25 2

	“However, the cause of the injury to the physical body is the damage done in the Magic Calculation Area? If you don't deal with this cause, then it can happen again?”



	“The probability that it will repeat naturally is rather small. Unlike “me“, she does not have to constantly support the excessive activity of Psions at a level that a physical body cannot withstand.”



	The harsh answer given by his “knowledge” only started to get on Minoru’s nerves. Usually a high activity of Psions is an indicator of an outstanding magician. But in the case of Minoru, these were shackles, binding him to his bed.



	Minoru kept his wrath of despair in his mind. Now the priority should be a way to cure Minami.



	It was not the time to discuss his own disadvantages, which nothing can be done about.



	“Does it mean that the illness of the physical body will continue to happen if Psion activity increases?”



	When you use magic, Psion activity occurs inside a magician. The stronger the magic, the more intense this activity. If the increased Psion activity will harm the physical body, it means that Minami could faint from the use of High level magic. Advanced magic would become practically useless to her now,



	“That’s true. Compared to “me“, its conditions are clearly visible, so it will not interfere with her daily life. However, as well as “me“, her activity as a magician will be limited.”



	Minoru unwittingly squeezed his teeth. He could not lead magicians in their current struggles. It was the one thing that constantly tormented Minoru. So this was absolutely unbearable.



	“But what about Minami? Will she have to accept the misery of not being able to use magic?”





	“... Will she be able to live normally without using magic?”



	“Unfortunately, I cannot give a definite answer. She inherited the body of a modified person. Perhaps even both her parents came from modified descent. Even if she does not try to use magic herself, there may be a situation that her Magic Calculation Area will go out of control and exceed the permissible limits of her body.”



	“Just like “mine”?”



	“If this is the case, her situation is more serious than “mine“. “My“ spirit is not strong enough, but it has a high regenerative ability. Therefore, even with frequent illnesses, it ends up not being fatal. However, in her case, the damage to her spirit can lead to the total exhaustion of her life.”



	“... But she was saved this time.”



	“Someone had restored her spirit on the spot.”



	Minoru’s intuition told him that it was Tatsuya.



	Minoru did not know about all the magical abilities that Tatsuya possessed.



	But he watched the Monolith Code Rookie Division on TV 2 years ago.



	In that match, Tatsuya couldn’t dismiss Ichijou Masaki’s attack, strong enough to inflict a deadly trauma, but he miraculously recovered and caused an unexpected turn during the battle.



	Based on that situation, Tatsuya must have an advanced self-healing ability. He can probably use it on other people.



	“Then what will happen if she “faints” when that “someone” is not there to help her...?”



	“She won't be saved. This is the fate that people with modified bodies follow. I assume that in the case of “Minami-san“ this could also happen the next time.“



	“So the method to cure her is the same as mine...?”



	“Merging with a parasite. This seems to be the most effective.”



	Minoru completed the dialogue with his “knowledge“.



	To save Minami, he must infect her with a “parasite“. Minoru thought that this was unthinkable. But he was in the same situation. Thinking about it, Minoru began to think that there was something attractive about that.



	◊ ◊ ◊



	As Tatsuya promised, in the evening he and Miyuki came to visit Minami. During their conversation, Minami told them about Minoru’s visit.



	“So Minoru said that he'd find a way to treat you?”



	“Yes, Tatsuya-sama.”



	As he thought, it was not just a simple visit. Hearing the response of Minami, Tatsuya nodded slightly.



	Although Tatsuya doubted the intentions of Minoru, hearing about them holding hands and him stroking the back of her hand, in the end he became convinced that the real intention of Minoru was to cure Minami.



	“Onii-sama, does Minoru-kun have such knowledge?”



	Miyuki, who listened to Minami’s story with him, asked an interesting question. The treatment of the Magic Calculation Area is a complex issue that the Yotsuba family has been exploring for many years and has not yet achieved its goal.



	“I can't say that he doesn’t have it. As was possibly seen at last year’s Thesis Competition, that Minoru’s understanding of “Reason“ far surpasses the level of a student. In addition, the magic of the former ninth laboratory, which has elements of Ancient Magic, also uses spells related to the system of Mental Interference Magic. It is probable that Minoru could find the key to the treatment of the Magic Calculation Area in the studies of the former Ninth laboratory.



	“However, Yotsuba researchers have not ceased to study the Magic Calculation Area since the former fourth laboratory. But despite this, the method of treatment has not yet been found. In addition, Minoru-kun has an imbalance between his Magic Calculation Area and his physical body. If he had such knowledge, wouldn't he start with treating himself?”



	“He could learn more about it because he has a similar problem.”



	Tatsuya shook his head and rejected Miyuki’s objection.



	“There is no point in discussing the abilities of Minoru here and now. He said he'd find a way to treat Minami. Let us perceive the good intentions of Minoru precisely as good intentions.”



	“— ... Right. Sorry for such useless doubts.”



	Tatsuya nodded to Miyuki and looked at Minami again.



	“Local doctors are also making a lot of efforts to treat Minami. The main house seems to be sending their research here, and I'm not going to sit around either. Be calm and wait for the good news.” Tatsuya said to calm Minami down.



	“Well. Uhm, Tatsuya...”



	However, Minami responded with an alarming voice as if it “caused the opposite effect“.



	“What is it?”



	He did not, of course, show any signs of anxiety on his part. With a calm face and a calm voice, he asked Minami to continue.



	“Could you please ask Minoru yourself so that he doesn't try to do the impossible?”



	“Really?” Tatsuya mentally muttered. It seems that the anxiety that Minami showed was not about the success of her treatment, but about the same Minoru that they were discussing.



	“Did you feel that there was something wrong with Minoru?”



	“Yes. ... He seemed very tense. He looked... As if he was not just worried about me, but as if he was hiding some other, more serious suffering...”



	“Did Minoru give off such bad feelings?”



	“No. He didn't look overworked or weakened.”



	“— ... I'm worried, Onii-sama.”



	Miyuki looked disturbed at Tatsuya, as if she had been infected by Minami’s anxiety



	“Minoru is a smart guy. I think he won't do anything reckless...”



	Although Tatsuya said so, he himself was not entirely sure of this.



	He did not know Minoru’s character. He could have said that if it was the Minoru he had met last Fall, he wouldn't do anything stupid. However, the behavior of the current Minoru did not correspond to the image he had of Minoru from that time. Therefore Tatsuya felt such uncertainty.

	Chapter 4

	First High and its nearest station were connected by a straight road. Although it does branch out, it can still be said that, the main road is the only one.

	Most of the students go to and from school on this road. The only exceptions are students who live within walking distance of the school.

	Tuesday, June 11th, morning. On the mentioned pedestrian route the noise from conversations of pupils had risen. Because the well-known President of the School Council, Shiba Miyuki, was walking quite closely with one male pupil.

	And this person was as famous as the President of the School Council. And in terms of fame in society, he was far more famous.

	The name of this person is Shiba Tatsuya.

	He had returned after a long absence.

	“Tatsuya-san!”

	From the gate to the courtyard of First High’s main building was a straight road. Right after Tatsuya stepped on this road, his was called out by a voice that was in front of him.

	There was a figure in the opposite direction among the students going to school, and she was not alone.

	“Tatsuya-san, are you coming back to school?”

	The people who knew the circumstances had faces as if they were saying, “There is nothing to be done about it...“ and the ignorant people looked at them with curiosity. Honoka, not paying attention to any of them, ran to Tatsuya.

	“Yes. From now on, please take care of me again.”

	With a crooked smile on his face Tatsuya answered Honoka, trying not to cause concern.

	Tatsuya quietly approached Honoka and looked at her back.

	Shizuku, standing behind Honoka, said hello with a confused face.

	And behind her back, Erika, Leo, Mikihiko and Mizuki stood with joyful faces. Erika, noticing the glance of Tatsuya, slightly waved her hand.

	Tatsuya continued to go towards the school building with Miyuki to his left, and Honoka attached to his right.

	The entrance for the Magic Engineering course was in

	 the second hallway from the main walkway. This was due to the fact that the classrooms for classes A to D and E to H had separate entrances, and the structure of the school building could not be changed any more.

	Separating from Miyuki, Honoka, Shizuku and Mikihiko, Tatsuya went to his classroom together with Erika, Leo and Mizuki.

	It's been a long time since he was in classroom 3E. Although Erika and Leo were in class F, they also went to class E.

	“We finally left the main group”

	Going to his place at the window, Tatsuya gave his impressions, which were not sarcastic, and quite heartless feelings. Erika and the others did not say anything, but only had stretched smiles.

	Mizuki sat down at her seat, located on the side of Tatsuya, and turned to face him.

	“Given your Stellar Furnace project, is it okay for you to be here now?”

	“Well, of course I'm going to be busy. Therefore, it will be difficult to come to school every day.”

	Mizuki's face was a little sad when she heard Tatsuya's answer. However, she quickly hid it behind a smile.

	“Got it. But I'm glad you'll at least come sometimes.”

	After the words of Mizuki, Erika through the window in the corridor nodded.

	“Even if you are only an “escort“ for Miyuki, and you leave immediately after you came, it will still be somewhat normal. In fact, if Tatsuya-kun isn’t here at all, then there is some sense of dissatisfaction.”

	““Escort“ for Miyuki?”

	Tatsuya could not resist to curve his lips into a smile, hearing the words of Erika, completely ignoring the meaning of school attendance.

	But what Erika said was unexpectedly true.

	“By the way Tatsuya, how bad is it for Sakurai?”

	Leo worried about Minami because she was a kohai from his club.

	“The doctor says that her complications should not remain. But it's going to take a little time.”

	“Okay...”

	Leo was worried about Minami’s condition, and Tatsuya was not the only one concerned about her.

	Of course, the very desire for a full recovery was not a lie. But at the same time, Tatsuya was thinking about the question of what to do with the protection of Miyuki.

	Yesterday she went to and from school alone. It is quite rare to meet a person who can harm Miyuki, whether it be a magician or a non-magician. Besides, Tatsuya can protect Miyuki even when he's not around.

	However, there are also problems that can be avoided only by having an assistant close by. Even for the Yotsuba family it will be difficult to send people to the school grounds. No, it may be possible to send a person to the school staff, but it is impossible to quickly prepare a pupil who will always be there. To only be an escort during the trips to and from school, was what Tatsuya was thinking before Erika mentioned it.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	Tatsuya had returned to First High, not because the excitement of Project Dione had calmed down. On the contrary, because of Tatsuya’s countermeasures that he had started last weak, the hype flared up again.

	The fact that the journalists were no longer crowded around First High was a consequence of the shooting incident.

	Since Taurus Silver's identity has already been disclosed, they did not have to risk their lives to gather information.

	Now it seemed that the excitement, which began in the vicinity of Tatsuya, has spread to a global scale. Among the four largest states, the New Soviet Union took the side of Project Dione, and the Indo-Persian Union, though an official statement from the Government had not yet been made, but it clearly demonstrated the position of supporting Tatsuya’s Project ESCAPES.

	The Great Asian Alliance has not yet disclosed its position.

	Among other countries: in Europe, they mainly support Project Dione; Countries from West Asia to South-East Asia support Project ESCAPES; Brazil and Australia, like the Great Asian Alliance, have not disclosed their attitude.

	The fact that both “camps“ do not publicly show a hostile attitude makes the situation quite confusing. The thing is that both projects, Dione and ESCAPES, coincide in terms of peaceful use of magic. And both projects do not bear the principled position that the enemy should be expelled from Earth. Judging by the published materials, the implementation of Project Dione will not make it impossible to move along with Project ESCAPES, and vice versa. There is just one problem: the same magician will not be able to participate in two projects at the same time.

	With the recognition that these two projects can coexist, the unfolded war of propaganda between Tatsuya and Clark moved forward with it leaning to the side of Tatsuya. It was not Tatsuya’s superiority of intellect over Clark, but it was related to the advantage of “Acting Second*“. This war was not a competition with a judge. Whether delays or fraud are involved, in the end, victory is the most important thing.

	[Explanation from the explanatory dictionary for the word used: “Wait and see the enemy's move, before making your move (for example, in Rock-Paper-Scissors, seeing what the opponent will show before you show your answer)“]

	With his debate, Edward Clark hoped to bypass this using political influence.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	At the time when First High had already finished its first lesson, the commander of the 1-0-1 Brigade of the Self-Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Saeki Hiromi visited the office building of the Ministry of Defence. This was also the joint headquarters of the Japanese Navy, but the purpose of today's visit was the Public sector.

	Saeki was back at the base before noon. Going into her office, she called Kazama.

	“— ... Tatsuya, that is, Shiba Tatsuya-san...”

	“No need to correct yourself, Lieutenant Colonel.”

	Interrupting someone else's speech was not like the normal Saeki. She didn't even try to hide her bad mood.

	Kazama was not puzzled, but rather amused, and he was forced to make great efforts to restrain himself from smiling.

	“— ... I beg your pardon. So you were told to persuade Tatsuya to take part in Project Dione?”

	“— The Head of the Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no authority to give me orders.”

	In the conference hall of the Ministry of Defence, Saeki met with the Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of North America. As Saeki said, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no authority to give orders to the Self-Defense forces. Everything that was said in the conference room was in the form of a request. But the words spoken in the presence of the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, in fact, were coercion, or, in other words, an order.

	The military do not like to violate their command system. And officers have an even stronger feeling towards this sentiment, and Saeki was no exception. Her bad mood was largely explained by this.

	“Was this request voiced to Your Excellency, because Tatsuya is Special Officer Ooguro Ryuuya?”

	“It looks like it.”

	Kazama sighed, not hiding this from Saeki, who had made a dissatisfied face.

	“It seems that the bureaucrats do not seem to know, why Tatsuya was assigned the title of “Special Officer“.”

	“The status of Special Officer Ooguro is in a certain sense outlawed. It's no surprise that office clerks don't know about him.”

	As Saeki said, in the current Self-Defense Forces there was no such title as “Special Officer“. To begin with, if you look from a historical point of view, then calling Tatsuya a “Special Officer“ would be wrong. It would be more appropriate for him to be called a “militia who has been treated as an officer assigned to the regular army under normal conditions, not temporarily.“ Since there was no corresponding term for this concept, he was simply called a “Special Officer“ for convenience.

	Therefore, those who did not know the real situation, based on the original meaning of the concept of an “officer with special duties“, Tatsuya would be perceived as an ordinary soldier.

	“I think that they should know because they are office workers under jurisdiction of the official legal system.”

	Legal problems were solved by the Self-Defense Forces themselves, but this problem was “illegal“. The existing system requires the consent of the bureaucrats, so it would be impossible to justify the negligence of the Ministry of Defense officials by saying that they did not know.

	“You're right about that, Lieutenant Colonel, but now we have other problems.”

	“I beg your pardon. The problem is whether we can persuade Tatsuya and whether or not we should be persuaded. Isn't it?”

	To deviate from the topic of apologizing, Kazama listed two problems.

	“Right.”

	Saeki nodded to him.

	“— First of all, does the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs understand that Tatsuya is the operator of the “Material Burst“?”

	“Based on the feelings of today's conversation, they did not seem to know.”

	“Understood. If that is the case, I can understand why they gave such an absurd order.”

	Tatsuya was the greatest magical military force Japan possessed. No, not only in magic, he is the greatest of all possible forces. The Joker, alone changing the entire World balance, the fifth ace, creating the strongest hand*.

	[Poker terminology. “Hand“ is a combination of 5 cards received in hands.]

	Although the use of such a problem person as a “Joker“ may be prohibited by rules, but in this world its use is not prohibited. And nobody in his right mind wants to part with him. If they know that Tatsuya is the strongest magician in the strategic class, they will not even think of joining Project Dione.

	“Instead, how about registering Tatsuya as the 14th “Apostle“?”

	Saeki’s face showed her surprise. But the silent pause didn’t last long.

	“— ... That's not a bad idea.”

	“Your Excellency?”

	This time Kazama was the one to be surprised. Because he was just joking.

	“If things worsen even more, we may have to consider this option. If it becomes obvious that he is a Strategic Class Magician, officials will stop saying that he should be transferred to USNA.”

	“That is so, but...”

	“Well, it depends on how the situation will develop. We will deal with the problems as they appear.”

	Having said that, Saeki made a tired face.

	“And if you were to ask him now, Lieutenant Colonel Kazama, do you think you could persuade Shiba-kun?”

	“That's impossible.”

	He would not be able to convince Tatsuya to go to America, even if he were to ask. Therefore Kazama immediately replied that any attempts of persuasion are useless.

	“Besides, I can't say that Tatsuya has a good relationship with us right now. And my own mistake, when we were caught by the hidden video footage the other day, only added more suspicion.

	“It was a mistake by my calculations too. In any case, if we try to convince him, then we cannot succeed, and would on the contrary only worsen our relationship with him.”

	“That's what I think.”

	Saeki had no objection to the judgement of Kazama.

	“— Then, do you think, will we be able to gain the favour of Shiba-kun, by rejecting the demand of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

	“-Hmm... Who knows...”

	On the other hand, Kazama did not agree with her idea.

	“Whatever we do, Tatsuya won't take part in Project Dione. I don't think he's going to be particularly grateful. Wouldn't it be a better choice to do nothing at all?”

	“That is true...”

	Saeki looked down at her hands and pondered. Kazama stood motionlessly in front of her table and waited for her to say something.

	“I'll follow your advice.”

	“You mean you're not going to do anything?”

	“Yes. The demand of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not voiced in the proper manner, but done rather unofficially. There will be no problems if I were to neglect it.”

	Kazama decided that Saeki said so, but she probably planned to ignore the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the very beginning. It was normal to ask his opinion whether it was possible to benefit from this case, about deserving the gratitude of Tatsuya. At least that's what Kazama understood.

	“Lieutenant Colonel, thank you for your help, you are dismissed.”

	“Understood. Beg your pardon.”

	Kazama went out of the commander's office.

	At first Kazama thought that it was necessary to tell Tatsuya, but quickly gave up on this idea.

	The intentions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Self-Defense Forces for Tatsuya are irrelevant. This cannot be used as material to restore their relationship.

	Instead it was necessary to ask Tatsuya’s opinion about his registration as the fourteenth “Apostle“, as the conversation about it could become a reality at any moment.

	Tatsuya has already received undesirable fame from being Taurus Silver. At this rate keeping himself a secret will be impossible. But for Kazama, it was obvious that if you ask Tatsuya if he wants to become an officially State recognised Strategic Class Magicians, the answer will be definitely be “no“. Such an idea can worsen his mood if a mistake were to be made.

	... Kazama seriously worried that his relationship with Tatsuya became so alienated that he had to think of such things.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	And not only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was swept between Tatsuya and Edward Clark.

	The Ministry of Industry suffered from pressure from the office of the leader of the ruling party, a part-minister. Once, the Ministry of Industry was called the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, but although the name had changed, foreign trade was still under their jurisdiction. The USNA was one of their most important trading partners in this era, so the bureaucrats from the Ministry of Industry wanted to make the differences in trade as little as possible. For them, the quarrel of a single civilian with the USNA was not a joke, and they seriously wanted Tatsuya to go to America as soon as possible.

	However, this morning a request was made by the Office of the Minister who inquired after the legislative measures necessary to implement the “Magic Stellar Furnace Energy Plant Project“. In other words, it meant that they would have to consider another way so that he could not participate in the USNA’s Project Dione.

	Since neither Project Dione nor the project of the plant with a Stellar Furnace reactor were governmental municipal enterprises, Japan itself did not have to care about whether they should join them or not. Even in the New Soviet Union, which showed itself to be the most collaborative, the statement of cooperation wasn’t made by the government, but by the academy. At this stage, if the government does nothing, the USNA will not be able to accuse them of anything.

	On the other hand, the project of the plant is an internal affair of Japan, so it can be said that the role of the Ministry of Industry is to consider its legal aspects. But the request from the Office of the Minister was exerting pressure, because it demanded them to “support the project“, not paying any attention to the circumstances.

	Wondering about why this happened, the Ministry of Industry conducted an investigation. The Office of the Ministers sent inquiries to many groups of companies, which are a great source of funds for the ruling party.

	There were a lot of businessmen who opposed the project, which is likely to worsen their relations with USNA. Therefore, the real concern of the Ministry of Industry was that the project announced by a simple schoolboy could soon divide the business world into two camps.

	 “Since when has he had such connections?”

“How has he persuaded these old men that lead such companies?“ The employees of the Ministry were puzzled about such questions.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	Tatsuya did not leave the classroom until the morning half of the lessons were over. In the third year of training, the number of specialized subjects related to magic increased. But it does not mean that the number of subjects of the general course disappeared. Tatsuya concentrated on general course lectures that he had missed during his absence, studying them at triple speed.

	Unfortunately, the accumulated quantity could not be completed in half a day, but he did not think he could catch up by even working for a whole day. When the lunch break came, he got up to go for a bite.

	“Tatsuya-san, are you going to eat at—”

	“Shiba-kun.”

	The voice of Mizuki who was sitting him was blocked by a boyish voice.

	It was the voice of Tomitsuka.

	“Mizuki, go to the cafeteria first, I'll catch up.” Tatsuya answered to Mizuki, then turning to Tomitsuka.

	“Tomitsuka, do you need something?”

	“— ... I'd like to talk to you about something.”Tomitsuka replied with a little hesitation, making a persistent face.

	“Is this conversation going to take a long time?”

	In contrast to Tomitsuka, Tatsuya did not seem to be very enthusiastic about this.

	“Possibly.”

	“Can we do this after school?”

	But he still showed that he was ready to listen.

	“I would like to do it immediately.”

	“But this is going to be a long conversation?”

	“That is so... But...”

	Tomitsuka couldn't decide what he wanted to say.

	“Why are you acting so high and mighty? Can't you talk to him.”

	At that moment, a hysterical voice intervened in the conversation.

	“Hirakawa-san...?”

	Hirakawa Chiaki gave Tatsuya a burning look. But he did not embarrass Tatsuya, but Tomitsuka.

	“To say such a thing…! When did Tatsuya-san say he wouldn't listen!?”

	Mizuki who remained there although she was told to go to the dining room, retorted the words of Chiaki.

	It could have escalated into a quarrel between schoolgirls in an empty classroom, so Tatsuya stopped it in advance with the phrase “Mizuki, stop“.

	“Mizuki. I'm sorry, but I'm wasting my time talking to Tomitsuka this lunch break,. Please tell the others.”

	“— ... I got it.”

	Mizuki, trying to hide her dissatisfied face, bowed to Tatsuya and withdrew from the class.

	“Tomitsuka, where are we going to talk?”

	“Uh, let's get to the roof.”

	Tatsuya slightly raised his eyebrows, because other students could still hear them on the roof.

	“Alright.”

	But if Tomitsuka was fine with it, then Tatsuya was not going to complain.

	“Hirakawa-san, thank you.”

	Tomitsuka quietly said this to Chiaki, who sat down, while clenching her fist. After that, he quickly chased after Tatsuya.

	 Contrary to Tatsuya’s expectations, the roof was deserted. In Tokyo, the rainy season began last week, and today the sky was also covered by clouds, so looking at it, it could rain at any moment. Therefore, the absence of students wishing to dine on the roof was quite natural.

	There were benches on the roof, but neither Tatsuya nor Tomitsuka sat down. They stood up straight, facing each other.

	“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” Tatsuya began the conversation.”

	“— ... The other day, my mother had a seizure.”

	“— that is the chairman of the Magic Association, Tomitsuka Hisui, I heard about it from Miyuki. I hope she recovers quickly.”

	Indignation appeared on the face of Tomitsuka after hearing what Tatsuya said about the matter.

	“However, this is the problem for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chairman of the Magic Association. Complaining to me is not quite right.”

	Tatsuya noticed the expression on Tomitsuka's face, but was not going to treat him condescendingly.

	“The way you are talking about it is wrong isn’t it?” Tomitsuka angrily spoke in response to the insensible words of Tatsuya.

	“Fighting a girl younger than yourself, is that “Wrong” too?”

	Tomitsuka wavered because of Tatsuya’s remark.

	For the first time since coming here, Tomitsuka noticed that Tatsuya’s eyes were filled with cold anger.

	“So, Tomitsuka. Are you saying that I have to be sacrificed to spare the chairman of the Magic Association from worries?”

	“What do you mean sacrifice!”

	“Don’t you want to drive me to the USNA?”

	“Drive to...?”

	With a bitter voice, Tatsuya exceeded the expectations of Tomitsuka.

	“I... I think that the project will really help magicians...”

	“Tomitsuka. Don't you understand the real purpose behind Project Dione?”

	This time the voice of Tatsuya was slightly annoyed.

	Not realizing why Tatsuya asked, Tomitsuka was confused, forgetting his anger for the cold-blooded behaviour of Tatsuya.

	“— The real purpose...?”

	“The real purpose of Project Dione is to expel magicians from Earth and tie them to the asteroid belt and the orbits of Jupiter and Venus.”

	“— ...What?”

	“Magicians will be placed on the satellite orbits around Venus and Jupiter, and for the most part this concerns the magicians of the USNA, the New Soviet Union and Britain. If I also participated in Project Dione, it would have been at least 10 years before I could return from Jupiter's orbit. It's like a lifelong sentence.”

	The sarcastic hint from Tatsuya that he is not “expelled to the island“, but “expelled to space*“, was not understood by Tomitsuka.

	[The Japanese expression means “expelled to space“ literally spells “expelled to land“. The author in the second case has changed “island“ to “space“.]

	“If it is like that... Shiba-kun, are you exaggerating...?”

	“I am not going to force you to accept the truth of what I have said. Read the published materials again. Let's continue this conversation after that.” Tatsuya said this and then turned his back to Tomitsuka. There was no voice coming from his back, that asked him to stop.

	Even if Tomitsuka thought Project Dione would be successful, if he approached Tatsuya again, Tatsuya was not going to agree with his beliefs.

	I won't take part in Project Dione.

	I will not go into space, leaving Miyuki on the ground.

	I’m not going anywhere, leaving Miyuki behind.

	No one can change these principles. Tatsuya was just stalling for some extra time. But his desire for Tomitsuka to learn about the hidden malice behind Project Dione was not a lie on his part.

	 Tomitsuka, overwhelmed by looking at Tatsuya’s retreating figure, and kept standing there, until Tatsuya was out of his sight.

	“— ... What does this mean?” Muttered Tomitsuka, when he came to himself after feeling the sensation of falling rain drops.



	“It’s true goal? Sentenced to space? Huh, that's just a conspiracy theory.” He mocked Tatsuya aloud. But no matter how much he denied it, the words of Tatsuya settled deep in his mind.

	The rain had gotten intenser.

	Tomitsuka wasn’t annoyed that he got wet because of the rain, or maybe he did not notice it. He continued to stand still on the roof.

	“I haven't heard anything like it. Nobody said anything like that.”

	None of his entourage really talked about it. The TV program, which he watched, also did not arouse such an opinion. There was nothing like that.

	No matter how much information is readily available, there is a limit to how much information one person can obtain by themselves.

	“A true goal you say? You're exaggerating. Being expelled to space is not something public opinion will allow.”

	Nevertheless, even the so-called “own thinking“ of a person is not created just by themselves. It was formed under the influence of the information received from Tatsuya.

	Tatsuya and Tomitsuka have had different experiences, pieces of information and accumulated reflections. They were not superior to each other, they just had completely different natures. For Tomitsuka it was very difficult to perceive the conclusions that were voiced by Tatsuya. Probably because Tomitsuka was more normal. Most people are likely to have shared this disagreement with him.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	After an unsuccessful attack on the Izu Plateau, Edward Clark tried many times to call Igor, but he was unable to reach him.

	“You never managed to contact Dr. Igor?”

	“Yes, Sir William.”

	Clark was now on the phone with McCloud in Britain. In Los Angeles, where Clark was, it was midnight, in London, where McCloud was, it was early morning. They did not know where Igor was. He could be in Moscow, or in the Far East, so he did not know what the correct time was to call.

	“Unfortunately, Dr. Igor seems to refuse to contact us.”

	“There is nothing to be done... The doctor belongs to the east, that is hostile to us. We live with him on the same planet, but in different worlds. He decided to do everything on his own way and from the very beginning, he was unable to be controlled.”

	“If that’s so, does it mean that Igor is plotting another attack?”

	Clark's address changed from “Dr. Igor“ to simply “Igor“.

	“I think so. He will strive to get rid of the magic that converts mass into energy.”

	“If only he had waited a little...”

	Clark unwittingly ruffled his hair.

	“Sir William... Is there a chance that he could succeed?”

	“I think there is hope. But it's about 50-50. Last time it seemed that we had cornered him, but we don't know what the real abilities of Shiba Tatsuya are.”

	“Do you want to say that everything depends on the magic power of Shiba Tatsuya? ... Really, you're right.”

	McCloud’s guess sounded quite unreliable, but Clark could do nothing but agree.

	“Dr. Clark. Even with your “Hliðskjálf“, you do not know the real abilities of Shiba Tatsuya?”

	“— ... Unfortunately, that seems to be the case. It seems that the nickname “Untouchables“ are not just for show.”

	 “Untouchables“ was the nickname give to the Yotsuba family. Before Tatsuya even came up, for reasons unrelated to him, Clark had already targetted Yotsuba family as an enemy that should disappear at all costs. In truth, the Hliðskjálf terminal was handed over to Maya so that Clark could collect information about the Yotsuba family.

	However, the Head of the Yotsuba family did not do what Clark expected. From just the history of the terminal used by Yotsuba Maya, it was difficult for Clark to grasp any details about the real abilities of both Shiba Tatsuya and the magicians that belong to the side branches of the family.

	“Got it...”

	McCloud released a sigh of disappointment. He did not intend to insult him with these words, but Clark's pride was seriously affected.

	“Thus, we can only pray that next attack of Dr. Igor is going to be successful... Dr. Clark, I apologize for the conversation at this late time.”

	“No, I called you. Sorry for it to be so early in the morning.”

	“It's a normal time for me to wake up at such a time. Then, Doctor, Good night.”

	“Yes, Sir William. And you have a good day.”

	The connection with McCloud was interrupted.

	At the end, McCloud said the usual “Good night“.

	But Clark wasn’t going to go to sleep just yet.



	Chapter 5

	On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday there were no special movements either within the country or abroad. There seemed to be a break in the confrontation between Tatsuya and Edward Clark. But at the same time, Raymond’s conspiracy was progressing behind their backs.

	Saturday, June 15, a suburb of the United States of North America, Dallas, Texas.

	The National Particle Accelerator Laboratory was located here, equipped with a long linear particle accelerator with a total length of about 30 kilometres.

	From the very morning, this accelerator was preparing to conduct a secret experiment.

	The essence of the experiment was to create and evaporate micro black holes, based on the Extra-Dimensional Theory. Last time the same experiment was conducted in December, 2095 but the goal at the time was to get clues about the magic that converts mass into energy.

	But this time the goal was not to observe the energy generated by the evaporation of micro black holes. Even the successful creation of a micro black hole was not required. Today's secret experiment was to draw out the presumed agent that would enter the laboratory.

	However, for scientists, the long-awaited permission to redo the experiment was a valuable opportunity. They were burning with enthusiasm, because they did not want to waste this opportunity.

	To deal with the agent, neither the Intelligence Staff nor the Counter-terrorism Unit were involved. It was the Magician Unit STARS under the command of the General Staff Office.

	If there really is an agent, they would be considered to have high magic skill. This is also the reason STARS is involved, other units aren't involved, since the strategy was strongly proposed by STARS in the first place.

	“Jacob, is there any unusual activity?”

	“Nothing unusual, Commander. There is no one that looks like a secret agent at the moment.”

	The Commander of the Third Squad of the STARS, Captain Alexander Arcturus, was present in the security room, from where it was possible to observe all the premises of the laboratory. The individual he is communicating with is First-Class, First-Lieutenant Jacob Regulus of the Third Squad*.

	[previously referred to as “Regulus“.]

	Regulus was in the accelerator control room, and watched the neighbourhood to detect the agent when he showed suspicious activity.

	“Understood. Keep watching.”

	“Yes, sir.”

	“Commander.”

	When Arcturus broke off the walkie-talkie, a member of the Constellation Class spoke to him. The STARS are divided into classes in descending order: class of the first magnitude, class of the second magnitude, class of constellations, class of planets and class of satellites. This hierarchy was separate from the army’s ranks, and it often happened that a junior officer from the constellation class was under the command of a senior officer from the class of planets.

	“What is it?” Arcturus briefly asked his subordinate and continued.

	“Is there any evidence that Japan was involved in this case of First Lieutenant Fomalhaut? I can't believe the Japanese agent could still be active since that time.”

	Such doubts increased because of the delay, that arose at this stage of the operation because there were no signs of an agent appearing.

	The members of the Constellation class have been guarding the National Particle Accelerator Laboratory for some time now. They have been there in the days before the actual experiment. To be specific, they’ve been there since last Sunday. And when it is almost time to start the experiment, and they have not seen any hint of the enemy, then, of course, they will become sceptical about it.

	Last year, the Japanese army, using parasites, managed to create weapons in the form of autonomous humanoids.

	To avoid the morale of his subordinates from dropping, Arcturus decided to reveal some information to them with a relatively low level of secrecy.

	Is it a stand-alone weapon that uses parasites?

	“After this, one can only think that all this was prepared in advance. Though the basis for the claim isn’t sound, it is probable that the Japanese army was involved in the case surrounding First Lieutenant Fomalhaut.”

	However there is a misunderstanding behind his reasoning. Initially, this autonomous weapon, using Parasite Doll puppets were a modified concept of the use of a Shikigami* technique.

	[The magic of manipulating objects under which they behave as if they “came to life”.]

	But shikigami and artificial spirits could only move the physical body, and did not demonstrate any magical abilities. In addition, they could not seize control of the physical body controlled using the electronic brain. For this reason, their actual use was not realised until they got a parasite of their own.

	In other words, if you want to correctly use a parasite as a weapon when its one step away from completion, at first a parasite doll is required for development.

	Not only this, but all the “justifications“ provided by Regulus that he had transferred to Arcturus and Base Commander Walker, were supplemented by “circumstances“ that were distorted with superficial facts. And they firmly believed that “The Japanese agent will definitely participate“ in the repeated experiment with the Micro Black Holes.

	“I’m here... Excuse me!”

	This member of the constellation class also had no doubt in these distorted justifications.

	 Meanwhile, no suspicious person has yet to enter the laboratory. No, to be more precise, they were not “not detected“, but they simply were not considered “suspicious“.

	And it was quite natural. Because this suspicious person had a badge issued by the National Research Agency.

	Raymond Clark, who, using his father's connections, received a pass not as a mere guest, but as a temporary worker, watched the majestic view of the particle accelerator from the roof of the office building of the laboratory.

	Raymond was the one who invented the non-existent Japanese agent's involvement to make it a prerequisite for today's experiment. To create a military force for the confrontation of Tatsuya, he decided to once again create parasites. For this he used Regulus’ thirst for revenge.

	Regulus, who disagreed with the fact that his friend Fomalhaut was ruthlessly executed, was a perfect way to set all of this up by using his anger. And by just using some “hints“, Regulus acted exactly as expected by Raymond.

	Regulus and Arcturus, as magicians, are far superior to him, but they are taking part in this farce, and thus in the script that he wrote. Magicians belonging to the elite group “STARS“, whom he would never be able to reach, played the comedic part on the stage he created. Raymond came to see this show from the front row.

	However, a serious element was definitely present to the comedy, which will not make him laugh. Raymond came to make sure it was going to happen.

	He was not satisfied with the broadcast that was provided by Hliðskjálf, he wanted to see everything directly. To satisfy his curiosity and the feeling that he had achieved something.

	All the real lab staff were busy experimenting, because they thought they would not be given another chance for this. There was no one who would rebuke Raymond for doing, only standing on the roof, leaning over the handrails.



	11:00. The planned time for the experiment.

	In the experiment itself, the STARS did not participate. Regulus, located in the accelerator control room, could not intervene either.

	From the very beginning, Regulus was not going to interfere. He was not interested, whether the experiment would end with success or failure.

	His mind was busy thinking about who could have lured Fomalhaut into this trap.

	And he was not just thinking of the agent who pushed the experiment that caused the parasites to appear. By grasping the agent, you will be able to find out for which organization he works and destroy it. He sincerely believed this.

	While Regulus was watching to see if someone who was behaving suspiciously was in charge of the experiment, the scientist gave the command to launch the particle accelerator.

	The linear particle accelerator began its work, absorbing a huge amount of electricity.

	A proton beam is injected into both ends of the accelerator and is accelerated until they collide with one another.

	The experiment ended in an instant. They could repeat the procedure until the required data were received, but only the first test run was performed, and the second run was not.

	No, there were no problems with the accelerator. Just that the experiment went successfully after the first attempt.

	Immediately after hearing a voice indicating the start of the experiment, Regulus, who was sitting in the accelerator control room, got his field of vision filled with darkness.

	For a moment he thought that the electricity went out. But this suspicion lasted only a moment. The next moment Regulus felt a strong pain and an oppressive feeling.

	 “Something“ invaded to “him“. Something tried to penetrate itself into him. But not physically. He intuitively realized that it was not an invasion of the physical body. However, this pain was completely different from Mental Interference attack that he had in training.

	If Regulus was an experienced woman, he would surely compare this to the pain of defloration. But he was a man. He could not imagine what he could compare this excruciating pain to.

	Trying to avoid not only pain, but also other bad feelings, as something from the outside was trying to get inside of him, Regulus with all his power tried to repel this “something“. Regulus does not have any aptitude for Mental-Interference Magic, and he did not know how to control his body when his mind was being used to manipulate his limbs. Instead, he tried to use a special type of Psion control, that opposed Mental Interference Magic, Non-Systematic magic, and afterwards used Release-Type magic to shoot an electrical shock into himself.

	However, neither the spell against Mental-Interference Magic nor the Non-Systematic magic had any effect on the invader. And the electricity that was meant for suicide was never even released

	The invasion continued.

	It felt as if the invading “something“ had no will of its own. This “something“ is trying to merge with him.

	Suddenly, “intrusion“ became “assimilation“. The pain was gone. The oppressive feeling weakened.

	“... Is this a parasite!? ...”

	Suddenly, fear erupted in him. Regulus screamed with all his strength. However it was like the last light of a fading candle.

	Suddenly it became quiet. Fear and anger about the fictional agent plunged into the bottom of his consciousness, and his mind became tranquil.

	“... My name is Jacob Regulus.“

	“... I/we are called “parasites“ the people of this world.“

	So Regulus became a “parasite“.



	Arcturus, in the security room, immediately after the experiment, clearly felt something trying to penetrate his mind.

	 “A spirit...?“

	He did not feel pain and oppression like Regulus because he was a user of magical spirits. Arcturus was a specialist in Movement-Type Magic and could also perfectly summon spirits using Ancient magic. This Ancient Magic used the spirits inside him so that he could use their power. Perhaps modern people have the impression that this magic allows you to become a demon to use their power.

	Arcturus has long been accustomed to this feeling, when something lives inside of him, penetrating him from the outside. He was not confused when the “something“ tried to invade him against his will. Because he had the means to deal with what was invading his mind.

	The miscalculation of Arcturus was that the invader, the parasite, did not possess its own “Ego“.

	This “something“ possessed another spiritual entity besides itself. But it had no desires itself. So he could not distinguish it from himself.

	Without any intention, it simply sought to get inside. As if water were seeping through a dry cloth, it bit into his heart.

	Arcturus’ heart became overcome with fear when he realized that the spells known to him had no effect on the invader. He tried to summon a spirit and expel the “something“. However, the spirit did not answer Arcturus’ call. The place “Inside“ Arcturus was already occupied by this invader.

	Something from the outside once again got inside him.

	He and the “something” from the outside merged.

	Suddenly, “intrusion“ became “assimilation“.

	Arcturus felt as if he had filled something. It was a sense of true alignment that could not be achieved by just summoning spirits.

	“... So this is the true fusion of man and spirit...“

	It was his last thought as the pure Arcturus.

	“... My name is Alexander Arcturus.“

	“... I/we are called “parasites“ by the people of this world.“

	So Arcturus became a “parasite“.





	“It hurts, it hurts, it hurts.”

	On the roof of the lab office building, Raymond writhed in pain.

	“It hurts so much.”

	He persistently complained about the pain aloud.

	It was an acute pain, as if something from the outside invaded his mind.

	For Raymond, who had never been trained to resist Mental-Interference Magic, it was an unbearable pain. Only pain, he did not even notice the oppressive feelings from the pressure of this “something“.

	However, Raymond's strong ego resolutely rejected the intruding essence in his mind from the outside.

	Intense pain was the result of intense resistance. And he couldn't stop it because he didn't even know he was resisting.

	“It hurts so so much...”

	This incessant pain destroyed his mind.

	Raymond was fortunate that his ego had loosened its resistance.

	The resistance of the ego decreased, so the speed of the invasion increased.

	Raymond lost his strength and he could no longer writhe in pain and scream the word “hurt“, he just lay still on the floor of the roof.

	Raymond looked like a corpse, he had no more desires.

	The invasion went fast.

	The assimilation went fast.

	 “Something“ penetrated Raymond and because he stopped resisting, his desires were pulled on from within.

	This “Something“ took the shape of Raymond's intentions.

	Without any abilities, Raymond could not be the main protagonist. But in fact he really wanted to be the main character.

	Raymond wanted to play an active role in something romantic, like a heroic saga.

	To conquer space with magic. He thought that this was pretty romantic. And Shiba Tatsuya, who denies Raymond's saga, was a hindrance to him.

	It was impossible for him alone to force Shiba Tatsuya to surrender. For him, even the power of “Sirius“, the strongest magician of the STARS, does not pose a threat. So he was looking for the power of parasites.

	If the magicians from STARS assimilated with the parasites, they can force Shiba Tatsuya to surrender.

	... That's what Raymond thought.

	For this purpose he prepared this “scene“. To defeat Shiba Tatsuya with the power of parasites...

	 “... That's Raymond’s/our wish.“

	“... Raymond/We wish to defeat Shiba Tatsuya.“

	“... My name is Raymond Clark.“

	“... I/we are called “parasites“ by the people of this world.“

	“... Raymond/We will make Shiba Tatsuya surrender.“

	So inside Raymond, this distorted desire became an oath.

	 The parasites were once again summoned to this world.

	Not only these three assimilated with the parasites. Team Orion that consists of three people, who were patrolling the building outside, were also captured by the parasites.

	After completing the experiment, 5 people, besides Raymond, returned to the STARS base in New Mexico, and none of the people around them noticed anything.

	Raymond returned to his home in California with a carefree face.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	Sunday, June 16th.

	Kudou Minoru again came to the warehouse where the Parasite Dolls were stored

	It was still an early time, the streets were dark and quiet. No one in his family knew he was here. His father, brothers and servants must think that Minoru is sleeping in his room.

	No one rebuked him at home for the other day when he went to Tokyo to visit Minami, skipping school. Only his grandfather Kudou Retsu was concerned and asked Minoru about the circumstances, but after hearing the explanation, he could only briefly answer with a short “Understood“.

	Except for his grandfather, he was not interesting to anyone, neither to his father, nor to his brothers. This is what Minoru thought when he saw their reactions.

	As he thought, even less attention was paid to him the next day. Perhaps they mistakenly decided that despair had awoken in Minoru. Or, thinking that he could die at any moment, decided to let him do what he wanted.

	Minoru was grateful for this erroneous judgment. Now he regretted the time he spent on unnecessary communication with his family and the maid.

	He wanted to cure Minami. Minoru’s line of thinking was completely overwhelmed by this idea.

	Minoru did not understand why he is trying so hard. No, maybe he actually knew, but he tried not to realise it. Perhaps it was a kind of obsession, as if he were motivated by frivolous feelings, such as love at first sight, or rather love in 3 days.

	Unlike the last time, he opened the door with magic and entered the warehouse. This magic was the result of the practical use of “Electron Golden Silkworm“, which he discovered in the knowledge of Zhou Gongjin. This magic was used by Chen Xiangshan to infiltrate the Kanto branch of the Magic Association. However, this version of the magic was more advanced than the one Chen used, so this one did not turn on the alarm.

	Cool dry air enveloped Minoru’s body. Like last time, there was no atmosphere of mystery.

	“After all, nothing else remains...“ Minoru unwittingly said this to himself.

	There was no answer to that from the inside. Because these words were not facts but just words used to strengthen his determination.

	Minoru went to the “coffin“ located in the depths of the warehouse.

	The corpse of an Eastern man was kept in a frozen state.

	It was part of the group of parasites sealed by Tatsuya and Mikihiko in the artificial forest of First High in the winter of last year. It wasn't some coma or lethargy, it was a real dead corpse. To keep the parasite inside, various symbols and drawings were carved on the corpse's skin.

	This corpse provided the parasites in the parasite dolls.

	By weakening the seal so that the parasite could be partially free, they sought to ensure that the parasite trapped in the corpse would send a copy and create a new identity.

	This copy is locked in another doll or corpse, and the original corpse is sealed again.

	This way, the former ninth laboratory, now known as the Ninth Laboratory for the development of magic, produced parasite dolls.

	Even now that the production of parasites is frozen, the subordinate families of the Kudou continued to update this carved spell every 12 hours.

	The update time is 6 AM and PM respectively. The current time is 4:00. It was a time when the effectiveness of the spell began to weaken.

	Minoru pressed the switch on the wall of the coffin. The lid of the coffin was automatically opened.

	The corpse was dressed in white clothes. For Minoru it was like an invitation. He didn't want to see a disgusting naked male body there, which is also dead.

	Minoru put the right palm on the chest of the frozen corpse, which was rock solid. The heartbeat, of course, was not felt.

	Through his palm, Minoru sent Psions to the frozen corpse. Pushion waves could be felt after a few seconds. The inactive parasite in the corpse woke up.

	Minoru swallowed deeply and his breathing became ragged. He clenched his teeth and lips, and he held his breath.

	Having overcome his hesitation, Minoru abolished the spell used for the seal, placed on the corpse.

	The next moment, “slime” made out of light came out of the body.

	 This was the only way to describe this spectacle seen by Minoru. A glowing, muddy light formed an intangible shapeless creature. In terms of size, it is better to call it “mucus“ rather than “slime“.

	The “Slime“ tried to attack Minoru. Minoru didn't try to avoid it. On the contrary, he pulled his hands out, as if showing that he was inviting this slime, this parasite, into his body.

	On the summer sweater worn by Minoru, symbols and geometric figures appeared in the centre of his chest.

	The sweater is imbued with magical properties, that was made by Minoru himself

	The parasite flew into the sweater, as if it were sucked in.

	A voice of agony burst out of Minoru’s mouth.

	Because of the feeling of being invaded, Minoru made a twisted face and he sat down on the floor of the warehouse.

	He sat down, crossed his legs, throwing his left foot on his right thigh. The so-called Lotus position.

	Keeping this posture while baring the pain, Minoru activated cooling magic.

	He lowers his body temperature just enough to create a death-like state.

	The target of this magic was himself.

	Having brought his body to a state close to death, Minoru directed the consciousness inside itself.

	His near death condition was needed to suppress the potential rejection of the parasite. Continuing to stay conscious, he tried not to miss this initiative.

	At the same time as the parasite invaded him, ravaging his mind, Minoru was trying to rule over the parasite.

	He wasn't going to give the parasite a single drop of his desires. He was going to get the power of the parasite by only using his will

	 “I won't lose a creature that doesn't even have an ego!“

	Being extra careful to not destroy the parasite, he used a spell enslaving the parasite inside himself.

	 “I will no lose to this feeling.“

	 “If I’m overcome even a little bit, there is no point in continuing to be the same person!“

	Minoru mentally shouted to himself, battling the parasite.

	 “If I can’t even save myself, how do I expect her to stay the same!“

	He decided to become a “parasite“ to prevent Minami from dying.

	He wanted to get rid of his own weak body. But Minoru didn’t want to renounce his humanity for this. He did not succumb to the temptation that the knowledge of Zhou Gongjin had warned him about.

	He wanted to make sure he could keep his mind, his ego, from becoming a “parasite“.

	If he could ascertain that the human mind can defeat the parasite, even though it has given a human body to the parasite, he will be able to use this method to treat Minami.

	It was a kind of self-sacrifice where he used his own body for an experiment.

	Or,

	It was a ritual for gaining the power of demons, by sacrificing his body.

	This decision may have helped him to accept the fact that he had already said goodbye to his old life.

	However, Minoru was expected to win. No, his will led him to an absolute success.

	He couldn't find another way. He knew there was no other way, because he possessed the knowledge of Zhou Gongjin. And once there are no other ways, there was nothing left but to succeed in this spell. Failure was unacceptable.

	This strong desire was the greatest weapon in the hands of Minoru.

	If it was necessary to simply kill this spiritual form, the decisive factor could be certain magical techniques. For example Miyuki’s “Cocytus” is able to destroy the fusion between a body and a parasite.

	But if you want the parasite to comply, this method will not work

	The enemy was not the same as a ghost like that of Zhou Gongjin, which are the remains of reason, that have lost their lives.

	It was a living being that has no material form, but possesses the instincts to search for prey and to reproduce.

	In order to tame it as a part of yourself, you need to strengthen your heart so that you’re not overcome.

	This blind determination drove Minoru to this point.

	However, his strong will brought him victory at a competition that was reckless.

	 “... Obey me, become a part of me!“

	 Assimilation with the parasite ended simultaneously with the mental screaming of Minoru.

	“... I am Kudou Minoru.“

	“... I hear a voice associated with me.“

	“... It whispers “become one with us”.“

	“... But.“

	“... I'm me.“

	“... Not “us“.“

	Even after merging with a parasite, Minoru remained “Kudou Minoru“.

	He cancelled the cooling magic previously applied to his physical body and fell on his back.

	The frostbite was instantly healed.

	This regeneration ability was a bonus from becoming a “parasite“.

	He somehow realized that an organ had formed behind his forehead, which had not been there before.

	But at the moment it had no influence on the consciousness of Minoru.

	Minoru started to laugh. He laughed cheerfully, lying on the floor of the warehouse.





	Chapter 6

	Sunday, June 16, evening.

	When Miyuki, who came to visit Minami, was about to leave, another visitor arrived at Minami’s room.

	“Yes, who’s there?“

	Miyuki replied to the knock on the door, and, after letting go of Minami’s hand, got up from a chair and headed towards the door.

	“It's Kudou Minoru.”

	“Minoru-kun?”

	Miyuki stopped halfway and looked back at Minami. She nodded with an embarrassed face. Miyuki’s lips unwittingly floated in a smile.

	“Yes, I'll open it now.”

	Miyuki opened the door to the room.

	Miyuki and Minoru were facing each other and were separated by about an arm's length.

	Was it lucky or unlucky that no one was here to witness this spectacle?

	A girl with heavenly beauty and a guy clad in an inhuman-like beauty.

	Some artist might have sold his soul to the devil to be able to capture this moment on canvas.

	Some poet might have committed suicide because they were unable to find the words to describe this spectacle.

	“Minoru-kun, welcome. You came to visit Minami-chan?”

	“Yes. Uhm, can I come in?”

	But for these two, this was just an episode of their ordinary everyday life.

	“Here you go.”

	Miyuki did not lead Minoru in, but she stepped aside, making way for him.

	Minoru held a floral bouquet composed of pale pink roses, gerbera of the same colour and orange carnations. Miyuki thought that it would be better for him to hand it over directly to Minami.

	As expected, when Minoru passed her the flowers, his cheeks reddened, and he slightly diverted his eyes from Minami. Minami, who was receiving the flowers, completely reddened and bashfully lowered her eyes.

	Miyuki would have liked to watch this scene a little longer, but changed her mind, deciding that it would have been too much.

	“Minoru-kun, thank you. Minami-chan, where should I put them?”

	Minoru and Minami simultaneously shuddered all over their body. Miyuki struggled to keep herself from laughing.

	“Ah, uh, then, over there...”

	Miyuki took the bouquet from Minami and put it on her bedside table, at which she pointed.

	“Uh, is Tatsuya-san here...?”

	Minoru suddenly changed the subject, as if he could no longer endure this awkward atmosphere.

	“Oh Minoru-kun, did you want to discuss something with Tatsuya?”

	Miyuki answered immediately. Did she do this because she felt sorry for Minoru, or because Tatsuya was mentioned?

	Probably both.

	“He went to visit the doctor some time ago, so I think he should be back shortly. You got something urgent?”

	“No, it's not urgent, I just wanted to discuss something.”

	“Discuss to me?” There was a voice coming from the hallway, on the other side of the door that was left open.

	“Tatsuya-sama! Have you finished talking to the doctor?”

	“Yes. I heard everything I needed to hear.”

	Answering Miyuki’s question, Tatsuya entered the room and closed the door. ... Miyuki had not closed the door, not because she had forgotten to do so, but because she thought that it would be weird to have a locked room with a guy and two girls in it.

	“So, Minoru.”

	Tatsuya spoke, but he interrupted himself and he frowned his eyebrows when his gaze met the gaze of Minoru. It seems to have been an unconscious act, and he quickly returned to his usual face, and continued to talk:

	“What did you want to talk to me about?”

	Because Minoru was asked a suggestive question, he didn’t speak immediately. No, he just couldn't talk right away.

	“— ... About the condition of Minami-san.” After some time, he said this with great difficulty.

	“Understood. Let's go some place else.”

	“Please wait!”

	Tatsuya was right to be suspicious of Minoru’s behaviour, but it was Minami who objected to this decision.

	“Tatsuya-sama, Minoru-sama. If it's about my condition, let me hear about it too.”

	“But...”

	Minoru wanted to object to the request of Minami.

	“Please! I really want to know!”

	“— ... All right, Minami-san.”

	But in the end, he abided to her wish.

	“Then, should I go out?”

	“No.”

	Miyuki stood up and turned to Tatsuya, but this answer was given by Minoru and Minami at the same time.

	Minoru and Minami exchanged views, urging each other to continue.

	“— ... I think it'll be good if Miyuki-san hears it, too.”

	In the end Minoru continued, and Minami nodded silently.

	During this dialogue, Tatsuya grabbed some chairs for both himself and Minoru from the corner of the room.

	“First, let's sit down.”

	With a thankful expression on his face, Minoru sat down on the chair provided by Tatsuya.

	Miyuki returned to her seat at the side of the bed, on which she sat before the arrival of Minoru. Tatsuya sat down beside her, and Minoru on the chair at the other end of the bed.

	Minoru who was facing Tatsuya, Miyuki and Minami opened his mouth with a hesitant look.

	“— ... I don't know what the doctor has told you, but Minami-san’s “injury“ cannot be completely cured.

	It seems that Minoru spoke openly and did not try to conceal anything, because he had no time to spare.

	It was Miyuki who seemed to be the most shocked by his words. She covered her mouth with her hands, opened her eyes wide and was frozen in this state.

	Minami, at least, did not look shocked when she heard Minoru’s words.

	And Tatsuya...

	“— ... Tatsuya-san knew this, didn't he?”

	He was looking back at Minoru with calm eyes.

	“No, it’s not that I don't understand, but I disagree with the opinion that a full recovery is impossible. Apparently, what Minoru thinks is a “full recovery“ and my definition of a “full recovery“ seems to be different. Is Minoru saying that Minami's Magic Calculation Area will never be restored completely?“

	“Tatsuya-san’s way of thinking is that as long as the symptoms don’t worsen then she can fully recover, right.“

	That's not true either. But arguing about the small differences in our definitions will not fix anything. What is the real problem you want to solve, Minoru?”

	“— ... The physical body of a modified person lacks vital stability.”

	“The problem of sudden death?”

	“Yes, that's right. Despite the absence of any medical anomalies, one day death may suddenly come, like a sudden wind blowing out the weak flame of a candle.”

	Tatsuya noticed that Minoru’s expression became sombre.

	“— ... This is the fate that Minami-san has to carry... And so do I.”

	“...”

	“How do you know Minami has a modified body?”

	Miyuki murmured.

	Minami kept staring at Minoru.

	“Damage to the Magic Calculation Area increases the risk of sudden death. Minoru, is that what you mean?”

	“Yes. Tatsuya-san, you know about this too, right?”

	“I've been investigating the sudden death of modified people for a long time. Ever since I let a person who was like family to me die from this.

	“Is that so...”

	Minoru could not decide whether to say some words of condolences, but gave up on this idea, because he realized that without knowing the circumstances, he would not be able to express the true feelings in his heart.

	“— The overheating of the Magic Calculation Area shook and damaged the Information Body accompanying the physical body. The damage to the Information Body has been shown to also express itself physically. Usually the activity of the Magic Calculation Area limits itself so that it would not harm itself, however for modified people this “Limiter“ malfunctions. ... This is my hypothesis, but I think it is the appropriate way to describe it.”

	“I also think that this theory is correct. And I also think that the overheating of the Magical Calculation Area is always accompanied by damage to this “Limiter“.”

	“Do you mean that the damage to the limiter causes the overheating?”

	“— whether the overheating is caused by this “Limiter“ damage or the overheating damages the “Limiter“, I do not know.”

	Contrary to his words, Minoru’s face didn’t show a lack of confidence but instead showed a reliable expression.

	“However, what the cause is and what the consequences are does not matter at the moment.”

	Minoru said this without taking his eyes off Tatsuya.

	“The limiter is damaged. That's what's important right now.”

	For now this is the problem at hand and thus the heart of the matter.

	“Isn't that so?”

	“Sure, it is.”

	Tatsuya fully confirms Minoru’s assertion.

	“Minoru, are you worried that Minami’s Magic Calculation Area will suddenly start acting abnormally, which could then cause serious damage?”

	“Right.”

	Minoru nodded towards Tatsuya.

	“Minami-san’s current condition increases the likelihood that the tragedy that accompanies modified people will become a reality. That's my opinion.”

	“But didn't you tell me there was no way to restore the Magic Calculation Area? Or is there something other than the limiter?”

	Minoru did not answer.

	“— ... Minoru. Do you have another solution?”

	Tatsuya continued to ask. Minoru averted his eyes to escape from the sight of Tatsuya.

	“— ... Yes.”

	Even with that short answer couldn’t meet Tatsuya’s gaze.

	“And!? What is it!?”

	“— ......”

	“Minoru.”

	Tatsuya got up from his chair and stepped sideways. Not away from the bed, but closer to it.

	He stood up to have Miyuki and Minami closer to him.

	“What have you become?”

	Minoru raised his previously omitted look. He looked at Tatsuya, and the edges of his lips rose.

	Tatsuya remembered that smile. It was very similar tot the grin of Zhou Gongjin, which he saw in Kyoto.

	“— ... You can see that?”

	Miyuki stood up abruptly. She remembered this strange ghostly aura, these floating Psion waves emanating from the body of Minoru.

	“A parasite!? No way...”

	Minami stared at the back of Tatsuya, forgetting to blink. In fact, her gaze was glued to Minoru, but Tatsuya’s body closed that line of sight.

	“Please, don't worry.”

	Minoru rose and smiled at Tatsuya and Miyuki. This smile no longer contained any semblance to Zhou Gongjin.

	“I am a man from the Kudou family who created the Parasite Dolls. In the Kudou family, I am the second strongest magician after Grandpa. I know the ways to manage the parasites.”

	“I disagree.”

	Tatsuya denied Minoru’s words. Not realizing the meaning behind this, Minoru questioned Tatsuya with his gaze.

	“You're not the “number two“.. You're the number one among the Kudou family. And the best among the magicians with “Nine“ in their surname.”

	Without a smile, with a serious face and a serious voice Tatsuya answered.

	“— ... That makes me happy.” Minoru, on the contrary, smiled sincerely.

	“To be recognized by Tatsuya-san.”

	Even it it was a smile that could draw out the soul of their opponent, Tatsuya did not budge.

	“Please, don't be so cautious.”

	If there was someone who lacked tension, it was Minoru. He had a bewildered face, and his eyes were running round.

	“Even after becoming a “parasite“, I am still me. My “me“ was not distorted. I don't want to attack people or anything. And I am also not tormented by any other desires that I have not had before.”

	“However, Kudou Minoru was a man. And the current you is the parasite.”

	“That is... so, but...”

	Minoru showed a slightly suffering expression on his face.

	“Despite that, I am still me. Even now, I am Kudou Minoru. With the right knowledge and strength, you can merge with parasites and not lose yourself. I was able to prove this myself.”

	Filled with strong confidence, and determination on his face, Minoru turned to Tatsuya, Miyuki and Minami.

	“You don't have to be afraid to become a “parasite.” “

	“Minoru. You... “ Tatsuya whispered in a quiet, yet clearly distinguishable voice. “— ... Do you want to make Minami a parasite?”

	Miyuki quickly got her CAD out of her purse, and held it in her hands.

	“— ... The parasite body has a high resistance to Psion waves.”

	Hesitation could be seen in Minoru’s answer. Perhaps this really was proof that Minoru had not changed.

	“Merging with a parasite, you won't have to worry that the physical body will get hurt, even if the Magic Calculation Zone goes out of control. No, a “parasite“ is closer to magic than magicians, and does not have to worry that the Magic Calculation Area will go out of control at all.”

	“In that case, you should first ask Minami about it.”

	Tatsuya stood motionlessly between Minor and Minami. Their lines of sight were still being blocked

	“However, I will have to selfishly impose myself here as her master.”

	To be more precise, her “master“ was Miyuki, but in this situation there was no need for such details. What was needed now was his reason for speaking up.

	“I refuse. I will not allow Minami to become a parasite.”

	“Tatsuya-san!?”

	Minoru was really astonished. It seems that he was fully convinced that Tatsuya would not object to his idea.

	“But if you keep her in this state, Minami-san could suddenly die at any moment!”

	“If it is caused by overloading the Magic Calculation Area, there is a way around it, even if she doesn't become a parasite.“

	“But the restoration of the Magic Calculation Area is impossible! If it was possible to restore her limiter, I wouldn’t have even made the offer!”

	“— When you cannot fix the “limiter“, you can seal the Magic Calculation Area from the outside, and it wont be able to go out of control.”

	Minoru opened his eyes widely. After shaking, and having taken two steps back, his composure finally returned.

	“Tatsuya-san, are you saying that... you want to take magic away from Minami-san!?”

	Minoru couldn't believe it. Taking magic from a magician. It's like stealing a magician's sense of existence.

	For Minoru, whose life was based on being an excellent magician, even to suggest this was unforgivable.

	“Because I want Minami to live.”

	“You're going to make her stop being a magician!”

	“A person can still walk the path of life even if they are not a magician. Minami could live more peacefully as an ordinary girl.”

	“That is your wish, not her’s, Tatsuya-san! You have no right to take away the magic of Minami-san!”

	“True. Indeed, my desire is to take magic away from Minami. However, Minoru, your desire will rob Minami of her “Humanity“. Do you understand that?”

	“Then let Minami-san choose! It's her life! If Minami-san refuses to become a parasite, I will retreat. Minami-san!”

	Tatsuya continued to block Minami from Minoru’s sight. But regardless, Minoru still shouted to Minami.

	“I don't want you to die! But I don't want your magic to be taken away either! Please, become like me!”

	There was severe turmoil on Minami’s face. She wasn't going to become a “parasite“. Such a decision could not be made quickly. So in this situation she decided to rely on Tatsuya, regardless of whether she would lose her magic or not.

	But Minoru’s words shook Minami’s heart strongly.

	“Like I said, Minoru.”

	As soon as she had overcome her hesitation, Tatsuya answered with a voice as cold as steel to the words of Minoru.

	“She refuses.”





“Tatsuya-san, please, step back! Let me talk to Minami-san!”

	Minoru fell into a rage. He released Magic in the direction of Tatsuya.

	It was simple Movement-Type magic. His task was to move Tatsuya, who was blocking him from talking to Minami, aside. However, no acceleration or deceleration occurred.

	In an instant, this high speed aggressive magic made everything clear.

	The reaction of Tatsuya was reflexive but accurate. He disassembled the magic sequence with “Gram Dispersion”.

	“Minoru, what were you trying to do?”

	“Shut up and step aside!”

	Minoru was well-founded as an outstanding magician. He cannot lose when it comes to magic skill, that is something that he is confident in and strongly feels in his heart.

	When his magic was neutralized, Minoru fell into insanity. He was furious.

	He never lost, except when he was unable to fight because of his absence. This reaction was a consequence of his lack of experience in losing.

	For Minoru, who had to give up on everything because of his painful body, the thought “If only I was healthy” was part of his deep conviction.

	... While he is healthy, he will not lose in magic.

	And in one fell swoop this thought was turned upside down.

	Even if an inexperienced boy who is 17 years old loses to me this year, there was plenty of room for sympathy.

	However, Minoru was not “normal“. At this point he wasn’t even a man.

	Tatsuya was attacked with even stronger and faster magic than before.

	Tatsuya also invalidated this magic with “Gram Dispersion“ again, but unlike the first time, Tatsuya sees this as an enemy attack.

	Tatsuya's consciousness switched to that of a magician without mercy.

	Tatsuya who disassembled the magic, instantly shortened the distance in this interval.

	He pushes his right palm towards Minoru’s stomach.

	It wasn't a blow. It would be better to call the force of this movement to be “gentle”.

	The next moment, magic was released from the hand of Tatsuya. He released “acceleration” magic at a distance close to nothing.

	This magic had an impact not only on the area the palm touched, but also on Minoru’s entire body, pushing it back. It would be more accurate to say that his body flew back. And Tatsuya’s hand did not receive any recoil.

	Minoru, who was about to hit the door, silently stopped right in front it and sank down to the floor without making a sound.

	Minoru executes acceleration magic on himself using acceleration magic that Tatsuya invoked as a stepping stone, after flying from the door, he neutralized the inertia, eliminating the impact, and minimized the distance between Tatsuya and him.

	“Miyuki, Maximum Zone Interference now!

	“Yes!”

	Tatsuya issued these instruction before Minoru’s legs touched the floor.

	Miyuki’s Zone Interference covered the hospital room at the same time Minoru touched the floor.

	Looking at the direction where Minami was, Minoru unlocked the door and abruptly opened it.

	When using Zone Interference, Miyuki designated the area of effect to be the “space inside the hospital room“.

	As soon as Tatsuya tried to close the distance between him and his opponent, Minoru went out into the hallway──outside the range of the interference magic.

	The window panes that were dead-bolted broke and blew to the outside.

	Minoru’s and Tatsuya’s eyes met for a moment, then Minoru jumped out of the window that had lost its glass.

	Tatsuya definitely understood what Minoru was trying to say.

	“Miyuki, stay and defend Minami.”

	“Onii-sama!“

	“I’m accepting Minoru’s challenge.”

	Minoru did not escape with just the intent to flee from Miyuki’s Zone Interference

	— A battle in a hospital room would cause unnecessary destruction.

	— Minami could have been injured.

	Minoru did not want this, so he invited Tatsuya outside.

	If Tatsuya stayed here, Minoru would definitely withdraw. But Minoru was obsessed with Minami. Tatsuya could easily understand this during today's short conversation.

	He doesn’t known Minoru is going to come back to take Minami.

	The main priority of Tatsuya was the protection of Miyuki.

	Besides, he's a guy, and Minami is a girl. He couldn't be near her 24 hours a day.

	The best choice was to go and catch Minoru right here and now.

	Going after Minoru, Tatsuya jumped onto the hospital yard through the broken window.

	 This hospital room was on the fourth floor.

	Although it isn’t impossible to jump down using his own physical strength, it is preferable to not show any exploitable gap immediately after landing in front of Minoru. He was a tough opponent even when he still was a man.

	Tatsuya invoked a technique for inertia control from the magic library in his memory

	In other words, he activated the magic using Flash Cast.

	He neutralized his inertia right at the moment of landing.

	Together with the use of inertia control with his Artificial Magic Calculation Area, he also invoked the magic “Gram Dispersion“, Decomposition magic from his original Magic Calculation Area. The Release-Type magic “Spark“ cast by Minoru was invalidated.

	“As expected, “Gram Dispersion“. When I saw it a while ago, I thought it was just a misunderstanding. But to be able to bring such highly difficult magic that is said to only succeed in the laboratory into an actual battle... As one would expect from a direct descendant of the Yotsuba, right?“

	Minoru spoke in a suppressed tone. It seems like he had calmed down from their earlier exchange.

	“You unilaterally used force for the sake of your obsession. Minoru, this is the behaviour of a parasite.“

	Upon receiving an unexpected remark, the calm expression Minoru had just regained became agitated again.

	“You would not have acted this way back when you were a human being and you would not have shown such self-righteousness.”

	“This isn't self-righteousness! I am not wrong!”

	Minoru strikes Tatsuya using the Release-Type system magic “Jintai Hakka“.

	This magic disables the magical defence of a human body and forcibly extracts electrons from molecules, constituting the cell and releasing it out of the body. It is named “Jintai Hakka“ because the discharge occurring on the skin exhibits an appearance like the spontaneous ignition of human body part. But in reality, it is a terrible magic that collapses cells at the molecular level by depriving it from electrons which are used for intermolecular bonding.

	Tatsuya decomposed the magic sequence for “Jintai Hakka“ directed at himself that was on the verge of being activated.

	Even with Tatsuya's decomposition magic speed, he was only able to stop it at the last minute.

	Minoru’s original Activation Speed was already excellent, and after merging with the parasite it became even higher.

	Tatsuya intended to physiologically shake Minoru up with his words, but it ended up being counterproductive.

	The accuracy of his magic did not become compromised because of his emotional disturbance. Rather than him being agitated, there was the impression that his speed became even better.

	It was no longer possible to go easy on him.

	Tatsuya did not want to enter into a serious confrontation with Minoru. Because Minoru didn't have any hostile intentions when he came to the hospital room.



Tatsuya was fully aware of his lack of communication skills. However, if he can neutralize Minoru, he will not regret this decision.

	Tatsuya released “Decomposition“ at Minoru.

	He doesn’t use a CAD. By using a CAD, he would not be able to keep up with Minoru's speed. If the pledge seal had not been completely lifted, he wouldn’t have been able to stand up against Minoru's speed.

	Minoru's figure, who should have received Tatsuya’s Decomposition magic vanished without leaving a trace.



Minoru's real form appeared to the right.



Sensory Systematic-type magic “Parade“.

	Tatsuya's decomposition was aimed at a phantom created by “Parade“.

	Tatsuya released more magic.

	At the place where the original once stood, a phantom appeared. It had overwritten the real body as to make it look like Minoru was there the entire time.

	Tatsuya disassembled “Ghost Walker“, a directional bearing deceiving magic.

	(Minoru did not only fuse together with a parasite)

	The former Ninth Laboratory had the theme of incorporating Ancient magic techniques into modern magic.

	The possibility that the Ancient magic of the continent “Ghost Walker“ was studied at the former Ninth Laboratory is not zero.

	However, this “Ghost Walker“ was not something that he had learned just by seeing the sequence type.

	Magic has its own individuality. Even if the same magic is used to produce the same effect, subtle differences will appear in the process and will be unique to the different operator. The more complete the magic is, the more difficult it is to see the difference, it can be seen depending on the relative power relationship between the viewer and object.

	Tatsuya's “Eyes“ clearly saw the individuality of Zhou Gongjin from this “Ghost Walker“ when it was used by Minoru.

	(When did you capture the ghost of Zhou Gongjin?!)

	While Tatsuya was mentally talking to himself, magical discharge signs occurred in the air.

	Release-Type Systematic Magic “Cloudless Thunder”. [Literal translation: Thunder in a cloudless blue sky.]

	The air is converted into plasma, and the electrons extracted from the plasma are directed towards the target and explode. The negatively charged attack, is an attack of two stages that exposes the target to a violent stream of positive ions which were left behind.

	Minoru's “Cloudless Thunder“ was released while Tatsuya disassembled “Parade“ and “Ghost Walker“. Tatsuya then moved to disassemble “Cloudless Thunder”, but it was much faster than expected.

	Tatsuya selected the magic formula for “Douden Himaku” from his library.

	Release-Type Systematic magic “Douden Himaku“ is a defensive magic that reduces the electrical resistance to nearly zero on the surface of clothes and shoes. It is a defensive magic that makes the electric current of lightning strike the earth.

	Using the magic sequence from his Artificial Magic Calculation Area. Tatsuya tried to activate the “Douden Himaku“ with Flash Cast.

	At the same time, however, Tatsuya is hit by a magic sequence to increase electric conductance. The magic itself has no magical power, but it conflicts with the “Douden Himaku“ that “reduces electric resistance to approximately zero.“

	The electronic shower of “Cloudless Thunder“ strikes Tatsuya who failed to invoke magic to defend himself.

	Tatsuya deals with the pain as he rolls across the courtyard of the hospital.

	This courtyard is made with natural turf. Below it the ground is made out of earth.

	The charge which Tatsuya was hit with grounded into the earth, and the charged ions were sucked into the ground.

	Tatsuya supported himself with one knee on the ground.

	Minoru stood there looking very surprised by this.

	Even if one can endure the pain, the muscles struck by the electron shower should not be able to move freely.

	That’s what Minoru thought.

	This was Minoru's carelessness. However, it cannot be denied that he was bound by common sense.

	Using this gap Tatsuya uses “Mist Dispersion“ and it finally hits Minoru's body.

	Blood spurted from Minoru’s right ankle.

	 After losing the strength in both his legs, and not just in the right, he collapsed, falling on his back.

	To completely block his movement, Tatsuya also targeted his left leg, as well as the right and left shoulders. However, the thing that had fallen down was something without any substance.

	Signs of magic invocation began to emerge right behind Tatsuya.

	Without wasting any time by turning around, Tatsuya destroyed “Cloudless Thunder“ with “Gram Dispersion”. At the same time his “eyes“ weren’t just focused on the magic sequence for “Cloudless Thunder”.

	Tatsuya searched for the real Minoru in all directions with a 360 degree view around him.

	Tatsuya was able to destroy the "Hot Wind Blade" ──that came at him from the right and was low to the ground ──a variation of the air bullets where blades are produced by insulating and compressing air into this shapes and aiming them at a target.

	Tatsuya's "Decomposition" rapidly expands the decompressed hot-wind blades. Since it was low to the ground, it caused a cloud of sand and dust, he wasn’t blinded but he had to narrow his eyes because the wind was very strong.

	With his eyelids half closed, Tatsuya kicked the ground.

	Not to the right, nor to the left.

	Slight impatience was shown on Tatsuya’s face when he turned to his left.

	Was he impatient because he found him?

	These signs of disturbance told Tatsuya the precise position of Minoru.

	Lightning magic that was creeping up at his feet, was extinguished just before realization.

	A decelerating cage that restrains the body was decomposed immediately after activation.

	The bombardment of air bullets and hot air blades using air compression vanished because they were dispersed.

	Minoru’s magic that attacked one after another, now has a lethal power.

	All of it was neutralized, and Tatsuya found Minoru at the same time.

	Tatsuya sticks out his right hand. The index finger of this hand was stretches forward, and the rest of the fingers are clenched into a fist, it’s a form called “Ichinokande”

	This finger penetrated the clothes and skin of Minoru, and made a deep hole in his left arm's shoulder joint. This was not the result of his finger being reinforced with martial arts training. It was the result of the fact that Tatsuya activated “Mist Dispersion“ on the tip of his finger.

	When aiming with the naked eye or using magical eyesight, the spell will be redirected to the secret technique of the Kudou family “Parade“. Therefore he approached Minoru and released “decomposition“ at an extremely close distance. Now you can deal damage to the enemy, even if all 5 senses are against it.





	Minoru screamed.

	Minoru tried to use the parasite's ability to steal vitality, but Tatsuya removed his finger before he could.

	Next, Tatsuya's left index finger was aimed at Minoru's right arm joint.

	Minoru could not react in time and a hole was also thrust into his right shoulder.

	Tatsuya retracted his left hand from Minoru's body.

	However, Tatsuya received an unexpected counter-attack here.

	Minoru’s left hand, which was supposed to not be functional, seized him.

	A sudden feeling of exhaustion assaulted Tatsuya.

	Something was being sucked out of his left wrist.

	It wasn’t his Psions. It was something like his life energy.

	It is the parasite's ability to absorb life energy.

	It was only being absorbed for an instant. Tatsuya immediately twisted his arms reflexively to release himself from Minoru's restraint after being caught by his left wrist.

	At the same time, Tatsuya swung down his right hand like a sword, cutting off Minoru's left hand from the spot near his wrist.

	Minoru caught his left hand using his right hand and jumped backward.

	Although Minoru didn’t seem to have put too much effort into it, he jumped back five meters.

	Minoru stuck out the open wound where the left hand used to be.

	This time it was Tatsuya's turn to open his eyes in surprise.

	Minoru’s left hand was connected in the blink of an eye.

	Minoru looks at Tatsuya with a smile on his face.

	Whether he looked like this or he had turned himself into a demon, Minoru’s face has no signs of an evil distortion.

	"Is this the first time you’ve seen the parasite's healing and regeneration ability?"

	Tatsuya remembered that there was one previous incident. A parasite infiltrated First High as an employee of Maximilian Device, unaware that she was one of Lina’s companions. Lina called her "Mia", she had her heart pierced by Erika's blade, but this parasite instantly cured the wound.

	After looking closely, it wasn’t only his wrist but also his right foot, left shoulder, and the hole in the right shoulder was also healed. It is clear that Minoru has the same ability as that parasite called "Mia".

	"... Is that so? There seem to be individual differences in the ability of parasites, too."

	Meanwhile, Minoru confirms the fact that not all parasites have a high healing ability, after seeing Tatsuya’s subtle facial expression.

	"The ability of parasites, are both different in terms of type and level. Minoru, even if you are able to overcame the vulnerability of your physical body by absorbing a parasite, Minami will not necessarily be cured in the same way."

	Minoru gasps.

	Tatsuya did not miss this opportunity and held out his right hand that was clenched.

	Upon the guidance of Yakumo, the anti-parasite Non-Systematic Magic "Armour Piercing Psion Bullet", also known as Far Strike.

	That magic’s original function is to dash through the air.

	Originally Psion bullets were not limited in terms of speed.

	Psion bullets that do not have mass and do not have physical conditions and are not bound by the speed of light.

	However, "Armour Piercing Psion bullet" is not just a Psion bullet.

	It is not just a bullet made solely out of Psions Psion.

	The "Armour Piercing Psion bullet" is a bullet that flies through the Information Dimension.

	Originally, there is no concept of movement in the Information Dimension.

	To solve the problem of “movement” in the Information Dimension, the positional change of the information itself is not used and time is not factored in. It doesn’t even take a moment, because it just rewrites the place “where the information applies”.

	"Armour Piercing Psion Bullet" introduces the concept of movement in the Information Dimension. This solid mass of Psions which is an information element is given the definition to "Continuously and exclusively move in the Information Dimension".

	That's the "Armour Piercing Psion Bullet".

	As a result, its movement speed is determined by the operator, that is, the limit to recognize the movement in the Dimension is restricted by Tatsuya. It is within the limits of the speed can throw something. He is releasing the "Armour Piercing Psion bullet" like he is shooting something.

	Even so, although the speed of the movement is much greater than 100 kilometres per hour, it still is not nearly as fast as regular bullets. It is also inferior to the speed of arrows. There will be a difference between individuals, but doing it is not impossible.

	Minoru jumped reflexively after seeing the "Armour Piercing Psion bullet".

	But it was not a jump.

	He fought against "Armour Piercing Psion Bullet" with Flying-Type Magic.

	The "Armour Piercing Psion Bullet" disappeared through the illusion of "Parade" that “he” was still left on "ground" in the Information Dimension.

	The flying magic used by Minoru is not the modern magic technique developed by Tatsuya. It is a flying magic sequence from the Taoist Technique-type Ancient Magic system in which he takes a ride on the "cloud".

	A magic that creates the chemical body of "clouds", gives it a function as a foothold.

	Tatsuya decomposes the clouds that Minoru is riding with his magic.

	But Minoru did not come down.

	This time he is floating by neutralizing the gravity with Modern Weight-Type Magic. Flying Magic was called one of the "Three Great Puzzles of Weight Systematic Magic" because it was difficult to realize free aerial mobility, but it is not difficult if it is just floating.

	Minoru stretched his hands out with his palms facing the ground. Plasma bullets were shot out one after another from his palm.

	Compressing air to the size of a golf ball, and ionizing it. It is a simple magic to shoot towards the ground.

	Tatsuya directs “Mist Dispersion” towards Minoru while preventing this attack by disrupting the generation of the plasma bullets.

	However, his magic was stopped halfway through invocation.

	Minoru did not maintain his floating state but was moving in the air with continuous jumps.

	Instead of flying, he kicks and jumps on the footholds created in the air.

	By leaving the illusions of "Parade" he created after-images.

	The problem was not only the difficulty of grasping the location of the main body.

	Tatsuya wavered.

	Minoru has that ability to heal and regenerate, even if he gets injured by Partial Decomposition.

	In order to control Minoru, he will have to take away his consciousness.

	However, Minoru did not stop even after his wrist was cut off.

	Using "Mist Dispersion", he can only neutralize him by killing him...

	Tatsuya was hesitant to kill Minoru.

	The attack directed by Minoru, even if it is fatal, cannot kill Tatsuya.

	Tatsuya cannot even be killed by "Cloudless Thunder" or "Jintai Hakka". Much less, plasma bullets cannot stop his movements.

	The magic that can truly be a threat to Tatsuya is the magic that attacks the spirit or mind which is beyond his "Regrowth", but Minoru is not trying to use Mental Interference Magic so. Or perhaps it cannot be used, but anyway, the magic he uses now is not a real threat to Tatsuya.

	And also, first of all, Minoru never committed hostile actions to Miyuki, or even show any hostility to them. And the motive of Minoru was the treatment of Minami.

	In other words, the current hostility is only temporary.

	Even if he turns into a parasite, it is highly likely that he will be of use in the future.

	Is it okay to lose the precious military power of Kudou Minoru, here and now?

	This dilemma made his point dull.

	(However, we cannot be sure.)

	If all of his body is decomposed, even the healing regeneration capacity will not be effective enough either.

	Even if you do not turn the whole body into dust, the parasite will just leave the body after the heart is gone.

	Decompose the heart, then if you can blow away the parasite using "Gram Demolition" within the reviving time, he may be able to return Minoru back to normal by using "Regrowth" to restore his heart afterwards.

	(----------Let's do it)

	Minoru's attack stops when Tatsuya strengthened his determination to break from this deadlock situation.

	"Tatsuya-san, do you really think we can settle things at this rate?"

	Minoru said exactly the same thing that Tatsuya was thinking.

	"Apparently to me, it seems that I cannot break through Tatsuya's defence unless I attempt to kill you.”

	And it was the same as Tatsuya, he could not make a decision to give him a fatal injury. Minoru said so.

	"It seems so."

	Tatsuya agreed to this statement, while Minoru floats in the air and smiles with a nod.

	"Tatsuya-san, I think that it is the best way for Minami to regain a "healthy" body is to become a parasite."

	"I do not think so."

	"Is that so. It seems our opinions will continue to run parallel."

	Minoru turned his eyes to the broken glass window. Beyond there is Minami's hospital room.

	"But I've conveyed my ideas to Minami."

	Minoru returns his eyes to Tatsuya.

	“So as far as I am concerned, I am content with this.”

	Minoru's body begins to rise.

	At his feet, the chemical clouds formed again.

	Minoru flew away on this cloud.

	“— ... He’s gone, then?” With a sigh of relief, Tatsuya muttered, when he watched the flying “cloud” with Minoru on it disappear from his sight.

	That's not the end.

	Nothing's finished with that.

	Minoru will be back.

	“But we can think that at least for today it's over,“ thought Tatsuya.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	“Minoru is gone.” Tatsuya, having returned to Minami’s room, only said this.

	Zone Interference prevents the use of magic, but does not block magical waves. Even Miyuki’s Zone Interference works that way. Both Miyuki and Minami had to feel that the battle between Tatsuya an Minoru was fierce.

	But Minami did not ask Tatsuya to explain the battle in detail.

	Tatsuya told Maya about the attack by Minoru directly at the hospital and requested reinforcements for protection, and he then returned home.

	Miyuki brought coffee to Tatsuya, who was leisurely sitting on the couch in the living room.

	Pixie wasn’t here. When he returned to First High on Tuesday, Tatsuya returned her there.

	Sipping the coffee, Tatsuya returned the cup to the table. This feeling of fatigue that he felt, seems to have been the result of his life force being pulled out, but it only lasted for one moment.

	“Onii-sama, are you all right...?” Miyuki asked when she was worried. She was standing on the other side of the low table, with the empty tray clinging to her chest.

	“The fight was fierce, but it's okay.”

	Tatsuya did not try to conceal that the fight was difficult.

	“Was he a strong opponent because he became a parasite?”

	“Yes. The original Minoru already had an excellent activation speed, but by becoming a parasite, it became even faster. And his regeneration ability brings a good amount of problems.”

	“His regeneration ability?”

	“Yes. During the battle at First High, a parasite, pretending to be Lina’s colleague, also had this ability.”

	“The parasite that Lina called “Mia“? Right, if I remember correctly she had a very powerful self healing ability.”

	— The regeneration ability, which Minoru had, is either at the level of the parasite, or may even surpass it.

	“Mhh... Indeed, it is problematic.”

	The beautiful face of Miyuki became gloomy when she said this.

	“But what is really bothersome are not the abilities inherited from the parasite, but also the strength that Minoru already had. But also the strength of one more person.”

	“His primordial strength and... Another man's strength?”

	“Yes.”

	Tatsuya’s forehead became wrinkled. Excluding when he does it consciously, it was unusual for Tatsuya to make such a face.

	“Minoru has Elemental Sight. I had suspected it for a long time, and today I was convinced of it.”

	By using magic with the opposite effect of that magic that Tatsuya used originally with Flash Cast, Minoru was able to neutralize the effect of Tatsuya’s magic.

	It wasn't a coincidence. And it wasn’t really a prediction. Tatsuya realized that this was the result of reading the magic sequence emitted by the enemy.

	“But then!”

	Miyuki, though surprised, didn’t say words like “that cannot be“. And she also did not ask something like “Is that so?“. Tatsuya said he “made sure of it“. Neither consciously nor unconsciously, Miyuki had any doubt.

	“— ... Onii-sama. Who is the other person you were talking about...?”

	Just at that moment, her consciousness was filled with another question.

	“I do not know how he did it, but Minoru somehow was able to get the knowledge and magic skills of Zhou Gongjin.”

	Tatsuya answered, and did not hesitate.

	“Zhou Gongjin? You mean that Zhou Gongjin!?”

	“Yes.”

	“You mean that Minoru-kun... For example, found a book on magic left by Zhou Gongjin, and he studied its contents?”

	Miyuki interpreted Tatsuya’s words in terms of common sense. If you think in that way, you won’t become confused as quickly. However, Tatsuya was not going to hide the facts.

	“No. Using simplistic expressions, I think that Minoru was able to swallow up the ghost of Zhou Gongjin.”

	Miyuki covered her mouth with one hand. Not both of them, because the other hand pressed the tray to the chest.

	“— ... Does the Kudou family even have such magic?”

	Tatsuya negatively shook his head to the question of Miyuki, intently staring at him.

	“They should not have had the magic to unite with the ghost. This is contrary to the goals of modern magic. But the magic that makes a spiritual body you subordinate could have been used.”

	Tatsuya briefly interrupted her and pulled an easy-to-understand example out of his memory for Miyuki.

	“For example, the Parasite Dolls. To finish this humanoid weapon, they needed a magic that could control the true body of the parasite. Using this kind of magic, Minoru could have absorbed the residual thoughts of Zhou Gongjin. “Ghost Walker“, which he used in today's fight, was exact same as the one used by Zhou Gongjin.

	“I understand...”

	Frankly speaking, it was hard for Miyuki to believe that it was possible to swallow the ghost of a magician who had died a few months ago.

	But if that's what Tatsuya says, Miyuki could believe it.

	“— ... We must take countermeasures. Magic of the former Ninth Laboratory, Continental Ancient Magic and the superpower of a “parasite“. An adversary who combines all these forces will be very difficult to fight using the usual methods.”

	Tatsuya frowned, making a dull expression on his face.

	“I also have to tell Elder Kudou about Minoru. Aunt-sama doesn't seem to want to talk about it, so I have to tell him myself. In addition, we will need the help of the Kudou family.”

	He had already had to allocate resources to confront Project Dione, and then there was another problem. Naturally, Tatsuya felt disheartened.

	Miyuki stood and looked at Tatsuya with an anxious gaze.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	Tatsuya’s worry, that Maya would not allow him to share the importance information about Minoru, was in vain.

	Monday, June 17th.

	The day after the senseless battle between Tatsuya and Minoru. Tatsuya was summoned to the Kanto branch of the Magic Association.

	Today was not about trying to convince Tatsuya to join Project Dione. He was asked to attend an emergency conference of the Ten Master Clans as an observer. No, perhaps it was better to call him a witness.

	In the conference hall of the Yokohama Bay Hills Tower, where the Kanto branch of the Magic Association was located, only 2 people were present, Tatsuya and Katsuto. Katsuto treated Tatsuya as a person from the Yotsuba family and addressed him in the professional way.

	Katsuto acted as if they had never fought, when the fight had just occurred the last Sunday of the previous month. However, this behaviour could also indicate that Katsuto had not fully digested the events that had happened.

	In any case, this formal attitude was mutual from the side of Tatsuya.

	There are ten people on the screen of the Kanto Branch. There are also ten regular members of the Master Clans Conference.

	One of them, Katsuto, was present in this conference room and was not included in the image on the screen. Tatsuya, of course, was too.

	In addition to the nine Family Heads of the Ten Master Clans, there was one other person. And his name was Kudou Retsu.

	By reducing any formal greetings to a minimum, they immediately moved to the main issue.

	"──It's not that I don't trust you, but I want to ask you again."

	Ichijou Gouki, who had just returned from his sickbed, made some remarks with a vigorous voice and didn't even look like he had been sick.

	The question was given to Tatsuya.

	"Is it true that Minoru-dono of the Kudou Family became parasite?"

	"He said so in person. When I confronted him, he had become one with a parasite."

	The ten people on the screen reacted in three ways: one person would express their surprise, another person didn’t show any emotion, and the other showed their sadness.

	— ... And the fact that the goal of Minoru-dono is a sorceress, submissive the family Yotsuba, Sakurai Minami-jou, this is also true?

	"...Minoru-dono aim is a magician under the Yotsuba family, Sakurai Minami-jou?"

	This question came from Mitsuya Gen who was surprised.

	"I also heard this clearly from his mouth."

	"That... is there any special relationship between Minoru-dono and Sakurai Minami-jou?"

	Tatsuya answered "I do not know" to Takumi Shippou's question. In fact, he could guess what it was about but he didn't hear it from those two people themselves. Minami would have probably given the same answer as Tatsuya even if she was asked directly. What she thinks of Minoru, as of now, there is no doubt that Minami would be in a state of embarrassment.

	"Let's put Minoru-dono's motive aside for a moment."

	Then, Saegusa Kouichi spoke.

	"The problem is that Minoru-dono changed into a parasite and is targeting a magician of the Yotsuba Family, which is a massive problem. What I'm worried about is where the parasite that Minoru-dono possesses came from."

	"Certainly. The parasites could have invaded Japan again, but if there was a source in the country, a crisis could occur and the damage could expand if it was left alone."

	Itsuwa Isami agreed with Kouichi.

	"...That is."

	"Last time."

	Kudou Retsu tried to answer with bitterness in his voice. But before he could answer, Tatsuya talked over him.

	"When the parasites had invaded the country, I sealed two parasites with the help of my friend, because at that point in time, the means to ultimately destroy the parasites was unknown, yet those that were sealed were taken by someone. I'm sorry, but I'm guessing that is the source of the problem."

	"You don't know who took them?"

	"Negative."

	Tatsuya wasn't frightened by Kouichi's question, for he fought with a single word.

	"Did you not investigate it?"

	"Tokyo is not a territory of the Yotsuba Family"

	Kouichi nodded to Tatsuya's clear answer.

	"At that time, parasites were dealt with in collaboration with Mayumi-jou of the Saegusa Family, the Juumonji Family, and Erika-jou of the Chiba Family. We also shared information on the sealed parasites that were robbed with each other."

	"I certainly have heard about it."

	As Katsuto testified as a party, Kouichi gave up his pursuit any further. If Mayumi had heard it, it would be the responsibility of the Saegusa Family.

	"I have one in hand."

	Here, an unexpected line of words came from Maya.

	"Because Tatsuya was in a battle with the rest of the parasites, I arranged for the collection, however, I could only secure one."

	"...Did you not tell Tatsuya this?"

	Futatsugi Mai asked with a seemingly mocking tone.

	"Because I want Tatsuya to concentrate on his studies."

	All of them knew this was a lie but only murmured their complaints.

	"We received a report from Tatsuya and confirmed the status of our parasite just in case, and there was nothing was wrong it."

	Thus insisting on her innocence.

	"Then, is there a high possibility that the remaining one is the source of this infection?"

	"It is dangerous to hurry to a conclusion. Regarding the source of the infection, the information that we have is still too little."

	Yatsushiro Raizo put a stop to Mutsuzuka Atsuko's question in advance.

	"I think the concerns of Saegusa-dono and Itsuwa-dono are reasonable, but shouldn't we prioritize dealing with the known problems now?"

	"I agree. I believe that is the correct way."

	Raizo pointed this out and Atsuko nodded.

	"I understand the problem, that is, the treatment of Minoru."

	"...I'm sorry for my grandson, but if he turns out to be a parasite, I can't leave things be."

	"That's right."

	Kudou Retsu nodded with an expression that showed he was trying to suppress his emotions. His son Kudou Makoto, doesn't have such a resolute attitude.

	Minoru's father, the Head of the Kudou Family is Makoto, who instead of participating in the conference, is ostensibly saying that he is busy dealing with matters within the Kudou Family. However, the truth is probably that Makoto judged that this was a difficult talking point.

	"It has been confirmed that, when a parasite loses their host, they will fly away in search of a new host."

	Tatsuya gathered their attention.

	All of the participants should know this fact, but the majority of the faces showed expressions that they were reminding themselves again.

	"Well, is it necessary to mobilize magicians who can attack a mental body?"

	Was said by Gouki.

	"Is it not safer to disable Minoru-dono without killing him?"

	Takumi made a strong objection.

	"I agree with that opinion."

	The former supported Takumi's opinion.

	"Does Tatsuya-dono know the method used for sealing?"

	Isami asked him on the screen.

	"I will offer the know-how."

	Before Tatsuya could answer, Retsu had offered his help already.

	"Sensei will?"

	"Excuse me, where did Sensei learn to seal the parasites?"

	Hearing Isami ask this, Gouki reflexively asked Retsu. Doubt remains in Gouki's eyes. This could be understood even through the screen.

	"From a teacher of course. The procedure that our family uses for sealing parasites, was taught to me by Sensei."

	Maya put a bit of water in her mouth.

	Gouki's eyesight was easy to understand and his sharpness was reduced.

	"The countermeasure when capturing Minoru-dono is a measure that will be explained by Sensei, but when can we use this measure..."

	Mai tried to change this worn out mood.

	"Minoru-dono's aim is Sakurai Minami-jou. Is it okay to think like this?"

	"I think that his final goal is Minami."

	Tatsuya returned an affirmative answer to Mai's question, with a strong implication.

	"Well, then it would be effective to put up a net in the vicinity of Minami-jou in Tokyo's hospital."

	Kouichi boldly presented a plan to make Minami a decoy.

	"Well, that's fine. We will arrange the protection of Minami."

	Instead of protesting against it, Maya returned an answer that revealed a clear smile. It was a polite way of saying "There is no need to borrow the power of the Saegusa Family regarding an escort".

	Kouichi frowned when heard this.

	"Yotsuba-dono, I want our family to give you a hand with security."

	Whether Katsuto was reading the atmosphere or not, he gave an incomprehensible offer.

	"If you want to, it'll be outside of the hospital."

	"That's fine."

	"By all means."

	Leaving Kouichi outside of the matter, the conversation between Maya and Katsuto continued to be coherent.

	"What shall the rest of us do?"

	"The final aim of Minoru-dono is believed to be Sakurai Minami-jou, but there is also a good chance of him returning back to the Kudou Family."

	Takumi responded to the issue raised by Atsuko.

	“Minoru has been concealing his whereabouts since yesterday. He has not returned back to the Kudou Family, but it cannot be said that he will not return.” Takumi pointed this out.

	"Obviously, I will catch him if he shows up. I will not harbour him."

	"I am not really worried about such a thing." Mai answered the words of Retsu with a soothing tone.

	"Minoru was anxious about certain aspects relating to his health, originally he was an extremely excellent magician. I can't predict how much of Minoru's power has transformed after becoming a parasite. If it's okay, I think I will also dispatch some people from my family."

	Thus Mai offered to dispatch reinforcements to Retsu.

	"If it’s necessary, I will do so as well."

	Thus Gouki took advantage of this as well.

	"I am grateful. Well then Futatsugi-dono, may I ask for your help? I would also appreciate it if Ichijou-dono could lend me a helping hand with reinforcements."

	"Certainly."

	"I understand."

	Retsu lowered his head on the screen, followed by Mai and Gouki.

	"The Yotsuba Family shall guard Sakurai Minami. The Saegusa Family shall proceed to capture Minoru-dono. The Juumonji Family shall guard the outside the hospital of Sakurai Minami-jou. The Futatsugi Family shall send reinforcements and be the primary reinforcements, and the Ichijou Family will act as the secondary reinforcement to the Kudou Family. Is it okay for each house to remain on alert?"

	A voice of approval was given to Katsuto's words one after another.

	The Ten Master Clans’s course of action was decided.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	The clean-up of the conference hall was left to the staff of the Magic Association.

	Tatsuya and Katsuto left the hall together and headed for the elevator.

	They didn’t walk side by side, Tatsuya walked one step diagonally behind Katsuto.

	He wasn't walking right behind him to avoid getting into his blind spot. So it was as a result of Tatsuya not wanting to show any hostility to Katsuto.

	They didn't talk to each other. They just walked in silence.

	They really had nothing to talk about. It would not have been odd if one of them had died in the battle if the other had acted differently. Not even a month had passed since then. Because they weren’t hostile to each other, it could be said that they were acting like grown ups. Or was it because they were used to these kinds of battles?

	However, their silence was broken by a woman hiding in their blind spot just befor the elevator.

	“Juumonji-kun, Tatsuya-kun, has the meeting come to an end?”

	“Saegusa... Why are you here?”

	Despite the fact that Mayumi herself was a party in the current conflict, she spoke without a care in the world.

	“Because I'm interested.”

	Katsuto felt a headache growing when he heard the abstract answer of Mayumi. Tatsuya was feeling the exact same thing.

	“The meeting has ended.”

	“That was pretty fast. What did you decide?”

	“Ask your father“ Katsuto had wanted to say. But they have known each other for a long time, so he knew that she was not a woman who would retreat after hearing something like that.

	“— ... It's better not to talk about it here.”

	“Then let's go to a guest room.”

	In the Kanto branch of the Magic Association (as well as in the headquarters in Kyoto), several private rooms were prepared for negotiations with an elevated level of secrecy. Despite the fact that Mayumi was not a frequent guest here, she was still familiar with them.



	“Tatsuya-kun, too.”

	Even without continuing, Tatsuya realized what Mayumi was saying. He didn't have any urgent business today. Miyuki was still going to be at school for quite some time, so he had a lot of free time.

	“— ... Okay.”

	Tatsuya was not “glad“ about it, but he still accepted Mayumi’s invitation.

	 “Tatsuya-kun, I hope you'll be satisfied with black tea?“

	“Thank you.”

	Entering the guest room, the first thing Mayumi did was to brew tea. She just asked Tatsuya about her favourite drink, and didn’t need to ask Katsuto.

	Although Tatsuya felt the temptation to ask for something else, he showed prudence in order not to create unnecessary hassles.

	Mayumi put 3 cups of black tea on the table and sat down herself. Her place was opposite Katsuto and near Tatsuya.

	“Drink up or it will go cold.”

	Hearing the advice that sounded more like coercion, Tatsuya and Katsuto took their cups and brought it to their mouths. Black tea, brewed by Mayumi, had become tastier compared to her school years.

	For her, this was like a ritual of satisfaction. Mayumi put her cup on the table, because she was in a good mood.

	When all the cups were returned to their saucers, Katsuto looked at the Mayumi.

	“So, what do you want to know?”

	“Everything.” Mayumi answered Katsuto.

	“Saegusa, do you know what the subject of the meeting was?”

	“Minoru-kun has become a parasite.” Mayume responded to Katsuto’s question without any delay.

	“That's why you discussed countermeasures against him, didn't you?”

	When Mayumi showed that she understood the situation, her voice was calm. Tatsuya was alerted by this.

	“Do you really understand the meaning behind these countermeasures? You're pretty familiar with Minoru-dono, right?”

	Looks like Katsuto was also worried it.

	“Of course I understand.”

	Mayumi calmly answered the question without showing any angry reluctance to answer.

	“I also took part in the fight against the parasites the last time. Although I didn't really benefit much from it.”

	In that last sentence, her tone was a little disgruntled. But besides that, Mayumi spoke cold bloodedly.

	“... Knowing that Minoru has become a parasite, you can guess what was decided, right?” Instead of Katsuto, who was dwelling in his confusion, Tatsuya spoke.

	“Catch Minoru-kun, seal him, extract the parasite, and deal with it, right? But how are you exactly going to catch him?”

	Tatsuya and Katsuto exchanged views. With these views, they agreed that it is possible to tell Mayumi about this, and also who would be the one to tell her. Katsuto.

	“— ... We will capture Minoru-dono by ambushing him when he comes to kidnap Sakurai Minami-Jou.”

	“Are you going to do that, Juumonji-kun?“

	“No. Saegusa-dono took on this role.”

	“Mhh my family...?”

	The calm expression on her face disappeared. After showing her discontent with her lips, she quickly corrected her polite smile.

	“Sakurai Minami-san, is she Kasumi-chan’s classmate, “Sakurai-san“?”

	“Yes. Minami is your younger sister’s classmate.”

	In his response, Tatsuya used “Younger sister“ instead of “Kasumi“, which is how he usually referred to her.

	“— To use a girl who is in her second of year of school as bat? Tatsuya-kun, does that suit you?”

	Mayumi looked at Tatsuya with a condemning look.

	“Minoru will come to Minami regardless of our intentions.”

	“Inside of the hospital where Sakurai-jou rests, will be people of the Yotsuba family, people from the Juumonji family will patrol outside of the building. So you do not have to worry about Sakurai-jou’s safety.” Katsuto added Katsuto to Tatsuya’s explanation.

	“But if security is so tight, will Minoru-kun even show up?”

	“If that’s the case, we'll just have to figure out a different plan.“ Katsuto responded clearly to Mayumi’s fears.

	“Yes...”

	Although her response sounder cold, it seemed she was somewhat satisfied.

	“So, Juumonji-kun and Tatsuya-kun will work together to solve this problem?”

	Katsuto frowned without even trying to understand her intentions.

	 “She loves to stick her nose in other people’s business“ Tatsuya thought, and in her mind, she must be smiling.

	“— It isn’t limited to just this problem, The Juumonji and Yotsuba families are partners in the form of the Ten Master Clans. Our temporary conflicts should not grow into permanent ones.”

	“Yes...”

	The same answer as the other one. But unlike last time, Mayumi was smiling.



Chapter 7

	United States of North America, New Mexico, suburb of Roswell.

	The base Headquarters of STARS.

	The STARS were divided into 12 units, and it often happened that a squad received orders and acted separately from the others. In fact, the High Commander, Lina, should know about the missions entrusted to all the units, but in reality there were many missions, details of which were not reported to Lina.

	The previous Sirius had full control over the STARS, but Lina had not reached this level yet. You could even say she was far from that level. There were whispers behind her back saying that she was only a symbolic commander, and you couldn’t say that there was no reason for this.

	“All the squads should have been here today...”

	After taking a shower and dressed in her pyjamas, Lina talked to herself, lying on her bed alone in her private room.

	“Unit 3 and Unit 6 were moved somewhere last weekend. And I wasn’t told where to.”

	Lina did not see Arcturus from the 3rd Unit and Bolt from the 6th Unit on Saturday morning and hurriedly asked Canopus where they were. Canopus knew the activities of each Unit better than Lina, and was more like her commander, but not even Canopus knew where they sent Arcturus and Bolt to.

	Although this comforted Lina because she was not the only one being left out of the loop, but then she got depressed when she realised that her status as a High Commander was not being acknowledged.

	Though this kind of stress is pushed to the corner of her heart, but it stuck out to her this night and it wouldn’t go away.

	Although she tried not to think about it, but these thoughts kept repeating themselves in her head.

	“──Where did Unit 3 and 6 go, what are they doing?“

	“──Why wasn't she been told about the reason for their dispatch?“

	She was too annoyed to tell herself not to pay attention to it.

	“──After all, is the High Commander just an instrument that can use Strategic-Class Magic?“

	Power. Not the power that leads to the achievement of a goal, but only the Force* that simply knocks over obstacles. In the end, this was the kind of Force* she possesses... Lina was biting her lips.

	[At the Marked “*“ places, the author used the English word “Force”.]

	"──That's why, I'm just a 17-year-old girl. I didn’t have the best grades. I wasn't that good in the first place. I haven't received an education on commanding troops. I'm not tall. I have a baby face."

	Lina did not notice that this depression drove her mind into a spiral of complaints against herself. Her mind warned her that self-pity was an unhealthy behaviour, but she could not stop.

	“But couldn’t they have at least told me why they got dispatched? Plans of absence were reported in advance, but when the schedule changes, it usually is communicated to the “Commander”.”

	She couldn't stop complaining out loud.

	“If they aren’t happy with me, as a High Commander, I'll leave at any time. I understand it isn’t good to have an unreliable Commander. But I didn’t come here on my own accord...”

	Lina climbed under the blanket and turned off the light in the room with a voice command. No matter how much she complained, nobody heard her. Besides, she's just tired of torturing herself.

	 That night, Lina had a nostalgic dream.

	The fact is, if you only look on the surface, it isn't a very good memory.

	A memory of her infiltration in First High, a memory where Parasites were killed one after another, in the mountains.

	Finding a parasite, killing in one shot by piercing it through the back of the neck with Movement-Type Magic, another attacked her and she shot it with a plasma bullet.

	Finding a parasite, shooting it with magic, and killing it with the magic.





	The dream continues to loop.

	The attacking parasite was killed. It was like a zombie shooting game.

	While slaughtering a parasite, Lina turned her neck

	“──When will Tatsuya and Miyuki appear?“

	In this unique dream, she was both an active person and a spectator, but it was strange to look at herself as a spectator.

	At that time, she was fighting with the parasites, shoulder to shoulder with Tatsuya. Lina didn't forget this. She couldn't forget this.

	Although she did not want to be helped, she had the feeling that they are friends who fought together on equal footing.

	He was supposed to be an “enemy“, not a “comrade“. Besides, she looked down on Tatsuya and did not think he was equal to herself.

	However.

	Neither Tatsuya nor Miyuki treated Lina like a “teenage girl“.

	Neither Tatsuya nor Miyuki treated Lina in a special way because she was an “apostle“.

	Of course, they did not treat her like a “teenager“, because they were the same age, but still, she was happy.

	For Tatsuya, as a user of a Strategic Class Magic superior to “Heavy Metal Burst“, there was no reason to treat her in a special way. And even now, having learned about this, her sense of joy had not diminished.

	While in Japan, she wasn’t able to admit such feelings.

	However, back in an environment where she's only surrounded by "older subordinates", she comes to obediently accept this reality as time passes. ──Actually if Tatsuya was in front of her, she would feel that way again.

	Miyuki wasn’t here.

	Tatsuya wasn’t here.

	In an attempt to distract herself, Lina kept repelling the parasites while remembering her feelings of loneliness.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	“──Can't invade the mind of the High Commander.“

	“──Did the Commander have aptitude for Lunar Magic? “

	“──The High Commander should not have abilities in Lunar Magic.

	“──Then why can't I penetrate her mind? “

	“──Why can't I?”

	“──She repels it.“

	“──She rejects it.“

	“──She beats it.“

	In the darkness of the night, there is a rumbling of sound like that of bees heard from a beehive, though it's not a sound that can be heard by one's ear. It's the exchanging and sharing of the spiritual bodies ── a conversation between the Parasites.

	“──The assimilation with the Commander is difficult.“

	“──The assimilation with the Commander is impossible.“

	“──The High Commander is dangerous.”

	“──She's dangerous.”

	“──She will be our enemy.“

	“──This needs to be fixed.“

	“──Eliminate her.“

	After a while, the noise became a single voice.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	Tuesday, June 18th. It wasn’t 5 in the morning yet.

	No matter how much one is a soldiers, this was the time for sleeping unless one were on a mission.

	“Is it because of my dream...?” Lina unconsciously muttered this when she awoke right before dawn and was sitting on her bed.

	She only vaguely remembered what the dream was about. Although she could not say that it was a good dream, she still felt that her stress had diminished. At least her mood was better compared to what it was before she went to sleep.

	Usually it was hard for Lina to get up in the morning. One of her her recent habits was to force herself to drink bitter coffee in the morning to awaken her consciousness.

	But today, she did not feel that she needed to do this. Currently it’s June. At this time of the year the daily temperature exceeds 80 degrees (27 degrees Celsius), and at night time it falls to 60 degrees (16 degrees Celsius). A good time for a walk.

	Lina decided to put this idea into practice immediately.

	 However, Lina was a young girl. Before leaving her room, she had to do a lot of different things. She was not on a mission, and she could not justify her negligence..

	The sky was already beginning to lighten up, as she was getting dressed and went out.

	However, there were still quite a few people awake in the base. It was impossible to say “No one was there“, because there were soldiers at their posts, as well as early awaking service staff. Passing by such busy people, Lina mentally “thanked them for their work“. As a result, she walked around the training ground and approached the fence, which is the boundary of the territory of the base.

	This was her former home country. The hands of armed insurgents claiming separation and independence hadn't reached this far. Away from a conflict zone, there was no need to worry about a sniper while standing near the fence ── at least that's how it was supposed to be.

	Murderous intent came without a sound. By sheer coincidence, Lina had unintentionally avoided an invisible sniper.

	A high-energy laser burned the fence from the inside and through the illusion of Lina. When Lina independently trains, she uses "Parade". If not for the fact “she” was one yard away from herself, the sniper would have successfully hit their mark, killing Lina instantly.

	Lina was shocked but not by the fact that she barely escaped death. Naturally, she was frightened by death, realizing the fact that the sniper attack had happened, made her feel relief from the bottom of heart that she managed to avoid death. But the thing that shocked her most of all was that the attack came from the base.

	“Mutiny!“

	Now, Anti-Personnel missiles missed due to Lina’s activation of Movement-Type Magic, and to protect herself the heat and shrapnel, she used a magic barrier. At the same time, she traced the trajectory of the sniper shot and sent a glance to the roof of the warehouse.

	“Jack!? I knew it.”

	There she saw a silhouette of a man at that position shooting with something similar to a rifle.

	The warehouse was just over 100 meters away. It was still quite dark and it was hard to see who was there with the naked eye.

	However, the emitted Psion waves, undoubtedly, belonged to a member of the STARS familiar to Lina.

	STARS Unit 3, First-Class Star, First-Lieutenant Jacob Regulus. Nickname Jack.

	The magic Regulus was proficient in, was a high-energy infrared laser bullet and it was called "Laser Sniping". The magic was released using an armed device resembling a rifle.

	And he attacked Lina with “Laser sniping“.

	“Jack! Why did I become your target?”

	There was no reply.

	Sensing the signs of magic activation, Lina used magic that reflects electromagnetic waves called “Mirror shield“.

	 “Mirror shield“ reflected the light bullet created by “Laser Sniping“. This magic is perfectly suited for snipers because it is silent and does not leave a bullet. Its drawback is that before its launch, there is a small gap in time before firing. This time is not used to activate the magic, but instead is used to amplify the light. That is why she was able to deploy the shield and repel the attack, sensing signs of magic activation.

	 “Mirror shield“ reflects all electromagnetic waves coming into the shield from the outside. This also applies to the light.

	Therefore the area inside of the shield is not visible, thus making it become invisible to the enemy.

	When "Mirror Shield" was released, Regulus could no longer be seen on the roof of the warehouse. Lina raised her magic detection to the highest level and ran towards the warehouse.

	Flying objects using magic were caught by her detection. She noticed that it's "Dancing Blades", a magic shared among the combat magicians of STARS.

	“Alec!“

	The Psion waves of these “Dancing blades“ belonged to Alec, Captain Alexander Arcturus. Lina’s magical sense told her such.

	Lina activated her Zone Interference. But she didn’t focus the area around her. Instead she focused on the area around the four flying blades and it overlapped with them.

	The knives that approached her went around in a circular swirl, dropping to the ground and losing control.

	“Don’t tell me that even the Commander of the 3rd Unit, Alec is involved in this mutiny!? Or...”

	 “Or is it his personal hatred towards me?“

	Lina couldn't say this aloud. Although she was talking to herself, it was difficult for her to say it aloud as a seventeen year-old girl.

	She knew she was jealous. However, Lina tried to treat her friends at STARS well. Vega and Deneb from the 4th Unit at least showed her their dislike, but she had the impression that this was no serious hatred.

	But now she didn't have time to worry about this. New “Dancing blades“ were approaching.

	But this time there weren’t 4 of them, just 1. But it was much bigger.

	 “Tomahawk!?“

	She couldn’t stop this attack with her Zone Interference.

	Arcturus was a hybrid of white, black and Native American people, and he is exactly a quarter Native American. So with this blood he also inherited their characteristic magic.

	In Ancient Magic, it is possible to magically strengthen a weapon by focusing one's "senses" into it. Although such a technique isn't accepted as magic by others, it's widely seen worldwide. It's a technique that uses the magic of the Native Americans.

	And Arcturus used a one-handed axe, reinforced by such a spell, making it his trump card against magicians. It's also used as a weapon in melee combat, where fighting with it is exclusively done with Movement-Type Magic. Lina’s Zone Interference could not stop his Tomahawk attack.

	Lina knew this and dodged by moving horizontally. She moved nearly 22-meters, as if she slid from the air to the ground. Upon landing, she simultaneously redeployed "Mirror Shield" and started running.

	Although there were many obstacles and targets for shooting, but the fact that this was shooting ground with a good overview made her an easy target.

	Lina ran into the warehouse for special vehicles.

	She ran into a warehouse that contained special vehicles. Even if she entered a special vehicle, it didn't have any heavy armour and it wasn't a tank. Using magic, there was a self-propelled vehicle that can float in the sky, or a wagon car that can transform into a riding suit with a reinforced exoskeleton. The warehouse stored experimental weapons that have been neglected due to them being impractical.

	Lina would be testing the long-distance self-propelled vehicles flight functions. The door to it was open so that the attendants could enter and leave.

	“This is Major Sirius! Everyone inside this warehouse needs to leave this place!”

	When she ran into the warehouse, Lina was wearing the disguise of "Angie Sirius".

	“It's good that I wore my training clothes.“ Lina murmured in her mind when she was shouting inside the warehouse, not checking whether someone was actually there.

	In the girl's clothes she bought under Sylvia's guidance, she wouldn't have looked very serious at the moment.

	Lina didn't have time to check if any people had escaped from the warehouse. She sat down on one knee at the edge of the entrance and cautiously looked around.

	She sharpened all her senses to miss nothing, and cautiously examined the neighbourhood in search of enemies, trying not to get caught by a sniper shot.

	Lina’s reaction to this incident seemed calm. But in reality her mind was far from being tranquil.

	When she left her room, she accidentally brought along her information terminal that's for private use. It is also used by non-commissioned officers but having done so was inevitable. Due to the time being outside of normal operations and with the current situation, she couldn't possibly make contact with the base headquarters.

	However, the fact that she did not notice the phone on the wall right above her head, said that she had no time to be distracted.

	Asking for help from the base's management. If she could do this, the current events might evolve in a completely different way.

	Lina’s attention was directed to the neighbourhood around the warehouse. However, she was not able to locate Arcturus from the very beginning. In addition, the enemies were probably not limited to just Regulus and Arcturus.

	The fact that she was able to react to a hand grenade aimed at the back of her legs was a pure coincidence.

	The hangar wall survived the explosion. For this reason, most of the shrapnel coming from the grenades and the explosive wave were directed to Lina.

	Lina, surviving the explosion and its aftermath inside the Magic Shield, unfolded and found the culprit of the explosion.



	“Leila! You too!?”

	She’s from the Unit 4, a First-Class Star. Second-Lieutenant Leila Deneb. A tall, glamorous women of Northern European decent. She glared at Lina with hatred.

	“Don’t call me by my name. You, traitor!”

	“I betrayed who!? What are you talking about?”

	“Stop trying to act stupid and just quit while you’re ahead!?”

	Deneb swung over Lina’s head with the knife that was in her right hand. Immediately after that, a woman that was about 10 centimetres taller than Lina(and the size of her chest and hips were bigger too) appeared right in front of her.

	The hand with the combat knife swung down at her.

	Lina reflexively activated Movement-Type Magic and moved to the opposite side of the entrance to the warehouse. Bullets were fired from a silenced pistol and hit Lina’s shield and she fell on the floor.

	For Deneb, the combination of a knife and a pistol was her favourite tactic. Lina remembered this, so she deployed a magic shield simultaneously with the Movement-Type Magic.

	“I'm not faking it. When and how did I betray anyone!?” Lina shouted, without removing her shield.

	“How shameless. Okay, then I'll tell you. Even though you were the High Commander, you were seduced by that man, and then you sold the 6th Unit out to Japan!”

	“The 6th Unit? What happened to Randy and his guys?”

	“Looks like you haven't really thought about what you did.”

	That voice came from behind Lina. Lina turned around hastily.

	Deneb immediately shot her in the back, but the bullet was also reflected by the anti-object barrier. This was due to the fact that her magic event interference of her shield was stronger, so Deneb’s magic could not penetrate it.

	But the attack of the new participant came from an unexpected direction.

	Lina was thrown in the air together with her shield.

	Lina did not apply any Movement-Type Magic to herself. It was the result of gravity inversion magic. In a circle with a radius of 1 meter around Lina, the gravity was rotated in inverted and heavily strengthened.

	Lina hit the warehouse ceiling, with a speed that is 10 times that of normal free fall acceleration.

	She didn’t hit the ceiling heavily. It was only slightly shaken, and the sound that came from it sounded like it wasn’t a heavy impact. Lina had managed to instantly neutralize her inertia just in time. And it helped.

	However, it was not perfect. Lina still got some damage from the collision and she then began to fall back down. This time enhanced acceleration worked in the opposite direction.

	However, Lina applied deceleration magic and endured the pain. She returned to the floor without taking any more damage.

	But falling wasn’t the only thing she was doing. During the fall, bullets of compressed air were thrown at her. Although they did not possess lethal force, they were able to contain her.

	“The 4th Unit too...”

	Landing firmly on her feet, Lina looked at the 4th Unit Captain Charlotte Vega, who had launched her to the ceiling.

	“Heh... I thought that would kill you, but as expected of a Sirius. Well, at least that magic power of yours does the name justice.”

	After their exchange of attacks, Lina cancelled Parade. In comparison with her previous appearance, the pretty blonde, blue eyed beauty was breathing heavily. Vega was proud of herself when she saw that Lina had changed back.

	“But I thought it would be pretty painful. A good combination of treachery, seducing that man, and betraying your subordinates.”

	“I'm telling you! I don't know anything about any betrayal! I don't know what happened to the 6th Unit. And who is “that man” who you keep talking about?”

	“Still going to keep on lying?“ Deneb snarled at Lina who was trying to proclaim her innocence.

	“Okay, fine. Let me tell you.”

	However, Vega had stopped Deneb and then turned to Lina with mocking look.

	“You have a secret relationship with a Japanese spy who tried to carry out the Micro Black Hole. Three people of the 6th Unit were sacrificed in that experiment and turned into parasites, and the spy originates from Japan. That's what we're talking about. You were seduced by a Japanese Strategic Class Magician, Shiba Tatsuya!”

	“Tatsuya!”

	This explanation was completely unexpected to Lina, and she could not suppress her thoughts about it. However, to Vega and Deneb, it looked like she had fallen into their trap, and was nothing more than proof of her betrayal.

	“Yes. Three people, Rigel, Ian and Sam, lost their minds, were turned into parasites even though they were placed under your protection. So it’s your fault they were turned into parasites!”





	Rigel, Captain Orlando Rigel.

	Ian is Second Lieutenant, Ian Bellatrix.

	Sam is Second Lieutenant, Samuel Alnilam.

	Naming the three members of team Orion with a tragic voice, Vega stared at Lina with a sharp stare.

	“Parasites...?”

	Lina’s reaction, being frozen in shock, seemed like a pure acting game to Vega.

	“Death to all traitors! I'll provide you with the same fate as the people you executed as Sirius!”

	Lina instantly recovered and returned to her combat stance. However, she had lost too much composure when she heard that people from the 6th Unit had been captured by parasites.

	Lina rotated her face to Vega, which had appeared from the depths of the warehouse. And then she rotated back the exit.

	And once again a spinning tomahawk was coming towards Lina. Arcturus’ attack penetrated the warehouse from the outside.

	But the magically reinforced tomahawk was cut down by “Molecular Divider“!

	“Commander! Are you okay!?”

	A figure of a man of large physique appeared at the entrance to the warehouse.

	“Ben!”

	“Major Canopus...”

	Lina and Vega said the name of the person that had appeared, each in their own way.

	“Major, are you on the side of this traitor?”

	“The High Commander didn't betray us. Captain Vega, you were deceived by the parasites.“ Without moving, Canopus replied to the condemnation of Vega.

	“What? How could you say that about Rigel and his team?”

	“I'm not talking about them! Those parasite...”

	Canopus had to interrupt his speech. Because he needed to repel a sniper shot and a new tomahawk flying at him.

	Suddenly, a screeching sound was heard in the warehouse. The experimental car, which was to be tested today, suddenly started and moved towards Lina and Vega.

	Lina and Vega jumped away in different directions. The car came to a halt near the Lina and its right front door opened.

	“Commander, get in!”

	“Hardy!?”

	In the front passenger seat she called out the name of Second Lieutenant Ralph Hardy Mirfak. Lina reflexively jumped into the vehicle.

	Mirfak drove to the left using the management console. In this experimental vehicle, the management console could move the vehicle from both the left and right side so that there would be no inconvenience both in the left-handed countries, such as the USNA, and in the right-hand countries such as Britain. And the front seat was in the form of a continuous bench without gaps. There were no pedals either.

	When Lina closed the door, the car moved immediately.

	“Commander, we are temporarily leaving the base!”

	“Huh?”

	Of course, this was unexpected for Lina.

	“This is the order of Commander Canopus!

	Lina's objections stopped when she heard that it was the Canopus’ command, whom she trusted the most.

	Besides, she didn't have time to argue now.

	This car was shaped like a pickup truck. And a sound could be heard from the side of the vehicle after receiving a strong impact.

	“Don’t move!“

	Deneb, proficient at Movement-Type Magic, jumped onto the body of the pickup truck using pseudo-teleportation.

	“Don’t stop!“

	However, Deneb was immediately forced to jump off the car. A man that hid himself jumped at her.

	“Ralph!”

	The man who kept Deneb company when she jumped on the car, was the Second Lieutenant Ralph Algol, a member of the Second Class in STARS, the same as Mirfak.

	“Let's leave this place to Second Lieutenant Algol! Watch out, this can be a rough ride!”

	After Mirfaka said this, Lina hurriedly buckled her belt.

	The pickup then took off.

	They escaped and headed to Albuquerque.

	“Hardy, what's going on here?”

	When the base went beyond the horizon, Lina recovered her composure and asked Mirfaka to explain the situation.

	“The exact time is unknown, but at about 5 o'clock in the morning there was an uprising led by Captain Arcturus and the First Lieutenant Regulus from the 3rd Unit. Other currently established members of the uprising are: Captain Vega, First Lieutenant Spica and Second Lieutenant Deneb of the 4th Unit, Captain Bolt, Second Lieutenant Bellatrix and Second Lieutenant Alnilam of the 6th Unit, as well as Major Antares and First Lieutenant Sargas of the 11th Unit.

	“Wait! Charlotte said that Randy and his crew were infected by the parasites. So that was a lie!?”

	“—... Unfortunately, it appears to be true. And the three people of the 6th Unit weren’t the only ones effected. Presumably, the parasites also infected two of the 3rd and two of the 11th Unit.”

	“How did that happen?“

	“— We received this information from the Second Lieutenant Shaula from the 11th Unit. She noticed anomalies in Major Antares and First Lieutenant Sargas’s behaviour, and came to Commander Canopus for instructions.”

	The 11th Unit was filled with magicians good at Mental Interference Magic, but Second Lieutenant Shaula was exceptionally good at sensing Pushion waves, and in protection from Mental Interference Magic. It was quite convincing that she was not invaded by any parasites and was the first to notice the strange activity.

	“She went to Canopus because the High Commander didn't seem to be in her room.” Mirfak added with an apologetically tone. He thought that Lina wouldn’t be happy when she heard Shaula didn’t come to her, the Commander, but to the commander of the 1st Unit, Canopus. But Lina didn’t complain about it, because she just hadn’t noticed.

	“Immediately after I and the Second Lieutenant Algol arrived at the Office of the Commander on an urgent call, Major Antares ‘ “Garden Hypnos“ was activated. We were able to avoid any difficulties with the help of Second Lieutenant Shaula’s “Lunar Eclipse“, but all other people in the residential sector were neutralized.

	Major Antares used “Hypnos Garden”, which is an extraneous magic that makes people within a certain area fall asleep. The efficiency of the magic depends on a few factors, the number of people targeted and the mental activity of the target(s). The more people that are targeted, the weaker the magic becomes, in addition to their mental activity. If someone is in the middle of a battle, they wouldn’t fall asleep. But for someone that is resting or already sleeping, it is a very effective way to put them to sleep or keep them from waking up.

	On the other hand, Shaula’s “Lunar Eclipse” is a kind of shield magic that disables what is called “Lunar Magic” in the USNA, by hiding targets from mental attacks.

	She escaped the assimilation with the parasites due to the reflective properties of “Lunar Eclipse”.

	“—... What are we going to do now?”

	Lina couldn’t do anything to stop her voice from trembling with anxiety. She always acted with the support of the STARS. And in the present situation she could not rely on them. It was the exact opposite: she had no gear, no money, and her enemies, most likely, are the magicians of STARS.

	When Mirfak wanted to answer the question of Lina, the ringtone of an incoming message was heard from his chest pocket. Mirfak switched the car controls to autopilot and took the terminal out of his chest pocket.

	His fingers were moving around the screen for a long time, apparently, to decrypt a message. The cipher seems to be quite complex.

	Finally, after deciphering the message, Mirfak read it with a serious voice. Having finished reading it, he handed over the terminal to Lina.

	“High Commander, these are the instructions from Colonel Balance.”

	Passing the terminal to Lina, Mirfak turned the car back to manual control.

	“Immediately after the Commander (Canopus) learned of the attack on the High Commander, he asked Colonel Balance what to do next.”

	With bated breath, Lina looked at Mirfaka’s terminal screen.

	While reading the message of Balance, Lina’s eyes rounded.

	“—... To Japan!?”

	In the instructions Balance sent, it said that Lina should flee to Japan and get the protection of the Yotsuba family there.

	“—... Why... This is...”

	“Why should I leave the States and go to Japan?“ Mirfak deciphered from Lina’s muttering.

	“Apparently, Colonel Balance is concerned about the conspiracy against the High Commander. I can’t even listen to such nonsense as assassinating the High Commander, a Strategic Class Magician, but the Commander can be brainwashed and used for their purposes.”

	After hearing Mirfaka, Lina recalled the “military secret“, which she witnessed on board of the super-aircraft carrier “Enterprise“.

	Magicians who have become fuel for a generator and are forced to use magic.

	“... They'll try to use me as part of some military machine like those guys...?“

	“Indeed, the loss of “Heavy Metal Burst“, this idiocy is on par with trying to destroy your own country. However, if you would only look on the side of military power, then brainwashing Lina and turning her into an easily used tool is not completely impossible...”

	“But then I will be considered a deserter...”

	“I think everything will be fine if you look at it like this. High Commander, check out the attached file.”

	After these words, Lina hurriedly moved her finger on the screen of the terminal. The attached file had already been decrypted, as is the bulk of the message. Lina opened the file.

	“This order!?”

	Inside was an order to infiltrate Japan for the secret inspection of the officers residing there.

	“I think the Colonel did everything within her power to make this happen.”

	Colonel Balance was the number two in the Inspection Department that focuses on misconduct in combat of military personnel. This meant that Lina was sent to Japan to inspect the officers working in the embassies and consultants. Although there were a lot of problems in terms of the command system, it could be said that this is somehow within Balance’s powers.

	“Please use this terminal for now. Don't worry, it doesn't have my personal information. The password is the same as the one I used back in the 1st Unit.

	As High Commander, Lina had the authority to view the documentation of any of the units. However, these powers were largely ignored within the STARS. Lina never made a problem out of it. Only Canopus and Major Capella from the 5th Unit honestly reported to Lina every time they changed their password.

	“The bag on the back seat contains everything that is necessary for the mission, things such as a passport, credit cards and various other equipment. Given the way we’re travelling, there are no weapons. Unfortunately, I did not have time to take a spare set of clothes, so please buy them yourself at the airport. Colonel Balance prepared a ticket for you.”

	After listening to Mirfaka, Lina once again glanced at the terminal. On it was the data on the ticket.

	“We are now heading to the airport in Albuquerque. I think there will be no prosecution because the Commander controls the situation on the spot. However, just in case, I used a shield that obstructs detection, so, High Commander, I beg you to refrain from using any magic.”

	“—... I got it.”

	Mirfak possesses magic that prevents being detected and he is the best at using it in the entirety of STARS. Being detected will be extremely problematic especially when Team Orion from the 6th Unit is involved as they specialise in prosecution missions. Lina obediently followed Mirfaka’s advice.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	Lina arrived safely in Japan on the 19th of June at around noon local time. She immediately called the phone number she had received from Balance, and under the order of Maya, she took protection under the Kuroba family.

	At the same time, at the STARS Headquarters base, it was decided that Canopus, Algol, and Shaula would be sent to a military prison for magicians on Midway Island as the result of a summary trial.

	Mirfak did not return to the base and fled towards the West coast.





	Chapter 8

	At the same time the riots were taking place in the USNA among the STARS, the New Soviet Union was rapidly repairing the super-CAD “Argan“, intended for Igor’s use.

	“How are we progressing?”

	“Doctor!”

	The Chief of the Brigade, responsible for the mending, turned round with astonishment when he heard Igor. He was surprised because Igor, being like a celebrity, appeared in a machine room.

	“—The repair will be completed today. I'd like to ask you to run tests tomorrow.”

	The head of the repair service was very tense and spoke very politely, because Igor was an important person, like a government official or a general of an army, and Igor was corresponding to this importance.

	“That's good. What time should I come?”

	Igor has never applied his power to ordinary people. He wasn’t going to act arrogant with ordinary engineers who did not even occupy high positions. But it was not because he had such a character, but because he was absolutely not interested in the people of the lower classes.

	“We can start at any time, even at the early morning!”

	“Understood. Then... at 9:30.”

	“As you wish!”

	Igor left the repair shop, after having given not only the Chief a kind look, but also to all the technicians involved in the repair.

	He came to the workshop not only because he was in a hurry to continue the priority operation, which requires “Argan“, but also because he still remembered how humiliated he was by Tatsuya.

	It was a sudden “Tuman Bomba“ attack, in which he was absolutely sure of success.

	But he could not kill Shiba Tatsuya, even though he used “Igrok“, human amplifiers for “Tuman Bomba“. In addition, the 2 “Igrok“ that he used were destroyed, and “Argan“ received such a great amount of damage that it could not be used again. And what was made clear, is that Igor would’ve been dead if he hadn’t used “Igrok”.

	Before, Igor had never failed a mission entrusted to him as a Strategic Class Magician. In the battle against the USNA in the Bering Straight, which was quite violent, despite its small scale, he killed the previous commander of STARS, William Sirius, with “Tuman Bomba“.

	But he failed his current mission. Or even better to say, he suffered complete defeat.

	To get rid of this feeling of humiliation, Igor wanted to resume this mission as soon as possible.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	Thursday, June 20th.

	It has been raining in Tokyo since morning. In the area around Hachioji where First High is, the streets are wet with the rain still gradually continuing on.

	It couldn't be avoided because it’s the rainy season, but compared to the other students, Tatsuya has been on alert since morning.

	Mizuki, who was sitting next to him, suspected something, because Tatsuya did not try to hide his tension, and would only answer with vague phrases.

	Although it’s the rainy season, this year there wouldn't be a lot of rain in Tokyo compared to other years. During the first half of the month it had been raining a lot, but during the second half it had been raining pretty much since the morning. Though not as much as it does when it rains intermittently during the dry season.

	It was just a season in which there were less rainy days than usual.

	But Tatsuya didn't like that. On the contrary, he would be glad that it didn’t rain at the places where he was. He was originally not a rain lover, but it couldn’t be helped during this time of the year.

	He has been feeling like this ever since he returned to Tokyo from Izu.

	That day, when he was attacked by the Strategic Class Magic in Izu, it was also raining.

	The best weather conditions for “Tuman Bomba“ are when it had mildly rained and there was no wind. And today there was almost no wind. Tatsuya suggested that Igor would try again today.

	Igor has not surrender.

	Tatsuya was sure of that. Among those who Tatsuya had killed 11 days ago, Igor was not one of them. But Tatsuya also believed that Igor is not necessarily involved in the usage of Tuman Bomba..

	Igor is not the only user of Tuman Bomba. The New Soviet Union could surely have created someone “to replace“ Igor.

	Even if we only look at the State recognised Strategic Class Magicians, the “Thirteen Apostles“, “Leviathan“ has two users in the USNA,“Ozone Circle“ has one user in Britain and one in Germany, “Agni-Downburst“ has one user in the Indo-Persian Federation and one in Thailand.

	Sharing of Strategic Class Magic is not a rare occurrence. In addition, magic that has great destructive force will, on the contrary, be spread to any suitable candidates in the same country.

	However, Tatsuya clung to the idea that the activation of this specific Tuman Bomba was done by Igor.

	His basis for this is off the physical information he obtained when he decomposed the two magicians from Izu.

	The make-up of their bodies was the same, including their genes.

	There is a possibility of them being identical twins, although Tatsuya presumes that they're clones. The Information Bodies, when looked at, are unnatural and the natural distortion of the body was worse than that of those with modified bodies.

	Tatsuya hypothesizes that Igor himself is the one who controls Tuman Bomba and the two female magicians were only used as tools.

	Raymond Clark also knows that Tatsuya is the user of Material Burst and that the information saying so would have surely been communicated to the New Soviet Union.

	The New Soviet Union has decided to eliminate Tatsuya, the user of the Strategic Class Magic Material Burst, and to completely remove the existence of his Strategic Class Magic. Tatsuya concludes that the attack on the villa was the result of this.

	This morning he also told Miyuki about his reasoning.

	Tatsuya ordered Pixie to connect to the school system so that she could maintain maximum vigilance in order to warn him as soon as an attack is detected.

	Three minutes remained in the last class of the morning, when the cautious Tatsuya felt signs of an attack. At that time he was sitting behind his training terminal in Class 3-E.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	After a bit of time was used on setup, Igor sat in the operator’s seat of the super CAD “Argan“ at noon.

	The time in Primorsky Krai was 1 hour ahead of the standard Japanese time, therefore it was still noon in Japan. Although it was already lunchtime, Igor was not thinking about food. All his attention was directed to carrying out the operation.

	Reflecting off of his previous failures, "Argan" was improved in order to prevent "Igrok" from being damaged or decomposed, all by the use of the Inter-molecular Bonding Force Neutralization Magic. Igor believes it will work because he thinks he understands Tatsuya's Decomposition Magic.

	In addition to this, the train which housed “Argan“ was originally in the suburbs of Vladivostok, but it was moved a little north over the new Trans-Siberian Highway, and was now in the vicinity of Ussuriysk. It was a precaution so he would not get attacked based on their previous geographical data.

	Igor brought twice as many of the Igrok as last time, thus having five bodies available for use this time around. He took the initiative to introduce all of the remaining Igrok into this strategy.

	The following formation was used: two “Igrok“ were used as an external computing device for activation, one “Igrok“ as a firewall (as a decoy), and two more “Igrok“ as spares.

	Even when Igor went up against the USNA's STARS, he didn't have to go about things like this. What happened before, the evidence of Igor’s last disgrace is something he needs to rid himself of by accomplishing this mission.

	...That time, being scared of Tatsuya’s attack, he jumped out of the wagon, which contained the super CAD “Argan“ and ran away from it.

	This memory tarnished Igor’s pride. This humiliation should be washed away at all costs. If he left the problem untouched, he'd probably go insane. These were Igor’s true feeling.

	And the only way to forget this disgusting shame was to destroy Shiba Tatsuya. Such reckless persistence is deeply entrenched in the consciousness of Igor.

	He opens up the data that arrived to him via the Intelligence Department on his console. According to this data, Shiba Tatsuya was currently at First High.

	Frankly, Igor couldn't understand how Tatsuya, someone who is planning on building a nuclear fusion reactor plant, would learn anything from High School and that it’s nothing but a waste of his time.

	Putting his presence at First High aside, his being there is still a problem. A strong, reinforced concrete building will be difficult to destroy with just a shock wave. Moreover, it was not the usual concrete from the last century, but the highly strengthened concrete developed during the Third World War. If the shock wave would only break the glass windows, a fatal injury is not guaranteed.

	However, Tuman Bomba was not an attack used on moving targets. and the building where Tatsuya was could be seen on the satellite, and his being there made it even more difficult.

	...Destroying the windows with a shock wave. The fog goes inside and the explosion would then also take place inside.

	Igor recalled this among his previously thought up strategies. The chair, where Igor was sitting on, was dragged into the control cabin of “Argan“.

	He operated the “players” and played the song of destruction and massacre as the “conductor”, but instead of swinging the conductor's baton, he operated a console's switch.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	(Master, I detected signs of magic invocation. Invocation point is 200 meters above First High.)

	A warning was sent by Pixie through active telepathy.

	At that time, Tatsuya had already clearly perceived the invocation of "Chain Cast" that invokes duplicate magic sequences with time differences.

	He stood up and pulled out a CAD in the shape of a large handgun from his bosom.

	Right now, he was still in the middle of class.

	Surprised at what's happening, his classmates were astir. Without looking at them, Tatsuya looked up to the ceiling, pointing the CAD Silver Horn Custom "Trident" directly above.

	There was no delay in his movement.

	The moment his aim was fixed, he pulled the trigger of "Trident".

	◊ ◊ ◊

	A grating alarm could be heard from the interior of the large CAD "Argan."

	A warning message was being displayed on the console, stating that the Igrok for invocation were erased in the middle of building the magic sequence in a fraction of a second.

	Magicians build magic sequences. Even if the construction of the magic operation area is completed, the magic will not be activated unless it is fixed to the target coordinates. If the magician itself is killed during that moment of projecting or fixing a magic sequence, the magic will scatter before it takes place.

	"Replace it with the spare 'Igrok'. Hurry."

	Bezobrazzoff ordered the workers on the outside from the inside of "Argan."

	This time, he couldn't afford to escape.

	As Igor waited for the replacement work to be completed, the eerie shadow of death frightened him when he thought about the vanishing flesh.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	It was difficult to obstruct the invocation of “Tuman Bomba”.

	To be more precise, it was difficult to invalidate "Tuman Bomba" with "Gram Dispersion" due to "Chain Cast". This was what Tatsuya concluded after confronting it twice.

	The magic sequences built by "Chain Cast" differ a little from each other. The difference increases the further the coordinates are separated. Even if he tried to dismantle them by grouping them together, he couldn't erase everything at once.

	Even if he tried to respond with "Gram Dispersion" on rapid fire, in the middle of it "Tuman Bomba" would activate and expose him to a powerful explosion.

	Therefore, there is nothing left but to interrupt the activation of magic at its source.

	This was Tatsuya’s strategy.

	In the last battle, he had acquired the know-how to trace the origin of the invocation of "Tuman Bomba". The moment "Chain Cast" starts, he traces the path of the magic, decomposing the caster with his triple decomposition magic "Trident".

	"Chain Cast" was a technique where it extensively copies and fixes magic sequences and then simultaneously activates them. Decomposing an individual with "Trident" was faster than the required steps to construct a magic sequence over a wide area. When the target is two individuals, the added time is within the margin of error.

	It wasn't a gamble. Based on a clear chance for victory, it was a counter-attack by means of defence.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	"Igrok, replacement complete."

	Without responding to the worker's report, Bezobrazzoff stared at the satellite image on the console. Since the previous "Tuman Bomba" ended in failure before its activation, the targeted atmospheric conditions remain unchanged. There was rainfall under the heavy clouds and barely any wind. Attacking again immediately was possible.

	In the previous battle, after erasing the two "Igrok", the second wave of magic that neutralizes inter-molecular bonding power did not come.

	The result of simulating that phenomenon was that it took more than five minutes to activate, even with the computing power of the "Argan". It was presumed to be that complex of a magic.

	With nothing but a portable CAD in hand, there was no way to cast it in rapid-fire. Even if that was possible, it would take more than 10 minutes. Bezobrazzoff was thinking about it in this way.

	In that case, the second shot of "Tuman Bomba" would be activated first. Just in case, he modified the settings of one "Igrok" at a time so that a third shot would be possible. In order for Bezobrazzoff to take Shiba Tatsuya out, he made "Argan" insert a put together activation sequence into his own Magic Calculation Area.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	(Verifying the firing point of "Tuman Bomba".)

	Tatsuya consciously reproduced the projected path of "Tuman Bomba" above First High using his "memory" of "Trident" that he used to counter-attack with as the origin.

	(Changing the target to the CAD the operator is connected to.)

	During magic invocation, there is a close relationship between the magician and the CAD. In terms of information, when the CAD and magician become one together, the magician becomes a part of the system called "magic". It's the same even in the case of a large CAD that imposes magic on the magician.

	Tatsuya puts "Argan", in his sight.

	(Tactical target, complete destruction of the cargo vehicle type CAD.)

	Inside of the CAD where Tatsuya was "seeing", the process that constructs magic sequences was starting.

	However, the activation sequence was only in its reading stage. It seemed to be a considerably complex activation sequence, where even if a second was skipped, the reading stage would not be completed.

	By nature, Tatsuya's Decomposition magic would need the same or possibly more preparation. However, Tatsuya's Magic Calculation Area specializes in "Decomposition" and "Regrowth." Decomposition and Regrowth's subsystems are prepared in advance, so it was possible to activate extremely complicated magic by inputting additional data there.

	Therefore, the complex processing of "decomposition of substances into the elemental level" and "decomposition of information bodies into the Psion level" were able to be performed in a very short time.

	("Gram Dispersion" "Mist Dispersion", Activate.)

	Disassemble the event interference force covering the surroundings of the large CAD and break down "Argan" to the elemental level.

	Being able to invoke two kinds of magic across a distance of over 1,000 kilometers in the blink of an eye consecutively was possible because the system used for his "Decomposition" Magic was provided for in his mind, but at the expense of other magic ability.

	Decomposition of information bodies magic and decomposition of substances magic were consecutively activated.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	Bezobrazzoff initially thought an earthquake occurred.

	The scene in front of his eyes was like seeing doubles.

	However, his body was not feeling any shaking.

	He could not withstand any more hallucinations.

	The feeling of falling. This was not a hallucination.

	Suddenly, the chair he was sitting on lost its ability to support his weight.

	It was not just the chair. The console, the floor and the walls all became vague.

	The floor gave way.

	The ceiling fell.

	The walls crumbled.

	Everything turned into sand. Into dust.

	Hitting the ground hard, Bezobrazzoff groaned.

	A pain that made him unable to get up immediately.

	Damage was not just limited to the body. It was not just external pain.

	His head hurt badly.

	He couldn't think about anything.

	He didn't notice that the headache was due to the shock of forcibly severing his connection with the CAD.

	Even so, the sand that covered his head made him irritated.

	He struggled to raise his upper body and brushed off all the sand on his face. The current Bezobrazzoff did not have the strength to realize that the sand was the remnants of "Argan."

	Before his eyes, the landscape of Ussuriisk stretched out. Once thrown outside, he finally understood after looking at the scenery.

	In the middle of a violent headache, Bezobrazzoff sat down.

	The hearts of the three "Igrok" stopped due to the shock of forcibly severing the connection to the CAD.

	Bezobrazzoff could not hear their anguish.



	Chapter 9

	The magic attack on First, though it was only an attempt, was recorded by the surveillance systems.

	Among all the High Schools affiliated with the National Magic University, First High is the best equipped. As far as things are when magic is concerned, it meets the need of equipment used to observe the schools surroundings, which is comparable to that of the National Defence Forces main bases

	Analysis by the observation machine at First High shows that magic was used to generate oxygen and hydrogen gas that would have exploded when activated, and that the attack originated from the Primorsky Krai region of the New Soviet Union based off the objective data.

	The data was passed on to the government via the National Magic University.

	The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the New Soviet Union, and they strongly condemned the attempted act of aggression and urged the international community to put sanctions on the New Soviet Union.

	Toudou Aoba had the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry speak out. After basing the truth off the data, it is announced that the unexpected attack was caused by the New Soviet Union's "Apostle" Bezobrazzoff. Afterwards, serious doubts were raised about the peaceful nature of Project Dione that is co-sponsored by Igor.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	“I wonder what the consequences of such actions are...”

	Saturday, June 22nd.

	Tatsuya unwittingly muttered this while he was having breakfast and watched the recording of yesterday's press conference of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Economy.

	“Ara, has Onii-sama calculated everything to this extent?” A giggling voice could be heard from the other side of the table.

	Tatsuya had a crooked smiled in response to the laughing Miyuki, and he shook his head.

	“You’re giving me too much credit. It was an accident that I intercepted Tuman Bomba when Iw as at school. On the contrary, I thought that the probability of an attack on that day was extremely low.”

	“So even Onii-sama can make mistakes in his calculations.”



	“Of course.”

	Speaking of errors in calculations, the hospitalization of Minami was one of such errors. But Miyuki not notice this, so Tatsuya continued to smile, hiding his regret in a far corner of his consciousness.

	The news on the screen had changed to something less interesting. So Tatsuya and Miyuki continued their breakfast.

	“—But will this change the public opinion that much?”

	But Miyuki’s interest had not changed.

	“In Japan, you can expect that the majority will become against Project Dione.“

	Tatsuya realized that such bad things could also be said about him, but he wasn't going to complain about this.

	Originally, Project Dione is the product of a conspiracy. Tatsuya didn't admit that there were no feelings of guilt at crushing the plot to expel him to space by manipulating public opinion, where as he used public opinion himself.

	“But Onii-sama, even if the situation changes, will you still move forwards with Project ESCAPES?”

	“Of course. From the beginning, Project ESCAPES was never to oppose Project Dione. He just used it because he had to stall for time. Frankly, I wanted to have more time to prepare, but now that we’ve started, we can’t really stop.”

	“Yes. I believe that you’re not wrong about that.”

	Miyuki feels that even if Tatsuya would want to plot world domination, she would still feel the same. Although Tatsuya's true aim is for the peaceful use of magic.

	“By the way, didn’t Aunt advise you to visit Miyaki-shima at least once?”

	“Yes I want to, but I think Aunt-sama has been too hasty with scheduling the moving of the research facility to the island and all the while, promoting Project ESCAPES.“

	“But I still believe Aunt is doing this to benefit the Yotsuba family.”

	“Maybe, I hope so... Thanks for the food.”

	Tatsuya put his chopsticks down.

	“I'll make some coffee.” Miyuki said, and stood up, even though there was still food on her plate.

	◊ ◊ ◊

	Tatsuya and Miyuki had been talking about Miyaki-shima since breakfast, due to the fact that the flow of the conversation went in that direction.

	Although, Tatsuya couldn't help but remember a conversation he had about guests coming over during dinner.

	 “H-Hi...”

	With a confused face, she raised her hand and greeted Tatsuya and Miyuki.

	“Lina!?“

	As the surprised Miyuki said, it was Lina, Angelina Kudou Shields.

	“Tatsuya-san, Miyuki-oneesama, sorry for coming at such a late hour.”

	“No, it's okay, we haven't even had dinner yet...”

	Even Tatsuya couldn't hide his surprise. While answering Ayako, he was also directing his attention to Lina.

	"Anyway, don't just stand on the porch, come in."

	"Yes, Lina and Ayako-chan, come in."

	After Tatsuya, Miyuki invited the two inside.

	“Yes. Shields-san, why not take them up on their offer?”

	“Yes, I agree. Uhm... Sorry for the intrusion.”

	Ayako looked accustomed to it, but Lina had an embarrassed face when they followed Tatsuya, and passed by Miyuki who was holding the door.

	“—...A rebellion and your escape from America?”

	“Lina, that's terrible.”

	The situation was explained Ayako. The story was incredible, but she had no reason to plot against Tatsuya and his entourage. So Tatsuya and Miyuki took it as a fact.

	“Shields-san, that is, Major Sirius is temporarily under the protection of the Kuroba family, but the Head-sama is thinking about taking her to Miyaki-shima, as a place for shelter.”

	"Is the environment in Miyaki-shima good enough for Major Sirius? Can she live there?"

	"I've heard that there's no problem there. However, even if it's good enough for us, it may be insufficient for Major Sirius."

	“—... I don't need any luxury.” Lina retorted with a quiet voice.

	“So we are going to take the major to Miyaki-shima for a preliminary visit.”

	However, Ayako simply ignored Lina’s words.

	“Has Aunt ordered this?“

	Miyuki also paid no attention to the protesting Lina. Lina was feeling a bit invisible and as if she was being bullied, seeing this, Tatsuya smiled, but said nothing.

	“Yes. She also ordered to hand over the work of escorting the major to Miyaki-shima to Tatsuya.”

	“To Tatsuya-sama?”

	Miyuki rounded her eyes with surprise.

	“Understood.”

	However, Tatsuya nodded in agreement.

	"If Lina's escape happened to be an excuse and the real purpose is to sabotage the Yotsuba Family, then Lina must be securely restrained. Though I guess I'm qualified to be her guide since I'm also a Strategic-Class Magician." Tatsuya answered Miyuki who was looking inquiringly at him.

	“I wouldn’t do that.”

	Lina stood up.

	“I know.”

	This time, Tatsuya didn't ignore her.

	“The Head of the Yotsuba family, Yotsuba Maya, doesn't think you're going to do that either. But it's just a policy within the Yotsuba family.”

	“Ah... So that's how it is.”

	Lina struggled with the organization of things. Though with Tatsuya's explanation, she seems to be convinced.

	“Ayako, what’s your schedule for today?”

	“Actually, I’d like to stay for the night, but Head-sama has ordered me to bring Tatsuya-sama’s answer immediately.”

	"I'm worried about using the phone, so could you inform our Head that I've completed her orders."

	"Yes, I will."

	“It's too late now. We'll go to Miyaki-shima tomorrow. Miyuki will go with us, so ask Hanabishi-san to strengthen Minami’s protection.”

	Tatsuya asked Ayako to convey this message, because it was not about Hyougo, but his father, Butler Hanabishi.

	“Okay.”

	Tatsuya nodded in response to Ayako and turned his gaze towards Miyuki.

	“Miyuki, I'm sorry, but could you prepare a bedroom for Lina?”

	“Yes.”

	“Hey, wait a minute...”

	The schedule continued to be determined without consulting Lina about it.

	“In that case, Tatsuya-san, Miyuki-oneesama, today has been a pretty busy day, so I'll excuse myself for today.”

	“Yes. Next time, we'll find the time to talk about things a bit more slowly.”

	“Okay. Fumiya will be glad.”

	With a blurry smile, Ayako answered Tatsuya.

	Miyuki also smiled, as to not destroy the image of her status as a bride.

	“Ayako-chan, thank you for bringing Lina.“

	Miyuki said this to Ayako in the hallway after leaving the living room with her.

	No, I’s fine. Then, goodbye.”

	The front door closed.

	“Lina, can you tell me the details about the things that happened?”

	When Miyuki returned, Tatsuya pushed his unilateral claim onto Lina.

	“I wanted to ask you. Is it true that the parasites have reappeared?”

	When Lina saw the serious faces of the two, she was only able to nod.

	 (End to the Escape arc)