V22 P1

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CHAPTER 1





Yokohama, April 14, 2097, a branch of the Kanto Japanese Magical Association. The meeting, which brought together young people from the Ten Master Clans and Eighteen Assistant Houses, was completed before noon as planned.

It finished without any results.

 When the end of the meeting was announced, the first person who hurried to leave the conference room was Tatsuya.

 - Yotsuba-dono, please wait!

 But hearing a voice from behind him, he stopped and turned around.

 Tatsuya's name is not "Yotsuba". But he did not act like a child who ignored going to him for that reason.

 "What, Saegusa-san?"

 However, instead of the traditional style for the Ten Master Clans of the Saegusa-dono, Tatsuya responded to the ordinary Saegusa-san.

 To Tatsuya's question "what?", given with unconcealed impatience in his voice and on his face, Saegusa Tomokazu replied:

 - For those who visited, we prepared a modest meal after the meeting. Will Yotsuba-dono join us?

 Naturally, Tatsuya knew the schedule of the meeting.

- I'm sorry. I already said earlier that after meeting, I have an urgent matter.

 Indeed, when he left the conference hall, he stated that he had "one thing to do."

 "But it's not going to take much time ..."

 - Unfortunately, the tight schedule does not allow me to accept this tempting offer.

 Tatsuya could understand Tomokazu's desire to detain him. But he himself had his own circumstances. He did not do this to annoy Tomokazu.

 - Saegusa-san, all the best.

 - Shiba-sama. - Tatsuya, bowing to Tomokazu, this time the voice of a young woman called out.

 - Yes, what is it?

 She was an employee of the Magical Association. Upon recognizing Tomokazu, she showed slight indecision, but quickly restored the behavior of the official employee of the person.

 - A VTOL arrived on the roof to pick you up.

 - On the roof? I understand.

 He had not previously been informed that transportation would be sent for him, but he thought it would be faster to go and see than to think about it. Having once again bowed to Tomokazu, Tatsuya followed the employee.

On the roof, he expected a small VTOL with built-in rotary rotors in the wings. It was a small plane for 6 seats, not counting the pilot. Standing next to the plane, a young man in a double-breasted suit bowed courteously to Tatsuya.

 - Tatsuya-sama, here please.

 He had a very polite manner of speech. The use of the Tatsuya-sama greeting said that he was a Yotsuba man. They met for the first time, but Tatsuya knew who this young man was.

 - Pleased to meet you. As it seems, you already know, I am Shiba Tatsuya.

 - Oh, I sincerely apologize. My name is Hanabishi Hyougo. Humbly happy to meet you.

 Looking at the exaggerated gesticulation of the apologetic young man, Tatsuya mentally nodded. As he guessed, this young man turned out to be the son of Hanabishi the butler.

 Among the servants of the Yotsuba family, Hanabishi was the No. 2 ranked butler after Hayama. He was responsible for personnel and equipment for illegal activities related to combat operations. Tatsuya heard that his eldest son is being trained in the British PMC (private military company) under an assumed name, but apparently he has already returned from there.

 "Today I have an important role to play: bring Tatsuya-sama and Miyuki-sama to their place. First, I ask you to take a seat inside.

- I got it. I rely on you.

 Tatsuya unlocked the back door of the VTOL with the Yotsuba electronic key and went inside. It was a procedure for identifying a person. Not showing embarrassment that the door was opened in this way, but rather expressing a face showing that he is so used to it, Hanabishi Hyougo courteously closed the door behind Tatsuya.





 The manned VTOL landed on a helicopter pad located on the roof of a ten-story building, recently built in Tefu.

 The first three floors of this building were occupied by offices, and from the fourth to the tenth were living quarters. However, Tatsuya did not remember this building. It was unnecessary to say that it was not a destination.

 As soon as the turbines and the wind stopped, three people appeared from the penthouse. Two young girls and a woman who looked about 30 years old. Tatsuya first thought that landing on this building was for charging (this VTOL was on electric motors), but it turned out that he was wrong.

 Tatsuya opened the door from the inside and extended a hand to the girls to help him up.

 - Thank you, Tatsuya-sama.

The two girls were Miyuki and Minami. It was planned that they would wait for Tatsuya's return home, but apparently on instructions from the main house, they were brought here.

 - It's my pleasure. Have you been waiting for me for a long time?

 "Fifteen minutes." But the waiting room it was quite comfortable.

 It seems that this penthouse was a recreation area for users of this helipad.

- It's clear.

 - Tatsuya-sama. Thanks for waiting. - Tatsuya nodded in response to Minami. Entering the plane after Miyuki, she closed the door and said that you can go.

 "Hanabishi-san, please." - Nodding Minami's eyes, Tatsuya turned to Hanabishi.

 "Yes."

 Minami looked surprised, because she did not know Hyougo in person. For the return a few days ago in Yotsuba Hyougo, such a reaction as Minami was familiar. Even without introducing himself to Minami, he started the engines and started taking off.

  The small VTOL in which Tatsuya's group was flying did not fly directly to the hidden village of Yotsuba, but landed on a helicopter pad near the Kobutizawa railway station.

 - Here please.

 Hyougo led Tatsuya and the girls in the direction of the control building. Tatsuya thought that they would cross the building to a car that would take them to the main house. Under that assumption he was not mistaken, but the route turned out to be different. Instead of going through the control building to the road, they entered the staff elevator.

Gathering doubtful looks, Hyougo opened the door of the emergency control panel with an old-fashioned iron key. The elevator doors closed at the same time, as if on command. Behind the panel door was a biometric sensor. Hyougo put his right hand to it. After a brief pause, the elevator car began to go down.

 "We're going down a long way ..." With a little alarm in her voice, Miyuki spoke to Tatsuya.

 "We're heading for the floor, located 80 meters underground." - explained Hyougo. Immediately after his words, the elevator began to slow down. Soon the elevator car stopped and the doors opened.

 Leaving the elevator, they were in a large spacious room. In addition, an underground tunnel lit by an artificial light was visible. Nearby was a large-sized sedan car, looking very expensive and upscale. The driver's seat was empty. Hyougo opened the back door, and invited Miyuki and Tatsuya to sit down. Hyougo himself took the driver's seat, and, confirming that Minami had boarded the passenger seat beside him, led the car.

 "This underground tunnel leads directly to Honmour." Unfortunately, the view behind the window leaves much to be desired, but we will arrive very quickly.

 Monotonously passing lights of the artificial tunnel showed that this huge dark sedan rushed forward at a speed inaccessible on public roads. As Hyougo said, within ten minutes they reached the helipad to the main house.





◊ ◊ ◊





The Chiba family dojo was located near the border between Tokyo and Kawasaki. Among the students there were many people working on the weekdays, so on Sunday the dojo looked more lively.

 And on weekdays at noon, there were usually no students at all. Attending magic High School Erika was also a rare guest, coming only on weekends.

 After the loss of the eldest son of the family, Toshikazuu, and until now, the training in the dojo passed in a depressed mood. You can even say in a tragic atmosphere. However, with the arrival of Erika, the heavy atmosphere shifted a little towards improving the mood. After all, Erika certainly had a talent in raising the mood.

 And the two guys brought by Erika also had a role in the formation of the fighting spirit.

  - Oria-a!

 - Ghu-y!

 There was the sound of a heavy fall to the floor. Everyone looked in the direction of this sound and found a man with a long hair falling on his back and moaning. Before him stood a guy with a large build breathing heavily.

- Saburou, do you need to rest?

 - I can continue!

 Saburou jumped to his feet. He shook slightly, but with an effort of will he tensed and pretended that he had not suffered any damage.

 "Saijou-senpai, please, once again!"

 - Wow. - Answered Leo bent over in a bow at 90 degrees Saburou. -Saburou himself asks Erika. Can I continue?

 - Of course. I mean, keep going while you can stand up.

 Grinning, Leo looked at Saburou. He looked at Erika with a very serious face. Continuing to grin, Leo looked at Erika again.

 - "While you can stand" and treats me?

 - Show yourself in a bad light before a junior high school student.

 - Understood-understood.

 Leo shrugged, seeing that there was not a hint of a joke in Erika's voice and voice. Then, turning from a rack with a shinai in one hand he faced Saburou. Saburou instantly responded the same.

He had the same stance with a one-handed grip, but the weapons were different.

Leo's shinai was longer than usual, and played the role of an odachi.

 On the other hand, the Saburou's shinai corresponded to the length of the Wakizashi.

 The length of the weapon is not an undeniable advantage or disadvantage. However, an indisputable fact is also that for each combat style, the use of a suitable weapon is required. It is generally believed that a long weapon is well suited for a preemptive strike. And for users of short swords, the favorite tactic is to evade enemy attack and then approach them.

 However, this time the first who started to act was Saburou. He immediately went on offense with Leo.

 Naturally, Leo did not even have to simply watch the enemy in his thoughts. With a quick movement of his right hand, he slashed from top to bottom exactly at the moment when Saburou entered the zone of the long shinai.

 Saburou could not evade the blow being struck from the previously prepared position of the sword. Not only the speed, but also the power of this blow exceeded even the blow with the two-handed sword of an ordinary man, so he decided to parry the blow, helping the second hand.

 One hand against two hands. But despite this counterattack, Leo's stand was not broken for a single moment. Like the covering wave, the pressure of the sword swept over Saburou.

 Despite the fact that it was still a bamboo shinai, its heaviness from the long swing of Leo, began to push back Saburou who lost his balance.

And then a training sword the size of a knife suddenly attached to Saburou's belt came into motion by itself. Yes, Saburou did not abandon him. It broke out from behind Saburou's belt and rushed to Leo's face.

 Leo stopped the onslaught with a shinai and repulsed the knife with the base of the blade. However, the small knife that looked unreliable did not fall to the floor. Little, in comparison with the form of Leo's odeati shinai, the blade suddenly went in different directions and surrounded Leo from two sides.

 Yes. At some point, the knife flying in the air split into 2 parts. Leo's face tightened. Instead of knifing, he stepped forward. The distance became too short for the style of dressing. Even the most verified shinai movements will now be ineffective.

 However, this was not a kendo match. Although they have shinai in their hands, no one forces them to treat them like a real sword.

 Leo added his left hand to the grasp of his shinai, which he held only with his right hand. Now he held the shinai like a spear.

 Saburou, meanwhile, left the previous blow to the side. Rotating in the air the knives suddenly fell to the floor, like puppets, which cut the ropes.

 Nevertheless, Saburou's evasion shifted him too far. He came out of a point considered too close for the style.

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Finally, the time has come when the distance turned out to be ideal. Leo's warrior nature simply could not allow him to miss this moment.

 - Seiya-ah!

Leo swung the shinai from top to bottom. Saburou tried to parry the inevitable strike coming from the maximum possible distance. Standing on one knee, he threw up a short shinai over his head, holding it with both hands.

 Their fighting spirit was so blazing that the bamboo swords seemed real. The Odachi was approaching exactly in the middle of the wakizashi...

 And this blow overwhelmed not only the short sword, but also the body that he covered.

 Saburou fell down. Even though the blow was on the shinai, and despite the fact that most of Leo's blow went to the blocked shinai, he did a lot of damage.

 Leo looked at Erika with a guilty face. But Erika looked at Saburou with a stern, cold stare.

 - Heal, please.

 - Yes, Erika-Odzosan.

 A man of about thirty came running to them. Kneeling in front of the head of the lying Saburou, he activated his CAD.

After that, he put both hands on Saburou's forehead. Healing magic was activated. The big red lump on Saburou's forehead immediately disappeared.

 Healing magic was a technique that deceived the world, forcing it to believe that the target human body was not injured. The fake result manifested itself immediately. However, after a while, the world will notice that it was deceived. Therefore, before the effect of "Healing" disappears, a new "Healing" must be imposed. The essence of therapeutic magic is to maintain the cured condition until the real treatment is performed.

 In other words, after using healing magic, those on whom it was imposed can continue to fight, as if they did not receive any injuries at all, as long as the effect of healing magic is active.

 Saburou quickly woke up and stood up.

 - To stand.

 Rising, he tried to continue the fight. However, Erika's voice caused Saburou to freeze.

 "Yaguruma, that's enough for today." If you continue, the consequences can be disastrous.

 - ... I understand.

 Saburou, who did not have enough magical power to be considered fit for an escort in the Ten Master Clans, still had enough knowledge about magic, as he had an education worthy of serving a Mitsuya family. Therefore, he also knew the limitations of healing magic.

 - ...Many thanks. - Saburou turned to Leo and bowed.

Bowing to Erika, he lifted his leg slightly to take a step.

 - Wait. Why are you leaving? There is no need to rush so much.

 Erika readily read Saburou's intention. This reproach of Erika made him sharply turn his foot on the floor of the dojo.

 Erika motioned to him to understand that he wanted him to sit down. In order not to disturb other students, Saburou went to the wall and sat down on his knees. Erika sat in front of him in Japanese style, and Leo sat on the side in Turkish.

 "Yaguruma would have won if he had not stopped psychokinetic control."

 - Would it be a draw with simultaneous attacks? - Leo objected to the sudden withdrawal of Erika.

 - Simultaneous, you say? - Erika did not unequivocally deny it. - But your attack Yaguruma landed on the wakizashi. On the other hand, you did not have protection from Yaguruma's knife, did you? In this case, you would definitely bleed.

 Leo did not object, but he still did not look fully convinced. But Erika did not care anymore, and she turned to Saburou.

- It seems that Yaguruma thinks that his psychokinesis is useless, because it does not allow moving heavy things. Even a small blade weighing 100 grams can kill a person if you send it to a vulnerable point. There are very few magicians who know how to create object-directed barriers, and magicians who can maintain such protective magic for a long time are even fewer. Yaguruma's skill is effective not only as a deterrent. It can also be used as a weapon capable of inflicting a decisive blow. Here's what you need to understand first.

 - I understand.

 Saburou answered Erika immediately. However, Leo, who was sitting on his side, realized that this answer was rather reflexive rather than said with complete certainty. But it would be more accurate to say that Erika, who was sitting across from him, looking straight into his eyes, simply would not have allowed him to leave the answer.

 "Then do not understand, but believe." In your strength.

 Not having anything to say to Erika, Saburou clenched his teeth. Even without her words, he himself believed in his strength. He trained just because he believed that he had the strength to become a shield to Shiina. However, the brutal reality told him that this is not enough.

 Believing once again after belief already betrayed him. It was not an easy task.





◊ ◊ ◊





About an hour after leaving the Kanto branch of the Magic Association in Yokohama. Tatsuya arrived at the main house of the Yotsuba in less than half of the planned time.

 "Miyuki-sama, Tatsuya-sama, the lady is waiting for you." Please follow me.

 Only Tatsuya, who arrived in the main house, met Hayama himself. Hayama is the main servant in the hierarchy of the main house of the Yotsuba, and also the confidant of the head of the family, Maya. His presence was a way to show that the status of the heiress and her fiance are not just titles in words.

 Miyuki followed Hayama, Minami followed her. Hyougo followed Tatsuya behind him.

 With Minami everything is clear, but for Tatsuya it was unexpected that Hayama did not say anything to Hyougo. Was Hyougo only a simple escort who knew how to fly an airplane?

 Before he could ask this question, Tatsuya found out that they had come to the dining room. The same room where the candidates were gathered at the New Year's meeting, and where Miyuki was named the next head.

 Shibata Katsushige. Tsukuba Yuka. Twins Kuroba Fumiya and Ayako. They were the same faces present as at the New Year's meeting. However, unlike the previous time, the head of the Yotsuba family, Maya, was already in place.

 - We apologize for keeping you waiting.

- You are not late, so do not apologize. First of all, take a seat.

 Maya quietly responded to Tatsuya's apologies.

 "Thank you." I'm sorry.

 Tatsuya slightly bowed, and Miyuki followed him with a full bow.

 Tatsuya looked at Miyuki's place, thinking that it was necessary to push back her chair, but found it already prepared by Minami. Nodding to the eye of Tatsuya looking at her, assisted Miyuki.

 Hyougo put forward Tatsuya's chair.

 "Perhaps the head of the family regards Hyougo as a candidate for a personal servant for me?" - Such a thought came to Tatsuya's mind.

 However, now was not the time to be distracted by the reasons for Hyougo's presence. Tatsuya focused on Maya.

 Maya looked at Hayama standing behind her. In response to this, Hayama rang a bell in his hand, it was not clear from where it came from.

 No sooner had the echo of the ringing sounded, and, as if waiting in advance, the maid came into the dining room, pushing the cart before her.

 It was already late for dinner, but Tatsuya's group was called up to the main house without having had time to grab a bite.

 Before Tatsuya and Miyuki was arranged a variety of light snacks.

 More snacks are not given to anyone else, not even Minami. Although the girl behind Miyuki was sorry, but for her it would be an insult to her official duty if she started to eat here.

 Tatsuya, who understood this, with permission from Maya, started eating. Miyuki also followed the example of her brother.

Of course, they did not go away from talking, focusing on food. They participated in a conversation between Maya, Yuka and Ayako, periodically responding. Having finished eating, they waited until the dishes were cleaned, after which they felt that the atmosphere around Maya had changed.

 Tatsuya and Miyuki immediately straightened their backs.

 - So ... Now I'd like to hear about the events on Saikashin Island.

 - Good.

Tatsuya responded to Maya's request. He briefly summarized the events on the main island of Okinawa, Koumé Island, and also on an artificial island and its environment.

 - Agents of the Australian Army, Captain James J. Johnson and Captain Jasmine Williams, were eventually transferred to Miyakijima.

 "I've already heard about these two." Good work.

 Miyakijima is a small island formed as a result of underwater volcanic activity in 2001, the year of the snake, and was 50 kilometers east of the island of Miyakejima.

 The name Miyakijima [巳 焼 島] was derived from the original name of the neighboring island of Miyakejima [三 宅 島], which was recorded as Goyakidzima [御 焼 島], with the first character [御] replaced by [巳 (snake)], in honor of the year of the snake in which he appeared.

 It was also sometimes called the "New Island of the 21st Century," because it appeared in the first year of the 21st century.

 During the 20-year-old World War III, there appeared the base of the defense forces. However, due to repeated volcanic eruptions, in the 2050s the base was abandoned, and at the moment the island is used as a prison for magician-criminals.

With the assistance of Toudou Aoba, this island in fact became the private property of the Yotsuba family. In fact, the owner is a certain company engaged in real estate, however, through the chain of owners, the Yotsuba family holds the bulk of the shares.

 In other words, the Miyakijima prison is an object entrusted to the Yotsuba family that is designed to secretly isolate dangerous magicians. Maya has free access to viewing data about prisoners sent there. Tatsuya mentioned Johnson and Jasmine, because he personally accompanied them there.

 "Miyakijima?" Was it not planned to reconstruct it as a place for experiments? - Asked Shibata Katsushige. After Miyuki was declared the next head of the family, he decided to tackle the affairs of his branch family, and began to work in the Ministry of Defense. So he knew about some of the projects promoted by the Yotsuba family.

 - It's not a problem. Soon we are going to get rid of them.

 Hearing Maya's answer, Katsushige slightly frowned. Among the young people present at the table, this was the strongest reaction. But there was no one who didn't understand what Maya meant by the word "get rid". But despite this, not only Tatsuya and Yuka, but Miyuki and Fumiya listened to this with disinterested persons, as if they were saying "That's how it is?". And Ayako did not react at all to this part of the conversation.

- Head-sama. Miyakijima is the place where Miyuki onee-sama was trained in using Niflheim? So the object for experiments, being built there, will be designed to test large scale magic in the open air?

Ayako was interested in a new place for testing. As she said, during the high school days, Miyuki used the land of the island of Miyakijima as a training ground for the development of the Niflheim casting.

Then this island was considered just a prison for dangerous magicians. But only a small western part of the island was used for this purpose. Continuing underwater volcanic activity increased the area of the island from the frozen lava to 8 square kilometers. This is roughly equivalent to the Tokyo area, Kunitati. So there was plenty of room for practicing cooling magic over a wide area.

- Although this is not yet the final decision ... Okay, probably, you can already tell.

Maya seems to be really thinking, not trying to give the words importance.

- Are the buildings here very old?

Everyone, including Tatsuya, nodded in response to Maya's question. The equipment used by the Yotsuba family for the most part consisted of what was left of the Fourth Laboratory after World War III. Although preventive maintenance and repairs were performed on a regular basis, no one could deny that in general the equipment was out of date and incompatible with the modern era.

"However, just sorting out the existing equipment and replacing it with a new one will be very difficult.

This time, only Tatsuya and Katsushige nodded. Among the equipment received in wartime there were many rare components, of which replacements are almost impossible to find. Fears that after a complete update of the equipment some studies may be interrupted, were quite understandable.

- That's why I thought it would be better to build a new experimental facility on Miyakijima.

 "So you got the army's consent to abolish the jail entrusted to us?" Yuka asked. Unlike Katsushige, she was not informed about this plan.

 - Officially, it will still function for some time. Also, new facilities will be nominally called defense laboratories.

 - Would it be a problem that the so-called defense forces laboratories will in fact be the property of the Yotsuba family?

 - All the details are already negotiated.

It seems that, without considering it necessary to explain what kind of negotiations they were, Maya looked from Yuka to Tatsuya.

 "Better let's hear the continuation of Tatsuya-san's report." It seems that it was called " Gatekeeper". Tatsuya-san's magic that neutralizes magicians. Can it be used by other magicians other than you?

 "The sequence of magic still needs improvement, but magicians with a good predisposition to mental interference magic, in theory, will be able to use it right now."

 In addition to Maya, Yuka and Fumiya showed great interest. Among the living members of the Yotsuba family, these two had the highest abilities in mental interference magic. Although their skills were still inferior to their parents' generation, in terms of talent and potential, the two competed for 1-2 place among the whole family.

 - Could you translate it into code?

- I brought it with me.

 Coding created the description of magic through the activation sequence. In most cases, a new magic is created in the magician's imagination. At the moment, this is the biggest obstacle and bottleneck for those who want to share magic skills, because specialized skills are required to describe the magic algorithm in the form of an activation sequence.

 However, for Tatsuya to develop the code for the activation sequence of the new magic, there was no difficulty. Maya knew this, so she asked about the availability of the ready activation sequence.

 - I see. Will you transfer it later to Hayama-san?

 - Of course.

 - Yuka-san. Take a copy of the activation sequence from Hayama-san.

 - I understand.

 - I think further improvement of Gatekeeper can be entrusted to the Tsukuba family. Tatsuya-san, do you mind?

 - Of course, I do not mind.

 Tatsuya from the very beginning did not intend to keep "Gatekeeper" a secret. Because he knew that she could not hurt the magicians, who had an order of magnitude higher than the usual psion reserve, such as Miyuki and himself. He did not want to disclose it to everyone, but he intended to share it with the Yotsuba, at least.

 However, Tatsuya did not have a predisposition to mental interference. He used "Gatekeeper" with the help of his other ability. He himself was not suitable for working with mental interference magic. Therefore, the decision to leave further work on improving the magic to the Tsukuba family, which has many users of mental interference magic, looked reasonable. Thinking it over, Tatsuya nodded.

Only Fumiya had a slightly disappointed face, but apart from Tatsuya, no one else said anything. It seems that everyone decided that the events in Okinawa should not be discussed anymore.

 - So ... - After taking a sip of tea, Maya continued, changing the subject. - Further, I would like to hear details about today's meeting.

 - Of course.

 When Tatsuya's story reached the point where he mentioned that they wanted to make Miyuki an advertising face that would work on the image of the magicians to improve public opinion, an atmosphere of indignation began to build around Fumiya and Ayako.

 "Already many people treat us like friends. Is it not better, at last, to show the world its seriousness? "Yuka said sarcastically. The word "peace" used by her meant "magic world," that is, the world community of magicians.

 "Whether we like it or not, we do not need any unnecessary actions. Katsushige responded briefly to Yuka's words. Although he was thinking in the opposite direction, it was clear that his feelings were also hurt.

- Tatsuya-san, the Yotsuba family supports your decision. We simply ignore this and all subsequent plans trying to use Miyuki-san.

There was no irritation or anger in Maya's voice. However, there was no room for misunderstanding in her words.

- You are not even worried about a possible confrontation with the other 27 houses?

Even under the pressure of Tatsuya's difficult question,

- Yes.

Maya answered quickly and without hesitation. Perhaps Maya in advance foresaw the plan of Saegusa Tomokazu, that is, the Saegusa family.

- Can we just ignore it? - Asked Fumiya. It seems that he meant whether it would be normal not to respond with counter actions to attack opponents.

"Of course, we will not sit quietly if they attack us."

Maya's answer implied a ban on creating conflicts first. However, Tatsuya's behavior at today's meeting, where he refused to cooperate, fell under Maya's policy of ignoring it, because it was clearly provoked by the other side. You can even say that he was forced to do it by force.

- But do not relax. I think you understand that we are not invincible. It cannot be said for sure that a Yotsuba magician will absolutely always defeat the magician's of another family.

Although it was not read by face, it was not difficult to guess that everyone was thinking that "it's too late to say that". However, one could not say that in their minds there were no such arrogant thoughts as "we will never lose."

- Special attention should be paid to the families Juumonji and Tooyama. And also Kudo Minoru.

 Most did not understand what she meant. Only Tatsuya and Katsushige were not surprised by Maya's words.

 - Kudo Minoru ... Second-grader from Second High? Is he such a formidable opponent?

 "Last fall, he helped in Zhou Gongjin's case, and he is undoubtedly an enemy, demanding special vigilance. - Tatsuya answered Yuka's question. But he was surprised by the answer Katsushige, and not Yuka. He read the report on the case of Zhou Gongjin and knew about Minoru's cooperation. Indeed, there he was rated as a magician with high combat performance. Perhaps its danger at the level of Yuki or Fumiya.

 But Katsushige did not think that Tatsuya would lead him by the nose, saying that the enemy "requires vigilance."

 Nevertheless, he showed no doubts. Doubt in the abilities of Minoru means doubt in the words of Maya. If the first time you can still get forgiveness, but the second time you cannot wait for mercy. Katsushige could not have known this. But that's why his doubt was not lost, and firmly entrenched in his mind.

 - I saw the strength of the Juumonji family during the Yokohama incident. Does the Tooyama family have the same level of strength?

 It seems that Miyuki decided to change the subject to stop Katsushige, who at any moment could say something superfluous.

- The official line of research for the Tenth Laboratory is "magic with a large coverage area, creating virtual structures," but the real goal was to create magicians, which will be the last line of defense of the central government. The "products" of these studies, the Juumonji and Tooyama families, received combat power, placing them on a completely different level than the rest of the 25 houses.

 When Maya talked about 25 houses, it was not a mistake in her calculations. Among the 28 houses, the Juumonji, Tooyama and Yotsuba families were those they consider "different."

 - The last line of defense of the central government? Not the entire capital?

 From the published results of the Tenth Laboratory's research, one can easily remember the key phrase: "In case of emergency, the magicians of the Juumonji family will be the last line of defense of the capital." This means that if the magicians of the Juumonji family are on guard, they will be able to prevent even a direct attack on the capital. This was the basis of Miyuki's doubt.

 The magic of the multiple barriers of the Juumonji family is not very suitable against infantry, but manifests itself fully against mobile troops, aviation and missile weapons. Their powerful magic barriers boast of the power to stop not only artillery shells and large bombs, but also hypersonic missiles and even tactical nuclear weapons (although they are in fact prohibited).

There is no need to encircle the entire metropolitan area with a barrier. It is enough to form a barrier on the trajectory of the projectile's flight. If it's a bomb, then you can wrap it with a barrier that will absorb the explosion. And such accuracy, speed and strength are possessed by the magicians of the Juumonji family.

Their characteristics are enough to "protect the city from attack," so they can be called "the last defense line of the capital."

 However, Maya said that the real purpose of the Tenth Laboratory is "the last line of defense of the central government." If this is not just a play on words, then the magic that the Tooyama family possesses will be different from the magic of the Juumonji family.

 - Yes. It seems that Miyuki-san does not know. The magic of the Tooyama family is designed to protect people.

 "I did not know either." So, the magic of the Tooyama family is designed for personal protection?

 Asked by Yuka, Maya shook her head imperturbably.

 - Not personal. To protect a group of people, it creates for everyone an individual barrier. This is the magic of the Tooyama family.

 - Simultaneous targeting? Or is it a Multiple Casting?

 - I do not currently know such details. - With a smile Maya answered the question of the interested Fumiya.

 Tatsuya felt that further questions to Maya might turn out to be something bad.



 - I understood. We will interact with Juumonji, Tooyama and Kudo Minoru with extreme caution.

 He intervened in the ongoing conversation, bowing his head showing his consent. Perhaps Katsushige like Tatsuya, realized the danger so he did not continue to talk about the magic of the Tooyama family.

- And yet, is it really good to adopt a policy of one-sided confrontation? I cannot accept the plan to use Miyuki-san as an advertisement, but I do not think that completely refusing to cooperate with other families in the fight against anti-magic movement is a good idea.

 Instead, he expressed concern about the appointed policy of disobedience.

 - If there is nothing more, there will be no confrontation ... But cooperation is impossible, until the other side apologizes? Because they wanted to use the next head of our family. This is the limit.

Katsushige responded to Yuka's speech with a surprised face.

 "Yuka-san ... Why are you so belligerent?" Setting the conditions is, of course, good, but when it comes to isolation, the balance will clearly not be in our favor.

 - Is it true? - Those who expressed their disagreement with Katsushige's rather judicious opinion were Fumiya, not Yuka. - Isolation from the whole of society is undoubtedly fatal. However, will isolation only from the society of magicians somehow harm us? Moreover, the conversation is about the problem of isolation only within the framework of the 28 houses, which are only a small part of the magical community. There is no reason to be afraid of such isolation.

 Fumiya's arguments proved to be compelling. It seems that this was the thinking of a young inexperienced person when unnecessary details were discarded.

"Society", which provides the Yotsuba family with the products of civilization, is indispensable. And the magical skills necessary for their existence, like magicians, they have enough of their own. The Yotsuba family had the power to defend itself only by themselves, even in the event of a conflict with the Stars from the USNA, which have a reputation as the world's strongest magician unit.

 "In case of emergency, even if it comes to total war with other Numbers, all the forces of the main and branch families should be thrown to the support of Tatsuya-san and Miyuki-san."

 "My instructions do not change." Completely ignore all plans for turning the next head into an idol. In case of an attack, you can answer at your discretion.

 It is unclear whether she supported the last utterance of Fumiya, but with these words, Maya put an end to the discussion of this problem.





◊ ◊ ◊





 His shoulders rose and fell to the beat of his heavy breathing. The legs almost did not obey and could hardly stand on the floor. However, the light of fighting spirit has not yet extinguished in the eyes of Saburou standing in front of Erika. These eyes were not looking with malice. They just watched.

 Erika's lips curved in a smile. And the next moment her silhouette disappeared. The image of the knife fell from Saburou's belt.

 A dull sound was heard twice to the left of Saburou.

 Starting to move to the right, Saburou turned to the left. A wooden sword with a length of wakizashi, which he held in his right hand, he exposed in front of his face.

Erika's wooden sword touched the wrist of this right hand.

 - Well, it's much better than before.

 After Erika lowered her wooden sword, Saburou also left the fighting stance.

 There was no pain from the received impact. After fights began with Leo, a long training with Erika was only now completed.

 This could be called an additional occupation. Erika tried to attack at a level of strength just slightly above Saburou's skills, and Saburou, using his psychokinesis, tried to slow Erika's moves and get a chance to counterattack. And this has been repeated many times.

 Since he did not receive any real blows, there was also no need for medical magic. However, he had to constantly move all this time, so now all the muscles of his body ached from spasms.

 "Okay, we'll finish up for today." I will not tolerate negligent work.

 - ... Thank you very much!

 Because of fatigue, the language of the bowed Saburou twisted, and his words sounded like "Spa ... shoee."

 When he lifted his head, Erika had already disappeared from the dojo. It looks like she went to the shower.

Saburou's body collapsed to the floor, as if he had been paralyzed. Leo seated in the vicinity, looking at the half-chilled Saburou, thought about Erika.

 The training that Erika appointed Saburou was not her style at all. Leo could not tell what was going on, but it was clearly different from the approach to his training technique "Usub Kagero."

 Erika took Saburou's help very seriously. She wanted to give him the power, not skills.

 At least, so it seemed Leo.

 And this, in Leo's opinion, was not in the style of Erika.





 Leo came to the Chiba dojo, because he was asked to become an opponent of Saburou in training. Leo himself believed that it was rather "forced", rather than "asked." Therefore, since Saburou's training ended, he no longer had any reason to remain here. Leo said goodbye to Saburou who was still unable to get up, and went to the shower room for the dojo pupils.

 The last time Leo was deceived and he came across Erika in the bathroom. At that time, the compensation for seeing Erika's body wrapped in a towel was such that, compared to her, the cauldron in hell would seem like a cool bath. Although he thought that he was lucky enough to get rid of it easily, he swore to himself that "the second time it will never happen again."

In the distant past, the dojo adhered to the rules of "taking a cold bath when sweating," but in the present era, a modern hot shower is simply irreplaceable. The huge Chiba family dojo has a shower room, where there are ten fully enclosed shower cabins in a row.

 The problem is that there is no division for the male and female parts (and most of the students are men), but there is no reason to worry about spying, since the cabins are locked from the inside, and there is enough room to change. In addition, women were allowed to use the bathroom of the main building, so the shower room of the dojo in fact was used mostly by men.

 Only one booth was occupied. Not caring about this, Leo walked into the next booth with a bag of change clothes in his hand.

Without much fuss, in automatic mode, it took him about three minutes. Just standing, smeared with all the universal liquid soap-shampoo and quickly washed off the sweat. He massaged his hair with his fingers, and while washing his face with his hands, the rest he left to the shower machine, thereby he quickly finished taking a shower.

 But the automatic shower cabin was only in the washing of the body. Drying off and changing clothes were also necessary. Having included these actions in the total calculation, he left the shower cubicle 5 minutes after entering.

 On the opposite side of the shower walls was a mirror, and next to it was a simple dressing table. Leo usually just wiped his hair, but today he suddenly wanted to use a hairdryer.

Now he was in a T-shirt and shorts. The jacket remained in the locker in the dojo. Now, in the middle of April, on the street in this form it will be pretty cool, however here, in the shower room it was warm, because the air conditioner worked.

 Perhaps, because of the relaxed atmosphere, he succumbed to the temptation. Standing in front of the mirror, he strained his biceps. The kind of strong hand was enough to satisfy the pride of the young guy.

 Feeling better, Leo, who had only strained his right hand, added a left to her. He puffed out his chest and bent his elbows over his shoulders and stood in the most famous pose, called "Double biceps in front".

 Then he put his hands on his waist, and straightening his shoulders, stood in the pose "Wide back muscles in front."

 The developed latissimus muscles of the back formed the shape of an inverted triangle (the shape of the letter V).

 Then, slightly bending forward, taking his fists slightly forward from the waist, straining at the same time the muscles of the arms, chest, shoulders and neck, this was the "Most Muscular" pose.

 Leo returned to the original pose with one right hand raised, looked at that hand and sighed contentedly.

 - ... What are you doing?

 - Ueeaa !?

 Leo, who had lost his alertness, did not notice Erika reflected in the mirror until she spoke.

- Yes, and took a hair dryer.

 Leo, who was flushed, hurried to turn away. In addition to the thought that he was found in this shameful activity, there was something else.

 - T-why are you in this form !?

 Leo simply could not look directly at the reflection of Erika in the mirror in such an unseemly appearance for a girl.

 She was wearing a T-shirt, the length of which was barely enough to cover her breasts. And from below there were only short tight shorts, covering the legs only slightly at the base of the thighs. The slender waist, arms and legs, as well as the skin on the top of the chest (so called "décolleté zone"), reddening from the rush of blood, were completely naked.

 "Ha-ha?" It's a normal look when you get out of the shower. All the necessary clothes are on me.

 - E-this I understand! N-But why are you here ...!?

 - Why not? I was too lazy to go to the main building.

 Saying this in a tired voice, Erika sat on a stool next to Leo and held out her hand to the fan.

 "Well, do not you want to dry your hair quickly now?" It looks like your wonderful behavior has already subsided.

 - N-no, I, perhaps, I'll go!

 Leo threw the hair dryer in a sharp movement, quickly turned and walked towards the exit from the shower. Seeing the departing Leo, Erika shrugged her shoulders. Having finished drying her hair, she threw a robe over her T-shirt and shorts and went to the extension, which plays the role of her room.





◊ ◊ ◊




 At a meeting that continued with tea drinking, the theme of Tatsuya's report flowed into the story of a magical attack that was supposedly "Tuman Bomba."

 - That is, even Tatsuya-kun could not recognize the user of this magic?

 - Yes. - Tatsuya confirmed Katsushige's guess.

 "But if this magic was "Tuman Bomba, "then ..." Katsushige thought for a moment, then expressed his thoughts. "... This means that the New Soviet Union has really begun to implement the ultra-long-range auxiliary targeting system in practice."

 - Auxiliary targeting system in ultra-long range ... Like the Third Eye, used for the Material Burst?

 Katsushige nodded to the inquiring Yuka.

 "Although, because of the supposed properties of this magic, the accuracy of aiming, like the Third Eye, is not needed." On the other hand, it seems to me that the computing power of just one magician will not be enough to compute the copying of an infinite number of magic sequences, changing the values of variables for simultaneous activation. I think they use a complex system that includes a large computer that helps with calculations.

After the first sentence, the rest he spoke, turning to Maya.

 - Really. Tatsuya-san, what do you think?

 "I think that's a reasonable assumption." Moreover, when using a large CAD that has such integrated functions that allow all variables to be preliminarily entered into the activation sequence, the load on the magician must be heavily reduced.

- That is, the magician will only have to count the ready activation sequence?

 - Even reading the activation sequence can be automated.

 - Does all this really reduce the burden on the magician? - Yuka expressed her doubt about the discussion of Maya and Tatsuya. - After all, if magic is activated by automated reading of the activation sequence, then the magician can get into a situation when the finished magic will exceed his capabilities?

 - Magic, beyond their abilities, simply will not activate. Although, if you use the "Sorcery Booster", then, perhaps, it will. - There was no hesitation in the voice of Tatsuya responding to Yuka.

 - Speaking about the amplifier, did you mean " Sorcery Booster", which was distributed by the Hong Kong mafia? Was not the organization that produced them destroyed?

- This does not mean that the manufacturing method was lost. Well, all this of course is just guesses.

 - That's right.

 It seemed that Yuka still wants to say something, but the tone of Maya's response made her retreat.

 - I'm also interested in how this magic works, but there is a more urgent question ...

 Finishing her sentence, Maya looked at Miyuki with the question "Is it interesting, did she understand?" in the view. Perhaps there was some teaching lesson for the next head.

 "I think the most urgent task is how to protect ourselves from magic, which is supposedly "Tuman Bomba. "

 Fortunately, Tatsuya had already told her about it last night, so Miyuki was not troubled to answer. Maya nodded in satisfaction. She did not know that Miyuki's answer was actually overheard from Tatsuya, or she did not care that you can get answers by fraud.

 "To begin with, let's put aside the question of whether the magic that generates a detonating gas and explodes it is a Tuman Bomba." How would Miyuki-san defend herself against this magic?

 About this Tatsuya also gave her a lecture, only on the way here on VTOL, not last night.

- If you can predict the activation time, then I think it can be stopped by the "Freeze Flame". But to catch the right moment is a rather difficult task ...

 "Freeze Flame" is magic that prevents a fire, keeping the temperature of the target object below a certain level. Even if the "Tuman Bomba" magic combines hydrogen and oxygen without application of heat, the synthesis still releases heat, which can be stopped by the "Freeze Flame", which is precisely designed to prevent heating.

 - Understood. What about Katsushige-san?

 - Hmm ... I think, depending on the scale of the attack, I can get by using the "Density Manipulation" to isolate the oxygen from the hydrogen immediately after their creation, thereby causing an error in the logic of the attacking magic and forcing it to fail activation.

 - What does Fumiya-san think?

 "I think I will not be able to do anything other than trying to protect myself with a barrier, but my sister's "Perfect Diffusion" will probably be able to prevent the activation of the magic.

 One by one, the so-called detoxification facilities gradually created an optimistic atmosphere.

 - It is theoretically possible to neutralize with the help of "Density Manipulation" and prevent activation with the help of "Perfect Diffusion", but ...

 At this point, Tatsuya intervened with criticism.

 "As Miyuki said, the main problem is whether the moment of activation of the enemies magic can be guessed. This high-speed distribution of magic sequences by copying, I for convenience called "Chain Casting". I believe that it will be quite difficult to have time to call up your magic before the end of the call of enemy magic.

- However after all this, supposedly Tuman Bomba requires water on the whole area of the attack zone? On the sea or the lake everything is clear, but on land it is necessary to create first a fog or a puddle of water? I think, in this case, to some extent it is possible to predict the attack in advance.

 This time, Yuka spoke in an unexpectedly serious tone. However, Tatsuya refuted these arguments without saying anything superfluous.

 "If I were the user of that magic, I would just wait for a rainy day." We are in Japan, not in the desert in the Middle East. Finding the opportunity will be easy.

 Yuka only shrugged her shoulders. Tatsuya could not understand whether she expresses any meaning in this, or does not think about anything at all. He only worried for a moment, and decided to give up thinking about it.

 - Chain Casting copying is extremely fast. If the right moment cannot be precisely determined, it is better to be protected by barrier magic if possible.

 When the words "Barrier Magic" sounded, the views of all those present, except Tatsuya and Miyuki, involuntarily rushed behind Miyuki's back. Standing there and kept silent all the time Minami cringed under the gaze of five people.





◊ ◊ ◊




After returning home and entering his room, Leo immediately went to the videophone. He could not get rid of the thoughts that haunted him all the way home, and could not suppress the desire to talk with someone.

 After a long call waiting, an image appeared on the screen of the videophone. There was an interior of the room in Japanese style. Given that the owner of the room is a schoolboy, one could call it "a study room," but because of the availability of bookcases that reach to the ceiling and are completely stuffed with paper books unusual for this time, this room was more like a "library."

- Leo, a call from you is quite a rare occurrence. - Mikihiko said from the screen of the videoconference.

 - Oh, Mikihiko. Did I interrupt you?

- ... Did something happen?

 Seeing Leo's unusually depressed expression, Mikihiko also changed in the face.

 - Yes, I wanted to hear someone's opinion on one issue ...

 The atmosphere of seriousness was transmitted even through the display. However, at this point something completely unexpected happened.

- Yoshida-kun, in the bathroom ... Ah, I'm sorry.

On the side of Mikihiko, the microphone caught the girl's voice calling from far away (possibly from the entrance to the library). But that was not all. At the very edge of the display, partially appeared the figure of a girl who looked in the doorway, in which Leo recognized Mizuki.

- Excuse me! I interrupted you!

- Wait! Leo, you're wrong! You've misunderstood everything!

The panicking Leo trying to turn off the video, he tried to stop the even more panicky Mikihiko.

"... I do not know what I misunderstood." I do not think you called to your house to do something n-indecent.

- Wh-What does it mean n-n-indecent !?

- N-well, that's it. Between a man and a woman ...

- I would not do anything like that! I would not be so rude to Shibata-san!

- Yes, I said that I do not think you did it!

- Yoshida-kun, did you say something about me ...?

Mizuki reappeared at the door at a time when the confusion between Leo and Mikihiko reached the limit. However, unlike the previous time, not only Mizuki appeared on the screen.

- Mizuki-and, for a long time?

This time, Mizuki did not just look in the room, and entered her, and behind her was another girl.

Leo remembered the face of this girl. It was his classmate who is a member of the Arts Club.

- Ah. Yoshida-kun is talking on the phone. Then we will postpone the work on the ice sculpture and do something else. Because there is not much time left.

 This schoolgirl took Mizuki's hand and dragged her along.

 - ... I suppose that other members of the art club also came? - Waiting until the girls disappeared from the screen, Leo asked.

- That's right. Shibata-san and I are not alone here alone. So do not say stupid things.

 "Did he mean that something could happen if they were only two?" - Thought Leo. However, he decided that continuing to talk about it would be rude.

 - Sorry.

- ... Come on. Tell me, what did you want to hear about my opinion?

 Leo felt relieved that his misunderstanding did not turn into a conflict, and the conversation returned to the original theme. And then he remembered why he even called.

 - Yes. The problem is not that big, but ...

- I'm listening.

 - Have you noticed Erika's strange behavior lately?

- Erika? What happened?

 - Not that something with it was radiant ... You see, today Erika called me to the dojo in her house.

- To the dojo?

 - Yes. And she says this: "I want you to help me with one first-grader." I was supposed to help Erika in training the technique of "Usub Kagero," and to look at the first-grader who liked her was interesting too.

- Erika attracted by first-grader ... Likely you are talking about Yaguruma-kun?

 - Mikihiko, do you know about Saburou?

- I saw him a little after the ceremony ... And indeed, there are rumors that Erika trains Yaguruma-kun. And what's wrong?

 "It feels like Erika ... well, somehow is too hard on training.

- ... Yes, this is unusual for her.

 Mikihiko, who knows Erika's approach to training "you want to learn technique - do it yourself," was slightly puzzled by these words of Leo.

 - In my case, it can be said, there was also an exception. But Saburou's teaching is even fundamentally different from mine. From the very first glance, it is felt that this is not a learning technique, but an attempt to become stronger.

- This is really ... not like Erika.

 The face of the viewer from Mikihiko's screen became serious. Knowing him for a long time, Leo knew that this betrays his strong sense of alarm.

 - ... And then, after that, I came across her in the shower room.

- ... And?

 Trying to speak, suppressing indecision, he created a long pause in the conversation. And Leo and Mikihiko did unnaturally serious faces.

 "I meant the shower room of the dojo. The one that students usually use.

- ... Yeah, I get it. And what?

 - After the shower, Erika went out in short T-shirt and shorts. With a naked stomach, just like in a swimsuit.

- Leo, this sounds quite safe ...

 My whole body was trembling, and it was not shaking with excitement.

 - Mikihiko, do you also think so?

- Uh, what are you talking about?

 Seeing Leo's suddenly serious expression looking straight at the camera, Mikihiko rounded his eyes and froze in that form.

- I'm not talking about the fact that I saw her naked or in one underwear. And about the fact that it's not strange that she did not care that a guy saw her figure, covered only in a couple of places, after she came out of the shower? Was it pretending, did she really care?

- It's ... more like your misunderstanding, Leo. Erika herself said that for her this situation is normal?

 - I think so too. That's why it's strange.

- ......

 Mikihiko could neither confirm nor disprove Leo's remark. Because he realized that the situation could be much more serious than he first thought.

 "Is she overextending herself too much?" After the death of her older brother, she looked calm, but it seems, in fact, she is very hurt?

- I think so, but ... Are you saying this has something to do with the current state of Erika?

 "It's just a guess, but ... Is not it like she wants revenge?"

- Revenge ... For Toshikazuu-san?

 Leo silently nodded in response to the question of Mikihiko.

- But to whom? After all, the criminals responsible for the attack in Hakone who killed Toshikazuu-san are already dead?

 For the rest of society, the search for those responsible for the attack in Hakone is still underway. However, the lost the eldest son of the Chiba family was partially revealed the truth. Leo and Mikihiko also were briefed on the incident, except for classified information.

 "Is not it ... Tatsuya?"

- Uh ...?

Hearing this completely unexpected opinion, Mikihiko lost his speech. However, immediately taking himself in hand, he began to deny.

- Tatsuya is not to blame. Perhaps, those who stopped Toshikazu-san were Tatsuya, but ... it was he who freed Toshikazu-san from the dark magic. The people of the Chiba family should be grateful to Tatsuya.

 - Mikihiko, this is the reason. Emotions are in fact what constantly goes against the mind?

 Mikihiko again could not find anything to say.

 "However, I do not think Erika wants anything, like Tatsuya's death."

- Do not say such dangerous words ...!

 - Sorry sorry. I wanted to ask you if Erika would do something so self-willed. What do you think? In any case, in our company, you've known her the longest.

- Willfully ...?

- Well, you understand me ... I mean, she wants to defeat Tatsuya at any cost. Even so much that he rejects her femininity, if only to stun him.

- ... Are you exaggerating? - Mikihiko muttered with a shocked face. But then he shook his head.- I believe that she did not think about such extreme measures, but ... and to say that our fears are totally unfounded, too.

 Leo looked silently at Mikihiko from the screen of the videophone.

- Let's watch Erika for a while.

 - Yes, that's right.

 Having said this, Leo smiled unintentionally and shrugged his shoulders.

 - Well, if Erika is going to use me for something, then I have no particular choice.

 A small smile appeared on the face of Mikihiko that was displayed on the screen.

- Yes, you are a good couple.

 - Stop it.

 Leo frowned, as if he thought something unpleasant.





◊ ◊ ◊




Minoru, invited to the house of Saegusa, in addition to a late lunch, was also invited to dinner.

 - I sent a message to your onii-san.

 - Many thanks, Mayumi-san.

 - We can also provide a helicopter for delivery home.

 "Thank you, Kasumi-san." I'm taking you up on your word.

 Saying this, Minoru looked shyly around.

 "What is it, Minoru-kun?" Do not worry.

 "No, nothing ... Izumi-san, is your father at home?"

 Laying the table has already been completed. The dishes were prepared for four: Minoru, Mayumi, Kasumi and Izumi. The place of Koichi was not prepared. Koichi did not show up for lunch either. Minoru is not that I wanted to talk about something with him, but thought it necessary to at least greet him properly.

 - It seems that he went somewhere without telling anyone anything.

 Minoru answered the question not by Izumi, which he asked, but by Mayumi, having previously specified from the servants.

- They seem to be having dinner with my older brother together outside the house. I'm sorry that I will not be able to greet you.

 - No, it's worth it to apologize. I should have welcomed you when we first arrived.

 "As Izumi-chan has already said, you do not have to worry about such things." Because Minoru-kun is our guest.

 "Haha ... thank you very much."

 Minoru relaxed slightly. He laughed because it was rare for him to relax in this way. Usually, Minoru's daily life is full of tense moments.

 Outstanding magical power and a weak body, which constantly drives him to bed, gave Minoru pain that he could not live up to his expectations. His exceptional intellect and even his beauty, mercilessly piercing the eyes of other people, exerted strong pressure on him.

 Despite the presence of talent. Despite the availability of abilities.

 Only a weak body prevents him from fulfilling his duties. These are the thoughts of Minoru himself that pushed himself into a corner.

 I cannot perform the duties that must be performed.

The feeling of guilt for this made Minoru adopt a lifestyle with uncertain behavior towards the surrounding people.

 He was able to relax in the company of the Saegusa sisters because they were not worried about his beauty.

 Minoru was surprised and grateful that they looked at him as a friend, for the first time after seeing him for a long time.

 Although they had behaved this way before, but until now it was not natural. He could not understand why. For him it was not clear that the reason was that they were accustomed to the even more perfect beauty of Miyuki.

 It was inevitable. After all, Minoru was first impressed by Miyuki as an "outstanding magician", and beauty was secondary. In addition, it was because people close to Miyuki also showed an interest in Minoru's appearance.

 In this regard, Minoru recalled "the girl next to Miyuki, looking at his face."

 A slight smile surfaced on his face as he remembered how the blushing Minami ran away from him, lying in bed. Remembering her, he did not feel any discomfort.

 The views of the opposite sex directed at him for Minoru were oppressive and overwhelmingly gloomy. It was always like this, but, remembering Minami, he felt warmly.

 She seemed sweet to him, charming. Minoru had such feelings for the first time.

- ... Minoru-kun, what happened? You are noticeably cheerful.

 - Oh, I'm sorry. I remember something pleasant ...

 Minoru's cheeks slightly reddened. He was embarrassed by the possible ambiguous meaning of his smiling face, which the girls saw.

 "At such moments, Minoru looks like an ordinary boy. Kasumi said with a smile. To hear from these sisters say that he was "ordinary" for Minoru was a refreshing taste of a sense of comfort.





"... By the way, have the wounded students already recovered?"

 Dinner began with innocuous topics, however, unfortunately, it was not possible to finish with secular conversations alone. Because it had bothered them ever since they heard, and they had to be sure. Mayumi asked about the condition of the Second High students who were seriously injured as a result of the "Humanists" attack on their way home from school.

 - Fortunately, there were no difficulties, all of them have completely recovered.

 - Thank God ...

 Izumi sighed with relief. She was also attacked by fanatics from the anti-magic movement, although she herself did not suffer. So the sufferings of the pupils of the other school were not alien to her.

- And what about the "Humanists"? The charges were not pursued?

 Minoru smiled with restraint when he heard Kasumi's question.

 "That's all right." Taking into account the serious injuries, it was concluded that the use of magic was justified.

 - Well, it was quite natural. By the way, were the attackers arrested?

 If the self-defense of students of Second High was recognized as legitimate, then all severity of the prosecution was to be transferred to the "Humanists". Under the intense gaze of Kasumi thinking so, Minoru's expression took on an apologetic look.

 - The attackers ... were diagnosed that their mind was clouded with drugs, and as a result they were aquitted.

 - How so! The pupils of Second High suffered greatly from their actions! Is it justified by insanity to apply to such serious crimes!?

 "... I've also heard a couple of conversations." Since the pupils of Second High are magicians, they should not be badly injured from attacks by ordinary people. In fact, there are no complications from injuries, so it was not a serious crime ... that's the case.

- What now, if the victim is a magician, then the criminal is not to blame !?

 "Are you saying that laws apply to us magicians, and ordinary citizens unequally?" - Izumi in a voice besieged with sarcasm, exploded in the wrath of Kasumi. This argument of the sister had nothing to refute not only Kasumi, but also Mayumi.

 - You're right.

 Minoru also agreed. More precisely, on this occasion he resented even more Izumi.

 - If it were so, the coexistence of people and magicians would be impossible.

 But Saegusa' sisters did not hear this whisper. If they found out about his despair about this, then in the future it could deliver some problems ...





◊ ◊ ◊




 Tatsuya's group returned to Tokyo at 8 pm. The place of return turned out to be the roof of the building in Tofu, on which they met the day on the way to the main house. From the small VTOL, six came out: Tatsuya, Miyuki, Minami, as well as Katsushige, Kotona and Kanata.

 - Tatsuya-sama, on this I have to say goodbye to you.

 - Thank you very much, Hanabishi-san.

 "These are undeserved words." Please call me Hyougo. Now, I beg your pardon, I will wait for our next meeting.

 Tatsuya did not ask Hyougo which meeting he had in mind, but only escaped the departing VTOL.

 - Tatsuya-kun, Miyuki-san.

 Hearing the voice of Katsushige, Tatsuya turned around. Miyuki looked at Katsushige with caution.

 - Have you two heard about this building?

 Neither Katsushige, nor Kotona, nor Kanata showed any concern with the suspicion read in Miyuki's glance. Katsushige asked the question in a formal, polite tone.

- I can assume that this is the property of the Yotsuba family, but ...

 With a face expressing that the answer is only partially correct, Katsushige nodded at Tatsuya's answer.

- This building was built to move the headquarters of the Yotsuba family to Tokyo.

- Earlier I was wondering if such a plan exists. It seems there is.

"The whole living area will be occupied by Yotsuba's people." The apartments will also be used as temporary accommodation for battles participants.

- Clear. That's why the structure of the building resembles a fortress.

This building was located in the middle of a large undeveloped site. It is not difficult to guess that this site played the role of a "serf trench" and was stuffed with a large number of protective systems.

The office part up to the third floor had absolutely no windows, and its lighting was organized by a fiber-optic structure. Residential areas, located from floors 4 and above, instead of windows for the most part had balconies, so it was difficult to see the interior from outside.

Completely covering the top floor and the roof, the protective fence was installed not to protect it from falls, but to protect it from outside penetration. Instead of the blinds on the windows, armor plates may be provided.

- We too will soon move here.

 - It's clear.

 Katsushige's words were not unexpected. They did not just build it all. To grant the residence to the next head of the branch family is reasonable in many senses.

 "Tatsuya-san, you will also move here."

 However, Kotona's words which continued beyond Katsushige, were unexpected.

 - But there is nothing to worry about, because a complete replacement of the training equipment is already under way.

 "Did she both say that?" - Instead of Tatsuya hovering in surprise, Kotona was asked by Miyuki.

 - Yes.

 - That's what they asked us to convey. - Following Kotona's nod, Katsushige added, after which these three (including Kanata) entered the building.





 Having settled on the couch in the living room at home, Tatsuya and Miyuki first chose the topic of the discussion, which was reported by Katsushige.

- Onii-sama, did you know about this?

The question was expected. Without any hesitation in using Onii-sama's appeal, Miyuki asked Tatsuya about moving. It seems that Tatsuya would become Tatsuya-most definitely, for Miyuki she still needs some time.

- I remember that I heard something about moving to the Yotsuba base in Tokyo. But I did not think that this would happen so soon.

For Tatsuya, this also turned out to be a surprise, which he admitted to Miyuki.

"Perhaps both of us believe it necessary to strengthen our security with you."

- Does this mean that someone has aimed at us?

The face of Minami, who came with tea, became tense.

"Perhaps it is." However, I think this is a preparation for the fact that Yotsuba's people in the future may have more chances of being disturbed.

- Are you thinking about confrontation with the other 27 houses?

- Not only the 27 houses.

"Do ... do you mean a protest against the government?"

According to Miyuki's voice, it was noticeable that she began to lose her composure.

- No. Since the government is not a monolithic structure, it should not become a confrontation with state power. But if this happens, then those who pull the trigger will not be both, uh, and I.

 - Onii-sama ...

 Tatsuya gently stroked Miyuki's hand, not concealing her anxiety. Feeling Tatsuya's hand, Miyuki's fingers relaxed a little.

 - I think that both sides have no intention of a conflict with the Japanese government. But the probability of a conflict with the self-defense forces is not zero.

 Miyuki again tensed, hands clenched into fists. With a smile, saying "Everything will be fine," Tatsuya gently stroked Miyuki on the head.

 "Do not worry, I will not let it reach a full-scale armed battle."

 "... Miyuki is happy to hear that."

 Miyuki took advantage of the moment and clung to Tatsuya. Looking at this, Minami did not want to run away this time, as usual, but also felt that the worry was disappearing.





CHAPTER 2





The day after the meeting of young people from the "28 houses", the Mitsuya family met an unexpected guest.

 The name of this guest was Tooyama Tsukasa. On the lists of the military she was registered as a junior officer of the army of defense, Tooyama Tsukasa. Tooyama's name was not only used as an external cover, but was actually registered in all documents, like the real one.

 This was not just a violation of some unspoken rules, but a full-fledged crime, but no one blamed her for this. Because it is the policy of the army, to hide the use of the strength of the Tooyama family. The magic of the Tooyama family was hidden by the authorities because of its nature.

 It seems that power-hungry people wanted to keep it a secret from the civilians and have it ready to help key government members in case of emergency.

 On the other hand, the Mitsuya family, besides the management of the Third Laboratory and associated with the Ten Master Clans of Affairs, also dealt with the sale of weapons. Therefore, like arms dealers, and not like magicians, they had connections leading to the shady side of this world.

 As an exception to the family that has the genealogy of powerful magicians, the Mitsuya family, with the tacit consent of the government, is negotiating with foreign forces, so family members often secretly travel to other countries. And the information obtained in this way can be useful for the army. Also, secretly supplying weapons to foreign armed groups, they are intermediaries who promote the military actions desired by the Japanese government.

Relationships between the Mitsuya family and the military are not mutually beneficial. In these relations, the army receives much more benefits. Nevertheless, even the only advantage that they are allies of the self-defense forces, gives them the right to be aware of the intentions of the army. Magicians and government are not equal in status.

 Tsukasa is a magician from the same 28 houses. Since the Tooyama family cannot be selected as one of the Ten Master Clans, its rank among the 28 houses is lower than that of the Mitsuya family. However, with Tooyama Tsukasa, deeply connected with the top of the self-defense forces, the Mitsuya family could not scornfully disregard her. On the contrary, the relationship between the Mitsuya family, the army and Tsukasa was such that they had to at least listen to it to some extent. The acquaintance of Shiina and Tsukasa happened precisely as a result of these relations, in which the Mitsuya family was to help the Tooyama family.

 The adults from the Mitsuya family, who knew the truth about these relations, naturally, were unfriendly towards Tsukasa. Tsukasa herself understood this perfectly, but she did not care at all that they did not like her.

 "I'm sorry to bother you when you're so busy."

 - No, do not worry. So, what business do you have for us today?

 In response to the formal greeting of Tsukasa, the head of the family, Mitsuya Gen, immediately went on to the question of the visit. In his words the thought of "quickly finish the business and go away" was clearly read. The elder son Motoharu, who was present here, looked reproachfully at his father, but Gen did not pay attention to this look. All his attention was focused on Tsukasa.

- I heard about yesterday's meeting.

 However, Tsukasa did not seem to intend to end the conversation quickly.

 - ... That's it. - Muttered Gen with a helpless voice.

 "I thought that Tooyama-san would also come there."

 If he had left it to his father, he could have reached a quarrel. With this feeling, Motoharu sitting next to him a polite voice intervened in the conversation.

 - The younger brother is busy with family affairs.

 With her usual glued on polite smile, Tsukasa answered with words, which you cannot name the answer. Since Motoharu was also familiar with the circumstances of the Tooyama family, he did not elaborate on the details of this strange answer and decided to continue the conversation:

 - So, what's going on with yesterday's meeting?

 - In such a very friendly atmosphere, you all strengthened your friendship.

 - Yes, it was ...

 - But unfortunately, in the end some people violated this harmony.

 - ... Everything was not so serious.

 - Here's how? - To Tsukasa's words Motoharu answered with an icy glance. - It seems that the man from Yotsuba did not stay for dinner after the meeting.

- It seems that he had a previously planned arrangement.

 Motoharu tried to protect Tatsuya from being drawn into a conflict between the Tooyama and Yotsuba families. If it is decided that Tatsuya violates the unity of magicians, the Mitsuya family will have to cooperate with Tsukasa to solve this problem.

But it was a futile attempt.

 "We are also concerned about the attitude of Shiba Tatsuya-san, who refuses to cooperate."

 The opinion of Tsukasa was determined from the very beginning.

- By we do you mean the National Defense Forces?

 - Right. This is our area of responsibility, and we consider it necessary to verify whether Shiba Tatsuya impedes public safety.

 - Shiba Tatsuya-dono is not military. The army does not have such powers. Even the Ten Master Clans, even the Tooyama family, should not have the authority to check the people of the Yotsuba family. - Feeling that he can no longer remain silent, before this left the conversation with his son, Gen, inserted his words.

 However, these arguments did not confuse Tsukasa.

 - There is no authority, but you can check it out, right?

 Tsukasa smiled broadly at Gen. In this smile there was not a single drop of friendliness.

- ... And what does Tooyama-san want from us?

 He decided that Tsukasa wants them to help her with some of her next tricky plan. To the question of Gen, in which the consent was already read, Tsukasa responded with a polite smile.

 "I would like to take Shiina-chan for a short time to participate in our exercises."

 Without giving anything to say who began to change in the face of Gen, Tsukasa immediately continued.

 "Even if they say" teachings, "nothing dangerous will be there. In addition, I already received the consent of Shiina-chan.

 "When did you ..." muttered the shocked Motoharu, and Gen irritatedly clucked his tongue. He did not care that it was impolite.

 "In any case, I do not have the right to forbid it."

 - This is not true. I would like Mitsuya-san to collaborate on his own.

 Seeing Tsukasa's face, in which the provocation was clearly being read, Gen again clucked his tongue. It was nothing more than a manifestation of submission.





◊ ◊ ◊




 In First High, after graduation.

 Entering the school boardroom, Tatsuya, with the permission of Miyuki, went to the repair room of the Robotics Club.

 Not on patrol. Sometimes he also occupied the Robotics Club room for Pixie's service, but today he did not go there for that.

 "Senpai, I'm sorry for disturbing you for something like this."

 Here he came to call on Shippou Takuma.

 - Nothing. Is there a secret conversation?

 - Secret, you say ...? I just did not want the president to hear about it ...

 - Tell me. - Tatsuya called on to continue to hesitate to tell Takuma.

 - This is about what happened after yesterday sempai went home.

 - Are you talking about lunch after the meeting? I believe my evil words caused a resurgence of indignation?

 - No, there was no indignation ...

 In other words, it means that all the same it was said about Tatsuya's antagonizing.

 - Sempai knew that his words would cause dissatisfaction to the other people present, and still decided to confront the current atmosphere of the meeting? Why did you drive yourself into a disadvantageous position by your behavior?

 Tatsuya was not obliged to answer Takuma's question. There was no sense of duty either.

- Even if the strong begin to respect the weak, the fear of the weak will not disappear until we abandon the very power threatening the weak.

 However, at his whim, Tatsuya decided not to deny him boldly came with the question.

 - ... Do you mean that ordinary people will be afraid and envious because we are magicians?

 "People who are not magicians do not necessarily envy magicians." But fear is usually inevitable. Because for unarmed people, we are the ones who always carry weapons.

 - ... And so you objected to the appeal to society? Because the effect will not be good?

 "The reason for my refusal was that it was quite obvious that they wanted to force the next head of the Yotsuba family to take the burden.

 - If there were intentions, like to force her to bear the main burden ... Indeed, I think the way to bring the discussion to this was rather straightforward.

First, Takuma turned to his feelings, and spoke in defense of people unknown to him. But now, he expressed criticism of the methods of Tomokazu and the Saegusa family, apparently recalling some previous events relating to them.

 - Shippou. I think you also understand that even if we have good intentions, we cannot always wait for the same from opponents.

 - It seems ... it is. I think I understand.

"Even if magicians conscientiously serve non-magicians, not everyone will appreciate it." I think that the probability that accumulated envy will grow into a flared hostility is not just a pessimist's nightmare.

- Is this pessimistic belief too much? But this ...

 Takuma wanted to say that this is an exaggeration. But he could not utter these words. Because at that moment he noticed that this is a self-deception when he denies it as impossible.

 - Of course, if my bride becomes an advertising idol, then you can expect some success. Still, she is beautiful, no matter what she says. In advertising, you do not need to use the "law of three B", because beauty alone is enough as an influence force.

 Law 3B is an experimentally derived rule that shows that the use of Beauty, Children and Beast for advertising is very attractive to the public and easily gives a positive impression. And the use of beauty is not limited to advertising. Men tend to weaken before beautiful women, and women - in front of beautiful men. But in the case of Miyuki, this is a beauty that surpasses personal preferences, and can have an impact not only on the opposite sex, but also on women.

 - However, the higher the effectiveness of advertising activities, the more stubborn people who do not like it. It can even reach fanaticism. If everything goes, as the Saegusa family expects, then Miyuki becomes the target of fanatics. I cannot allow such an obviously dastardly plan. Even to argue about this is outrageous.

 "... I understand, to some extent, what the sempai thinks." But was it normal to talk about it in that situation? I think it was a bad decision, enter into a dispute, and finish it without explaining anything.

 "In your opinion, Shippou, there's truth."

 He was right. But Tatsuya carefully thought everything through before going to such actions.

- However, if I started arguing with the Saegusa family at that moment, it would bring even more hostility to me. Thus, the Saegusa family would still retain face, making me a bad guy.

 Takuma listened in silence, slapping his eyes. He did not even think about this point of view.

 "I do not mind helping magicians with society." I just think that we must take into account the risks associated with this. Extremists can take dangerous actions if they decide that society does not support them. For the sake of trying to "destroy the evil," they can go to suicide bomber attacks.

 - Evil ...?

 - Imagine that there were some strong outsiders. Since they are strangers, no one will consider them their defenders. People will not know if they will harm them. But they will understand that they will not be able to defend themselves. And it does not matter whether these opponents really think to harm them. But only for the reason that they can be in danger, unless people will not want the existence of these opponents to stop? And if you think about how to call this existence, then, I think, it will just be "evil."

- For supporters of the anti-magic movement, magicians are... "evil"?

 - It seems so to me. I do not mean that magicians are absolutely strong in everything, but in terms of harm, they are certainly one of the strongest. And the weak do not trust the strong. And in this they are right. After all, a strong one can trample a weak one at any moment.

- So the weak call the strong as evil ...? To escape from fear of ignorance when they are trampled?

 That is, Tatsuya wanted to avoid Miyuki becoming a symbol of this "evil". After all these explanations, Takuma finally began to understand what Tatsuya was worried about.

 - The situation cannot be solved by the oppression of the weak. As long as there are strong people, like us. We cannot stop being strong to solve this conflict. Magic is the natural power of a magician. The magician cannot get rid of the power of magic.

 - Sempai ... do you think that the coexistence of magicians and non-magicians is impossible?

 - Coexistence with a partner who does not want coexistence is an extremely difficult task.

After answering the tautology*, Tatsuya left. But Takuma did not feel cheated by Tatsuya.

[*]a phrase or expression in which the same thing is said twice in different words





◊ ◊ ◊




 The sun was already deep in the west, and the time was coming to go home from school. Leo, who ended up clubbing, went to a cafe to quench his hunger.

 By exchanging greetings along the way (sociable Leo knew more than two-thirds of the total number of pupils of the 2nd and 3rd years of schooling), he went to an automated counter and exchanged a food voucher with a built-in chip for a sandwich. As he took a drink of plain water. He looked around the cafe for a free table and found a first-grader he had recently dealt with.

 "Saburou, can I sit with you?"

 "Sai-si-senpai!" Please.

 Immersed in his thoughts and staring at an empty cup of coffee, Saburou, when he heard the voice, finally noticed Leo. To Saburou's troubled tone, Leo said "I apologize for the disturbance" and sat opposite him.

 - Are you waiting for someone?

 - Yes, Shiina.

 Hearing Saburou's answer, Leo thought: "Was it worth asking?". Becoming his opponent in training, he learned about Saburou's situation. Even about the fact that before entering First High he was dismissed from the position of bodyguard.

 Leo did not feel uncomfortable about this, but decided to change the subject.

 - Did you train with Erika today?

- Yes ...

 He did not have any bruises, but on closer examination, it was noticeable that Saburou was severely drained. It's clear that he worries if he will be able to protect his childhood friend on his way home in such a state, but Leo decided that this does not concern him. When Saburou was removed from the post of guard, of course, she should have been appointed a substitute. And the responsibility should be borne by those people, not Saburou. Until Saburou returns to the defense of Shiina.

 - I am very grateful to her. For the fact that she trains an inexperienced person like me ...

 - I think, you cannot worry about this. Because she likes it.

 - It is, but when you say it, it sounds somehow disgusting.

 - Ova-ah !? Suddenly he heard the voice of the one under discussion, Leo jumped upright in the chair. Erika was standing right behind Leo. From his place Saburou could see her appearance. But despite this, Saburou was surprised no less than Leo. - Wiped the presence and crept up! You Th, ninja or what?

 "The technique of erasing ones presence is not only used by ninjas. This is an indispensable skill for attacking melee fighters.

 "It's an absolute lie, is not it ...?" Leo groaned and fell on a chair, as if he had lost all his strength. On this comical scene with Leo falling apart in the chair, a chuckle sounded from behind Erika's back.

 "Oh, is Mizuki here too?"

- I just came.

 Seated opposite Leo, Saburou fussed. From the appearance of an unfamiliar girl from the third year he felt uneasy.

 - Saburou.

Erika having managed to make the first movement, Saburou stopped, who with his whole appearance showed that he wants to escape.

 - This is Shibata Mizuki. Unlike us, she is an ordinary peaceful pupil First High, so you cannot involve her in all sorts of dangerous things.

 - I would not do anything like that ...

 Saburou involuntarily stood up and began to protest. But then he remembered that he had to do something.

 "Uh, nice to meet you." My name is Yaguruma Saburou.

 Saburou made a bow with the entire upper body, bent at the waist.

 Realizing what his behavior was with excitement, Mizuki did not say too much and laughed.

 - My name is Shibata Mizuki. Glad to meet you.

 From her emanated a warm, kind atmosphere, which somehow reminded him of Shiina.

 "... Yaguruma, why are you blushing?"

 - I'm not red!

 "Do not even think about it." Because Mizuki is the girl of Miki.

- E-Erika-chan !?

 - My name is Mikihiko.

 The agitated Mizuki, who tried to protest, was interrupted by Mikihiko's standard phrase who entered the cafe a second ago.

 "... And?" What about me?

 It seems that in the noise of the chatter of many visitors to the cafe he caught only the "Miki" he knew, and did not understand what the conversation was about. This proves that, despite the protest, in the depths of consciousness he takes the nickname "Miki".

 Smiling Erika did not have time to answer Mikihiko.

 - Nothing!

Because it was ahead of Mizuki's cry.

 - Sh-Shibata-san?

 - And ...

 Mikihiko was dumbfounded, Mizuki blushed. Erika shrugged, looking at the two who had fallen into this ridiculous situation.

 - Miki. Is it normal that the head of the disciplinary committee skips school in such a place?

 Erika thought that continuing to joke about Mizuki is bad form, and she decided to change the subject.

It seems, understanding the purpose of Erika, Mikihiko scowled his face.

 "It's almost time to go home." It's okay if you leave a little early.

 His tone of voice this time was not tense, but he felt lightheaded.

 - Aha, extra time ... During the spring battle of the disciplinary committee, the newcomers clubs recruitment week.

 - This year, because there are much less problems than in the past. Things are now much easier.

 Is this true?

 There was an unexpected question from Mizuki, who had almost lost her face. She herself did not participate in the recruitment of newcomers, this was done by other members of her club, so she was not aware of what kind of struggle was going on this year.

 "Miyuki's influence, after all?" Even if you do not take into account the name of Yotsuba, at the induction ceremony, newcomers also realized that Miyuki is not an ordinary person.

 A bitter smile came up on Mikihiko's face in response to the words that said this with Erika's sly grin.

 - And of course, the fact that Tatsuya is looking after everything helps too. Regardless of which incident occurred, Tatsuya's appearance on the spot makes any of the 2nd and 3rd year students stop and look at him.

- Tatsuya-san, in my opinion, is not at all a terrible person ...

 Mikihiko nodded, saying "true" in response to Mizuki's opinion.

 - Tatsuya in particular does not try to intimidate anyone at all. But they cannot ignore him. His presence, so to speak ... In any case, this is how people feel at first sight.

 "What kind of person is Shiba-sempai?" Saburou suddenly asked who had sat silently after trying to escape. After experiencing a painful encounter with Tatsuya on the day of his arrival, Saburou did not blame him for it. In fact, he was not interested in details about Tatsuya. Saburou just wanted to learn something about the guy who is next to Shiina in the school board.

 This question was addressed not to Mikihiko, but to everyone present. The four third-graders looked at each other and chose who would answer by their eyes.

 "He's an outstanding man." I think his knowledge of magic has long exceeded the level of the university. - The first to say Mikihiko.

 - He is strong. In school, strength and scale do not really play a role, but in a real battle he is very strong. In addition, I feel that there is still more unknown force hidden in it. - followed by Erika.

- Tatsuya's power is not only in magic. I have confidence in my physical strength, but with Tatsuya I do not compete. I do not think that I will stand up against him. - After them added Leo.

 "Yes, but he's not a terrible person after all." He behaves like a gentleman, and not as a tyrant. - Deciding that the other three exaggerate, saying this, Mizuki wanted to protect the missing Tatsuya. "But what Yaguruma-kun wants to know is a little different, is not it?" What exactly did you want to know? - She asked Saburou.

 Not expecting a counter question, Saburou could not answer her. Or, perhaps, he himself did not understand what he wanted to know.

"If you wanted to know about the character and temperament ..." Erika threw him a life line. - He is a person who does not hesitate when it is necessary to prioritize. When his priorities are set, then at least threaten, even persuade, even cry, though tempted, he will be unshakable. He will not worry. In a sense, one can rely on him more than anyone else, but in another sense, he is a man more heartless than anyone.

Leo and Mikihiko looked discouraged. Mizuki could only squeeze out "Erika-chan ...", but Erika continued, as if it did not concern her.

- Miyuki is the main priority of Tatsuya-kun. This is the truth about his steadfastness. If he has to choose whose life to save, one Miyuki or all of us with you, Tatsuya-kun will not hesitate to choose Miyuki.

 - Hey ...

 - Erika, that's a bit ...

 Trying to object to Erika, Leo and Mikihiko could not find the words. Because whatever the words, they both understood that Erika was right. According to this silence, Saburou, who heard about what happened at yesterday's meeting of young people from the Ten Master Clans, understood: "That's why Shiba-sempai went to such recklessness."





◊ ◊ ◊




 On his way home in a separate cab of an electric train, Saburou told Shiina about what he heard in the cafe from Erika and the others.

 "Ha-ha, so yesterday's behavior of the sempai was for such a reason?"

 About the young people's meeting, Shiina knew exactly the same as Saburou. It would be more accurate to say: "Saburou knew as much as Shiina." When the eldest son of the Mitsuya family told his younger brothers and sisters about what was said at the meeting, Saburou was there as the guest to listen to Shiina.

 - Well, there's nothing to be done. - Such were the impressions of Shiina from the story of Saburou.

 - Cannot be helped?

 Saburou could not understand how she came to this conclusion.

 "He did not want to flaunt his bride, in love with him." I think this is quite obvious.

 "But about the necessary contribution of the Ten Master Clans for the sake of the magical world ... did he not even think about it?"

 Seeing in the middle of his sentence that Shiina's mood was spoiled, Saburou wanted to interrupt, but eventually decided to finish the sentence. Because he noticed that before he had finished, there was no point in stopping.

- What did you say? It's disgusting.

 Annoyed at Saburou's words, Shiina's voice exploded in the enclosed space of the booth.

 "Wh-what's disgusting ...?"

 "Saburou-kun, do you think that since this is the Ten Master Clanss, then they should be patient enough to make a show of themselves?" And did you know that behind these idols the reporters are running around, and they can simply forget about privacy?

 - No, such reporters disappeared several decades ago. Now you can be called to account, even if you talk about such matters. Besides, aren't most of the current idols a 3D avatar?

 - In addition to idol-avatars, there are people. In addition, reporters are not the only problem, which also must always be remembered.

She looked at Saburou with an offended face.

- ... You can just stay away from the reporters. Now they do not have anything to do with this.

 - Something Saburou-kun was obsessed with reporters.

 Although Shiina first mentioned them as an example, but Saburou continued to uselessly cling to them as an argument.

 - At yesterday's meeting, no one said that President Shiba's personal life would be sacrificed? That Shiba-senpai reaction was too radical?

 - This is true. But, if I were a guy, I would not want my beloved to become a *kyangyaru.

[*] The Japanese term "Kyangyaru" (abbreviated from the English campaign girl) - means girls who act as advertisers of various events or goods. They are shot in advertising and conduct a variety of public activities.



 - Kyangyaru... She will not be asked to wear a swimsuit or a short skirt ...

 - At first perhaps, it will. But later, I think such requests will start coming. After all, President Shiba is so beautiful.

 Shiina inclined her head and looked from below into Saburou's eyes.

 - Saburou-kun, would you not want to look at the president in a suit "tight mini"? With legs open or in thin stockings.

 Saburou did not answer Shiina's question, he could not say a word at all.

 - ... The vulgar.



https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mahouka-koukou-no-rettousei/images/1/17/Vol22-LN-Page105.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170710213917

- Did not Shiina talk about this?

 Under a look of unfounded contempt, Saburou could not protest much.

 - In the idea of using the president in advertising, after all, there is an expectation of using not only magical power, but also using female charm? Then, if the media will ask for a "costume that the audience wants," then I think it will not be possible to refuse. From such a beauty as the president, they will want only sexuality. And media employees who do not do this can be called incompetent.

 - ... Not all men are so disorganized.

 "But you still want to see it, yes?"

 Saburou felt very awkward. On such a question it was difficult to answer the interlocutor of the opposite sex. In addition, it was difficult to answer "yes" or "no" when the interlocutor herself is "beautiful", and yes even "a childhood friend who knows a lot about him."

 Answering "yes" was too embarrassing, and the answer "no" would be immediately exposed as a lie. In other words, Shiina came straight to the top ten with her question.

 - I think, for such things, candidates should be selected. Because this is the Ten Master Clans, there should be no compulsion on the part of others. In addition, when a person does not call himself, but the assembled crowd tries to force him - is this not a villainy? Am I not right?

 - ... No, I think you're right.

 Shiina did not blame Saburou. However, he more and more wanted to escape every second.

 "I do not want to speak ill of my older brother, but ... I do not think Shiba-sempai is wrong."

 Before Saburou had time to say anything else, he was interrupted by this unexpected conclusion of Shiina. But now he felt that his childhood friend really was right.




CHAPTER 3





The morning of the second day after the meeting that brought together the representatives of the next generation of the Ten Master Clans.

 Tatsuya, who finished the morning training, was called by his sparring partner Yakumo.

 "What is it, Master?"

 - Tatsuya-kun, it seems, really smelled of fried.

 - Did you smell fried?

 - The military intelligence department came into motion.

 "Intelligence department?" - Tatsuya asked with unconcealed surprise.

 The fact that the intelligence department is plotting something in itself was not a surprise. After all, it's job was to weave intrigues.

 Undoubtedly, it was amazing that Yakumo was aware of the intelligence department's movement, but this information was not enough to understand what kind of movement it was. Tatsuya often came across situations in which it was clear to him that Yakumo was more competent in such matters than the Intelligence Department of the Self-Defense Forces.

 The reason that he did not hide his surprise was that Yakumo gave him a concrete warning.

- This time they did not aim directly at you. But the consequences of their deeds can soon become a problem for Tatsuya-kun and others.

 - And what exactly will happen ... you cannot tell me?

 "If you do something, the situation will get worse." No, the incident can, of course, be prevented, but for you it will be inconvenient.

 - I understood. I will not interfere.

 Easily giving an unbiased answer to Tatsuya, Yakumo responded with a big smile:

 - Okay, then I'll tell you.

 - Ha-a?

 "You'd better finish your training as early as possible." About countermeasures for the future should also think about.

 Having said this, Yakumo dragged Tatsuya into the main building of the temple.





◊ ◊ ◊




 It happened the same evening in the area of Makuhari New City Center.

 Late in the evening the Japanese plant of the American equipment manufacturer "Maximilian Devices" was attacked.

 The plant was not deserted. More precisely, as the plant worked only in part of the premises in the territory. At the urging of the USNA Army, this plant was built as an operational center owned by the USNA.

 On this secret base of the USNA Army, a member of the Stars magician unit under the control of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the USNA, a planetary magician with the codename "First" in her code name (which showed that she was the best among the owners of the code name of the same planet ), warrant officer Silvia Mercury fought with despair, corroding her heart.

 - No images from the surveillance cameras.

 - This is not good. The interference is too strong, it is impossible to contact our country.

 "Why do they use so much interference near the city center?" Are the attackers - the Japanese army!?

 Listening to the conversation of the base commander with his subordinates, Sylvia tried to understand the situation, using her special magic, which can be called her superpower.

- Charlie Leader says half of the detachment has already fallen! Request support!

 - Headquarters, accepted. Bravo Leader, is there any way to help Charlie?

- Bravo Leader, accepted. However, we are also in combat now. It is not known whether we can unite with Charlie!

Sylvia's specialization - a magic "Voice Transmission."

 It recognizes information about air vibrations from the target's voice, copies it, and reproduces it directly inside their ear canal.

First of all, it is "Remote hearing", which can be used, both for communication and for listening. It allows you to hear the voice of the target regardless of distance and obstacles.

 And yet, this "Remote voice", which recognizes information about the vibrations of the air from your voice, copies it, and reproduces directly inside the ear canal of the target.

 Simultaneous use of these two magics is an ability that can replace intercoms in the case when radio communication is difficult.

 Managing this magic, Sylvia was not the commander of a detachment of magicians, but performed the work of a control officer.

 - Accepted. Delta Leader, Charlie requests support.

- Delta Leader says! We would also not support the support. Who the hell are these guys ... Uwaah!

- Delta Leader, what happened !? Delta Leader!

 The situation was worse than ever. From the very beginning, the magicians chosen for this mission were far from being called elite in combat skills. It could not be said that the Stars class classified as combat personnel, the class of Satellites, also involved in this operation, is suitable for protection against direct enemy attack, because it was chosen for alleged guerrilla warfare within the city.

 The task of the Planetary class, which includes Sylvia, is support from the rear and sabotage activities. Compared to the classes of stars and satellites, in direct combat they are weak.

 On the other hand, the attacking magicians had the impression that they were all the perfect match for melee type. Their magic, using a small number of processes, focused on speed instead of power.

 They were armed with so-called compact rifles for small-caliber ammunition. In addition to high-performance silencers, it seems that noise cancellation magic was used, which made no sound at all.

 Perhaps it was a weapon with a built-in CAD.

 Many of them fought with katanas or throwing knives as the main weapon. Perhaps due to the proximity of residential urban areas, the enemy detachment acted according to the concept of a surprise attack and the rapid capture of points.

- ... To all the detachments, prepare for retreat. - With bitterness in his voice, the commander voiced his decision to leave the base. Sylvia agreed with this decision. However, it seems that this decision was taken too late.

 Immediately after pressing the data erasure button set to start the emergency procedure for leaving the base, the door that should be locked was severed with a loud noise.

 Soldiers defending the command center opened fire at the entrance from rifles with increased power, created for battles against magicians. However, all bullets were stopped by anti-objective barriers deployed by enemy soldiers.

 - Impossible!

 It's unclear, who gave the cry, the commander, or his assistant.

 Sylvia could understand what the screamer felt. High-powered rifles were weapons manufactured, neglecting cost and durability, with only one purpose - to shoot through magician anti-object barriers. Despite the fact that the body of this expensive weapon was wearing out in just one battle, it had the power to justify a high price. Even among the Stars, the only ones who could say for sure that they could defend themselves against a high-powered rifle were only fighters of the First Star Magnitude class. That is, from the bullets of ordinary soldiers who do not have magical abilities, even the soldiers of the Second Star magnitude class, who had passed all the necessary training, could suffer.

However, all intruding enemy soldiers showed that they are able to protect themselves from bullets of high-power rifles.

This meant that, at least according to the level of protection, they were all combat magicians comparable to Stars of the First Star Magnitude class.

 Among servicemen from all over the world, it was generally recognized that the military power of the Japanese army was significant. In addition, Lina warned Sylvia about this right before the mission.

 However, she could not hide her surprise.

"Did they include special elite troops in the detachment, even on an ordinary working mission? Or are they the ordinary troops of the Japanese army ...?"

 During that short time, while she stood in a stupor, the defensive detachment was completely destroyed. All the units sent to the interception were also silent.

 Suddenly, a line of soldiers holding Sylvia and other officers in the sights of compact rifles parted, and a young woman soldier came out because of them. No, unlike other soldiers who did not have insignia, on their form, if it's true, there were signs that her rank was Sergeant.

 - I'm from the Intelligence Department of the National Army of Self-Defense, the counterintelligence unit of the capital region, the sergeant-major Tooyama Tsukasa. Who is the commander here?

 - J. Subordinated to the Stars of the USNA, a detachment of special magicians, first lieutenant Gary Jupiter.

 Tsukasa's eyes slightly rounded. In Japan, it was also known that the code name "Jupiter" was a special code that was given not only for the ability of the magician, but also for military merit.

- I think if the first lieutenant-dono has the code Jupiter, then he already realized that the next battle is meaningless. Surrender, please.

 Gary gritted his teeth in annoyance.

 - ... Can you guarantee the security of my subordinates?

 However, even if he did not say so, as Tsukasa mentioned, they all have lost the ability to resist. They had no options.

 - You are violators caught in illegal activities. I think you should understand that in your situation you cannot demand treatment as prisoners of war.

 Gary tried to start an argument. But Tsukasa continued faster than he said anything.

 "However, we do not intend to harm a friendly military country." Earlier we also used only special paralyzing bullets.

 - ... Can we be sure of this?

- Please.

 At the direction of Gary, a member of the command post checked the condition of the nearby soldier from the defense detachment. Sylvia also checked the pulse of a soldier who had fallen next to her and examined the wounds.

 As Tsukasa said, the wounds were nothing more than bruises.

 - First lieutenant-dono, you are convinced?

 - ... Yes.

 "All of you will be arrested right now, and if you do not take hostile actions, like attempts to escape, I promise you that you will soon return home."

 Gary understood why a completely natural deterrent condition such as "do not try to escape" was voiced. But was afraid to ask about it out loud, thinking that it might end badly.

 - Thank you for your humane attitude. "In the end," Gary said, and commanded them to lay down their arms.





◊ ◊ ◊




 The Headquarters of Stars learned about the loss of the base in the Makuhari district of Shintosin 3 hours after the incident.

 - Commander, this is Major Sirius.

 Lina rushed to the commander's office as soon as she learned this bad news.

 - Come in.

Despite the fact that the visit was not scheduled, the base commander, Colonel Walker, allowed Lina to enter.

 - I'm sorry.

 Entering inside, Lina rounded her eyes. There was not only Colonel Walker. Next to him sat Colonel Balance.

 "So, Major, what have you got?" - Asked Walker. Lina only saluted and did not say anything.

 - That's right.

 Although she squeezed out a formal answer, but to continue, she needed to gather strength, taking another breath.

- I heard that a detachment penetrating into Tokyo was attacked.

 - It's true.

 Walker did not hesitate to confirm what Lina said.

 "I'm assuming that all members of the detachment are arrested."

 - It's not clear yet. But at the moment it is known that there were no corpses left.

 Lina clenched her teeth. She understood that the absence of bodies cannot be used to judge survival. She could only believe that Sylvia and the others were alive.

 - While bodies are not found, it is necessary to consider them, as alive.

 "Well, that's also true." And what?

 Only now did Lina focus on her intention.

 "... Please send me to the rescue operation."

 - You, the valuable commander in chief of Stars, want to personally go to Japan to rescue captured soldiers?

 To Walker's question, pronounced slowly, word for word, to convey seriousness,

 - Yes.

 Lina did not hesitate to give a positive answer.

- Sorry, but I cannot allow this.

 Those who easily answered "no" to a determined Lina were not Walker, but Balance.

 - Colonel!

 "The major says that she can easily save them?" But where exactly do you intend to save them?

 - I do not think it will be easy!

 - So you are looking for a long-term stay in Japan? I think the major understands that this is an impracticable situation.

 Lina struggled against the pressure of Balance's indifferent look.

 "I'm not going to waste time saving them."

 "How are you going to locate the detainees?" We do not even know who our opponent is.

 - ... We will ask for cooperation from a local.

 To talk about this, she needed to collect all her courage. These were words for which one could be suspected of having a connection with the Japanese government or the armed forces if evil intent had been discovered in them.

 Lina was ready to go even to this to save Sylvia.

 - Wow ... Is there someone in mind?

- ... During my previous mission in Japan, I met a ninja with outstanding skills. Initially, we were at enmity, but then reconciled.

 "Is this the" Priest Yakumo" which you mentioned in your report?

 - That's right.

 - How do you get the consent to cooperate with this person? After all, he is a self-proclaimed "hermit" and money will not be enough to arouse his interest in the negotiations.

 - This is ...

 - Okay, say, the priest Yakumo's cooperation would have been obtained ...

 Balance rose, walked over and stood directly in front of Lina.

 "But we cannot send you abroad." Last year's mission was an exception to the exception.

 - ... There is.

 - Do not worry.

 Balance laid her hand on Lena's shoulder. Through this palm was transmitted not only physical warmth, but also spiritual.

- You are soldiers who report directly to the main headquarters. The General Staff never refuses to send troops. We always, without exception, never abandon troops. That's why I came to this meeting.

 Sylvia, caught in a distant Japan, separated by the Pacific Ocean, cannot be saved, even if we spend a hundred meetings here in New Mexico.

 - Thank you very much, I rely on you. - Because of military discipline Lina could only leave, having answered so.

 At that moment, she somehow remembered Tatsuya's words.

"If Lina wants to leave the Stars ..."

"If you want to stop being a soldier, I think I could help."

 This was the night that the parasites were killed. Tatsuya said then that Lina might want to leave the army. It was like the belief that Lina is not suitable for military service.

 Despite the fact that it was obvious, Lina could not understand why she remembered about it.





CHAPTER 4





The Magic University had a special training program, but otherwise it differed little from other universities. If you look at the uniqueness of the atmosphere, then in the schools of magic assigned to the university, it is much more different from ordinary schools.

 In the afternoon the dining room was crowded with idle students, who had free time. Communicating among themselves, they did not talk about fashion or food, most of the topics of conversation were related to magic. Nevertheless, the students seemed to be having fun. Even the fact that they are magicians living in such a troubled time could not prevent young people from enjoying youth and freedom.

 However, not all students in the dining room were busy with conversations. There were those who read books quietly, and those who were absorbed in their thoughts. For example, a lonely Katsuto, who looked worried.

 "Hello, Juumonji-kun." Can I sit with you?

 And there were quite a few such students who interfered with the aforementioned people.

 - Saegusa?

 However, only Saegusa Mayumi was the only one who could come up to interrupt (?) Katsuto, known throughout the university, as the head of the Juumonji family, and also supporting the corresponding image.

 - Of course. Sit down.

- Then I'll use your suggestion.

 Featuring a complete lack of manners, Mayumi sat opposite Katsuto.

 ... From such behavior, a wave of rumors, such as "The head of the Juumonji family and the eldest daughter of the Saegusa family will soon get married!", spread without stopping. Although Mayumi did not like rumors about herself, she had a principle of not noticing them.

 - Juumonji-kun, you seem to be worried about something?

 - No ...

 Responding with a negative, Katsuto looked irritably at Mayumi. This view read "do not go to me in such a place." But, unfortunately, Katsuto's desire was not transmitted to Mayumi.

 - It's because of the Sunday meeting?

 Katsuto unconsciously moved his eyes to either side. The head remained motionless so that the surrounding students could not understand that they were wary.

 - Everything is fine. I put up the soundproofing field. "However, Mayumi did not seem to understand Katsuto's alertness level."

 - ... Saegusa, do not you know about the technique of reading on the lips?

 "Chet-no-e-na-gu-bam * [1]?" Telepathy?

- ... Not at all. In any case, do not talk about it here.

 - Mmm ...

 Mayumi showed that she was thinking, putting her index finger to her chin, and looking upwards. Although it did not fit her child's image, but she radiated cunning from the very beginning.

 - I got it. - With a smile Mayumi answered. Katsuto half-instinctively prepared to defend himself. - And where then it is possible?

 Katsuto's intuition did not fail him.

 - ... Do you want so much to get into this business?

 "It's a shame to hear such words." Does not this at least superficially concern me? Or am I, in your opinion, not "young people from the Ten Master Clans"?

 "... Understood." Do you know the "Serenity" cafe, near the station?

 - I think I know it.

 "Then how about a meeting there on the second floor at 5:30?"

 - I got it. Sorry for bothering you. Well, I've got to run.

 Saying this, Mayumi stood up.

Only now did Katsuto notice that Mayumi did not order a drink, or anything else.





On the way home, Mayumi went into an old-fashioned cafe. It was called "Serenity". It seems like it meant "a place where silence resides" * [2].

 - Hmm ... "People who love silence, we are waiting for you"? Is this their orientation? Very straightforward.

 "And it's true ..." answered a completely indifferent voice. Mayumi was not alone.

 "What is it, Mari?" You look a bit tired.

 - I do not just look, I'm really tired.

 - What, old age came early ~?

 - Unlike the Magic University, the Defense Academy has a big workload on the body!

 Students of the Defense Academy, in addition to basic training and combat practice, are required to attend special martial arts courses designed for combat magicians. Today, Mari was completely exhausted. In fact, now she wanted to take a quick bath and jump into bed. Because of this course of special martial arts, she was freed from the restrictions present in the hostel, so she could afford such a luxury.

- Okay, let's go faster. We are waiting for an important conversation?

"Apparently, Mari just wants to sit down fast", - thought Mayumi.

 - That's right.

 The voice of Mayumi felt the care of an elderly woman.





 When Mayumi told the waitress that they had a meeting here, she told them to go to the second floor. It seems that Katsuto was already there.

 On the second floor there were four separate rooms. All the doors were closed. The location of the windows did not allow for spying. While Mayumi was puzzled at what door to knock, the near right door opened.

 - Saegusa. Come in. - Called Katsuto holding the door. Mayumi and Mari walked past him into the room.

 Inside there was only one table for four people. At first Mayumi thought that this was not suitable for a cafe, but after looking closely, she saw that the windows were double glazed, and the floor, ceiling and walls were soundproofed. It was like a place for private conversations. She realized that this is a separate paid room.

 - Watanabe also came ...?

 Offering the girls to sit down, Katsuto sat himself and sighed.

- I would very much like to keep this conversation private.

 "Then should I leave?" Mayumi brought me here by force. - Without trying to argue, Mari stood up.

 - No, really. You yourself said that the conversation is important?

 Mayumi pulled her by the sleeve, and Mari sat down again. Reluctantly, she ordered coffee through the console on the table. Mayumi ordered tea with milk after her. After the waitress who brought the drinks left, Mayumi looked again at Katsuto.

 - So ... What is troubling Juumonji-kun - this is something about Tatsuya-kun?

 - That's right.

 Katsuto decided that there was no point in hiding it. He calmly nodded to Mayumi's question.

 "What are they talking about?" - A question mark surfaced over Mari's head. But she did not impatiently ask about it. She decided to wait, because in any case she will hear everything along the way.

 - I don't think Mari knows, but last Sunday a meeting was held, which brought together young people from the Ten Master Clans. It is said "young", but a restriction "up to 30 years" was established.

 - I heard about the meeting. There they discussed what to do with extremists who aimed at magicians?

 - They did not talk about measures against extremists.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mahouka-koukou-no-rettousei/images/b/b2/Vol22-LN-Page127.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170710213941

Katsuto said in a tired voice that Mari's answer was only partially correct.

 - At this meeting, it was discussed how we, magicians should react to the anti-magic sentiments spread in the society.

 "Is that not... meaningless?" I still understand the fight against criminals, but can you make those people who already have their own opinion "love magicians"?

 Although Mari herself is from the Watanabe Family, but she does not belong to the mainstream community of magicians. Her connection with the society of magicians, known as the "magic world", is weak. In comparison with people like Mayumi, her life values are closer to ordinary soldiers.

 "We cannot get it, but can we ask for it?" Having told in his address that magicians are useful to society, is it not possible to reduce hostility?

 - Who knows ... with excessive obsession, you can get the opposite effect.

 At the moment when the conversation Mayumi and Mari was ready to grow into an exchange of meaningless arguments, Katsuto intervened.

- Maybe Watanabe is right, but that day during the meeting the idea similar to Saegusa words, met the support of the majority of those present.

 - Hmm ... Well, as an idea, it can be approached. But what exactly do you need to do? Send Mayumi to speak on TV?

 - Mari! Why me !?

- Because of good looks, of course.

 - What? Are you saying that I'm a hypocrite?

 - Regardless of the reasons, this turned out to be the plan.

 When the conversation was ready to turn into a verbal skirmish, Katsuto again intervened.

 - But the plan, which gathered a large number of support votes, suggested making the successor-dono of the Yotsuba family the magicians representative.

 "The younger sister ... that is, Shiba's bride?" And she was at a meeting?

 - No. Shiba came alone.

 "Tatsuya-kun?" Yes, it's not good.

 Mari quickly understood everything. More precisely, rejected this plan.

 "The excessively caring Tatsuya-kun will not allow his bride to do such things. Does Tatsuya-kun allow Shiba Miyuki to be publicly displayed?

 - Right. This is what happened at the meeting. Thus, everything ended in an unpleasant atmosphere. In the end, Tatsuya-kun refused to participate in the dinner after the meeting and gathered the hostility of the participants.

 Hearing what Mayumi said, Mari was surprised.

 - All of them? Was there no one who would support Tatsuya-kun?

- There were no participants who showed that they are on Shiba's side.

 From Katsuto's answer, Mari's face appeared an annoying expression.

 - Psychological pressure? This is an unhealthy approach. Looking at such a scene, magicians seem like ordinary people.

 - Of course. Magicians can only use magic, and otherwise they are ordinary people.

 "I was close to exposing Yotsuba's successor-dono. I think Shiba had reason to resist this.

 Katsuto returned the conversation, which had gone elsewhere.

 "The problem is that because of Shiba's isolation, the Yotsuba family can turn to a way of refusing to cooperate."

 "Hey, when you say it, it looks like the parent's interference in the quarrel of the children ..."

 - Mari now that Tatsuya-kun is the bridegroom of the next head and the son of the current head of the Yotsuba family. When Juumonji-kun says something, he never exaggerates.

 Mari leaned back in her chair and sighed heavily.

 - How complicated is the world of politics and aristocracy.

 - Since blood relationship is essential, the appearance of an aristocratic system is inevitable. But I want to believe that this will not look like a feudal class society, but as a secular society with blood relationship, which was in the ancient city-states.

 - In my opinion, it will be even worse. Because society, as in the ancient city-states, presupposes the existence of slavery.

 - Ara. And if you replace the ancient slaves with machines, it will not be inhumane?

- Saegusa, Watanabe, stop. The conversation will not move from place to place, as long as you constantly leave the topic.

 "... I'm sorry."

 "... I'm sorry."

Katsuto sighed slightly, looking at his guiltily bowing friends.

 "In any case, something needs to be done about this situation, when Shiba is seen as isolated from the other 28 houses." At the top of the magical world of Japan at the moment are the Ten Master Clans, but this does not mean that no one is dissatisfied with this.

 - If the Yotsuba family leaves the system of the Ten Master Clans, then everything can come to the fact that they form a new faction ... Is this what Juumonji-kun is worried about?

 With an acidic face, Katsuto nodded at Mayumi's question.

 - Nevertheless, the conversation now does not mean that someone should apologize. Neither party violated the rules. Both Shiba and the other participants spoke in accordance with the established goal of the meeting, and acted quite logically.

 Katsuto looked in turn at Mayumi and Mari.

 "Since you tried so hard to make this conversation happen, then let me hear your opinion."

 - Really ...

 Mari was the first to react to Katsuto's question.

- If the problem is that the meeting was broken, how about holding it again?

 Mari's proposal was unexpected for Katsuto. He looked at her silently for a while. And then Mayumi spoke.

 - But under what pretext?

 "It was a meeting to counter anti-magic sentiments, was not it?" If so, then this time it would be nice to call a meeting to discuss more concrete measures.

 - Now, after the meeting ended with quarreling and separation from each other, how many families will accept the invitation?

 - Precisely because there was a quarrel and separation. The Sunday meeting was organized by the Juumonji family?

 Marie looked at Katsuto. He nodded with the words: "Yes, that's right."

 - Initially, were specific measures defined at this meeting?

 - No. The original goal was to have a free exchange of views.

 - In other words, the real goal was to help establish interaction between young people. Is it not obvious that the participants, at a minimum, should act, suspecting others of hidden intentions?

 - Yes ... So it is.

 Agreeing, Mayumi sighed, lamenting the thoughtlessness of her brother, because of which plans to strengthen friendship were violated.

- In such a situation, I would not be able to calmly support the nomination of the next head of Yotsuba as an advertising idol. This is the same as if the personnel of the military base would have said: "And let's make the daughter of the base commander the base mascot for advertisements of this base." If a person wants to do it himself, then it's okay, but when a person has not even been asked his opinion, this is undoubtedly a problem. Read the atmosphere - that's what I wanted to say.

 The example of Mari was imbued with military metaphors, but Mayumi and Katsuto understood what she was saying.

 - Well, about reading the atmosphere, this phrase can be attributed to Tatsuya-kun. With the influence of the Yotsuba family, you could get away from this problem later. Frankly, it was stupid to resist this directly. With this approach, he is still a child.

"Tatsuya-kun ... child?" - Having experienced a strong sense of discrepancy, Mayumi half-unconsciously, questioned with doubt.

 - No, Shiba most likely specifically objected. He does not care about the hostility of the rest of the 27 houses, except for Yotsuba. It looks like it was a demonstration of this intention.

 - It's already ... To begin with, Tatsuya-kun still had to give in.

 "It's true, but ... Even if the next meeting takes place, Tatsuya-kun's absence will be meaningless, not to mention that it can have the opposite effect."

 "Hmm ..." Katsuto thought a little, sighing slightly. He also thought about what would be best if Tatsuya could compromise. It's just that he did not think about the meaning or reasons for that act.

- How about the fact that the three of us try to convince him? - Guessing Katsuto's concern, Mayumi suddenly made a proposal.

 - The three of us?

 - Yes. For example, let's say to him that it is necessary that Juumonji-kun retain face. In this case, Tatsuya-kun can and will agree.

 - ... And do I need to be there for this?

 "Hey, is he not your friend?"

 - Well, for starters, I'm not from the 28 houses ...

 Mari voiced that she was simply confused, not refusing. Mayumi's face, whose cheeks had just been inflated, was transformed.

 - It does not matter ~. Because alone, I cannot support the conversation between Juumonji-kun and Tatsuya-kun.

 - Mayumi, well, you ...

 Mari put a hand to her forehead and sighed.

 - ... Good. I have already gone too far. Juumonji, will this suit you?

 Katsuto's head was packed with too much, and he could not quickly answer this question.

- As a result of the disappointing meeting, the Juumonji family was in a position close to losing their reputation. I do not know about Tatsuya-kun, but other participants should be concerned about this.

 At the Mari's words Mayumi, she reacted with a face that says "exactly!".

 "Therefore, if Juumonji-kun sends an invitation calling for another discussion, other families will have no choice but to agree."

 "And Tatsuya-kun, as Mayumi said, we will convince the three of us." No, using Juumonji's honor as a shield, Mayumi and I try to convince Tatsuya-kun, and with him, if possible, and his bride.

 - Miyuki-san, too?

 - Shiba's bride ... For some reason it's difficult for me to say that. Are you worried about being with Shiba's former sister? Still, she is involved in all this. In addition, I think that Tatsuya-kun will behave more mature when the former sister is around. In a sense he will behave more moderately.

 "And really ... I'll contact Tatsuya-kun myself." Juumonji-kun, are you satisfied with this?

 - Yes. I count on you.

 "If possible, let's meet on Saturday." On weekdays it will be hard for me.

 "Why not Sunday?" - Mayumi asked in a teasing tone.

 - Next Sunday I'm leaving for training at an open training ground.

 - ... It's hard for you.

 Hearing the answer of a close friend, she changed her tantalizing tone to a sympathetic one.

 - Thank you for your concern.

 On the faces of Mayumi and Katsuto there were bitter smiles. Thus, they showed that they understand what it is doing.







CHAPTER 5





In addition to the magical education that Miyuki received at magic high school, she also attended various lessons for girls from noble families. Miyuki having a good memory, most of the lessons (for example, Japanese and Western dances, Ikebana (flower arrangement), tea ceremonies) were mastered before the end of secondary school, and now only attended a general school for children from elite families once a week.

 The day of the week could be chosen at your discretion. In order not to become the target of the kidnappers, the visit schedule was drawn up a month in advance, but perhaps it was not completely meaningless. These were measures not for Miyuki, but for the other helpless children who are not magicians.

 "Minami, I'm counting on you."

 "Yes, Tatsuya-sama." Even if you need to give your life for the safety of Miyuki-sama.

 This school forbid entry to men. Tatsuya could not enter even under the pretext of escort. He used to transfer the duty of an escort to school guards at the entrance, but with the advent of Minami, he began to entrust Miyuki to her.

 Visiting this school was also planned to be completed before the summer. This was planned because of the approaching entrance examinations to the Magic University, but under the current circumstances, when everyday life is becoming more complicated, the schedule also had to be revised and accelerated.

 To, as usual, kill the time before Miyuki's lessons end, Tatsuya went to the nearest cafe.

He voluntarily tried not to approach the family restaurant next door which caused problems during the vampire incident. In order to wait a while, there were other suitable establishments.

"... Such a pace, suitable for this institution, seems to soon disappear."

 Tatsuya paid through the machine and left the cafe, leaving more than half the coffee in the cup. Because he did not want to interfere with the cafe. Last time there was no real damage, like broken windows or injured visitors. This time Tatsuya also planned to finish everything so that the problem affected only one of them.

 The hostile presence he caught was very similar to the last time. If he had not heard about it in advance from Yakumo, he probably, would have fallen into confusion.

 In confusion from the question of why the magicians of the USNA army are again attacking him.





◊ ◊ ◊




- Deserters have discovered A's goal.

 - Continue to observe. Did the removal of civilians cause problems?

- The civilian operation zone is free.

 Listening to the conversation between the place of events and the commander of the operation, Tooyama Tsukasa silently smiled. At the moment, the operation went smoothly.

"There are no problems with the control of the puppets yet." It's a pity that the Puppet Law* does not work on the Satellites class, but it's also not bad, because the response became better."

The strategy of this operation was developed by Tsukasa. The commander present here was a lieutenant, but Tsukasa was the real power, which was only in the rank of sergeant-major. Through a secret agreement between the self-defense forces and the family of Tooyama, she had a strong influence on the head of the intelligence department.

 Tsukasa deliberately reproduced the situation that occurred in February last year, when Tatsuya was attacked by Lina and "Brionac". This was done to confuse Tatsuya with thoughts about the similarity with that situation. While it seemed that it worked.

"The absence of the main part of the situation in the person of Angie Sirius is compensated by the absence of an assistant in the person of Chiba Naotsugu, therefore, as a result, this situation should be approximately the same." Boy from the Yotsuba family, justify my expectations. "



 Tsukasa quietly watched the development of the situation with her invariably glued on smile.





◊ ◊ ◊




"Twelve enemies, without firearms? Strange."

 Tatsuya read information about his enemies around him through the information dimension.

"They look like last year's "Star Dust", but there's a strange noise in the information body."

 It was Eidos' familiar body, ready to break. However, this noise seems to have been a trace of an exotic psion information body.

"It seems like the magic of manipulating the corpses of Gu Jie ... but these guys are not corpses. Instead of just controlling the mind, they surgically intervened or drug-injected the brain, deprived them of their will, and instead built in ancient magic spells to control their actions ... so what? "

"Not lucky for them", - Tatsuya muttered mentally.

"Now I want them to return home peacefully."

 From Yakumo at that time he recognized two things.

 First, about the fact that the intelligence department of the national self-defense forces is going to allow a mobile detachment of the USNA army to invade the Tokyo suburbs.

 Secondly, the captured soldiers of the army of the USNA intelligence department plans to collide with Tatsuya and Miyuki.

He was not of the purpose it is being done for, or what they want to know.

 Tatsuya too, did not try to ask for more information. The information already received was already something that could not be known, so the knowledge that a surprise attack was planned could be considered a kind of scam. It was not a test that required honesty, so cheating could not be considered something bad.

 Tatsuya decided to go in a direction where there were more passers-by. Not because he decided to attract unrelated people. And to provoke the people who planned this situation.

 However, after leaving the cafe, Tatsuya noticed that there were no passers-by. It seems that by adjusting the accident or street lights, they redirected pedestrian traffic. I wonder how indecisive the information department will be if it is possible to involve civilians in the case?

 Tatsuya thought that if he suddenly goes to a side where there are a lot of people, then he will force them to start acting before they reach the crowd. Accelerating the time of the collision, Tatsuya tried to break the plans of the "enemy."

 Is the enemy, as Yakumo said, the intelligence department of the national self-defense forces? Or did Yakumo lie?

 For Tatsuya, this was more important than the battle itself.





◊ ◊ ◊




 - The direction of the movement of target A is a large number of people. Commander, there is a possibility that isolation from civilians will not be accomplished in due measure.

 Analyzing information from the scene the soldier reported to the lieutenant of the commander of the operation.

 - ... It's unavoidable. Start the puppets! - The commander reluctantly gave the order.

 Tsukasa, who only watched the developments, was also a little disappointed. The situation came from the planned route. Lying on the palm of the hand, the situation was ready to come off this palm.

 However, at the same time, the idea was born that this is why it is worth trying. At least she has already managed to understand that a guy named Shiba Tatsuya is not an idealist with the rule "I must protect civilians at all costs."

 - Puppets came into contact with target A. The operation goes into phase 2.

 According to the plan, the escaped soldiers of the American Army attacked target A, that is Tatsuya. They were members of the "Star Dust" magician unit, subordinated to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the USNA Army, who became part of Tsukasa's plan, losing their free will from ancient magic "The Puppet Law." Magical soldiers who did not get into the Stars, and agreed to take measures to increase their strength by not living as "ordinary people", were reprogrammed and now received a command to attack Tatsuya.

"Does not use " long-range magic"?"

 Tsukasa, using the access legally left, watched through the street cameras for the events that were taking place. She was a little surprised that Tatsuya did not use long-range magic to deliver a preemptive strike.

Although Tatsuya had a good physique for the Japanese, the attacking soldiers of the American Army had growth and muscle mass at least equal to him, and even higher than him. With such superiority in numbers, it would be common practice to try to keep the enemy at a distance from afar by the distance.

"Knows that he's under the supervision of ...?"

The probability of this was not so small that it could be ignored. Those magician's accustomed to illegally using magic in the city must be honed by intuition, suggesting that his use of magic can be observed. There was no scientific justification for this, but many believed that this was so. Tsukasa was also one of those who support this superstition.

"There is no such record in the intelligence database, but it seems likely that Shiba Tatsuya is already taking part in the illegal activities of the Yotsuba family."

 At a time when Tsukasa was reflecting on this, the battle between Tatsuya and Stardust turned into puppets began on the street Freed from passersby.

The puppet soldier waved a huge knife, aiming at Tatsuya's tendons. If you use a numerical advantage, usually tactics first involves weakening the enemies combat potential.

 The intelligence department did not provide firearms to puppets. It seems that they feared accidental damage from stray bullets.

 When both sides do not have magical means of attack, the battle becomes close combat using knives, clubs, or your own extremities. However, both Tatsuya and Star Dust were magicians. Becoming puppets, they have not lost their magical abilities. Tsukasa and other members of the Intelligence Department expected that the battle would evolve according to a scenario of fighting with magic with some unreachable distance for close combat.

 However, the very first attack, which laid the foundation for the battle, was a swing of a knife. But this does not mean that magic was not used at all. Movement of the puppets knife was accelerated by magic.

 This attack did not hit Tatsuya. Tsukasa, who looked through the street cameras, also could not understand exactly how Tatsuya was behind the puppet. If there was still a human will in the puppet, he would be shocked with thoughts, like "when did he have time?".

 Tatsuya struck with the edge of the palm over the back of the puppet.

The body of the puppet, as if theatrical, fell forward. Tsukasa, in a hurry, looked at the readout of the psion sensor attached to the street camera. No signs of using magic were detected by the sensors.

"... It looks like there are ways to use magic without detection by psion sensors."

 Cut down the enemy only by a blow to the back of the head. This cannot be done in the usual way. Without the use of special techniques, everything can end only with complications from a trauma received from a strong blow.

 A technique was used to stun a person with a blow without any preparation for the accumulation of force. So Tsukasa considered, rather than suggesting that this third-year student in high school can possess such physical techniques, it seemed that he was using the magic technique of deceiving sensors that suited the name Yotsuba.

 Not upset by the fall of his accomplice, the other puppets attacked Tatsuya. They did not know fear not because they became puppets. The law of the puppets, used by Tsukasa, only took away free will and inserted orders into the mind. If feelings of loyalty or belonging can still be erased, then those used for self-preservation, the functions of the mind, like fear, cannot be erased. These guys did not know fear because when they became Star Dust, their body was not only redone, but their mind was rebuilt.

 Tsukasa did not consider this inhumane. Like many people in her industry, she also used magic to manipulate people, brainwashing them and making them do what she wants.

The fact that she now frowned, was for another reason.

 The display showed the battle of one Tatsuya against twelve, or rather already against nine people. It must have looked like a bad situation, in which one person is surrounded by a crowd. But instead, the puppet soldiers with the brainwashed magic fell to the ground one by one.

 - Commander. At this rate, target A will be released earlier than a separate unit will come into contact with target B

 It seems that other employees noticed this almost at the same time as she did.

 In February last year, the USNA army could not capture Tatsuya with the help of a detachment, including Star Dust and a magician, supposedly Angie Sirius.

 Knowing this, not only Tsukasa, but other members of the intelligence department understood that Tatsuya could not defeat the Star Dust alone.

The role of the puppets in this phase of the operation was to detain Tatsuya. Victory over him is not needed. Tsukasa's goal was to gather information about Tatsuya, but such a result did not work here. With this operation it was planned to obtain data on Tatsuya's fighting power, however, in fact, Tsukasa wanted to learn something else.

 - Hurry to attack target B.

 - Puppets are completely destroyed. Target A left the scene.

 Immediately after the commander gave the order, the remaining four American soldiers fell down. Tsukasa raised Tatsuya's abilities in melee two ranks higher than expected. The psion sensor did not catch the use of Tatsuya magic until the very end.





◊ ◊ ◊




 At the etiquette school, which Miyuki visited, only girls from respected families were gathered. Simply put, only girls from high society who can afford a huge tuition fee could go there.

 The security was appropriately, serious. Women with a level of skills sufficient to ensure that at least private criminal organizations could not do anything were employed. That's why the feelings of every parent (but not all of them) entrusted their daughters with them, having established the outdated rule of the "ban on men."

 However, this evening it is time to be destroyed by this "myth of security."

 - All of you, calm down, please!

 The lecturer who raised her voice to shout over the howling siren, panicked even more students.

 - Please evacuate to the safe room in accordance with the emergency manual! The safe room is reliable. Calm down and quickly evacuate, please!

 It's the screaming female lecturer who should have calmed down more than anyone else.

A total of ten pupils (10 today was by chance, usually a different number) whispered to their separately hired family guards. Among the pupils, except Miyuki, there was only one magician, but among the guardians they were all magician's.

 - Miyuki-sama, what are we going to do?

 - In a safe room, I see only the future of a cornered rat.

 Miyuki smiled confusedly.

 "However, to disturb the rest of the people from school with a problem that only affects us ... For now we obediently abide by the sensei's instructions." In case of emergency, Minami-chan, you will protect us if anyone approaches. You must hold out until Tatsuya-sama comes to pick us up?

 "As you like."

 Deciding what to do next, Miyuki began to act quickly. Turning to the students standing next to her: "Come along", she, without waiting for an answer went to the place indicated on the school plan as a safe room.

The other students, their personal guards and the lecturer, followed Miyuki, who went behind Minami.





 School guards fought valiantly. At least it seemed to Miyuki. But the current situation developed in the enemies favor.

 Suddenly an electric shock attack flew from the side of the passage ... but was stopped by Minami's shield. The anti-object barrier stopped the electric shock attack because it was not an air discharge, but a thin wire, over which an electric current was launched.

 "Minami-chan, she understood well." As expected.

 - Thank you.

 Miyuki praised Minami for blocking this attack not as a barrier against electricity, but as an anti-object barrier. This was a manifestation of a high level of mastery of the magician, when, without wasting time on the high complexity of magic, the nature of the magic of the enemy became clear and immediately activated the appropriate magic for defense.

 From the magician's of the guard following them, came expressions of surprise and understanding.

 Surprise was associated with the age of Minami. And understanding with the personality of Miyuki.

Surprised at the skill and experience of Minami, unusual at her age, but remembering that she was entrusted to guard the next head of the Yotsuba family, they realized that high skill would be natural in this case.

 The other accompanying "Ojou-sama" guards also did not play the fool. Attackers came not only in front. Side attacks were a rarity, because almost all the way was down a direct corridor, but behind the magic came not one or two times.

 - Covering from the rear, I wonder what house they work for? I cannot remember to see them here. Minami-chan, do you know them?

 Looking back at the very end of the walking group of people, Miyuki asked Minami, looking at the reflected enemy attacks of two women about twenty years old.

"I think it's Tsunashima-sama." The guard appeared as Tsunaga-san.

 - Tsunashima-san and Tsunaga-san ... I'm sorry, but I do not remember hearing about them.

 It's not as good as Tatsuya's, but Miyuki's memory was also excellent. It is unlikely that she would forget the names of the pupils with whom she studied. The surname of the magician, if he was from the Stamy Semey(?), she would also know.

 - Tsunaga-san said that they started attending classes quite recently.

 "How?" ... It was unlucky for them to immediately encounter such a sudden catastrophe.

 Listening to a carefree conversation, it would seem to many that they relaxed, but these two quickly moved forward, in the course of the matter, rebuffing the suddenly appearing offenders.

Protected by Miyuki and Minami at the head of the column, and Tsunashima and Tsunaga from the rear, the students (plus a personal guard and lecturer) arrived in a safe room.

 Miyuki and Minami had to wait at the door for Tsunashima and her escort, Tsunaga, who were fighting off attacks from intruders. Not because they thought they had a duty to help. And simply because, Miyuki was stronger than anyone else. Stronger than all escort guards, stronger than all the intruders.

 Minami took a CAD from her handbag in the form of a mobile terminal and gave it to Miyuki. Until then, Miyuki used a CAD with full mind control, which is completely invisible to an external observer.

 Miyuki took a more familiar CAD with a smile, turned it on, and ran her finger across the screen.

 Behind the fleeing students and their guards, two black intruders were already prepared to release magic, but were thrown back. The delay was below the recognition limit.

 Tsunashima involuntarily froze at this overwhelming magical power. However, Tsunaga, who had not lost her composure, dragged her into a safe room.

 At the other end of the corridor, there were also intruders. Frowning at the thought of how many more of them there are, Miyuki prepared to re-activate the CAD.

 Space around them filled with psion noise. Reflecting the light of the corridor lamps, a brass ring flashed.

The intruders used "Cast Jamming".

 "Miyuki-sama!" Minami tried to close Miyuki. In her right hand she was already holding a small but reliable combat knife.

 "Do not worry, it's all right, Minami-chan." "Unlike Minami's painfully frowning face, Miyuki remained calm. "It's a good opportunity to test the new magic that Tatsuya-sama gave me."

 Fearlessly stepping forward against two big men rushing along the corridor, Miyuki activated her CAD and released two magics sequentially.

 And at the same time psion noise was frozen.

 The next moment, after the psion waves became calm, those two men were already frozen. Frozen not in the sense of being frozen. It was "Frozen" in the sense of a complete stoppage of movement. Minami's bulging eyes looked at Miyuki, who frowned, hoping that defenselessly falling bodies that could not help themselves with their hands would fall without injury.

 The surprise was not due to magic, which neutralized those two magicians at the same time. Her surprise was from the magic that stopped the previously released psion noise, which prevents the activation of magic.

 "Cast Jamming", which is currently actively used in practice, is considered the most effective means of obstructing magic.

Although this requires a rare mineral called Antinite (it is believed that this is not a natural mineral, but is an artifact a relic of prehistoric civilization), but with it even a person who cannot use magic will almost certainly be able to prevent the activation of magic.

 For people who are not magicians, this is the strongest weapon to counter magicians. And Miyuki showed how she, on the contrary, destroys "Psion Noise."

 - Counter-magic "Freeze Gram". Counter-magic which Onii-sama, that is Tatsuya-sama created for me. It cannot stop any magic, like "Gram Demolition" or "Gram Dispersion", but it's enough for "Cast Jamming".

Miyuki did not show this with her face, but her mood increased significantly. So much so that she inadvertently called Tatsuya "Onii-sama", while explaining.

 Freeze Gram was an enhanced version of Zone Interference. It could neutralize such types of magic as non-systemic magic, area of effect magic, as well as any magic that has not yet been activated. It is not capable of eliminating magic that has a specific purpose, but, as Miyuki said, "Psion Noise", being a subset of non-systematic magic, was easily neutralized.

 "It's left ... less than ten people." In my opinion, eight.

 - I think so too.

 Minami nodded, feeling a strong desire for confirmation in Miyuki's voice.

 "Then ... We'll leave the next defense to the local guards, and we'll wait for the arrival of Tatsuya-sama."

 "Yes."

 Miyuki and Minami entered the safe room. Miyuki sat on one of the sofas along the wall, and Minami closed the door to the safe room and stayed with her, ready at any time to activate barrier magic.





◊ ◊ ◊




 When Tatsuya arrived at the school, less than ten minutes had passed since he was attacked. From the moment Miyuki entered the safe room, it took about five minutes.

 Tatsuya did not receive a message that the school was attacked. The jamming of communications by invaders was organized at a level impossible unless the intelligence department was involved.

 From Yakumo, there was also no information that they would also aim at Miyuki.

 During the attack on himself, he did not have any conclusions that it was a diversionary maneuver.

 He came here only because his main priority is to guarantee the safety of Miyuki.

 There were no more battles at school.

 However, it was evident at first glance that a forced invasion occurred.

 Looking at it, Tatsuya was not alarmed. He knew that there was not a scratch on Miyuki, even without seeing her with the naked eye. Because he was "always seeing and defending her view."

 He could find out where Miyuki was, simply sending his consciousness to "information dimension." At the same time, he learned that within the region of a radius of ten meters around Miyuki there are many signs of someone's presence.

 The location of Miyuki he recognized with Elemental Sight.

 And he defined the location of invaders with a technique that reads signs of a presence.

 The accuracy of the information in the first case was an order of magnitude higher, but in the current situation, when the presence tags were not particularly hidden, there were no errors in reading the presence.

 Absolutely not worried, Tatsuya entered the forbidden for men, but already trampled by them flower garden.





◊ ◊ ◊




"Although we deviated greatly from the plan, it all worked."

 Looking at the image from the hacked school surveillance camera, Tsukasa ordered herself to cheer up.

 Distorted feelings that make you consider yourself a third party. And also a serious defect of the human being, when, as a result of a lack of self-identity, carelessly treat the actions necessary for life support, such as eating or sleeping.

 This was the price that the Tooyama family paid for its strength.

 Not only puppets from Star Dust, but her personal subordinates were sent to the school.

 - Commander.

 "What is it, Sergeant Major?"

 "I'm thinking of joining the operation." Is it okay if I leave my post?

 "... Understood." I'll authorize it.

 The lieutenant commander frowned doubtfully, but remembering what the higher officers said when giving him this task, he gave permission to Tsukasa.

 He was then told: "Maximally satisfy the requests of Sergeant Tooyama."

 He wanted her to go quickly, because she was incapacitating the system of subordination. Therefore, he granted Tsukasa's request to leave.

 - Many thanks.

 Tsukasa saluted the lieutenant with an impenetrable face, over which she could not understand whether she knew that he considered her a nuisance.





◊ ◊ ◊




 Tatsuya did not know that the room in which Miyuki was hiding - the so-called "safe room", but he suspected that this would be a room of this kind. But this was not the reason for his calmness. Not paying attention to the guards lying on the floor of the corridors, Tatsuya was heading straight to the safe room.

 Along the way, he did not encounter the enemy.

 All those who attacked the school gathered at the safe room and tried to break open its heavy door.

 Tatsuya pushed himself away from the floor soundlessly. It was a jump not upwards, but forward, for a quick reduction in the distance from the offenders.

 The enemy noticed Tatsuya before he approached a sufficient distance for close combat. They did not panic because their mind was suppressed. Attackers tried to apply the skills obtained during their training in Star Dust. They switched to Tatsuya the purpose of the movement magic, which they were ready to launch at the door.

 Earlier than this magic is activated, Tatsuya fired a compressed psion projectile from his right hand.

 It was a magic trick he did not know in the last battle with the USNA army in February of last year, an Armor-Piercing Psion Bullet.

Initially, this magic was created to inflict damage on the true body of the information life form called a "Parasite", but now he often used it to attack the psion information body inside the human body. Its effectiveness has already been tested on the powerful psion armor of Tomitsuka Hagane, which could absorb other's magical attacks.

 Star Dust soldiers, who do not have a dense psion veil, like Tomitsuka, flew backward, as if they had received a large-caliber projectile in the chest.

 Psions do not have physical striking force. However, in humans and animals in the body there is a psion network that repeats the shape of the body. That is why, with the help of psion influence, it is possible to move your body at a speed exceeding the reaction speed.

 Tatsuya fired shells of compressed psions, one by one. The owner of the vision, seeing the psion, would see how he shoots from the palms the luminous energy balls.

 Having received a blow to the psion information body that copies the structure of the physical body, the human mind tells the physical body to reproduce the damage in the form of an illusion that such damage is actually obtained. In fact, such a spell exists in non-systemic magic. It is called "Phantom Blow". Tatsuya decided not to use "Decomposition" to damage the bodies of opponents, but to neutralize them with Armor-Piercing Psion Bullets so that they could feel the illusion of attacking the "Phantom Blow".

He did this to confuse the people watching him. If the military is involved, it was natural to think that the internal surveillance cameras were hacked. Tatsuya came to the same conclusion.

If he had not heard the story of Yakumo, he would have dealt with the enemies much faster. Therefore, he had to think about such troublesome things, such as reducing the battle to close combat. But he had to switch from melee to psion shell attacks, because he was noticed before he could make contact with the enemy. He did not want to disclose his capabilities for as long as possible, at least until he learns the intentions of the self-defense forces.

 There were eight attackers in front of the door. All of them were already lying on the floor.

 There was no counterattack, the preemptive attack by Tatsuya put an end to the battle. If the enemy had a firearm, it would be a little more complicated. Tatsuya again felt that it was suspicious.

 Magicians of the United States prefer small arms with a built-in CAD. Their way of fighting was to increase the magic of their own attack on the weapon itself by introducing a CAD into this weapon. Tatsuya heard that they prefer a combination of various small arms. In fact, during the attack last year, from the very beginning Star Dust had integrated CAD based on submachine guns.

 Why now they were unarmed? The self-defense forces, or rather the intelligence department, easily had to have enough money to supply them with weapons. They were disposable brainwashed agents of another country. Even if the police found this out, the story would end so that no one would recognize anything from them.

 Tatsuya felt that the other side might consider that he was not fighting at full strength.

 He felt an unpleasant feeling that he was being trapped. But in a situation where you do not know what it will be, you cannot avoid it. Tatsuya began to wait for Miyuki and others to open the door from the inside, realizing that someone is watching through the cameras after the situation.





◊ ◊ ◊




 All the puppets were cut down by Tatsuya. Tsukasa confirmed this in a separate room from the command post.

 In the safe room there were no surveillance cameras. To her regret, Tsukasa did not know what the next head of the Yotsuba family (in other words, Miyuki), and her guard, who had escaped there, were doing.

 But now the invaders are eliminated from the outside, and they must open the door and exit.

 And there will be a chance.

 She checked the magic circuit, which establishes a connection between her and her subordinates.

 The connection status is satisfactory.

 Even if she used ancient magic called "Puppet Law", she was not a user of Outer-Systematic Magic interfering with people's minds. She was a magician from the Tooyama family, whose people received zonal magic developed in the Tenth Laboratory, generating magic barriers in the form of strong virtual structures.

 Even with a magical connection, Tsukasa could not read the mind of the person on the other side. She could not receive the flow of information from the five senses, and could not directly control the will. At the moment she could only count the location of the other side of the magical connection. It was a link only to determine the coordinates in the information dimension.

The most important thing is that this was enough for the user of the magic of the Tooyama family.

 If you need physical information about sounds, conditions, and something similar, then you can simply use wireless equipment. The equipment for secret listening and surveillance used by the intelligence department was not useless garbage refusing to work at muffling or physical obstacles.

The key to the activation of magic was the coordinates in the information dimension. This can no longer be obtained by electronic equipment. Also there were rumors about the existence of magicians and magic support systems that can match the resulting video image from anywhere in the world with the corresponding coordinates in the information dimension. However, Tsukasa considered these rumors fiction.

 The help system for aiming specialized CAD also reinforces the senses to the maximum, so that they can reach information about the distance.

But the owners of the Elemental Sight, directly looking at the information dimension, are probably able to calculate the coordinates in the information dimension based on the video image. However, there must also be restrictions. For example, there is a limit to the distance that a person can really feel. Infinite space exists only in the abstract concept. And the breadth of knowledge of man has limits.

 There cannot exist such people who violate logic, who, ignoring the harsh reality of physical distance, can concentrate consciousness on the information body in the information dimension only on the basis of knowledge obtained from the image. Tsukasa thought so with an eye on her own shortcomings.

 But this thought did not cause her any inconvenience. With the magic that the Tooyama family possessed, the role given to it did not require concentrating on a goal that is at an extremely long distance only with the help of a video image.

 This mission also did not require such things.

 She concentrated her mind on the image from hacked surveillance cameras to provide proper support to her subordinates.





◊ ◊ ◊




 The door, decorated with old-fashioned ornaments, opened before Tatsuya, slipping sideways and entering the wall. To hide his playful mood, Tatsuya pulled a bitter smile on his face. He realized that unlawful offenders (Tatsuya did not notice that he was also an illegal violator) could not open the door, because they tried to push and pull it.

 Right outside the door stood Minami. Upon recognizing Tatsuya, she bowed politely. From inside the room, Miyuki approached them with an elegant step. She did not hurry, apparently understanding that she was under the sights of other people.

 - Many thanks for saving us from danger.

 In appearance, this situation was not particularly dangerous, it was just words of politeness.

 "It looks like you are more than safe."

 "Because Tatsuya-sama got there so quickly."

 This time it was not a formal phrase, but the true feelings of Miyuki. She did not doubt that Tatsuya would come to help her, but when she really saw his face, she began to overflow with growing delight.

Moreover, Miyuki was happy that Tatsuya came much ahead of her expectations. She openly radiated this feeling.

 It was unconstrained. It could be said that she emitted an aura of happiness. Somehow, without any words, the room was filled with an atmosphere of immobility.

 The first who woke up from this sweet prison, there was another pair of magicians, a master and a servant.

 - Sorry, thanks for saving us from the danger. Shiba-sama, please accept my apologies that I too thank you so late.

 Polite speech sounded a bit awkward. For some reason, he had the impression of an acting game.

 "My name is Tsunashima." This is Tsunaga. Tsunaga-san, thank you too.

 Following the direction of Tsunashima-jo, Tsunaga went ahead. She moved from Tsunashima to Miyuki.

 Tatsuya instantly switched from a stationary state to maximum speed. He pushed Tsunaga back with his hands.

 Tsunaga, who was trying to grab Miyuki, clasped her hands around her neck, fell, flipped over from the blow.

 - Do not move!

- Minami!

 There were simultaneous voices of Tsunashima and Tatsuya.

 Tsunashima grabbed the unfortunate student and put a knife to her neck.

 Minami, following Tatsuya's orders, dragged Miyuki back, and took her place, closing it with her back.

 Tatsuya called Minami for this.

 "If you move, I cannot vouch for the safety of this ..."

 "That I do not vouch for the safety of this unfortunate girl," Tsunashima probably wanted to say.

 However, Tatsuya completely ignored her words. He released magic at Tsunaga who attempted to harm Miyuki.

 Miyuki and Minami were not the only ones who heard the illusion of the sound of broken glass.

 It was the "sound" of destroying the magic barrier.

 Falling, Tsunaga surrounded herself with a barrier. This was laid out by the magic of Tatsuya.

 Without revealing it on his face, Tatsuya remembered his big suspicion.

When he pushed Tsunaga away, his hand felt something else besides her body. At that moment, a magic barrier was unfolded in an instant, which he wiped out with the decomposition magic activated from his palm. After that, slightly pushing his hand, he added to the attack a small psion wave with a high compression ratio.

The Barrier magic collapsed, and it was expected that under the Tatsuya psion stream, the further creation of magic should not happen. Psions of another magician - an extraneous "stream." The psions flowing through the body and the magic calculation zone existing in the subconscious are separated from each other, but are not completely independent. When the activation sequence is output from the CAD, it is read by the area of magic calculation area, passing through the body through the psion network. When there is something foreign, like a stream of strange psions, the activation of magic right after that should be impossible.

 But despite this, Tsunaga tried to get up and deployed a magic barrier. If you look in chronological order, you could see that the magic was built right after the infusion of Tatsuya psions. The use of magic is not necessarily impossible when the body is paralyzed, but she did not seem to be a magician who can do it.

 While Tatsuya was putting his filled with doubt mind in order, he was not idle. He raised his right hand and released a narrow stream of psions into the still lying Tsunaga.

 Gram Demolition.

 Initially, it was used to blow off the sequence of magic, but if you use the stream of psion elevated permeability, then it shows an effect similar to the infusion of psions upon contact.

Tsunaga's body jerked again, after which it finally stopped moving. It looks like she lost consciousness. If she hit her head or had a load on her heart, then there is a chance that she might die. Despite the fact that the consequences can become unpleasant, he still used the enhanced long-range version of Gram Demolition, and it looks like it worked.

 Reflecting on this, Tatsuya stepped in the direction of Tsunashima.

 Blood ran from the neck of the hostage. But it was not "overflowing with a fountain", but only leaked out a little. The balanced use of force in such a situation indicated that her appearance and experience do not match, or that she passed special training.

 But, to her regret, it did not matter.

 In this place for Tatsuya, only Miyuki mattered as a hostage. Using Minami's life as a shield, he preferred neutralizing the enemy.

 Although Minami can repel most enemies, but if Miyuki were still taken hostage, he would, rather counteract magic, without worrying about the safety of the enemy, would simply turn him into a puddle. Undoubtedly, the tactic of taking the hostage against Tatsuya was not the smartest choice.

 Tatsuya tried to shoot a psion shell in a magician, who called herself Tsunashima. But at that moment he noticed that Tsunashima and the hostage were surrounded by a magic barrier.

 Tatsuya could not help but wonder. In a woman who called herself Tsunashima, there were no signs of activation of barrier magic.

"From where?"

 Someone formed a magic barrier around this magician. The other did not come to mind.

 The magic barrier disappeared.