mahouka koukou no rettousei - vol. 14 - ancient city insurrection (i)

7/23/2019 Mahouka Koukou No Rettousei - Vol. 14 - Ancient City Insurrection (I)

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MahoukaKoukounoRettousei:Volume14

Chapter1

[Kyuuchouji(KyuuchouTemple)],whereKokonoeYakumoservedastheheadpriest,layontopofasmall

hillat

Fuchuu

City,

Old

Metro

Tokyo.

As

a

devoted

temple

for

volunteer

physical

work,

word

among

the

templestaffwasthatitwasprobablya[linktoasceticpractice] closetotheneighbourhood,ithadfitted

intotheregionalcommunityasanindispensableparttothetownscenery.

Andasanextra,whenthetownspeoplehadachancetolookatoldmapdetails,theywereinfora

surprise.Itdidn'tmatterifoldmeantahundredyearsold,theywerelookingatgenuinemaps.

Theylearnedthattherewasnotemplefromthestart.

Theylearnedthattherewasnohillatsuchaplace.

Duringthelaterperiodofthetwentyyearsofrepeatedworldwars,thecapitaldefenseforceswere

deployedtotheChoufuu,Fuchuu,Mitaka,andMusashinodistricts,withChoufuuAirFieldservingastheir

base.Andfollowingtherulesoftroopdeployment,theciviliansintheseareashadbeenevacuatedfor

almosttenyears.ThehillKyuuchoujistoodonwasformedfromtheearthdugupwhenalarge

undergrounddefensebunkerwasconstructedonitsspot.

Whileitwasregretfulthatthecapitalsustaineddamagesduringthewar,thankstothe[MusashinoAA

fortress],theoldcapitalwardescapedunscathed.Ontheotherhand,thedefensepositionborethebrunt

oftheattacksfrommultipleattackers,butthatmeantthecivilianevacuationdidnotgotowaste.

Andsoitwasunavoidablefortheblankthatoccurredbetweenthetownanditsresidents.Thepeoplereturnedtotheirown[residences]becausethewarhadended.Andlaterthegovernmentspentmoneyto

reconstructthetown.Althoughitwouldn'tbecompletelythesameasbefore.

Afteratotalsealing,withoutanydismantlingoftheundergrounddefensebunker,andtheaccompanying

townreplanning,thenumberoffamiliesthatwereunabletoreturntotheirformerresidenceswas

reduced.Andthequickinstallationofanadvancedtransportationsystemgavethetownscenerya

somewhatfuturisticlook.

Whatwasaddedwasnotonlyoverheadtrackswheresmallscalecompacttraintypepublictransportation

facilities[Cabinets]ranthrough.Apartfromthosenewfeatures,traditionalfeaturesandvariousfacilitieslargeandsmallwereaddedtothetownscenery.A[largetempleontopofasmallhill],Kyuuchouji,was

oneofthem.

Thetemplehadahistorythatwassomewhat,no,considerablydelicatetosay.Thepreviouspriest,inshort

Yakumo'smaster,wascompensatedforcooperatingwiththeNinthMagicianDevelopmentResearch

Institute,andobtainedtheresidenceandfacilitytotraindisciples disciplesin[Shinobi],ratherthan

disciplesinBuddhistpriesthood.

Andforthatreason,thefaadeofKyuuchoujiwasaimedforcamouflageandwasintentionallyconstructed

in

the

old

style.

Even

the

grounds

inside

the

fencing

were

in

a

20th

century

style.

Incontrast,thetrainingfacilitywasdugdeep,deepdownintotheearthanditsarea,evenwiderthanthe

groundsaboveit,wasfortifiedwiththelatesttechnology.Notonlywasitatraininggroundforancient

magic,atpresentitwasevenatraininggroundatthehighestlevelformodernmagic.


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KazamaintroducingTatsuyatoYakumowasmorethantointroducethelattertothisundergroundfacility.

Asamasteroftaijutsu,Yakumo'sskillwastoprank.However,Kazama'sexpectationswerenotonlytoaim

forTatsuya'staijutsuimprovement.HedidnotbringTatsuyaintothemilitaryinordertobeausual

closecombatspecialist.Hewasexpecting,totheveryend,theabilitiesofanextremelypowerfulmagician

thatcouldfightonthefrontlines.

Itwasafacilitywherebothtaijutsucoachingandmagictrainingwerepossible.Assoonasheknewthat

Tatsuya'shousewaswithinanagreeablyshortdistancefromKyuuchoujiintheneighbouringtown,thistemplewasKazama'sonlychoice.

Andnow,TatsuyawasenteringintothelowestlevelofKyuuchouji'sundergroundtrainingfacility.This

trainingroomhad,fromthefloortotheceilingandeventhewalls,threelayerscomprisingof10cmthick

concrete,30cmthicklead,and60cmthickofneutronshieldingconcrete.

Thiswasnonuclearshelter,itwasmeantasatrainingroomformagic.Andastowhysuchsecureanti

radiationshieldingwasrequired,therewasareasonbehinditwithinthehistoryofhow21stcenturymagic

wasdeveloped.

ResearchanddevelopmentonmodernmagicoriginatedinAD1999,inanincidentwhenanAmerican

policeofficerusedanunusualpower(atthattimeitwasstillcalledESP)totakedownnuclearterrorism.

Fromthoseeventsonwards,R&Donmodernmagicstartedoutasameanstocounternuclearthreats;

basicallytheprimaryobjectiveswerethecontrolandsuppressionofnuclearfission,andtheisolationand

nullificationofradiation.

Withfocusedresearchonitbeingworthwhile,itwasatastagewhereitwassafetosaythatneutron

barriersandgammaradiationfilterswerecompleted.Nevertheless,eventodaythedevelopmentand

improvementofspellsagainstnuclearreactionswasessentialdatacapturedinmagicabilitydevelopment.

Evenso,whatTatsuyawasabouttodointhisroomwasneitherpracticeforradiationisolationmagicnor

improvingnuclearfissioncontrolmagic.Insomeways,itwastheopposite.

Thisundergroundtrainingroomwascurrentlyturningintoapool.Evenso,itwasnotbeingfloodedfor

swimmingpurposes.Withhisshouldersjustoutofthewater,Tatsuyawasinshortsleevedtrainingwear

holdingapistolshapedCADinonehand.Thoughhewasn'tswimming,bothhisheadandhairwere

drenched.

WhathisrighthandwasgrippingwasnothisfavoriteSilverHornCustom.Itwasclearfromitsplain

appearancethatitwasaprototype.Thebiggestdifferencewasthebayonetlikeobjectattachedtothe

muzzleendofthebarrel.Animitation,becauseitwasneithersharpnorpointed,andonlybecausethemetallicthickplatewasconstructedtobelikeabayonet.

Withhisrighthandunderwater,Tatsuyapulledthetrigger.Thetwoactivationsequencesthatgenerated

underwaterwereabsorbedintohisrightarm.ThefirstonewasoutputfromthepistolshapedCAD.The

otheronewasoutputfromthebayonetlikeattachment.

Themagicsequencesactedontheattachment.WaterbubbledatthetipoftheCAD.Thegroansthat

escapedfromTatsuya'sclenchedteethgrewlouderandhewentdownonhisknees.Hisrighthand

hideouslyburneddeepredduetotheseverescalding,TatsuyaendedupdroppingtheCADduetothe

injury.

Submergeduptothetopofhishead,heimmediatelywentuptostandingposition.Hishairbeing

drenchedwasbecauseofthisbeingrepeated.Oftenwithraggedbreaths,hewouldraisehisrighthandto

eyelevelandrepeatedlyclenchitopenandclosed.Therewerenoremnantsofscaldingduetotheuseof


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[Restoration],butthesemiconsciousactionwasduetotheimmediatelyuncomfortablefeelingthathe

mightsufferintensedamage.

Withhisrighthandfinallyregainingitssensation,hestretcheditoutunderwater.Itsfingerslatchedonthe

CADwhichhadfloatedup.Eventhebayonetlikeattachment,whichwasburnedofffromthetipwhenit

wassubmergedatthattime,wasbacktoitsoldformdueto[Restoration].

TatsuyathenagainpreparedhisCADunderwater.However,acommandingvoicewithnoonearoundandnothingclosetohisearssoftlyechoed.

["Tatsuyakun,it'salmostmidnight."]

Withanairvibratingspell itsactivationwasdifferentyetitscontentswerethesameasthoseactivation

sequencesfromUSNASTARSPlanetclassmagicianSylviaMercuryFaust Yakumowhisperedfromoutside

intoTatsuya.

"...Understood."

Tatsuya'sreplywasspokeninthesamemannerasbeforebutYakumounderstoodwhatwaspickedout

fromTatsuya'svoiceusinghisspell.

Sureenough,assoonasTatsuyamadeclearthathistrainingwasover,thewaterintheroombeganto

recede.Ashewaitedforthewatertorecede,Tatsuyausedemissiontypemagictoshakeoffthemoisture

fromhishair,skin,andclothes.

Hiscastingdidn'taimforatotallydrystate.Assoonashedriedhisclothesenoughsonormalmovement

wouldn'tbeaproblem,heusedgravitytypemagictoflickthedoorswitchontheothersideoftheroom.

Duetothenatureofthetrainingroom,noelectricalequipmentcouldbeinstalledinsidethewalls.

("Aninaccessibleroomifmagicweren'tused...")

Asheruminatedoncemoreonthefactthatcameonlynow,Tatsuyastartedontheladderthatwould

bringhimbacktosurface forYakumohadcuttheelectricalpowertotheelevator.


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September232096,Sunday.Eventhoughhehadreturnedhomethenightbefore,justbeforeadate

changingmidnight,Tatsuyastillstartedoutthismorningveryearlyformorningtraining.ThatmadeMiyuki,

whowascheckingtheunreadmessagesonthehomeserver,abitworriedforanearlyrisingTatsuya.

Hewasnotabrotherwhowouldstopuponbeingtoldnottooverexerthimself.No,resortingtopersuasion

bytearsmightforabitgethimtolistentowhatshesaid,butperhapseventhatwouldonlybe

temporary.Andshehadjustusedthatweaponlastmonth.

"I'llholdontosympathetictacticsforalittlelongeruntilit'stimeforseriousneed."Miyukiresignedly

thought.

Inthekitchen,Minamihadalreadystartedpreparingbreakfast.LatelyMiyukiandMinamigotsurprisingly

cooperativetogether,andchangedtherulesaboutwhopreparedwhatmeal.Fromthestart,withthe

developmentofhomeautomation,sincetherewasnopreparingmealsbyhandunlessforspecialevents,

theappearanceofstrugglinginthekitchenlookedhilariousfromathirdpersonview thatwaswhatthe

twoofthembelatedlynoticed.

Andso,MiyukileftthekitchenworktoMinamiassheheadedforthebathroom.

ShethencontrolledtheHARinthedressingroom,takingoutTatsuya'sclothes underwearincluded,but

Miyukiwasnotintobeingbashful.

Intruth,ithadbeeninherthirdyearofmiddleschoolthatshehadhadthoughtsonwhetheritwasgood

beingbashfullikeamaideninsituationswhereshewasinfrontofmaleunderweareventhoughit

belongedtoherbelovedbrother.Although,whensheimaginedherselfbeingredcheekedinfrontofher

brother'sunderwear,shechangedhermindthinking[thisisfordegeneratesratherthanmaidens]. If

anotherpersonsawherexpressingherdelightfulsmile,asshewashardatworkpreparingtheshowerfor

herbrother,hewouldhavethoughtshewasbeyondhelpinvariousways.Butperhapshewouldnever

meetMiyukiherselffacetofaceandtellherthat.

Havingpreparedforherbrother'spromptreturn,Miyuki'slasttaskwastoplacethetowelasitwas in

otherwordsholdthetowelinherhands andheadatahurriedpacefortheentryway.Shewasnotinto

unladylikebehaviorlikerunninginsidethehouse.Evenifshewasn'tseenbyherbrother,Miyukididn't

havethegutstobehaveinawayherbrotherdeemedunsuitable.

Duetodoorbiometrics,thesoundofthedoorbeingunlockedechoedtobothkitchenandlivingroom.By

thetimeMinamihadstoppedwatchinghercookingandcameoutofthekitchen,Miyukiwasalready

standingbyintheentryway.

"Welcomeback,Oniisama."

"I'mhome."

"...Welcomeback,Tatsuyaniisama."

TheslightdelaywasduetothetimeMinamitooktorushfromthekitchentotheentryway.Shewasoutof

thekitchenatthesametimeoftheunlocking,butforthismorningMiyukistillendedupinabigleadover

her.WhenshefirstcametothishouseMinamicouldn'thideherdisdainoverthis,butnowadaysshehad

allbutgivenup.


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Andthatwastheproperresponse.Theymaynotbeinthemiddleofcombat,butitwasstrangeforMiyuki

tocorrectlyascertainTatsuya'spresenceevenwhenhewasstillover50metersaway.Minaminotputting

upanastonishedexpressionwouldbeearningthepraisesinstead.

"Oniisama,theshowerhasbeenpreparedforyou."

"Thankyou."

Miyukifollowedbehindherbrother,whohadtakenthetowelandenteredthebathroom,withatruly

happysmilingface.Onseeingher,Minamiexhaledsecretly.Evenforaliveinmaid,thisleveloflettingoff

steamshouldhavebeenpermitted.

ItwasSundayandyetduetocircumstancesalreadymentioned,morningsattheShibasproceeded

accordingtotheeverusualtimetable.Thatmeantacomfortableteatimeafterbreakfast.AndforMiyuki,

whohadgivenintoMinamioverpreparingbreakfast,preparingTatsuya'steawassomethingshedidn't

turnover.ForMinami'spart,shewouldbestudyingand,toavoidtakingdamagefromthesicklysweet

atmosphere,wasassignedthetaskofcleaningandlaundry.

Hereverusualwholeheartedlypreparedcoffeeearningthe[wordsofpraise]fromTatsuyaandfinally

settlingdown,Miyukithen,

"Oniisama,Iwouldliketoaskyouaboutsomething."

SuddenlymadeuphermindandtriedaskingTatsuyaononethingthathadbeenclawingathermindfor

quiteawhile.

"What?"

Itwasblunt,butTatsuya'svoicetowardshisyoungersisterwasgentleallthesame.Encouraged,Miyuki

threwawaythelastofherhesitations.

"WhyisOniisamanotenteredintothisyear'sThesisCompetition?I'mawarethatthesolarfurnace

experimentperformedlastAprilattheschoolgroundswasexemptedfromsubmittingascreeningthesis

whichwasrequiredforMagicEngineeringstudents,itdoesmeanitwasn'tprohibitedfromparticipating,

wasit?"

"Comenow,don'tsayitwasn'toutjustfornothing."

Theideaofprohibitedfromparticipatingwasstrange,Tatsuyasmiledasheshookhishead.

"Thenwhy...?"

"It'sbecauseIdon'thavethetime."

Tatsuya'sanswertoMiyuki'sshortfollowupquestionwasjustasshort,andwaspreciseunlikeMiyuki's

inquiry.

"Wasit...relatedtothemagicthatOniisamaispracticingeverydayuntillateatnight?"

Miyukihesitatinglyfollowedupwithaquestion.Shewasatalosswhetherornotitwasokayforherto

intrudefurther,


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"That'sright.Youunderstooditwell."

Tatsuya'shandreachedouttowardsMiyuki'sheadwhowasbesidehim.Alongwithhiscommending

words,Tatsuyasoftlystrokedhisyoungersister'shair.Suchgentlesensationledthehesitationremaining

inMiyuki'shearttomeltaway.

"WasitperhapswhatisOniisamamakingeffortsforisnotpracticingmagic,butdevelopmentofanew

kindofmagic?"

"AsexpectedofmyMiyuki,shereallyknowswhatI'mdoing."

ThosewordswereembarrassingtoMiyukievenmorethanhishandtouchingherhair,althoughsheknew

thatmostofitwasflattery,orratherinjest.

Tatsuyawouldn'thavetosubjecthimselftosuchhardshipifitweretrainingforanexistingmagic.The

virtualmagiccalculationareathatwasplantedinhimmayhavesuchlowmagicoutput,butmorethan

copyingentiremagicsequencesandthenusingit,itcancompletelyidentifythestructureofthemagic

sequencesnomatterthemagicandwhatstatusitmaybejustbeforeactivation.Fromthereonitwasa

problemofthroughput.Ifitwasmagichecouldactivatehecoulduseitwithoutanytraining,ifitwasnot

thennomatterthetraininghecouldnotuseit.Andwithhiseyesightandanalyticskills,therewasno

magicspellthathecouldnotanalyze.

Whateverwastroublinghimatthistimeuntillateeverynight,therewasnowaythatwasanexisting

magic.

"I'vestarteddevelopmentofthismagicsinceMarch.Thatmaybethecase;ittookmesometimeeven

thoughIclarifiedthetheoriesfromtheonset.ItwasfinallyinJunethatImanagedtoclearthemagicspell

designphase."

Andso,Iwasn'tintotheThesisCompetitionatall,Tatsuyasmiled.

However,Miyukiwasn'tsmilingatwhatsheheard.Firstoff,thefactwasthatherbrother,thetheoretician

[Silver]ofthemysteriousgeniusmagicengineerTaurusSilver,tookthreemonthsjusttoworkoutthe

theories.Anotherthingwasthedevelopmentstart,whichwasMarch.

"ThenthenewmagicOniisamawasdealingwithnow...wasitmeantfortheconfrontationwithLina?"

"Youunderstooditwell."

TheanswerthatcameoutfromTatsuyahadthesamewords,butitsnuancewassurprisinglydifferent.This

timeithadbothrealsurpriseandadmiration.TatsuyareallyfeltadmirationatMiyukiforfiguringoutan

almostcorrectanswerwiththosehintsonly.

"ThemagicI'mdevelopingnowisamagicsequenceforacloserangedirectattackthatusestheFAE

theory."

"FAE...theory?IfIrememberright,thatwasthetheoryusedbehindLina'sweapon,wasn'tit?"

"Yes,themagictheorythatwasthefoundationforwhatLinaused;thestrategicclasswieldedmagic

weapon[Brionac]...FAE,that'sFreeAfterExecution."


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ThestrongemotionsthatwereputintoTatsuya'stonewereeitherrespecttowardstheengineerwho

completedtheersatzdivineweaponBrionac...orantagonism.ItwasfeltbyMiyuki,notwhichoftheone,

butinthatitcouldbebothofthem.

"Theresultinggeneratedphenomenonthatwasmanipulatedbymagicwasaphenomenonthatwas

essentiallynotpartofthisworld,soimmediatelyafterthemanipulationtheshacklesduetothelawsof

physicswereweakened.Andsoduringtheshorttimelaguntilthenormallawsofphysicstakeeffect,one

canexecutethenextmagicwithanamountofpowerfarsmallerthantherequiredinterferencepowertodonormalphenomenonmanipulation.That'showthehypothesisgoes."

AndthereuponTatsuyanoticedhisownmistake,andshookhisheadashesmiledbitterly.

"No,it'snotahypothesis.ItwasalreadydemonstratedbyBrionacthattheFAEtheoryiscorrect."

"Oniisama,pardonme.There'ssomethingaboutwhatyou'vediscussednowthatIdon'tunderstand,can

youclarifyitforme?"

Miyuki'squestionwasnotmeresocializing;itwasachancetoclearupherdoubtduetoherloveof

learning.Ifitwereameredifficulttheory,shewouldhaveprobablysweptitoffbygivingherbrother

annoyingthoughts.ButtheFAEwasatheoryconnectedtomagicusedbyLina.Miyukicouldn'tbring

herselftoremainignorantofthat.

"Goahead,noneedtorestrainyourself."

"Aslongasitisnotasingleprocessmagic,magicisconstructedusingconsecutiveprocesses.Withthat

many,thesucceedingprocesswilltakeoverandtakeeffectonthestateoftheeventmanipulationofthe

previousprocess.However,forsuchmagic,Ihavenoactualexperienceineasilyactivatingthesecond

processonward,isn'tthisacounterexampletotheFAEtheory?"

"Isee..."

OnhearingMiyuki'squestion,Tatsuya,hisheadasifstruckatablindspot,nodded.

"Thatkindofmisunderstandingisprobablycommonamongmagicians."

Howeverthatwasanunexpectedlystrongemotionhefelt,notbecauseitwasunexpectedthatwhat

Miyukipointedoutwascorrect,butbecauseevenproficientmagiciansonthelevelofMiyukiwould

misunderstandsomethinglikethat.

"Misunderstanding,yousaid?"

"Thefactisthatmagicprocessesbythemselvesarenotmagic."

AtTatsuya'sshortexplanation,Miyukiexpressedconfusion.

Ofcourse,Tatsuyaintendedtokeeponexplaininguntilheryoungersistergotit.

"Takethismagicforexample"

Ashesaidthat,Tatsuyaopenedthesugarpotlid,madeasugarcubefloattohiseyelevelandhelditthere,

thenasecondlaterhereturneditbacktothepot.

"Oniisama...thatmaybeseasoning,butyou'reawarehowIfeelonwastingfood."


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"Oh,yeah,sorry."

And,uponseeingMiyukirebukinghimforwhatshesaw,hewasstuckwithdoinganapologywithoutany

excuses.

Miyukismiledsatisfactorilyatherbrothermeeklyapologizing.

"Wellthen,"

Experiencingthediscomfortingyoungandoldrankreversal,Tatsuyaslightlyforcedthediscussionbackon

track.

"There'snoneedtosayittoyou,butthemagicjustusedwasthepopularbasictrainingspell[Suspension].

Amagiccomprisingoffourprocesses agravitationtypeantigravitymagicprocesstomakethesugar

cubefloat,amovementtyperestmagicprocesstosuspendthesugarcubemidair,agravitationtype

gravitycontrolmagicprocesstoslowlylowerthesugarcubeintothesugarpot,andamovementtyperest

magicprocesstomakethesugarcubestaystillinsidethesugarpotwithoutimpactingit.Howeverthis

presentation,nowthatyou'vesaidit,wouldeasilyfomentmisunderstanding."

"WherehaveImadeamisunderstanding?"

"Ididn'tsayyoumadeamisunderstanding.It'sjustthatforthefourprocessesofthemagic,thedelusion

thateachofthemisanindependentmagicrises."

"Thatwas...adelusion?"

TatsuyanoddedgravelyatMiyuki,whowascurrentlybewildereduponbeingtoldthatunexpectedfact.

"Suspensionisafourprocessmagic,butit'sthosefourprocessesthatitbecomesasinglemagic.Toreachthestagewherethemagicisactivatedonehastocompleteconstructingthemagicsequencesuntilthe

finalrestprocessanddefinethevariables.Withoutthefullmagicpowertocoverthefourprocesses,"

TatsuyabrokeoffthereandhiseyesgazedintoMiyuki,asifascertaininghercomprehension.

"Themagicwouldn'tbeinterruptedduringactivation,theantigravityprocesswouldn'tactivatefromthe

start."

Miyukiexpressedasurprisedlook.

"That'sright...ifeachprocesswereindependentmagic,themomentthemagicpowerisinsufficientthe

magicwouldhavebeencutoffmidway...andnottheresultwhenitwouldhavebeennonactivatedfrom

thestart."

Mutteringasiftalkingtoherself,MiyukiwasatthatmomentdigestingeagerlywhatTatsuyahadtaught

her.

"Magicprocessesarebythemselvesnotindependentmagic.Theyare,throughandthrough,partofone

magic.That'swhatyoumean,isn'titOniisama."

"Exactlyasyou'vesaidit.That'smyMiyuki,yousurelearnfast."


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SmileduponbyTatsuya,Miyukiturnedhereyesawaybashfully.Itwasanexpressionofpureandsimple

embarrassment,butthistimethefeelingofembarrassmentbecauseshewasunabletocomprehend

somethinguntilshewastaughtthismuch,wasstronger.

Tatsuyawasnotpraisingheroutofsarcasm,hewasreallycommendingher.Miyukiwasashamedof

herselfwhowasawareofthatandyet,whileshe'sherbrother'syoungersister,allthemoreunableto

understandthismuch.

Although,sheprobablythoughtthatshealwaysmustn'tturnherfaceaway.MiyukifacedTatsuyawitha

forcedsmile.

"Now,now,somethinglikethiswouldendupbeingintuitivelymisunderstoodwithoutpracticallyany

personalexperience,nomatterhowmuchofthetheoryyou'veunderstood.Magicisnotascholarly

pursuit,butatechnicalcapability.Withoutanyexperienceinfailingtoactivatemagic,wewouldn'tbe

troubledoveritsreasons."

Tatsuyawasn'tsharpatotherpeople'semotions,butit'sadifferentstorytowardsMiyuki.Whetherit's

seeingMiyukigointoaslump,orquicklygoingaroundwithacoverup.

"Besidestheimportantpointisnotthereasonwhymagicfailedtoactivate,it'sthefactthatmagic

processesareonlynothingmorethanconvenientobjects.Asperwhatmodernmagicschemehadtaken

form,fromactivationsequencetomagicsequenceconstruction,tosuccessfullydescribetheactivation

sequenceit'sonlyconvenientthatthemagicsequencebebrokendownintomodulescalledprocesses."

Thenagain,Miyukiisnotthetypewhodoesn'tknowshe'sbeingencouragedonbyherbrother.Tatsuya

wasconcernedabouther.Gladaboutthat,herforcedsmilesoftenedupsomewhat.

"IfinallyunderstoodwhatOniisamawastalkingabout."

Miyukilightlypokedherownhead,andsheexpressedapleasant[Sorry,forbeingadunceofayounger

sister]smile.Asthatexpressionwouldcauseonetoexperiencelargegapswiththeusualimagesofanall

tooorderlybeautybringingabouteventhecoldness,Tatsuyareleasedpowerenoughtototallygetridof

hisawarenesstowardsostrichism.

"Magicprocessesarethroughandthroughpartofmagic.Thereforeeventmanipulationduetomagicgoes

throughallprocessesandissingular.Sinceevencompletingoneprocessisstillnothingmorethanamid

stageeventmanipulationthemanipulatedeventwon'tbesuccessful,theeventmanipulationdifficulty

loweringdescribedbytheFAEtheorywouldn'toccur,right?"

"...That'sright.Fullmarksforyou,Miyuki."

EvenTatsuyahadhissensestakenawaybyhisyoungersistercharminglyswingingslightlyherheadonto

oneside.Hetriedtocoveritupbypretendingtobeunnaturallysilent,asifscrutinizingMiyuki'sanswer,

buthehadnofaithinhimselfwhetherornothecanreallydeceivehisyoungersister.

Miyuki'ssmile,thatmadeflowersbloomtotheirfullglory,rejectedTatsuya'spryingassomething

unsophisticated.


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Justhowdoesthatpairpasstimeduringaholiday?

Forupperclassmen,classmates,andunderclassmenwhoknewtosomeextentthesiblingsTatsuyaand

Miyuki thatmeantthemajorityofFirstHighstudents,itwasthefirsttimeallofthemhadencounteredthisquestion.Andso,

Theyflirtwitheachotheralldaylong,likeacoupleinpassionatelove?

Nono,saywhatyouwantbuttogothatfar...atleasthowaboutonthelevelofanalldaydate?

Nah,that'snaive.I'msurethatcouplewouldfinallyendupinascenewhere...

Inthosesituations,acolorfularrayofspeculationspreadaround.

Theirspeculationswerepartiallyspoton.It'struethatthepairareveryhappilyspendingtheirrestdays,

evengoingondates.

However,itisnoteveryday.InfactTatsuyamanytimeswasawayfromhomeonSundays.It'smostlygoing

totheFLTresearchlabsorbeingsummonedbytheIndependentMagicequippedBattalion,buteversince

MinamicametotheShibahouse,hestoppedworryingaboutMiyukibeingalone,andsothefrequencyof

occurrencewentup.

Buttodaywasrightnowunusual,fortherearenoappointmentssetforTatsuya.EvenMiyukiwasnotinto

saying"Iwanttogoout".Itwasn'tbecausethestudentcouncilelectionsweremovedtoweekends;itwas

coveredbythefactthatTatsuyawasphysicallyexhaustedduetotraining.

Andsototellthewholestory,Miyukiwasinnomoodtoentertaingueststoday.Eventhoughthoseguests

werecloserelatives.What'smore,shewasdisinclinedtoshowthispairintothehouse.Evenifthepeople

werecloserelativesshecan'tresteasy,eventhoughsheknewthey'realliesshecannotlowerherguard.

ButthosewerenothingmorethanMiyuki'spersonalsentiments.Moreovertheirreasonwas[forher

brother]andsinceTatsuyadidn'tshowanystanceofdenyingthem,Miyuki(onthesurface)hasnoreason

nottowelcomethem.

"Fumiya,Ayako,goodforyoutocome."

"Fumiyakun,Ayakochan,welcome."

TatsuyaandMiyukifriendlyaddressedthepairwhohadjustsettleddownafterbeingledinsidebyMinami

andofferedtositonthesofa.ItwasfortheabovementionedreasonsthatMiyuki'smannerswerequite

diplomatic,whileTatsuyawasnevertolowerhisguardwhoeverhewasfacing apartfromoneperson.

Butseenfromoutsidethepair'smannersshowedanimpeccablyfriendlyaffection.

"Tatsuyasan,Miyukioneesama,pardonusforintrudingyou."

"Tatsuyaniisan,Miyukisan,longtimenosee."

IncontrastwiththegreetingsoftheShibasiblings,theresponseoftheKurobasiblingswerestiff.

ComparedtoTatsuyaandhissistertheyshouldnotbeconsiderablyinexperienced.AgewisethoseJune


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borntwinswouldhavebeensixteen,thesameagewithMarchbornMiyuki.Whethersixteenyearsofage

wasadultageorminoragewassetasidefornow,andsinceitwasalmostignoredthetwinsshouldbeable

toeasilyandcompletelyhidetheirnervousness.

Inotherwords,todaywasperhapsduetobusinessthatcorrespondedtothose[considerablematters].

BothTatsuyaandMiyukidrewthatconclusionfromtheirappearances.

"WhichremindsmeFumiya,Minamiwasindebtedtoyouforlastmonth."

Minami,standingbesidethesofa,quicklybowedtoFumiyawhowasbewilderedatsuddenlybeing

thankedbyTatsuya.

"Thankstoyoueliminatingtheguards,yousavedmefromtrouble."

"O,oh...thatincident,right?"

Onthewordsforguardelimination,Fumiyagraduallyrealizeditwastheincidentduringthelastdayofthe

9SCwhenhebroughtdownthesecuritysurroundingthevanMinamiwason.

"No,it'snotaconsiderablematter."

Don'tmindaboutit,Fumiyatriedtoanswerthisback.However,

"Thoughthismaynotrepaythefavorbacktoyou"

Tatsuyawasquicktofollowuphiswords.

"IstheresomethingImaybeabletohelpyouwith?"

Fumiyawasstruckspeechlessattheunexpectedwords,whileAyakosittingbesidehimexhaledloudly.

"...Really,we'renomatchforTatsuyasan.Withacalmlookthatshowszerointerestinotherpeople's

mood,hebroughtdownsuchasurpriseattackatus."

Shakingherheadwithalookthat'sraringtosaysomethingeventhoughshe'sstumped,sheturnedher

focusatheryoungertwinwho'sfrozenbesideher.

"Fumiya,let'stakeuphisoffer.We'reonlyemissariesfromthestart,wehavenochoiceaboutit."

"Y,yes.You'reright..."

Fumiyanoddedwitharesignedlook,thenfromaninnerpocketofhisjacketheneatlyworeeventhough

it'saSundayhetookoutanormalsizedsealedletter.

Therewasnoaddress.Pickingupthesealedenvelopethenturningitover,Tatsuyalightlyraisedhisbrows.

Miyuki,peeringoverfromherbrother'sside,lightlygaspedassheplacedahandintohermouth.

Writtenonthereversesidewasthenameoftheiraunt,YotsubaMaya.

"We'reheretopersonallyhandthistoyoufromthemistress."

AtFumiya'swords,Miyukilookedbesideatherbrother.TatsuyanoddedbackatMiyuki,acceptedthe

paperknifethatwaspresentedbyafastactingMinami,thenbrokeopentheseal.


18/152

Insidetheenvelopewasasimplesinglesheetofstationery.Tatsuyalookeditoverthoroughly,andwhen

donereadinghehandeditovertoMiyukiwho'sbeenwaitingpatiently.

"Areyouaware,Fumiya,ofthecontentsthatwerewrittenhere?"

Fumiyashowedsomeslighthesitation,

"Yes,I'm

aware"

Andyetansweredonhisownwithoutaskinghissisterforhelp.

"Isee"

ThistimeTatsuyashiftedhisfocusontoMiyuki.Miyukihadjustfinishedreadingthestationery,andwas

softlynoddingwiththeintentionto[it'syourcall].

"ThatwrittenhereisacommissionforassistanceforthecaptureofZhouGongjin?"

"Thattooweknow."

Thistime,Tatsuyaplainlyraisedhiseyebrows.

"Isee.Thecommissionisnotafigureofspeech,it'smeantasitwaswritten."

BothFumiyaandAyakonoddedasone.

MiyukihalfrosetoherfeetandfacedTatsuya.

"Oniisama...whyhasAuntofferedthis[commission]tous?"

Thequestionwasisitokaytocommissionwhenorderingitwasenough.EvenTatsuyawasofthesame

opiniononthematter.

"Onthatmatterwewereentrustedwithaverbalmessage."

"Averbalmessage?Isitsomethingthatcannotbelefteveninaletter?"

Secrecywasnormallytighterforpaperdocumentationthanelectronicdata.He'swonderingjustwhatkind

the

contents

are

to

make

her

hesitate

to

even

put

it

into

the

letter.

However,Ayakodidn'tanswerdirectlytothatquestion.

"'Itdoesn'tmatterifyourefusethisjob.'"

"Auntwouldsaysuchathing!?"

Miyukiunintentionallyraisedhervoice,then*facedTatsuya*andashamedlymuttered[Pardonme].

Tatsuyaunderstoodthereasoningthatmadehisyoungersisterbetakenaback.Howeverhewasnotthat

muchsurprised.MayamaybetheheadofhouseYotsuba,butsinceTatsuya'sstatustotheYotsubawas

thatofaGuardian,Miyukihasthehighestauthoritywhenitcomestoorderinghim.Andasperthesecret

agreementarrangedbetweenhouseYotsubaand101stBrigade,apartfrommissionsthatconcernMiyuki's

protection,itwasdecidedthatthe101stBrigadehasthepreferentialright.


19/152

MiyukiwasseeingasabsolutetruththemightoftheYotsuba,orrathersinceshedoesn'tknowwellthe

competenciesofothermagicorganizationsormilitarypowers,shewasatastatewhereshewasconvinced

thatshecannotgoagainstMaya'sorders.Infact,evenMayacannotignoretheYotsubaorganizationand

itsagreementwiththemilitary.Withthesesetregulations,therearen'tmanycaseswhereMayacanorder

Tatsuya.

Accordingly,Tatsuyajudgedthatitwasn'ttimeyettoopposeMaya.Andthatcall,justbecausethe

opponenthadbehavedlikealamb,won'tchange.

"Fumiya,tellAuntthatitis[accepted]."

BothMiyukiandAyakofacedTatsuyawithplainlysurprisedlooks.

"Iwillcertainlypasstheword....Myapologies,Tatsuyaniisan."

AndFumiyafacedTatsuyaandbowedverydeeply.

"WhyisFumiyaapologizing?"

"CapturingZhouGongjinwasamissionoriginallygiventotheKuroba.Andbecauseofourincompetence

weendedupcausingTatsuyaniisantrouble..."

The[incompetence]FumiyasaidreferredtothecircumstancessurroundinglastmonthwhenonMaya's

orderstheKurobasortiedtoYokohamaChinatownforZhouGongjin'scapture.Thattimetheheadof

house,Mitsugu,wasseverelyinjuredwithonearmcompletelybittenoff,andthedragnetsetbythe

KurobahitsquadwasbrokenallowingZhoutoescape.

Fumiya'slook,whenheansweredTatsuya'squestion,had[shame]writtenalloverit.

"Fumiya,itisnotbadtoaskforotherpeople'shelp."

Atthatstate,Tatsuyatookonanunexpectedbrotherlyattitude.

"AllthemoreifitisaKurobabusiness,youshouldhaveactivelysoughtmeoutevenifyousuppressyour

ownsentiments."

"Tatsuyaniisan...?"

"WantingtoaccomplishbyyourownwhatwasentrustedtoyouisanattitudeIcanunderstand.Howevermakingthemissionsucceedisthegreaterpriority."

Bytheirownmeantbytheirownstrength,thatistosaythemanifestationofjuvenileperfectionismandan

aspectofdangerousobsessioncommonamongtheyouth.

"Failureisnotpermittedwhetherit'syourormywork."

Tatsuya'svoicewasstern.However,hiddeninthereisagentlenessthatwouldmakeMiyukienvious.

"...You'reright.Itwasaverbalgaffe."

EvenFumiyaunderstoodthatTatsuyawaslookingafterhimwithouttheneedtobetaughtofthatby

anyone.


20/152

"Soit'snotanapologythen,isit.Thankyouverymuch,Tatsuyaniisan."

OnseeingFumiyabowingdownagain,Tatsuyarepliedbackwithasatisfiednod.

"Wellthenlet'shearoutwhat'sclearthusfar."

"Understood.AfterescapingYokohama,ZhouGongjinheadedwestbysea,apparentlyhisescaperoute

throughthe

Pacific

was

blocked.

After

disembarking

at

Ise,

Zhou

was

cornered

at

Biwakooohashi

as

he

was

headingnorth,butheendedupgettingaway.WebelievehehasslippedinsomewhereinKyoto.Ourmen

arecurrentlyonthemoveandsearchingintheOoharaarea.

"Anyinfoonthesupporters?"

"It'slikelythatthe[Traditionalists],theorganizationofancientmagiciansopposingthehousesof[Nine],

havehadahandinhisescape."

"Thetraditionalists,eh?"

"Tatsuyaniisan,doyouknowofthem?"

"I'veheardabitofthemfromMasterYakumo.They'renotonlyadomesticgatheringofastrayancient

magicians,theyhaveancientmagiciansthathavefledfromthemainland andtheyhaveeventakenin

occultists,probablyattemptingtoboostorganizationalstrength.AndlasttimeIremembertherewere

refugeeoccultistswithintheKudou;isitpossiblethattheyhavegivenahand?"

"Wedon'thavetoworryaboutthat.TheoccultistsunderKudouescapedfromtheformerNinth

LaboratoryimmediatelyafterZhouGongjin'sescapefromYokohamaandhavejoinedupwiththe

traditionalists.NoneedtoinquiretotheKudouaboutthis,wegotdirectconfirmationfromthem."

"Thefactthatthetraditionalistsandthehousesof[Nine]arejoininghandsbehindthescenesis

unthinkable.NoneedtoworryabouttheKudoustabbingatourbacks."

"Tatsuyasan?"

ItwasAyako,uptonowwasleavingtheexplanationtoheryoungerbrother,whowasreservedlyasking

Tatsuyawhowasstaringintomidspaceandthinkingaboutsomething.

"No,pardonme.I'llkeepthoseinmind."

Ondetectingthatthosethankfulwordscontaina[questiontimeisover]sign,AyakoandFumiyastoodup

asone.

DuringthetimewhenTatsuyaandMiyukilefttoseeAyakoandFumiyaoffattheentrance,Minamiwas

clearingawaythetabletopandpreparedadditionalblacktea.Hersorryfeelingsforjumpingthegunonher

master(Miyuki)hadalreadydisappearedfromwithinher.Shehasemotionsofrespecttowardshermaster

Miyuki,esteemtowardsherasamagician,andaspirationstowardsherasayounggirl.Atthesametime,

she'sabitbotheredathermastertakingupmaidduties,andiswellawareofherinconvenientlysevere

brothercomplex.

Returningtothelivingroomwithteacupsinhand,Minamiwasmotionedtosettleherselfonthesofa

Fumiyahadsatonjustnow.Reluctantly,sheloweredtheteacupsinfrontofTatsuyaandMiyukiandhad

justsatdownwhenTatsuyaslightlyfrowned.


21/152

"Err,Tatsuyasama...?"

MinamihadinternallycategorizedTatsuyaasonewithmorecommonsensethanMiyuki.Inshort,a

companionevenmoresensiblethanhermaster.Whileshewasn'treactingwildly,Minamiwasdrivento

worrywhethershehadcommittedsomekindofblunder.

"Minami,prepareonemorecupoftea."

"Yes...?"

Shewasselfawarethatnowshemighthaveshownastupefiedexpression;Minami'sconfusionwas

evidentinherface.

(Isthereanotherguestcomingrightafterthistime?)

"It'snotwhatyouthink."

SheherselfmaynothavenoticeditbutMinami'sfacehasnotonlyconfusion,evenherdoubtwasshowing

up.

Whenheperceivedwhatwasonherexpression,Tatsuyabroughtinacorrectionalongwithaslightly

strainedsmile.

"Imeantthatyoupreparesomeforyourselfsinceourconversationmighttakelong."

Minami'sdoubtclearedupwithTatsuya'sexplanation,butanewconfusioncameupatthesametime.

Evenso,Tatsuyasawrightthroughit.

"It'suncomfortableformeandMiyukihavingsomethingtodrinkwhileyoudon'thaveany."

"...Pleasewaitforamoment."

Asshewasbeatendownwithanotwellunderstoodsenseofdefeat,shequicklywentbacktothekitchen.

AshewaswaitingforMinamitobringherowncupandreturntothesofa,TatsuyaspreadoutMaya's

letteronthetable.Onlytersebusinesswaswrittenonthesinglesheetofstationery.Heused[Elemental

Sight]to

read

the

information

attached

to

both

stationery

and

envelope,

but

there

were

no

traces

of

specialtricksbeingapplied.

"Inotherwords,Aunt'staskreallyappearstobeonlytohelpoutinthecaptureofZhouGongjin."

Explainedonthis,astronglysuspiciouslookshoweduponMiyuki'sface.

"WhyAuntwouldonlythistimechoosenotanorderbutacommission?"

"It'struethatitbothersme.AndunlessweaskAuntwewon'tknowtheanswer..."

TatsuyalookedatMiyuki,andthenatMinami.

Itwasnowayaseveregaze.Evenso,tensionranthroughMinami'sspine.


22/152

"Bothofyoumaynotbeawareofit,butfromthestartAuntholdsnoauthoritytoorderme.Toputitmore

concisely,Aunt'scommandauthorityhasthelowestprecedence."

MiyukiandMinami'sshockandawewerelaidbare.Bothofthemcoveringtheirmouthsinunisonwas

perhapsthefruitsoftheirmannerseducationortheresultofthemaidunderhermaster'sinfluence.

"NeedlesstobesaidguaranteeingMiyuki'ssafetyisthehighestpriority,butthenextinpriorityareduties

withIndependentMagicequippedBattalion.Aunt'scommandauthoritycomesinthirdafterthat."

MiyukistirringbesidehimwastransmittedtoTatsuya,buthedidn'tgiveattentionanymorethanthat.

EvenMinami,whowasfocusedonTatsuya'swords,didn'tgazecoldlyasusualatawrithingMiyuki's

brothercomplexreaction.

"HoweveruptonowwhenAunthasinstructedworkforme,itwasalwaysintheformoforders.Perhaps

theyknewthroughwaysandmeansthatI'mnotinaduty,butinanycasethatwasthenorm."

Tatsuyathenreachedforhisteacup.Eitherhewasthirstywithallthetalking,orperhapsbehindhistea

drinkinghewascollectinghisthoughts.Hisreturningthecuptoitssaucerwasabitslowerthanusual.

"Sinceanottoocommonmethodwasused,itseemsthatwehaveanunusualsituation.Suchasthecase

thistimewhenitrequiresspecialcountermeasures,forexample."

ComprehensionwasinMinami'sexpression,butworrywasshowingupinMiyuki's.

"Thatis,thetaskthistimeisespeciallydangerous,right?"

"WehaveanopponentwhohasheavilyinjuredtheheadofhouseKuroba,andisstillevadingtheYotsuba's

pursuit.It'snoeasytasktocaptureortooffhim."

Ashewasansweringwiththose,hegentlystrokedMiyuki'shairasiftellingherto"nottoworry".On

feelingthosehandsasTatsuyasayinghewasnotthinkingofitasadangerousmission,Miyukiregainedher

composure.

"Theproblemisnotthedifficultyofthemission."

However,thenextthingTatsuyainformedthemwhenheletgoofhairstrokingbroughttensionbackto

MiyukiandMinami'sexpressions.

"It'sthefirsttimeformeinasituationwherethetarget'swhereaboutsareunknown,andIsayit'sveryrarefortheYotsuba.AndIhaven'tknownofonewhohasthecapacitytoescapefromtheYotsuba'shand."

Tatsuyasighedatthedifficultyofthelatesttask.

"Anopponentforsuchasituation.There'snoavoidingthatthismightturnintoalongtermtask."

Miyuki'sexpressionturnedfromtensiontoworryandloneliness.UponseeingthatTatsuyahastilyadded

hisnextwords.

"Itdoesn'tmeanthatI'llbegoneforextendedperiods.Thereisschool,andfromthestartIhavezero

knowhowonpersonssearchIhavetocommissionotherpeopletolocatehiswhereabouts.Myturnwill

comewhenZhouGongjinislocated."

"...Willitturnintoabattle?"


23/152

"Miyuki,enoughwiththatface.There'snowayI'mgoingagainsthimalone.Thetaskthatisrequestedof

meistocutoffallofthetarget'sescaperoutes."

Ashesaid,thatTatsuyapointedathimself.

Miyuki,havingunderstoodwhatthatmeant,breathedasighofrelief.

"Howeverfrom

time

to

time

there

are

days

that

Ihave

to

be

away

from

the

house."

TatsuyapretendedthathedidnotseeMiyuki's"that'snotwhatyousaid"sulkedlook.

"Whenthattimecomes,Minami,youprotecther."

Minamididn'tunderstandwellwhyshewasmadetosithere.Asaresult,shewassofarvaguelylistening

toTatsuya'stalkwithhermoodthatitwasotherpeople'sproblems.

"Yes!"

However,thatwasinsomewayasurpriseattack.Minami,onhearingformallyfromTatsuyathetasksthat

weregiventoherasamagicianandaGuardian,instinctivelystraightenedherbackmorethanthatwas

necessaryandendedupansweringinasurprisedtone.

Tatsuyaremainedimpassiveevenwhenhearingher"Yass!"response.

"Magicstrengthwise,Miyukiisstrongerthanyouare.Perhapsshecanusemanyspellsinsimulated

combat.Butthosehavenothingtodowiththis."

" Yes"

InspiredbyTatsuya'sserioustone,Minamithistimesolidlyrespondedback.

"Minami,fortheYotsubayouareMiyuki'sGuardian.Butformeyou'remorethanthat,you'reoneofthe

fewmagicianswhomIcanputmytrustin."

Tatsuya'svoicewasdarklygrave.TatsuyawasawarethatMayawastheonewhosentinMinamiandhad

somehiddenplansforher;likewise,MinamiwasawarethatTatsuyaknew.But,ontopofthat,Tatsuya

saidhetrustedMinami.Judgingwithhisowneyes,hesaidshewastrustworthy.

"WhenI'm

out

of

the

house,

Ientrust

Miyuki

to

you."

"Pleaseleavetheresttome."

Minamisquarelyacceptedthattrust.


24/152

DuetothenatureofworkoftheKurobafamily,theyhavenumerousbusinesstrips.Forthatreason,they

haveregularhotelsineveryareainJapan.Formajorcities,eitherahotelunderthedirectpatronageofthe

YotsubaorahotelwithdirectYotsubafundingwassetup.EventhistimeFumiyaandhissisterwere

stayingatahotelsetupundertheYotsubaumbrella.

AndsotheycouldmakecallstotheYotsubamainhousewithoutfearofbeingintercepted.

"Themistress'letterhascertainlybeenhandedtoTatsuyaniisan.Moreoverwewereentrustedwith

Tatsuyaniisan'sverbalmessage."

FumiyawasreportingwhathadtranspiredtodaytotheYotsubamainhouse.

["AndwhatdidTatsuyadonosay?"]

ThenumberhewascallingwasadirectlinetoMaya,butbecauseofcircumstancessheunexpectedlycould

notanswerthecall,andsohewasspeakingwithHayamainstead.Fumiyadidn'tmindtalkingtoabutleron

theresultsofthetaskthatwasorderedbytheirmistresssince[Hayamasanastheotherpartywaseasyon

thenerves].

Acknowledged,hesaid."

["Anythingelse?Didhesayanythingindicatingaboutacensureshould,forexample,therequestof

Madambenotaccepted?"]

"No,hedidnotsayanythingofthesort."

["Indeed.GoodworkFumiyadonoandAyakodono.IwillrelaytoTatsuyadonofromhereonthedetailed

appointments."]

"Isee.Apleasuretalkingtoyou."

AsFumiyasaidthat,Hayamarespectfullybowedonscreen.Withthis,thecallhadended.Fumiyatoo

bowedtohimashecutofftheline.

"Withthisourmissionisover,right?Thistimewewerereallyjustmeremessengers,weren'twe?"

Ayako,whowasbesidehimlisteningtotheircall,talkedinaflattonetoFumiya,whotookabigbreather

afterfinishinghisreport.Onthesurfaceonewouldthinkthosewordswouldrevealherdispleasureonthe

zeroresistanceatthemission,butlookingatherexpressionwouldmakeonerealizethatshewasvery

receptiveatthefactthatthemissionwasoverquickly.

"It'sstillsixintheevening.Wecangethomeearlyatthistime,sowhatnextthen?"

Fumiya,whohadjustsatdown,shookhisheadatAyako'sinquiry.

"Well,we'llgotakearesttoday.Afterallthemainhousetookthetroubleofpreparingforusaluxurious

roomlikethissuiteofthreeadjoiningrooms."


25/152

"Sothisisthesocalledluxurious...Sosuchpettybourgeoislikestuffmeantwe'refarfromMayasama's

envoyswe'renotevenfittobeFather'senvoys."

Afterlightlyrebukingheryoungerbrother'sidletalk,Ayakonoticedthatmixedinwiththe[idletalk]wasa

cynicalstreak,sounusualforherbrother.

"Fumiya,areyouunhappywithtoday'stask?"

Ayakochangedhertone,andtookonaskingpointblankheryoungerbrother'strueintentions.

"Ihavenocomplaintsonthemissionitself."

Withaparadoxicalexpression,Fumiyaacknowledgedthathehadcomplaintsrelatingtotoday'smission.

"Iknowthatbeinganenvoyisanimportanttask,andIknowalsothatI'mthepersonsuitedforthetaskof

bringingMayasama'slettertoTatsuyaniisan.But..."

"Youarenothappywiththeconditionsthatwereimposedwhenbringingtheletter,areyou?"

AyakosupplementedFumiya'smuddledwordswithhersoftvoice.

"That'swhatI'mtalkingabout!"

FumiyablewhispentupemotionsupatAyako's[sisterly]voice.

"Justwhatthehellarethese,notmakingamoveandnotshakingoffwhatisfollowingus!"

Thatwastherestriction,ratherthancondition,thatwasimposeduponFumiyatoday.

Ontheonset,duringthetimehewasordereddirectlybyMayato[bringthislettertoTatsuyasan],Fumiya

hasnobeefagainstbeingsentonanerrand;insteadhewashappyaboutit.Hewassimplyhappythathe

wasgoingtoseeTatsuya,andwasjustsatisfiedbeingmadeanintermediarytosendoutarequestto

TatsuyawhowassaidtobenotonverygoodtermswithMaya(buttheyappearedtobe).

HoweverafterMayahadleft,onbeinginformedontheabovementionedrestrictionsasanimportant

pointoftoday'smissionfrombutlerHanabishi,theYotsuba'snumbertwoservantandinchargeofvarious

arrangementsincidenttotheacceptedprimary[task],hefeltthatcoldwaterwasdousedontohim.Itwas

notthathewasgettingunhappyonmeetingTatsuya.Whathewasharboringwasnotdisappointment,but

worry.

"AndIknowthatwe'rebeingshadowedandwecannotinterferewithit!Thankstothem,it'llendupwith

usinformingsomegangfromsomewheretheresidenceofTatsuyaniisanandMiyukisan!"

"It'sallright,Fumiya.Whoevertheyare,theycannotdivulgethelinkbetweenTatsuyasanandthe

Yotsuba.Hehimselfmaynotbeawareofit,butTatsuyasan'spersonaldatawasmanipulatedsuchthatthe

moreitisinvestigatedthemoretheywillconcludethatithasnolinkwiththeYotsuba."

Ayako'sconsolingwordsunfortunatelyhadalmostnoeffecttoFumiyanow.

"I'mnotworriedaboutthat!TheguysthatweretailinguscouldbethepeoplehidingZhouGongjin."

AyakodidnotbrushoffFumiya'sjudgementas[overthinking].FromthetimehefledYokohama,Zhou

GongjinwaswellawarethathispursuersweretheKuroba.However,inaccordancetotheirfamily


26/152

directive,FumiyaandAyakowentontodeliberatelystandthemselvesoutastheKurobaduringlast

month's9SC.

"EventhoughthebestcaseiswhereTatsuyaniisanwouldbebotheredduetoincompetencefromusthe

Kuroba,duetoouractionallowingustobefollowed,theywouldendupinsomeone'scrosshairs.Ican't

seeTatsuyaniisanfacetofaceanymore,"Fumiyalamented,facedownandinagrimtone.

"Fumiya"

Ayakostoodinfrontofhimandcalledoutheryoungerbrother'sname.

"Whataryu!?"

Ayakohadpulledbothwaysthecheeksofherbrother,whohadraisedhisheadup.

"Whatareyoudoing!?"

Fumiyaimmediatelyshookoffhersister'shands,butonseeingAyakoquiteroughlypullinghim,hischeeks

reddened.Towardsatearfullyprotestingyoungerbrother,Ayakohad,foraninstant,shownareally

pleasantlookingsadisticsmile,thenquicklyswitchedtoakeptupfalsesmile.

"Neesan?"

Inanalmostsuspicioustone,Fumiyaaskedforanexplanationfromhissister.

"Youshouldberelaxingmore,Fumiya.It'sdifferentwhenyou'restuckwithyourinattentiveness,butsince

it'sthemainhouse'sordersshouldn'tyoubedoingnothing?It'snotyourmission.Itdoesn'tmatterevenif

theygoforTatsuyasan.Evenshouldtheytrysomethingmeddlesome,itonlymeanswehavetheenemy

bythetail."

"Neesan..."

AseatedFumiyastaredwithupturnedeyesbackatAyakowhowasstandinginfrontofhim.Fromathird

personview asfarasFumiyahimselfwasconcernedhewasinsomethingunintentional anexpression

thatcouldonlybecalledcute,butthenAyakowordlesslyandforcefullypulledback.

"Ishouldbesayingsomethingthatmightbeveryappropriate,butIsawexactlyawhilebackthat's

somewhatinteresting."

"W,wellFumiya,itshouldbenothingofthatsort.Andoh,wecan'treturnatthisrate,Imustgofixour

luggage."

"Butwedidn'tprepareluggageforanight'sstay!"

"Wellthen,Fumiya,seeyouatdinnertime."

"Ah,hey,don'trunoutonme!"

Theescapepacequickeningallthemorewhentoldnottoescapewasnotlimitedtothieves.Ayakoran

intoherownroom,andclickeditshutbeforeFumiyacouldcatchup.


27/152

Itwasalittleoveramonthbeforethisyear's[NationalMagicHighSchoolThesisCompetition].However,

themostdiscussedtopicamongtheFirstHighstudentswas,still,notthethesiscompetition.

"Thisyearprobablywon'thavethechaosoflastyear,right?"

"Toldyoubeforeitwouldn'toccur.Andinthefirstplacetheelectionitselfisprobablyunnecessary.Evenif,

forargument'ssake,anopponentstoodup,it'sstillalandslidevictoryforShibasan."

"Shibasan'sthatgood,eh?Ican'twaitfortheoratorical.Dammit,ifonlythatbrotherisn'tpresent."

"Don'tbestupid.Shibasancan'thaveaboyfriendbecauseofthatelderbrother,right?Unlikea

performer,shecannotbebetrayed.She'sthebest."

Sowentaconversationbetweensecondyearboys.

"IwonderwhoShibasanplacestowhatposition?"

"It'sexciting...nomore,isn'tit.It'stheannualelections,andthisyearthere'sespeciallynoonebrave

enoughtostanduptoher."

"Ifthat'sthecasethenthefirstyearSaegusasanwillbevicechairman,andMitsuisanwillbetreasurer,

right?"

"Eh?Oniisanisnotgivenaposition?"

"Oniisan...wait,isn'theajunior?"

"Well,yeahheis.Didn'theimpressyouassomethingasan[Oniisan]?"

"Ifthat'sthecaseisn'tit'Oniisama'?EvenIwishforsuchan[Oniisama]."

"Rightright.Didn'tthat[Oniisama]becomeatreasurer?Youknowthatotherpeoplecan'tholdback

Shibasan?"

"Oh,just

like

what

happened

last

year,

right..."

Sowenttheconversationbetweenthirdyeargirls.Also,gossipsimilartothosecouldbeheardhereand

thereinthecafeteria.TheFirstHighstudents'currentinterestgravitatedtowardsthestudentcouncil

presidentelectionscomingthisweekend.

Mostofall,thisyearwasanalmostcertainvoteofconfidencewithzeroopposition.

Thisyearalsothegeneralstudentmeetinghadnomajorthemeslikelastyear'sregulationschangein

studentcouncilmemberselectioncriteria.Theboys'talkwasonMiyuki'scharmingfigurethatwasbound

tobeseenontheoratorical,whilethegirls'talkconvergedonwhowouldbechosenforwhatposition.

"You'rean[Oniisama]now,Tatsuyakun."

"It'sbadmannerstoeavesdrop,Erika."


28/152

ThechitchatalsoreachedthetableofTatsuya,thepersonconcerned.Forgetit;it'snotonlythevoices.

Thoughnoonewasshamelessenoughtoseehimopenly,Tatsuya'santennaimmediatelypickedoutmany

timesthestealthyquickpeeksthatwereheadedhisway.

Rightnow,therearefiveatsametable:Tatsuya,Erika,Leo,Mizuki,andMikihiko.Miyukiwouldhavetried

too,butitwouldbetroublesomewithtoomanygazesconvergingonthem,soshehesitantlytookher

lunchatthestudentcouncilroom,alongwithHonokaandShizuku.Honokaherselfdidn'tchoseherfriends

overherlove,it'sthatshe'savoidingbyherselfthemaelstromofgazesheadedatthepersonconcerned.

"Tatsuya,you'renotrunningforstudentcouncilpresidentthisyear?"

"Ididn'tannouncemycandidacylastyeareither."

AsLeo'squestionsteppedonlastyear'spollcount,Tatsuya'sansweronceagainstressedthatlastyear's

votecountwasinvalidated.Themassivenumberofinvalidatedballotslastyearwassomething

unspeakablenotonlytoMiyuki,whoendedupwithanembarrassinglyhumiliatingnickname,butalsoto

Tatsuya.

"Nownow,therewouldn'tbearacketlikelastyearforthisyear,right?"

ThinkingthatprovokingTatsuyatoomuchwasuntimely,Erikasaidthattosmooththingsover.

"I'msurethere'snowiseguywhocanmakefunofMiyuki'sspeech."

Mikihikoexpressedthesameopinioninanearnesttone.

"OhyeahTatsuyasan,whowaschosenbyMiyukisantotakeonthenewroles?"

EventheotherthreelistenedattentivelytoMizuki'squestion,nottomentiontheotherssurroundingthetablewho,allasone,werestrainingtheirears.

"Iwasn'ttoldofthat.Wedidn'tdiscussitmuchbackathome."

SignsofdisappointmentwentalonghereandthereonTatsuya'sdirectanswer.

"Didn'tItellyouthatitstillhasn'tbeendecidedyet?Theelectionsarenotyetover,don'trushsuchstuff."

Atthesametimeinthestudentcouncilroom,Miyukiwassayingthatinanexasperatedtone.

"Honoka,inthissituationMiyukiwouldrefusetoyield.Giveitup."

"Uh...I'msorry,Miyuki,formakingsuchruckus."

Honoka,alreadylosinghernerveatMiyuki'sillnaturedaura,luckilysurrenderedatherclosefriend's

rebuking.

"...Iwasabitharshonmywords.I'msorry,too,Honoka.Iwastryingtounderstandwellthereason

behindyouworryingmyOniisama'sactions."

MiyukisaidthatassheglancedatHonoka'sback.

Honoka,lockedonbytheMiyuki'sgaze,turnedaround.


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StandingtherewasPixie,whohadjustfinishedpreparingtheaftermealtea.

"Ugu..."

Honokastiffenedherexpression,butShizukupattedlightlyonhershoulder.

ShizukushowedhershakingheadatHonokawhohadturnedaround.

"It'stoolate,Honoka."

Honokahungherhead,crestfallen.

Azusa,Isori,andKanonallsmiledwrylyastheylookedsympatheticallyatadiscouragedHonoka.

IzumiandKasumilookedateachotherwithan"Hm?"expression.

"Eh?Isn'tthatMinamichan?"

"Hm,that'sheralright."

TatsuyaspokeinalightlysurprisedtonetowardsamystifiedMizukiandErika.

"TherearetimesMinamiwouldcometothedininghallwithherclassmates."

Sheprobablyrealizedthatshewasbeingwatched.Minami,holdingatray,turnedtothegroupof

classmatesattheendofthequeueandwasgreetedupon.Tatsuyanoddedbackatherthenturnedhis

focusbacktohistwofemalefriends.

"Smallwonderatthat."

"True,true."

Thepairlaugheddeceptivelybutthen,

"Whichremindsme,Tatsuyakun,whyaren'tyoujoiningtheThesiscompetition?"

Seeingthesituationturnsour,Erikatriedtodivertintothepressingsubject.

Tatsuyawasnottheonewhocouldn'treadthatgirl'smotives,butfactsaboutMinamiwerenevera

subjectworthnaggingabout.TatsuyawillinglyacquiescedtoErika'srequest.

"Verysimple,it'smerelybecauseIhavenotimeforit."

"Eh,whatdoyoumeanbythat?"

Mikihikowaslikelytheonewhohadshownthemostinterestonthissubject.Evennowhewasespecially

strainingtolistenin,indicatingthatthebiggestissuewasTatsuya'sanswer.

"Nomatterwhatandhowyouputit,itisaswhatIsaid."

Tatsuyatriedtoanswerassuchtoendthediscussion,buthequicklychangedhismindonseeingtheother

fiveoverpoweringgazesonhimthatdemandedhisexplanation.


30/152

"Afterthestellarfurnaceexperiments,Iwentintoanindependentstudy,butitstillhasn'treachedthe

stagewhereIcanannounceit."

"Oh...soyou'reengagedinanextremelyadvancedstudy,eh?"

Leoletoutasighashenoddeddeeply.Intoita[tellmewhatsubjectisit!]nuancewasincludedbut,

"Youcould

say

that.

But

its

contents

are

a

secret."

HecouldnotstraightoutsaythathewasintodevelopmentofacombatmagicthatusestheFAEtheory.

"Err"

Andasexpected,adispleasedvoicecameoutfromErika.However,

"Erikachan,youshouldn'tbesayingsuchnonsense!"

"Erika,I'msureTatsuyahassomereasonforkeepingitasecret.Firstoff,evenrevealingthemagictheories

thelevelofthestellarfurnacewouldnotevensatisfyourcuriosity."

Mizuki'swordsweretorebukeErika,whileMikihiko'swordswereaimedatbothErikaandLeo.

Inshort,Mikihikowassayingthat[theywouldnotunderstandatallevenwiththedetailedexplanation],

butintelligencewisethepairwereneverdull.However,itwasforthatallthosereasonsthatbothErika

andLeodidnotobjectatwhatMikihikohadpointedout.Bothwerenotstupidenoughtoknowthattobe

strangelyobstinatewouldonlybringtroubleuponthemselves.

"Speakingofwhich,Tatsuyakun,didtheyrequestyourassistance?"

"Theyhaven'tfornow."

"Thisyear'sfrontmanisKeisenpai,right?YouandKeisenpaiareongoodterms."

"OfcourseIwouldcooperateiftheywouldtellmeso,butitisnotmytimethisyear."

TowardsErika'ssurprisefilledquestion,Tatsuyaanswerednotwith[smilinganddodging],butwitha

honestmanner.

"Eh,why

is

that?"

ThistimeitwasMizuki,tiltingherheadtohersideandlookingdoubtful.

"Thisyear'svenuewillbeinKyoto."

"ThethesiscompetitionalternatesbetweenYokohamaandKyoto,butthebiasoftheevaluationis

differentbylocation.Theysaythatwhenit'sheldatYokohamathepracticalsubjectsarevaluedhighly,

whereasit'sthepurelytheoreticalsubjectsthatarepreferredinKyoto."

TatsuyanoddedatMikihiko'sadditionalexplanation.

"IntheKyotoheldcompetition,presentationsrelatedtothetheoriesofmagiclikethecardinalcode

hypothesisareeasilyrankedhigherthansubjectsonactivationsequenceimprovements,powersystems

thatusemagic,andmagicsequencedevelopmentfortheaforementionedpurpose."


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Leofinallyshookhisheadmanytimeswithacrestfallenexpression.

"SotheycannotuseTatsuya'sexpertiseifheweretojoin."

"IthoughtTatsuyawasfaraheadofthehighschoolstudentsevenforpuretheoreticalfields..."

However,Mizukimeeklyraisedherprotest,unabletoacceptit.

"Yeah,anditisn'tthatdifficulttodo."

ErikaansweredMizuki'squestion.Orrather,shedirectlyvoicedoutwhatwasherownidea.

"?"

"Keisenpaimaynotlosehisnerveorgrowjealous,butwhenthemethodologiesaredifferenttheywould

haveahardtimeevenjusttomutuallyreconcileofmethods."

"Aretheyreallythatdifferent?"

"Nowlook,IhadmyCADcarvedbyKeisenpai,right?Andfromtimetotime,IhadTatsuyarun

maintenanceonitsoheknowsaboutitsomehow.Whatdoyoumeantheapproacharedifferentwhen

theysupportonthesamespell."

"Isee...carvedsealsupportisclosertoourAncientMagictalismans."

Asthefriendssidelinedthemainpersonandwentontheirowntopic,theafternoonclassbellrang.


32/152

7:30pm.Normallyitwouldbestillatimeforgettogetherafterdinner.Butfortoday,whentheneedles

pointat7:25pm thoughit'snotaclassicwallclockbutamodernonewithavirtualtwoneedleclockface

Tatsuyawentintohisownroom.There,usinghisownroom'ssecurityenhancedvoiceonlytelephone,

hecalledacertainlady'sprivatenumber.

["Hello,thisisFujibayashi."]

Thetelephone,withitsnormalvisionphoneimageprocessingresourcesalldivertedtoencryption,was

handlinghighgradeencryptionataspeedthatdidnotinterferewiththecall.

"ThisisShiba.Myapologiesforcallingyouthislateatnight."

Hehurriedlyendedhistimewithhispreciousyoungersistertomakethiscallatthistime,somethinghe

hadarrangedforinanadvanceemail.

["It'srareforyouTatsuyakuntocontactme.What'sthematter,youhaveurgentbusiness?"]

"Itisurgentbusiness.Farmoreimportantthantime."

Anuneasypausecameaboutfromthesuggestiveexpression.

["...somehowIdon'twanttohearit."]

"AndIdon'twanttosayitifIcould."

["........."]

Fujibayashi'ssilenceurgedTatsuyaon.

Butalthoughasfarastonightgoes,Tatsuya'sspeakingmustbeunaffectedbyanyreactionfrom

Fujibayashi.

"IaskforElderKudou'scooperation."

AndTatsuya's

request

smoothly

went

out,

even

though

he

had

spoken

of

the

[unspeakable

words].

["WithGrandfather?"]

"Yes.ArequestnottoLieutenantFujibayashiofthe101stIndependentMagicBattalion,butastoa

daughteroftheFujibayashiandElderKudou'sgranddaughter.AndIwantyoutosetatimeandplace

whereIcandiscussprivatelywithhim."

["Whenyousayprivately,youmeanit'slinkedtoYotsubabusiness?"]

ThistimeTatsuyawassilent.

["Consideringtheeventlastmonth,Ican'tsayIrefuse,canI?"]

"That'sright."


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Fujibayashiwasstartledintoalmostvoicingthatout.Anddespiteofwhathehadsaidhimself,Tatsuya's

callforcooperationnowhasthat[returningthefavorfromthattime]nuance;shedidn'texpecthimto

freelyadmitit.

Itwouldtakeherseveralsecondstospinouthernextwords.

AndsoTatsuyaresumedtheconversation.

"HoweverIhavenointentionofspeakingoutunreasonabledemands.IwouldratherconsiderfortheElder

tokindlyobligeavoluntaryassistance."

["CanIhearoutthebusinessathand?"]

"ThelocationandcaptureofacertainmagicianwhohadescapedfromYokohamaChinatown."

["...Isee.NowIknowthat'stheYotsubawantingtohiretheservicesofGrandfather."]

AsignthatshowedthatFujibayashiwaslettinghernervousnessupwassentfromtheothersideofthe

phone.

"Itseemsyou'reawarethattheYotsubaranintotrouble."

Itwasn'ttheYotsubathatwantedtohiretheservicesofKudouRetsubutTatsuya,buthedidn'tbotherto

clearFujibayashi'smisunderstanding.

["TruthistheJSDFarehavingahardtime,too!AsLieutenantFujibayashiyou'remorethanwelcometoset

outanddealwiththisguy."]

Shedeliberatelycallingherself[LieutenantFujibayashi]wasapettyresponsetoTatsuya'swordsawhileback.AlthoughasfarasTatsuyaisconcernedthislevelofwordplaywasinadequateforsarcasm.

EvenFujibayashimighthavereadthemoodwiththesilentresponse.Withuneasycoughing,she

attemptedtoclearitaway.What'smore,sheusedherdeliberatebusinessliketonetoanswerTatsuya's

request.

["Verywell,IwillaskwhenitisconvenientforGrandfather.Isreplyingbymailallrightwithyou?"]

"Noproblem.JustusetheIndependentMagicBattalion'sfortheencryption."

Withthesewords,Tatsuyawasonlysayingtokeepthesecurityup.HoweverforFujibayashithiswas

distrustaimedather[senderblankmail]themonthbeforelast.

["...Allrightthen!"]

TatsuyawasrackinghisbrainsjustwhatnervesdidhetouchatFujibayashi,whohadbrusquelycutoffthe

conversation.

Withthecallover,hefelthisthroatwasdry,soTatsuyawentforthediningroom.

There,Miyukiwasbyherselfdrinkingtea.

"Oniisama,youwantsomethingtodrink?"


34/152

Miyuki,seatedinfrontofthediningtable,immediatelystoodupandaskedTatsuya.

"Sure,I'mabitthirsty."

Thoughheanswereddirectly,TatsuyadidnotaskforMinami'swhereabouts.Studying,cleaning,bathing,

whatever,TatsuyaknewfromsightthatMinamiwasoutfromthisplace,andhetoohasnotasksforher.

"Iwill

prepare

one

immediately."

WaterwasenoughforTatsuya,buthe'snotraisingprotestsatMiyuki'snotice.Heknewhisyounger

sister'seagernesstosupporthim,andasfarasheknew,herhelpinghimtoomuchisatleastnot

displeasing.Ratherit'sthereverseandsohesawnoreasontorefuseher.

"Pleasewaitinthelivingroom."

AsMiyukirequestedhim,Tatsuyatransferredtothelivingroom.

Afteranunder5minutewaitatthesofa,Miyukishowedupfromthediningroom,carryingatraywithtwo

glassesofmilkiceteaonit.Sheoughttobedrinkinghotteaawhileback,sohersharewasprobablya

remix.

Miyukisoundlesslysetcoastersandglassesontopoftheglasshardandshinysofatable.Oneinfrontof

Tatsuyaandtheotherbesideit.ThenMiyuki,asifshehastheexpectedprivilege hewassuresheherself

madethatclear satdownbesideTatsuya.

Tatsuyawassittingonaoneseatersofa,sosnugglingclosetohimisimpossible.Evenso,Miyukididnot

showsignsoffeelingdiscomfort.Softlysmiling,she,togetherwithherbrother,broughtintoherlipsthe

strawsoficechilledmilktea.

Miyukiletherstrawgofirst.Shesilentlyreturnedherglassontothetable,satbackonthesofa,andlooked

hardatherbrother'sprofile.

Tatsuyaimmediatelyrecognizedthatgaze.Heletgoofhisstraw,returnedtheglasswithasoftclink,and

methersister'sgazeheadon.

"Thecalljustthen,it'srelatedtoyesterday'stalk,isn'tit?"

WhenTatsuyawentintohisownroom,henotifiedthathewasgoing[tomakeacall],buthedidn'tclarifywheretoandwhatbusinessfor.AnditlookedlikeMiyukimanagedtogetthemright.It'sprobablynotthat

hardtodeducegiventhatitwasjusttoday'syesterday.Evenso,Tatsuyafeltadmirationforher.

"That'sright."

"Isitallrighttohearoutwhoyoutalkedtoonthephone?"

Hewasabitstumpedoverthisquestion.Nevertheless,Tatsuyawenttoansweringhertruthfully.

"LieutenantFujibayashi."

"...Oniisama,areyourequestingfortheassistanceoftheIndependentMagicBatallion?"


35/152

WithMiyuki'squestion,alowkeydissentingviewwasexpressed.EvenTatsuyahassharedacommon

misgivingwhetherit'sallrighttoallowmilitaryinterventioninaYotsubabusiness.Andforthatveryreason

hedidn'tcallKazamabuttoFujibayashi.

"No,IrequestedtoFujibayashiforanintermediarywithElderKudou."

"Isn'tthatdangerous?CommunicationswiththeIndependentMagicequippedBattalionaresubjectto

bugging."

Nowadays,freedomofprivatecommunicationisguaranteedevenformilitarypersonnel.Althoughhigh

compressionultrasonicdatacommunicationswereinstalledinvoicetelephonessinceoverfiftyyearsago,

antiinformationleakbuggingsystemswereinstalledintelephonyequipmentofvitalinstallationsto

handlethis.Itwasnotconversationtappingviaautomaticallyfilteringoutsoundwavesapartfromthosein

theaudiblerange,butastherewerecertainthatsomehardwarewastappedbetweensenderandreceiver

tolistentosoundwavesintransit,theycan'tshakeoffthepossibilitythatsomeotherequipmentwasalso

attached.EvenTatsuyahadtakenthisintoaccountandwasonthelookoutforit.

"Itshouldbesafe.ThenumberIcalledwasLieutenant'sprivatenumber.Idon'tthinkeventhelikesof

EchelonIIIcanbeusedtointerceptthelinesthe[ElectronSorceress]privatelyuses."

Don'tworry,TatsuyawasexplainingthistoMiyuki.However,thesewerecarelesswordsnotlearnedinthe

past.

"...Isee.Fujibayashisan'sprivatetelephonenumber."

Itwasalreadytoolatetothink,"Ohshit".Tatsuyathoughtjustnowthatitwouldbeapaintopacifyan

alreadyenragedyoungersisterjustlikeAprillastyear.

"Bytheway,Oniisama.WheredidyougetFujibayashisan'spersonalnumber?"

EvenMiyuki'stoneandexpressionweretotallythesamelikeinthe[broadcastboothbarricadecase]that

precededtheBlancheraids.Atthattime,thechaoswasapproachingrightbeforehimsoitwassomehow

leftinthedark,butthistime...

(Now,howdoItalkmywayoutofthis?)

Franklyspeaking,Tatsuyaistotallynotinguiltyterritory.NotonlydidheknowFujibayashisan'spersonal

telephonenumber,butalsothoseofKazama,Sanada,andYamanaka.Buthedidn'timaginethateven

revealingthesewouldmakeMiyukiwholeheartedlyagree.Shemayagreeonthesurface,butdeepdownshewouldbehellbentondraggingitout.

Lookslikeit'llbetoughtopersuadeherthistime,Tatsuyathought.


36/152


37/152

AndasTatsuyaforesaw,Miyuki'stemperwasnotthateasytopacify.Nevertheless,shewouldneverdo

somethinglikeexplodeinangeratorignoreTatsuya,andsointhepubliceyetheyneverwentonasibling

fight.ObjectivelyMiyukiwasonlylightlypeeved,butevensoittookTatsuyasomeserious[relationship

mending]fortwodaysuntilWednesdayforhimtocompletelybringbacktheoriginalintimatesiblingrelationship.

Thenit'sSeptember28,Friday.Thenightbeforethelongawaitedstudentcouncilpresidentelections,

Tatsuya'shomegotaphonecallfromFujibayashi.

"Fujibayashisan,isitallrighttousethisnumber?"

Tatsuyadidnotcallher[LieutenantFujibayashi]but[Fujibayashisan]becauseofherciviliangetupoffrill

blouseoncountrystylelongskirt.Andheasked[isitallright]becauseshedidn'tconnecttohisroom's

securityhardenedphonebuttothenumberconnectedtothenormalvideophone.

["We'renotbeingbuggednow.Theytrythatandwehavethembythetail."]

Somehow,itseemedthiswasdeliberatelydone.

["Well,we'llbesafeeveniftheydidbugus.Ourline'scoveredwithatriplelayerofdummysignals."]

Shemayhavespokenitlikeit'snothing,butTatsuyawasmoreamazedthanadmiredashewaswell

informedoneventhenotyetcompletedmachinetechnology.

"...Somethingwasdonetomakewhatisnormalinamilitaryonlylinepossibleinanaverageline."

However,hewasmistaken.

["It'ssomethingyoucan'trealizewithcurrentphysicaltechnology."]

Isee,hethought.It'sprobablyoneofthe[ElectronSorceress]secrettechniquesbeingusedliberally.Were

Tatsuyatospendtimeusinghis[eyesight]hemightunderstandwhatwasbeingdone.However,hehas

littleinterestintechniqueshe'sunabletoreplicate.

["Moreoverit'sdifficulttomaintainthisconditionforprolongedperiodssoI'llmakethisbrief.Grandfatherisreceptivewiththeoneonone."]

TheanswerFujibayashideliveredwas,forTatsuya,animmediategoodnews.

["DateandtimeisOctober6,Saturday,18:00.TheplaceisattheKudouprimaryresidenceatIkoma.You're

finewiththeschedule?"]

Tatsuyamentallycheckedhisschedule,andconfirmedthatthedaywasvacant.

"Theschedule'sfinewithme.AndIknowtheplace."

["Isee."]

Andthen,Fujibayashishowedanevilexpression.


38/152

["GrandfatherwasoverjoyedwhenheheardthatTatsuyakunwishesforaoneononewithhim."]

"Ishouldbesaying,I'mhonored,then."

HerexpressiondisappearingonseeingTatsuyagrumble,Fujibayashigiggled.

["You'remakingafacethatsaysit'samixedblessing.Justacceptit,that'showitiswhenyourelyonthat

person."]

"Bethankfulthatyou'renoteventurnedawayatthegates,iswhatyou'resaying."

["Well,youcouldsaythat.Prepareyourselfinadvance,Tatsuyakun,you'redivingrightintothemultitude

offettersthatarerampantinJapan'smagicworld."]

TatsuyacoollytookFujibayashi'swords,whichwerespokenwithasmileandamenacingeye.

"Iwasmorethanpreparedalongtimeagoforthatlevel."

["Verywell.Itoowillbepresentonthatday."]

"Isee.WellIlookforwardtomeetingyou."

AtthesametimeTatsuyalightlybowed,thedisplayshowingFujibayashi'ssmileblackedout.

Thecalljustnowwastakenatthelivingroom.Theydidn'tjoinwiththeconversation,butMiyukiand

MinamiwerelisteningatTatsuyaandFujibayashi'sconversation,andFujibayashididn'tseeanyproblems

withthat.

"Oniisama...isitreallyallright?"

MiyukiworriedlycalledouttoTatsuya,whohadjustfinishedthecall.SomeonelookingatMinamicantell

thatshe,too,wasdirectingasympatheticlookatTatsuya....Sympathy,notworry,probablybecause

Minamicorrectlyunderstoodthesignificanceofhavingabondwitha[teacher].

"GettingintouchwithKudouRetsu?It'sinevitablethatyou'reworriedaboutit."

Tatsuyasmiledashepickeduptheglassoficedtea.Butsincetheconversationwentlongerthanexpected

ithad

ended

up

lukewarm,

so

he

returned

it

to

the

table

without

sipping

it.

Alightmistswirledinsideofthatglass.Toloweronlythetemperatureofthecontentswithoutfreezingthe

glass,theairincontactwiththeicedteawassubjecttomidaircondensation.

Needlesstosay,itwasMiyuki'smagic.Itwasturningbackteaatalmostroomtemperatureintoicedtea,

withouttheexpectedchillingandfreezing.WhenTatsuyaindicatedwordlesslyhisthankswithasmile,

Miyukisilentlylookeddown,bashful.

Tatsuyamoistenedhisthroatwiththewellchilledstraighttea,thenresumedwithhisanswertothe

question.

"KudouRetsutookaninterestinme,sothisisnotrelatedtothetaskathand.Andwhat'smoreit'snoton

themeaningofsomequiteinterestinggreenhorn.PerhapsKudouRetsuknewaboutmyoriginsandmy

magic."


39/152

Miyukiwaswideopenedatthat.Shewasprobablydulysurprisedatthelasthalfofherbrother'swords.

HereanoverlyandspeciallyregardedadverseeffectontheYotsubahadappeared,butTatsuyafeltno

specialneedtoreproveit.Atpresent,it'senoughforMiyukitobeonthelookoutonlyattheYotsuba.

TatsuyawillhandlevigilanceattheTenMasterClansandothermagicianorganizations.

"IheardKudouRetsuwasclosewiththepreviousheadoftheYotsuba,andwiththatlinkhewasthe

privateteacherofYotsubaMiyaandYotsubaMaya."

"Theprevioushead...thatwasourgrandfather,wasn'tit?"

"Yes.TheleaderofthatincidentwhentheYotsuba'sinfamywasbroadcasttotheworld."

ForsomereasonMiyukismiledalittle.WhenTatsuyamadean[Eh?]expression,sheamusinglygiggled

moreandmore.

"...Pardonme.Oniisamahasbeenspeakingasifitwasotherpeople'sproblem."

Tatsuyafurrowedhisbrowsindoubt.

"Whatdoyoumeanbythat?"

"Comeon,Oniisama.Iftheworldknewofthetruthbehind[ScorchedHalloween],theywouldbetoobusy

toeventhinkwhatGrandfatherhaddone,right?"

Tatsuya,atthatinstant,asifhegulpeddownaojiruinsteadofcoldtea thoughinfactTatsuyawouldn't

makethatmistake hisexpressionchangedintoalightpaleexpressionsomewhatdifferentfrombeing

expressionless.

"...Atanyratetherearethosedetails,soit'snomysteryeventhoughKudouRetsuknewmuchofme."

"...Andthat'sallrightwithyou?"

Miyukitimidlyaskedwithaninarticulatetone.

Whileit'struethat[it'sokaynottobesilent]whentherearenooneelselistening,it'snotsomethingtobe

askedevenforagirlwho'sstillsixteen.

"I'mnotkeepingsilent."

ButforTatsuya,hehasnohesitationinsayingthatout.

"Theopponentwasoncethe[world'swiliest].TryasImighttosilencemyself,actuallydoingitmightbe

difficult.Idon'tthinkthatwouldbenecessary.Whatissaidformyselfispersonaldataofastrategiclevel

magician.It'sveryunlikelythatKudouRetsudoesn'tunderstandtheimportanceofkeepingsecrets."

Tatsuyajustnowwasaddressinghimas[KudouRetsu],not[teacher]andnot[Elder].Perhapshe'saware

thathesaidthatoutoften.Perhapshelimitedittoplaceswherethereisnooneelselistening,buthewas

declaringthathehasnointentionofpayingrespecttoKudouRetsu.Becauseoftheparasitedoll

experiments,TatsuyaperhapsrecognizedthatKudouRetsuisneveraniceperson.

EvensoTatsuyahighlyvaluedKudouRetsu'sintelligenceandabilities.Hedecidedthatthere'snouse

keepingsilentsincehejudgedthattheoldmanunderstoodthemeritsofkeepingajokerlikeShibaTatsuya

coveredup.


40/152

"Besidesthere'snostatelikeweremainasantagonistsagainstKudouRetsu.Fromhereon,weshould

considerthisassquaringthebooksonlendingsandborrowings."

"Wecandependonthem,right?"

"Itisn'trequiredforalliestobeeverdependablepartners.Inshort,it'sintimesofneedthatit'sbestto

moveaccordingtoourrequests.Andforthatthere'snoprobleminpayingoutanequivalent

compensation."

Minamididnottotallygetwhatthesiblingsweretalkingabout.However,shedidnotbothertoaskher

mistressorhermistress'brother.Shewastaughtthatunnecessarycuriosityisforbiddenforamaid

workingathermasters'house,andsorightnowshewasobservingthem.


41/152

Chapter2

September29,Saturday.Thisyear,boththegeneralstudentbodymeetingandtheelectionofthestudent

bodypresidentfinishedwithoutdrama.Inordertopreventinvalidballotslikelastyearsintheceremonial

election,fromthisyearon,disposableshortrangewirelesscardsweredistributedwhenthestudents

entered,thecardswereadaptedtobecomevotingapparatuswhentheygottotheirseats.Asinmost

yearstherewasonlyonecandidate,ApprovedandOpposedbuttonshadbeenprovidedonthecard.It

wasdesignedtotransmitwhichbuttonwaspressedsothatthevotescouldbetallied.

Oncetheelectronicmessagewassent,thecardswerethrownaway.Theelectronictagsonthecardswere

developedenoughtobecalledcheapbutitwasstillmoreexpensivethanpaper.Wasthistrulynecessary

expenditureforasimplehighschoolelectionwasanaturalthought.However,withthedonationofthe

cardsfromacompanyaffiliatedwiththeKitayamaclan,theproblemwasresolvedandthismethodwas

adopted.Consequently,Shizukusfamilymadeabelatedexpansionintothecommercialfieldofacademic

magicbyeffectivelysecuringafootholdatFirstHigh.

Puttingasidethoseadultconsiderations,thenewmethodofelectronicvotingallowedrealtimeresults,

andsoMiyukiwasinvestedintotheofficeofStudentbodypresidentwitharoughlyonehundredpercentapproved.Noonewashittingopposedevenasajoke,wasthisadorationorfearItwastoodifficultto

determinewhichitwas.

Andso,letuscelebrateMiyukisinaugurationasstudentcouncilpresident.Cheers!

AtErikasprompt,everyonehoisteduptheirsoftdrinkglassesup.Thechorusofcheerscamefromthe

relatives,friendsandkouhaithathadassembledatEinebriese;essentiallyfrom:Tatsuya,Leo,Mizuki,

Mikihiko,Honoka,Shizuku,Minami,Izumi,KasumiandKento.KasumididnthangoutwithTatsuyasgroup

allthatmuchbuttodayIzumihaddraggedher.

Well.Itsinevitabletocallitinevitable.

NoonecontestedthecommentErikamadeimmediatelyafterthetoast.

Ofcourse!ItsunthinkableforanyoneotherthanMiyukisenpaitobeFirstHighsstudentcouncil

president!Nooneelseisfittorepresenttheschoolinability!Talent!Beauty!Elegantdeportment!The

resultswereaheavenlyjudgement!

Insteadofapersontheremark,therewasanextremelyagitatedunderclassman.

Uh,ohreally?

TheseatedMiyukicringedseverelyattheaggressiveenthusiasm.Kasumifeltlikethrowinginthetowelat

heryoungertwinsshamefulbehaviorsoshesippedherdrinkasifithadnothingtodowithher.

Miyuki,haveyoudecidedwhotheofficersare?

WhileeveryoneelseevenTatsuyawashesitatingtospeak,Shizukugallantlyaskedthequestionor

rathershewascompletelyignoringIzumi.

Atherwords,IzumigazedatMiyukievenmorefervently.HonokawasalsodeeplyinterestedbuthereyesflickeredbackandforthbetweenMiyukiandTatsuyaevenly.


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Miyukiwasawareofbothoftheirgazesbut,shepretendedshewasntawareofeitherespeciallyIzumis

assheansweredShizukusquestion.

IthoughtIwouldaskIzumichantobevicepresident

Izumiscryofjoywasindistinguishablefromascream;naturally,evenmoreembarrassedKasumishuther

mouthandpretendedthescenehadnothingtodowithherharder.

Iamstilldecidingabouttheotherofficers.IthinkIwantHonokashelpaswellbut..

Asshespoke,MiyukicastaflickeringlooknotatHonokabutatTatsuya.

ItmighthavebeenduetoMiyukisdisplayofhesitation,neitherShizukunorHonokaventuredmore

questions.

Althoughthereweresomerambunctiousfemalestudents,generallyspeaking,thepartyremainedpeaceful

andrespectfulofthecafesambianceuntilitended.SinceitwasSaturday,theylefttheshopbefore

sunset.Thatbeingsaid,whenTatsuyaandthegirlsarrivedattheirhousethewesternskyhadturnedfrom

darkbrightredtoindigo.

AppetizershadaccompaniedthecuisinetheyhadorderedatEinebriesebuttheywereeatingasuitable

quantity.TomorrowwasSundayandneitherTatsuya,MiyukinorMinamihadhaddinneryettoday.

MiyukiandMinamistartedaslighttiffoverwhowouldpourtheteabut,Tatsuyasauthoritative

declarationofTodayisacelebrationforMiyukiafterallmadeMiyukireturnfromthekitchen,ameasure

thatincitedatemporarypeace,andsatdownnexttohimfairlyclose.

Minamienteredthelivingroomcarryingatraywhenshesawthemtogetherhereyebrowstwitchedinsurprise.However,shesaidnothing,sheshowednomoreemotion,sheplacedmilkteainfrontofMiyuki

andcoffeeinfrontofTatsuyaandstoodtothesideofthetable.

TatsuyadidnoteventellMinamitosittoday.Rather,heintendedtoreleaseherfromherhouseworkand

askhertoleavetheroom.However,MiyukiwishedtodiscusssomethingwithMinamiandspoketoher

beforetakingherteacup.

Minamichan.

Yes,Miyukineesama.

Bytheway,Iwishyoutojointhestudentcouncilasthesecretary,Minamichan.

Minamisexpressiondidnotovertlychangebut,herbodystiffenedasifunderpressure.Andevenpeople

otherthanTatsuyawouldnoticethatshewasunmistakablykeepingherselffromtrembling.

...agreed

ThetonewasmorestiffthanhumbleasshegaveMiyukiaveryshortreply.

Ifshespokehonestly,Minamiwouldprobablyberesistingtheideaofjoiningthestudentcouncil.

However,shealsounderstoodbeingattachedtothestudentcouncilwassomewhatconvenientfor

fulfillingherdutiesasaguardian.Herhalfheartedreplyjustnowwasasignofherinnerconflict.


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Thatsright.ItwouldalsobeusefultogetaroundtheCADrestrictions.Minamishouldbecomeastudent

councilofficer.

Youreright,Oniisama.

TatsuyasupportedMiyukisideaandMiyukihappilybridgedthegapbetweenthem.

Watchingthe

distance

between

her

sibling

masters

become

near

zero,

Minami

realized

that

it

would

be

futiletosayanything.

TatsuyamighthavebeenreluctantMiyukiwasprobablyevenmorereluctantbutthesiblingswere

unabletoendthedaywithonlythistypeofpeacefulproblem.Afterteatimewaspartlyover,Tatsuyawent

tohisownroomandgotthatphonetomakeaphonecall.Thenumberhecalledwasadirectlinetothe

Yotsubaclanhead.However,Mayadidnotanswerthephone.

[Tatsuyadono,IamsorrybutthisisinconvenientforOkusamarightnow]

HewassoinformedbyHayamawhoansweredinstead;thebrusqueexplanationdidnotevensaywhatshe

wasdoing.Apparently,shewaspretendingtobeout,Tatsuyathought.

However,hedidnotfeellikeaskingwhy.ItwasunnecessarytoinformMayaoftonightsbusinessdirectly.

Itwasgoodtohaveanalibiwheninformingherofhisbusiness.GivinganapologeticmessagetoHayama

wasasmootherwayoffulfillinghispurposethantalkingtoMaya.

Sothen,willyoupassonamessagetoObaueregardingthedutyIundertooktheotherday

[Pleasegoon.]

Hayamamighthaveanticipatedtherequest,hisagreementwasratherprompt.

IwishtoborrowhelpfromtheKudouclantosearchforthetarget.Ihavealreadyarrangedforameeting

withtheformerKudouclanheadthroughtheFujibayashiclan.

[Ohhh]

HecouldnotdiscernjustfromthevoicewhetherHayamawasactuallysurprisedormerelypretendingto

besurprised.Itwasdoubtfulthathecouldtellevenifhesawhisface.

[YouarenotaskingtheIndependentBattalionforaid;youareaskinghelpfromKudoukakka?]

Wherevertheoriginalrequestcamefrom,Ibelieveitisbesttoavoidaskingaidfromthemilitary

regardingYotsubabusiness.

[YoudontmindaskingafavorfromtheKudouclan?]

ThereisahighprobabilitythatthisZhouisalliedwiththeTraditionalists,right?Ifthatisso,thenagood

planwouldbetoaskforaidfromtheclansofninewhohavealongstandingantagonisticrelationship

withtheTraditionalists.Besides,theKudouclanowesusapersonalfavoroverlastmonthsincident.If

thetimebetweenreceivingthefavorandrepayingthefavorgetstoolong,thingsgetuncomfortable;I

believeitisbestifthescalesgetbalancedbeforethathappens.


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Hayamasamusedlaughcouldbeheardfromthereceiver.Thiswasapparentlygenuineamusement.He

hadntparticularlyaimedforthistohappenthoughtTatsuyaasheapatheticallywaitedforHayamasreply.

[Despiteyouryouth,youunderstandthewaysoftheworldquitewell,Tatsuyadono.]

Itmightbecalledabenefitofmaturity,Hayamaquicklyrecoveredfromhisfitoflaughter.Hedidnot

concealhisamusement,however.

[Certainly,askingforaidfromtheKudouclanatthistimeisawisechoiceinmanyrespects.Fine.Iwill

informOkusama.]

Pleasedoso.

Despiteknowingitwouldntbeseen,Tatsuyabowedhisheadtothetransceiver.

[Asaconditionforgettinghelp,detailedreportsarenotnecessary.Sincetheotherpartyismilitaryand

oneoftheTenMasterclans,IwillinformOkusamatoleavethismattertoTatsuyadonosdiscretion.]

Afterfiringoffhisbigpartingshot,Hayamacutofftheconnection.


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Hayama,whohadspokentoTatsuyawiththereceiverinspeakermode,hungupthephoneandbowed

deeplytothewalloppositethedesk.

Itisasyouheard,Okusama.

TatsuyasdeductionaboutMayasbeingoutwasrightonthemark.However,forhertobeinthesame

roomlisteningtohimspeakwascompletelybeyondhisexpectations.

Mayahadbeenforciblykeepinghermouthshutforawhile.Apparently,stiflingherlaughterhadbeenan

extremehardship.PerhapsshewasawarethatHayamaaddressinghermeantthatthephonecallwas

over,sheletoutalaughthatwasunbecomingofalady.

Evenfacedwiththetarnishmentofhismistresssdignifiedmanner,Hayamasdeferentialattitudedidnot

change.Notonlydidhenotverballyadmonishher,hedidnotdirectevenashardofdisapprovalwithhis

eyestowardMaya.

However,Mayamighthavefeltuncomfortableunderhisstoicgaze,herlaughtersoonfadedaway.

Pleaseforgiveme,Hayamasan.WhatTatsuyasansaidwassoadorable,Icouldntrestrainmyself.

Mayausedahandkerchieftowipeawaythefewtearsthathadleakedfromhereyes.Thus,herexpression

switchedtocompleteseriousness.

Whoonearthhasbeenfillingupthatboywithsuchtwistedwisdom?

AndMayacockedherheadwithaseriousexpression.

IamnotawareofanyerrorinTatsuyadonosstatedreasoning.

Inoneaspect,hescorrectbutitsnotnormal.

HayamaavouchedadefenseofTatsuya.Perhaps,forthatreason,Mayarepliedwithadisinterestedtone

andlook.

Althoughordinarily,anexchangeoffavorswoulddeepenbonds.

Tatsuyadonodoesnotneedbondsbornfromanexchangeoffavors,right.

Ah,youth.

Hayamaneitheragreednordisagreedwiththosewords.However,sensingherfrivolitywasinviting

censure,Mayachangedthesubject.

Bytheway,howisthesearchforZhouGongjingoing?Iwonderifthereareanynewclues.

Thequickchangeoftopicdidnotfazehim;therewasnohesitationinHayamasreply.


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Therearenonewclues.Unfortunately,theresbeennothingsincehefledafterthesmallscalebattlenear

KyotosSanzeninattheendoflastmonth.

Sothatswherewelosthistrail.Sinceitwouldbeundesirableforaforeignmagiciantoincurthewrathof

afamoustemplelikeSanzenininthiscountry...theTraditionalistsareprobablyatworkbehindthe

scenes.

Mayamurmuredinadisgustedtone.Ihaveheardthattheysaythatinordertoprotectthetraditionsofancientmagic,theyhavecombinedtheirschools.However,actuallywhilethisbandofancientmagicians

knownastheTraditionalistscooperatedwiththeformerLab9fortheirownpurposesforthechildish

reasonofnotgettingtheresultstheywanted,theyholdagrudgeagainsttheclansof9whothey

mistakenlyblame,promptingtheirunprincipledanddisorderlyactsofhostilityandharassment.Maya

hatedtheirchildishmentalityinawaythatwasdifferentfromtheirhatredtowardstheclansof9.

Okusama,isitalrightnottopassthisinformationontoTatsuyadono?

Noneed.MitsugusanisthoroughlyinvestigatingthevicinityofOohara,right?Besides,thatmanis

probablynotgoingtostayinthesameareaforlong.

Hayamabowedhisheadacknowledginghismistresspoint.


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TatsuyasdailypatternhadrecentlybecometospendeveningsatYakumostempleonthepractical

developmentofanewmagic,haveearlymorningpracticesafterheawoke,hehadschoolafterwardsifit

wasaweekday,andifitwasaweekenddevelopingthetheoryofthenewmagic.

Today,Sunday,September30th.Onthisdayaswell,afterbreakfast,Tatsuyasecludedhimselfinthe

undergroundlabtowrestlewiththeproblemofdebuggingthenewmagic.

...noproblemwiththeprocessthatproducesBaryon.Fromthebeginning,itwassomethingthatcouldbe

donebasedoffjusttheanalysisandmaintainingthenecessarystandardsofspeedanduniform

compositionispossible.

Hewasnotmurmuringamonologuewithoutthinking,hewasdoingitcon

mahouka koukou no rettousei - vol. 14 - ancient city insurrection (i)

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