Published at 26th of March 2019 2:11 am

Volume 22, Chapter 1

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Yokohama, April 14, 2097, a branch of the Kanto Japanese Magical Association. The meeting, which brought together young people from the Ten Master Clans and Eighteen Assistant Houses, was completed before noon as planned.

It finished without any results.

When the end of the meeting was announced, the first person who hurried to leave the conference room was Tatsuya.

- Yotsuba-dono, please wait!

But hearing a voice from behind him, he stopped and turned around.

Tatsuya's name is not "Yotsuba". But he did not act like a child who ignored going to him for that reason.

"What, Saegusa-san?"

However, instead of the traditional style for the Ten Master Clans of the Saegusa-dono, Tatsuya responded to the ordinary Saegusa-san.

To Tatsuya's question "what?", given with unconcealed impatience in his voice and on his face, Saegusa Tomokazu replied:

-For those who visited, we prepared a modest meal after the meeting. Will Yotsuba-dono join us?

Naturally, Tatsuya knew the schedule of the meeting.

- I'm sorry. I already said earlier that after meeting, I have an urgent matter.

Indeed, when he left the conference hall, he stated that he had "one thing to do."

"But it's not going to take much time ..."

-Unfortunately, the tight schedule does not allow me to accept this tempting offer.

Tatsuya could understand Tomokazu's desire to detain him. But he himself had his own circumstances. He did not do this to annoy Tomokazu.

-Saegusa-san, all the best.

-Shiba-sama. - Tatsuya, bowing to Tomokazu, this time the voice of a young woman called out.

-Yes, what is it?

She was an employee of the Magical Association. Upon recognizing Tomokazu, she showed slight indecision, but quickly restored the behavior of the official employee of the person.

-A VTOL arrived on the roof to pick you up.

-On the roof? I understand.

He had not previously been informed that transportation would be sent for him, but he thought it would be faster to go and see than to think about it. Having once again bowed to Tomokazu, Tatsuya followed the employee.

On the roof, he expected a small VTOL with built-in rotary rotors in the wings. It was a small plane for 6 seats, not counting the pilot. Standing next to the plane, a young man in a double-breasted suit bowed courteously to Tatsuya.

- Tatsuya-sama, here please.

He had a very polite manner of speech. The use of the Tatsuya-sama greeting said that he was a Yotsuba man. They met for the first time, but Tatsuya knew who this young man was.

-Pleased to meet you. As it seems, you already know, I am Shiba Tatsuya.

-Oh, I sincerely apologize. My name is Hanabishi Hyougo. Humbly happy to meet you.

Looking at the exaggerated gesticulation of the apologetic young man,

Tatsuya mentally nodded. As he guessed, this young man turned out to be the son of Hanabishi the butler.

Among the servants of the Yotsuba family, Hanabishi was the No. 2 ranked butler after Hayama. He was responsible for personnel and equipment for illegal activities related to combat operations. Tatsuya heard that his eldest son is being trained in the British PMC (private military company) under an assumed name, but apparently he has already returned from there.

"Today I have an important role to play: bring Tatsuya-sama and Miyuki- sama to their place. First, I ask you to take a seat inside.

- I got it. I rely on you.

Tatsuya unlocked the back door of the VTOL with the Yotsuba electronic key and went inside. It was a procedure for identifying a person. Not showing embarrassment that the door was opened in this way, but rather expressing a face showing that he is so used to it, Hanabishi Hyougo courteously closed the door behind Tatsuya.

The manned VTOL landed on a helicopter pad located on the roof of a ten- story building, recently built in Tefu.

The first three floors of this building were occupied by offices, and from the fourth to the tenth were living quarters. However, Tatsuya did not remember this building. It was unnecessary to say that it was not a destination.

As soon as the turbines and the wind stopped, three people appeared from the penthouse. Two young girls and a woman who looked about 30 years old. Tatsuya first thought that landing on this building was for charging (this VTOL was on electric motors), but it turned out that he was wrong.

Tatsuya opened the door from the inside and extended a hand to the girls to help him up.

- Thank you, Tatsuya-sama.

The two girls were Miyuki and Minami. It was planned that they would wait for Tatsuya's return home, but apparently on instructions from the main house, they were brought here.

-It's my pleasure. Have you been waiting for me for a long time? "Fifteen minutes." But the waiting room it was quite comfortable.

It seems that this penthouse was a recreation area for users of this helipad.

-It's clear.

-Tatsuya-sama. Thanks for waiting. - Tatsuya nodded in response to Minami. Entering the plane after Miyuki, she closed the door and said that you can go.

"Hanabishi-san, please." - Nodding Minami's eyes, Tatsuya turned to Hanabishi.

"Yes."

Minami looked surprised, because she did not know Hyougo in person. For the return a few days ago in Yotsuba Hyougo, such a reaction as Minami was familiar. Even without introducing himself to Minami, he started the engines and started taking off.

The small VTOL in which Tatsuya's group was flying did not fly directly to the hidden village of Yotsuba, but landed on a helicopter pad near the Kobutizawa railway station.

- Here please.

Hyougo led Tatsuya and the girls in the direction of the control building. Tatsuya thought that they would cross the building to a car that would take them to the main house. Under that assumption he was not mistaken, but the route turned out to be different. Instead of going through the control building to the road, they entered the staff elevator.

Gathering doubtful looks, Hyougo opened the door of the emergency control panel with an old-fashioned iron key. The elevator doors closed at the same time, as if on command. Behind the panel door was a biometric sensor. Hyougo put his right hand to it. After a brief pause, the elevator car began to go down.

"We're going down a long way ..." With a little alarm in her voice, Miyuki spoke to Tatsuya.

"We're heading for the floor, located 80 meters underground." - explained Hyougo. Immediately after his words, the elevator began to slow down. Soon the elevator car stopped and the doors opened.

Leaving the elevator, they were in a large spacious room. In addition, an underground tunnel lit by an artificial light was visible. Nearby was a large- sized sedan car, looking very expensive and upscale. The driver's seat was empty. Hyougo opened the back door, and invited Miyuki and Tatsuya to sit down. Hyougo himself took the driver's seat, and, confirming that Minami had boarded the passenger seat beside him, led the car.

"This underground tunnel leads directly to Honmour." Unfortunately, the view behind the window leaves much to be desired, but we will arrive very quickly.

Monotonously passing lights of the artificial tunnel showed that this huge dark sedan rushed forward at a speed inaccessible on public roads. As Hyougo said, within ten minutes they reached the helipad to the main house.

◊ ◊ ◊

The Chiba family dojo was located near the border between Tokyo and Kawasaki. Among the students there were many people working on the weekdays, so on Sunday the dojo looked more lively.

And on weekdays at noon, there were usually no students at all. Attending magic High School Erika was also a rare guest, coming only on weekends.

After the loss of the eldest son of the family, Toshikazuu, and until now, the training in the dojo passed in a depressed mood. You can even say in a tragic atmosphere. However, with the arrival of Erika, the heavy atmosphere shifted a little towards improving the mood. After all, Erika certainly had a talent in raising the mood.

And the two guys brought by Erika also had a role in the formation of the fighting spirit.

-Oria-a!

-Ghu-y!

There was the sound of a heavy fall to the floor. Everyone looked in the direction of this sound and found a man with a long hair falling on his back and moaning. Before him stood a guy with a large build breathing heavily.

-Saburou, do you need to rest?

-I can continue!

Saburou jumped to his feet. He shook slightly, but with an effort of will he tensed and pretended that he had not suffered any damage.

"Saijou-senpai, please, once again!"

-Wow. - Answered Leo bent over in a bow at 90 degrees Saburou. -Saburou himself asks Erika. Can I continue?

-Of course. I mean, keep going while you can stand up.

Grinning, Leo looked at Saburou. He looked at Erika with a very serious face. Continuing to grin, Leo looked at Erika again.

-"While you can stand" and treats me?

-Show yourself in a bad light before a junior high school student.

-Understood-understood.

Leo shrugged, seeing that there was not a hint of a joke in Erika's voice and voice. Then, turning from a rack with a shinai in one hand he faced Saburou. Saburou instantly responded the same.

He had the same stance with a one-handed grip, but the weapons were different.

Leo's shinai was longer than usual, and played the role of an odachi.

On the other hand, the Saburou's shinai corresponded to the length of the Wakizashi.

The length of the weapon is not an undeniable advantage or disadvantage. However, an indisputable fact is also that for each combat style, the use of a suitable weapon is required. It is generally believed that a long weapon is well suited for a preemptive strike. And for users of short swords, the favorite tactic is to evade enemy attack and then approach them.

However, this time the first who started to act was Saburou. He immediately went on offense with Leo.

Naturally, Leo did not even have to simply watch the enemy in his thoughts. With a quick movement of his right hand, he slashed from top to bottom exactly at the moment when Saburou entered the zone of the long shinai.

Saburou could not evade the blow being struck from the previously prepared position of the sword. Not only the speed, but also the power of this blow exceeded even the blow with the two-handed sword of an ordinary man, so he decided to parry the blow, helping the second hand.

One hand against two hands. But despite this counterattack, Leo's stand was not broken for a single moment. Like the covering wave, the pressure of the sword swept over Saburou.

Despite the fact that it was still a bamboo shinai, its heaviness from the long swing of Leo, began to push back Saburou who lost his balance.

And then a training sword the size of a knife suddenly attached to Saburou's belt came into motion by itself. Yes, Saburou did not abandon him. It broke out from behind Saburou's belt and rushed to Leo's face.

Leo stopped the onslaught with a shinai and repulsed the knife with the base of the blade. However, the small knife that looked unreliable did not fall to the floor. Little, in comparison with the form of Leo's odeati shinai, the blade suddenly went in different directions and surrounded Leo from two sides.

Yes. At some point, the knife flying in the air split into 2 parts. Leo's face tightened. Instead of knifing, he stepped forward. The distance became too short for the style of dressing. Even the most verified shinai movements will now be ineffective.

However, this was not a kendo match. Although they have shinai in their hands, no one forces them to treat them like a real sword.

Leo added his left hand to the grasp of his shinai, which he held only with his right hand. Now he held the shinai like a spear.

Saburou, meanwhile, left the previous blow to the side. Rotating in the air the knives suddenly fell to the floor, like puppets, which cut the ropes.

Nevertheless, Saburou's evasion shifted him too far. He came out of a point considered too close for the style.

Finally, the time has come when the distance turned out to be ideal. Leo's warrior nature simply could not allow him to miss this moment.

- Seiya-ah!

Leo swung the shinai from top to bottom. Saburou tried to parry the inevitable strike coming from the maximum possible distance. Standing on one knee, he threw up a short shinai over his head, holding it with both hands.

Their fighting spirit was so blazing that the bamboo swords seemed real.

The Odachi was approaching exactly in the middle of the wakizashi...

And this blow overwhelmed not only the short sword, but also the body that he covered.

Saburou fell down. Even though the blow was on the shinai, and despite the fact that most of Leo's blow went to the blocked shinai, he did a lot of damage.

Leo looked at Erika with a guilty face. But Erika looked at Saburou with a stern, cold stare.

-Heal, please.

-Yes, Erika-Odzosan.

A man of about thirty came running to them. Kneeling in front of the head of the lying Saburou, he activated his CAD.

After that, he put both hands on Saburou's forehead. Healing magic was activated. The big red lump on Saburou's forehead immediately disappeared.

Healing magic was a technique that deceived the world, forcing it to believe that the target human body was not injured. The fake result manifested itself immediately. However, after a while, the world will notice that it was deceived. Therefore, before the effect of "Healing" disappears, a new "Healing" must be imposed. The essence of therapeutic magic is to maintain the cured condition until the real treatment is performed.

In other words, after using healing magic, those on whom it was imposed can continue to fight, as if they did not receive any injuries at all, as long as the effect of healing magic is active.

Saburou quickly woke up and stood up.

- To stand.

Rising, he tried to continue the fight. However, Erika's voice caused Saburou to freeze.

"Yaguruma, that's enough for today." If you continue, the consequences can be disastrous.

- ... I understand.

Saburou, who did not have enough magical power to be considered fit for an escort in the Ten Master Clans, still had enough knowledge about magic, as he had an education worthy of serving a Mitsuya family. Therefore, he also knew the limitations of healing magic.

-...Many thanks. - Saburou turned to Leo and bowed. Bowing to Erika, he lifted his leg slightly to take a step.

-Wait. Why are you leaving? There is no need to rush so much.

Erika readily read Saburou's intention. This reproach of Erika made him sharply turn his foot on the floor of the dojo.

Erika motioned to him to understand that he wanted him to sit down. In order not to disturb other students, Saburou went to the wall and sat down on his knees. Erika sat in front of him in Japanese style, and Leo sat on the side in Turkish.

"Yaguruma would have won if he had not stopped psychokinetic control."

-Would it be a draw with simultaneous attacks? - Leo objected to the sudden withdrawal of Erika.

-Simultaneous, you say? - Erika did not unequivocally deny it. - But your attack Yaguruma landed on the wakizashi. On the other hand, you did not have protection from Yaguruma's knife, did you? In this case, you would definitely bleed.

Leo did not object, but he still did not look fully convinced. But Erika did not care anymore, and she turned to Saburou.

-It seems that Yaguruma thinks that his psychokinesis is useless, because it does not allow moving heavy things. Even a small blade weighing 100 grams can kill a person if you send it to a vulnerable point. There are very few magicians who know how to create object-directed barriers, and magicians who can maintain such protective magic for a long time are even fewer. Yaguruma's skill is effective not only as a deterrent. It can also be used as a weapon capable of inflicting a decisive blow. Here's what you need to understand first.

-I understand.

Saburou answered Erika immediately. However, Leo, who was sitting on his side, realized that this answer was rather reflexive rather than said with complete certainty. But it would be more accurate to say that Erika, who was sitting across from him, looking straight into his eyes, simply would not have allowed him to leave the answer.

"Then do not understand, but believe." In your strength.

Not having anything to say to Erika, Saburou clenched his teeth. Even without her words, he himself believed in his strength. He trained just because he believed that he had the strength to become a shield to Shiina. However, the brutal reality told him that this is not enough.

Believing once again after belief already betrayed him. It was not an easy task.

◊ ◊ ◊

About an hour after leaving the Kanto branch of the Magic Association in Yokohama. Tatsuya arrived at the main house of the Yotsuba in less than half of the planned time.

"Miyuki-sama, Tatsuya-sama, the lady is waiting for you." Please follow me.

Only Tatsuya, who arrived in the main house, met Hayama himself. Hayama is the main servant in the hierarchy of the main house of the Yotsuba, and also the confidant of the head of the family, Maya. His presence was a way to show that the status of the heiress and her fiance are not just titles in words.

Miyuki followed Hayama, Minami followed her. Hyougo followed Tatsuya behind him.

With Minami everything is clear, but for Tatsuya it was unexpected that Hayama did not say anything to Hyougo. Was Hyougo only a simple escort who knew how to fly an airplane?

Before he could ask this question, Tatsuya found out that they had come to the dining room. The same room where the candidates were gathered at the New Year's meeting, and where Miyuki was named the next head.

Shibata Katsushige. Tsukuba Yuka. Twins Kuroba Fumiya and Ayako. They were the same faces present as at the New Year's meeting. However, unlike the previous time, the head of the Yotsuba family, Maya, was already in place.

- We apologize for keeping you waiting.

-You are not late, so do not apologize. First of all, take a seat. Maya quietly responded to Tatsuya's apologies.

"Thank you." I'm sorry.

Tatsuya slightly bowed, and Miyuki followed him with a full bow.

Tatsuya looked at Miyuki's place, thinking that it was necessary to push back her chair, but found it already prepared by Minami. Nodding to the eye of Tatsuya looking at her, assisted Miyuki.

Hyougo put forward Tatsuya's chair.

"Perhaps the head of the family regards Hyougo as a candidate for a personal servant for me?" - Such a thought came to Tatsuya's mind.

However, now was not the time to be distracted by the reasons for Hyougo's presence. Tatsuya focused on Maya.

Maya looked at Hayama standing behind her. In response to this, Hayama rang a bell in his hand, it was not clear from where it came from.

No sooner had the echo of the ringing sounded, and, as if waiting in advance, the maid came into the dining room, pushing the cart before her.

It was already late for dinner, but Tatsuya's group was called up to the main house without having had time to grab a bite.

Before Tatsuya and Miyuki was arranged a variety of light snacks.

More snacks are not given to anyone else, not even Minami. Although the girl behind Miyuki was sorry, but for her it would be an insult to her official duty if she started to eat here.

Tatsuya, who understood this, with permission from Maya, started eating. Miyuki also followed the example of her brother.

Of course, they did not go away from talking, focusing on food. They participated in a conversation between Maya, Yuka and Ayako, periodically responding. Having finished eating, they waited until the dishes were cleaned, after which they felt that the atmosphere around Maya had changed.

Tatsuya and Miyuki immediately straightened their backs.

-So ... Now I'd like to hear about the events on Saikashin Island.

-Good.

Tatsuya responded to Maya's request. He briefly summarized the events on the main island of Okinawa, Koumé Island, and also on an artificial island and its environment.

-Agents of the Australian Army, Captain James J. Johnson and Captain Jasmine Williams, were eventually transferred to Miyakijima.

"I've already heard about these two." Good work.

Miyakijima is a small island formed as a result of underwater volcanic activity in 2001, the year of the snake, and was 50 kilometers east of the island of Miyakejima.

The name Miyakijima [巳 焼 島] was derived from the original name of the neighboring island of Miyakejima [三 宅 島], which was recorded as Goyakidzima [御 焼 島], with the first character [御] replaced by [巳 (snake)], in honor of the year of the snake in which he appeared.

It was also sometimes called the "New Island of the 21st Century," because it appeared in the first year of the 21st century.

During the 20-year-old World War III, there appeared the base of the defense forces. However, due to repeated volcanic eruptions, in the 2050s the base was abandoned, and at the moment the island is used as a prison for magician-criminals.

With the assistance of Toudou Aoba, this island in fact became the private property of the Yotsuba family. In fact, the owner is a certain company engaged in real estate, however, through the chain of owners, the Yotsuba family holds the bulk of the shares.

In other words, the Miyakijima prison is an object entrusted to the Yotsuba family that is designed to secretly isolate dangerous magicians. Maya has free access to viewing data about prisoners sent there. Tatsuya mentioned Johnson and Jasmine, because he personally accompanied them there.

"Miyakijima?" Was it not planned to reconstruct it as a place for experiments? - Asked Shibata Katsushige. After Miyuki was declared the next head of the family, he decided to tackle the affairs of his branch family, and began to work in the Ministry of Defense. So he knew about some of the projects promoted by the Yotsuba family.

- It's not a problem. Soon we are going to get rid of them.

Hearing Maya's answer, Katsushige slightly frowned. Among the young people present at the table, this was the strongest reaction. But there was no one who didn't understand what Maya meant by the word "get rid". But despite this, not only Tatsuya and Yuka, but Miyuki and Fumiya listened to this with disinterested persons, as if they were saying "That's how it is?". And Ayako did not react at all to this part of the conversation.

-Head-sama. Miyakijima is the place where Miyuki onee-sama was trained in using Niflheim? So the object for experiments, being built there, will be designed to test large scale magic in the open air?

Ayako was interested in a new place for testing. As she said, during the high school days, Miyuki used the land of the island of Miyakijima as a training ground for the development of the Niflheim casting.

Then this island was considered just a prison for dangerous magicians. But only a small western part of the island was used for this purpose. Continuing underwater volcanic activity increased the area of the island from the frozen lava to 8 square kilometers. This is roughly equivalent to the Tokyo area, Kunitati. So there was plenty of room for practicing cooling magic over a wide area.

-Although this is not yet the final decision ... Okay, probably, you can already tell.

Maya seems to be really thinking, not trying to give the words importance.

- Are the buildings here very old?

Everyone, including Tatsuya, nodded in response to Maya's question. The equipment used by the Yotsuba family for the most part consisted of what was left of the Fourth Laboratory after World War III. Although preventive maintenance and repairs were performed on a regular basis, no one could deny that in general the equipment was out of date and incompatible with the modern era.

"However, just sorting out the existing equipment and replacing it with a new one will be very difficult.

This time, only Tatsuya and Katsushige nodded. Among the equipment received in wartime there were many rare components, of which replacements are almost impossible to find. Fears that after a complete update of the equipment some studies may be interrupted, were quite understandable.

-That's why I thought it would be better to build a new experimental facility on Miyakijima.

"So you got the army's consent to abolish the jail entrusted to us?" Yuka asked. Unlike Katsushige, she was not informed about this plan.

-Officially, it will still function for some time. Also, new facilities will be nominally called defense laboratories.

-Would it be a problem that the so-called defense forces laboratories will in fact be the property of the Yotsuba family?

-All the details are already negotiated.

It seems that, without considering it necessary to explain what kind of negotiations they were, Maya looked from Yuka to Tatsuya.

"Better let's hear the continuation of Tatsuya-san's report." It seems that it was called " Gatekeeper". Tatsuya-san's magic that neutralizes magicians. Can it be used by other magicians other than you?

"The sequence of magic still needs improvement, but magicians with a good predisposition to mental interference magic, in theory, will be able to use it right now."

In addition to Maya, Yuka and Fumiya showed great interest. Among the living members of the Yotsuba family, these two had the highest abilities in mental interference magic. Although their skills were still inferior to their parents' generation, in terms of talent and potential, the two competed for 1-2 place among the whole family.

-Could you translate it into code?

-I brought it with me.

Coding created the description of magic through the activation sequence. In most cases, a new magic is created in the magician's imagination. At the moment, this is the biggest obstacle and bottleneck for those who want to share magic skills, because specialized skills are required to describe the magic algorithm in the form of an activation sequence.

However, for Tatsuya to develop the code for the activation sequence of the new magic, there was no difficulty. Maya knew this, so she asked about the availability of the ready activation sequence.

-I see. Will you transfer it later to Hayama-san?

-Of course.

-Yuka-san. Take a copy of the activation sequence from Hayama-san.

-I understand.

-I think further improvement of Gatekeeper can be entrusted to the Tsukuba family. Tatsuya-san, do you mind?

-Of course, I do not mind.

Tatsuya from the very beginning did not intend to keep "Gatekeeper" a secret. Because he knew that she could not hurt the magicians, who had an order of magnitude higher than the usual psion reserve, such as Miyuki and himself. He did not want to disclose it to everyone, but he intended to share it with the Yotsuba, at least.

However, Tatsuya did not have a predisposition to mental interference. He used "Gatekeeper" with the help of his other ability. He himself was not suitable for working with mental interference magic. Therefore, the decision to leave further work on improving the magic to the Tsukuba family, which has many users of mental interference magic, looked reasonable. Thinking it over, Tatsuya nodded.

Only Fumiya had a slightly disappointed face, but apart from Tatsuya, no one else said anything. It seems that everyone decided that the events in Okinawa should not be discussed anymore.

- So ... - After taking a sip of tea, Maya continued, changing the subject. -

Further, I would like to hear details about today's meeting.

- Of course.

When Tatsuya's story reached the point where he mentioned that they wanted to make Miyuki an advertising face that would work on the image of the magicians to improve public opinion, an atmosphere of indignation began to build around Fumiya and Ayako.

"Already many people treat us like friends. Is it not better, at last, to show the world its seriousness? "Yuka said sarcastically. The word "peace" used by her meant "magic world," that is, the world community of magicians.

"Whether we like it or not, we do not need any unnecessary actions. Katsushige responded briefly to Yuka's words. Although he was thinking in the opposite direction, it was clear that his feelings were also hurt.

-Tatsuya-san, the Yotsuba family supports your decision. We simply ignore this and all subsequent plans trying to use Miyuki-san.

There was no irritation or anger in Maya's voice. However, there was no room for misunderstanding in her words.

-You are not even worried about a possible confrontation with the other 27 houses?

Even under the pressure of Tatsuya's difficult question,

- Yes.

Maya answered quickly and without hesitation. Perhaps Maya in advance foresaw the plan of Saegusa Tomokazu, that is, the Saegusa family.

-Can we just ignore it? - Asked Fumiya. It seems that he meant whether it would be normal not to respond with counter actions to attack opponents.

"Of course, we will not sit quietly if they attack us."

Maya's answer implied a ban on creating conflicts first. However, Tatsuya's behavior at today's meeting, where he refused to cooperate, fell under Maya's policy of ignoring it, because it was clearly provoked by the other side. You can even say that he was forced to do it by force.

-But do not relax. I think you understand that we are not invincible. It cannot be said for sure that a Yotsuba magician will absolutely always defeat the magician's of another family.

Although it was not read by face, it was not difficult to guess that everyone was thinking that "it's too late to say that". However, one could not say that in their minds there were no such arrogant thoughts as "we will never lose."

-Special attention should be paid to the families Juumonji and Tooyama. And also Kudo Minoru.

Most did not understand what she meant. Only Tatsuya and Katsushige were not surprised by Maya's words.

-Kudo Minoru ... Second-grader from Second High? Is he such a formidable opponent?

"Last fall, he helped in Zhou Gongjin's case, and he is undoubtedly an enemy, demanding special vigilance. - Tatsuya answered Yuka's question. But he was surprised by the answer Katsushige, and not Yuka. He read the report on the case of Zhou Gongjin and knew about Minoru's cooperation. Indeed, there he was rated as a magician with high combat performance. Perhaps its danger at the level of Yuki or Fumiya.

But Katsushige did not think that Tatsuya would lead him by the nose, saying that the enemy "requires vigilance."

Nevertheless, he showed no doubts. Doubt in the abilities of Minoru means doubt in the words of Maya. If the first time you can still get forgiveness, but the second time you cannot wait for mercy. Katsushige could not have known this. But that's why his doubt was not lost, and firmly entrenched in his mind.

-I saw the strength of the Juumonji family during the Yokohama incident. Does the Tooyama family have the same level of strength?

It seems that Miyuki decided to change the subject to stop Katsushige, who at any moment could say something superfluous.

-The official line of research for the Tenth Laboratory is "magic with a large coverage area, creating virtual structures," but the real goal was to create magicians, which will be the last line of defense of the central government. The "products" of these studies, the Juumonji and Tooyama families, received combat power, placing them on a completely different level than the rest of the 25 houses.

When Maya talked about 25 houses, it was not a mistake in her calculations. Among the 28 houses, the Juumonji, Tooyama and Yotsuba families were those they consider "different."

- The last line of defense of the central government? Not the entire capital?

From the published results of the Tenth Laboratory's research, one can easily remember the key phrase: "In case of emergency, the magicians of the Juumonji family will be the last line of defense of the capital." This means that if the magicians of the Juumonji family are on guard, they will be able to prevent even a direct attack on the capital. This was the basis of Miyuki's doubt.

The magic of the multiple barriers of the Juumonji family is not very suitable against infantry, but manifests itself fully against mobile troops, aviation and missile weapons. Their powerful magic barriers boast of the power to stop not only artillery shells and large bombs, but also hypersonic missiles and even tactical nuclear weapons (although they are in fact prohibited).

There is no need to encircle the entire metropolitan area with a barrier. It is enough to form a barrier on the trajectory of the projectile's flight. If it's a bomb, then you can wrap it with a barrier that will absorb the explosion. And such accuracy, speed and strength are possessed by the magicians of the Juumonji family.

Their characteristics are enough to "protect the city from attack," so they can be called "the last defense line of the capital."

However, Maya said that the real purpose of the Tenth Laboratory is "the last line of defense of the central government." If this is not just a play on words, then the magic that the Tooyama family possesses will be different from the magic of the Juumonji family.

-Yes. It seems that Miyuki-san does not know. The magic of the Tooyama family is designed to protect people.

"I did not know either." So, the magic of the Tooyama family is designed for personal protection?

Asked by Yuka, Maya shook her head imperturbably.

-Not personal. To protect a group of people, it creates for everyone an individual barrier. This is the magic of the Tooyama family.

-Simultaneous targeting? Or is it a Multiple Casting?

-I do not currently know such details. - With a smile Maya answered the question of the interested Fumiya.

Tatsuya felt that further questions to Maya might turn out to be something bad.

-I understood. We will interact with Juumonji, Tooyama and Kudo Minoru with extreme caution.

He intervened in the ongoing conversation, bowing his head showing his consent. Perhaps Katsushige like Tatsuya, realized the danger so he did not continue to talk about the magic of the Tooyama family.

-And yet, is it really good to adopt a policy of one-sided confrontation? I cannot accept the plan to use Miyuki-san as an advertisement, but I do not think that completely refusing to cooperate with other families in the fight against anti-magic movement is a good idea.

Instead, he expressed concern about the appointed policy of disobedience.

-If there is nothing more, there will be no confrontation ... But cooperation is impossible, until the other side apologizes? Because they wanted to use the next head of our family. This is the limit.

Katsushige responded to Yuka's speech with a surprised face.

"Yuka-san ... Why are you so belligerent?" Setting the conditions is, of course, good, but when it comes to isolation, the balance will clearly not be in our favor.

-Is it true? - Those who expressed their disagreement with Katsushige's rather judicious opinion were Fumiya, not Yuka. - Isolation from the whole of society is undoubtedly fatal. However, will isolation only from the society of magicians somehow harm us? Moreover, the conversation is about the problem of isolation only within the framework of the 28 houses, which are only a small part of the magical community. There is no reason to be afraid of such isolation.

Fumiya's arguments proved to be compelling. It seems that this was the thinking of a young inexperienced person when unnecessary details were discarded.

"Society", which provides the Yotsuba family with the products of civilization, is indispensable. And the magical skills necessary for their existence, like magicians, they have enough of their own. The Yotsuba family had the power to defend itself only by themselves, even in the event of a conflict with the Stars from the USNA, which have a reputation as the world's strongest magician unit.

"In case of emergency, even if it comes to total war with other Numbers, all the forces of the main and branch families should be thrown to the support of Tatsuya-san and Miyuki-san."

"My instructions do not change." Completely ignore all plans for turning the next head into an idol. In case of an attack, you can answer at your discretion.

It is unclear whether she supported the last utterance of Fumiya, but with these words, Maya put an end to the discussion of this problem.

◊ ◊ ◊

His shoulders rose and fell to the beat of his heavy breathing. The legs almost did not obey and could hardly stand on the floor. However, the light of fighting spirit has not yet extinguished in the eyes of Saburou standing in front of Erika. These eyes were not looking with malice. They just watched.

Erika's lips curved in a smile. And the next moment her silhouette disappeared. The image of the knife fell from Saburou's belt.

A dull sound was heard twice to the left of Saburou.

Starting to move to the right, Saburou turned to the left. A wooden sword with a length of wakizashi, which he held in his right hand, he exposed in front of his face.

Erika's wooden sword touched the wrist of this right hand.

- Well, it's much better than before.

After Erika lowered her wooden sword, Saburou also left the fighting stance.

There was no pain from the received impact. After fights began with Leo, a long training with Erika was only now completed.

This could be called an additional occupation. Erika tried to attack at a level of strength just slightly above Saburou's skills, and Saburou, using his psychokinesis, tried to slow Erika's moves and get a chance to counterattack. And this has been repeated many times.

Since he did not receive any real blows, there was also no need for medical magic. However, he had to constantly move all this time, so now all the muscles of his body ached from spasms.

"Okay, we'll finish up for today." I will not tolerate negligent work.

- ... Thank you very much!

Because of fatigue, the language of the bowed Saburou twisted, and his words sounded like "Spa ... shoee."

When he lifted his head, Erika had already disappeared from the dojo. It looks like she went to the shower.

Saburou's body collapsed to the floor, as if he had been paralyzed. Leo seated in the vicinity, looking at the half-chilled Saburou, thought about Erika.

The training that Erika appointed Saburou was not her style at all. Leo could not tell what was going on, but it was clearly different from the approach to his training technique "Usub Kagero."

Erika took Saburou's help very seriously. She wanted to give him the power, not skills.

At least, so it seemed Leo.

And this, in Leo's opinion, was not in the style of Erika.

Leo came to the Chiba dojo, because he was asked to become an opponent of Saburou in training. Leo himself believed that it was rather "forced", rather than "asked." Therefore, since Saburou's training ended, he no longer had any reason to remain here. Leo said goodbye to Saburou who was still unable to get up, and went to the shower room for the dojo pupils.

The last time Leo was deceived and he came across Erika in the bathroom. At that time, the compensation for seeing Erika's body wrapped in a towel was such that, compared to her, the cauldron in hell would seem like a cool bath. Although he thought that he was lucky enough to get rid of it easily, he swore to himself that "the second time it will never happen again."

In the distant past, the dojo adhered to the rules of "taking a cold bath when sweating," but in the present era, a modern hot shower is simply irreplaceable. The huge Chiba family dojo has a shower room, where there are ten fully enclosed shower cabins in a row.

The problem is that there is no division for the male and female parts (and most of the students are men), but there is no reason to worry about spying, since the cabins are locked from the inside, and there is enough room to change. In addition, women were allowed to use the bathroom of the main building, so the shower room of the dojo in fact was used mostly by men.

Only one booth was occupied. Not caring about this, Leo walked into the next booth with a bag of change clothes in his hand.

Without much fuss, in automatic mode, it took him about three minutes. Just standing, smeared with all the universal liquid soap-shampoo and quickly washed off the sweat. He massaged his hair with his fingers, and while washing his face with his hands, the rest he left to the shower machine, thereby he quickly finished taking a shower.

But the automatic shower cabin was only in the washing of the body. Drying off and changing clothes were also necessary. Having included these actions in the total calculation, he left the shower cubicle 5 minutes after entering.

On the opposite side of the shower walls was a mirror, and next to it was a simple dressing table. Leo usually just wiped his hair, but today he suddenly wanted to use a hairdryer.

Now he was in a T-shirt and shorts. The jacket remained in the locker in the dojo. Now, in the middle of April, on the street in this form it will be pretty cool, however here, in the shower room it was warm, because the air conditioner worked.

Perhaps, because of the relaxed atmosphere, he succumbed to the temptation. Standing in front of the mirror, he strained his biceps. The kind of strong hand was enough to satisfy the pride of the young guy.

Feeling better, Leo, who had only strained his right hand, added a left to her. He puffed out his chest and bent his elbows over his shoulders and stood in the most famous pose, called "Double biceps in front".

Then he put his hands on his waist, and straightening his shoulders, stood in the pose "Wide back muscles in front."

The developed latissimus muscles of the back formed the shape of an inverted triangle (the shape of the letter V).

Then, slightly bending forward, taking his fists slightly forward from the waist, straining at the same time the muscles of the arms, chest, shoulders and neck, this was the "Most Muscular" pose.

Leo returned to the original pose with one right hand raised, looked at that hand and sighed contentedly.

-... What are you doing?

-Ueeaa !?

Leo, who had lost his alertness, did not notice Erika reflected in the mirror until she spoke.

- Yes, and took a hair dryer.

Leo, who was flushed, hurried to turn away. In addition to the thought that he was found in this shameful activity, there was something else.

- T-why are you in this form !?

Leo simply could not look directly at the reflection of Erika in the mirror in such an unseemly appearance for a girl.

She was wearing a T-shirt, the length of which was barely enough to cover her breasts. And from below there were only short tight shorts, covering the legs only slightly at the base of the thighs. The slender waist, arms and legs, as well as the skin on the top of the chest (so called "décolleté zone"), reddening from the rush of blood, were completely naked.

"Ha-ha?" It's a normal look when you get out of the shower. All the necessary clothes are on me.

-E-this I understand! N-But why are you here ...!?

-Why not? I was too lazy to go to the main building.

Saying this in a tired voice, Erika sat on a stool next to Leo and held out her hand to the fan.

"Well, do not you want to dry your hair quickly now?" It looks like your wonderful behavior has already subsided.

- N-no, I, perhaps, I'll go!

Leo threw the hair dryer in a sharp movement, quickly turned and walked towards the exit from the shower. Seeing the departing Leo, Erika shrugged her shoulders. Having finished drying her hair, she threw a robe over her T- shirt and shorts and went to the extension, which plays the role of her room.

◊ ◊ ◊

At a meeting that continued with tea drinking, the theme of Tatsuya's report flowed into the story of a magical attack that was supposedly "Tuman Bomba."

-That is, even Tatsuya-kun could not recognize the user of this magic?

-Yes. - Tatsuya confirmed Katsushige's guess.

"But if this magic was "Tuman Bomba, "then ..." Katsushige thought for a moment, then expressed his thoughts. "... This means that the New Soviet Union has really begun to implement the ultra-long-range auxiliary targeting system in practice."

-Auxiliary targeting system in ultra-long range ... Like the Third Eye, used for the Material Burst?

Katsushige nodded to the inquiring Yuka.

"Although, because of the supposed properties of this magic, the accuracy of aiming, like the Third Eye, is not needed." On the other hand, it seems to me that the computing power of just one magician will not be enough to compute the copying of an infinite number of magic sequences, changing the values of variables for simultaneous activation. I think they use a complex system that includes a large computer that helps with calculations.

After the first sentence, the rest he spoke, turning to Maya.

- Really. Tatsuya-san, what do you think?

"I think that's a reasonable assumption." Moreover, when using a large CAD that has such integrated functions that allow all variables to be preliminarily entered into the activation sequence, the load on the magician must be heavily reduced.

-That is, the magician will only have to count the ready activation sequence?

-Even reading the activation sequence can be automated.

-Does all this really reduce the burden on the magician? - Yuka expressed her doubt about the discussion of Maya and Tatsuya. - After all, if magic is activated by automated reading of the activation sequence, then the magician can get into a situation when the finished magic will exceed his capabilities?

-Magic, beyond their abilities, simply will not activate. Although, if you use the "Sorcery Booster", then, perhaps, it will. - There was no hesitation in the voice of Tatsuya responding to Yuka.

-Speaking about the amplifier, did you mean " Sorcery Booster", which was distributed by the Hong Kong mafia? Was not the organization that produced them destroyed?

-This does not mean that the manufacturing method was lost. Well, all this of course is just guesses.

-That's right.

It seemed that Yuka still wants to say something, but the tone of Maya's response made her retreat.

-I'm also interested in how this magic works, but there is a more urgent question ...

Finishing her sentence, Maya looked at Miyuki with the question "Is it interesting, did she understand?" in the view. Perhaps there was some teaching lesson for the next head.

"I think the most urgent task is how to protect ourselves from magic, which is supposedly "Tuman Bomba. "

Fortunately, Tatsuya had already told her about it last night, so Miyuki was not troubled to answer. Maya nodded in satisfaction. She did not know that Miyuki's answer was actually overheard from Tatsuya, or she did not care that you can get answers by fraud.

"To begin with, let's put aside the question of whether the magic that generates a detonating gas and explodes it is a Tuman Bomba." How would Miyuki-san defend herself against this magic?

About this Tatsuya also gave her a lecture, only on the way here on VTOL, not last night.

-If you can predict the activation time, then I think it can be stopped by the "Freeze Flame". But to catch the right moment is a rather difficult task ...

"Freeze Flame" is magic that prevents a fire, keeping the temperature of the target object below a certain level. Even if the "Tuman Bomba" magic combines hydrogen and oxygen without application of heat, the synthesis still releases heat, which can be stopped by the "Freeze Flame", which is precisely designed to prevent heating.

-Understood. What about Katsushige-san?

-Hmm ... I think, depending on the scale of the attack, I can get by using the "Density Manipulation" to isolate the oxygen from the hydrogen immediately after their creation, thereby causing an error in the logic of the attacking magic and forcing it to fail activation.

-What does Fumiya-san think?

"I think I will not be able to do anything other than trying to protect myself with a barrier, but my sister's "Perfect Diffusion" will probably be able to prevent the activation of the magic.

One by one, the so-called detoxification facilities gradually created an optimistic atmosphere.

-It is theoretically possible to neutralize with the help of "Density Manipulation" and prevent activation with the help of "Perfect Diffusion", but ...

At this point, Tatsuya intervened with criticism.

"As Miyuki said, the main problem is whether the moment of activation of the enemies magic can be guessed. This high-speed distribution of magic sequences by copying, I for convenience called "Chain Casting". I believe that it will be quite difficult to have time to call up your magic before the end of the call of enemy magic.

-However after all this, supposedly Tuman Bomba requires water on the whole area of the attack zone? On the sea or the lake everything is clear, but on land it is necessary to create first a fog or a puddle of water? I think, in this case, to some extent it is possible to predict the attack in advance.

This time, Yuka spoke in an unexpectedly serious tone. However, Tatsuya refuted these arguments without saying anything superfluous.

"If I were the user of that magic, I would just wait for a rainy day." We are in Japan, not in the desert in the Middle East. Finding the opportunity will be easy.

Yuka only shrugged her shoulders. Tatsuya could not understand whether she expresses any meaning in this, or does not think about anything at all. He only worried for a moment, and decided to give up thinking about it.

-Chain Casting copying is extremely fast. If the right moment cannot be precisely determined, it is better to be protected by barrier magic if possible.

When the words "Barrier Magic" sounded, the views of all those present, except Tatsuya and Miyuki, involuntarily rushed behind Miyuki's back. Standing there and kept silent all the time Minami cringed under the gaze of five people.

◊ ◊ ◊

After returning home and entering his room, Leo immediately went to the videophone. He could not get rid of the thoughts that haunted him all the way home, and could not suppress the desire to talk with someone.

After a long call waiting, an image appeared on the screen of the videophone. There was an interior of the room in Japanese style. Given that the owner of the room is a schoolboy, one could call it "a study room," but because of the availability of bookcases that reach to the ceiling and are completely stuffed with paper books unusual for this time, this room was more like a "library."

-Leo, a call from you is quite a rare occurrence. - Mikihiko said from the screen of the videoconference.

-Oh, Mikihiko. Did I interrupt you?

-... Did something happen?

Seeing Leo's unusually depressed expression, Mikihiko also changed in the face.

- Yes, I wanted to hear someone's opinion on one issue ...

The atmosphere of seriousness was transmitted even through the display. However, at this point something completely unexpected happened.

- Yoshida-kun, in the bathroom ... Ah, I'm sorry.

On the side of Mikihiko, the microphone caught the girl's voice calling from far away (possibly from the entrance to the library). But that was not all. At the very edge of the display, partially appeared the figure of a girl who looked in the doorway, in which Leo recognized Mizuki.

-Excuse me! I interrupted you!

-Wait! Leo, you're wrong! You've misunderstood everything!

The panicking Leo trying to turn off the video, he tried to stop the even more panicky Mikihiko.

"... I do not know what I misunderstood." I do not think you called to your house to do something n-indecent.

-Wh-What does it mean n-n-indecent !?

-N-well, that's it. Between a man and a woman ...

-I would not do anything like that! I would not be so rude to Shibata-san!

-Yes, I said that I do not think you did it!

-Yoshida-kun, did you say something about me ...?

Mizuki reappeared at the door at a time when the confusion between Leo and Mikihiko reached the limit. However, unlike the previous time, not only Mizuki appeared on the screen.

- Mizuki-and, for a long time?

This time, Mizuki did not just look in the room, and entered her, and behind her was another girl.

Leo remembered the face of this girl. It was his classmate who is a member of the Arts Club.

-Ah. Yoshida-kun is talking on the phone. Then we will postpone the work on the ice sculpture and do something else. Because there is not much time left.

This schoolgirl took Mizuki's hand and dragged her along.

-... I suppose that other members of the art club also came? - Waiting until the girls disappeared from the screen, Leo asked.

-That's right. Shibata-san and I are not alone here alone. So do not say stupid things.

"Did he mean that something could happen if they were only two?" - Thought Leo. However, he decided that continuing to talk about it would be rude.

- Sorry.

- ... Come on. Tell me, what did you want to hear about my opinion?

Leo felt relieved that his misunderstanding did not turn into a conflict, and the conversation returned to the original theme. And then he remembered why he even called.

-Yes. The problem is not that big, but ...

-I'm listening.

-Have you noticed Erika's strange behavior lately?

-Erika? What happened?

-Not that something with it was radiant ... You see, today Erika called me to the dojo in her house.

-To the dojo?

-Yes. And she says this: "I want you to help me with one first-grader." I was supposed to help Erika in training the technique of "Usub Kagero," and to look at the first-grader who liked her was interesting too.

-Erika attracted by first-grader ... Likely you are talking about Yaguruma- kun?

-Mikihiko, do you know about Saburou?

-I saw him a little after the ceremony ... And indeed, there are rumors that Erika trains Yaguruma-kun. And what's wrong?

"It feels like Erika ... well, somehow is too hard on training.

- ... Yes, this is unusual for her.

Mikihiko, who knows Erika's approach to training "you want to learn technique - do it yourself," was slightly puzzled by these words of Leo.

-In my case, it can be said, there was also an exception. But Saburou's teaching is even fundamentally different from mine. From the very first glance, it is felt that this is not a learning technique, but an attempt to become stronger.

- This is really ... not like Erika.

The face of the viewer from Mikihiko's screen became serious. Knowing him for a long time, Leo knew that this betrays his strong sense of alarm.

-... And then, after that, I came across her in the shower room.

-... And?

Trying to speak, suppressing indecision, he created a long pause in the conversation. And Leo and Mikihiko did unnaturally serious faces.

"I meant the shower room of the dojo. The one that students usually use.

-... Yeah, I get it. And what?

-After the shower, Erika went out in short T-shirt and shorts. With a naked stomach, just like in a swimsuit.

-Leo, this sounds quite safe ...

My whole body was trembling, and it was not shaking with excitement.

-Mikihiko, do you also think so?

-Uh, what are you talking about?

Seeing Leo's suddenly serious expression looking straight at the camera, Mikihiko rounded his eyes and froze in that form.

-I'm not talking about the fact that I saw her naked or in one underwear. And about the fact that it's not strange that she did not care that a guy saw her figure, covered only in a couple of places, after she came out of the shower? Was it pretending, did she really care?

-It's ... more like your misunderstanding, Leo. Erika herself said that for her this situation is normal?

-I think so too. That's why it's strange.

-......

Mikihiko could neither confirm nor disprove Leo's remark. Because he realized that the situation could be much more serious than he first thought.

"Is she overextending herself too much?" After the death of her older brother, she looked calm, but it seems, in fact, she is very hurt?

-I think so, but ... Are you saying this has something to do with the current state of Erika?

"It's just a guess, but ... Is not it like she wants revenge?"

- Revenge ... For Toshikazuu-san?

Leo silently nodded in response to the question of Mikihiko.

-But to whom? After all, the criminals responsible for the attack in Hakone who killed Toshikazuu-san are already dead?

For the rest of society, the search for those responsible for the attack in Hakone is still underway. However, the lost the eldest son of the Chiba family was partially revealed the truth. Leo and Mikihiko also were briefed on the incident, except for classified information.

"Is not it ... Tatsuya?"

- Uh ...?

Hearing this completely unexpected opinion, Mikihiko lost his speech. However, immediately taking himself in hand, he began to deny.

-Tatsuya is not to blame. Perhaps, those who stopped Toshikazu-san were Tatsuya, but ... it was he who freed Toshikazu-san from the dark magic. The people of the Chiba family should be grateful to Tatsuya.

-Mikihiko, this is the reason. Emotions are in fact what constantly goes against the mind?

Mikihiko again could not find anything to say.

"However, I do not think Erika wants anything, like Tatsuya's death."

-Do not say such dangerous words ...!

-Sorry sorry. I wanted to ask you if Erika would do something so self-willed.

What do you think? In any case, in our company, you've known her the longest.

-Willfully ...?

-Well, you understand me ... I mean, she wants to defeat Tatsuya at any cost. Even so much that he rejects her femininity, if only to stun him.

-... Are you exaggerating? - Mikihiko muttered with a shocked face. But then he shook his head.- I believe that she did not think about such extreme measures, but ... and to say that our fears are totally unfounded, too.

Leo looked silently at Mikihiko from the screen of the videophone.

-Let's watch Erika for a while.

-Yes, that's right.

Having said this, Leo smiled unintentionally and shrugged his shoulders.

-Well, if Erika is going to use me for something, then I have no particular choice.

A small smile appeared on the face of Mikihiko that was displayed on the screen.

-Yes, you are a good couple.

-Stop it.

Leo frowned, as if he thought something unpleasant.

◊ ◊ ◊

Minoru, invited to the house of Saegusa, in addition to a late lunch, was also invited to dinner.

- I sent a message to your onii-san.

-Many thanks, Mayumi-san.

-We can also provide a helicopter for delivery home. "Thank you, Kasumi-san." I'm taking you up on your word. Saying this, Minoru looked shyly around.

"What is it, Minoru-kun?" Do not worry.

"No, nothing ... Izumi-san, is your father at home?"

Laying the table has already been completed. The dishes were prepared for four: Minoru, Mayumi, Kasumi and Izumi. The place of Koichi was not prepared. Koichi did not show up for lunch either. Minoru is not that I wanted to talk about something with him, but thought it necessary to at least greet him properly.

- It seems that he went somewhere without telling anyone anything.

Minoru answered the question not by Izumi, which he asked, but by Mayumi, having previously specified from the servants.

-They seem to be having dinner with my older brother together outside the house. I'm sorry that I will not be able to greet you.

-No, it's worth it to apologize. I should have welcomed you when we first arrived.

"As Izumi-chan has already said, you do not have to worry about such things." Because Minoru-kun is our guest.

"Haha ... thank you very much."

Minoru relaxed slightly. He laughed because it was rare for him to relax in this way. Usually, Minoru's daily life is full of tense moments.

Outstanding magical power and a weak body, which constantly drives him to bed, gave Minoru pain that he could not live up to his expectations. His exceptional intellect and even his beauty, mercilessly piercing the eyes of other people, exerted strong pressure on him.

Despite the presence of talent. Despite the availability of abilities.

Only a weak body prevents him from fulfilling his duties. These are the thoughts of Minoru himself that pushed himself into a corner.

I cannot perform the duties that must be performed.

The feeling of guilt for this made Minoru adopt a lifestyle with uncertain behavior towards the surrounding people.

He was able to relax in the company of the Saegusa sisters because they were not worried about his beauty.

Minoru was surprised and grateful that they looked at him as a friend, for the first time after seeing him for a long time.

Although they had behaved this way before, but until now it was not natural. He could not understand why. For him it was not clear that the reason was that they were accustomed to the even more perfect beauty of Miyuki.

It was inevitable. After all, Minoru was first impressed by Miyuki as an "outstanding magician", and beauty was secondary. In addition, it was because people close to Miyuki also showed an interest in Minoru's appearance.

In this regard, Minoru recalled "the girl next to Miyuki, looking at his face."

A slight smile surfaced on his face as he remembered how the blushing Minami ran away from him, lying in bed. Remembering her, he did not feel any discomfort.

The views of the opposite sex directed at him for Minoru were oppressive and overwhelmingly gloomy. It was always like this, but, remembering Minami, he felt warmly.

She seemed sweet to him, charming. Minoru had such feelings for the first time.

- ... Minoru-kun, what happened? You are noticeably cheerful.

- Oh, I'm sorry. I remember something pleasant ...

Minoru's cheeks slightly reddened. He was embarrassed by the possible ambiguous meaning of his smiling face, which the girls saw.

"At such moments, Minoru looks like an ordinary boy. Kasumi said with a smile. To hear from these sisters say that he was "ordinary" for Minoru was a refreshing taste of a sense of comfort.

"... By the way, have the wounded students already recovered?"

Dinner began with innocuous topics, however, unfortunately, it was not possible to finish with secular conversations alone. Because it had bothered them ever since they heard, and they had to be sure. Mayumi asked about the condition of the Second High students who were seriously injured as a result of the "Humanists" attack on their way home from school.

-Fortunately, there were no difficulties, all of them have completely recovered.

-Thank God ...

Izumi sighed with relief. She was also attacked by fanatics from the anti- magic movement, although she herself did not suffer. So the sufferings of the pupils of the other school were not alien to her.

-And what about the "Humanists"? The charges were not pursued? Minoru smiled with restraint when he heard Kasumi's question.

"That's all right." Taking into account the serious injuries, it was concluded that the use of magic was justified.

- Well, it was quite natural. By the way, were the attackers arrested?

If the self-defense of students of Second High was recognized as legitimate, then all severity of the prosecution was to be transferred to the "Humanists". Under the intense gaze of Kasumi thinking so, Minoru's expression took on an apologetic look.

-The attackers ... were diagnosed that their mind was clouded with drugs, and as a result they were aquitted.

-How so! The pupils of Second High suffered greatly from their actions! Is it justified by insanity to apply to such serious crimes!?

"... I've also heard a couple of conversations." Since the pupils of Second High are magicians, they should not be badly injured from attacks by ordinary people. In fact, there are no complications from injuries, so it was not a serious crime ... that's the case.

- What now, if the victim is a magician, then the criminal is not to blame !?

"Are you saying that laws apply to us magicians, and ordinary citizens unequally?" - Izumi in a voice besieged with sarcasm, exploded in the wrath of Kasumi. This argument of the sister had nothing to refute not only Kasumi, but also Mayumi.

- You're right.

Minoru also agreed. More precisely, on this occasion he resented even more Izumi.

-If it were so, the coexistence of people and magicians would be impossible.

But Saegusa' sisters did not hear this whisper. If they found out about his despair about this, then in the future it could deliver some problems ...

◊ ◊ ◊

Tatsuya's group returned to Tokyo at 8 pm. The place of return turned out to be the roof of the building in Tofu, on which they met the day on the way to the main house. From the small VTOL, six came out: Tatsuya, Miyuki,

Minami, as well as Katsushige, Kotona and Kanata.

-Tatsuya-sama, on this I have to say goodbye to you.

-Thank you very much, Hanabishi-san.

"These are undeserved words." Please call me Hyougo. Now, I beg your pardon, I will wait for our next meeting.

Tatsuya did not ask Hyougo which meeting he had in mind, but only escaped the departing VTOL.

- Tatsuya-kun, Miyuki-san.

Hearing the voice of Katsushige, Tatsuya turned around. Miyuki looked at Katsushige with caution.

- Have you two heard about this building?

Neither Katsushige, nor Kotona, nor Kanata showed any concern with the suspicion read in Miyuki's glance. Katsushige asked the question in a formal, polite tone.

- I can assume that this is the property of the Yotsuba family, but ...

With a face expressing that the answer is only partially correct, Katsushige nodded at Tatsuya's answer.

-This building was built to move the headquarters of the Yotsuba family to Tokyo.

-Earlier I was wondering if such a plan exists. It seems there is.

"The whole living area will be occupied by Yotsuba's people." The apartments will also be used as temporary accommodation for battles participants.

- Clear. That's why the structure of the building resembles a fortress.

This building was located in the middle of a large undeveloped site. It is not difficult to guess that this site played the role of a "serf trench" and was stuffed with a large number of protective systems.

The office part up to the third floor had absolutely no windows, and its lighting was organized by a fiber-optic structure. Residential areas, located from floors 4 and above, instead of windows for the most part had balconies, so it was difficult to see the interior from outside.

Completely covering the top floor and the roof, the protective fence was installed not to protect it from falls, but to protect it from outside penetration. Instead of the blinds on the windows, armor plates may be provided.

-We too will soon move here.

-It's clear.

Katsushige's words were not unexpected. They did not just build it all. To grant the residence to the next head of the branch family is reasonable in many senses.

"Tatsuya-san, you will also move here."

However, Kotona's words which continued beyond Katsushige, were unexpected.

-But there is nothing to worry about, because a complete replacement of the training equipment is already under way.

"Did she both say that?" - Instead of Tatsuya hovering in surprise, Kotona was asked by Miyuki.

-Yes.

-That's what they asked us to convey. - Following Kotona's nod, Katsushige added, after which these three (including Kanata) entered the building.

Having settled on the couch in the living room at home, Tatsuya and Miyuki first chose the topic of the discussion, which was reported by Katsushige.

- Onii-sama, did you know about this?

The question was expected. Without any hesitation in using Onii-sama's appeal, Miyuki asked Tatsuya about moving. It seems that Tatsuya would become Tatsuya-most definitely, for Miyuki she still needs some time.

-I remember that I heard something about moving to the Yotsuba base in Tokyo. But I did not think that this would happen so soon.

For Tatsuya, this also turned out to be a surprise, which he admitted to Miyuki.

"Perhaps both of us believe it necessary to strengthen our security with you."

- Does this mean that someone has aimed at us?

The face of Minami, who came with tea, became tense.

"Perhaps it is." However, I think this is a preparation for the fact that Yotsuba's people in the future may have more chances of being disturbed.

-Are you thinking about confrontation with the other 27 houses?

-Not only the 27 houses.

"Do ... do you mean a protest against the government?"

According to Miyuki's voice, it was noticeable that she began to lose her composure.

-No. Since the government is not a monolithic structure, it should not become a confrontation with state power. But if this happens, then those who pull the trigger will not be both, uh, and I.

-Onii-sama ...

Tatsuya gently stroked Miyuki's hand, not concealing her anxiety. Feeling Tatsuya's hand, Miyuki's fingers relaxed a little.

-I think that both sides have no intention of a conflict with the Japanese government. But the probability of a conflict with the self-defense forces is not zero.

Miyuki again tensed, hands clenched into fists. With a smile, saying "Everything will be fine," Tatsuya gently stroked Miyuki on the head.

"Do not worry, I will not let it reach a full-scale armed battle."

"... Miyuki is happy to hear that."

Miyuki took advantage of the moment and clung to Tatsuya. Looking at this, Minami did not want to run away this time, as usual, but also felt that the worry was disappearing.

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