Chapter 3

Monday, the 24th of June.

As scheduled the day before, Tatsuya was visiting Miyaki Island today too.

The main objective was to test the Air Car, but there was nothing worth mentioning about the test itself. That’s because it showed its expected performance in all categories. – Also, in this case, the ‘Air’ in Air Car does not refer to ‘atmosphere’, the ‘Air’ refers to ‘sky’, so it is not naming fraud even if it doesn’t rise with compressed air. The rules are similar to ‘airplane’ (originally, the meaning of airplane was flying board that moves horizontally in the sky). [7]

“I didn’t think that diving would be possible.”

“Engineers say that airtightness is at a level where there is no problem even if you go into outer space. From a structure standpoint, flight via interference on the effect of the Earth’s gravity on the body of the car will cause the flight system to become unable to operate successfully at an altitude of 6000km.”

“I don’t plan on flying to space with the Air Car.”

When Hyougo exposed the excessive specification, Tatsuya could not do without a wry smile.

“The two-door style was also for the sake of increasing airtightness by reducing the number of openings, right?”

The Air Car’s doors are not opened laterally, they are arranged to slide backwards. Also, the windowpanes are thick and fixed. These too were in the design to increase airtightness.

“It is exactly as you say. Naturally, since the Air Car was conceptualized to be used on land, low altitude and sea, we would like you to take this into account on actual use.”

“As long as there is no need to, I don’t intend to go up to the stratosphere or dive under the sea with the Air Car.”

“I apologize. While I can say I’m a bit concerned, it is good that you can use the water travel mode when travelling between Honshu and this island”

“It is set to automatically keep the altitude of dozens of centimeters, right?”

“Yes. In that case, Tatsuya-sama possesses a license for small ships for open sea navigation, so we are sure that authorities won’t find any problem.”

When Tatsuya became 18 years old, along with a license for four-wheeled self-driving cars, he also obtained a license for small sized ships with no water surface restrictions. Needless to say, the license was not intended for flying ships like the Air Car, but in water travel mode the state at navigation time is akin to a hovercraft. It would be possible to assert that Tatsuya can navigate with his license.

“I see.”

If it comes to that, just fly away. Tatsuya, who for the most part was limited in law-abiding spirit, must have considered such things.

“Hey.”

Tatsuya’s and Hyougo’s discussion came to an end when a voice addressed them from the side.

“Lina, what is it?

The owner of the voice was Lina who came to inspect the Air Car test.

“Can I really be sent back?”

“I don’t really understand what you mean...”

“I mean, can I be sent back to the States after seeing such military secrets?”

“Lina, what are you talking about?”

Tatsuya curiously looked back at Lina, who was frowning.

“This is Yotsuba Family’s private organization, the Air Car is not a ‘military secret’.”

“Don’t twist my words! Even if it’s not a country’s military, it doesn’t change that it is a military organization!”

“That is a misunderstanding. We are not a military organization. We certainly earn remuneration for violent acts, but that is just a side job. If I dare to classify it, the Yotsuba Family is a research organization.”

“A side job that is feared throughout the whole world, what a joke...”

“I will be bothered if I am to blame for your arbitrary fear.”

“An opponent who can destroy one base’s fleet and a naval port with a single blow each, there is no reason to not be afraid!”

“That is my personal power. Not the power of the Yotsuba Family.”

Lina unintentionally opened her eyes wide and stared at Tatsuya.

Lina could not believe in Tatsuya’s nerve to assert it was ‘his personal power’ after tens of thousands were killed in action. That is the same as recognizing that he by himself stole the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Responsibility can be shared. The ‘Scorched Hallowe’en’ was an incident that happened during a military conflict. The decision to use Strategic-Class Magic lies within the army’s chain of command, so it could be said that the responsibility belongs to the superior officer who made the order.

Even if the fact its use was ordered doesn’t change, if it is recognized as power that belongs to one individual, the outcome becomes attributed to that single individual.

Even if there is no responsibility, the outcome remains.

The outcome that tens of thousands of people were killed.

Or, maybe Tatsuya isn’t understanding this...?

(No, such a thing is impossible.)

Tatsuya is not the type to avert his eyes from reality. The relationship between Lina and Tatsuya is short, but she understood this much. Tatsuya is conscious that he accepts the fact that he is a mass murderer...

“...If they are not military secrets, then I won’t be restrained from leaving the country? If that’s the case then good.”

Lina discontinued the topic by herself. She too was a Strategic-Class Magician. If she dug deeper into this, she could become discomforted with herself, so she unconsciously stepped on the brakes.

“Apart from that, Tatsuya, I have a request.”

“Depending on the content. Start with telling what it is.”

The two of them are talking inside the hangar. The Air Car is registered in the system as a four-wheeled self-driving car – the license plate has already been acquired – so maybe it should be called ‘garage’, but the size and the well-maintained machinery makes it better to call it ‘hangar’ than ‘garage’.

There is a table outside in a corner and four chairs were placed to match it. Tatsuya started to walk towards that table and Lina came after him.

Hyougo pulled a chair and looked at Lina.

Tatsuya sat down on the opposite side. Lina was unable to decline and sat on the chair Hyougo pulled.

Hyougo brought iced tea to Tatsuya and Lina.

Tatsuya informed Hyougo of his gratitude with his eyes and once again turned his face towards Lina.

“So, what do you want?”

Not revealing in her behavior that she was flinching a little from her innermost thoughts, she went right to the point.

“I’m not a prisoner, right?”

“Of course.”

“In that case, I want you to return the CAD I left you with when you helped me.”

“Why?”

Lina anticipated this question but, when confronted by reality, she needed some energy to return an answer.

“I can’t calm down when I am unarmed.”

Depending on the mood of the listener, receiving these disturbing words can be a declaration of hostility. In the current situation where she is protected by just one person, these were not words one ought to dare speak.

But Lina could not think of a harmless reason, as she thought she would feel guilty despite not deceiving her true feelings.

Besides, Tatsuya doesn’t have the capacity to be evil, he won’t have egotistical feelings to that degree, Lina believed so in her heart. – Though if it was pointed out, her face would certainly turn red in denial.

“It shouldn’t be an inconvenience.”

“It’s a matter of feeling!”

Lina’s strong attitude came from Tatsuya’s laugh. In short, although she does not intend to, Lina behaved like a spoiled child to Tatsuya. It may be said that she had not noticed.

“Feeling, huh. I can understand.”

“Then!”

“But I can’t respond to that request.”

“But why!?”

“We cannot let a USNA army CAD be used in Japanese territory. There is the possibility that some unknown gimmick was included that even you don’t know.”

“Oof...”

Lina returned a reaction similar to a comedian. But she was very serious with this.

“But if it is an alternate CAD, it’s prepared.”

Lina got into grips with Tatsuya’s brief comment.

“Huh? Prepared? Did you reserve it in advance?”

“I vow to flawlessly protect this facility, but the opponent is USNA. When the time comes, will you need means of self-defense?”

“Tatsuya...you’re a bad person.”

Lina turned towards Tatsuya, holding her eyes half-closed. The so called ‘scornful look’.

“I wasn’t keeping it a secret. You were just impatient, Lina.”

Tatsuya calmly avoided Lina’s ‘scorn’.

“It’s better than being easy-going and having no sense of tension.”

Lina’s rebuttal was also reasonable. If her face wasn’t red, it might have been more persuasive.

“The CAD is in the adjustment facility. Let’s finish making adjustments while we’re at it.”

“...Tatsuya, you make adjustments?”

“There is no need to worry, I’m used to it.”

“Ah...You were called one half of ‘Taurus Silver’, weren’t you, Tatsuya?”

“That’s how it is.”

Tatsuya stood up.

Lina drank half of the iced tea at once and ran after Tatsuya who had already left the table.

Tatsuya and Lina moved from the Air Car hangar to a research facility built next to the CAD factory that included the Induction Stone refining line. Unfortunately, the transport method was not an Air Car, it was an off-road car with a hydrogen engine.

“I think I’ll have Lina use this.”

Before entering the adjustment room, Lina was taken along to a small conference room. Then, Tatsuya showed her thick golden choker and a wide silver bracelet.

“No buttons...Is this perchance FTL’s completely thought-operated CAD?”

“You understood quickly.”

Tatsuya praised Lina with a voice that wasn’t wholly flattering.

“Because FTL’s completely thought-operated CADs were also a topic of discussion in the States...”

CADs that operate with just thoughts without dealing with hand switches were first commercialized by Germany’s Rosen Magicraft, followed by Japan’s Four Leaves Technology immediately after. A third company has yet to enter the stage. Currently only Rosen and FLT are releasing completely thought-operated CADs, and right now the superior market value is held by the latecomers FLT.

“There were Stars members who were testing these, but I haven’t used them. How in the world do they work?”

Lina’s confession was surprising to Tatsuya. He expected her to be a scientist or engineer who developed the tactical magic weapon ‘Brionac’. Tatsuya did not know the name of the scientist (engineer?), but that person’s technical skill was unquestionable just by looking at ‘Brionac’.

With such technical skill it should be possible to implement a completely thought-operated CAD. It is not ‘not impossible’. It can be declared that it is certainly possible and it wouldn’t take much time in a situation where finished products are on the market.

However, Tatsuya did not voice his doubts.

“FLT’s completely thought-operated CADs use technology developed from contactless switches that were already on the market.”

“You mean manipulation of Psion waves?”

“Exactly. This specialized CAD shaped like a choker outputs only one kind of Activation Sequence when Psions are injected. This is an Activation Sequence for a Non-Systematic Type Magic that irradiates a thin refined Psion wave at a pre-defined location.”

“It works just by injecting Psions?”

“Since the output is restricted to one type of Activation Sequence, that is plenty for the switch. The operating device in the form of a choker should be called a semi-automatic model rather than a thought-operated model.”

“So it’s a structure similar to an armed device.”

When Lina shot her observation, Tatsuya continued speaking, nodding with a ‘well, yeah’.

“The bracelet-type is configured to enter standby mode along with the operation device.”

“So, exactly how do I use it?”

“The bracelet’s internal switch is designated as the target for the choker’s Activation Sequence. To output the desired Activation Sequence from the bracelet, you just include the magic’s number as a variable to be used for the Non-Systematic Magic’s Activation Sequence.”

“To sum it up, just think ‘use the magic’s number’ and it invokes the Activation Sequence?”

“Roughly speaking, that is it.”

“Wait, isn’t that amazing? The time to operate a CAD with your hand is like heavy shackles for a melee combat magician.”

CADs are tools that increase magic invocation speed. By establishing a magic scheme using CADs, magicians obtained the ability to match crowds of armed soldiers from the frontlines.

But now, the time spent on operating the CAD is closing up the gap that divides victory and defeat in a competition scenario. Specialized CAD models are covering its weaknesses, but they restrict the kind of magic that can be used.

FLT’s completely thought-operated CAD was a tool to solve all of these problems. Unlike Rosen products that include thought-operated mechanisms in specialized CAD models, FLT’s products are split into an operation device and a device that essentially takes on the role of the original CAD. Although it has the drawback of needing to carry two devices, it also can be used by generalized models, and not just specialized models, so it fulfills the purpose of ‘hand-free operation’ and ‘don’t narrow the range of tactics’.

“I’m glad you like it. Operating devices can be paired up with up to four CADs, but for now one generalized model will be fine.”

“That is plenty.”

Perhaps the idea that it was possible to manipulate one specialized model and one generalized model on both sides with just one operation device was passed to Lina’s mind, but she didn’t say anything.

It is too convenient to be able to use both generalized and specialized models just by thinking.

As Tatsuya nodded, Lina could not predict what kind of face she would make in that situation.

Tatsuya headed towards the adjustment room while holding the CAD that was split into two parts.

Lina was in the preparation room next to the adjustment room. In this facility there is also general adjustment equipment that takes user data with a headset and a panel for both hands. But for the new blank slate CAD Tatsuya thought that he should do precise measurements with the bed-type equipment. Lina is now preparing for that, that is, she is changing her clothes.

“Tatsuya, umm...thanks for waiting.”

Lina came into the adjustment room, with half hidden thighs, wearing a thin long white shirt without any buttons. Is it easy to understand if we say it is a long t-shirt about 15 centimeters above the knee?

She undid her hair, removing all accessories, and put it down her back. She only put on sandals similar to those used in hospitals. Lina held her chest with both arms to hide it. Bashful, embarrassed behavior.

“...Is this fine?”

“What do you mean, fine?”

“...My underwear, it’s not fine, is it?”

The skin around Lina’s eyes became red and she faced the other side. She was feeling embarrassed of her own question.

Of course, even with such innocent appearance, Tatsuya’s attitude does not change.

“Lina, have you not used this type of measurement device?”

“Precise measurements no less than once a month were mandatory.”

This means that in the Stars base, a similar machine exists. No less than one a month, for Tatsuya this was too little. However, unlike Miyuki who is still has plenty of time until her magic growth period ends, there should be few minors among the Stars’ personnel. Not counting the people on their twenties, for the people on their thirties or forties it becomes much less necessary to have such short intervals between updated measurement results. Tatsuya changed his mind.

“Would you prefer if I prepared a bathing suit?”

“Not especially, it’s not that a bikini would be better...”

“I don’t mind either way.”

Lina fidgeted while undecisive. If you think about it, generally, you should feel less embarrassed when wearing a long t-shirt than a bathing suit with many separate types of exposure.

You don’t need to hesitate this much...Thinking this, Tatsuya struggled to arrive at a conjecture.

Perhaps Lina is not wearing anything under her shirt...?

Tatsuya did not tell her ‘take off your underwear’ when he told her to change clothes. Nobody in this facility would say such a thing.

But if Lina knows that it is normal to be in her underwear when using bed type measurement machines...Given the long t-shirt type inspection outfit, it seems likely that she was convinced herself that “I cannot wear anything under this”.

“...Please do it as it is.”

But right now it is not possible to tell Lina, who has answered with a face filled with embarrassment, that ‘it’s fine for you to wear underwear’. Informing her of this would be awkward for both of them. Lina would become too embarrassed. Maybe it’s possible that the adjustment would no longer occur.

“Well then, lie down there.”

Tatsuya was more conscious than normal of his businesslike tone.

?

While working, his suspicion that ‘she’s not wearing underwear’ deepened further. Over the thin cloth, Tatsuya’s eyes caught bumps that could become proof of that, but he avoided staring at those parts.

Therefore, Lina didn’t realize that ‘he realized’. Without causing meaningless trouble, the adjustment ended peacefully.

In Lina’s neck, a choker type device was promptly worn. No, maybe it should be expressed as ‘placed’, because its form is that of a circular torus like a retainer. The golden glitter is the same as her hair, it suits Lina spectacularly. At first glance, it looks like an extravagant collar, but obviously you can’t remove it by yourself. Lina also noticed ‘it looks like a collar’, but didn’t seem to care.

“I’ll come tomorrow too, so tell me if there is any inconvenience.”

“Understood.”

Lina raised her right hand and responded to Tatsuya. The silver bracelet is on her other wrist.

“Tatsuya-sama, the tracer should not turn off.”

“I understand.”

Nodding with a bitter smile at a cautious Hyougo, Tatsuya departed in an Air Car.

The car body, floating with the tires several dozens of centimeters from the ground, set out towards the sea as it was, maintaining the relative altitude.

When Tatsuya passed through the doors of  ‘Einebrise’, the coffee shop located on the street on the way to First High School, Miyuki’s and their friends were all gathered.

“Ah, Tatsuya-kun, welcome.”

“Tatsuya-san, we were waiting for you.”

Erika and Honoka welcomed Tatsuya almost at the same time.

Tatsuya raised his hand lightly in response, and sat between Miyuki and Honoka.

There were no other customers in the shop. Before Tatsuya could ask, Miyuki explained “I made a reservation today.”

“Tatsuya-san, this is on the house.”

Master put a small glass pot on the counter. Inside it was reliably made cold-brew coffee. Honoka and Shizuku quickly stood up, Honoka carried the pot and Shizuku carried the tray with cups to the table.

While Tatsuya was thanking both of them, Master said ‘call me if you need anything’ and returned to the back of the store.

From the time Tatsuya came in, the inside of the shop had interception prevention magic. It was Mikihiko’s Sound Barrier.

They are not exaggerating.

Because Tatsuya himself specifically brought them here, all of them presumed that the subject is of extreme importance.

“Using the Master is troubling, so let’s go into the main topic at once.”

Before Honoka could pour coffee into the cup, Tatsuya started the discussion.

Their eyes and ears were already turned towards Tatsuya.

“Kudou Minoru became a parasite.”

Tatsuya suddenly entered the main point.

“Eh?” “No way.” “Are you serious!?”

Acquainted with Minoru, Mikihiko, Erika and Leo raised their voices one after the other.

“...By ‘Kudou Minoru’, you mean Kudou Minoru-kun who was Second High’s representative at the thesis competition?”

“Exactly.”

Tatsuya nodded without hesitation at Mizuki’s reserved question.

“How did this happen?”

Erika pointed her sharp eyes towards Tatsuya.

There was no doubt Tatsuya did something on his own. Trying to stop her agitation, she just looked into his eyes unintentionally.

“How, huh. Even I don’t know everything. What I do know is that Minoru threw away his humanity out of his own volition, and that Minoru became a parasite to achieve some goal.”

“Can you tell us what you ‘do know’?”

Leo was quickly regaining his composure. But the strength in his eyes was not inferior to Erika.

I will not tolerate secrets. – His eyes were saying that.

Even if Leo glares at him, Tatsuya’s manner of speech did not change. From the beginning, he was planning on explaining the background of Minoru’s parasitization, within the range of his knowledge.

“Minoru’s goal is related to the reason Minami was hospitalized.”

“...Was it not an ordinary injury?”

“The reason Minami was hospitalized was because she received massive damage to her Magic Calculation Area. There is no hope for complete recovery.”

To the facts Tatsuya spoke honestly, not just Leo, but everyone excluding Miyuki became speechless.

“There is no immediate concern about her life. But if high power magic is triggered, it’s possible that the symptoms may decisively deteriorate.”

“...How did such a thing!?”

Leo was losing words to roar. Minami was a member of the mountaineering club for which Leo served as the head. Among them, next to Tatsuya and Miyuki, there is a sense of family.

“I don’t plan to explain that. Now, there is something else I want to talk about.”

“...Fine. In that case, tell us.”

Leo clenched his teeth, visibly not consenting to Tatsuya’s words. But in this scene too he displayed self-restraint.

“Minoru became a parasite for the sake of testing the process of curing Minami.”

“Wait a minute, Tatsuya.”

Mikihiko’s next words did not come out easily.

“...You mean that Minoru-kun, for the sake of curing Minami, let himself be possessed by parasites? Using himself as a lab rat?”

“The person himself said so.”

“Stupid...That is insane...”

Mikihiko fell into a daze.

“Minoru is serious.”

Tatsuya mercilessly stated the facts.

“So the point is, Minoru is going to kidnap Minami?”

It was Erika who anticipated what Tatsuya was going to say.

“Minoru came to kidnap Sakurai? And Tatsuya drove him back? Is that right?”

“Yes. I was able to drive him away once.”

Leo strikes Tatsuya with successive questions.                 

“Tatsuya, you...can you lose?”

“I won’t be hurt. Though he’s not an easy opponent.”

To Mikihiko’s question, Tatsuya asserted ‘I won’t lose’.

“That is, Tatsuya-kun himself won’t be hurt, but you may not be able to protect Minami?”

“Exactly.”

Tatsuya nods to Erika’s line,

“But there is something else I want you all to be careful of.”

he continued further.

“Erika, Leo, Mikihiko. I think there is a possibility that Minoru plans to contact you guys in order to take Minami away.”

“You mean make us collaborators?”

“Speaking of acquaintances of Minoru, excluding the Saegusa sisters, Kasumi and Izumi, it’s just you guys.”

“...Certainly, if I had not heard this just now, I may have lent Minoru my power.”

The first one to recognize so was Leo.

“If he said it was to cure Minami.”

Erika reluctantly agreed.

“Are you sure Minoru-kun became a parasite? It is upsetting, but it’s hard to distinguish between humans and parasites.”

But Mikihiko voiced his dissatisfaction. Seems that being unable to make the distinction between humans and evil spirits is inexcusable for the pride of an Ancient Magician.

“I didn’t know Minoru was a parasite until he revealed so himself.”

“...Is that so.”

It was not possible for Mikihiko to say that he is far better than Tatsuya in this department.

“Mikihiko, you have superior intuition than me when it comes to parasites. But the Kudou Family has magic that can camouflage the Information Body. Minoru did not lose the ‘Nine’s magic when he converted to a parasite.”

“No...It’s different for Shibata-san and her eyes, but I don’t have confidence to declare that my intuition is better than yours, Tatsuya. Besides, I understand the need to be vigilant towards Minoru-kun.”

“I’s fine if you understand that.”

“Yeah. By the way...”

Mikihiko’s expression was saying ‘something suddenly came to mind’.

“What is it?”

Tatsuya did not ignore it.

“Where on earth did the parasite that possessed Minoru come from?”

“Certainly we haven’t been invaded by America again?”

“No, it’s a parasite I sealed last time. The Kudou Family had one of the two that were taken by someone.”

Tatsuya showed hesitation for the first time when he replied to Erika’s question.

“...To be honest, Lina has come to Japan.”

Ending his hesitation, Tatsuya chose to be frank about the facts.

“Lina!?”

“Onii-sama!?”

Honoka and Miyuki both raised their voice in surprise.

Honoka’s surprise was purely regarding Lina coming to Japan.

Miyuki’s surprise on the other hand, was about the fact that Tatsuya revealed to their friends, even though it should be a secret. Her surprise was big enough to say ‘Onii-sama’ in front of everyone.

Luckily, Erika and Shizuku and the rest received such a shock that nobody felt that Miyuki referring to Tatsuya as an older brother rather than a fiancé was out of place.

“About Lina’s return to Japan, it is related to a second parasite outbreak in the USNA.”

The destructive power of the bombs that were successively thrown was way too high for everyone.

“Parasites in America...”

Only Mikihiko was able to barely react. Erika, Mizuki, Leo, Honoka and Shizuku, the five of them lost their words.

“The parasite possessing Minoru is unrelated. But if the USNA’s new parasite outbreak invades Japan, a situation where they fight along Minoru is possible.”

“Tatsuya...Is there any way to disable the parasite? If my power is needed...”

“The magic to seal the parasite is going to be offered by His Excellency Kudou.“

“His Excellency Kudou, isn’t that the ‘Patriarch’?”

“Minoru’s grandfather...?”

Erika and Leo point out the relationship between Kudou Retsu and Minoru, questioning his credibility.

“It is unimaginable that he will hand over useless techniques since it’s his family. But, supposing it fails, Mikihiko. I may have to rely on you.”

Tatsuya denied his friend’s favor, as he thought there was a low chance that Minoru would be immune to the magic of the Kudou Family.

It is certain that the Kudou Family have magic to seal the parasites. Otherwise they couldn’t make weapons like the Parasidolls.

However, Minoru is also a magician from the Kudou Family. Obviously, he surely knows the magic used in the production of the Parasidolls. Now he personally should be devising a way to escape from the magic that would bind him. No, countermeasures may have already been completed. Tatsuya thought so.

“At that time, I want your power without fail.”

Mikihiko strongly agreed with Tatsuya.

Measures against evil spirits are the mission of Ancient Magicians. That belief was included in Mikihiko’s reply

 

Tatsuya did not come to Einebrise with the dual use land and air vehicle ‘Air Car’. Once the car that had come from Miyaki Island was placed in the garage of their apartment, he used public transportation until the station closest to First High. Of course, he also returned on an individual train.

In the Cabinet, Tatsuya and Miyuki had few words. From these two’s standpoint, they could not go without being vigilant for wiretaps, but that was not the main reason. Just before they had an important discussion at Einebrise, the direction of which made that tension stronger.

It is rare for them to return home without having a conversation, but even still they felt relaxed as they went home. Miyuki talked about what happened at school, Tatsuya mentioned his impressions on the Air Car to Miyuki, who started to beg to go for a drive, and the usual tone returned.

However, the harmonic atmosphere was destroyed by the phone’s ringing.

Not because of the phone itself, the contents.

“—Summarizing, if Angie Sirius asks for protection, I am required to hand her over to the National Defense Forces?”

“I would like you to not be so belligerent.”

In the Visiphone’s screen, Kazama moved his hand to pacify Tatsuya.

“I’m just saying that a private organization hiding Major Sirius, a soldier of the USNA, is not approved by the National Defense Forces.”

“That is natural. But why is the Lieutenant Colonel telling me something so obvious?”

“Tatsuya, I know you are protecting Major Sirius. We were informed by the Yotsuba Family.”

So it’s useless to play dumb...That’s what Kazama’s eyes were saying.

“Then please make the request at the Head House.”

But Tatsuya wasn’t perturbed. Without confirming nor denying Kazama’s words, nor nodding to the request.

At Tatsuya’s non-cooperative attitude, Kazama’s eyes became cold.

“Special Officer Ooguro.”

From the words Kazama issued, the friendly tone had disappeared.

“Even if you rise in status inside the Yotsuba Family, the contract between the Yotsuba Family and the National Defense Forces concerning you is still valid.”

Tatsuya silently stared back at Kazama inside the display.

“Except for your role as Shiba Miyuki’s guard, you must give priority to the orders of the National Defense Forces.”

“Lieutenant Colonel Kazama. I would like to stop the distortion of the contract between the Yotsuba Family and the National Defense Forces.”

“What?”

After Tatsuya’s voice, his expression disappeared.

“Except when it comes to guarding Miyuki, the Yotsuba Family recognizes the National Defense Forces’ right to give priority orders to Shiba Tatsuya. This is the contract between the Yotsuba Family and the National Defense Forces. There is no agreement that I have to obey the National Defense Forces.”

“Special Officer. Are you rebelling against the army?”

“That is also incorrect. The purpose of the position of Special Officer given to me is for the National Defense Forces to use me. The oath I made five years ago to come under command of the army in Okinawa was only for that one time.”

“...Tatsuya. The National Defense Forces won’t approve of a civilian sheltering Major Angie Sirius. I want you to understand this.”

“Lieutenant Colonel Kazama. I’m not sheltering Major Sirius or anything like it. If the Yotsuba Family says they are protecting Angie Sirius, please deliver the request to the Head House.”

Both Tatsuya and Kazama avoided a conclusive rupture at the end.

It was the result of mutually recognizing the other party’s utility value.

The building that became Tatsuya’s and Miyuki’s new home was built as Yotsuba Family’s Tokyo headquarters. Inside it there isn’t just residential spaces, there are also various facilities to fulfill its use as headquarters. The magic practice room in the basement was one of them.

There was nobody else in the practice room. There are reasons, like it being late in the evening, but Tatsuya also reserved the room, using the title of ‘Head’s son’ as an excuse – it doesn’t matter whether it is a fact or not.

Tatsuya told Miyuki and Minami that he planned to learn the parasite sealing magic from Maya. But despite intending to do so, he didn’t think he could handle the technique even if he was taught. Even if his position in the Yotsuba Family rose, the fact remains that he can’t handle magic other than ‘Decomposition’ and ‘Regrowth’.

But Tatsuya didn’t abandon his possibilities. He definitely can’t handle normal magic other than ‘Decomposition’ and ‘Regrowth’. His artificial Magic Calculation Area can only imitate low power magic.

But that is about the modern meaning of magic, talking about the magic that modifies phenomena. Traditionally, not just the magic that modifies phenomena but also the techniques that manipulate Psions themselves were considered magic. And if it’s techniques that manipulate Psions, even first-rate magicians can’t beat him. It could be said that he surpasses ‘first-rate’.

The parasite’s real body is a Pushion Information Body. Tatsuya does not have the ability to directly manipulate Pushions.

However, Psions coil around the location of the parasites’ real body, and they know that if they lose the Psion coating, their activity will cease. Moreover, it is said that Psions are particles that take the form of thoughts and intentions and at the same time connect the material body with the immaterial spirit, telling the body of the commands issued by the spirit, and conveying information gathered in the body to the spirit.

In other words, Psions have properties that interfere with the spirit, or Pushion Information Body.

Outer-Systemic Magic that interfere with the spirit are also invoked with Magic Sequences created with Psions. This also is proof that Psions have indirect interactions with Pushions.

Tatsuya was thinking whether he couldn’t seal or restrict parasites, a Pushion Information Body, using Non-Systematic Magic.

Just hitting the Psions flow will repel the parasites, though it can do damage, they won’t die. This is a known result from using Gram Demolition on parasites that slipped away from their assimilated body.

The Armor-Piercing Psion Bullet devised with the intent of dealing damage to a parasite assimilated by a human also could weaken the parasite, but it was not enough to make it cease activity.

(...I just can’t get a mental image.)

Chains, ropes, nets. He’s tried various items before, but he can’t depict them in his vision well. Somehow, nothing feels different.

(If I could practice using the real thing for a while, would it be different...)

As far as Tatsuya knows, the Yotsuba Family and the Kudou Family have genuine parasites. The Yotsuba Family has an individual that was sealed in First High’s practice forest, and the Kudou Family used theirs to nurture Parasidolls.

Although he can’t borrow it, there is the possibility they will let him use it for practice if he goes there.

But that too must be after he has some idea on how to manipulate the Psions well. If he goes there without a sure method, he’ll have visited for no reason. For the other people it will also be a waste of time.

 (...I’ll try asking Master.)

Though reluctant to be indebted to Yakumo, he was not in a situation to say so. Tatsuya decided to visit Kyuuchouji.

Early morning on Tuesday, June 25th.

Tatsuya visited Yakumo’s temple for the first time in a while.

He didn’t get in contact in advance. So Tatsuya had no intention to complain even if Yakumo was absent.

However, an unexpected welcome awaited Tatsuya.

The apartment in Chofu and Kyuuchouji temple weren’t separated by that much. Though it was not a distance he couldn’t run, Tatsuya used the flying bike ‘Wingless’ in light of the current situation. What he’s wearing isn’t a normal biking outfit, it’s the Yotsuba-made flight uniform ‘Freed Suit’. After getting off his bike, he took off his helmet and carried it in his left hand. He didn’t bring the Specialized CAD he always does, but ‘Freed Suit’ has a fully thought-operated CAD incorporated.

Though he passed through the gate, the fight [8]  – a brawl, rather – with the disciples did not occur.

There was no sign of people.

Tatsuya thought no problem could cause this absence, and as if it was a flag [9] , right after he considered this, he was getting attacked.

The presence of ‘things’ without entity.

Clear hostility was transmitted.

Before seeing through its identity, Tatsuya intercepted the Psion flow.

In a moment, a wild Psion stream increased up to the density of a Gram Demolition and knocked down the Information Body holding a Psion structure of about the same high-density.

(Independent Information Body...a familiar? Or a natural occurrence of ‘evil gods’?)

Rarely in this world, an independent Information Body whose structure is made of a large quantity of highly dense Psions can spontaneously generate, Tatsuya had heard so from an ancient practitioner who trained him at the Yotsuba House.

A normal independent Information Body has no power to interfere with phenomena by just preserving information, but if the amount of information and Psions it carries inside go past a certain amount, it will start to interfere with phenomena. Fearing calling them demons, the ancients called them gods, and based on them they devised magic that modifies phenomena using independent Information Bodies, calling it Spirit Magic or Summoning Magic. – The Ancient Magician who worked as Tatsuya’s teacher taught him so.

Tatsuya blew away the independent Information Body, but it turned around and attacked once again.

At this moment two things became clear.

This ‘spirit’ is a ‘wind’ independent Information Body.

And this ‘spirit’ is being controlled by human intention.

(Is this Master’s doing?)

But if that is the case, the hostility given to this Information Body is too serious. The offensive ability included in the independent Information Body is at a level that it leads to death if the attack is successful.

Aiming to eliminate the threat in front of him, Tatsuya tried to erase the ‘Wind Spirit’ with Gram Dispersion.

However, in the next instant, he cancelled the Magic Dissolution – Gram Dispersion without releasing it at the Information Body.

He didn’t stop because he concluded Yakumo was the caster.

Tatsuya replaced Gram Dispersion and used Non-Systematic Magic to release compressed Psions.

The compressed shape is a net. Though called so, it wasn’t reproduced into small meshes.

Like a thin extended Psion membrane wrapping the target with pressure, perhaps it is better to call it a wrapping cloth than a net. – Of course, huge wrapping cloths with a diameter of 3 meters don’t exist.

He stopped the meddling ‘Wind Spirit’ with a Psion ‘net’, pushed the package, and put on pressure from the outside. But immediately the ‘net’ was torn.

The Spirit escaped from its restraints and started to attack Tatsuya by transforming into a wind blade.

Tatsuya dodged it by jumping sideways.

Red blood dripped from Tatsuya’s left arm as he rolled and stood up from the sandy ground. A part close to the shoulder was ripped wide open.

His opponent is a transparent wind blade. Even though he tried to avoid it, he couldn’t do so perfectly. At any rate, this was obviously not the influence of practice. If what he was wearing wasn’t the bulletproof, impact resistant, anti-cutting ‘Freed Suit’, most of his arm might have been cut off.

But the suit was torn and stained in blood for just one second.

Not just the wounds, the damage to the suit and the drops of blood soaking the ground, all of it disappeared like an illusion. The effects of Tatsuya’s ‘Regrowth’ magic.

If this opponent was a living magician, surprise may have created an opportunity. But the ‘Wind Spirit’ did not falter and sent a new attack. Was it programmed to ‘continue to attack’ beforehand, or does the caster know Tatsuya’s skills?

The wind blade approaches once again.

Tatsuya pushed out and opened his right hand towards the independent Information Body. A Psion shield was formed in front of him.

Colliding with the high-density Psion shield stopped the forward movement of the ‘Wind Spirit’. The blade of high-pressure air maintained by the independent Information Body was decompressed as a blast that moved towards Tatsuya.

Mere wind cannot cut the Freed Suit.

Tatsuya tightly clenched his right hand.

Tatsuya’s Psions gathered around the ‘Wind Spirit’

The independent Information Body was compressed.

The cloud of Psions that spread enough to swallow a large passenger vehicle was now the size of a ball that fit in his palm.

A sphere of Psions similar to a crystal ball that cannot be seen by the naked eye. The ‘Wind Spirit’ is trapped inside it.

Tatsuya breathed out, making sure to not let the ‘Wind Spirit’ break out from the Psion sphere.

He looked and searched around his feet for the helmet he had thrown away when he first dodged.

It happened the moment his attention was lost.

Explosive expansion pressure came from inside the Psion ball he was holding.

Tatsuya threw the Psion sphere, that had become fixed on the palm of his right hand, above him. He dropped his right hand and used his left hand to push up vigorously.

Detonating itself, the ‘Wind Spirit’ destroyed the Psion sphere.

The shockwaves created by that clashed overhead with the Gram Demolition Tatsuya released from his left hand, spreading all over the grounds of the temple and the Psion ripples drew a countless number of concentric circles.

“Yo, that was unfortunate.”

?

Suddenly, the shadow of a person emerged from the uninhabited grounds. Clapping his hands and talking to him, it was the head monk of this temple, the famous ‘Ninjutsu User’, Kokonoe Yakumo.

“If you dedicated a bit more attention to the pressure you would have completed the Seal Gem [10] .”

“Master, good morning.”

“Ah, good morning, Tatsuya-kun.”

And he is the person Tatsuya had visited to request advice this morning.

“Anyway, Master, what is a Seal Gem?”

Exchanging morning greetings as if nothing had happened, Tatsuya asked to continue the conversation,

“The thing you tried to make just now.”

And Yakumo responded with a bitter smile on his face.

“You came to ask about a parasite sealing technique?”

“Did you know about Minoru already?”

“I also know about the new outbreak in America. This time seems more troublesome than before.”

“Impressive as always. And because of that...can you teach me the sealing technique?”

“Of course, I won’t teach.”

From Yakumo’s mouth came a kind of response that would make certain people explode in anger and respond ‘are you kidding me?’.

“Is that so.”

But Tatsuya took it as a natural thing.

Tatsuya calls Yakumo ‘Master’, but he is not a disciple of ‘Ninjutsu User’ Kokonoe Yakumo. Tatsuya joins in training only because of Yakumo’s good will. There is no right to be taught magic.

“I don’t even need to teach? That Seal Gem just now was well made. It doesn’t look like it’s your first time.”

And yet at the same time it wasn’t that he never taught him anything.

“Is Seal Gem that thing that trapped the independent Information Body inside and hardened as a sphere of Psions like the Armor-Piercing Psion Bullet?”

“I see, you applied the Armor-Piercing Psion Bullet technique.”

“Can that seal parasites?”

“It quarantined the Wind Sprite Protector from my technique. It should also work well enough for parasites.”

Protector [11]  is an abbreviation of Protection Child. Its original meaning was divine spirit or fierce god [12]  that served Mikkyou [13]  monks and practitioners of Shugendou [14] , but more commonly, it is the word used for ‘familiar’ in the Mikkyou system of techniques. So to express what Yakumo said in other words, ‘you succeeded until the imprisonment step of the Wind Spirit that serves Yakumo’.

The condition that it depends on Yakumo’s mood remains, but his suggestions are close to giving instructions for the technique. Considering Tatsuya is not fulfilling the role of disciple, this is abnormally hospitable.

“You said earlier ‘if you dedicated more attention’, what was bad about it?”

“It was fine as it was, if you dedicated 10 hours of attention it would not have been broken by self-destruction.”

“So it’s good if more time is spent?”

“No, no, I don’t mean it like that. Did I say dedicated [15] ? Time is not required to prepare the Seal Gem.”

Tatsuya did not ask further. The relationship between Tatsuya and Yakumo has reached its 5th year. Tatsuya understood Yakumo’s personality to the point that he knew he wouldn’t give more hints.

“I understand. I will try to dedicate myself.”

“Try to practice with the second son of the Yoshida Family.”

With this extra, this morning’s harvest was enough, rather, it was more than expected.