Clank~
As I pondered that, I heard the sound of chains coming from the prison cell at the end of the hallway. When a man resembling a wolf appeared, Arcane's eyes lit up with interest.
My thoughts were different from those who left without covering themselves just because a barbed wire was opened. Moreover, I liked that he was handcuffed in addition to the shackles.
"There's still one left. Did you hide your presence? The scheme is quite good."
The man inspected the faces of the fallen prisoners and let out a wry laugh.
"Heh heh heh, I'm puzzled. Do you know where we are? The western prison called Inferno. Are you thinking of committing treason?"
"Treason. That's amusing. Will you join us?"
The man shrugged.
"There's nothing I can't do if you let me go."
"Even if you were to escape, there's no freedom unless you defeat me."
"Haa, that's tough."
The man raised his shackled arms and scratched his head. In the instant when the eyes that gleamed through his forearms shone brightly, he moved without warning.
When he swung his foot with the powerful jump of the chains that exceeded even the weight of the iron ball, the iron ball went straight for Arcane's face.
"Master!"
Pop!
The man folded his hands and made a tired expression. And a sound came out as he lifted a person.
"Wow, that magic is annoying."
Arcane didn't move. Half of his face, hit by the iron ball, was covered by a black shadow. It was dark skin magic that absorbed the impact by maximizing the absorption power of dark magic.
"You're quite useful. You pass."
While Arcane released the power of darkness, a shadow rose from the ground and grabbed the man's handcuffs.
"Don't move. Your limbs might fly."
Before the man could respond, the shadow rose like a blade and spun rapidly. The chains were broken in an instant, and the man's skin suffered no damage. Unlimited shaping technique and delicate manipulation were the essence of dark magic.
"It would be nice to be free, wouldn't it? Follow me, I have work for you."
"Why are you doing this? Didn't I say I wouldn't join?"
The corners of the man's smiling lips trembled.
You know how strong your opponent is. But wouldn't it be pointless to have escaped if you were taken like a dog?
"Money drives you. If you help me, you can have a lot of money."
It's common knowledge that mages are rich.
Furthermore, prisoners were also human beings who would do anything for money, so there was no reason to refuse.
"Oops, that's a lot of money. If it's an intermediate amount, I'll retire halfway."
The man followed Arcane and left the prison. This is how a prisoner escaped from Inferno.
* * *
Shirone and the others rented an inn after organizing the materials they had gathered in the library into a notebook. After two days of discussion, they managed to outline the principles of the Photon Cannon.
"Why does mass exist?"
If there is no mass, nothing changes. And it was a good world in its own way. Isn't it a big deal just because today is the same as yesterday?
But at the beginning, there was mass. As if this world should be filled with new things.
"Mass isn't weight. Weight is a force that acts in the direction of gravity. There's no direction in space. So what is mass? Cohesion? But I don't think even that is a complete explanation."
Neid asked, "Then what do you think?"
The feeling in my head was clear. It was clear, but not clear.
"Existence."
"Huh?"
"The proof that you exist in this space. Isn't that what mass is?"
Life is just the code of life. Perhaps mass is the true proof of existence used throughout the universe.
"Hmm. I hear it, and it sounds right. Like the will or breath of the Creator, for example."
Upon hearing Neid's words, Eruki snapped his fingers.
"God Particles."
"Huh? What?"
"God Particles. Isn't it good? The particles that Shirone discovered are called God Particles."
"Oh, are you okay? Shirone, what do you think?"
Shirone always nodded. It was as if he had discovered something original instead of a word coined by Eruki, and felt that it fit perfectly with the omniscience he was feeling.
"I really like it. And it's important."
"That's right. Because a mage's omnipotence is related to their feelings. It's better to use a name you like."
In that sense, "God Particles" was an excellent choice.
When the discussion ended, Eruki lay down on the bed. His eyeballs were about to fall out after spending the whole day searching through books.
"Come on, let's finish the analysis with this and go back to the academy tomorrow. Classes will start as usual the day after tomorrow, so let's mentally prepare ourselves. You haven't forgotten your promise, have you?"
Neid chimed in, "Of course not. I'll be advancing to the Fourth Grade this semester. From now on, I'll be studying like a maniac. At worst, Shirone might graduate first."
Maybe.
It was initially said as a joke, but Neid and Eruki's faces became more and more serious.
At this rate, Shirone might graduate first. Up to that point, the discovery of the God Particles was a significant achievement.
"Shirone, do you have plans to attend for one more year after graduation?"
"Haha! What are you talking about? In the current situation, it's me who's most likely not to fulfill my promise. At least you guys are at the top."
Shirone's words weren't wrong, but considering only the growth rate, it was enough to make them feel a sense of crisis. It was a situation where a student who didn't even know how to live assumed graduation in six months.
"I can't sleep. I'll study and then sleep."
"Eh? Then, me too!"
When Eruki got up from the bed and opened his book, Neid sat at a table in the corner and began studying as well.
Even if the end comes tomorrow, Shirone was bewildered as he watched his friends, who wanted to play and see each other, burning with passion for learning. However, he looked at them with warm eyes.
"I've met some good friends."
Shirone was the last of the three to open the book.
* * *
Kingdom Educational Society. Society of Teachers.
The Kingdom Academic Conference, organized by the Teachers' Association, was a place where social and cultural workers, such as magic academies, sword academies, monks of every denomination, alchemy foundations, and the elite 99 artists, gathered to present a vision of the kingdom.
Thad attended the academic conference as the representative of the Alpheas Magic Academy. He was on the verge of losing his mind in a situation where discussions on the detrimental effects and positive functions of education had been dragging on for several days.
"Oh, damn it. Don't they ever sleep? Let's go home."
He had attended because he was caught in the lottery, but he really hated it. He had been a troublemaker since his school days, and he was stubborn and headstrong, and he made sure not to have anything to do with education.
The only consolation was that there were many beautiful female teachers. In particular, the woman sitting at the roundtable in front of him was the perfect ideal type.
Everything about her was attractive, from her flowing blue hair to her beautiful body that couldn't be hidden even in a suit.
"She looks great. Was her name Ogent Reina?"
She was a member of the 99 members, the kingdom's top artist group, and she was a musician attending as a disciple of the melodious pianist Merhen.
The conference discussion ended at 7 pm.
When a nighttime party organized by the Teachers' Association was held, the enthusiasm for discussion disappeared like a lie. Attendees were busy drinking wine and networking with people from various fields.
In particular, around Reina, there were high-ranking figures that even those uninterested in the Teachers' Association would have heard of.
"I guess the phrase 'beauty is pain' is used at times like this."
Thad listened to the conversation as he waited his turn to speak. Most of them were authoritative words or jokes.
Reina responded kindly without losing her gentle smile. She was an unexpected figure for Thad. It was because she had a bright personality that didn't match the notoriety of the 99 members.
Art is a technique for dealing with emotions, so the power to master the audience wasn't at a level even those in power could ignore.
Especially due to the critical nature of art's function, there were quite a few stubborn people among artists.
However, Reina happily hung out with people from all walks of life as if she had nothing to do with those rumors.
"Ah, it would have been nice if Sensei Shiina had even half of that personality."
While drinking wine thinking about that, Reina, who had finished the conversation, approached Thad.
"Hello, Mr. Thad."
"Oh, yeah! What? But, do you know me?"
"Of course. You're a teacher at the Alpheas Magic School. Ogent's territory is nearby."
"Ahaha! Right. Yes, indeed. Nice to meet you."
The two of them talked for a long time amid the festive atmosphere. As Thad had predicted, Reina had a cheerful and fun personality.
"By the way, is Shirone doing well?"
"Huh? How does Reina-ssi know about Shirone? Oh, I see."
Thad, who was in charge of grading Shirone's entrance exam, remembered that the Ogent family was listed as his place of origin.
"Shirone was a guest of the Ogent family. As expected, you have an excellent eye for people. Shirone is doing well. Well, although he had an accident recently."
"Oh, really? An accident? What kind of accident?"
When Reina opened her eyes wide, Thad felt sorry for her. Her pride would crumble when she found out that the arrogant student from the Ogent family had been suspended.
"Ahaha! It's not a big deal. Since she's an outstanding student, even small things are widely known. It's an accident in that sense."
"Oh, I see. Then..."
Thad couldn't hide his regret. As usual, he would have let her go without any regrets, but she was really a woman he would miss.
"I can't help it. But I really want to see the
performance. Would you mind giving me your schedule? I'll go to Bashka."
"Oh my goodness, this is an honor. Actually, I was worried. I wondered what to do if there are many vacancies because bad things happen in the capital."
"Oh, what happened in Baska?"
"They say a dark mage attacked 'Inferno' and escaped with a Class B wanted man. Right now, the capital is in a security state comparable to martial law."
"Dark mages... Is it a mage?"
Thad's brow furrowed. It might be one of many news stories, but when you think about it, it was a rare event.
Dark mages are hard to come by in the world these days. Furthermore, was it necessary to attack Inferno? And that just to rescue a Class B wanted man?
Dark Mage, Inferno, Class B Wanted Man.
A scene from history flashed through Thad's mind.