"The influence of the Magic Federation is said to have declined significantly over the last fifty years."
Following his brief 'lecture,' Jin and his companions listened as Viscountess Foale Lasca Sharned spoke.
"It declined? Is there a particular reason for that?"
Sensing that he might be on the verge of uncovering valuable information, Jin felt fortunate to have been invited to this house.
"I'm not quite sure... but the Klein Kingdom has always been a country where the Magic Federation had little influence."
"Ah, I see. By the way, which countries currently have the strongest presence?"
"Let me see... Naturally, it would be the Kingdom of Elias, where they are based. The Kingdom of Egerea would likely follow."
Curious, Jin asked one more question.
"And which countries have the least influence?"
"Excluding the Nord Federation where you came from, that would be the Shouro Empire. Our country would come after that. The Celuroa Kingdom is so vast that it varies by region."
The Kingdom of Franz apparently followed. Jin also learned that Mitsuho and Fusou Island were entirely outside the Magic Federation's sphere of influence, as there were almost no magi there to begin with.
"Thank you very much."
Jin's understanding of the modern world was growing piece by piece.
Because he was perceived as a traveler from the Nord Federation—a place with few local ties—his host answered his questions with polite detail. For someone traveling through various nations specifically to gather information, this was a stroke of luck.
Jin continued to weave the topic of the Magic Federation into the small talk that followed, gathering information bit by bit.
"Where are you staying, Jin-sama?" the Viscountess asked as she sipped her third cup of tea. It was now around four in the afternoon.
Her daughter, Paula, had been sitting beside her the entire time, listening intently. Despite her lively nature, she seemed perfectly capable of staying quiet and attentive in formal settings.
"We have taken rooms at the Red Brick Inn."
"Oh, is that so? I've heard that it is quite a well-reputed establishment....Um, if you wouldn't mind, could you perhaps visit us again tomorrow? I would love to hear more of what you have to say."
Jin considered the offer for a moment before accepting. It seemed far more efficient than wandering blindly to collect information.
"Understood. We have our own schedule as well, but if it is only for tomorrow, we can manage."
"Thank you! Then, at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, I will send a carriage to the Red Brick Inn to pick you up."
And so, it was settled.
"Jin-sama, Lordtoss-sama, thank you very much for today!" Paula called out cheerfully as they took their leave.
Jin, Reiko, and Hope gave her a small wave in return. Lordtoss, caught slightly off guard, hurriedly waved back as well.
＊ ＊ ＊
"That was more productive than I expected."
Back at the Red Brick Inn, Jin and Lordtoss sat across from each other at a table, summarizing the day's events.
"It really was. Even I didn't know the Magic Federation's influence was on the decline."
Jin remarked that it couldn't be helped; such trends were difficult to notice unless one lived in an affected country.
"...Still, I didn't realize you were so good at explaining things, Jin-san."
Lordtoss's way of addressing Jin was inconsistent, alternating between '-sama' and '-san.' Since he respected Jin as a superior, he tended to use 'Jin-sama' in public and 'Jin-san' in private.
"Whether I'm good at it or not is one thing, but what are the lectures like at Avalon?"
"Let's see... I've certainly never seen an experiment like the one you did today."
According to Lordtoss, priority was given to rote learning from textbooks, and lessons were rarely delivered in a way that was easy to digest.
"Most of the lectures have an air of 'if you can't keep up, that's your problem.'"
"That's a major issue."
Jin wondered if the problem lay with the instructors or the curriculum guidelines themselves. However, he currently had no standing to interfere with Avalon's policies.
Yet, it was entirely possible that the Magic Federation had exploited such minor points of dissatisfaction to gain traction.
(Education issues are difficult in any era,) Jin thought, letting out a soft sigh.
(Ah, I suppose that's why the old me thought that if Trans Info and Send Info could be made accessible to everyone, it might solve most of the problems with education.)
He recalled the reports from his past self that he had read at Jin Castle not long ago.
(Wait. Could the Magi Emulator be...?)
He began to wonder if Golbart Marukitasu hadn't developed the device alone, but had instead built upon work Jin himself had once started. If that were the case, it would be incredibly ironic—that his own research might have been the catalyst for the attack on Hourai Island.
(I suppose, in the end, it all comes down to how a tool is used.)
"Jin-sama?"
Lordtoss called out, looking puzzled as Jin fell into a deep silence.
"Ah, sorry. I was just thinking."
Jin explained that he had been reflecting on the complexities of education.
"That's very true. Since I have the blood of the All-Creation clan, my memory is relatively sharp, so keeping up with the lectures wasn't too difficult for me."
Lordtoss gave a wry smile. "Though memory alone isn't the only measure of academic ability."
"Could you tell me a bit more about Avalon?"
Jin decided to take this opportunity to understand the current state of the institution. After all, the modern Avalon was no longer under his—or Hourai Island's—direct management.
"Yes....Where should I begin?"
Having studied there, Lordtoss was deeply knowledgeable, but he seemed so well-informed that he didn't know where to start.
"In that case, let me ask the questions....First, where is Avalon located now?"
Since Avalon was a megafloat, it was capable of moving.
"Currently, it is on the sea south of the Celuroa Kingdom. It is fixed on the Equator, and that specific longitude has been established as zero degrees."
"Father, according to the maps on Hourai Island, that would be near 60 degrees West Longitude," Reiko added.
With Reiko's supplement, Jin could roughly visualize its position.
"I see. Next... what is the current organizational structure?"
"To give a broad overview, there is the World Security Guard, which functions as a subordinate organization of the World Conference. Avalon serves as the headquarters for both."
"I see."
That part hadn't changed much, Jin thought, nodding for him to continue.
"The World Conference is as you'd expect....Oh, Mitsuho, Fusou Island, and the Nord Federation are all members now."
"Right, you mentioned that."
"The World Security Guard is directly operated and managed by the World Conference. It is an organization that can operate regardless of national borders."
"Mm-hmm."
So far, everything matched Jin's expectations.
"To join the World Security Guard, you generally need a recommendation from your home country. After that, you have to pass an entrance examination."
This, too, was exactly as Jin had once envisioned.
"Then there is Avalon itself. While it nominally exists to train future leaders for the World Conference and World Security Guard, it is effectively the highest institution of learning in the world."
"That makes sense."
They likely believed it would be a waste to limit the world's most advanced academic center only to those entering politics or the military.
"Avalon's academy is split into two divisions: a three-year Elementary Course and a five-year High Course. There is no middle course."
This also aligned with Jin's original concepts.
"The High Course is divided into a General Course and a Specialized Course. The General Course is often referred to as the 'Humanities,' while the Specialized Course is the 'Sciences.'"
Jin felt a pang of nostalgia at the terms. He remembered using those very labels during the planning stages.
"So the General Course is essentially a track for Officer Candidates for the World Conference and World Security Guard?"
When Jin asked, Lordtoss nodded.
"I see. And the Specialized Course is where they teach magi-craft and other professional skills?"
"Exactly. It's a boarding system, and a town has even grown on Avalon, though it's small."
"Well, that's only natural."
Boarding houses, apartments, restaurants, bookstores, and entertainment facilities—the needs of a student population were vast.
Jin felt a flicker of nostalgia as he remembered the student towns that had once thrived around the famous universities of his old world.