Volume 21, Chapter 5

Sunday, April 14th. Today is the day of the meeting of the young representatives of 28 houses organized by Katsuto, but Tatsuya, as usual, went first to training in the Yakumo temple. The meeting of the Ten Master Clans was not for Tatsuya something that would make the daily routine change.

However, if we say that today it was not different from the usual, it is also not true. Yesterday's confrontation with the supposedly Strategic Class Magician, Bezobrazzoff, left Tatsuya very concerned.

Tatsuya could not interrupt the magic supposedly being a Tuman Bomba with the help of Gram Dispersion.

Yesterday he himself canceled his Gram Dispersion, but without a doubt, if the confrontation is serious, canceling that magic will be a difficult task.

It was a first of a kind experience for Tatsuya. He cannot use such powerful defensive magic as Katsuto or Minami. If you need to protect someone but yourself, then destroy the enemy magic. This is his style.

How to resist this magic, in which the magic sequence automatically self- replicated, spreading in different directions? What can he do?

These were his unconscious thoughts, in which he now plunged.

It was very unusual for Tatsuya to get distracted from what he had before his eyes.

As expected, during the sparring with Yakumo, he did not have time to distract himself. But, returning home, he completely relaxed.

Even taking a shower to wash away sweat, even wiping the body, his mind was completely occupied with the question "How to resist yesterday's magic." To the extent that before him there was no noise and signs of the presence of other people, which he usually notices even without consciousness.

"If it was a single sequence of magic, then no matter what scale it had, Gram Dispersion could cope with it."

"If the content was the same, it does not matter how many hundreds, how many thousands of magic sequences, they could be treated as one object."

"But yesterday's magic was a collection of magic sequences that differed from each other by small shifts in the values of the variables."

"Regardless of the fact that only the values of coordinates / positions change, it is impossible to process the information as the same, because of the shift in activation time."

"Magic that spreads through a chain, thanks to this self-replicating ... Hmm, should I call it the" Chain call "? At the moment I do not even know what to do when the Chain call is completely over."

"Destroy the starting sequence of magic before the spread begins, it's most effective, but ..."

"... This will not be so easy, the enemy must also have countermeasures for such a case."

"Each of those magic sequences in itself was not very strong, although the area of damage can be very large, but there were no places that could be called an epicenter with increased temperature or pressure. like a gas bomb.

"

"Then barrier magic with a large output power, undoubtedly, will be able to resist this."

"So, from the very beginning, is the problem that I cannot use barrier magic at the right level?"

"To program Ancient barrier magic? No ... Ancient analysis already has progress, but it's not enough to be used in real combat."

"Can Pixie learn barrier magic?"

"It's impossible to keep Minami nearby ..."

These are just about thoughts now intertwined in his mind.

Suddenly, the bathroom door opened. As expected, no matter how much he was absorbed in his thoughts, he noticed this sound. When Tatsuya's wiping head turned, he saw through the opening in the towel that Minami was standing behind the open door, staring in a stupor and with wide eyes.

Tatsuya was also surprised. However, he immediately recovered from the shock. After he finished taking a shower, in unconscious action, which could be called good manners, he wrapped the towel around the lower part of the body, hiding some important parts. So now only the upper part of the body was exposed.

- Minami.

He spoke as calmly as he could without meeting Minami's eyes.

But there was no answer. It was impossible to say that Tatsuya could not see her. Because Minami's face was now boiling bright red.

"Minami, close the door."

This time he spoke in a more harsh tone.

- ......!

With a delay of a few seconds,

- I-, and-, I'm sorry-e!

Minami screamed loudly and slammed the door to the bathroom. After that, there was a loud sound, it seems, Minami fell in the corridor. With a bad premonition, Tatsuya quickly put on his clothes.

Cooked breakfast was waiting in the dining room on the table. And on the floor, in a formal pose on her knees and in a deep bow to the floor, trembling, sat Minami.

Tatsuya glanced at the already occupied Miyuki. Miyuki shook her head with a face saying "I do not understand anything." Minami's Dogeza it seems, was not caused by Miyuki's anger.

-Minami. Do not worry about it.

-This is not the case! To see the body of Tatsuya-sama, to someone other than Miyuki-sama ... this is unworthy for a maid's rudeness!

"Except ... What ...?" - Maimi's muttering did not reach Minami's ears.

- Anything, but give me a punishment!

"No ... I did not lock the door, so you do not have to blame yourself."

-No! It's 100 percent my fault that I did not notice that Tatsuya-sama is in the bathroom! So this useless maid should receive the appropriate punishment!

-Punishment, then.

It seems that a switch has worked in Minami's mind. Puzzled, Tatsuya looked at Miyuki with a look of prayer for help.

-Minami-chan, it's all so similar to a love story with a story about modern Europe ...

With a bitter smile, Miyuki gave Tatsuya advice (?).

Indeed, this was advice. Thanks to him, Tatsuya's former doubts have disappeared. But, unfortunately, the issue was not solved yet.

"Nothing can be done," Tatsuya thought. Do not blame Minami, this can be a problem for future plans. Tatsuya decided to briefly turn into a demon, discarding pity.

"... Minami, I must go to an important meeting soon." You know this.

-... Yes. - Minami answered loudly, without raising her forehead from the floor.

-After the meeting, we must go to the main house. Naturally, you will have to go with us, as Miyuki's guard.

-I know about it.

-So, today is full of cases. We do not have time for your punishment. Do you understand what I mean?

-... Yes.

"Then, get up." First, finish breakfast, and then do your usual business. I think if you get any punishment, then you cannot do your job.

- ... I am obeying.

With a confused face, Minami sat down at the table. Recalling his own mistakes, Tatsuya was seized with a strong sense of guilt.

? ? ?

This morning's incident dealt a strong blow to Tatsuya's morale, but at the same time allowed him to distract and take away to the distant regiment of reason thinking over the measures against the Chain call. Tatsuya's mood changed when, at the entrance to the Bay Hills Tower of Yokohama, where the branch office of the Kanto Magic Association is located, he accidentally noticed well-known three sisters to him.

They also noticed Tatsuya, and the first conversation was started by one of them.

- Ara, Tatsuya-kun. Long time no see.

Mayumi, in a bright colorful suit, not suitable for the role of dresses for formal events, waved to him. This behavior did not fit the image of the "adult woman", created by a tight suit, emphasizing an elegant and slender figure.

However, it could also be said that this is just like Mayumi.

- Long time no see. Saegusa-sempai will also attend the meeting?

Tatsuya thought that the elder son, Tomokazu, would be present from the Saegusa family at today's meeting. But the number of participants was not limited. Although if you are five or ten men, many will probably be shocked, but bringing 2-3 people was a sensible decision.

- No. We are here for help.

However, Tatsuya was mistaken. It seems that not only Mayumi, but Kasumi and Izumi dressed up in more adult clothes to help administrators and guides.

"But why exactly, senpai?" I thought that today's meeting is organized by the Juumonji family.

The Tatsuya question was only a superficial check.

-Today's meeting of Juumonji-kun was offered by our brother, so it's quite natural for us to help.

However, Mayumi easily revealed hidden facts.

- ... This is normal? To reveal such things.

-Is that a problem? After all, our father did not stop us when we went to help.

If a non-participant in the meeting Mayumi and her sisters appear here as organizers, then there must be fears that various hidden circumstances may be revealed by various interrogations. Since she recognized this, it means their logic was that they do not mind it.

- I think this conclusion is too reckless, but ...

Although Tatsuya almost understood that there are some disagreements between Mayumi and the head of the Saegusa family, Koichi, he felt that it was not like Mayumi. Despite feelings for her father, she should take care of the interests of the Saegusa family.

"Sempai, do you not like the fact that Juumonji-senpai was used?"

Tatsuya's unexpected assumption, Kasumi and Izumi made surprised faces simultaneously.

- T-this just cannot be! This has nothing to do!

The language of Mayumi did not depend on Tatsuya's question, but rather on the sight of the rounded eyes of younger sisters. Tatsuya was also surprised by this panic that arose from his question.

- ......

"What a look!" Juumonji-kun and I are not in such a relationship!

-... I did not mean it, but ...

-What, "but" !? This is really not true!

She did not look so uptight, but Tatsuya decided not to say too much.

"Sempai, we attract attention."

This advice fell into the category of "unnecessary" rather than "superfluous".

Not knowing what to say to this, Mayumi froze, without speech.

- Then, I'll go. I know where to go.

"It's not necessary to show the way," he had in mind. Then he turned and walked to the elevator.

To no longer create problems for Mayumi, Tatsuya decided to go to the floor of the meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for 9:00 in the morning. Up to this time, there were still 20 minutes. But before the conference hall a lot of magicians had already gathered. The entrance was already open, but it looks like there were a lot of people trying to collect information in advance, in conversations, without taking up space.

Among them, Tatsuya found a man in a familiar school uniform.

-Shippou.

-Ah, Shiba-senpai.

The person in the form of First High was none other than a pupil a year younger, Shippou Takuma. He himself would never admit this, but he did not look at ease in the group of adults he was not familiar with. Hearing Tatsuya's voice, he walked towards him with relief on his face.

"Why do not you go inside?"

"Missing the greeting," Tatsuya asked. He did not ask "Are you involved?".

He knew that Takuma was the only child in the family, without even looking at his personal data provided to the school. Despite the fact that early weddings are encouraged among magicians, they are not forced to have many children. They're not breeding livestock. No one will be forced to be healed unless they can give birth to a second.

Since Takuma is the only child, it was quite obvious to Tatsuya that he would come to the meeting as a representative of the Shippou family.

Takuma, it seems, also saw that Tatsuya, having appeared in this place, does not feel any discomfort, but in his case it was possible to say that he could not afford it.

"It seems that you can already go in, but apparently the places are not yet distributed ..." Takuma replied to Tatsuya's question, not hiding his nervousness. In other words, he did not seem to know where to sit.

-Let's go together?

-Thank you!

"And he is pretty straightforward," Tomitsuka would have thought, if he were here. But Tatsuya did not feel any particular change in his mood towards Takuma. Tatsuya entered the conference room, leading Takuma behind him, just like his kohai from school.

In the conference hall, a square with a void in the middle was drawn from long tables.

Each side had 6 seats. In addition to the one with which there were 5 seats, because the total number of participants was 23.

Tatsuya sat in the right row. In particular, he did not realize where the "leading" and "lower" places are. He chose this place, simply because his friend was there.

-Ichijou, long time no see.

-Only a month has passed. - At Tatsuya's greeting, Masaki wearing the uniform of Third High, answered with a slightly upset expression. Remembering what he had experienced, he had a feeling that he did not know what kind of person to actually do instead. - Are you alone?

"One is enough."

Tatsuya answered this question with a serious face. Of course, Masaki hoped that Miyuki would come, but apparently realizing that Tatsuya would not take her to such a place, he did not show much disappointment.

-By the way, Ichijou. - Tatsuya leaned toward Masaki and lowered his voice.

-How is your father's health?

Takuma did not seem to have heard this question. Masaki reflexively frowned, but realized that Tatsuya was worried.

"... He's much better now." Shiba, I must say thank you.

Masaki's gratitude was that Yotsuba's family sent to them to Yuka. Tatsuya immediately realized this, and did not joke with phrases like "what for?".

-We are all equal before one disaster, the family only found a specialist. We understand your feelings.

Tatsuya did not forget to hide Yuka's connection with the Yotsuba.

- It's clear.

Masaki decided that it would be rude to add something else to this topic. He bowed slightly and fell silent. Tatsuya also straightened up.

Seeing that the greetings of these two were over, Takuma stood up and spoke with Masaki.

-Ichijou-san. My name is Shippou Takuma. It's a pity we did not have the opportunity to speak last month, when you attended First High . Nice to meet you.

-Ichijou Masaki. It is mutual.

Masaki responded laconically and bowed, preserving the image of the older man.

Last year's Takuma might have become angry with Masaki's behavior. But the current Takuma took it as something self-evident. On the contrary, Takuma, most likely, was aware of some similarity to Masaki.

- Ichijou-san is also in school uniform ...

Feeling this similarity, these were just words to support the conversation.

- The school uniform is for formal events.

Masaki briefly expressed his thoughts, as if to say "this is natural," from which Tatsuya's face was involuntarily raised with a bitter grin.

Almost five minutes before the scheduled time of the beginning of the meeting, almost all the seats were already occupied. There were still people talking in the corridor, so, no doubt, most of the planned participants should be here. In this "majority" one person was not included. The minute hand managed to make three turns before this woman finally entered the conference hall, undoubtedly, attracting a lot of attention.

The height was too tall for a woman. The features of the face under the short brown hair, although not masculine, but also cannot be called feminine. Although the figure, dressed in a jacket and trousers, clearly shouted that it was a "woman."

Age - 29 years. Probably the oldest at this meeting.

-Shiba Tatsuya-kun. Hmm, or Yotsuba Tatsuya-kun?

-Shiba Tatsuya. This is our first direct conversation. Nice to meet you, Mutsuzuka-san.

-Nice to meet you. As you said, I am Mutsuzuka Atsuko.

Mutsuzuka Atsuko, who entered the conference hall, the head of the Mutsuzuka family of the Ten Master Clans, spoke to Tatsuya for some reason. The fact that Mutsuzuka Atsuko admires Yotsuba Maya was widely known among the 28 houses. It seems that she first approached Tatsuya and spoke, because he was the son of Yotsuba Maya. Although in fact he is a nephew, but even if it were officially announced in this way, Atsuko would probably still choose Tatsuya as the first person to meet at this meeting.

- Mutsuzuka-san, we have not seen each other for a long time.

Following Tatsuya's example, Masaki stood up and spoke to Atsuko. Masaki, involved almost since birth in the Ten Master Clans was familiar with Atsuko.

"I have not seen you for a long time, Masaki-kun." By the way ...

- Already almost recovered.

Understanding with a half-word, what Atsuko wants to ask, Masaki immediately answered.

- Here's how? This is good.

After that, standing up simultaneously with Masaki, Takuma also said his first meeting greetings.

The Shippou family became part of the Ten Master Clans in February this year. Since the head of the Shippou family, Shippou Takumi hardly ever communicated with families that did not have "seven" and "three" in their surnames. So Takuma had little information about those of the 28 families that lived outside of Kanto.

Atsuko responded in a friendly tone to the present Takuma and went to her place. It seems that her place was pre-appointed at the head of the table, next to Katsuto and Tomokazu.

At exactly 9 am, Katsuto and Tomokazu entered the conference room simultaneously.

Thus, all the seats were occupied.

Katsuto expressed his gratitude to all those present for coming here and taking his place at the main table.

"You all came here, despite your busy schedule." Therefore, I would like to go straight to the matter, without wasting time.

There were no objections. Most of the participants in this meeting were more than 20 years old. There were only four younger than 20: Katsuto, Tatsuya, Masaki and Takuma. Therefore, here there was no deep-seated need like in the pupils of junior and secondary schools for things like "let's first introduce each other."

-What I would like to discuss today is the question that we, magicians, should oppose to the intensifying anti-magic movement. This month, major incidents occurred not only in Japan, but throughout the world. Although it was not officially reported, but I heard that there were cases when the problem flowed into a mutiny or civil war. How should we act in such a harsh situation? I would like to get a lot of frank opinions.

Waiting until Katsuto finished his speech, Masaki raised his hand.

- I'm Ichijou Masaki. "Masaki said, making sure that Katsuto nodded. - Before expressing my opinion, I would like to confirm the nature of this meeting. Despite the fact that confrontation with anti-magic activists is an important issue, but is the established restriction in 30 years an attempt to exclude most heads of families?

Almost half of the participants nodded after Masaki's question. Katsuto looked from Masaki to Tomokazu. Thus, people sitting at the table realized that this meeting was really organized by the Saegusa family, and not by Juumonji. For the majority of those present, this was not a surprise.

Without fearing the incredulous looks of twenty people, Tomokazu stood up. Those who did not shoot glances at him with were: Tomokazu himself, Katsuto, and also Tatsuya.

-I'm Saegusa Tomokazu. In truth, the organization of this meeting came to our mind when Juumonji-san and I discussed measures to counter the movement advocating a magician boycott. Therefore, I believe that Ichijou- san's question will be answered better.

Tomokazu looked around everyone. It was not wishing to interfere. The atmosphere prevailed in the hall was the desire to hear what Tomokazu would say now.

-Measures against radical strengthening of the movement against magicians were also discussed at the Master Clans Conference, which became the target of the terrorist attack of anti-magic activists. However, as I heard, the result was only passive measures to increase surveillance.

Tomokazu paused. There were two people present at the Master Clans Conference, Atsuko and Katsuto.

- It was so. Atsuko confirmed Tomokazu's words even before her eyes met her. Tomokazu bowed slightly to Atsuko and continued the explanation.

-However, there are limits to what we just silently observe. During the search for terrorists, I fully realized this.

-Wait a bit. Suddenly, someone's voice interrupted Tomokazu's speech.

-I'm sorry. My name is Kudo Soshi from the Kudo family. I apologize for interrupting your speech, but what about the search for terrorists? I'm ashamed to say, but I have not heard any mention of the Ten Master Clans taking part in the search for terrorists in the Hakone incident.

After the words of Soshi, representatives of the Eighteen Substituting Families heard approval voices.

-The police announced that the investigation is ongoing, and the terrorist incident of Hakone has not yet been resolved. It is not true? If the Ten Master Clans seized on a decision, why did not they tell us about it?

"What does he want?" , Tatsuya thought silently, listening to Soshi's protest.

Until February, the Kudo family was one of the Ten Master Clans. Then, having closed the problems of the Saegusa family, more precisely by wedging into the personal quarrel between Yotsuba Maya and Saegusa Koichi, they were demoted to the status of the Eighteen Assistant Houses.

Having the pride of those who have long maintained the status of one of the Ten Clan Clans, they cannot accept the fact that they are out of work.

Tatsuya wondered how difficult it must be for Minoru to have such a family.

? ? ?

Immediately after the beginning of the meeting, the turmoil on the first floor of the Bay Hills Tower of Yokohama subsided. With the appearance of a young man with beauty, as if not from this world, not only women, but even men, forgot about restraint and good manners.

Seeing these impolite looks, the young man frowned. But even this discontented person did not help get rid of annoying looks.

"Ara, is not that Minoru-kun?"

Frustrated by this depressing attention, Minoru, recognizing the owner of this voice, finally relaxed his tense face.

- Mayumi-san. And also Kasumi-san and Izumi-san.

Minoru and three beautiful girls approached each other. And then the surrounding depressive atmosphere dissipated. Men, looking at the beauty of Minoru, and women, combating the attractiveness of each of the three sisters, could not help surrendering.

"Long time no see, Minoru-kun."

-Yes, Minoru and I have not seen each other since the Thesis Competition

... half a year ago?

Izumi, you can tell, we saw Minoru in the middle of February, but it was through the videophone's communication line during communication between the school boards. But as Kasumi said, we last spoke with Minoru behind the scenes of the Stage of the Thesis Competition in Kyoto, where she came to support her.

Minoru, being the same age as Kasumi and Izumi, has crossed with them since quite a long time, although this has not happened so often. These two, not frightened by Minoru's beauty, were one of his few friends.

"By the way, Minoru-kun." If you are to meet, do you know that it has already begun?

-The meeting is entrusted to Soshi-nisan. - Answered Minoru to Mayumi's question.

"Err?" I think Minoru would have been better suited.

- Hey! Kasumi-chan. Tsyts.

Mayumi excitedly reproached Kasumi for her unrestrained thoughts.

However, she also did not deny the very content of the words of the younger sister. Minoru, unable to comment on this, could only show a bitter smile on his face.

-Onee-sama. Since we're talking, maybe we'll go elsewhere? It seems that there are no latecomers, therefore, I think we do not need to remain here as guides. - Having picked up a good time, Izumi intervened in the conversation.

-Exactly. Let's go somewhere where you can sit down?

Mayumi, too, having understood the idea of her younger sister, immediately went somewhere. Minoru realized that this was a kind of care for his mental state due to poor health, so he, without resistance, obediently followed Mayumi.

? ? ?

"We did not notify you of the facts of the Hakone incident, because it ended with a bad result." You can call this a shame.

Those who answered Kudo Soshi's question were Katsuto.

- Under a bad result, do you mean that the terrorists managed to escape?

Despite his discouraged look under the powerful voice of Katsuto, Soshi found the strength to continue asking.

-The leader of the terrorists is undoubtedly dead.

-But then what's the problem ...

-However, we could not get the corpse of this leader.

From these words of Katsuto, Masaki clenched his teeth almost to the point of grinding. And Tatsuya listened to this as if it did not concern him.

- The ship carrying the terrorists was sunk by the intervening USNA army.

- The USNA Army intervened ...?

From unexpected details provided by Katsuto, Soshi hesitated and could no longer speak.

-The attack of the USNA army hit the body of the terrorist leader with a direct blow in such a way that nothing remained from the corpse.

Katsuto personally did not confirm the death of Gu Jie, responsible for the terrorist attack in Hakone. However, here and now, honestly this claim was not necessary.

"We cannot prove that the terrorist leader is dead, if we do not show him the corpse." It is impossible to declare an incident resolved without material evidence.

-... Now the reason why the police are still investigating is understandable. Soshi finally reconsidered his attitude.

-And yet, was it necessary to keep this a secret from us?

There was no longer any zeal in his voice. The sharp tone disappeared.

"We did not plan to keep it a secret." I admit that we did not pay enough attention to this, so why do not we discuss this another time?

Tomokazu's instant response reflected Soshi's protest.

Intervention by Soshi interrupted the answer to Masaki's question. If he continues in the same spirit, he can be perceived as interfering with the answer to this question. The atmosphere "we are tired of it" began to form in this room.

-I understood. But please let us know this important information as soon as possible.

-Everything will be in the best possible way.

Tomokazu responded with ease to the words of the defeated Soshi. Soshi, feeling humiliated, clasped his hands tightly. However, Tomokazu, ignoring this (or ignoring), looked around the conference room.

-The problem is not limited to terrorists. It is simply necessary to co-operate with people living in this society in order to search for hidden elements in society. However, our investigation failed to enlist the help of civilians.

At this moment, Tatsuya first showed interest in the speech of Tomokazu. He and Masaki just pursued Gu Jie from the very beginning. However, Tomokazu, more precisely the Saegusa family, tried to collect information from local residents.

When conducting an investigation of this kind, it is best to use the police for this. But then why did the Saegusa family decide to pretend to be inexperienced with the police? Perhaps the Saegusa family does not control itself from within?

Tatsuya thought that all these thoughts are useless at the moment and have nothing to do with anything.

"But not all the locals were hostile to magicians." There were some who really understand us. And people with this attitude are not few.

- Really?

The voice of one of the participants, interrupting this speech, seemed unintentional.

- I apologize. My name is Itsuwa Hirofumi from the Itsuwa family.

Being for some time the candidate for Mayumi's groom, Hirofumi, undoubtedly, was familiar with Tomokazu. He introduced himself to the other participants in the meeting to observe the rules of decency.

- If this is true, what is the meaning of all this?

Hirofumi raised this question with doubt, because even for the Ten Master Clans this was first time it's been told.

-I think that people who sympathize with magicians are frightened.

-Are frightened by the cruelty of those who are against magicians?

-Right. I do not think that anti-magic activists make up the majority of the population. But their activities are very visible. Therefore, people are afraid that they will become targets of this reckless cruelty, if they openly show sympathy for magicians ... That's my opinion.

The same logic came to mind for many of those present now, so there was no objection.

-I believe that anti--->>

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