation to execute the plan.
Although security was strengthened with all active mage teams from the Imperial Mages' Association deployed for Pentalon, those guys would plan sothing surpassing that security.
‘It would be good if there were more clues about that alphabet from yesterday.’
Isn’t there more?
At that mont, Leo raised his voice while knocking on the friends’ room doors.
“Let’s go, guys. Gather at the waiting room.”
“Lucas.”
As soon as he knocked, Heike’s door burst open.
Pushing aside the wide-eyed Leo, Heike held out a water bottle to . Inside the glass bottle filled with water was another white phosphorus match.
“…….”
Yesterday, we submitted the matches to the police as evidence and reported it. As expected, when magic was involved, police or whatever couldn’t exert power. Wasn’t the sa thing happening again?
Heike said in a quickened voice.
“Again.”
“This ti it’s A.”
The letter carved on the cut surface was the alphabet A.
‘A and T.’
With this, I still couldn’t know anything, but since those guys would cause trouble soti anyway, it was better to have clues to interpret sothing like this.
The fact that clues were gathering was positive in its own way.
I tightened the bottle’s lid and said.
“For now, send this to the police too, and let’s go to the palace. It’s better to wait until we can know sothing.”
“…Yeah.”
Heike nodded with a grave face.
* * *
Just before 9 a.m.
We had moved to the imperial family’s VIP-exclusive portal.
Leo, as the leader, stood on the blue carpet looking at the portal, and the remaining six stood in lines of three on each side of the carpet.
The place we stood wasn’t the state guest-exclusive portal, so there was no honor guard here. Instead, lower nobles and Junkers working for the governnt filled that spot.
Fitting the VIP visit schedule, today was a clear day with no rain or snow.
Beep—
When the minute hand of the distant clock tower pointed to 9, a notification ca through the artifact that the state guest welco ceremony had ended.
Now it was the turn for the French Empire’s Imperial Academy mage representative team to enter first through this VIP portal.
The figures of Imperial Newspaper reporters filming our side were visible.
—“Really looking forward to it.”
Narce, standing next to , suddenly used divine power to speak to .
I just smiled with my eyes and looked ahead.
It was worth looking forward to.
The French Empire’s Imperial Academy representative team was in a similar position to our Eszett team.
They too were composed of student mages like us. Of course, academy didn’t necessarily an high school, so the age range was very diverse.
The Imperial Academy was an institution similar to our Imperial Mages' Association, where young mages from teens to forties belonged.
The difference was that, as could be seen from the na, the French Empire’s Imperial Academy was closer to an academic institution for mages.
In contrast, our Imperial Mages' Association had a more military and political tendency.
‘Anyway, only those who know so magic would have co.’
I was looking forward to it too.
From what I heard, they weren’t originally one team like us but a temporary representative team selected two or three from each educational level.
At that mont, the mana of the huge door set as the portal began to shine brightly.
When two guards stood in front of the portal and opened the door, the figures of the Imperial Academy delegation walking steadily from inside beca visible.
Sounds of fireworks and applause ca from front and back.
The delegation leader had a face that looked around 40 by new human standards. He was probably about 30 years older than our team leader. Seeing this, one thought struck more strongly.
‘Whose idea was it to assign protocol for VIPs to new recruits instead of experienced ones.’
The imperial family trusted and fully supported Eszett more than other imperial mage teams—it couldn’t be felt, but it was advertised that way both dostically and internationally—and since our team had several heirs from ruling families of the German Empire’s allied states, there was no major diplomatic issue, but internally it was different. This also seed likely the crown prince’s doing.
Anyway, Leo was performing the leader role excellently. Leo approached the delegation leader who ca out first, smiled trustworthily, and greeted.
“Welco to the empire, Your Excellency Mathieu Aubigny. It is truly an honor to et the mages of the French Empire’s Imperial Academy at the first international harmony event prepared by our empire.”
“We sincerely thank you for the hospitality. It is truly an honor to be here today.”
‘Hm, going smoothly.’
Now, just stand appropriately and walk out, and our morning schedule would end.
Leo continued with a maintained smile.
“The visit of the French Empire’s Imperial Academy representative team conveys a ssage of international camaraderie and unity to our empire and Pentalon participating countries. On behalf of the Imperial Mages' Association, I extend our thanks to Your Excellency and the delegation for gracing the first Pentalon.”
To that, the leader smiled and shook his head.
“As fellow continentals who have shared history for a long ti, we cannot turn a blind eye to a neighboring country’s crisis. We sincerely hope the German Empire successfully starts and concludes this international conference, leaving a good precedent for the world.”
“…?”
To the bewildering words, I slightly raised my eyebrows and fixed my expression.
Looking at the faces of the other country’s delegation, they were all calm. Only our side was flustered.
‘Look at these guys.’
It was clear what they ant by crisis.
Our empire was where Pleroma first erged. Although Pleroma was gradually spreading across the continent, the fact that its origin and main activity area was the German Empire remained.
So, the other side was now saying to us, ‘How could we ignore your efforts to sohow renew the national image?’ They were acting almost like they ca to provide aid, while here as tourists.
Leo also seed speechless for a mont and didn’t answer. But the silence was brief. Leo answered naturally like flowing water.
“Our empire has prepared thoroughly for this Pentalon. The Imperial Mages' Association looks forward to successfully forming bonds with the French Empire’s Imperial Academy through this conference.”
“…….”
He also subtly jabbed at the other side. I couldn’t miss it.
Of course, since the other side ca out rudely from the start with a patronizing attitude, this level of response was necessary.
Those delegation seed to think they ca to solve our country’s chronic problem, Pleroma.
‘Must have been taught that way in France.’
Curious bunch.
Not my business, though.
But it didn’t take long to realize it was my business.
“You must be Eszett Deputy Leader Lucas Askanian.”
That day at noon.
The mont I entered the banquet hall prepared for the welco celebration, the delegation leader I saw earlier spoke in fluent German and extended his hand.
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