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Chapter 6 
Minoru and Raymond's small cruiser was heading west through the Pacific Ocean at an average speed of fifty knots. The destination is Japan, as Tatsuya expected. 
While using "Parade" to hide the ship from the eyes and observation equipment on the ship, Minoru was creating a summoning tile. It is a black talisman used by Zhou Gongjin as a medium to activate the ancient magic of the East Asian continent. 
Zhou Gongjin's summoning tile magic is made by an engraved magical circle filled with cinnabar. The talisman is not made of paper. The engraving of letters and magical sigils are made on a thin talisman whose surface has been changed into graphite. Then mercury is poured into it, which reacts with sulfur by using magic processing to make cinnabar. Cinnabar is a magical component that is called "red earth" in Japan and is sometimes equated with "philosopher's stone" in Europe. 
Minoru was energetically working on creating a time-consuming summoning tile in preparation for the battle with Tatsuya. 
"Minoru." 
Called by Raymond as he entered the cabin, Minoru stopped engraving the magic circle, raised his face and urged Raymond to continue with his eyes. 
"There is no deviation in the route. The autopilot is operating normally." 
There are only two people on this cruiser, Minoru and Raymond. Everything concerning navigation is left to the machine. At this time, there is a risk of typhoons in the western Pacific, but neither of them cares at all. 
Rather than being carefree, this is probably the difference in consciousness between those who have magic and those who do not. If you are a high-level magician, some natural disasters are not a threat. Even if they can't prevent the disaster itself, they can do anything to protect themselves and the small boat they are on. Not to mention Minoru, who had the highest magical power among the Ten Master Clans, Raymond was not talented enough to be accepted on the Stars, but he has the ability to achieve top-class results in the high school's magician course. 
Since the two of them are parasites, it may seem trivial for them to thoroughly check the risks of disaster. 
"If nothing changes, we will reach Japanese waters on the 19th of the local calendar." 
"Raymond's lines did not include any tone of distress" 
"Is it nineteen days… Yeah, The worst-case scenario is likely to be avoided." 
Minoru nodded with a somewhat relieved look. 
The ship sinking is, of course, not the worst thing Minoru envisions. 
He is worried that Minami's treatment would not be concluded in time. 

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According to Minoru's calculations, the final treatment should have been needed two years later. 
However, because Tatsuya is looking for himself ? which is an unfounded, but correct, guess by Minoru, that the search was requested by Tatsuya ? Minoru misunderstood that the condition of Minami changed suddenly. 
Minoru has complete control over the parasites possessed by Minami as an emergency measure. If Minami's condition worsens, Minoru will know through the parasite that suppresses it. 
That is, if he is in the same country. 
The reason is unknown at this time, but the telepathy between parasites becomes incomprehensible once Japan's border is crossed. No matter how close you are, as soon as you cross Japan's border, you will be cut off. When Minoru tried it with Raymond, one was on the bow and the other was on the tendon on the same ship, as soon as the bow crossed the border of the territorial waters, the telepathy was cut off. 
To tell the truth, this is a phenomenon common not only to parasites but also to demons ? spiritual life beings. There is no definite answer as to whether those who are not deceased are affected by the "borders" that even the defined human beings tend to ignore. A strong hypothesis explains that the "border" was originally given the nature of a barrier to prevent disasters caused by the demons from reaching its own country. But he doesn't know whether it is true or not , because it cannot be confirmed by conventional experiments. 
Regardless of the reason, Minoru who escaped from Japan does not know the current state of Minami. Minoru didn't have the option of not returning to Japan to confirm Minami's condition. 
Speaking of options, Minoru's true intention was to enter Japan by air. He is impatient to return to Japan as soon as possible. However, Minoru and Raymond, who could not get the cooperation of the America military, so they could not prepare to falsify the immigration inspection at the airport. 
Three days left until August 19th, Japan time. By then, Minoru endured impatience by persuading himself that it is unlikely that Minami's condition would deteriorate enough to be lethal. 
 
The morning of August 16th. 
Tatsuya was receiving Hyogo's report in the entrance to the rooftop of a building, that is a secondary residence of Miyakijima. 
"Then, Hyogo-san, I will leave them in your hands." 
"Please leave it to me. Miyuki will arrive in Tokyo with the utmost care." 
Behind Hyogo is a small VTOL with a ducted fan built into the main wing, and Miyuki, Lina, and Minami are already on board. 
From today, Tatsuya and Miyuki will act separately. 
Since Tatsuya is now the technical guide for the stellar furnace, he cannot leave Miyakijima, where some of the plants have started operation. 
On the other hand, Miyuki had to return to Tokyo as the President of the First High's Student Council. Also, there is the fact of the Inter-School Matches between the nine schools being imminent. 
That's why They're going to split up. 
Hyogo gets into the cockpit and the electric motor lift fan VTOL quietly takes off. 
From the roof, Tatsuya waved his hand back at Miyuki waving hers through the window. 
It was noon when Hyogo returned to Miyakijima. He returned at this time because not only he sent Miyuki and the others to his home in Chofu, but also because he sent Miyuki and Lina to First High with the self-propelled car. 
He escorted Miyuki as per Tatsuya's instructions. The reason being, of course, to protect Miyuki, but there was another purpose in making Hyogo do it instead of the resident driver on the Chofu building. 
"Tatsuya-sama, I have retrieved the ordered items." 
Having said that, Hyogo had nothing in his hand. Instead, next to him was a figure in a maid outfit. 
[Master, please give me an order.] 

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The figure was Pixie, a 3H (Humanoid Home Helper), who had a parasite. 
Tatsuya had ordered Pixie to help the Student Council in the Student Council room. Pixie obeyed this order and did not move from the Student Council room. While having a parasite and the capacity to act on her own volition, she adhered to Tatsuya's orders. 
If it was Tatsuya himself who summoned her, it may be natural for Pixie to think that she will get some new work on his side. 
"First, take care of the housework." 
[Happily.] 
Pixie returned the said words with telepathy. 
This is not related to the fact that the 3H series was originally made to assist with household chores. The core of the idea of the fixed parasite to Pixie is the desire to "devote everything to Tatsuya", so Tatsuya's personal care must be the desire of the parasite integrated with Pixie. 
"And one more thing. If you detect the invasion of parasites, let me know." 
[Does that mean an invasion from abroad?] 
"That's right. I'll take the job of replenishing the consumed Psions." 
[Really!? I'm so happy…!] 
Pixie's body cannot produce psions on its own. Therefore, the psions consumed by the activity of the main body of the parasite must be replenished from an outside source. 
Due to the sequence of events leading to its birth, Honoka was the largest supplier of her psions, but Tatsuya said he would fulfil that role today's onward.So, Pixie was ecstatic. 
"That's it for now." 
[……As you wish, Master.] 
Even in ecstasy, she never missed Tatsuya's words, and Pixie bowed with a smile. Tatsuya had forbidden her to make facial expressions with psychokinesis, but Pixie was in enough high spirits to the point of forgetting it. 

 
August 19th, 10 am. 
"Minoru, were entering Japanese waters." 
Raymond calls Minoru's attention while looking at a nautical chart with GPS,. 
The fact that parasites can communicate with each other once they enter the border means that the parasites in Japan will detect Minoru and Raymond secret entry in the country. 
When Minoru left the country, there were no parasites left in Japan. It is unlikely that a new parasite has emerged in Japan. But if there is a parasite, if he doesn't disguise himself with Parade, they'll almost certainly find where he is. 
However, if he closes the parasite channel, he will not be able to find out how Minami is doing. Is Minami's condition worsened enough to require immediate attention, or is there still time left? It is a factor that will determine Minoru's course of action. There is no option to act without knowing the current situation. 
Minoru gave up that it was unavoidable that his entrance would be known. At any rate, he decided to instantly read the current state of minami and deploy a "Parade" without a break, and hide their whereabouts.. 
"Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven…" 

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Raymond was making the count down over the territorial waters to measure the timing. 
To Minoru it would be a matter of seconds. Fortunately, Tatsuya is not a parasite. Even if you keep Parasider watching for their invasion, there will be an unavoidable time lag in the process of receiving the report. Minoru's plan was to activate Parade before Tatsuya can activate the "Eyes of the Spirit" toward him. This way he will be spared from being discovered for the time being. 
"…Three, two, one, zero!" 
When Raymond shouts "zero", Minoru opens up his magical perception in an instant. 
Minoru killed Stars Zoe Spica at the Pearl and Hermes Base and magically captured and ruled a parasite that had escaped from the ashes of the burnt corpse. 
The chain of control was once broken when Minami crossed the border and entered Japan, but the magic that binds parasites has not yet faded. Minoru traced the magical branding signal, given as a sign of enslavement, to confirm the state of the parasites blocking Minami's magical calculation area. 
(Was it just unfounded worry?) 
Minoru was truly relieved. The parasite embedded in Minami remains completely inactivated, as it was when they parted ways up. 
The seal condition is also fine. 
It was too much to think that Minami's condition had suddenly changed. 
If you know that there is no reason to stay defenseless, you should not remain. Minoru immediately pulled himself together and carefully activated the "Parade" as planned. 
 
[Master!] 
A tense voice, reverberated in Tatsuya's mind. It was Pixie's telepathy, which he ordered her to use to report in case there is any change of the situation. 
"I'm sorry, doctor. I'll leave for a minute." 
Tatsuya was inspecting the construction process of the Stellar Furnace with the America Technical Team. While the technical lecture is over, apart from being the host, Tatsuya was just accompanying them. 
"I understand. Don't worry about us." 
At Tatsuya's notice, Abigail nodded happily without prying into the situation. As a technical advisor to Stars, she may be accustomed to sudden events. 
Tatsuya left the assembly plant and walked under the midsummer sun, taking out a small transceiver from his pocket and opened a call line to Pixie. 
"Did you catch a hold of it?" 
[I sensed the parasite waves on the western sea. I lost sight of it in an instant, but there is no doubt about it.] 
"Do you know the detailed position?" 
[Off the southeastern coast of Shima Peninsula] 
"In the Shima Peninsula…" 
At the end of June, Raymond Clark entered the country from the Kansai International Airport with a forged passport. Perhaps there is some kind of smuggling route around there. 

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If they enter from the Kii Peninsula inland, they would be in Minoru hometown. There would also be secret passages a stranger wouldn't be aware of. 
(That's because he can't rely on the Kudou family…) 
The Kudou family helped Minoru escape in the middle of last month. This time, they may go to Minoru's side again. But, if he tries to use the Kudou family, there is a probability that information about him will leak out. 
(It's not that I can rely on the Futatsugi family, but…) 
The home of the Futatsugi family is Ashiya. If he lands from Osaka Bay or the Seto Inland Sea, the Futatsugi family may be able to seize his whereabouts. 
(…Does he pretend to stop for now?) 
With that in mind, Tatsuya rejected the idea he had in mind. 
If the reason why Minoru returned to Japan is as Tatsuya thinks, he should come in contact from the other side. If he puts his hand out badly and withdraws to a hideout like Aokigahara Forest in Fuji, it will be a waste of time. Yakumo said, "I don't think you need to worry about it for now" but he doesn't know when Minami's condition will deteriorate. Waste of time is not desirable in this situation. 
"Continue to monitor in passive mode." 
[As you wish, Master] 
Tatsuya only ordered Pixie to do this. 
 
On August 20, Minoru and Raymond landed in Kobe. The destination is the mansion in Nankinmachi, where Minoru hid them when Raymond smuggled with Regulus last time. 
"Isn't this place known anymore?" 
Raymond, who was brought to the back of the mansion, asks anxiously. 
Minoru entered the mansion through the back door without any air of care. 
A servant, who remembered when Minoru showed his emblem of the head of the house before, welcomes Minoru and Raymond with a reverent attitude. Minoru left his luggage with his servant and settled down in a well-cleaned study chair. 
"The safest place on the battlefield seems to be the place where the last cannonball fell." 
Then he talks to Raymond, who has left his body in a wicker chair in the corner of the room. 
About ten seconds later, Raymond realized that it was the answer to his concerns in front of the back door. 
"Do you mean to outwit the belief that you can't come back to the hideout where your trace has been lost?" 
"I don't think the battlefield story I mentioned earlier can be relied on. I think it's okay for the time being. There were no police officers or magicians staking out, and I'm not going to stay here for a long period this time." 
Minoru turns his face out the window. 
His eyes were on the eastern sky. 
"That's right. I'm not going to stay long…" 
Minoru once again muttered, this time like a soliloquy. 

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