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Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei (Light Novel) - Volume 15, Chapter 9
Volume 15, Chapter 9
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Saturday, October 27th. Finally the day before the Thesis Competition, the support team, First High representatives and the security team all went to Kyoto in the afternoon. First High was the sixth school to present, actually the competition started at 1:40 P.M., so they should have been able to arrive in time even if they departed the morning of the day itself. However, it had been the custom of First High to go one day earlier whenever the competition was held in Kyoto.
They rented a large bus and a truck dedicated to carry the demonstration equipment for the presentation to a dedicated terminal. The Car train (a high-speed train which mounts a large passenger vehicle and enormous luggage) was opposite the station in Kyoto’s suburbs, thence, they would go to the Kyoto hotel.
CR hotel was one of the high standard luxury hotels for high school students to stay in, but it was difficult to change the mindset of people when there was some degree of fixation. Nobody dare to move to a lower grade hotel, since it had been their tradition since long ago.
“We’ve arrived~!”
The first one to get off from the bus was Kanon, who enjoyed the bus trip with much excitement. Last year, her expectation to travel by bus along with Isori during the 9SC was shattered, that was the reason she looked forward to this trip. Although she should have gotten her revenge during the last 9SC this year, but it seemed like the result was not as expected as she still recalled last year’s 9SC disgruntledness.
The last person to get off the bus was Izumi. Actually, Miyuki as the student council president was supposed to check the attendance and left behind items, but Izumi said “there such chores” and volunteered to do it for Miyuki.
Instead, Miyuki checked into the hotel as a representative from First High. The keys were then distributed by Tatsuya and Honoka.
Thus all First High students scattered to their assigned room.
The First High students stayed at a cheaper type room than the Japanese-styled room. It was a twin Western-style room. Tatsuya shared his room with Mikihiko. It was certainly not a coincidence, but a deliberate choice.
“Mikihiko, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Leave it to me. It’s a pity not being able to accompany you.”
“I can’t depend on you that far, there is also information disclosure issues. Moreover…”
“What’s wrong, Tatsuya?”
Waiting for Tatsuya to say something, Mikihiko tilted his head.
“…No, I have something that I want for you to ask everyone in school. I don’t think that anything will happen, but it’s better not to neglect the warning.”
“Yeah, I understand.”
The thing that Tatsuya failed to voice out was “Isn’t Mizuki here too?”. The art club had been greatly participating in the making of the current demonstration instrument and were selected to support the members by preference. Mizuki was included among the selected members. Tatsuya was wondering if Mikihiko was concerned about her.
In the end, Tatsuya did not say that. He judged that it was not his business. Tatsuya thought that it wasn’t something that should come out from an outsider’s mouth.
“I might be late. I’ll contact you if I can’t come back tonight.”
“Got it. Be careful, Tatsuya.”
Tatsuya hid his favorite gun-shaped CAD, Silver horn, before responding to Mikihiko by raising his hand, while walking out of the room.
◊ ◊ ◊
Tatsuya headed to a hotel, one smaller than the CR hotel where First High students stayed, but inconspicuous. It was a hotel that was frequently used by the Kuroba Family for work purposes.
“Good afternoon, Tatsuya-niisan.”
“Tatsuya-san, we have been expecting you.”
Fumiya and Ayako were waiting for him in the lobby.
“I’m sorry for asking you to come all the way here.”
“No, the case was originally brought to us after all.”
“We can’t keep talking while standing up like this, Tatsuya-san, why don’t you sit?”
Ayako welcomed Tatsuya to the sofa. After Tatsuya was seated, Ayako sat at the opposite end of the table, while Fumiya brought in some drinks.
He was wondering if it was allowed to bring food or drink here, before he noticed a 3H wiping another table. No, it was a business type ‘Humanoid Servant’, it was similar to the type found in the aircraft which was called ‘Servanoid’. Since Tatsuya determined that it was not a problem, he received the drink without refrain.
Ayako expanded the sound barrier. There was no warning against unauthorized use of magic. It seemed like this hotel was not only at the level of Kuroba family’s work, like what he had been told, but also completely modified for the work of the Kuroba——no, the Yotsuba.
“This will do, and. Tatsuya-san, here are the things that you’ve requested.”
“The bike is the same model with the one that Tatsuya-san has been using. It is parked in the parking lot.”
“The clothing is stab proof and also bulletproof, do you want to change into it?”
“Boots, gloves, helmet and all of the combat requirements are fulfilled.”
“How gracious…”
They had put in much more effort than he had expected, Tatsuya was about to laugh. Of course, he didn’t actually laugh, since he knew what the two of them think about him seriously.
“Thank you. I’ll use them well.”
Hearing this response, Fumiya and Ayako showed a really happy smiles.
“Then, we will guide you to your room.”
Ayako put down her tea cup and rose. Fumiya stood and left the drinks at the table, hence Tatsuya followed him.
The change in clothes that were prepared really fit into Tatsuya’s body, that it felt creepy. Tatsuya wanted to ask where did they get his measurement from, but in the end he decided that it’s best not to ask, so he stopped himself from asking.
“How far have you narrowed it down to?”
Tatsuya asked about the hiding place of Zhou Gongjin.
Hayama had been sharing the information that he got on Monday to the Kuroba Family. Based on that information, the Kuroba’s had been investigating around the hideouts of Zhou Gongjin this week.
“We are almost certain of this.”
“I see, as expected of the Kuroba. Then?”
At Tatsuya’s question, Fumiya showed a slight hesitation.
“That, it’s hard to believe, but”
“JSDF, Uji Second Supply Base. There is almost no other place to shelter him in this area.”
In place of Fumiya who couldn’t speak about this so lightly, Ayako answered him.
Tatsuya failed to say, ‘no way’.
“I see. It is indeed quite a hideout.”
After he wore a blazing look, Tatsuya move to take the communication console.
“Fumiya.”
“Yes.”
After being called with a hard appalling voice, Fumiya answered with a louder than necessary voice.
This voice was evidently showing that Tatsuya’s feelings had reached a critical level. Since Tatsuya was not able to have a high level of strong emotions, the moment it reached a certain stage, he would show it as an non-emotional intention on the surface.
The treachery of the National Defense Forces, was way over his tolerable limit. Since rebels had shot Miyuki in Okinawa, he was especially intolerant against betrayers.
There was a phrase called ‘nukeba tamachiru mizu no ha39’. It was a representation to say that a Japanese sword would shine coldly, eerie like when it was sharpened. Tatsuya who lost his feelings in anger, was reminiscent of this phrase.
“Is it possible to do external communication?”
“Please wait for a second.”
Fumiya outstretched his hand beside Tatsuya, and keyed in the security code in the keyboard.
Tatsuya was prompted by Fumiya, he sat down in front of the console.
Tatsuya entered the complex code. He waited for about 5 seconds before a female officer appeared on the monitor.
“Tatsuya-kun, what’s suddenly wrong?”
Tatsuya entered the code for emergency calls that are assigned to Fujibayashi’s own line.
“Lieutenant, I’m in Kyoto now.”
“I see…”
With only those words, Fujibayashi seemed to understand him.
“Did you find out?”
She intentionally omitting words in her question, Fujibayashi sighed in the midst of resignation.
“I have an idea of Zhou Gongjin’s hideout.”
Tatsuya hadn’t only shared the information from the traditionalists at Kiyomizu Temple and Mt. Arashi to Hayama only, he also shared it to Fujibayashi. It was a serious crime for this country’s army to assist Zhou Gongjin who led the foreign troops in this land. Tatsuya could not afford to avert his eyes even if he’s asked to. Tatsuya was going to use that.
“Where is it?”
Fujibayashi showed a painful expression in response to Tatsuya’s straightforward question.
39Usually heard in the narration of activities in a sword play (as in stage play)
“The military police are scheduled to be dispatched. Special Lieutenant Oogura must not interfere.”
“This is not subjected to the military rule of secrecy. Fujibayashi-san, where is Zhou Gongjin? You’re part of the Kudou Family who promised me cooperation, please answer me.”
“…He’s inside the JSDF, Uji Second Supply Base. Tatsuya-kun, leave the rest to the Armed Forces. Even if it is you, you won’t be left unexcused if you trespass on the base.”
“I understood. See you.”
“Tatsuya-kun!?”
Without clearly saying what he ‘understood’, Tatsuya cut off communications. Additionally, he locked the line via the console.
He looked back, behind him Fumiya and Ayako had seen his exchange with Fujibayashi with rounded eyes.
“Support is cut off. How about the plan?”
“It starts at sunset, and then we get into the base.”
Fumiya who just regained his sense answered Tatsuya.
“How about the intrusion path?”
“We’ll enter proudly from multiple gates. It is not a big problem to overcome such a plain fence.”
“Of course, we have to have someone to standby by the gate.”
“We don’t have the numbers…”
Tatsuya stood up while glaring.
“Fumiya, Ayako, I will get someone to help us. I might not be able to enter the base on time, but I will do so if the time allows me to.”
“Understood. Tatsuya-niisan, the communication device will not be connected at that time.”
“Tatsuya-san, be careful.”
“Fumiya and Ayako, you too, don’t let your guard down.”
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
After hearing their replies, Tatsuya proceeded to the bike that had been parked at the parking lot.
He immediately recognized the bike. However, he rode the bike in a different direction than what was shown by the arrow.
The sky in the west had started to turn the color red. Not much time until the start of the operation. Tatsuya called Ichijou Masaki while riding the bike, he used the radio interface from information terminal that was charged in the helmet.
“Shiba? Do you have something?”
For Masaki, a phone call from Tatsuya seemed to be a surprise. On the other hand, Tatsuya might show a similar reaction if he received a phone call from Masaki. Since he knew that himself, Tatsuya did not say anything unnecessary.
“Ichijou, I narrowed down Zhou Gongjin’s hiding place.”
“Really!?”
“Yes, where are you now?”
“Nearby Kamigamo Shrine.”
As Tatsuya thought, he came. Third High usually arrived the day of the Thesis Competition itself, not a day before. However, Masaki should have come earlier for a preliminary inspection when he considered last week’s situation.
“Let’s meet up at the southwest entrance of Uji Park at 5:00 P.M.”
“5:00 P.M.? Understood. I will be there.”
Masaki probably thought that there was no more time. However he understood immediately the meaning of the specified time. Despite the unfriendliness of their communication, he still immediately took action.
He would be a formidable adversary, but a reliable ally. He understood well that Masaki was a good man, which was why Tatsuya preferred to contact him.
(I should hurry up myself.)
It would be awkward if Masaki managed to get there on time while he’s late. Tatsuya increased the speed of the bike.
◊ ◊ ◊
At the JSDF, Uji Second Supply Base, Zhou Gongjin who had been pursued by Tatsuya’s group was preparing to leave the base.
“Zhou-sensei, do you really need to leave?”
The man who was barely over 30, said so with a disappointed voice.
“Captain Hatae, I also have no plan to leave, but it seems like this place has been found out.”
“I see. How regrettable. If you stay here longer, I could shield you even from the 10MC, I won’t let any of them touch even a finger on you.”
Captain Hatae was not only an advocate for integration with the GAA, but also committed to Ancient Magic from the continent, and was one of the individuals that adherently believe that Japan was ‘a history of upstarts from less than 100 years ago’. He fervently believed and claimed that Zhou Gongjin ‘was not involved in the Yokohama Incident’, he had been harboring Zhou for a week due to his sense of justice as a retaliation to modern magicians until the Kuroba had tracked him privately.
“We have no choice. Their side is backed up by his excellency Kudou after all.”
Zhou laughed thinly. The smile was very becoming of his beautiful face.
Captain Hatae pursed his lips. As Zhou Gongjin said, it was not possible for him to refuse an order from the base commander for an inspection request as he was only a captain. Originally General Kudou Retsu had so much influence that he could step over the regular procedure for inspection in this situation.
“I wanted to listen to more about senjutsu from you…”
“I myself, am still a fledging mage. I am still immature, which is visible in unexpected ways. I still have a ways to go before being able to teach others the arts…”
Zhou used his usual excuse to softly reject Hatae’s request.
Hatae changed the subject without any sign of feeling rejected.
“So, when will you depart?”
“I think during your spare time tonight.”
“Certainly, the inspection is scheduled to take place early tomorrow morning, so that would be for the best…”
“I’m grateful that you could obtain information prior to the inspection notice.”
When Zhou lowered his head saying so, Hatae wore a pretty pathetic looking expression.
“However, the gate will be closed at night.”
“I can take care of that much.”
Watching the confidence show up in the form of a smile, Hatae recalled Zhou’s special magic.
“You’re right. At the very least, I’ll prepare a car for you. It’s from my personal belongings instead of a military vehicle. I think you wouldn’t be followed that way.”
Official cars, not limited to military vehicles, had a tracking device planted for theft prevention. That means, for disguise purposes, it was better to use a private car for sure.
“I thank you for all of your good will.”
Zhou showed his gratitude carefully by lowering his head.
◊ ◊ ◊
Tatsuya had been leaning against the bike that he borrowed from Fumiya when he noticed a red bike approaching him after 15 minutes of waiting.
(This guy really likes red.)
Somehow, he was heart fully dazzled. Since the emblem of Third High was a red colored star, it probably sparked some love for his school. Tatsuya wondered if Masaki was aware of this.
“I’ve made you wait.”
Masaki got off from his bike and took off his helmet while greeting Tatsuya.
“No, you’re quite early from the specified time. We still have enough time to form a strategy.”
The current time was 4:50 P.M. The sunset would be at 5:10 P.M., so they still had some margin of time.
“Then, what kind of setup is it?”
At the very least, he had to explain the strategy that he had prepared beforehand to Masaki.
“Zhou Gongjin’s hideout seems to be over there.”
Tatsuya pointed in a southern direction while saying so.
The immediate place that he was pointing was the JSDF base.
Masaki did not immediately catch Tatsuya’s intention. However, after a few seconds, he understood the meaning of ‘over there’, and widened his eyes.
“No way, are you saying that he’s inside the JSDF’s base!?”
“JSDF Uji Second Supply Base. There is a high possibility that Zhou Gongjin is hiding inside.”
“…Are you sure?”
“It’s a possibility, and we’re about to confirm it.”
“Into the base!?”
Masaki wore the face of ‘is this guy serious’ or ‘is this guy insane’.
However, Tatsuya was experienced in the matter of the forces inside and of the JSDF. Hence, he did not flinch at this late hour to enter the JSDF blockade area.
“The arrest of Zhou Gongjin has been mobilized in secret by a certain magician group.”
“Apart from the military police, is it?”
“Yes. It is not a formal operation.”
Masaki perfectly understood that he was suggesting of an illegal operation.
“Soon they will be entering the gates of the base.”
“From the gate? ...I see so they are using Outer-Systematic Magic?”
Tatsuya nodded at Masaki’s question.
Masaki guessed the identity of the ‘magicians who were mobilized in secret’.
Magicians who specialized in Outer-Systematic Magic, magicians who might go against the JSDF. Masaki only had one idea of where it was heading to.
“Shiba, you are…”
“I’m different from them.”
Before the question formed, Tatsuya denied him flatly.
“It’s about time. I will be entering the base by jumping over the fence. Ichijou, what are you going to do?”
Masaki did not answer immediately. Trespassing into JSDF base was an obvious criminal act. He still had a law-abiding spirit which couldn’t be conveniently shut off like Tatsuya’s.
His parents would place the priority of the 10MC over that of their morals as citizens. His father, especially, might even skip pushing his back and go straight to kicking his ass if he saw Masaki hesitating like this.
The problem was his position as the production team of Third High. If he gets caught in police matters right before the Thesis Competition, moreover causing a serious incident isn’t just a misdemeanor, the competition might be affected. The shock given to the students of Third High, regardless of being an upperclassmen, classmates, or juniors, would be big. More than anything, he was afraid to let his best friend’s effort to go to waste.
(——But, I’m of the 10MC.)
Masaki was lost in his thoughts for a few seconds.
“…I will go. In the first place, I was deceived by that man last year. I couldn’t just act indifferently.”
Tatsuya glanced at his information terminal, before gripping his bikes handle.
“The operation starts in 5 minutes. Let’s go, Ichijou.”
“Understood.”
Both of them put on their helmets at the same time and began to ride their bikes.
◊ ◊ ◊
At that time, at the east side of the Uji Bridge just outside of the infamous Byoudou-in Temple, a car stopped.
“Thank you. I’ll call you once I’m done, so you can wait at the usual place?”
The one who got out from the car and talked to the driver was no doubt, a beautiful boy.
The passerby who happened to be at the scene stared at him as if his soul had been pulled out of his body. With the background being that of the ending of the day, Minoru’s ethereal beauty drifted through the time of this world.
A middle-aged man followed Minoru from behind. There wasn’t any need to say that he was Minoru’s escort, as he was visibly trained, despite not having a large build.
“Minoru-sama, should we wait here?”
“Yes.”
It was a clearly different tone than the one he used for Tatsuya and friends, he seemed accustomed to ordering people.
“Zhou Gongjin may flee through here to escape from the siege. When the time comes, I must detain him here at any cost.”
“However, there is another bridge in Uji River towards Oshima.”
Rather than doubting Minoru’s words, the timid bodyguard asked him a question. It was not as if he was acting miserly, however it was futile of him to hide being afraid of something. If Zhou Gongjin chose a different route, Minoru’s efforts to push his still unhealthy body would be wasted.
“That side is a private flyover right? His escape route would be limited once he got on to that flyover. He needs to be able to move freely in all directions in order to exert the true power of Qi Men Dun Jia. Zhou Gongjin will not use that route.”
“However, that means there is a possibility that he will flee in the eastern direction…”
“There’s Mt. Takamine at the east side. As seen from his escaping pattern, Zhou Gongjin prefers the city more than mountainous terrain. I guess it relates to his Ghostwalker skill.”
“But.”
“Noisy.”
The bodyguard who was still trying to express his concerns, was blocked by Minoru’s hand.
“Are you trying to say that my reasoning is flawed?”
The bodyguard fell silent. He was not meant to refrain someone from his employer’s family. However, the clear and cold air that was drifting out of Minoru’s body had sealed the mouth of the bodyguard.
◊ ◊ ◊
“It’s time. Start the operation.”
“Yes! As you wish, young master.”
After answering so, the man turned his head while still wearing his black spectacles, making a nimble cracking sound.
“You idiot, its young lady! Young master’s disguise is.”
“Shut up!”
The quarreling between the black glasses’ men was blocked by Fumiya who had turned into ‘Yami’.
“It’s not the time for twiddling! Start the operation!”
“Yes!”
The men in black glasses lowered their heads and with one knee down, and dissolved in to thin air like a mirage all at once.
“For goodness sake… to think that they’re Kuroba’s genjutsu40 users…”
Fumiya lamented while holding his temple, when Ayako came out, dressed as ‘Yoru’ and approached him from behind and spoke a word of comfort.
“Yami-chan, there’s nothing to do but to use them right. Competency and personality are two different things. Rather than having good but incompetent subordinates, competent ones with bad personalities are favorable right?”
“Well, that’s right, but…”
“More importantly Yami-chan, it has started.”
The flashing alarm was resounding within the base. His subordinates were not supposed to make such a blunder. There were a lot of flaws in their personality, but their abilities were acknowledged even by Fumiya.
40Genjutsu: illusion
“I wonder if it’s Tatsuya-niisan.”
“Yes, he must have been thinking of becoming a decoy. I wonder if he intends to evict the prey from the northern side to the south.”
“Tatsuya-niisan, why is he doing such a dangerous things.”
“Tatsuya-san has his confidence. No matter how he is threatened by compromising situations, he is still be able to walk out safely. That’s why he shouldered the most dangerous role.”
“…I see”
“We must not waste Tatsuya-san’s good will, let’s not keep standing around. We must confirm the whereabouts of Zhou Gongjin soon.”
“I got it”
Behind Fumiya, there was a small passenger car, which was painted dark-blue had refrained. It was not a normal car, for sure. Its body strength was equal to that of tanks, it was a custom-made robotic car with an engine which was comparable to a race cars.
◊ ◊ ◊
The alarm rang in the JSDF Uji Second Supply Base. Additionally, one or two shots could be heard.
“What’s happening!”
Captain Hatae yelled from outside of the room. The subordinates heading outside answered the question with pale faces.
“Intruders in the base! There are two of them! Both of them are probably magicians!”
“What!?”
Hatae’s surprise could not be said as exaggerating. Magicians are powerful adversaries, even if he’s alone. A magician’s power can’t be generalized due to the difference in capacity between individuals, but it was said to be comparable to the strength of a single squadron of forces. If he is a powerful magician, his power could be that of a battalions scale force by himself.
There were two of them. Rather than infiltrating the base secretly, they were boldly showing resistance, supposedly there was no way that they were below average.
“How’s the situation!?”
“The intruders are coming towards us while destroying the supply goods. They can’t be stopped even after were to fight back!”
Even with the alerts, Zhou Gongjin continued to pack without raising his face, after he made a snap sound, everything became quite.
“Just in time.”
“Huh? Zhou-sensei, what…”
“It’s a good opportunity. Everyone, please eliminate the intruders. Utilize the full strength of this base.”
As soon as Zhou said so, Hatae and his men were trembling as if they were electrocuted.
It hadn’t happened exclusively in that room. The same thing occurred to the squadron under Hatae’s command.
“Captain-san, as your gracious words, I will borrow your car. Hand over the key.”
Hatae handed over his car key to Zhou in an awkward fashion.
“Then, what should you be doing now. If you do not eliminate the intruders who entered the base, the military wouldn’t be able to maintain its pride. You must thoroughly eradicate them without even leaving a piece of their corpse.”
“Yes. This is a challenge to the pride of JSDF. Don’t underestimate them. Crush them.”
“Yes.”
The tone of his voice was contrary to the content.
At the neck of Hatae and his subordinates, who saluted and left the room, the mark of spider bite could be seen.
◊ ◊ ◊
The two intruders entered the base with a full-face helmet for bikes on their heads. Just in case, Tatsuya had decomposed the surveillance cameras after a thorough search.
Of course, he didn’t only destroy the surveillance cameras that were hard to see.
“What’s that magic!?”
“It’s not the time to ask that.”
Tatsuya brusquely dismissed Masaki’s question. They were careful not to call each other’s name in front of the enemy, the conversation between the two had become increasingly not amiable.
“I’ve never heard about such magic!”
Masaki cried out so, it probably couldn’t be helped. It was his first time to see Tatsuya’s ‘decomposition’.
Against Tatsuya’s CAD, weapons and weaponry was broken down and scattered on the ground in pieces. The guns were taken apart. For vehicles, first the wheel would come off, then the door, until everything was gradually loosened and scattered around.
“More importantly, the fuel vaporization is really slow.”
“This is time consuming!”
Masaki was vaporizing the hydrogen absorbing liquid in the fuel and separated the hydrogen gases by convergent magic, as to prevent ignition from the leaked fuel. The hydrogen gas was collected and tailored into a hydrogen balloon within a spherical fire which prevented it from escaping into the sky. The difficulty of the magic itself was much more complex than the ‘decomposition’ magic that Tatsuya using doing.
“So explosions aren’t your only talent.”
“I know!”
Masaki followed Tatsuya’s instruction despite some complaining, he understood that this technique might be useful in the future for him. Magic vaporized the fuel as to avoid ignition by converging and isolating the hydrogen before releasing it into the sky. This would help him to neutralize weaponries on the battle field without unnecessary casualties. It could even be a more useful technique than ‘Rupture’.
The two of them broke down the weaponry randomly, the shower of bullets at them had suddenly intensified. The bullets had changed from the powerless rubber bullets to live ammunition.
Masaki expanded his barrier. The partial part that couldn’t be covered by him, was secretly tackled with decomposition magic by Tatsuya. The two of them separated, while jumping behind the shield.
“They’re shooting!”
“Live ammunition. Apparently they seem to be manipulated. Just like the traditionalists.”
Masaki’s face was colored by understanding.
Last Sunday, he was attacked by magicians, who ultimately committed suicide, at Mt. Arashi. They had been manipulated by the houjutsu users from the continent who had been hiding behind the bushes.
A roar came from the building. Tanks appeared one after another. It was not only a single vehicle, but a line of four of them.
“Hey, they’ve even taken out the tanks!”
“They don’t learn. They intend to bring it to a higher level, huh.”
They were small vehicles for urban warfare, but it was excessive to be used against two individuals on foot. However, depending on the situation, they were still insufficient forces against two magicians.
In this case, it was the latter.
“I’ll go at once. Don’t let it ignite.”
“Don’t ask for… the unreasonable, leave it to me.”
Masaki was trying to say, don’t ask for the impossible, was cut off as he did not perceive that such whining was something to be done at this situation.
The wheels fell off at the same time. The barrels fell and guns displaced. Armor plates peeled of all at once. This all happened at the same time to the four tanks.
Fuel leaked from the engines.
It ascended to the sky and vaporized prior to ignition, as it mixed and diffused in the atmosphere.
“Good work.”
“It doesn’t make me happy to be complemented by you.”
Towards Masaki’s cold attitude, Tatsuya smirked wickedly.
“Should I ask Miyuki to complement you?”
“Do-don’t joke around! It’s not the time for that!”
Masaki was upset about an interesting thing.
“At any rate, let’s go! Zhou Gongjin is escaping… It’s him!”
“What?”
Tatsuya extended his ‘eye’ towards the direction of Masaki’s sight.
Tatsuya didn’t ask if Masaki was certain.
Masaki had seen Zhou Gongjin in close proximity face to face. There was no way he could be mistaken about any information that he got during that situation.
Zhou Gongjin was heading to the south gate, riding a gunmetal colored sedan. He chose to pass through the passage where the surveillance devices were not recording, he must be planning to get out of the base.
(This…?)
Within the perimeter of Eidos, the foreign matter was mixed into Tatsuya senses. It didn’t belong to Zhou, it was something he unintendedly devoured.
(A stung of the bee, huh… I won’t let your death wasted.)
Tatsuya made a convenient oath for the sake of the deceased that he only met once.
◊ ◊ ◊
“Zhou Gongjin is approaching the south gate.”
“I wonder if the other gates had been guarded by the people of the base. As expected of a magician who has beaten us, the Kuroba’s and escaped.”
At Fumiya’s words, Ayako responded with a tone of irony and admiration.
“Otherwise, we’ll be troubled.”
Fumiya sat in the rear seat of the autonomous car, while Ayako sat next to him.
At the same time, a gunmetal sedan with Zhou Gongjin in it had appeared out of the south gate.
“Chase him!”
“Yes, young master. No, young lady.”
“Anything will do! Start quickly!”
Even the autonomous car was not allowed to speed up if there was no emergency driver outside the area of traffic control. The previously elected leader of the black glasses operation team who was yelled at, was chosen as the driver to chase Zhou Gongjin.
◊ ◊ ◊
(What is this obnoxious feeling...)
While driving the car to the south, Zhou Gongjin gradually felt a sense of being tied up that he had never felt before.
Strictly saying from the result, he was successfully evading the enemy with a narrow gap. He acknowledged that Kuroba’s——Yotsuba’s chasing team was obstinate, but in the end, he managed to get away from them. He was living peacefully for the last 10 years in Chinatown, but he was previously being hunted constantly for about 30 years, and kept living in hiding.
(Oops… I’m still only 24 years old now.)
At least, that was stated in his identification. He bought his restaurant in Chinatown four years ago, and he remembered that he wrote ’20 years old’ on the documents that were submitted at the time.
(Years are but like a name for us, it is just another label.)
Perhaps, he was too absorbed reminiscing in the thought that he failed to recognize that there was a shadow of a human blocking his way, before the anti-crashing device was activated.
Zhou attempting to ring the horn, he wore an expression unbefitting of his character.
He saw the boy’s face.
He was an otherworldly beauty.
Zhou himself had a beautiful face, but this boy was on another level altogether.
However, he recognized the beautiful boy.
He remembered seeing the boy before.
”Kudou Minoru! Why are you here!?”
He was one of the very few magicians that Zhou kept in mind to be wary of.
He learnt the extent of Minoru’s capability during his attack in Nara.
Zhou disabled the anti-crashing device in the car forcefully.
Minoru raised his right hand to aim at the car.
A flame started within the car.
Zhou jumped out of the vehicle before the engine was ignited.
Zhou Gongjin felt a chill running down his back. He didn’t feel this way when he faced Kuroba Mitsugu or Nakura Saburou.
Kudou Minoru did not hesitate even a second when he blew up the car.
He didn’t only aim at the target without any hesitation, he was also not afraid to drag in any bystanders within the vicinity.
There were no bystanders. There hadn’t been a car that had passed by either. However, he could see that the boy had never really cared about the surrounding.
His ethereal beauty matched up very well with his ruthlessness, it made Minoru looks mysterious in the eyes of normal beings.
Zhou took out his artifact and aimed at Minoru. It was not kasei-tai, but genjuu. Zhou realized that he had to use his strongest technique in order to go against Minoru.
A black one horned beast materialized, it ran towards Minoru at a high speed that couldn’t be tracked by the eyes.
It was not a speed that humans could react to.
Minoru couldn’t deflect the attack, the black beast pierced through Minoru——and soon after Minoru’s body slipped through it.
“Disguise!”
Zhou Gongjin recognized the magic. It was ’Parade’ the trump magic of the Kudou Family. The magic did not only hide Minoru’s actual position, but also altered the position information in Eidos.
Zhou decided to flee. He realized that he couldn’t break through ’Parade’. He understood that after seeing Minoru’s technique once.
Minoru aimed his right hand at Zhou.
However, the lightning he initiated landed one meter away to the right of Zhou’s position.
Minoru shook his head childishly. The expression that he had was not humanly, it was more like angelic. Like an exact image of an angel who smiled mercilessly.
Lightning struck down at Zhou Gongjin’s surrounding.
Minoru did not miss. Zhou used Ghostwalker to influence Minoru’s aim.
However, the one feeling the horror was Zhou. He was planning to shift Minoru’s aim by 90°. However, Minoru was always able to spot his position and his aim was only shifted by 30°.
Zhou called all the remaining beasts from his artifact.
At the same time, he took out a black handkerchief, and spread it in front of his eyes.
All the beasts were simply slipping through Minoru’s figure.
The black handkerchief fell down on the ground.
Minoru kept an eye on the downstream of Uji River, while smiling without malice.
His eyes were looking directly at the Eidos, he caught ——the ‘shadow’, ‘yin’——of Zhou who fled, and did not lost sight of his position.
Zhou was running at a speed of 40 to 50 km/h along the Stream of Uji River. It was a popular technique of Suikoden41 called ‘Shinkouhou’.
He was running back in the direction of the base, but he was planning to go down to the lower side of the bridge in the middle and going over to the opposite shore.
However, an adversary showed up in front of him all a sudden. She didn’t jump from the side of the road, instead, she materialized from thin air.
“Mock Teleportation!?”
He knew the technique when he acquired a parasite who was able to do this. However, it was in a much lower level than hers, her technique allowed her to appear without any premature sign.
A girl in a bob-hair-style shoved a fist with a knuckle duster while fluttering the hem of her skirt.
The distance was too wide.
Yet, Zhou suffered a blow enough to make his right leg fumble down.
Zhou spread out a white handkerchief.
It was large enough to hide him when opened.
Behind the shade, Zhou pierced his own acupuncture point to numb the pain in his right leg. The severe pain continued, but he affirmed himself that it was just an illusion.
He took out his last artifact which he had kept as a spare from his chest.
When visibility of the blockade fell, the bob-haired girl had disappeared.
In exchange, there was a familiar boy with a red CAD in his hand standing in front of him.
“Ichijou Masaki!”
“Long time no see, Zhou Gongjin. You deceived me well last time.”
Zhou tried to jump down from the Uji Bridge.
However, in that instant, the water from the river blew up causing water to splatter.
”Jumping into water in the face of the Ichijou Family’s `Rupture’ is the same as charging in to a mountain of bombs.”
After hearing that voice from his back, Zhou Gongjin turned around.
“Shiba Tatsuya…”
Zhou activated Ghostwalker at his best. He tried to get away by slipping through Tatsuya’s side.
However, in front of his eyes, Tatsuya formed a hand chop. Zhou Gongjin knew the sharpness of the Demon Blade that could even shear through steel, he was forced to step back.
Zhou was sandwiched between Tatsuya and Masaki for the second time.
“Why does my Ghostwalker not work on you!”
Zhou was still smiling in this kind of situation.
Was it a façade?
Masaki didn’t comprehend his real intention.
Tatsuya didn’t really care about his real intention.
“Ghostwalker, what an amazing technique. I heard it may not work in close proximity, but yours can work just fine. I didn’t know that you’re going to slip through by my side.”
”…I don’t understand. Then, why did you prepare to attack just now?”
A smile bloomed in Tatsuya’s lips.
That smile was at the same essence as Zhou’s, albeit not as beautiful.
There was no feeling in it, a façade smile.
”I didn’t know your position. However, I knew the position of Nakura Saburou’s blood that resides within you.”
Zhou opened his eyes widely in surprise.
For the first time, Masaki felt like he was seeing the true face of the ageless Taoist magician. “Nakura Saburo’s blood… from that time?”
“Did you get pierced by needles of blood? Usually foreign elements would disappear from the body within two weeks. Seems like it contains quite a strong desire.”
“Desire, was it? I thought that concept had been tossed away by Modern Magic.”
“No matter how you reason, the things that exist, exists. Likewise with the opposite.”
“There are things which exist, yet do not materialize.”
Tatsuya raised his silver CAD at Zhou.
”You can continue your lecture in jail. Though they might not give you much time.” ”Either way I would be killed right.”
“I’m not the one who can decide that.”
”In other words, asking to spare my life is useless?” Tatsuya did not return any further answers.
“As long as Nakura Saburou’s blood is within you, you cannot escape from me.” This was Tatsuya’s ultimatum.
“So, this is it…”
Zhou sighed, accepting his fate.
At the next instant, he was jumping towards Masaki.
Shinkouhou had no connection with leg muscles. Even if the legs were numb, so long as the magician had them, it could be activated.
Masaki did not know about that.
However, he did not expect this kind of case. It was probably a good coincidence, that he was prepared.
At the moment Zhou Gongjin jumped at him, Masaki pulled the trigger of his red CAD. In no time, his magic ‘Rupture’ was activated.
He improved his technique by vaporizing the blood from the body parts instead of the whole body.
Both of Zhou Gongjin’s legs burst from within.
Shinkouhou was canceled, while Zhou lied on the ground.
“This is it.”
Masaki still ready with his CAD, encouraged him to surrender.
Zhou Gongjin got up immediately. His pride did not allow him to lie pathetically. ”Certainly, this is the end.”
Zhou stood up slowly, even though the parts from his knees downward were not supposed to be able to move.
It was a ghostly movement. ”However, you cannot catch me.” Zhou masked his face with a smile. It was a mask-like smile.
“I shall not perish. Even if I die, my existence shall prevail!”
“Ichijou, back off!”
Tatsuya leaped backward at the same time as he shouted.
Ichijou also took a distance away from Zhou Gongjin.
The next moment, Zhou’s whole body was spouting blood, red blood, which turned into red flames.
“Hahahahahahahahaha...”
An endless laugh followed the burning flame. It lasted until the fire died out. After the flame disappeared, there wasn’t any trace of bone.
“Has Zhou Gongjin really died?
Masaki was dazzled and stunned, the sunset turned into night, and the stars had begun to shine. “There was no trace of him escaping somewhere else. He had undoubtedly died in that fire.” Tatsuya didn’t face Masaki. His eyes were looking at the direction of Uji River.
Masaki had somewhat the same feeling, he answered Tatsuya, ’I see’.
Masaki didn’t ask him, how he knew that.
”With this, the case of the Yokohama Incident has ended?”
“Yes.”
”I see... It was dangerous.”
“What was?”
Tatsuya asked back at Masaki.
Since Masaki didn’t say anything else, even Tatsuya couldn’t understand it. Masaki faced Tatsuya.
”The JSDF was manipulated, they even took out tanks. It could have triggered insurrection.” ”They had already used flashy magic. They were already in the stage of insurrection.” Masaki laughed at Tatsuya’s serious answer.
”Then, should we say to ourselves ’good job’ since we’ve managed to bring the situation under control before expansion of the insurrection?”
”You can see it from that point of view.” Tatsuya also laughed aloud.
The laughter of the two, was dissolved by the lonely autumn wind.
◊ ◊ ◊
“Tatsuya-niisan, thanks for your hard work.”
When he returned the bike to the hotel, Fumiya and Ayako had arrived before him.
”Fumiya and Ayako too, thanks for your hard work. I was able to stop his movements thanks to your stunning combination.”
The two of them looked away in embarrassment when Tatsuya praised them.
“By the way, Tatsuya-san, how did you figure out that man’s position? We lost sight of him despite chasing him with a car.”
Ayako was indeed embarrassed, she didn’t look at Tatsuya’s eyes when asking this question. ”Thanks to a certain magician’s obstinacy, who cornered him even after death...”
“?”
Ayako made a confused face. Fumiya stopped looking downward, tilting his head curiously. ”I still don’t know how that had happened. I will tell you more, once I figure it out.” Tatsuya entered the room next to the one that the both of them used.
He left his clothes there when he first came to the hotel.
Tatsuya left the door open while he changed, Tatsuya spoke to Fumiya.
“Fumiya, why don’t you report to Hayama that the mission has been completed. I still need to settle a lot of things from now on.”
”I understand. Please leave that much to me.”
After having finished changing his clothes, Tatsuya came out.
”I’m counting on you.”
He said so as an exchange for saying farewell, Tatsuya left the hotel soon after.
