Volume 14, Chapter 2

September 29, Saturday. This year, both the general student body meeting and the election of the student body president finished without drama. In order to prevent invalid ballots like last year’s in the ceremonial election, from this year on, disposable short‐range wireless cards were distributed when the students entered, the cards were adapted to become voting apparatus when they got to their seats. As in most years there was only one candidate, ‘Approved’ and ‘Opposed’ buttons had been provided on the card. It was designed to transmit which button was pressed so that the votes could be tallied.

Once the electronic message was sent, the cards were thrown away. The electronic tags on the cards were developed enough to be called cheap but it was still more expensive than paper. Was this truly necessary expenditure for a simple high school election was a natural thought. However, with the donation of the cards from a company affiliated with the Kitayama clan, the problem was resolved and this method was adopted. Consequently, Shizuku’s family made a belated expansion into the commercial field of academic magic by effectively securing a foothold at First High.

Putting aside those adult considerations, the new method of electronic voting allowed real time results, and so Miyuki was invested into the office of Student body president with a roughly one hundred percent ‘approved’. No one was hitting ‘opposed’ even as a joke, was this adoration or fear.. It was too difficult to determine which it was.

“And so, let us celebrate Miyuki’s inauguration as student council president. Cheers!”

At Erika’s prompt, every one hoisted up their soft drink glasses up. The chorus of cheers came from the relatives, friends and kouhai that had assembled at Einebriese; essentially from: Tatsuya, Leo, Mizuki, Mikihiko, Honoka, Shizuku, Minami, Izumi, Kasumi and Kento. Kasumi didn’t hang out with Tatsuya’s group all that much but today Izumi had dragged her.

“Well. It’s inevitable to call it inevitable.”

No one contested the comment Erika made immediately after the toast.

“Of course! It’s unthinkable for anyone other than Miyuki‐senpai to be First High’s student council president! No one else is fit to represent the school in ability! Talent! Beauty! Elegant deportment! The results were a heavenly judgement!”

Instead of a person the remark, there was an extremely agitated underclassman.

“Uh, oh really?”

The seated Miyuki cringed severely at the aggressive enthusiasm. Kasumi felt like throwing in the towel at her younger twin’s shameful behavior so she sipped her drink as if it had nothing to do with her.

“Miyuki, have you decided who the officers are?”

While everyone else‐‐‐even Tatsuya‐‐‐was hesitating to speak, Shizuku gallantly asked the question or rather she was completely ignoring Izumi.

At her words, Izumi gazed at Miyuki even more fervently. Honoka was also deeply interested but her eyes flickered back and forth between Miyuki and Tatsuya evenly.

Miyuki was aware of both of their gazes but, she pretended she wasn’t aware of either‐‐‐especially Izumi’s‐ ‐‐as she answered Shizuku’s question.

“I thought I would ask Izumi‐chan to be vice president”

Izumi’s cry of joy was indistinguishable from a scream; naturally, even more embarrassed Kasumi shut her mouth and pretended the scene had nothing to do with her harder.

“I am still deciding about the other officers. I think I want Honoka’s help as well but....”

As she spoke, Miyuki cast a flickering look not at Honoka but at Tatsuya.

It might have been due to Miyuki’s display of hesitation, neither Shizuku nor Honoka ventured more questions.

Although there were some rambunctious female students, generally speaking, the party remained peaceful and respectful of the cafe’s ambiance until it ended. Since it was Saturday, they left the shop before sunset. That being said, when Tatsuya and the girls arrived at their house the western sky had turned from dark bright red to indigo.

Appetizers had accompanied the cuisine they had ordered at Einebriese but they were eating a suitable quantity. Tomorrow was Sunday and neither Tatsuya, Miyuki nor Minami had had dinner yet today.

Miyuki and Minami started a slight tiff over who would pour the tea but, Tatsuya’s authoritative declaration of ‘Today is a celebration for Miyuki after all’ made Miyuki return from the kitchen, a measure that incited a temporary peace, and sat down next to him fairly close.

Minami entered the living room carrying a tray when she saw them together her eyebrows twitched in surprise. However, she said nothing, she showed no more emotion, she placed milk tea in front of Miyuki and coffee in front of Tatsuya and stood to the side of the table.

Tatsuya did not even tell Minami to ‘sit’ today. Rather, he intended to release her from her housework and ask her to leave the room. However, Miyuki wished to discuss something with Minami and spoke to her before taking her teacup.

“Minami‐chan.”

“Yes, Miyuki‐neesama.”

“By the way, I wish you to join the student council as the secretary, Minami‐chan.”

Minami’s expression did not overtly change but, her body stiffened as if under pressure. And even people other than Tatsuya would notice that she was unmistakably keeping herself from trembling.

“...agreed”

The tone was more stiff than humble as she gave Miyuki a very short reply.

If she spoke honestly, Minami would probably be resisting the idea of joining the student council. However, she also understood being attached to the student council was somewhat convenient for fulfilling her duties as a guardian. Her half‐hearted reply just now was a sign of her inner conflict.

“That’s right. It would also be useful to get around the CAD restrictions. Minami should become a student council officer.”

“You’re right, Onii‐sama.”

Tatsuya supported Miyuki’s idea and Miyuki happily bridged the gap between them.

Watching the distance between her sibling masters become near zero, Minami realized that it would be futile to say anything.

Tatsuya might have been reluctant‐‐‐Miyuki was probably even more reluctant‐‐‐but the siblings were unable to end the day with only this type of peaceful problem. After teatime was partly over, Tatsuya went to his own room and got that phone to make a phone call. The number he called was a direct line to the Yotsuba clan head. However, Maya did not answer the phone.

[Tatsuya‐dono, I am sorry but this is inconvenient for Okusama right now]

He was so informed by Hayama who answered instead; the brusque explanation did not even say what she was doing. Apparently, she was pretending to be out, Tatsuya thought.

However, he did not feel like asking why. It was unnecessary to inform Maya of tonight’s business directly. It was good to have an alibi when informing her of his business. Giving an apologetic message to Hayama was a smoother way of fulfilling his purpose than talking to Maya.

“So then, will you pass on a message to Obaue regarding the duty I undertook the other day”

[Please go on.]

Hayama might have anticipated the request, his agreement was rather prompt.

“I wish to borrow help from the Kudou clan to search for the target. I have already arranged for a meeting with the former Kudou clan head through the Fujibayashi clan.”

[Ohhh..]

He could not discern just from the voice whether Hayama was actually surprised or merely pretending to be surprised. It was doubtful that he could tell even if he saw his face.

[You are not asking the Independent Battalion for aid; you are asking help from Kudou‐kakka?]

“Wherever the original request came from, I believe it is best to avoid asking aid from the military regarding Yotsuba business.”

[You don’t mind asking a favor from the Kudou clan?]

“There is a high probability that this Zhou is allied with the ‘Traditionalists’, right? If that is so, then a good plan would be to ask for aid from the clans of ‘nine’ who have a long standing antagonistic relationship with the ‘Traditionalists’. Besides, the Kudou clan owes us a personal favor over last month’s incident. If the time between receiving the favor and repaying the favor gets too long, things get uncomfortable; I believe it is best if the scales get balanced before that happens.”

Hayama’s amused laugh could be heard from the receiver. This was apparently genuine amusement. He hadn’t particularly aimed for this to happen thought Tatsuya as he apathetically waited for Hayama’s reply.

[Despite your youth, you understand the ways of the world quite well, Tatsuya‐dono.]

It might be called a benefit of maturity, Hayama quickly recovered from his fit of laughter. He did not conceal his amusement, however.

[Certainly, asking for aid from the Kudou clan at this time is a wise choice in many respects. Fine. I will inform Okusama.]

“Please do so.”

Despite knowing it wouldn’t be seen, Tatsuya bowed his head to the transceiver.

[As a condition for getting help, detailed reports are not necessary. Since the other party is military and one of the Ten Master clans, I will inform Okusama to leave this matter to Tatsuya‐dono’s discretion.]

After firing off his big parting shot, Hayama cut off the connection.

? ? ?

Hayama, who had spoken to Tatsuya with the receiver in speaker mode, hung up the phone and bowed deeply to the wall opposite the desk.

“It is as you heard, Okusama.”

Tatsuya’s deduction about Maya’s being out was right on the mark. However, for her to be in the same room listening to him speak was completely beyond his expectations.

Maya had been forcibly keeping her mouth shut for a while. Apparently, stifling her laughter had been an extreme hardship. Perhaps she was aware that Hayama addressing her meant that the phone call was over, she let out a laugh that was unbecoming of a lady.

Even faced with the tarnishment of his mistress’s dignified manner, Hayama’s deferential attitude did not change. Not only did he not verbally admonish her, he did not direct even a shard of disapproval with his eyes toward Maya.

However, Maya might have felt uncomfortable under his stoic gaze, her laughter soon faded away.

“Please forgive me, Hayama‐san. What Tatsuya‐san said was so adorable, I couldn’t restrain myself.”

Maya used a handkerchief to wipe away the few tears that had leaked from her eyes. Thus, her expression switched to complete seriousness.

“Who on earth has been filling up that boy with such twisted wisdom?”

And Maya cocked her head with a serious expression.

“I am not aware of any error in Tatsuya‐dono’s stated reasoning.”

“In one aspect, he’s correct but it’s not normal.”

Hayama avouched a defense of Tatsuya. Perhaps, for that reason, Maya replied with a disinterested tone and look.

“Although ordinarily, an exchange of favors would deepen bonds.”

“Tatsuya‐dono does not need bonds born from an exchange of favors, right.”

“Ah, youth.”

Hayama neither agreed nor disagreed with those words. However, sensing her frivolity was inviting censure, Maya changed the subject.

“By the way, how is the search for Zhou Gongjin going? I wonder if there are any new clues.”

The quick change of topic did not faze him; there was no hesitation in Hayama’s reply.

“There are no new clues. Unfortunately, there’s been nothing since he fled after the small scale battle near Kyoto’s Sanzen‐in at the end of last month.”

“So that’s where we lost his trail. Since it would be undesirable for a foreign magician to incur the wrath of a famous temple like Sanzen‐in in this country.....the ‘Traditionalists’ are probably at work behind the scenes.”

Maya murmured in a disgusted tone. I have heard that they say that in order to protect the traditions of ancient magic, they have combined their schools. However, actually while this band of ancient magicians known as the ‘Traditionalists’ cooperated with the former Lab 9 for their own purposes for the childish reason of not getting the results they wanted, they hold a grudge against the clans of ‘9’ who they mistakenly blame, prompting their unprincipled and disorderly acts of hostility and harassment. Maya hated their childish mentality in a way that was different from their hatred towards the clans of ‘9’.

“Okusama, is it alright not to pass this information on to Tatsuya‐dono?”

“No need. Mitsugu san is thoroughly investigating the vicinity of Oohara, right? Besides, that man is probably not going to stay in the same area for long.”

Hayama bowed his head acknowledging his mistress’ point.

? ? ?

Tatsuya’s daily pattern had recently become to spend evenings at Yakumo’s temple on the practical development of a new magic, have early morning practices after he awoke, he had school afterwards if it was a weekday, and if it was a weekend developing the theory of the new magic.

Today, Sunday, September 30th. On this day as well, after breakfast, Tatsuya secluded himself in the underground lab to wrestle with the problem of debugging the new magic.

“...no problem with the process that produces Baryon. From the beginning, it was something that could be done based off just the analysis and maintaining the necessary standards of speed and uniform composition is possible.”

He was not murmuring a monologue without thinking, he was doing it consciously. Tatsuya was so far at the end of his rope right now that if he did not voice his ideas, they wouldn’t settle in his mind.

“Next, there are no problems with the movement type spell according to the simulation. It is essentially the same as the movement of gas after all. There is also the trick of using Lorentz power like Lina but, considering the nature of FAE, moving it directly by magic is probably faster.”

Tatsuya sighed deeply. In the end, these were his only conclusions.

“As I thought, the key is structuring it so the movement type magic finishes within the time meant by FAE?”

After using analytical magic, he concluded he had to complete the movement type magic in the minuscule amount of time before the laws of physics regained its coercive power. For just outputting the magic sequence, he had an advantage over a normal magician due to his ability to flashcast. However, in order to complete the magic, interference power was essential. For Tatsuya who originally only had interference power for ‘Analytical’ use and ‘revival’ use, this was a serious problem.

Tatsuya felt that he needed to change his mood so he went up one floor around noon.

He perceived the abnormality immediately after he finished ascending the stair. When he examined the inside of the house, there was a non‐human presence.

“A synthetic body? No. An artificial spirit?”

Artificial spirit was the name, modern magic assigned to a certain type of ‘sequence’ (a shikigami or a shiki). ‘Spirit’ was a natural phenomenon that accompanied a psion information body described by the information dimension that continued to remain as an independent psion information body after applicable phenomenon terminated. This man made ‘spirit’ developed by processes mainly induced by ancient magic techniques for creating independent information bodies was an ‘artificial spirit’. However, all independent information bodies with the potential to be subjugated that can be summoned by a ‘sequence’ were not manufactured by these techniques; psion information that possessed a naturally developed pushion information body as a core that could be captured and enslaved were rather numerous.

The independent information body stopped in midair as if it was clinging to the overhang of the house’s wall. These spells were the same as the protective spells to keep out intruders on First High’s outer wall. That being said..

(Since I don’t know what kind of data it’ll be able to glean.)

Tatsuya did not think his knowledge of magic sequences was complete. The ‘Shiki’ could be equipped with a function he didn’t know of, he could not ignore the possibility that it could search the inside of the house from outside the wall of defensive spells.

Once again, Tatsuya directed his ‘eye’ through the walls to the artificial spirit.

He analyzed the structural information.

The independent information body was constructed of nothing but psions.

The lack of a pushion core meant it was an artificial spirit as he thought. And so like a magic sequence, he could analyze it completely.

Tatsuya extended his right hand toward the artificial spirit. There was no CAD in that hand.

“Variable input: locked on structural data of the artificial spirit.”

Instead of outputting an activation sequence from a CAD, the magic sequence construction process surged from the data center of Tatsuya’s magic calculation area and sent it into the actualization sector.

“Magic sequence projection: ‘Dissection’ activate”

An invisible flash burst.

The bonds that formed the construction information of the artificial spirit were all completely severed; the psion information body became a chaotic clump of psions and was engulfed by the information dimension.

Just as he opened the door to the living room, Miyuki exhorted Tatsuya.

“Onii‐sama, what on earth was that just now?”

Even though it was labeled exhorting, Miyuki was not angry with Tatsuya; the foremost emotion on her face was anxiety.

“You know what happened just now?”

Tatsuya expressed his astonishment. Apparently, Miyuki sensed his usage of ‘dissection’. His concern over the detection of his magic usage seemed to be in one respect an expression of his pride in not having easily detectable magic but Tatsuya had no such conceit. Minami who had trailed after Miyuki when she came out clearly did not understand the siblings’ conversation.

“I didn’t sense it well enough to say that I know what happened but.. I feel as if Onii‐sama used ‘dissection’.”

“Aah. An artificial spirit was examining the inside of the house.”

Tatsuya hadn’t intended to inform her himself but he also didn’t intend to conceal it so, he answered yes to his sister’s question and explained the situation.

“Perhaps, it’s related to the job you accepted last month.”

“Is this the deed of the person called Zhou Gongjin?”

“Maybe an underling, It’s probably the work of compatriots of those who are sheltering him.”

After he said that, Tatsuya let out an unusually clear sigh.

“Fumiya and his sister were followed?”

Miyuki and Minami’s eyes widened at his murmur.

“Can’t be.. a tail would not be permitted with Ayako‐chan around.”

Miyuki’s shock even overcame her firm belief that everything Tatsuya said was correct but Minami did not have the latitude to feel doubt.

“It could have been done deliberately.”

“Ayako‐chan purposely let someone tail her to this house!?”

Psions coiled around Miyuki.

It was a harbinger of a magic explosion.

However, Miyuki was maturing. Before she unconsciously actualized magic, she intentionally clamped it down. Tatsuya’s eyes narrowed as he watched the process.

“I think it was slightly different. Most likely Ayako ...no, not just Ayako but Fumiya as well might have been forbidden to act against the tail even if they spotted them.”

Listening to her brother’s guess restored Miyuki’s calm but not be any means completely.

“By who.. that shouldn’t be considered. For what reason.”

“I can’t get the truth without asking but, they might intend to use me as a decoy.”

“They dare!?”

“Miyuki, don’t be angry. I said we can’t know the truth without asking, right.”

“But..”

Miyuki had already fallen into the trap of ‘not considering any alternatives’. However, Tatsuya did not rebuke her for that.

“Besides, it is reasonable to use me as a decoy. The opponent this time is an opponent capable of gravely injuring Kuroba Mitsugu. Even though it’s in hand, they don’t know it’s a pestle. Having me who won’t fall to anything but a fatal wound bear the full brunt is not a mistake tactically.”

So don’t be angry about it, Tatsuya smiled. “Onii‐sama!”

However, this reply indicated Miyuki wouldn’t permit any more of this decoy stuff.

“Please, do not talk anymore about carelessly risking your body! It’s not alright as long as you don’t die or as long as no wounds remain, even you should understand that!”

The unthinkable menacing look from Miyuki halted any excuses from Tatsuya. “Please, Onii‐sama think about how I will feel before you let yourself get injured!”

“...sorry.”

Tatsuya somehow squeezed out an apology,

“Minami, sorry for making you wait. You have made the preparations for lunch, right?” Then he changed the subject and addressed Minami.

“Yes, Tatsuya‐oniisama. Please come into the dining room, you too Miyuki‐oneesama.” Minami did not consider ‘troubling Tatsuya a little’; she was genuinely a good obedient girl.

? ? ?

Tatsuya analyzed the human construct spirit aka the shikigami and around that time.

“Uuhhaa!?”

In a small park about five hundred meters from Tatsuya’s house, a male around thirty sitting on a bench suddenly let out a high‐pitched noise.

The male sitting next to him flusteredly looked right to left several times. The attention obstruction barrier, he had put up, was functioning normally. While they knew that their images and voices did not register into anyone’s memory, even so he whispered ‘What happened?”.

“The shikigami was erased..”

“Erased? Not reversal or theft?”

“Neither, I think.”

The man being questioned turned his head to the left and right a number of times as he said ‘I don’t know why’.

“The feedback from the Shikigami abruptly disappeared.”

“Are you saying a person in that house used an obscure Buddhist unraveling incantation?”

“Wrong! ..no, I don’t know.”

His confusion reaching it’s peak, the man who had made the high pitched sound calmed down somewhat.

“I don’t feel the signal the spell emits. It’s the same for you, right?”

“That, well, it’s true but..”

This pair of ancient magicians had divvied up the job of searching of Tatsuya’s house between them. One manipulated the shikigami and the other maintained the security. The one in charge of security in order to prevent injuries caused by a ‘reversal’, in addition to the barrier spell, deployed a magical radar to detect signs of magic.

“However, there shouldn’t be a way to spontaneously dissolve a shikigami without interfering by that arcane art, right? I don’t believe your control of the shikigami faltered.”

“Of course not! But....”

His expression once again confused, the man turned his head while it was still aimed downward. A shadow suddenly fell on the ground his gaze was aimed at.

The two men looked up in surprise. Their shock was from the fact that there was a sign that someone had clearly approached them without them being aware of it while they had a barrier to keep people approaching them up, however, that shock over the enemy shadow turned to wariness and belligerence.

The person standing before them was wearing buddhist garments. He was wearing an overhanging wicker hat and monk’s stole and had a vajra bell in one hand.

The men knew from their investigation of the target of the friendly relationship between the Shiba siblings and Kyuuchou temple. The fact that the famed Kokonoe Yakumo was the master of Kyuuchou temple had been deeply etched into their minds since they had taken on this duty. The pair’s eyes met instantly, they chose flight over a pre‐emptive strike.

The instant their hips rose, as if he had anticipated that moment, the monk standing before the pair rang the vajra bell.

The clear timbre resounded at the pair from three directions.

With shocked expressions, the man seated on the left looked left and the man seated on the right looked right.

Two monks identical to the one in front were waving vajra bells in exactly the same manner.

The pair who had started to stand lost power in their legs.

By the moment the pair realized they under a spell, their minds were already halfway unconscious.

? ? ?

Tatsuya visited Kyuuchou Temple to borrow the underground training room and was promptly invited into a room in the monks’ quarter when he arrived. It was the same room; he had met with Yakumo to consult with him on the Parasite Doll matter in. Yakumo sat down at the same time as Tatsuya and started the conversation without a preamble.

“It seems like you’re entangled in another troublesome matter.”

With just that, Tatsuya was aware that this was about today’s shikigami incident.

“I’m sorry, have I caused you difficulties?”

If you thought about it then Yakumo's usage of long distance monitoring spells in broad daylight on those who could be said to be under his protection in a nearby city wasn’t something his pupils are going to observe without saying anything.

“Many of my pupils have an abundance of hot blood.”

While smiling wryly, Yakumo answered yes to Tatsuya’s question indirectly.

“So then, what happened this time?”

Perhaps Tatsuya had to answer in some way but, as to be expected, he was puzzled about how to answer. However, that was only for a minuscule period. He decided to take the middle path between answering and not answering.

“I think this trouble is related to the work I took on.”

“Work? For Kazuma‐kun?”

“No, the work did not come from the military.”

Yakumo’s eyes narrowed as they remained in their smiling state. As he smiled. a strong light was emitted from his eyes.

“Is it alright to ask about the details of this work?”

“There’s a good chance that it will become a job in the Kyoto district. So, I think it's best if I don’t cause you more trouble, Master.”

Yakumo’s lips twitched up slightly. The light in his eyes abated, the slight smile became his usual one.

“You don’t need to be so diffident. There is somewhat of a connection to the ‘traditionalists’.”

It was unexpected that Yakumo was the one who brought up the name of ‘traditionalists’ but Tatsuya’s conviction was that his family’s search for the magician did not fall under Yakumo’s purview.

“As I thought, this is related to the group of ancient magicians called ‘traditionalists’.”

“They are not called that, they have merely claimed the name..”

Yakumo’s display of fastidiousness was cute to Tatsuya but he refrained from showing it.

“Therefore, Master must not lend a hand. A civil war between fellow ancient magicians is no joke.”

There was no one within the nation’s ancient magicians’ that took the name of ‘traditionalists’ lightly. From the beginning, the ancient magicians who claimed the name ‘traditionalists’ were not particularly loyal to the traditional training regimes, they had cooperated with the former Lab 9 because they desired the know‐how of modern magic. For those who had continued to strictly defend their traditions, it was shameless of them to claim the mantle of ‘traditionalists’. Many of the magicians attached to the Traditionalists were employed in covert operations, so the number of magicians who knew not much more about the faction than the name who proclaimed ‘the Traditionalists must be purged’ is not small.

“Aw nuts, I’m still far from enlightenment.”

Perhaps he recognized that the hostility he felt was unlike him, Yakumo let out an embarrassed smile.

“Are the guys who were peeking at my house still secured here? There’s still a little something I wish to ask them?”

“It’s impossible today.”

Yakumo answered Tatsuya’s question with a penetratingly cold smile.

“I’m a little tired today. I’ll go take a rest in a quiet place now.”

Of course, Tatsuya was not overwhelmed by that level of pressure. He continued to ask polite questions with an amiable smile.

“Is that so? Then won’t you at least tell me of their background?”

“Oh, those guys are wild magicians employed by the ‘Traditionalists’.”

“Wild?”

Doubtfully, Tatsuya repeated the word.

“Do you mean free magicians?”

“You can call them that also.”

“There are people like that in this country?”

Magicians were a scarce human resource; all of them from the good to the bad were under a country’s control. Tatsuya himself was an exception in that he was not under governmental control but people like him were corralled in general under the private combat power of the twenty‐eight families, the Ten Master Clans system could be called an indirect form of government management. It was a novel surprise for Tatsuya that a magician with practical skills could be unaffiliated with a-->>

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