East EU—Federal Republic of Germany, Berlin. Local Time: April 3, 10:30 AM / Japan Time: April 3, 5:30 PM.
At the University of Berlin (renamed from the Free University of Berlin), pro-coexistence and anti-magic student factions had formed separate demonstration groups, clashing repeatedly on campus. While no physical violence had broken out yet, everyone knew the intense shouting matches could escalate at any moment.
Setting aside the anti-magic faction for a moment, even magicians who heard the pro-coexistence faction's arguments—claiming society "should accept and tolerate" them—expressed disgust, wanting no part in either side's rhetoric.
Professor Carla Schmidt, one of the university's faculty members and a member of the "Thirteen Apostles," watched the argument degrade into a completely illogical shouting match through a monitor. She chose to view it this way out of caution, knowing that looking out the window directly might result in having something thrown at her.
It wouldn't even be surprising if artillery shells came flying, let alone bullets... Bitterly thinking this, she turned her eyes away from the monitor just as her Visi-Phone chimed. Rather than using voice controls, Schmidt operated the console manually.
"Good morning, Professor Schmidt. How are you faring today?"
"Professor MacLeod... It has been a while. Thanks to you, I am... physically healthy."
There was a slight pause before Schmidt responded to the man on the screen—William MacLeod. It had been quite some time since they last made contact, but she quickly smoothed her expression. Still, the fact that she openly admitted to being "mentally exhausted" was likely because she was speaking to a fellow member of the Thirteen Apostles.
"And how are you, Professor? Word from our rector is that you've recently taken up a position as a visiting professor at Cambridge."
"My, my, you're already aware? I am doing quite well myself. This professorship was a grand task entrusted to me directly by Her Majesty the Queen."
Hearing that it was none other than Britain's young Queen who appointed MacLeod—a man well past his youth—to a university professorship, Professor Schmidt inferred it was a move to honor his utility before continuing.
"Is that so? Our rector complained to me that since your teaching credentials in our country haven't expired, he desperately wanted to invite you to our university instead."
"If it comes to that, I assure you the universities in Great Britain would welcome someone of your caliber with open arms as well."
"So, Professor... what business brings you to call me today?"
Schmidt cut through the pleasantries and got straight to the point. Since both of them were Thirteen Apostles—state-sanctioned Strategic-Class Magicians—she was naturally wary of what matter he was bringing to her doorstep. MacLeod, perhaps realizing that beat-around-the-bush preambles would only sour her mood, paused briefly to organize his thoughts before speaking.
"Professor Schmidt, would you consider defecting to Great Britain?"
"...Are you in your right mind?"
"Of course. I am extending this invitation with utmost sincerity."
At MacLeod's proposal, Schmidt questioned his sanity. Yet, looking at his expression, she understood without him saying a word that he was entirely serious.
However, her position simply would not allow such a thing.
She was a pillar sustaining her nation's defense on an individual level—a role that had only grown heavier since "Scorched Halloween." Furthermore, considering the large-scale magic recently deployed near Moscow in the New Soviet Union, there was no guarantee those crosshairs wouldn't be turned toward the nearby East EU. Under such circumstances, defecting comfortably was an absolute impossibility.
"If this isn't a joke, it's an exceptionally distasteful one. In our positions, defecting is something neither you nor I would ever be permitted to do."
What made Schmidt's value as a Strategic-Class Magician skyrocket even further was the birth of a certain "monster" within her country.
His name was Hans Ernst "Rudel." After "Scorched Halloween," he became a completely different person, as if possessed by something. The military reports claimed something utterly absurd—that "Hans-Ulrich Rudel had possessed him." Yet, the moment Schmidt saw the report on the New Soviet military hardware he had destroyed during a covert operation, her vision went black and she collapsed on the spot.
It was a record of military achievements reminiscent of Germany's 20th-century Ace of Aces. When Schmidt met him upon his return, he radiated an unmistakable air of someone carrying a crushing psychological burden.
When the government decided to send him to the South American Confederation as part of their counter-New Soviet strategy, Schmidt genuinely supported the decision. Her honest assessment at the time had been: "If he produced results so terrifying that even I, a Strategic-Class Magician, fainted upon reading them, I do not believe this country can control him."
"It seems the students on your end are engaged in rather fierce verbal battles."
"You knew about that as well...? I thought we had turned away all media coverage."
"Walls have ears, Professor. When a commotion breaks out, the media will use any means necessary to catch the scent. In that sense, modern Germany doesn't seem like a very comfortable place for you to be."
The reason Germany allowed Hans Ernst to leave the country was that the German Chancellor predicted a strong reaction from the New Soviet Union and the West EU—specifically Britain—if Germany appointed him as its second state-sanctioned Strategic-Class Magician. Schmidt had agreed with that assessment.
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