Volume 14, Chapter 1

[Kyuuchouji (Kyuuchou Temple)], where Kokonoe Yakumo served as the head priest, lay on top of a small hill at Fuchuu City, Old Metro Tokyo. As a devoted temple for volunteer “physical work”, word among the temple staff was that it was probably a [link to ascetic practice] ‐‐ close to the neighbourhood, it had fitted into the regional community as an indispensable part to the town scenery.

And as an extra, when the townspeople had a chance to look at old map details, they were in for a surprise. It didn't matter if old meant a hundred years old, they were looking at genuine maps.

They learned that there was no temple from the start.

They learned that there was no hill at such a place.

During the later period of the twenty years of repeated world wars, the capital defense forces were deployed to the Choufuu, Fuchuu, Mitaka, and Musashino districts, with Choufuu Air Field serving as their base. And following the rules of troop deployment, the civilians in these areas had been evacuated for almost ten years. The hill Kyuuchouji stood on was formed from the earth dug up when a large underground defense bunker was constructed on its spot.

While it was regretful that the capital sustained damages during the war, thanks to the [Musashino AA fortress], the old capital ward escaped unscathed. On the other hand, the defense position bore the brunt of the attacks from multiple attackers, but that meant the civilian evacuation did not go to waste.

And so it was unavoidable for the blank that occurred between the town and its residents. The people returned to their own [residences] because the war had ended. And later the government spent money to reconstruct the town. Although it wouldn't be completely the same as before.

After a total sealing, without any dismantling of the underground defense bunker, and the accompanying town replanning, the number of families that were unable to return to their former residences was reduced. And the quick installation of an advanced transportation system gave the town scenery a somewhat futuristic look.

What was added was not only overhead tracks where small‐scale compact train‐type public transportation facilities [Cabinets] ran through. Apart from those new features, traditional features and various facilities large and small were added to the town scenery. A [large temple on top of a small hill], Kyuuchouji, was one of them.

The temple had a history that was somewhat, no, considerably delicate to say. The previous priest, in short Yakumo's master, was compensated for cooperating with the Ninth Magician Development Research Institute, and obtained the residence and facility to train disciples ‐‐ disciples in [Shinobi], rather than disciples in Buddhist priesthood.

And for that reason, the fa?ade of Kyuuchouji was aimed for camouflage and was intentionally constructed in the old style. Even the grounds inside the fencing were in a 20th century style.

In contrast, the training facility was dug deep, deep down into the earth and its area, even wider than the grounds above it, was fortified with the latest technology. Not only was it a training ground for ancient magic, at present it was even a training ground at the highest level for modern magic.

Kazama introducing Tatsuya to Yakumo was more than to introduce the latter to this underground facility. As a master of taijutsu, Yakumo's skill was top‐rank. However, Kazama's expectations were not only to aim for Tatsuya's taijutsu improvement. He did not bring Tatsuya into the military in order to be a “usual” close‐combat specialist. He was expecting, to the very end, the abilities of an extremely powerful magician that could fight on the frontlines.

It was a facility where both taijutsu coaching and magic training were possible. As soon as he knew that Tatsuya's house was within an agreeably short distance from Kyuuchouji in the neighbouring town, this temple was Kazama's only choice.

And now, Tatsuya was entering into the lowest level of Kyuuchouji's underground training facility. This training room had, from the floor to the ceiling and even the walls, three layers comprising of 10cm thick concrete, 30cm thick lead, and 60cm thick of neutron shielding concrete.

This was no nuclear shelter, it was meant as a training room for magic. And as to why such secure anti‐ radiation shielding was required, there was a reason behind it within the history of how 21st century magic was developed.

Research and development on modern magic originated in AD 1999, in an incident when an American police officer used an unusual power (at that time it was still called ESP) to take down nuclear terrorism. From those events onwards, R&D on modern magic started out as a means to counter nuclear threats; basically the primary objectives were the control and suppression of nuclear fission, and the isolation and nullification of radiation.

With focused research on it being worthwhile, it was at a stage where it was safe to say that neutron barriers and gamma radiation filters were completed. Nevertheless, even today the development and improvement of spells against nuclear reactions was essential data captured in magic ability development.

Even so, what Tatsuya was about to do in this room was neither practice for radiation isolation magic nor improving nuclear fission control magic. In some ways, it was the opposite.

This underground training room was currently turning into a pool. Even so, it was not being flooded for swimming purposes. With his shoulders just out of the water, Tatsuya was in short‐sleeved training wear holding a pistol‐shaped CAD in one hand. Though he wasn't swimming, both his head and hair were drenched.

What his right hand was gripping was not his favorite Silver Horn Custom. It was clear from its plain appearance that it was a prototype. The biggest difference was the bayonet‐like object attached to the muzzle end of the barrel. An imitation, because it was neither sharp nor pointed, and only because the metallic thick plate was constructed to be like a bayonet.

With his right hand underwater, Tatsuya pulled the trigger. The “two” activation sequences that generated underwater were absorbed into his right arm. The first one was output from the pistol‐shaped CAD. The other one was output from the bayonet‐like attachment.

The magic sequences acted on the attachment. Water bubbled at the tip of the CAD. The groans that escaped from Tatsuya's clenched teeth grew louder and he went down on his knees. His right hand hideously burned deep red due to the severe scalding, Tatsuya ended up dropping the CAD due to the injury.

Submerged up to the top of his head, he immediately went up to standing position. His hair being drenched was because of this being repeated. Often with ragged breaths, he would raise his right hand to eye level and repeatedly clench it open and closed. There were no remnants of scalding due to the use of

[Restoration], but the semi‐conscious action was due to the immediately uncomfortable feeling that he might suffer intense damage.

With his right hand finally regaining its sensation, he stretched it out underwater. Its fingers latched on the CAD which had floated up. Even the bayonet‐like attachment, which was burned off from the tip when it was submerged at that time, was back to its old form due to [Restoration].

Tatsuya then again prepared his CAD underwater. However, a commanding voice with no one around and nothing close to his ears softly echoed.

["Tatsuya‐kun, it's almost midnight."]

With an air‐vibrating spell ‐‐ its activation was different yet its contents were the same as those activation sequences from USNA STARS Planet‐class magician Sylvia Mercury Faust ‐‐ Yakumo whispered from outside into Tatsuya.

"... Understood."

Tatsuya's reply was spoken in the same manner as before but Yakumo understood what was picked out from Tatsuya's voice using his spell.

Sure enough, as soon as Tatsuya made clear that his training was over, the water in the room began to recede. As he waited for the water to recede, Tatsuya used emission‐type magic to shake off the moisture from his hair, skin, and clothes.

His casting didn't aim for a totally dry state. As soon as he dried his clothes enough so normal movement wouldn't be a problem, he used gravity‐type magic to flick the door switch on the other side of the room. Due to the nature of the training room, no electrical equipment could be installed inside the walls.

("An inaccessible room if magic weren't used...")

As he ruminated once more on the fact that came only now, Tatsuya started on the ladder that would bring him back to surface ‐‐‐ for Yakumo had cut the electrical power to the elevator.

? ? ?

September 23 2096, Sunday. Even though he had returned home the night before, just before a date‐ changing midnight, Tatsuya still started out this morning very early for morning training. That made Miyuki, who was checking the unread messages on the home server, a bit worried for an early‐rising Tatsuya.

He was not a brother who would stop upon being told not to overexert himself. No, resorting to persuasion by tears might “for a bit” get him to listen to what she said, but perhaps even that would only be temporary. And she had just used that weapon last month.

"I'll hold on to sympathetic tactics for a little longer until it's time for serious need." Miyuki resignedly thought.

In the kitchen, Minami had already started preparing breakfast. Lately Miyuki and Minami got surprisingly cooperative together, and changed the rules about who prepared what meal. From the start, with the development of home automation, since there was no preparing meals by hand unless for special events, the appearance of struggling in the kitchen looked hilarious from a third person view ‐‐ that was what the two of them belatedly noticed.

And so, Miyuki left the kitchen work to Minami as she headed for the bathroom.

She then controlled the HAR in the dressing room, taking out Tatsuya's clothes ‐‐ underwear included, but Miyuki was not into being bashful.

In truth, it had been in her third year of middle school that she had had thoughts on whether it was good being bashful like a maiden in situations where she was in front of male underwear even though it belonged to her beloved brother. Although, when she imagined herself being red‐cheeked in front of her brother's underwear, she changed her mind thinking [this is for degenerates rather than maidens]. ‐‐‐ If another person saw her expressing her delightful smile, as she was hard at work preparing the shower for her brother, he would have thought she was beyond help in various ways. But perhaps he would never meet Miyuki herself face‐to‐face and tell her that.

Having prepared for her brother's prompt return, Miyuki's last task was to place the towel as it was‐‐‐ in other words hold the towel in her hands ‐‐‐ and head at a hurried pace for the entryway. She was not into unladylike behavior like running inside the house. Even if she wasn't seen by her brother, Miyuki didn't have the guts to behave in a way her brother deemed unsuitable.

Due to door biometrics, the sound of the door being unlocked echoed to both kitchen and living room. By the time Minami had stopped watching her cooking and came out of the kitchen, Miyuki was already standing by in the entryway.

"Welcome back, Onii‐sama."

"I'm home."

"... Welcome back, Tatsuya‐niisama."

The slight delay was due to the time Minami took to rush from the kitchen to the entryway. She was out of the kitchen at the same time of the unlocking, but for this morning Miyuki still ended up in a big lead over her. When she first came to this house Minami couldn't hide her disdain over this, but nowadays she had all but given up.

And that was the proper response. They may not be in the middle of combat, but it was strange for Miyuki to correctly ascertain Tatsuya's presence even when he was still over 50 meters away. Minami not putting up an astonished expression would be earning the praises instead.

"Onii‐sama, the shower has been prepared for you."

"Thank you."

Miyuki followed behind her brother, who had taken the towel and entered the bathroom, with a truly happy smiling face. On seeing her, Minami exhaled secretly. Even for a live‐in maid, this level of letting off steam should have been permitted.

It was Sunday and yet due to circumstances already mentioned, mornings at the Shibas proceeded according to the ever‐usual timetable. That meant a comfortable teatime after breakfast. And for Miyuki, who had given in to Minami over preparing breakfast, preparing Tatsuya's tea was something she didn't turn over. For Minami's part, she would be studying and, to avoid taking damage from the sickly‐sweet atmosphere, was assigned the task of cleaning and laundry.

Her ever‐usual wholeheartedly prepared coffee earning the [words of praise] from Tatsuya and finally settling down, Miyuki then,

"Onii‐sama, I would like to ask you about something."

Suddenly made up her mind and tried asking Tatsuya on one thing that had been clawing at her mind for quite a while.

"What?"

It was blunt, but Tatsuya's voice towards his younger sister was gentle all the same. Encouraged, Miyuki threw away the last of her hesitations.

"Why is Onii‐sama not entered into this year's Thesis Competition? I'm aware that the solar furnace experiment performed last April at the school grounds was exempted from submitting a screening thesis which was required for Magic Engineering students, it does mean it wasn't prohibited from participating, was it?"

"Come now, don't say it wasn't out just for nothing."

The idea of prohibited from participating was strange, Tatsuya smiled as he shook his head.

"Then why...?"

"It's because I don't have the time."

Tatsuya's answer to Miyuki's short follow‐up question was just as short, and was precise unlike Miyuki's inquiry.

"Was it... related to the magic that Onii‐sama is practicing every day until late at night?"

Miyuki hesitatingly followed up with a question. She was at a loss whether or not it was okay for her to intrude further,

"That's right. You understood it well."

Tatsuya's hand reached out towards Miyuki's head who was beside him. Along with his commending words, Tatsuya softly stroked his younger sister's hair. Such gentle sensation led the hesitation remaining in Miyuki's heart to melt away.

"Was it perhaps what is Onii‐sama making efforts for is not practicing magic, but development of a new kind of magic?"

"As expected of my Miyuki, she really knows what I'm doing."

Those words were embarrassing to Miyuki even more than his hand touching her hair, although she knew that most of it was flattery, or rather in jest.

Tatsuya wouldn't have to subject himself to such hardship if it were training for an existing magic. The virtual magic calculation area that was planted in him may have such low magic output, but more than copying entire magic sequences and then using it, it can “completely” identify the structure of the magic sequences no matter the magic and what status it may be just before activation. From there on it was a problem of throughput. If it was magic he could activate he could use it without any training, if it was not then no matter the training he could not use it. And with his “eyesight” and analytic skills, there was no magic spell that he could not analyze.

Whatever was troubling him at this time until late every night, there was no way that was an existing magic.

"I've started development of this magic since March. That may be the case; it took me some time even though I clarified the theories from the onset. It was finally in June that I managed to clear the magic spell design phase."

And so, I wasn't into the Thesis Competition at all, Tatsuya smiled.

However, Miyuki wasn't smiling at what she heard. First off, the fact was that her brother, the theoretician [Silver] of the mysterious genius magic engineer Taurus Silver, took three months just to work out the theories. Another thing was the development start, which was March.

"Then the new magic Onii‐sama was dealing with now... was it meant for the confrontation with Lina?"

"You understood it well."

The answer that came out from Tatsuya had the same words, but its nuance was surprisingly different. This time it had both real surprise and admiration. Tatsuya really felt admiration at Miyuki for figuring out an almost correct answer with those hints only.

"The magic I'm developing now is a magic sequence for a close‐range direct attack that uses the FAE theory."

"FAE... theory? If I remember right, that was the theory used behind Lina's weapon, wasn't it?"

"Yes, the magic theory that was the foundation for what Lina used; the strategic‐class wielded magic weapon [Brionac]... FAE, that's Free After Execution."

The strong emotions that were put into Tatsuya's tone were either respect towards the engineer who completed the ersatz divine weapon Brionac... or antagonism. It was felt by Miyuki, not which of the one, but in that it could be both of them.

"The resulting generated phenomenon that was manipulated by magic was a phenomenon that was essentially not part of this world, so immediately after the manipulation the shackles due to the laws of physics were weakened. And so during the short time lag until the normal laws of physics take effect, one can execute the next magic with an amount of power far smaller than the required interference power to do normal phenomenon manipulation. That's how the hypothesis goes."

And thereupon Tatsuya noticed his own mistake, and shook his head as he smiled bitterly.

"No, it's not a hypothesis. It was already demonstrated by Brionac that the FAE theory is correct."

"Onii‐sama, pardon me. There's something about what you've discussed now that I don't understand, can you clarify it for me?"

Miyuki's question was not mere socializing; it was a chance to clear up her doubt due to her love of learning. If it were a mere difficult theory, she would have probably swept it off by giving her brother annoying thoughts. But the FAE was a theory connected to magic used by Lina. Miyuki couldn't bring herself to remain ignorant of that.

"Go ahead, no need to restrain yourself."

"As long as it is not a single‐process magic, magic is constructed using consecutive processes. With that many, the succeeding process will take over and take effect on the state of the event manipulation of the previous process. However, for such magic, I have no actual experience in easily activating the second process onward, isn't this a counter‐example to the FAE theory?"

"I see..."

On hearing Miyuki's question, Tatsuya, his head as if struck at a blind spot, nodded.

"That kind of misunderstanding is probably common among magicians."

However that was an unexpectedly strong emotion he felt, not because it was unexpected that what Miyuki pointed out was correct, but because even proficient magicians on the level of Miyuki would misunderstand something like that.

"Misunderstanding, you said?"

"The fact is that magic processes by themselves are not magic."

At Tatsuya's short explanation, Miyuki expressed confusion.

Of course, Tatsuya intended to keep on explaining until her younger sister got it.

"Take this magic for example"

As he said that, Tatsuya opened the sugar pot lid, made a sugar cube float to his eye level and held it there, then a second later he returned it back to the pot.

"Onii‐sama... that may be seasoning, but you're aware how I feel on wasting food."

"Oh, yeah, sorry."

And, upon seeing Miyuki rebuking him for what she saw, he was stuck with doing an apology without any excuses.

Miyuki smiled satisfactorily at her brother meekly apologizing.

"Well then,"

Experiencing the discomforting young‐and‐old rank reversal, Tatsuya slightly forced the discussion back on track.

"There's no need to say it to you, but the magic just used was the popular basic training spell [Suspension]. A magic comprising of four processes ‐‐ a gravitation‐type anti‐gravity magic process to make the sugar cube float, a movement‐type rest magic process to suspend the sugar cube mid‐air, a gravitation‐type gravity control magic process to slowly lower the sugar cube into the sugar pot, and a movement‐type rest magic process to make the sugar cube stay still inside the sugar pot without impacting it. However this presentation, now that you've said it, would easily foment misunderstanding."

"Where have I made a misunderstanding?"

"I didn't say you made a misunderstanding. It's just that for the four processes of the magic, the delusion that each of them is an independent magic rises."

"That was... a delusion?"

Tatsuya nodded gravely at Miyuki, who was currently bewildered upon being told that unexpected fact.

"Suspension is a four‐process magic, but it's those four processes that it becomes a single magic. To reach the stage where the magic is activated one has to complete constructing the magic sequences until the final rest process and define the variables. Without the full magic power to cover the four processes,"

Tatsuya broke off there and his eyes gazed into Miyuki, as if ascertaining her comprehension.

"The magic wouldn't be interrupted during activation, the anti‐gravity process wouldn't activate from the start."

Miyuki expressed a surprised look.

"That's right... if each process were independent magic, the moment the magic power is insufficient the magic would have been cut‐off mid‐way... and not the result when it would have been non‐activated from the start."

Muttering as if talking to herself, Miyuki was at that moment digesting eagerly what Tatsuya had taught her.

"Magic processes are by themselves not independent magic. They are, through and through, part of one magic. That's what you mean, isn't it Onii‐sama."

"Exactly as you've said it. That's my Miyuki, you sure learn fast."

Smiled upon by Tatsuya, Miyuki turned her eyes away bashfully. It was an expression of pure and simple embarrassment, but this time the feeling of embarrassment because she was unable to comprehend something until she was taught this much, was stronger.

Tatsuya was not praising her out of sarcasm, he was really commending her. Miyuki was ashamed of herself who was aware of that and yet, while she's “her brother's” younger sister, all the more unable to understand this much.

Although, she probably thought that she always mustn't turn her face away. Miyuki faced Tatsuya with a forced smile.

"Now, now, something like this would end up being “intuitively” misunderstood without practically any personal experience, no matter how much of the theory you've understood. Magic is not a scholarly pursuit, but a technical capability. Without any experience in failing to activate magic, we wouldn't be troubled over its reasons."

Tatsuya wasn't sharp at other people's emotions, but it's a different story towards Miyuki. Whether it's seeing Miyuki go into a slump, or quickly going around with a cover‐up.

"Besides the important point is not the reason why magic failed to activate, it's the fact that magic processes are only nothing more than convenient objects. As per what modern magic scheme had taken form, from activation sequence to magic sequence construction, to successfully describe the activation sequence it's only convenient that the magic sequence be broken down into modules called processes."

Then again, Miyuki is not the type who doesn't know she's being encouraged on by her brother. Tatsuya was concerned “about her”. Glad about that, her forced smile softened up somewhat.

"I finally understood what Onii‐sama was talking about."

Miyuki lightly poked her own head, and she expressed a pleasant [Sorry, for being a dunce of a younger sister] smile. As that expression would cause one to experience large gaps with the usual images of an all‐ too‐orderly beauty bringing about even the coldness, Tatsuya released power enough to totally get rid of his awareness towards ostrich‐ism.

"Magic processes are through and through part of magic. Therefore event manipulation due to magic goes through all processes and is singular. Since even completing one process is still nothing more than a mid‐ stage event manipulation the manipulated event won't be successful, the event manipulation difficulty lowering described by the FAE theory wouldn't occur, right?"

"...That's right. Full marks for you, Miyuki."

Even Tatsuya had his senses taken away by his younger sister charmingly swinging slightly her head onto one side. He tried to cover it up by pretending to be unnaturally silent, as if scrutinizing Miyuki's answer, but he had no faith in himself whether or not he can really deceive his younger sister.

Miyuki's smile, that made flowers bloom to their full glory, rejected Tatsuya's prying as something unsophisticated.

? ? ?

Just how does that pair pass time during a holiday?

For upperclassmen, classmates, and underclassmen who knew to some extent the siblings Tatsuya and Miyuki ‐‐ that meant the majority of First High students, it was the first time all of them had encountered this question. And so,

‐‐‐They flirt with each other all day long, like a couple in passionate love?

‐‐‐No‐no, say what you want but to go that far... at least how about on the level of an all‐day date?

‐‐‐Nah, that's naive. I'm sure that couple would finally end up in a scene where...

In those situations, a colorful array of speculation spread around.

Their speculations were partially spot on. It's true that the pair are “very happily” spending their rest days, even going on dates.

However, it is not every day. In fact Tatsuya many times was away from home on Sundays. It's mostly going to the FLT research labs or being summoned by the Independent Magic‐equipped Battalion, but ever since Minami came to the Shiba house, he stopped worrying about Miyuki being alone, and so the frequency of occurrence went up.

But today was right now unusual, for there are no appointments set for Tatsuya. Even Miyuki was not into saying "I want to go out". It wasn't because the student council elections were moved to weekends; it was covered by the fact that Tatsuya was physically exhausted due to training.

And so to tell the whole story, Miyuki was in no mood to entertain guests today. Even though those guests were close relatives. What's more, she was disinclined to show this pair into the house. Even if the people were close relatives she can't rest easy, even though she knew they're allies she cannot lower her guard.

But those were nothing more than Miyuki's personal sentiments. Moreover their reason was [for her brother] and since Tatsuya didn't show any stance of denying them, Miyuki (on the surface) has no reason not to welcome them.

"Fumiya, Ayako, good for you to come."

"Fumiya‐kun, Ayako‐chan, welcome."

Tatsuya and Miyuki friendly addressed the pair who had just settled down after being led inside by Minami and offered to sit on the sofa. It was for the above‐mentioned reasons that Miyuki's manners were quite diplomatic, while Tatsuya was never to lower his guard whoever he was facing ‐‐ apart from one person. But seen from outside the pair's manners showed an impeccably friendly affection.

"Tatsuya‐san, Miyuki‐oneesama, pardon us for intruding you."

"Tatsuya‐niisan, Miyuki‐san, long time no see."

In contrast with the greetings of the Shiba siblings, the response of the Kuroba siblings were stiff. Compared to Tatsuya and his sister they should not be considerably inexperienced. Age‐wise those June‐ born twins would have been sixteen, the same age with March‐born Miyuki. Whether sixteen years of age was adult age or minor age was set aside for now, and since it was almost ignored the twins should be able to easily and completely hide their nervousness.

In other words, today was perhaps due to business that corresponded to those [considerable matters]. Both Tatsuya and Miyuki drew that conclusion from their appearances.

"Which reminds me Fumiya, Minami was indebted to you for last month."

Minami, standing beside the sofa, quickly bowed to Fumiya who was bewildered at suddenly being thanked by Tatsuya.

"Thanks to you eliminating the guards, you saved me from trouble."

"O, oh... that incident, right?"

On the words for guard elimination, Fumiya gradually realized it was the incident during the last day of the 9SC when he brought down the security surrounding the van Minami was on.

"No, it's not a considerable matter."

Don't mind about it, Fumiya tried to answer this back. However,

"Though this may not repay the favor back to yo-->>

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