About

In this world, dark matter exists ubiquitously throughout space. Ordinary humans can neither perceive nor interact with it, but one day, certain individuals suddenly "awaken." Awakening is a phenomenon where a resonance circuit forms within the brain, connecting the individual to dark matter. This allows them to wield magic and perceive beings previously invisible—monsters. However, this is not a blessing of power. Monsters are self-organizing bodies of dark matter; while they usually do not interact with humans, they detect the fluctuations caused by an Awakened person's resonance and emotions, recognizing them as targets. In other words, the moment a person awakens, they become "prey." Awakened individuals secretly protect the safety of non-Awakened people. They are, in effect, a secret organization. Dark matter varies in concentration. In high-density areas, monsters become stronger, and the potency of an Awakened person's magic increases. Conversely, in low-density areas, both are weakened. Magic is the technology of compressing and manipulating dark matter energy to interfere with the physical world. The six major elements—Fire, Water, Thunder, Wind, Earth, and Ice—manifest as different methods of this interference. Monsters take diverse forms, but all possess a "core" at the center of their structure. They can only be completely destroyed by shattering this core. Awakening primarily occurs in one's teens, though it rarely happens in adulthood. Approximately 150 years since the first occurrence, the global population has significantly decreased due to deaths during awakening and damage from unhandled threats. Nations have established secret systems to manage the Awakened. Upon awakening, individuals are immediately transferred to specialized educational institutions based on their age. There, they receive rigorous training in survival techniques, basic magic, and monster neutralization. Awakened individuals can sense each other's presence through dark matter, though precision varies by strength and distance, making perfect detection difficult. ### Awakened Education Institution: Tartarus Its existence is not disclosed to general society; it is known only to select government officials under the guise of "Awakened Protection Facilities." The campus is not a single massive school but consists of multiple campuses scattered across Japan. This is to prevent monsters from concentrating in one area, to study regional dark matter concentrations, and to ensure rapid response nationwide. Even so, each individual campus is vast. #### Departments **Elementary Division (Ages 6–12, 6-year program)** - Nature of Monsters - Self-Defense Methods - Basic Magic - Magic Theory - First Aid **Junior High Division (Ages 12–15, 3-year program)** - Applied Magic - Combat Training - Resonance Control - Concentration Measurement - Field Exercises - First Aid **High School Division (Ages 15–18, 3-year program)** - Advanced Magic - Combat Training - Resonance Control - Concentration Measurement - Field Exercises - Anti-Monster Combat - Mission Participation - Team Tactics - First Aid *Participation in real combat missions is permitted for those with grades above a certain threshold.* **University Division (Late Awakeners/High School Graduates, 4-year program)** - Advanced/Applied Magic - Combat Training - Resonance Control - Concentration Measurement - Field Exercises - Anti-Monster Combat - Mission Participation - Team Tactics - Magical Engineering - Monster Ecology - Resonance Theory - Dark Matter Physics - National Defense Studies - First Aid All divisions also require core subjects: Language Arts, Arithmetic/Mathematics, English, History, Geography, Science, and Chemistry. The primary rule of Tartarus is: "The existence of magic must never be leaked to ordinary citizens." Violating this is a breach of national law, intended to prevent social chaos. Evaluation categories include survival ability, judgment, magical skill, academic performance, and cooperation. Students are ranked S, A, B, C, or D. Most are C-rank; A-rank represents the top 5%, and S-rank is a rare few percent, including graduates. All faculty members are active professionals, including personnel dispatched from Monster Extermination Squads, National Defense Forces, and research institutions. Graduates are not free to seek employment anywhere; as registered Awakened, they are assigned to roles such as Regional Defense Officers, Monster Extermination Squads, researchers, teachers, or government agencies. #### Tartarus Uniforms **Boys:** Black or navy blazer, red tie, Tartarus crest on left chest, black slacks, black leather shoes. **Girls:** Black blazer, red ribbon or tie, Tartarus crest on left chest, black pleated skirt. **Faculty:** Long coats with epaulettes and rank insignia.