"<> continued south after we returned. First, from , we headed further south. ...... old man!"

In response to Jin's voice, the magic screen on the wall lit up.

There is an even larger archipelago to the south of the Pleiades.

"Oh!"

Someone's voice echoes.

"Oh!

"This is it!"

Jin was not sure if he had shown it before or not, and he thought that some people might not know about it, so he displayed the whole map as a prerequisite for the discussion.

<, so some details are still ambiguous.

He explains that there are some areas, especially in the southern hemisphere, where detailed surveying by < is not possible due to the free-magic element (ether) distribution.

.

<

"I see. So this is how the world works.

Toa muttered with deep emotion.

.

"That's for sure."

Vivian agrees.

<<

"Yes, it is true that the cells are strengthened by the free magical element (ether).

Goose again. It seems that he is more interested in unknown organisms than anyone else.

<

"Okay. Thank you."

Jin nods and looks around at the members.

"I have recently noticed that a big question has arisen concerning the distribution of free magical elements (ether). Will you listen to me?"

"Sure."

"Let's hear it."

I'd love to hear it.

No one objected.

"Okay. ...... First, let's review the distribution... the further north you go, the higher the concentration of free ether... and the further south, the lower."

"Right."

"The degree of change is not constant. There's a three-fold difference between the northern limit of the demon territory, where people live, and Potlock, the southern limit.

"That's right. The last trip we took was near the equator, so even though the temperature dropped, it wasn't enough for us to feel it.

Reinhardt says, sounding convinced.

"I think that the horizontal distribution of the free magical element (ether) should look something like this.

Jin gave a signal, and the old man projected the graph on the magic screen.

"The horizontal axis is latitude and the vertical axis is the concentration of free magic element (ether). The South Pole is 0 and the North Pole is 10. ......

"Hmm, it doesn't change in a straight line, does it?

Saki comments.

Indeed, the graph shows an upward and downward convex curve.

"Well, I think you can understand this. Next is the vertical distribution, and once we go out to outer space, there is almost no bias in the concentration of free magical element (ether), is that right?

"I think I heard that before."

Toa nodded and everyone agreed.

"Yes. So, taking Antarctica as an example, at what altitude does the concentration of free magical element (ether) start to decrease? This is roughly below the stratosphere."

"Hmm. Nothing strange in what you've explained so far?

No.

Tor, Goose, and the others all nodded.

I know. It starts here."

Jin looked around at all the faces again.

"If the free magical element (ether) is a particle, it is probably smaller than a hydrogen atom. This means that it can move at a considerable speed.

"That's because it has less mass!"

Hannah, who had been silent until now, interrupted.

"Yes, Hannah is right. That's why it's strange that there is a bias in the free-magic element (ether) distribution.

"...... Oh."

Erza, who understood the meaning of Jin's words, raised her voice.

"Erza seems to have understood."

"...... you mean, perhaps the free magic element (ether) is still being consumed?"

"Huh?　......Ah, ah!"

Saki seemed to understand after hearing Erza's statement.

"So that's how it is!"

"Surely we can think that way!"

One after another, the voices of those who were convinced rose to the surface.

"You seem to be getting the idea. What I wonder is, is the reason why the free-magic element (ether) distribution in the southern hemisphere is small, is it because the free-magic element (ether) is still decreasing around the Antarctic?　I mean."

"No, I can't deny that."

Reinhardt agreed with a hard look on his face.

"So that's what you're saying, isn't it, Jin?　If the free ether in the southern hemisphere has decreased due to something that happened in the past, then the current distribution should be evened out by now.

"Yes, Bina is right."

"...... So, Jin, you are saying that there are still factors that cause the free magical element (ether) in the southern hemisphere to decrease, right?"

Stearina traced Jin's thoughts with a look of understanding.

"That's right. Whether it is due to consumption or something that eliminates the free magic element (ether)...... we don't know."

"Hmm......"

"Nope. ......"

They all again realized the question and kept their mouths shut.

"If there had only been something in the past that reduced the free magical element (ether), then we should have been back by now."

"Huh?　Jin, what about the Aether Stampede?

"Oh, yes. I heard that since then, the concentration of free magical element (ether) has decreased by one third.

Jin nodded.

"Yes, I wonder about that too. Let me tell you another fact that I have observed at ....... The current free-magic element (ether) concentration near the village of Kaina is almost the same as the free-magic element (ether) concentration in outer space.

"What?

"Does that mean that the concentration of free magic element (ether) was higher than average in Ars in the past?"

The surprised Reinhardt had guessed what Jin meant.

"I think Reinhardt is right."

"Well, I can see why ...... Jin said it was a question."

"Right?"

Taken as a whole, the distribution of free magical elements (ether) in Ars is abnormal. Jin didn't like the fact that we don't know the cause of this anomaly.

"It seems that they didn't know about 700672 either."

"Yes, he did. I don't think ......<> knows about it either."

Milowina added.

The <>, where she lives now, was originally an asteroid, which was once set up as a satellite of Ars by the .

It is said that there is no record of the development of Ars on .

So, there are some hypotheses that the old man and I have made. Let me tell you the most likely one of them. ......, Mr. Lao, please."

Jin motioned to the old man and left the explanation to him.

<> have a thicker free magic element (ether) concentration. Therefore, the concentration of free magic element (ether) in Ars must have been raised by some means.

"This is one."

Jin joins in.

"Two things are now true.

to do with the northern hemisphere rather than consume free magical elements (ether).">

"That makes three. What do you think, guys?"

Jin looked around at all of the <> faces.