Chapter 7

It was Sunday morning when Fujibayashi got in touch with Tatsuya.

“Special Officer. There was an announcement from the American army that a transport plane departing from Hawaii will arrive at Camp Zama tomorrow evening. It was an official announcement due to the shared use agreement.”

“Well, they can’t publicize their violent conduct, right?”

“You can say that this is as expected.”

As Fujibayashi said, it was as they expected, Stars was sending in reinforcements using the agreement. But since the legal systems are being used in such a bold manner, one can read between the lines that the parasites are extending their influence within the USNA army. Fujibayashi’s expression is not doing so well because of her anxiety.

“Well then, as per the previous arrangement, please be on the lookout.”

“Special Officer. No...Tatsuya-kun. Do you really plan on getting in alone?”

“I’ll get in alone, but my abilities aren’t mine alone. Since the parasite countermeasures are not complete yet.”

“You mean the people of the Yotsuba Family? Or your school friends...?”

“The people of the Family are focused on Minoru.”

Tatsuya didn’t answer it clearly, but in short, he was relying on a friend from First High. It was not his original intention but the ‘Seal Gem’ is still incomplete so capable people who can seal the parasite are needed.

However, no controlling attitude came from Fujibayashi’s mouth.

Tatsuya didn’t intend so, but when she was told ‘to capture Minoru’, she can’t say anything.

“When are you doing it?”

“The sooner the better, so tomorrow evening right after they arrive.”

“I see...Tatsuya-kun, be careful. We’ll be joining Major Yanagi in the surveillance, so please tell us when it’s time.”

“Understood. I will be depending on you when it’s time.”

With that said, Tatsuya lightly bowed.

But, on the opposite side of the camera, Fujibayashi understood.

Tatsuya will never depend on them.

“Yes. But I’m hoping it won’t be necessary.”

She didn’t intend to leave it up to fate. She plans to use her wit as a battalion adjutant to ensure the success of the dispatched forces.

But still, Fujibayashi didn’t go without saying so.

After finishing the phone call with Fujibayashi, Tatsuya turned around.

Even without looking, he knew that behind him Miyuki was refraining from showing concern in her expression.

“Onii-sama...What should I do tomorrow?”

Half a year ago, Miyuki wouldn’t have asked ‘what should I do?’, she would have asserted ‘I’m going too’. But now she understands she would be Tatsuya’s weakness. Though she was aware of it for a long time, she was finally able to convince herself.

“Please look after Minami.”

Tatsuya made his decision. Miyuki must not go to fight Stars with him.

Tatsuya doesn’t think Miyuki’s abilities are inferior to Stars. He believes that she doesn’t fall behind the best of the Stars.

However, he doesn’t want her to do dangerous things. That is Tatsuya’s real motive.

If you attack, getting counterattacked is unavoidable.

Getting involved is inevitable.

In this case, it’s unreasonable to tell Miyuki to not interfere with the situation where Minoru kidnaps Minami. He resigned himself to this.

Still, there is no need for Miyuki to be concerned with the extermination of the parasitized Stars.

“We can’t grasp Minoru’s movements. I want you to keep your eyes on her while my hands are busy with another fight.”

“...Of course.”

Tatsuya’s words were not lies.

But they were not his true feelings either.

Miyuki also understands that Tatsuya thinks she shouldn’t expose herself to danger.

“Onii-sama, I will do as you said.”

Understanding that, Miyuki promised to obey Tatsuya’s instructions.

Minoru left Regulus and Raymond in the hideout in Kobe and went alone to Nara.

A network established by Zhou Gongjin also remains in Nara. In fall of last year, none other than Minoru himself cooperated with Tatsuya to expose a part of it, but Zhou Gongjin’s hand also reached ‘ordinary people’ unrelated to magic.

Minoru was now in a private house owned by such ‘ordinary people unrelated to magic’.

“It was a terrifying opponent...”

Involuntarily, a soliloquy ran out of Minoru’s mouth.

More than the people before him thought, Zhou Gongjin was a troublesome opponent. But now, thanks to him, Minoru could move comfortably.

Well, up until now he could act safely. From here on, he must jump into the pocket of the Kudou Family who is waiting for him.

His destination is the ‘Ninth Magical Development Research Institute’. The former Ninth Research Institute, the core of the ‘Nine’ magicians.

Minoru was planning to take the sealed Parasidolls from there.

The alliance of the Saegusa Family and the Juumonji Family, especially the fight with Katsuto, made Minoru realize the limits of one person alone. He saved Regulus and Raymond solely with the ulterior motive to borrow their hands, but two people was not enough. Besides, they have their job. Also, he needed something that works as his henchmen.

He can’t count on Kansai Ancient Magicians who were friends with Zhou Gongjin. They have opposed the Ninth Research Institute for a long time. And this body is of a direct descendent of the Kudou Family, a magician from the ‘Nines’. Unlike the hideouts, it doesn’t seem likely that Zhou Gongjin’s friends will support him even if he has his knowledge.

So Minoru thought to take along Parasidolls as his subordinates.

The development of the Parasidolls was suspended, but their production had already been completed. Practical use is only frozen due to ethical reasons. Above all else, the core of the Parasidolls, as can be seen from its name, is a parasite. Minoru thought if it’s him, he should be able to use it better than a human magician.

The Parasidolls damaged in the operation test were already repaired, and were left sealed at the former Ninth Research Institute. If he could creep in and restart the Parasidolls, it shouldn’t be difficult to escape with their bodies’ fighting power.

However, the former Ninth Research Institute is under the jurisdiction of the Kudou Family. The Kudou Family being out of the Ten Master Clans doesn’t change that.

Even if they don’t expect Minoru to aim for the Parasidolls, the former Ninth Research Institute will be heavily guarded by the Kudou Family.

Perhaps his grandfather, Kudou Retsu, may be waiting.

If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, you won’t get its cub. [23]

The former Ninth Research Institute is undoubtedly a ‘tiger’s den’, Minoru thought.

The head of the Yotsuba Family, Yotsuba Maya, entrusted the investigation of the illegal immigrants detected in Kansai to a branch family of the Yotsuba, the Kuroba Family.

The head of the Kuroba Family, Kuroba Mitsugi, has excellent twin children.

The older sister, Kuroba Ayako. The younger brother, Kuroba Fumiya.

The two of them are second year students at the Magic University Affiliated Fourth High School, and they commute to school on weekdays.

When Tatsuya heard the Kuroba Family were entrusted with the search, he thought ‘if it is the Kuroba family, they may give priority to their duty rather than school’.

But Tatsuya’s guess cannot be said to be correct at this point.

Mitsugi didn’t dispatch his children to the Hanshin region until school holidays started.

Sunday, the 30th of June.

The twin sister and brother Ayako and Fumiya came to Kansai International Airport.

“There aren’t any leads left.”

“Just hearing about the features of the illegal immigrants that couldn’t be understood from the photos and the situation at the time they lost sight is great.”

Fumiya rebuked his older sister Ayako, who didn’t have a bit of gratitude towards the policemen who spared their precious time, with an indirect rebuttal.

Just now, they shared lunch with Officer Karasawa, who first found Regulus and Raymond, and thoroughly heard about the situation at the time of discovery on their seats.

Incidentally, when they were invited to eat, Officer Karasawa was working.

“At any rate, Nee-san, I didn’t think you were acquainted with Officer-san who was related to this.”

“Karasawa-san being the first discoverer was sheer coincidence.”

Officer Karasawa could skip out on work because Ayako was a close (?) acquaintance of his.

Three years ago, during the summer holiday of their second year of middle school, Ayako spent about a month in Kobe, separated from Fumiya. She was participating in a manners school with accommodation targeted to girls of around the same age.

Of course work was involved, it was an undercover operation.

The purpose was to expose the conspiracy of a stateless criminal organization that brainwashed children of the society’s rich and powerful to become their spies, a mission which Ayako fulfilled safely, and it seems she met Officer Karasawa, who was still a student at Second High School at that time, several times.

Still, the meal was paid out of the Kuroba Family’s pocket. They released the policeman and were now having post-meal tea time.

“But in the end, it didn’t give us any clue?”

“I wouldn’t say there was no clue.”

Ayako expressed an ‘oh?’ face, requesting an explanation from Fumiya with her eyes.

“Two illegal immigrants suddenly disappeared into the manned taxi stand. There were no humans with the same appearance as the people being pursued. At that time, two people ran away in a car, not a taxi, and were recorded with the surveillance cameras, but their appearance was different from what Officer Karasawa saw. Even the car that ran off, the cameras outside the airport didn’t catch any car with the same features.”

Fumiya stopped talking and stared back at Ayako’s eyes.

“Isn’t this similar to when that magic was used?”

“...Kudou Family’s ‘Parade’, huh.”

“Yeah. And speaking of people from the Kudou Family likely to cooperate with parasites...”

“The parasite who challenged the Yotsuba Family the other day, Kudou Minoru. Nobody other than him.”

Taking over Fumiya’s words, Ayako added her agreement.

“The illegal immigrants presumed to be from Stars are being hidden by Kudou Minoru.”

To Fumiya’s conclusion, Ayako indicated her opinion was the same with a nod.

Fumiya and Ayako separately reported to the Head House and their father about their hypothesis that the members of the Stars who had smuggled themselves into the country were being hidden by Kudou Minoru.

As a result, their father told them to interrupt their search and come back, and the Head House ordered the two of them to stop by the former Ninth Research Institute to report the information, as per Maya’s instructions.

Needless to say, priority was given to Maya’s instructions.

“Even so, why the former Ninth Research Institute and not the Kudou Family?“

In the car heading towards the research institute, Fumiya revealed unconscious feelings of doubt. This car isn’t a taxi, it’s something the Kuroba Family uses for operations. Ayako and Fumiya left the Kuroba house for convenience when going to school and live in an apartment in Hamamatsu. Today they didn’t go to Kansai by riding the train from there, they had a car come meet them from the Kuroba house. It took extra time to depart, but the formed Ninth Research Institute was in an inconvenient location well out of town, so it could be said it was the correct decision based on the current situation.

“Head-sama may think we should report to His Excellency instead of Makoto-sama.”

Fumiya’s words were close to a soliloquy but Ayako who was sitting next to him returned an honest response.

Also, ‘Makoto-sama’ refers to the head of the Kudou Family, Kudou Makoto, while ‘His Excellency’ refers to the former head of the Kudou Family, Kudou Retsu.

Kudou Retsu, who is respected as the eldest of Japan’s magical world and not just of the Ten Master Clans, is often referred to by ‘Patriarch’, but Tatsuya dislikes this nickname and calls him ‘His Excellency Kudou’ instead. He calls him this following the fact Retsu was a former Major General of the National Defense Forces.

Fumiya and Ayako used to call him ‘Patriarch’ too, but they once heard Tatsuya call him ‘His Excellency’ and the two of them also switched to the ‘His Excellency’ faction.

“Ah, so that’s why they sent you on this errand, Nee-san.”

Ayako and Kudou Retsu are acquainted from the previous parasite incident. Is it more accurate to say there was some kind of collusion? Rather than going to an unacquainted Head House, talking to Retsu may be more comfortable.

“Me, not us, right?”

Ayako said, not denying Fumiya’s guess.

Whether it was because they used a car instead of a train or because of the late meal, when Fumiya and Ayako arrived at the former Ninth Research Institute it was already dark. It is currently the period of the year when the sun stays out the longest, but the sky before the end of the rainy season is dark and cloudy and doesn’t let the light of the sunset pass.

The former Ninth Research Institute – the formal name is now ‘Ninth Magical Development Research Institute’, so abbreviating it as ‘Ninth Research Institute’ would be fine, but magic officials stubbornly call it ‘former Ninth Research Institute’. As was expected, Kudou Retsu was there and immediately responded to Ayako’s meeting request.

Ayako and Fumiya made their way through the reception. Within the simple greetings, Kudou Retsu told them why he came to the former Ninth Research Institute despite being Sunday.

“It’s uncomfortable at home due to family members slandering Minoru...”

Within Retsu’s great number of grandchildren, Minoru is the one he dotes on the most. Minoru was blessed with magic talent, but he thinks it is a pity that Minoru is unable to demonstrate his real abilities because he is prone to illness.

Perhaps his other grandchildren might have been aware of this.

Still, the truth is neither his father nor his wives had reasons to neglect Minoru.

Seen objectively, it can’t be said Minoru was given enough affection from his parents and siblings. Perhaps within the Kudou family, only Retsu directed his familial love to Minoru.

“It’s already late. How about we have some dinner?”

After finishing the conversation, Retsu made the offer to Fumiya and Ayako. He may have been lonely when confronted with two people the same age as Minoru. Not finding selfishness in Retsu’s words, Fumiya and Ayako couldn’t bear to turn down the offer.

“Let me prepare dinner for you.”

“...Thank you. We’ll take you up on you offer.”

In the end, Ayako bowed her head to Retsu’s invitation, representing the wishes of the two.

“The sun will set soon...”

Minoru who was lurking under the shade of a tree in woodland facing the former Ninth Research Institute, muttered in his mind.

The vicinity has become completely dark, but if the skies were clear it would be time for the sun to set now.

If there were no clouds, it would dusk now.

Of course, twilight.

The time of great calamity [24] .

The time when people meet demons by chance. The time when the powers of demons get stronger and disaster befalls people.

Minoru sent a signal with his thoughts to the war assets he procured for this operation.

They are not Ancient Magicians from Kyoto or Nara. He is only accompanied by refugees from the continent who Zhou Gongjin sent here, who he temporarily bound with a technique. Without their own purpose, in other words, lacking willpower, they are not fit to be Tatsuya’s and Katsuto’s opponents, but they are able to buy time until he wakes the sealed Parasidolls up. Minoru thought so, and used the puppet technique he acquired from Zhou Gongjin’s knowledge.

A traditional magician plunged into the gate in front of the research institute by himself.

And just like that, he self-destructed with magic flames.

Even if it’s called self-destruction, his body didn’t explode as one would expect, so he didn’t die immediately.

But he drew out magical power above his own limits to use magic at zero distance.

Instead of bearing wounds that lead to death if neglected, he exhibited power that tore the gate in one blow.

The three people around the table, Retsu, Fumiya and Ayako, had just finished eating their soup.

Everyone simultaneously turned their faces towards the front of the research institute. Only Fumiya stood up, but neither Retsu nor Ayako could be blamed.

 “Why didn’t the proximity alarm go off?”

Retsu’s mumbling meant ‘why didn’t the alarm that announces that suspicious people are approaching go off?’.

“...A barrier?”

He reached an answer by himself without listening to other people’s opinions.

A barrier that hides the magic waves skillfully enough for Retsu, who was called ‘the world’s most skilled’, to not perceive it.

A disturbance field that makes it harder to be discover Psion waves, instead of blocking them, was covering the entire front of the research institute and half of the premises. Retsu became aware of it only at this point.

“This is a concealment barrier that is a specialty of traditional magicians from the southwest of the continent.”

When Retsu said ‘continent’ here, he didn’t mean either the Eurasian Continent or the Asian Continent, but a region that roughly overlaps with territory of the Great Asian Union. ‘Southwest of the continent’ refers to the Sichuan-Yunnan area.

“Your Excellency! Doesn’t it look like Minoru-kun has come?”

When he heard about the continental barrier, Fumiya associated it with Minoru.

“If it’s Minoru, he’s probably aiming for the Parasidolls.”

“Parasidolls, are those the humanoid weapons that were tested at the Steeplechase venue last year?”

“You know about them?”

“Yes. We were slightly involved.”

To Retsu’s retort, Fumiya nodded.

“I see. You are correct, those were the Parasidolls.”

After answering Ayako’s initial question, Retsu added to himself ‘so it was not just Shiba Tatsuya who was moving at that time’.

“The Parasidolls are sealed in the storehouse on the north side. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. I will go there instantly when I confirm the situation inside the research institute.”

“Understood!”

There is essentially no reason for the two members of the Kuroba Family to obey Retsu.

However, Kudou Minoru is an enemy as far as the Yotsuba Family is concerned.

If he is raiding the research institute looking for Parasidolls, the goal must be to increase his fighting power, using these humanoid weapons as his subordinates.

It is a natural obligation of a Yotsuba Branch Family to prevent the Yotsuba Family’s enemies from increasing their capabilities.

“Nee-san, let’s go!”

“Yes.”

Ayako also did not object to Fumiya’s decision.

The former Ninth Research Institute’s guards were by no means an easy opponent for Minoru, whose power has grown.

But–,

(This is not on the level of Mayumi-san and her sisters or Juumonji-san.)

In a short time, Minoru finally arrived at the storehouse where the sealed Parasidolls are stored.

The locks have not been replaced since the other day when he sneaked in to become a parasite. Even if they were electronic locks, Minoru thought it was careless.

(–No, wait.)

Just to make sure, Minoru fortified his defenses with ‘Parade’ and ‘Ghost Walker’, and released ‘Golden Electron Silkworms’ from a small distance away, without making contact.

‘Golden Electron Silkworms’ invaded the electronic lock.

Right after, a violent electrical discharge happened in the electronic lock’s console.

“...That was risky.”

Looks like the voltage of the electric current just now reached lethal levels. Even if it’s Minoru, touching it carelessly would have incapacitated him for a short while.

(The moment magic is released, you will become defenseless against that magic...Twisting this principle into a trap, huh?)

This probably was a trap set by his grandfather, Kudou Retsu.

As expected from the former ‘world’s most skilled’.

But Minoru thought to release ‘Golden Electron Silkworms’ from a distance to make an electrical current in the air. He was concerned about getting electrocuted if the electric path was left as it was. But he was successful in having ‘Golden Electron Silkworms’ pass through at the same time as the line was closed, so no injury was incurred in Minoru.

He emitted ‘Golden Electron Silkworms’ once more.

The console’s electronic circuits were already burned.

The electronic lock was operated not by signals sent in with the electronic lock’s console, but by signals sent with its replacement ‘Golden Electron Silkworms’, and it showed Minoru the way in.

At the same time he went through the door, Minoru’s virtual image was attacked.

Unlike the other day, guards were deployed inside the storehouse.

It wasn’t just one or two people either. There were signs of no less than five people baring their fangs at Minoru.

(I didn’t sense them until now, impressive skill! But, it’s not enough.)

Aware of when he was a person from the Kudou Family, Minoru spared the magicians who attacked him.

A minute had not yet passed when the battle ended.

In the end, six magicians were lying unconscious in the storehouse.

Fumiya and Ayako didn’t go directly to the storehouse they were told about.

They went towards the parking lot. They went to the Kuroba Family car they had ridden here with.

Fumiya had left behind his CAD dedicated to the use of ‘Direct Pain’ there.

“Young Master!?”

“Kudou Minoru-kun is attacking! Contact the Head House and Tou-san and wait for orders! Secure an escape route!”

“Understood.”

This young man who is dressed in a Kuroba black suit serves as Fumiya’s aide, whose name, Kurokawa Shiroha, makes you want to say ‘black or white, make up your mind!’ [25] , switched to his communication device in accordance with Fumiya’s instructions without making pointless conversation.

Fumiya took out a black knuckleduster from the accessory case in the rear seat.

He gripped it lightly, and power went into the dedicated CAD shaped like a knuckleduster.

“Nee-san, if you please.”

“I know.”

Ayako looked to the north side of the Research Institute’s premises.

“There it is.”

From a gap between the buildings, the storehouse in question could be seen.

“I’ll launch you onto the roof, just in case.”

“Got it. Nee-san, it’s fine if you don’t come.“

“I’ll keep watch.”

Ayako kicked away Fumiya’s worries with a smile and invoked ‘Mock Teleportation’.

Fumiya’s body disappeared.

The next moment, about 80 meters away, he appeared on the roof.

Minoru sensed the use of powerful magic towards the storehouse just then.

(‘Mock Teleportation’, huh.)

It’s not magic for personal combat, but it sends a fighter there.

As such, there are signs of people on the roof.

But Minoru didn’t care about it, and concentrated his power on the magic in process.

“–Done!”

Involuntarily, he spoke to himself with all his might.

Right after that, a hole was open in the ceiling of the storehouse.

The composite materials that can endure tactical nuclear weapons were destroyed by just dozens of seconds of magic.

The magic used was ‘Oxidation Decay’. This magic, which Minoru is also good at, removes the inter-molecular binding and forcibly ejects the electrons from solids. Although inferior to the ‘Oxidation Decay’ Minoru uses, this magician’s ‘Oxidation Decay’ was also quite high-level.

“Kuroba Fumiya?”

Minoru recognized the short figure that jumped down from that hole.

Last year’s Nine Schools Competition. A young magician in the same year as him who was the Fourth High’s central figure in the Newcomer’s Monolith Code.

Kuroba Fumiya did not respond to Minoru’s voice and stretched his hand in front of him.

(A Knuckleduster?)

His fist had a black knuckleduster, but Minoru is 10 meters away. Minoru did not understand what Fumiya wanted to do.

That is, until a moment ago.

All of a sudden, Minoru was struck with intense pain.

(He punched my abdomen?)

However, he didn’t need to check as it was obvious Fumiya’s fist didn’t reach him. It doesn’t feel like he was shot with air bullets or ‘pressure’ either.

(Kuh—!?)

Minoru switched the control of the body from the brain and nervous system to be directly controlled by the mind, removing his sensitivity to pain.

(The pain is not going away!?)

But his abdomen is still in intense ‘pain’.

(This is bad!)

From the sense of crisis of being exposed to an attack he can’t identify, Minoru rapid-fired ‘Plasma Bullet’, and ionized air bullets went towards Fumiya.

With the same fast aerial movements that he showed in the Nine Schools Competition, Fumiya dodged all of Minoru’s plasma bullets, and once he landed he pushed out his right hand once again.

“Arrgh!”

Cries of pain escape from Minoru’s mouth. He held his right eye with his right hand.

The pain in his right eye was as intense as if his eye was being crushed, but touching his eye with the palm of his right hand told him the there was no damage dealt to the eyes.

Minoru fell to his knees.

(I lost?)

Feelings of defeat crossed his mind.

(Is there nothing I can do in this situation?)

Frustrated that he would not fulfill his ‘desires’, he released self-destruction magic.

Fumiya’s ‘Direct Pain’ magic causes direct pain to the mind, so it was also effective against parasites.

While unexpected that one hit was not enough to defeat him, with two blows Minoru fell to his knees. Even if a calm outsider were to look at this situation, they would surely think Fumiya’s victory is one step away.

However, when he was about to release a third blow to the eyes, Fumiya was hit by an intense sense of danger.

It was not just intuition. His magic sense perceived Minoru’s magic is about to cover the inside of the storehouse.

(No way, ‘NOx Out’!?)

Fumiya screamed in his mind.

‘NOx Out’ is a magic that outputs NOx, which is short for nitrogen oxide. More specifically, it is an Absorption-Type Magic that forces the chemical combination of the oxygen and nitrogen in the air. The generated compounds are magically assembled to produce primarily nitric monoxide, avoiding the highly toxic nitrogen dioxide. But nitric monoxide is still toxic. You will lose your consciousness if you inhale it for few minutes. Because of this characteristic, it was named ‘NOx Out’, with the double meaning ‘Knockout’.

The effect of this inter-personal magic is not just loss of consciousness due to nitric oxide. By consuming large amounts of oxygen in the air it also creates oxygen deficiency. In closed spaces, it is a very high-risk magic.

Minoru set the range to the entire warehouse and released the magic. Normally, there is no safe zone surrounding the caster assigned, so, naturally, they should make one.

(He’s willing to commit suicide!?)

Fumiya swore in his mind, but in reality he understood. This is ‘tactical brute forcing’ that relies on the parasite’s vitality and healing abilities.

Fumiya went back to the entrance and pushed the button that opens the door. Fortunately for him, the trap Kudou Retsu had set up only affected the console on the outside and the door’s system itself was not damaged.

The motor worked with problems and the door opened smoothly.

When Fumiya rushed out of the storeroom, he distanced himself from it by about 20 meters, just in case.

 

His central nervous system was afflicted by the nitric oxide and he was exposed to oxygen deprivation, thus Minoru’s body ceased its activity.

But his mind was a parasite, and it recognized the outside world, it had not lost the ability to influence the outside world.

(You guys, go!)

Minoru ordered the 16 Parasidolls to start fighting.

Minoru had completely removed their seal just a short time before. They were originally frozen for repairs, but they were in a state where they could work at any time. The Parasidolls quickly rose from their coffin-like case and ran off towards the open door.

After that, he restored the nitrogen oxide in the storeroom back to oxygen and nitrogen.

When the air became breathable, the healing ability automatically activated.

He knew now that he had fallen with his face to the ground.

He raised his body by pressing both hands against the floor.

“If I was human, I would have lost...”

Minoru murmured with a bitter, weak voice.

To advance a distance of about 50 meters, Ayako took no less than a minute.

The enemies are attacking one after the other.

The opponents all seem to be Ancient Magicians, ‘traditional magicians’ that came from the continent.

Ayako’s abilities are not oriented for direct combat. Moreover, they are suited for wide areas, so battles like this were situations she is extremely weak in.

Nevertheless, without fleeing and erasing her appearance – those are Ayako’s strongest points – she left seven traditional magicians crawling on the ground.

The successive attacks by the enemies come to an end, and Ayako breathed in relief. The traditional magicians were by no means weak judging by their abilities. Ayako thought she was poor at direct combat, but she defeated them without as much as a scratch.

She had assistance from the way the opponents fight. On her side there’s one person, on theirs there’s seven. Yet, instead of seven attacking at the same time, the next person came as soon as the other was defeated, and this way there was absolutely no coordination.

In addition, the attacking patterns of each traditional magician were monotonous. Ancient Magic is good at deceiving the opponent’s five senses, surprising the opponent with unexpected attacks that are impossible to fight against, and ending the battle with a decisive blow from destroying the enemy mentally. If they confront from the front, they are no match for Modern Magic, which excels at speed.

That should have been known to the enemy traditional magicians. But as they attacked Ayako, they were very straightforward by only attacking with visualized fireballs, lightning attacks that radiated in their hands temporarily, and winds that were given trajectories that were easy to understand by how they waved their hands.

“Have they been taken over?”

The magic that steals the opponents will and makes them a slave for battle also exists in the Yotsuba Family. The traditional magician’s movements were similar to the puppets made with that kind of magic.

Kudou Minoru also has hypnotic suggestion type abilities. Ayako appended this to her mental notes and started walking again in order to lend a hand to Fumiya in the battle.

But within three steps, Fumiya rushed out of the storeroom.

Before raising her voice to ask what happened, a female model robot ran off from the inside of the storehouse and chased after Fumiya

Ayako understood its true identity.

It’s not a simple battle female android.

It’s a Parasidoll. A humanoid weapon that uses magic from the evil spirit it carries.

A group of Parasidolls attacked Fumiya.

Some of them changed direction towards Ayako.

The opponent Fumiya should defeat is not the Parasidolls. That group is being manipulated by Kudou Minoru.

Parasidolls are autonomous weapons. They can continue fighting with their own decisions without being given orders. But if he defeats Minoru who currently has the authority to give orders, the research institute’s staff can inscribe new orders.

In that sense, fighting Minoru should be priority. Exhausting energy and physical strength against the Parasidolls is foolish.

But even if Fumiya tried to avoid the fight, the Parasidolls would not allow it.

Fumiya jumped straight up. By escaping in the sky, he believed he would shake off the Parasidolls.

But two Parasidolls ran after him from the ground, at a speed superior to his.

Those figures were going in a straight line, like humanoid cannonballs.

Fumiya noticed the signs of magic and made a big jump sideways. But the humanoid machine carrying the evil spirit didn’t let Fumiya escape, by tracing his movements.

Each Parasidoll specializes in specific magic. Rather than a magician, it is closer to a Supernatural Power User. The mobility of the individual specializing in Movement-Type Magic surpassed Fumiya’s own.

Was this desperation?

Fumiya released ‘Direct Pain’ to the approaching Parasidoll.

However, it produced no change in the Parasidoll’s behavior.

“A miss!?”

Fumiya was becoming agitated.

At that moment, the two Parasidolls caught up with Fumiya.

One of the Parasidolls swinged her left hand. Right after, a thin steel string extended from inside her wrist.

Fumiya instinctively formed a physical shield.

The steel string was indistinguishable from the darkness, and it coiled around Fumiya from the top the shield.

The other Parasidoll carried a short, bifurcated spear. Between the tips of the straight blades that faced one another was a thin gap.

A flashing light appeared between the two blades.

The Parasidoll aimed the short spear at Fumiya, scattering sparks from the electric discharge.

Fumiya charged towards the steel string Parasidoll.

By shortening the distance, the steel string became loose.

The steel string that was entangled counterclockwise was brushed away by Fumiya with a clockwise air current.

Fumiya leaned his body to dodge the short spear approaching from behind.

In the next moment, the Parasidoll who sent out the steel string embraced Fumiya. Fumiya, who had just dodged the spear couldn’t do anything to avoid this.

The Parasidoll fell to the ground, still holding Fumiya in her arms.

Fumiya used ‘Direct Pain’ against the Parasidoll clinging to him.

But–,

As before, there is no effect.

(Does this have no effect against these guys!?)

Fumiya finally realized.

‘Direct Pain’ is a magic that directly attacks the mind by making the body feel pain.

From the start, the humanoid machines have no sense of pain, thus no pain can be dealt to the spiritual Information Body with ‘Direct Pain’.

Fumiya hit the ground along with the clinging Parasidoll. Inertia control was insufficient, as it only reduced damage enough to barely avoid bone fractures.

 “Fumiya!?”

Ayako’s frantic scream kept Fumiya’s consciousness from flying away.

Fumiya reflexively turned his eyes to Ayako.

Ayako was completely surrounded by three Parasidolls.

Her ‘Mock Teleportation’ doesn’t allow to slip through obstacles. She can’t escape with that.

In spite of herself being in danger, she anxiously called out Fumiya’s name.

“Out of my way!”

Fumiya was becoming agitated.

His mouth let out a shout.

Blowing off the Parasidoll clinging to him with an explosive Acceleration-Type Magic, Fumiya started running as he rose up.

“I said out of my way!”

He hit the face of a Parasidoll who was trying to stab him with a knife with his knuckleduster. This CAD’s main body is the gripped part and the part wrapped on his fist can be used as a weapon normally.

Fumiya did not pursue the staggering Parasidoll. A slashing repulsive force field was shot from the sides, which he avoided with quick movements and stopped with compressed air bullets.

Fumiya suddenly invoked Self-Acceleration Magic.

In an instant, he appeared behind one of the Parasidolls encircling his older sister.

At the same time he attacked with his right fist, Weight-Type Magic was invoked.

The repulsive force produced at that point destroyed the power supply unit inside the Parasidoll.

With the power supply cut off, the motor sustaining the machine’s body halted.

The Parasidoll violently shook and swayed, and then fell down.

With one corner of the circle destroyed, Fumiya hit the other two with a wind blast, making them walk back, and grabbed Ayako’s hand.

“Nee-san, we’re withdrawing for now!”

Turning around, Ayako noticed that the obstacles are gone.

She invoked ‘Mock Teleportation’ and both their bodies vanished from there.

The moment just before they moved, Fumiya felt like he heard Minoru scream.

Minoru recovered from his paralysis with the help of the parasite’s healing ability and turned his attention to the outside of the storehouse.

The battle is ongoing. That is to say the Parasidolls haven’t been annihilated. It seems the Parasidolls’ fighting abilities are a match for that magician just now, Kuroba Fumiya.

His objective today was to take the Parasidolls away, as they are valuable assets. Winning the battle here is unnecessary. Take advantage of the other person’s surprise as they concentrate on the fight with the Parasidolls and escape from the research institute with ‘Ghost Walker’. That was Minoru’s plan.

Minoru went towards the storehouse’s exit

But he was suddenly assaulted with a feeling of intoxication.

Was this the effect of ‘NOx Out’ from a little while ago? Minoru suspected so.

But he quickly realized it wasn’t so. This is certainly a symptom from the nitric oxide synthetized from ‘NOx Out’. However, this magic just now was invoked by someone other than Minoru.

An extremely small ‘NOx Out’ that limited its effect to the area around Minoru’s head. Moreover, he only sensed this complex magic when it was completed. Minoru only knows one person who has such finesse.

Minoru created a downward air current to blow away the nitrogen oxide and oxygen deprivation formed around him.

And he searched for signs of the caster who should be inside the storehouse.

“Ojii-sama!”

That person was standing just two meters away from Minoru.

He had got closer until then without being detected. Because of that fact, Minoru was shivering from humiliation.

“You didn’t perceive the magic until now...Disappointing. Really disappointing.”

Kudou Retsu’s behavior was as if he wasn’t in front of an enemy.

“I suppose this means I didn’t value you properly.”

Remorse. And deep sorrow.

“I couldn’t recognize your true value. I didn’t really understand what you wanted.”

It was like he was repenting.

“You were precious to me.”

“You were pitiable to me.”

“At least, I thought I had to protect you.”

“But...”

Retsu cut his words and turned his face up like he was looking at the sky.

It looked like he was trying to endure the falling tears.

“Looks like I was wrong.”

Wrong, this word also came out of Minoru’s mouth.

– It’s not Ojii-sama’s fault.

– Ojii-sama, there was nothing wrong.

But in the end, Minoru could not convey this to his grandfather.

He has not become a person qualified to talk with his grandfather. Such thoughts abruptly rose up inside Minoru and sealed his lips shut.

“You must have been a person who wished to earn some kind of recompense in life, instead of living a long life in a bed. To you, my love must have been nothing but restraints.”

“......”

“But Minoru.”

Retsu’s tone changed.

“I still can’t approve the current you.”

He understands and accepts his regrets. His repentance was decided.

“I can’t even recognize you, you aren’t even human anymore. I can’t overlook the existence of an evil spirit who seeks to harm the world of people.”

“Ojii-sama, I–!”

I have no intention of harming human society. He began saying so, but Minoru realized he had lost the qualifications to say it.

“The Ten Master Clans decided to capture you without killing you. But if you are imprisoned, a life as an experimental animal is awaiting you. That is too much for me to bear.”

Minoru’s heart received a mighty shock.

Minoru knew what Retsu was going to say.

“This is minimal mercy. Minoru, you will go to the netherworld by this grandfather’s hands.”

Lethal magic was released by Retsu.

Minoru’s human mind tried to accept it.

But his parasite mind refused to be destroyed.

Minoru suddenly regained his consciousness. No, maybe it’s more adequate to say that he regained his sense of reality.

It felt as if he was watching a dream as he stood up.

Outside the storehouse, the battle is still ongoing.

The time spent losing himself was not that long.

He looked around his body.

Here and there his clothes were torn and burned, but his wounds were mostly healed. The healing abilities of the parasite were still restoring his body.

He raised his eyes.

He moved them so they looked straight ahead.

In the dark storehouse floor, a shadow was collapsed.

Who is this? He twisted his head in that moment.

And in the next moment, he got his answer.

“Ojii-sama!?”

Minoru shouted and ran up to him.

He put his hand on Retsu’s body, which had fallen with its face to the ground.

However, as he rocked his shoulder, Minoru removed his hand.

He understood.

His grandfather was dead.

He killed him himself.

“Uwaaaaaa!”

Screams escaped from Minoru’s mouth.

Discord surfaces in Minoru’s heart.

With the sounds of his own heart cracking, one part of Minoru recognized that he didn’t care at all.

Minoru attacked the former Ninth Research Institute and left with 15 Parasidolls.

He left behind an injured researcher, a broken Parasidoll, a captured traditional magician and –,

The remains of Kudou Retsu.

“His Excellency Kudou died...”

Tatsuya got the news late at night in the same day, with a phone call by Fumiya.

“Yes...All this because I was worthless...”

“That’s not right Fumiya.”

Fumiya undoubtedly needed Tatsuya’s consolation.

Tatsuya’s words were what he desired.

Naturally, Tatsuya didn’t intend to offer words of consolation.

“You did well. Besides Minoru, you also dealt with a group of Parasidolls. Your withdrawal was inevitable.”

“...Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“...Thank you, Tatsuya-niisan.”

“Don’t worry too much about what happened to his Excellency. What happened between his Excellency and Minoru was, essentially, an internal problem of the Kudou Family. There is no need for the Yotsuba Family to feel responsible for what happened inside the Ninth Research Institute.”

“Yes...”

Afterwards, Tatsuya comforted Ayako who appeared on the terminal screen and then hanged up the phone.

As he received the phone call in his own room, Miyuki doesn’t yet know that Retsu has died.

It is already late today. It’s fine to tell her tomorrow morning.

Tatsuya postponed sharing it since he wanted to sort the information in his head.

Minoru seized 15 Parasidolls.

The fighting abilities of the Parasidolls is something Tatsuya knows well. Parasidolls that use their telepathy-like ability to share a single intention become tougher existences if they are in groups.

Even more, they have a parasite leader who has the same thought-sharing ability – Minoru.

He could predict it was not going to be an easy opponent without thinking too deeply.