In the center of the Academy City Hinotsuchi, there stands a tower called Arianrhod, where only those selected by the Epice Council are permitted to enter.

Beyond the tenth floor of this tower, which resembles a DNA helix structure, no regular student has any idea what lies there.

The topmost floor of the tower was set up like a planetarium.

Projected onto the ceiling were lights, more dazzling than stars, flickering irregularly. These lights represented the cores of dungeons yet to manifest in this world, though no one in attendance seemed to care about that fact.

“――Well then, since everyone’s gathered, shall we begin?”

A man, seated deep in his chair, spoke as he gazed up at the glowing dungeon cores.

Rokuhara, seeing this, raised his voice in irritation.

“Hey, Director, doesn’t it seem like not everyone’s here yet?”

“Well, it was a sudden assembly, so you guys are the only ones who could make it. The rest are usually quite busy.”

“Then you’re saying we’ve got nothing better to do, huh? Are you picking a fight with us?”

A leisurely voice sounded from a distance.

The man, called Director, replied without even looking in the speaker’s direction.

“Of course not. There’s no way S-Rank students could ever have free time. Some of you are even serving as enforcers. I can’t take any more of your precious time, so let’s move on to the main issue.”

As the Director spoke, the image on the ceiling changed.

A girl with silver-blue hair appeared.

“You know her, right? Like you, or maybe even more, she’s an unusual S-Rank―― Sorciera.”

At the sight of her, Eina, seated next to Rokuhara, screamed.

“Oh no, it’s her again…”

“Eina, thanks for your report yesterday. She’s the one who shouldn’t exist, a contracted user of Demonsgear.”

“Um, I don’t even know what Demonsgear is, though?”

A nondescript girl timidly raised her hand toward the Director.

“Well, that’s something I can’t explain in detail yet, even to you, Ryuko. But you can consider Demonsgear to be humanity’s ally… aside from Sorciera, of course. Eina, would you mind explaining it?”

“Huh?”

Eina looked at Rokuhara, who nudged her with his chin, urging her to speak.

Looking around, she found no one willing to help, and Ryuko, who had asked the question, just smiled wryly.

“Alright, alright.”

Eina stood up, cleared her throat, and began her explanation.

“We, well, we were created for humanity’s sake… but that doesn’t guarantee we’re always on their side. Sometimes the contractor is unhinged, or the circuitry malfunctions and causes abnormal behavior.”

In that sense, Eina had lucked out as a contractor. Although a bit rough around the edges, her partner wasn’t the type to turn against humanity.

“So, in case a Demonsgear is deemed an enemy of humanity, there’s a safety device, or rather, an external sense of reason. Sorciera is the one who awakens if we act in rebellion.”

“Then has a Demonsgear already turned against us?”

At Ryuko’s question, the Director shook his head.

“No, there hasn’t been any sign of Demonsgear activity that could be interpreted as rebellion. Both the contracted and uncontracted ones are the same. Thank you, Eina. You can sit down.”

“Ah, okay.”

After confirming Eina had seated herself, the Director continued.

“The reason Sorciera has appeared is unknown. We don’t even know who her contractor is. But given that she showed up at the Ouroboros research facility, it’s safe to assume she has access to some kind of information network. And that network likely has the power to conceal her entirely.”

Rokuhara raised a languid hand at the Director’s words.

“I don’t like beating around the bush. What do you want us to do?”

“Yes, I’m curious too. What exactly are we supposed to do with her? Can I eat her?”

“Hahaha, you two never change, Rokuhara and Tatari.”

The Director chuckled and switched the image again.

This time, it showed an old-fashioned academy and a giant tree.

“I want you to capture Sorciera. As a combat asset, she’s a priceless explorer. The council would love to collar and keep her.”

Rokuhara and Tatari grimaced at the Director’s suggestion.

“Are you asking me to play mouse catcher?”

“If I can’t eat her, I’m not interested.”

“Wait, wait! If there’s pay, I’ll do it! Ryuko, I’ll work hard!”

“You’re such a good girl, Ryuko.”

The Director privately thought how selfish his students were, as usual.

“Of course, I won’t ask you to do it for free. I’ve prepared a suitable reward.”

“…Let’s hear it.”

“I’m interested too.”

At last, Rokuhara and Tatari directed their gaze toward the Director with some interest.

“Well, before that, can you wake up Kirika, Sayaka?”

The Director, about to reveal the reward, changed his words.

Sayaka nodded and slapped the cheek of the girl who had been sleeping beside her.

“Sis, wake up. It’s time to focus.”

“Nn? Fwa… good morning.”

“Yes, good morning. Director, my sister’s awake, so please continue.”

“Ah, understood.”

The Director nodded.

Though the sleepy girl hadn’t been listening to the conversation, that was of little consequence.

After all, the reward he was about to offer would entice almost everyone present without hesitation.

“The one who captures Sorciera―― will earn the right to become the second Guardian of the Star Tree.”

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room changed completely.

The once disorderly gathering now felt like a battlefield, charged with palpable tension.

“Director, you’re not lying about that, are you?”

“Of course.”

“…How much can Eina be released?”

“Hmm, I’d say about fifty percent, with proper approval.”

Upon hearing that, Rokuhara grabbed Eina by the scruff and stood up.

“Huh? Leader?”

“Let’s go, Eina. Sometimes hunting rats can be fun.”

“Leader!? I told you I’m sitting this one out! My sister is seriously dangerous… Last time, when Lutra rampaged, she knocked me out in seconds!”

“Don’t care.”

“Nooooooo…!”

With Eina’s pitiful scream echoing, Rokuhara and the others left the room.

Next to rise was a beautiful girl with black hair, Tatari.

“Well, I’ll be going too. I don’t want those brutes to take her.”

With those words, Tatari vanished in a puff of black smoke.

“Hey, Director, can I really become a Guardian!?”

Kirika rushed over to the Director, her eyes filled with excitement like a child waiting for a Christmas present.

“Of course,” the Director said.

“Wow! Then I can fight alongside the teacher!”

“…Sister, if you become a Guardian, you’ll have to fight nonstop, you know.”

Kirika turned to her sister and replied with innocent eyes.

“Yeah. That’s the best part.”

“…Sigh. Fine, do what you want. Let’s go. We should ask the guards for help too.”

“Yay!”

The cheerful footsteps and faint echoes gradually faded away.

Eventually, silence returned to the room.

“So? What about you, Ryuko?”

The Director addressed the last remaining nondescript girl.

She spoke apologetically.

“I, well… I’m fine as long as I get paid properly.”

“…You really do have the makings of an S-Rank student.”

Thus, the meeting of the Academy City’s top ranks came to a close.