Volume 14, Chapter 4

Tatsuya and the rest returned from Nara. And, the following evening. Neither the Shiba household, nor the Kudou clan, nor the Kuroba clan, nor First High, nor Kyuuchou temple made any move regarding the search for Zhou Gongjin.

A high class house close to the heart of the Tokyo downtown. The splendid abode was built to blend in with the regular houses, its’ splendor was exactly the same as the other western style houses. The owner, Saegusa Kouichi, had called his current trusted retainer who served as his daughter’s bodyguard, Nakura Saburo to his study.

“Do you remember the boy, Shiba Tatsuya?”

The master’s query was fired off after the greeting.

“A young kouhai of Mayumi ojousama’s from her high school years”

Nakura naturally replied blandly and inoffensively. Of course, Nakura recalled more than that as well but he did not say it.

Kouichi directed his eyes toward Nakura to make a glance. The reply did not match his opinion but, Kouichi did not voice a reproof.

“That kouhai of Mayumi’s had contact with the Kuroba twins”

“The pair that covered themselves in glory at this year’s Nine Schools Competition, hmm. The male of the Kuroba clan’s twins attracted attention while somehow avoiding the eyes of those connected with magic.

“Somehow, huh”

Kouichi’s manner of speaking said ‘I know something is being concealed’, however, he did not put it into concrete words.

“Two weeks ago, those twins of the Kuroba clan visited Shiba Tatsuya’s house. And yesterday and the day before yesterday, Shiba Tatsuya visited the Kudou clan. Apparently, he met with Sensei”

“He spoke directly to Kudou Retsu‐sama. That is no trifling thing”

Once again, Kouichi gave Nakura a glancing glare.

“Nakura, stop playing dumb”

This time, he did not stop with a look.

“Shiba passed a message from the Kuroba twins to Sensei. There is only one incident that could give the Yotsuba a reason that would specifically require the Kudou’s cooperation”

Kouichi knew of the Kuroba’s troops’ failure to capture Zhou Gongjin in Yokohama’s Chinatown.

Nakura was the one who had reported that to him.

Nakura was not going to point out that the one who contacted the Kudou clan was not the Kuroba twins but Shiba Tatsuya. Kouichi hadn’t stated it overtly but Nakura knew his master had deduced the relationship between Shiba Tatsuya and the Yotsuba clan.

“Anyways, that man cannot flee the Yotsuba when they have secured the Kudou clan’s aid”

Kouichi was referring to Zhou Gongjin when he said that man. The Kudou clan and the Youtsuba clan allying to search for Zhou was Kouichi over thinking things thought Nakura just now. He had gathered the data that the supposition was based on. However, Nakura did not mention that to Kouichi.

“I don’t care if that man gets swatted by the Yotsuba. However, if he gets caught by the Yotsuba, there’s a high probability that my clan would be placed in unfavorable circumstances”

Nakura bowed to convey his agreement to his master without words.

“The Yotsuba must not become aware of the relationship between the Saegusa and Zhou Gongjin”

Nakura and Kouichi had different opinions on that point. Nakura had confirmed that the Yotsuba were already aware of the Saegusa clan’s accommodation with Zhou Gongjin.

They probably hadn’t gotten hold of evidence. However, like Nakura and his ilk neither the Yotsuba nor the Kuroba under their umbrella needed evidence. The Yotsuba lived in the Under the same as people like Nakura. While the Under was a world that liked to play with fire, the way the natural order of things was viewed was different from the way a surface‐dweller like Kouichi saw things. Nakura thought that but, due to the worlds they lived in being different, he thought there was no way for that to be understood with a mere verbal explanation. you acquired Zhou Gongjin’s location?”

“”Forgive me, please. Not even I know his whereabouts”

A wave of anger passed over Kouichi’s face.

His master on the verge of losing it, Nakura continued with statements to push him to the brink.

“However, we secured a line of communication. Calling him out is potentially possible”

Kouichi audibly ground his back teeth. He felt that he was being mocked by Nakura. However, he immediately threw out the emotion and restored his calm. Perhaps it was his natural disposition, his elegance was not a bit frayed.

“Then call out Zhou Gongjin. And take care of him decisively”

“As you wish”

He replied to the kill order with a nod, there was no hesitation. From the beginning, these kind of jobs were his specialty, before he was hired by the Saegusa, the majority of his employment came from being an assassin.

“If you want back up, pick whoever you wish to accompany you. You do not need to worry about the mansion’s security”

“No, just me will be enough”

Kouichi scowled slightly at the confident and conceited words, Nakura blandly delivered.

“Zhou Gongjin has the skill to breakthrough a Kuroba blockade. I believe that you’re the one who reported that to me?”

Kouichi’s point did not crack Nakura’s facade.

“That was indeed so. Pardon my rudeness but I believe that the house security’s skills are only good enough to die fruitlessly. Instead, they would be a hinderance”

Harsh words but, there was no trace of anger on Kouichi’s face. “Understood. Its alright for you to handle it for me the way you think best”

“Forgive my impertinence”

Nakura respectfully bowed his head to the casually given command. “Ah. I’ll transfer the duty of guarding Mayumi as usual”

“Thank you for your consideration”

Nakura replied with his head still bowed and withdrew from the study without meeting Kouichi’s eyes.

? ? ?

This last visit to Nara did not produce any actual results regarding the search for Zhou Gongjin but, he had secured through an interview the cooperation of the elder who still wielded influence over the world of Japanese magic despite his claims of retirement. They had captured the mainland’s magicians who had vengefully ambushed them. He would have to wait on the information division but, he was not in such dire straits that he had to stealthily use the information division for clues from the prisoners they had been given.

Tatsuya spent a densely packed Saturday however, if he was able to leave school at noon then a different kind of business would be waiting. Today, he got help from Isori at last, inside the lecture hall, he displayed by the projector the results of casting assistance carved seals, he had garnered from the experimental device they had manufactured.

“.....in short, the problem is what is a good way to make the point about how much margin for error there is with carved seals, right?”

“Right. Just how much the form can be distorted and still be effective as a casting assistant? It is an essential part of this thesis”

“It would be alright to show me what experimental data you have gathered so far, right?”

“Yes, here”

Miyuki seemed proud and Honoka spellbound as they stared at Tatsuya and Isori’s interacted that way.

“Honoka, Miyuki, I am going back to my patrol”

Having Shizuku’s voice come at her from the side made Honoka start and return to herself.

“Ah, yes. Good luck”

“Shizuku, thank you for your work”

“Thanks. Honoka, Miyuki, later”

As Honoka watched Shizuku’s back as she left, Miyuki said ‘We should return as well” to her.

Miyuki carefully picked out a time that would not interrupt them to call out to Tatsuya and the pair returned to the Student Council room. Along the way, Miyuki questioned Honoka as if nothing had changed.

“Up to now, you haven’t felt like anyone was following you or watching you?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Ojisama has been really worried about me, he even made arrangements with a security company for my sake”

“A security company of magicians?”

“Yes.. actually, its Morisaki‐kun’s family business”

Listening to those words made Miyuki’s face change subtly, it could be said to be quite understandable. The Morisaki family ran a security company that was highly respected by both the ordinary and magician social sphere. Miyuki was aware of it as well but, her first impression didn’t quite jell with it.

“We‐well, Ojisama made the arrangements so, I think it will be alright”

“....right. Nothing would be wrong with the choice of Shizuku’s Otousama”

A somewhat bored atmosphere wafted between the pair. It was erased out by Honoka’s uneasy questioning.

“Miyuki.. how long must I stay at Shizuku’s place”

The sheer unexpectedness of what she heard made Miyuki blink her eyes.

“Did Shizuku’s family say something?”

“I didn’t mean anything like that! It’s because Ojisama, Obasama, and the people working for Shizuku’s family have been entirely too nice to me!”

Her reflexive cry made Honoka make a “ah..” face.

“Forgive me, please. I didn’t mean to imply that”

“N‐no, Miyuki! Please forgive me. The way I spoke was mixed up!”

Any further protestations of “It’s my fault” from Miyuki were left unsaid due to Honoka’s angry look.

“Umm, I didn’t mean that, I meant just how long do I have to have a bodyguard and be on my guard..”

Honoka’s uneasiness was natural. Since she wasn’t a descendant of magicians produced from a lab, she hadn’t been raised to serve in battle.

Miyuki felt that her standards were not mistaken.

“Even though it might be long, I think until the Thesis Competition is over”

It looked like Honoka had not expected a clear answer. She gazed back at Miyuki’s face with a “huh?” look.

“It’s fine. Nothing scary will happen”

Miyuki kept a gentle smile like the kind used to reassure small children within Honoka’s line of sight as she answered. Honoka turned red and looked down in shame.

Until last Saturday, they hadn’t been aware of it but Mizuki and Mikihiko’s houses were unexpectedly close.

Mizuki’s house was one station from the city center of Atsugi city.

Mikihiko’s home was in Isehara city at the foot of Mount Tanzawa.

Distance‐wise they weren’t that close but regarding commuting on the cabinet line from Atsugi to Isehara, it was around 5 minutes from the closest station to Mizuki’s home to the closest station to Mikihiko’s home.

“Um, Yoshida‐kun. Just this far is fine, really”

“No, that would be pointless”

They had left just before the school gates closed due to preparing for the Thesis Competition. Because the topic, Isori had chosen for this time, needed more computer graphics type stuff created than devices constructed; the Art club, Mizuki belonged to, was going all out. Her own specialty was old‐fashioned watercolor painting but she was also fairly skilled at CG which was an indispensable ability in this project.

For that reason, she wasn’t able to leave school until the last possible moment. Well, thanks to that, seeing Mizuki home did not interfere with his duties as the Public Morals committee chief.

It was already October and nearly the Tenth. Since long ago, the passing of Autumn Equinox meant that days of autumn were running out. The sky was rapidly starting on the twinkling stars. No matter how much pedestrian traffic there was downtown or how many commuters going directly from the station to their homes; there was no way leaving a girl at the station with a “See you, later” counted as seeing her home. Just as, Mikihiko stated.

Mizuki, herself, was not displeased with Mikihiko seeing her home. However, she was unsure about what to talk about as a couple alone among commuters. It was not like the pair had a wealth of possible topics, they had already exhausted a variety of topics in the cabinet on Saturday and established that they were finished with those on Monday.

Just two people alone in a narrow car without talking. With Miyuki’s slight shyness, the cabinet was quite trying or rather an ordeal.

The interval in front of the station while waiting in line for a cabinet was without talking but, since they were not in a private enclosed space, the silence hadn’t been burdensome.

“Come to think of it, isn’t your specialty watercolors, Shibata san?”

“Uh, yes”

Despite the fact that Mikihiko hadn’t waited until, they had gotten into the cabinet to offer up the topic of conversation, he had taken the trouble to think up; it did not prompt any thought of “what an insensitive boy” in Mizuki.

“Really. I like the subtle colouring of watercolors.....I can add color to CG more freely now but, I’m still one of those who wish to paint by brush”

It was Mizuki’s nature to answer the questions, she was asked, to the fullest.

“Yet, you’re good at CG despite that, incredible”

“It’s nothing, I still have a long ways to go on watercolors”

The humble and shy Mizuki’s face turned extremely red and whined ‘don’t flatter me’ without words. Unfortunately, Mikihiko had never garnered EXP in that kind of sensing.

“But, your club president boasts of you. He says your talents for graphics is incredible, Shibata san. Come to think of it, aren’t you getting good grades in Magic Geometry, Shibata san?”

“Ye‐yes. I have been receiving the points I earned in each round of tests”

Mizuki smiled jokingly.

“haha, same as me. Thanks to Magic History and Magic Linguistics, I am maintaining my high rank. However, no matter what I do I have trouble with Magical Engineering”

“Your specialty is charms, Yoshida‐kun... eh, come to think of it Yoshida kun, you didn’t chose Magic

Geometry. Why?”

“Because Magic Pharmacology is more useful for my techniques. The truth is I actually want to study Magic Geometry as well”

“So that’s why you go to Tsudzura‐sensei’s office occasionally”

“No, that’s sort of because sensei has been calling me over....”

Even though they were under the impression that there were in no danger, the possibility of it lay between the pair as they talked.

However, no matter how much he was enjoying his conversation with Mizuki, Mikihiko did not shirk his monitoring their surroundings.

Even now, Mikihiko was dealing with the shikigami searching the area. In order to keep Mizuki unaware, he did not cut off the conversation as he used the shikigami and at the same time, he triggered an investigative spell.

The area of the spell did not expand spatially; it expanded in significance. All the gazes upon Mizuki that emitted significant magical waves were reflected in Mikihiko’s mind. It did not matter if it was filled with ill or good will, though the lustful ones were more numerous than the benign ones. She did not stand out next to Miyuki and Erika but Mizuki was also a girl that was significantly cuter than average. Besides, since she became a second year, her body had matured into one that had the power to draw the eye.

The density of that kind of static made it tough but the applied filter picked out the ones suffused with magical waves and sent it into Mikihiko’s mind, irritating him in many ways. While under that strain, Mikihiko located his target without either Mizuki or the magicians gunning for her being aware of it.

Fujibayashi had once stated that Mikihiko had ‘the glow of a prodigy’. Before he got to know Tatsuya, he had spent a year feeling like a failure. Since he got to know Tatsuya, he had been embroiled in harrowing events and his image of himself had been reexamined and changed inside that year. The degree of growth that had taken in him in the two year period was the equivalent to ten to twenty years for a normal practitioner.

It is the point in the talk to come to this pair. Before their eyes, the door to the commuter car, they were waiting for, opened. Mikihiko let Mizuki get on first, he examined the surrounding area, did the Juhou chant of ‘Return’‐‐‐an ancient magic to return a shikigami to the one who dispatched it.

? ? ?

There is an underlayer to this scene. In an abstract sense to be sure, this was not a metaphoric underlayer, this was something taking place around the back entrance to a building rather than the front entryway.

Describing a building’s entrance as an ‘entryway’ does seem strange at first but, anyway it was on the opposite side of the buildings to the storefronts meant to attract customers, even in this age, there were back alleyways created by buildings. Trash was automatically disposed of by a dedicated underground tube, cleaning machines bought by the local district to clean the walkways meant there was no trash so there was no bad smells. However, it was inevitable that the city lights did not reach there.

“Darn it, that brat!”

Lurking in the deep darkness of that pathway, a man in his forties was using a hand to stem off the abusive language.

His right hand was covering the fingers of his left hand that were dripping blood.

“He sent my shiki back to me. Isn’t the Yoshida’s second son supposed to have lost his mystic power!”

Was speaking to himself a habit, he certainly did not act like someone pretending he wasn’t alone.

“Nevertheless that was a violent way to do it.....I was only watching”

Was the blood flowing longer than he expected,the man temporarily released his left hand and took a card of paper that could not serve as a handkerchief‐‐‐he had taken out a charm.

“Just for that, I’ll use my own blood as an offering”

As he spoke, the man pressed a charm to his wound and chanted a curse. Since he bound it with the last activation line of “Kyuu kyuu nyoritsu ryou”, perhaps he was an onmyouji or perhaps some kind of chinese occultist.

“I’m going to make you remember me, you darn Yoshida brat. My blood isn’t cheap”

“Futile, futile. With your skill, old man, all you would get was your curse returned to you again”

With a terrified look, the man turned toward the voice. He was not an amateur. He had put up a kekkai to keep anyone being aware of him so he could concentrate on his work. He had not forgotten to put up a ‘circle’ to warn him if anyone approached. Nonetheless, he had been taken completely by surprise.

Without words, the man took out a new charm. There was no way this was an amateur who happened to breach the kekkai by chance. Considering the remarks that had just been made, this was unmistakably an enemy.

However, the man’s spell was not released.

“You’re not watching your back”

The attention of the man who had turned around had been harvested by the young man who had just approached him from behind. He had gotten hit with an attack that caused him to lose consciousness. As a matter of fact, this was a dangerous act with potential after‐effects that could not be ignored. However, they did not show any sign of hesitation.

“These guys are too crappy to be good training. Are guards really necessary?”

“Hey, don’t say that. Enduring inactivity is also part of training”

The two young men looking at eachother resembled each other facially and physically. This was not a resemblance since birth, they had eaten rice from the same pot, they had overcome the same hell, a type of constructed resemblance.

And more than anything, their heads were shaved smooth the same way.

? ? ?

The following day during the break between the first and second periods. Tatsuya visited Public Morals headquarters as requested by Mikihiko.

“Ah, Tatsuya. Sorry about calling you here”

Tatsuya saw Mikihiko, who had arrived first, operating his handheld console, when he entered the room.

He locked the door and displayed the ‘In conference’ sign.

“No problem. So why the hurry”

“There’s no time, so I’ll be brief. Yesterday on the way home, Shibata was targeted”

Tatsuya showed a surprised face at the information given by the harshly scowling Mikihiko.

“Mizuki? But, she didn’t act like that had happened”

“Shibata is unaware. She was only watched by shikigami, distance viewing and the like and I broke all their spells”

“Oh, I see”

The eyes of Mikihiko had an edge of hostility as he stared at Tatsuya as he heard the relief in Tatsuya’s voice.

“It is as you expected, Tatsuya”

“Ah. Thanks for escorting her for me”

“But, isn’t it strange”

Tatsuya pretended that he didn’t understand what Mikihiko was saying and listened to his scolding.

“Why the heck did Shibata san have to be targeted by those thugs? They weren’t simple punks. I wouldn’t call them top notch but, it felt like they weren’t amateur criminals”

“Professional criminals?”

“They were ‘Under’ magicians”

For an instant, Mikihiko faltered as if it was hard to put into words but he did not stay silent.

“Why are guys like that targeting Shibata san? If their goal was the Thesis Competition then they should be targeting Isori senpai or Nakajou senpai or Minakami senpai. Tatsuya aren’t you hiding something from us? That activation sequence for a modified Shikigami that you showed me before wasn’t something you accidentally found. The guys who attacked you are connected to the ones that are keeping tabs on Shibata san, right!?”

There was no reply from Tatsuya.

Mikihiko was the first to look away.

“Tatsuya...you can reject me by saying something like ‘it’s unnecessary’ but, I owe you. It is thanks to you that my confidence and ability as a magician was restored”

Tatsuya tried to interrupt to refute that but, Mikihiko continued to speak.

“So, I wouldn’t be deadweight. I’ll do anything if I can be of help to you and if you want to keep it secret, I won’t tell anyone”

He turned his face back to Tatsuya with desperation. The light that could be seen in Mikihiko’s eyes was similar to that of a cornered animal.

“However, if I don’t know what’s happening, I won’t be able to protect Shibata san!”

Just now, Mikihiko had confessed to Tatsuya that he had special feelings for Mizuki but, he, himself, was probably unaware of it. Tatsuya did not attempt to use that to avoid the conversation.

“I cannot go into detail”

“Tatsuya!”

Mikihiko naturally raised his voice and pressed closer to Tatsuya.

“A foreign magician who served as a guide for enemy operatives in last year’s Yokohama Incident is being sheltered by the ‘Traditionalists’. I am pursuing him”

However, when the next words out of Tatsuya’s mouth informed him of a portion of the truth, Mikihiko lost both his voice and the color in his face.

“I’m sorry. That’s all I’m able to say”

“I see....you”

Mikihiko stopped speaking before he said JDSF and shut his mouth, taken aback. Even, within a soundproofing field that was not something to be spoken aloud.

“Now, I am the one who is sorry....and, thank you for telling me”

Mikihiko completely misunderstood. Just as Tatsuya had induced him to.

And, Tatsuya felt no guilt over this. The actual truth of this situation, his relationship with the Yotsuba, was something that should not be known yet. It was still too dangerous for it to be known. It was way too soon to drag Mikihiko in as an accomplice.

“Tatsuya, you said the Traditionalists”

“Yes. I know the target is being sheltered by them”

“.....the I think I can be useful. After school... no that wouldn’t work. Can you talk tonight? After I see

Shibata san home, I’ll come back to school again”

“Got it”

A time limit hadn’t been set by Maya of course and from Tatsuya’s perspective there was not a reason to rush. It was not like he had a personal grudge with Zhou Gongjin. The unvarnished truth was that leaving it alone wouldn’t make him anxious at all.

However, thought Tatsuya, would Mikihiko really be satisfied with that.

7:30 pm in the evening. As to be expected, by this hour, the work for the thesis competition was finishing up for the day. Only the male students remained but, this wasn’t a problem for either Public Safety or Public Morals.

As usual the former student council officer was there so closing the gate afterwards could be left to the thesis team leader, Isori. However, from the start, the student council president had designated him as her representative to supervise. So no one regarded Tatsuya’s presence after school as suspicious.

Due to not have any free time, his problems‐‐‐like his normal schoolwork‐‐‐were piling up pretty high. Tatsuya called up his own curriculum on the student council terminal and dealt with all his towering pile of homework in one swoop.

Immediately after he finished off his physics paper, the chime rang indicating that there was a visitor to the student council room.

“Pixie, please”

“Yes. Master”

Tatsuya commanded Pixie who had been turned into the student council’s maid to deal with it. She confirmed the visitor’s bio‐data and immediately opened the door. Mikihiko came in and she left by the same door, Tatsuya had already given her orders.

“I’ve kept you waiting, Tatsuya”

While sitting down on the seat Pixie had offered, Mikihiko made the first easy greeting.

“No, it was a good time for me to take a breather”

Mikihiko cast a doubtful eye on Tatsuya who answered thus. Tatsuya had left the terminal as it was. Mikihiko could see the lists of reports on the monitor from where he was sitting.

However, the extra tsukkomi broke the tension.

“It’s a bit abrupt but, let’s continue from this morning”

Mikihiko considered keeping his thoughts fresh more important than the mood and plunged into the main topic.

“I want to confirm one thing. Tatsuya are you certain that the target is being sheltered by the Traditionalists?”

“It was a trustworthy information source”

“I see....”

Mikihiko spent a brief period of time, only a few seconds, sunken in thought.

“First, let’s make my position clear. Those who claim the name of Traditionalists are a large group made up of both good and bad ancient magicians. It would be fine to say that the Ancient Magicians are divided into the Traditionalists, those who support them and those who oppose them”

“Really? Master said that they were despised by magicians who succeeded genuine traditions”

He had not actually got that information from Yakumo however, Tatsuya felt that putting it that way would allay suspicions.

“Certainly. However in contrast, many practitioners who feel constrained by hierarchy and discipline and lack status sympathize with the Traditionalists who are not associated with a Tradition”

“What about the Yoshida clan?”

A little while ago, Mikihiko had said “Make my position clear”. In short, he probably meant to make either his own or his clan’s position for or against the traditionalists ‘clear’.

“The Yoshida clan has been called a religious order type of clan from old. Due to the fact that we seek spells that enshrine gods and spells that lead us to god”

That was a trait of magicians who allied with the Traditionalists.

“So of course, the Yoshida clan is antagonistic to the Traditionalists”

However, Mikihiko’s reply indicated the reverse.

“The Traditionalists who partnered with the former Lab 9 and we, the Yoshida clan are fundamentally different in how we think about magic. The Yoshida clan’s goal has always been spells that bring us closer to god. So there’s no way we would ally ourselves with guys who want to get stronger by any means necessary”

Was Mikihiko’s statement his own opinion or was it a set of values given to him by his parents; with only what he stated here, he couldn’t tell. However, it was clear that he took pride in the idea even if he was only borrowing the concept.

“Therefore, this time aside from whatever considerations there are, it is alright to rely on me for this. If you wish it, Tatsuya I think you can get the cooperation of the whole Yoshida clan”

“No, that would be a bit...if I could call on the Yoshida clan for cooperation then it wouldn’t be something that can’t be talked about”

“That’s right”

Tatsuya and Mikihiko meant different things by ‘can’t be talked about’ but, Tatsuya was the only one who knew that.

“Understood then the next thing is to plan. Since Tatsuya can’t give detailed information, I have to think of a ways that don’t need it”

As Mikihiko said that he made a malicious grin that could not be said to be ill suited to his face.

“I don’t know whether to call it good or bad luck, this year’s Thesis Competition takes place in Kyoto, the Traditionalists’ main headquarters”

What Mikihiko had enthusiastically told him did not match the information he had gotten from Fujibayashi and Minoru in Nara but Tatsuya did not have enough source material to determine who was correct.

“That-->>

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