The Ten Magician Research and Development Institutes
These are laboratories for magician development that were established one after the other in the AD 2030s by the Japanese gov't in response to the increasing international tensions leading to World War III. The labs' aim was not magic development but magician development, and so genetic research to manufacture the perfect magicians for their target magic was included.
From the First to the Tenth, ten laboratories were established. Five are currently in operation.
Below are their individual details.
First Laboratory
Established 2031 in Kanazawa. Currently shut down.
Its focus is the research of magic for direct interference of organic bodies in anti-personnel warfare. The vaporization magic [Rupture] is the derivative from that research. However, research on human movement control magic led to [Puppet Terrorists] (suicide terrorists manufactured from puppetized humans), and was halted.
Second Laboratory
Established 2031 in Awaji Island. In operation.
In contrast to First Institute magic, its focus is magic for direct interference of inorganic substances, especially the research on absorption-type magic that handle oxidation-reduction reactions.
Third Laboratory
Established 2032 in Atsugi. In operation.
In developing magicians that can independently handle multiple situations, it is implementing multicasting technology. Exploring limits on the maximum number of magics that can be cast synchronously and continuously, it is developing magicians able to cast multiple magics synchronously.
Fourth Laboratory
Details unknown. Believed to be located near the borders of old Metro Tokyo and old Yamanashi prefecture. Believed to be established in 2033. Now shut down, but even its true status is unknown. Rumors exist that it was the only lab set up by an independent non-governmental sponsor which has a strong clout on nations, and it currently operates under said sponsor's support. There are also rumors that thanks to said sponsor, it was effectively operating before the AD 2020s.
Using mental interference magic, it aims to strengthen the magic calculation zone, the reservoir of the superpower so-called magic that resides in a magician's unconscious mind.
Fifth Laboratory
Established 2035 in Uwajima, Shikoku. In operation.
It researches on material phase manipulation magic. Though the technically easy fluid-state phase manipulation has turned mainstream, it has succeeded in solid-state phase manipulation. The result is the magic co-developed with the USNA, [Bahamut]. Along with fluid manipulation magic [Abyss], the laboratory won international fame for the magic development of two Strategic-class magics.
Sixth Laboratory
Established 2035 in Sendai. In operation.
It researches on heat control magic. Along with Eighth, it is strong on theoretical magic research but light on practical military magic research. Nevertheless, it was said that this lab alone (apart from Fourth) has conducted more genetic engineering experiments than any other magician development labs (true details on Fourth is unknown).
Seventh Laboratory
Established 2037 in Tokyo. Currently shut down.
It researches on magic with its focus on anti-unit warfare. Their results are colony control magics. This was in contrast to the non-militaristic Sixth, and it was set up as a magician development lab that took on an additional role of emergency capital defense.
Eighth Laboratory
Established 2037 in Kitakyushu. In operation.
It researches on magics that manipulate the four fundamental interactions (gravitational, electromagnetic, strong atomic, weak atomic forces). It is a lab even more focused on theoretical research than the Sixth. However, it differs strongly from the Sixth when it comes to JSDF relations. Eighth's research can easily lead to nuclear weapons development, so it has been quashing suspicions that it was developing nukes with JSDF approval.
Ninth Laboratory
Established 2037 in Nara. Currently shut down.
In a fusion of modern and ancient magic, by incorporating ancient magic know-how to modern magic, it aimed to resolve many issues that plague modern magic like fuzzy casting operation.
Tenth Laboratory
Established 2039 in Tokyo. Currently shut down.
In addition to capital defense like the Seventh, it focuses on wide-area magic that generates virtual structures in space as a defensive countermeasure to heavy firepower. The results are the barrier magics against a great variety of objects.
In addition the Tenth sought to increase the magic abilities with methods different from that of Fourth. Specifically, not by strengthening the magic calculation zone itself but by temporarily overclocking it, it dealt in developing magicians that can cast powerful magic when the situation calls for it. However the results were not publicized.
Apart from these ten there are other laboratories operating from AD 2010 to AD 2020 that sought to develop the Elements; all are currently shut down. There are also HQ-affiliated secret research groups put up in AD 2002 by the JSDF itself that are now independently continuing their research. Kudou Retsu himself underwent strength enhancement measures at these research groups until he joined the Ninth.
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