The grounds of the Grunfeld Academy of Magic are vast, and there are several forests where no one comes.
One of them is an open space. Even after school, there are no students to be seen.
Three girls gather there.
"I don't smell it."
"You smell that?"
Frey, the red-haired maid, twitched her nose, and Charlotte sniffed too. But there was only the scent of grass and trees.
This kind of sensation depends on the species. I use my nose, and dragon species like Riza use ............."
He turns his eyes on her and she responds.
I am color. I have a faint gray haze. I might have missed it if Master Hurt hadn't told me to be so careful on campus."
"Hmmm, I wouldn't miss a scent like this for the world, would you? I had a buzz the moment I stood here."
Both Frey and Riza have optical camouflage wards to hide their ears, horns, and tails, which are characteristic of demons.
"I see. I'm not good at detecting magic, so I have no idea what it is, but there's something there anyway.
"Yes. There's a large magical formula etched into this place."
"The concealment is quite elaborate. Even with detection magic, it would take a second-rate magician to find it. And they seem to be using the earth's veins to maintain the formula. It was made only a few days ago.
"You know that much? That's amazing.
"Don't lick Flame Fenrir's nose. But I don't know what kind of magic it can do.
Charlotte's eyes sparkled.
"This must be some kind of dark organization's evil scheme."
"Is that so?"
"It is certain that a big organization is working behind the backstage student council-like group called the Numbers. They must be planning something big, using Numbers as a diversion.
"Numbers...... that wacky group of students. Could it be them?"
"With the help of Professor Tia, we have been able to locate the base and its members and have been monitoring them, but there has been no significant movement in the past few days. It is also inconceivable that they would be able to construct a magic formula of such high difficulty.
Tiahrietta told us that . From there, she narrowed down the list to a few A-level students in each grade who were committed to "aristocratic supremacy," and Charlotte was the one who hit the nail on the head.
After that, she uncovered the identities of all the members in a "potato-pickle" fashion.
Frey puts his hand on his chin and murmurs.
"I've smelled this smell before.
"What? Where is it?"
"You see that big cemetery on the west side of King's Landing? When I passed by there. I didn't go inside, so I can't be sure."
This time Charlotte put her hand on her chin.
"Mmmmmm ....... The same kind of magic formula in several places. There could be more.
"All right, then I'll go and find it for you."
""What?""
Before they could stop him,
"I may not be able to fly, but my legs are as strong as the wind!"
Frey was gone in a flash.
"...... Let's analyze the magic formula for now, shall we?"
"Hmm. I'm going to borrow Tia's ."
Charlotte restrains Riza's attempt to levitate with her hand.
"It's all right. My brother has already given me something good.
He thrusts his hand into the small pouch at his waist. It fits up to his elbows, and he rummages through the depths until he clearly breaks through the bottom.
"Ta-da! This is your new magical tool, <>!
What he took out was an object that looked like a disposable camera.
"...... You didn't make an appraiser, did you? Or rather, what is that pouch?"
"This one is called a . It can hold an infinite number of things. Both of these were created by you.
How?
The mechanism of the device is a black box, a relic of the gods that cannot be reproduced in the modern age. The item with the four-dimensional pouch is also a mystery.
It's because he's my brother.
"Ugh, I guess I'll just have to accept that. ......"
"I'll leave it for future research to find out how it works."
Charlotte placed the lens of her magic tool on the ground, lens side up. She held her hand over the tool and kneaded magic power into it. The small body glows slightly. A band of light appears from the lens of the tool as she continues to channel her magic power.
The band of light spreads out in the shape of a fan, and letters are projected on it.
It is not a language of the ancient gods. They were a series of meaningful words of the present time.
"That's my brother! You have perfectly incorporated the conversion table to modern words that I worked so hard to create.
Riza reads the letters as if she were glaring at them.
Charlotte's expression was unusually stiff.
"Yes. This is ...... an unethical and morally wrong magic formula. Besides--"
"Who?
Riza suddenly shouted. Cold air enveloped the area.
She instantly readied herself for battle. A female student emerges from the woods.
"I apologize if I startled you. I meant no harm.
Walking up to me with a shimmering white ponytail was Irisphilia.
"Is there something wrong, Iris-san?"
That's our line. What the hell are you--?
Irisphilia's eyes widened in surprise as she read the words in the void.
"Is this ...... the identity of the magic formula that was installed here?"
"Did you know about this?"
"That it's been installed. But the formula was so well concealed that I had no idea it was so horrifying. This is not good. The same thing's been installed in every part of King's Landing. If they are activated at the same time..."
You know where it is?
Heh? Uh, yeah. Here, the common cemetery on the west side of King's Landing, and the cathedral in the south. And the square in front of the palace.
The academy is located in the eastern part of the city. The royal palace is in the middle of the city, so it covers a wide area except for the north.
"By the way, is that a ...... appraisal device? It's awfully compact, and it displays the results in modern language. ......"
"For now I will just answer . This is also a question, how did you know where it was?"
"...... I have an extremely low magic level, but I'm good at sensing magic. I found this out after school when I was running around King's Landing as a part time delivery man."
"Part-time job ...... is something I would like to experience at least once. And you have an unusual skill. Are you a demon turner or something?"
"......Well? I wonder."
Charlotte doesn't seem to take offense. She probably doesn't know that the demon-turners are persecuted, Irisphilia thinks.
"But more importantly, this is a magic formula. It says that it can be set up in several remote places and activated at the same time. If that is the intention..."
"Yes. They want to break up the security network in King's Landing. Perhaps the main target is the royal palace. Is there a bigger problem than I thought?
He's a boy of eleven with rare talent. Charlotte was a bit nervous.
What? I can't! This is the time to calm down.
Take a deep breath. He slapped his cheeks with both hands.
"It hurts. ......"
"Are you okay? Lady Charlotte."
Riza puts her hand on her bright red cheek. It glowed and the pain and numbness went away.
"Thank you. I've calmed down. Now let's think of a countermeasure.
"What, aren't you going to talk to him?"
Riza, who is glancing at Iris with concern, slurs her words.
"That man ......? Oh, Shiva."
Charlotte shook her head shakily.
"Perhaps this is a gift from Shiva to us, the "Society that watches over Shiva and helps him in the shadows while making his greatness known to the world" - the Beobachter, aka . It will be an ordeal."
With a determined look on her face, Charlotte continued,
"We, Camelot, will see if we can be his true allies!"
Things heat up even more.
"Shiva may be facing a bigger enemy right now - something divine. Yes, his trifling magic formula is trivial to him. He will be able to solve it in a jiffy. Let's give it to us..."
"Let's see, ...... that ...... Charlotte-sama?"
Riza glances at Irisphilia. She was listening to Charlotte's words sincerely.
"Hmm? Riza, is something wrong?"
"Are you with Shiva, that black warrior?"
"Ah."
Finally remembering that there is an outsider, Charlotte clears her throat. She walks up to Irisphilia and takes her hand in hers.
"Can you keep this to yourself?"
With her sparkling eyes staring at me, I had no choice but to answer in this way.
"...... yes."
"Thank you! Then let's get back on track and discuss countermeasures against the magic arts!"
""Oh, yeah......""
When they were so full of energy, even the two of us had no choice but to nod our heads.