V3C2

Arus did not visit the Director to discuss a topic that had already been settled. Since her position towards him and Loki had already been decided, there is nothing left for him to say. As such, he leaves the school building with the thought, Contemplating this any further would be pointless.

A scarlet sun is more than halfway down the horizon and casts a long shadow on Arus as he walks back to his laboratory. The taboo Loki broke is another matter…

The method Arus used to save Loki isn’t one that can be comprehended even if someone watched as it was being carried out. As such, the Director saw the phenomenon that resulted, but didn’t understand how it was achieved.

Strictly speaking, Arus saved Loki by consuming all of the mana within her body and replacing it with his own. He, more than anyone else, understands that his actions were a taboo that should have been avoided more than the one Loki violated.

Arus was born with a power beyond human capability. Even I don’t know what to call it… The inherent ability of his mana is that it can consume mana. Just like a mamono, I convert the mana of others into my own nourishment. Although he can definitely control it now, he learned how to control his mana because it possesses that ability.

Two types of mana are intertwined within Arus. One is the energy everyone possesses within their bodies as mana. The other is the squirming mana Loki and Cisty saw during the simulation match. Originally, that mana undeniably had its own independent will.

It has one unquenchable craving. It’s a <