Surveillance
“Narsha Country is a Sacred Faith Ideology Country; biased to an abnormal extent even on the entire continent. Do you, know why?”
Estelise asks Mira.
“The ruler……the King, Sirsa＝Narsha, was a radical Sacred Faith Ideologist, wasn’t he. Is it not the influence of that?”
“Not just that. It is because the Senate that manipulates the country’s policies is a bunch of Sacred Faith Ideologists. And then……there is a magic that makes sure their authority does not waver. It is called, Monitoring Magic(Surveillance)”
“……I have not heard it before”
“Even in Narsha Country, only a handful of people in power knows about it. However, this magic that Delta＝Laplace created is……”
“Delta＝Laplace……”
Asch unknowingly mutters the name.
“Do you know him?”
“He’s a genius. He’s one of the researchers that I acknowledge on the continent. If it were to be something that he created, it would be extraordinarily intriguing”
“I am surprised……he is primarily behind the scenes and pretty much does not show himself in public. That’s why, there is pretty much nobody who knows of his existence”
“He’s my protégé”
・・・
“”E゛h””
Estelise and Lioar look at the Dark Magician simultaneously.
“It was a short relationship of 5 years, but he was an extraordinarily talented man. He made significant contributions to my research as we――”
“Eeeeeeeeeeh!?”
Estelise, screams at the top of her lungs.
“Fufun. Do you finally understand my greatness as we――”
“What is that about what is that about what is that about!”
“It-, it hurts-……you’re-, you’re digging into my carotid artery……”
Squeak Squeak. The bespectacled beauty who, strangles his neck with all her strength.
“So……Lioar-sama. What is that system?”
The butler who, in any case, ignores the two of them and continues the conversation.
“He makes the vicinity of this here Narsha Country into a magic circle, and through passively providing it with magic power, he has a grasp of all information. A Maximus Magic that’s able to monitor it constantly, no matter what kind of action the residents take”
“Asch-sama. Is something like that possible?”
“……gohoh gohoh. Theoretically. He’d been researching something like that in the past as well after all”
The Dark Magician mutters while fixing his disarrayed collar.
“He-, he’d been researching it at your place!?”
Estelise interrogates him in a reproaching tone, and Asch nods proudly like he’s being praised.
“In essence, it utilises the Schweitzer Theory. It’s going to be lengthy if you let me talk about that research”
“Then, we will pass”
Mira says clearly.
“……then, to get straight to the point. The end goal of that research lies in, 『getting a grasp of their every single thought』. If I had to say, it lies in the pursuit of profundity. However, Delta was fixated on making it wide range. I’m sure, it was for the sake of that Monitoring Magic(Surveillance)”
“Yes. The only location in this Narsha Country where his magic doesn’t reach is this Hogner Magic Academy. I managed to somehow put up a barrier around this region as well”
“Hmm……at my mansion as well, I’ve put up an identical barrier. I can’t have my research stolen after all. However, he sure grew up to be an impressive Magician. It makes me proud as his mentor”
“Wha-!? You……are you saying that for real!”
“Aah, why?”
The Dark Magician opens his eyes widely and stares at Estelise.
“They are monitoring the citizens, you know!? For the sake of controlling things to their benefit”
“……I think it is an extraordinarily magnificent magic though. The result speaks for itself in reality, doesn’t it”
“I am saying the existence of that is bad!”
“That’d be the user, right? Delta’s research is magnificent, isn’t it”
“Are you saying that the researcher is faultless?”
“Nope”
Asch answers clearly.
“You…..”
“Does a knife kill a person by itself? It’s the human that does the killing”
“Kuu……”
“The conversation got off-topic. Currently, the person who is holding the knife is attacking this Hogner Magic Academy”
Lioar answers while stretching his white beard.
“Fuu……seems, it’s a topic that has nothing to do with me”
He stands, turns his back to the old man and Estelise, and starts walking.
“Asch-sensei……are you saying, that you can accept a world controlled by Saint Ideologists?”
Estelise asks with a trembling voice.
“I, don’t particularly care”
“Wha-……you are a Renegade Ideologist, right? At the centre of all that are Saint Ideologists like Archbishop Samon and the Senate――”
“……how unpleasant”
“Eh?”
“A lass like you has no qualifications to speak of Archbishop Samon. If you insist on going any further, then shall I destroy this school?”
His voice reverberated, horribly coldly.
“A……u……”
Estelise plops down limply on the spot unconsciously.
“Excuse me. She did not have bad intentions either. What I wanted to convey to you, I already have. Please, keep an eye out”
Lioar stands before her and bows deeply.
“……”
Asch quietly left the Board Chairman Office
