The grasshoppers were trapped in a spherical ward, and Jin and his colleagues were holding a meeting.

"If we are dealing with insects, we should use insecticides, right?

First, Jin voiced his opinion.

"Well, do you mean to fumigate them with the leaves of plants that insects don't like?"

Saki asked. Apparently there is no such thing as insecticide in Ars.

"There is that, but it's an insecticidal ingredient ......, well, it's a poison. I'll spray it on you."

"Jin, isn't that harmful to humans too?"

At Goose's surprised look, Jin smiles back.

"That's true. However, due to differences in body size and metabolism, humans do not get sick immediately.

Still, direct inhalation or ingestion of large quantities can lead to death.

"...... is a bit dangerous."

"Yes."

I think some of the pesticides can accumulate in crops," Jin said, recalling the environmental pollution problem.

"......, so pesticides are out."

"Nah, I agree."

Before that, it was difficult for Jin, who was not familiar with chemistry, to develop a suitable insecticide in a short period of time.

"Even if we tried to catch them, their powerful jaws would probably chew us up."

Nets and cages may not help, fears Saki.

"Then, ......"

Jin wonders what the insect's weak point is.

"Low temperatures might be good."

Jin remembers that there was a spray that cools down the kitchen quickly for pests.

"I see, insects slow down when it's cold. That might be a good idea."

Goose agrees.

"So, we catch them when they slow down?"

Elsa concluded.

"Maybe we could use a vacuum cleaner or a ward to suck them up and get rid of them."

We had a good idea of what to do, but Saki had a question.

"By the way, what is the cause of this outbreak?"

"Indeed. Is there some kind of condition?

The prospect of extermination gave Jin and the others the mental space to make such considerations.

"Muuu......"

Even Goose, who was the most knowledgeable about insect ecology among the current members, seemed to be at a loss.

"Well, Jin, why don't you take a closer look at this ravenous grasshopper we caught?"

"That's one way to go."

Jin nodded at Erza's suggestion.

"<>...... hmm?"

"Jin, what's wrong?"

"Erza, can you analyze it too?"

"Nn. ......<>. ......

What's wrong, Erza?

Jin and Erza both looked at her curiously, so Saki asked why.

"It contains a lot of ...... free magic element (ether)."

"What?　Not mana?

Yes.

The reason why living creatures take in free magical element (ether) is to convert it into magical element (mana) in their bodies and use its energy.

Therefore, this binge-eating grasshopper, which contains a large amount of free magic element (ether), has a very special ecology.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was a vegetative non-living thing, like Persica juice. ......"

"Hmmm, interesting."

Goose leaned forward and looked at the ravenous grasshoppers with a wry smile.

"I wonder if that trait might have also broken the warding on ."

The wards are basically a web of free magic element (ether).

Jin guessed that the free magic element (ether) might have been captured.

Jin wondered, "Hey Jin, how does this ravenous grasshopper keep the free magical element (ether) in its body?

Saki, on the other hand, asks a question that just popped into her head.

"What?"

What?"

Jin and Erza both raised their voices and looked at Saki's face.

"What's the matter, both of you?

"I was careless. Saki pointed it out to me. Thank you!

"Huh?　Huh?"

Saki is not a mage, so she may not have understood, but normal creatures cannot use free magic element (ether) as it is even if they take it in, so they convert it into magic element (mana) in their bodies.

A binge-eating grasshopper that does not do so and accumulates it is clearly abnormal.

Saki nodded her head in understanding, and Goose thought about it more.

"What is it, Goose?"

"...... hoarding...... aethe...... abnormality...... ecology... ..."

Goose mumbling and thinking.

Not being familiar with the creatures that inhabit this ars, it was unlikely that Jin would be able to offer any useful advice, so he silently watched Goose.

Goose, who had been pondering for about 10 minutes, slowly looked up and began to speak in halting tones.

"......This is just a theory. The ...... binge-eating grasshopper itself is an abnormal creature to begin with."

Jin, Erza, and Saki listened.

"How does the free magical element (ether) affect the creature? I have had the opportunity to examine the leather of an ancient dragon for a short time.

Goose paused there to consider his next words.

"......The ancient dragon's leather also contained free magical element (ether)."

"Yeah, to enhance ...... the ......."

Jin also thought of it, while he was listening to the conversation.

"So you noticed it too. Yes, my hypothesis is that the free magical element (ether) is the secret of the strength of the ravenous grasshopper.

"That sounds plausible."

Saki agreed with this theory.

"Hmmm...they slowly accumulate free magical element (ether), and their bodies are strengthened by it, is that it?

"Maybe a certain amount of it is accumulated to become a binge-eating grasshopper."

Guth reasoned.

"If ...... so, we can take away the free magic element (ether) that he has accumulated ......."

Erza said.

"So a ravenous grasshopper becomes just a grasshopper?"

Goose nodded.

"Probably. But there are so many of them that they could devour the crops. However, the difficulty of eliminating them will be greatly reduced.

"Well, let's check first."

Can we take away the free magic element (ether) contained in the captured ravenous grasshoppers or not?

Reiko holds the ravenous grasshopper in her hand and uses a magic which consumes a large amount of free magic element (ether).

As a result, if the free magic element (ether) of the ravenous grasshopper is greatly reduced, then .......

"Let's do it outside the institute."

Gravity magic is the first magic that comes to mind when we think of high-consumption magic. However, using it indoors is not a good idea.

Jin and the others went outside the institute.

"Okay, let's use it."

Reiko took the container containing the binge-eating grasshoppers and used gravity magic to levitate. She rose about 50 meters, then came back and landed on the ground.

"Okay, let's check it out. ......Oh, the free magical element (ether) is decreasing.

"Does that mean that the free magical element (ether) stored by the ravenous grasshopper can be used by others?

"Yes, it does. It just means that the concentration of free magic element (ether) is high.

"Jin, so the ravenous grasshopper is a natural ether tank.

Goose's expression was quite appropriate.

"That's right. Now we can take other countermeasures.

"Brother Jin, what is it?"

Jin answered Erza's question with a slight frown.

"For example, ......<>.