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Chapter 1: [Industrial Magic Academy (Makouien) (1)] 

The incident involving the attempted theft of the Artificial Relic at the Stellar Reactor Plant on Miyakijima and at the FLT Laboratory in Machida had been brought to a close in mid-May. 

After being absent from the campus for a long time, Tatsuya was in the cafeteria of the Magic University. 

Next to him at the table sat Miyuki, and across from her was Lina. And, finally, right across from Tatsuya was his friend from high school, Mikihiko, who had just sat down. 

"Tatsuya, it's been a long time, right?" 

Just as Mikihiko had said at the beginning, it had been a long time since he and Tatsuya had seen each other. More specifically, almost two months. 

"Have things finally settled down at the companies?" 

The companies that Mikihiko referred to were both Stellar Generator Inc. and the Magian Company. And, although it wasn't a company, he was probably talking about the Magian Society too. 

Last month, Tatsuya was involved in the establishment of three organizations in a row. Or rather, he was the central figure in all of them. He was the president of the stock company, Stellar Generator Inc., the executive director with representative rights of the general incorporated association, Magian Company, and the vice president of the International NGO 2 , Magian Society. 

Since both Magian Society and Magian Company used the new word "magian" in their names, and the fact that Tatsuya was a member of the executive board of both, they were sometimes misunderstood as affiliated organizations. However, there was no hierarchical relationship or any financial ties between the two organizations. Instead, they merely shared the goal of "Implementing the human rights of those who possessed the magical factor 3 ". 

While Stellar Generator Inc., the company that operates the Thermonuclear Fusion Reactor through Gravity Control-type Magic, aka 'Stellar Reactor' plant, has been the main focus within the general public; Magian Company has been an equally important topic for all of those involved in the magic world, not just for magians. 

"I guess things are sorted out for the time being." 

"It looks like there's still a lot of work to be done." 

"Well, sure. Not limited to the company, but the management of an organization hardly sounds like an easy task." 

Tatsuya lightly shrugged his shoulders at Mikihiko's comment. 

"Yeah, it certainly isn't." 

Mikihiko let out a weak chuckle. Being the second son of the Yoshida family, he was also in charge of managing an organization. Because of that, he knew very well what Tatsuya was talking about. 

"…..By the way, Tatsuya." 

At that point, Mikihiko suddenly lowered his voice. 

"What is it?" 

Although it sounded like there was a hidden meaning behind Mikihiko's words, Tatsuya's tone remained unchanged. 

"Are the rumors true?" 

Mikihiko inquired, keeping his voice low. 

"Rumors?" 

Tatsuya wasn't playing dumb. He was wondering what on earth the rumors were. 

"…..There's a rumor going around that Saegusa-senpai is working at your company." 

"It's true that Saegusa-senpai is working for Magian Company, but…… Why did it end up becoming a rumor?" 

"The eldest daughter of the Saegusa family got a job at a corporation affiliated with the Yotsuba family. Of course it would become a rumor." 

Mikihiko's tone in response to Tatsuya's question was one of dismay, emphasizing the "Of course it would" part. 

"Right, I guess that's true……." 

It indeed might have seemed like an unbelievable turn of events to a third party, Tatsuya thought after hearing Mikihiko's remark. 

"There's been a lot of speculation that the Yotsuba and Saegusa families have finally joined forces, or that the Saegusa family has fallen under the thumb of the Yotsuba family……. So, what's the real story?" 

Tatsuya knitted his brows in response to the irresponsible spreading of rumors. 

"There's no truth behind that. I don't know Saegusa-senpai's true intentions, but I do know how capable she is. That's why we accepted her as an employee. That's all." 

"Haha…… That's right. Even if, by some chance, the Yotsuba family and the Saegusa family form an alliance, there's no way that one can be under the umbrella of the other, right?" 

Tatsuya gave a silent nod to Mikihiko who forced a laugh. 

"What about Yoshida-kun, how are things going on your side?" 

Seeing that the topic had reached an end, or maybe because Tatsuya didn't want Mikihiko to ask any further questions, Miyuki, who was now taking part in the conversation for the first time, asked about something unrelated to the previous topic. 

"Is the digitalization of the charms working out?" 

Although not as much as Tatsuya's, Mikihiko's research was also attracting attention in the magical community as a valuable technology. It was no surprise that it garnered the attention of the students at the Magic University. 

"Thanks to your help, it's progressing little by little. Shibata-san is also a great help." 

"Oh yeah, and how's it going in regards to that?" 

Lina joined the conversation with an ill-intentioned smile on her face. 

"Eh? "that"? What do you mean?" 

"Hoh, are you trying to play dumb? I'm talking about Mizuki. You guys are living together, right?" 

"T-That's not true." 

While he didn't quite so much as jump up from his chair as one would expect, Mikihiko frantically shook his head from side to side in apparent consternation. 

"We're not living together like that, we're just living in the same house!" 

"But you're both still living under one roof, aren't you?" 

Lina pressed the issue with a straight face. There was a glimmer in her eyes, however it was one akin to a cat cornering a mouse. 

"That's because we're living in the same house……. But, even so, we each have our own separate rooms." 

Perhaps Mikihiko himself knew that it would be counterproductive. But he still couldn't help but be worked up about it. 

"That said, don't you two share a bathroom? Didn't you ever, by some chance, enter the bathroom when Mizuki was in there?" 

Lina asked in a nonchalant tone, while keeping a straight face. But, just as before, the light in her eyes betrayed any sort of seriousness in her. 

"T-There's no way that would happen!" 

Mikihiko denied Lina's unjust suspicion, his features turning red as he did so. 

"And what about the other way around? Did Mizuki ever end up in that sort of situation?" 

"The bathrooms at my house are separate for men and women!" 

"……Is that so?" 

The way Lina tilted her head, it wasn't something she did knowingly. Both the words and the gesture were meant as a genuine question. 

"Well, that's not surprising for Mikihiko's house." 

Tatsuya, in contrast, merely nodded his head in agreement. 

Although often misunderstood, Mikihiko's house wasn’t a shrine. It was an ancient-style magic dojo that offered private instruction. There were many disciples who spent the night at the dojo. So the bathrooms must be of a considerable size and separated by gender — even if there was a disproportionate ratio of men to women. 

"Lina, I don't think the kind of accident you're thinking of would happen in real life." 

"Yes, that's right! Lina, you watch too much anime." 

Using Miyuki's chiding remark of confusing reality and fiction, Mikihiko launched a counterattack at Lina. 

"Hey, don't be rude. It's not like I watch that much anime." 


So, you do watch it…….. Mikiko thought that, but didn't say it out loud. 

 

Saegusa Mayumi's employment at Magian Company had become a major topic even outside the university. 

Magian Company was an organization chaired by Miyuki, the actual next head of the Yotsuba family, and regardless of what Tatsuya thought, it was regarded by the rest of the world as an association run by the Yotsuba family. And that's where Mayumi, the eldest daughter of the Saegusa family, got her job. 

Mayumi wasn't the next head of the family like Miyuki, nor did she have any particular role in the Saegusa family. So it wasn’t that surprising that she got a job at a place that had nothing to do with the Saegusa family. 

That being said, the fact that the actual daughter of the current head of the Saegusa family had now joined an organization under the umbrella of their rival, the Yotsuba family, was bound to invite all sorts of speculation. 

Not only the other families from the Ten Master Clans, the eighteen auxiliary families, the Hundred numbered Families, the Magic Association, and other members of the Japanese Magic community, but also the authorities from the National Defense Forces and police, and even the radical groups such as the Humanism movement and the Magic Supremacy Movement, took an even greater interest in Magian Company. 

 

Mayumi was given administrative work related to the opening of the [Industrial Magic Academy]. 

The purpose of the Magian Company was to protect the "human rights" of the magians. By paving the way for people with the Magic Factor to play a more active role in society. Independent of whether they met the current standards of what was considered utilitarian 4 or not. 

To that end, Magian Company's concrete plans involved offering "vocational training" and "job placement". Moreover, the job placement wasn't a business scheme to recruit a wide range of job seekers. The plans were to provide employment opportunities to the magians who had taken the course in the Company's vocational training. In other words, there would be training first. The establishment of the [Specialized Academy of Industrial Magic Technology], or [Industrial Magic Academy] for short, was the first step in achieving this. 

 

During the day in mid-May of the year 2100. 

Tatsuya was flipping through some paperwork at the desktop terminal in the president's office of Stellar Generator Inc. on Miyakijima when a message with an option popped up on the display, and he quickly chose "yes" in response. The message was from Mayumi, asking if it was okay to call him now. 

An icon of an incoming videophone call appeared on the edge of the display. 

After Tatsuya clicked on the icon, the screen switched from showing the quotation. 

[Director, thank you for your time.] 

Mayumi's polite speech wasn't something Tatsuya specifically enforced. It was merely a reflection of her social etiquette. 

[I would like to ask you about one thing regarding Makouien's 5 establishment application.] 

"What is it?" 

Tatsuya prompted Mayumi to continue with a short reply. 

"Who will be the head of the academy?” 

Mayumi then questioned in turn. 

Since Makouien wasn't legally an educational institution, there was no requirement for the name of the head of the academy to be listed on the school's registration form. This was probably a question regarding something like the school brochure or pamphlet. 

Tatsuya had no trouble answering. 

"It hasn't been decided yet." 

He answered simply and honestly. 

[……Really?] 

The look in Mayumi's eyes wasn't one of blame for the lack of a decision; she was looking at Tatsuya from within the screen, questioning whether or not he was telling the truth. She was beyond just "half-doubting". 

This wasn't necessarily a misguided assumption. It was true that it hadn't been decided yet, but Tatsuya had already settled on his first choice. 

"For reference, Saegusa-san, what kind of person do you think would be best?" 

Without revealing his true intentions, Tatsuya reversed their positions and asked her. 

[As the head of the academy, you mean?] 

Mayumi questioned and Tatsuya nodded. 

[Let me see……. I think it would be good to have someone with a good reputation within the magic community. As there are likely to be many people who will try to interfere in various ways.] 

"Like, for example, someone who has experience as an executive in the Magic Association?" 

[No, I think it's better to keep a distance from the Magic Association.] 

Tatsuya's expression as he nodded had a hint of satisfaction on it. 

To Mayumi, on the other end of the call, that expression made her think, "This feels like a test". 

[Also, it would be better to rule out people related to the Yotsuba and Saegusa families as candidates. I think it would be best to invite people from the Numbers, who are considered to be equidistant from both families.] 

That was why Mayumi's following line was somewhat more forceful. 

"I understand." 

Looking at Tatsuya nodding, Mayumi was sure that he had a good candidate of his own for the head of the academy. 

At the same time, she thought to herself, "It doesn't seem like he will answer my question". 

 

"Saegusa-san. What did the Director say about the matter regarding the head of the academy?" 

After the videophone call ended, just after Mayumi exited the communication room and came back to the office, Tookami Ryousuke, who was working with her on the preparations for the opening of the Industrial Magic Academy, asked her this question. 

Ryousuke had just returned from the USNA, more precisely Vancouver, a former Canadian territory, at the end of last month. Upon returning to his home country, he made a beeline to the Magian Company's headquarters office, and after a hard sales pitch, just like a "wife who forced her husband into marriage" — more like an "employee who forced their employer into letting them work" — won a position as an employee. According to his own words at the time, he wanted to join the Magian Company because he sympathized with the principle of "The self-defense of the human rights of the magians", but the truth was different. 

He had infiltrated the Magian Company under orders to determine Tatsuya's true intentions. 

The order was given to him by Rena Fehr, the leader of [FEHR], a political organization based in Vancouver that was dedicated to the protection of the human rights of mageists. And Ryousuke was a member of this FEHR. 

As it turned out, both Tatsuya and Miyuki were aware of this fact. Although Ryousuke thought he had managed to keep it a secret, Tatsuya was suspicious of his relationship with FEHR from the start, and after three days Ryousuke started working for them, he got his confirmation. He kept silent about it as he believed that Ryousuke had some value to him. 

Furthermore, Mayumi was also kept in the dark about Ryousuke's relationship with FEHR. 

"He said it hasn't been decided yet." 

Mayumi didn't tell Ryousuke that Tatsuya seemed to have already narrowed down the list of candidates. That was because it was just an unreliable guess, since Tatsuya didn't explicitly say anything himself. 

"I see…… Then I guess we'll have to put it on hold for now." 

The Industrial Magic Academy was scheduled to open in September. There were less than four months left until then. Even with all the attention that it was garnering, it normally wouldn't be viable as a school without a good amount of student applicants. 

Even if the students were to be attracted to the school via different approaches, it was surely time to make the school guide. Ryousuke had been working on the online pamphlet. That's why Mayumi had asked Tatsuya who was going to be the head of the academy. 

As for why Ryousuke didn't ask Tatsuya directly, it was because Mayumi was closer to Tatsuya than he was. Not because Ryousuke felt he couldn't deal with Tatsuya. At least, that was what Ryousuke thought. 

"But…… What else am I supposed to do?" 

Neither Mayumi nor Ryousuke had any know-how regarding school administration. Fortunately — or perhaps understandably — they weren’t the only ones in Makouien's administration, the two of them were working under the guidance of experts who had been involved in the preparations for the opening of the school, since before the Magian Company was established. 

This was where Ryousuke's poor office skills were made apparent. He was probably an engineer by nature. In addition to that, there was the fact that he had lived in the former Canadian territory of the USNA for the last four years, where he had hardly been exposed to the Japanese language for such a long period of time. 

However, regardless of such circumstances, Ryosuke's lack of skills was still an undeniable fact. Having already received a notification of dismissal from working on paperwork, he had been sent to work on the institute's website. 

"Indeed…… Why don't you go ask Fujibayashi-san about it?" 

After some thought, Mayumi offered this advice to Ryousuke's plea. 

"Ask Fujibayashi-san……?" 

Fujibayashi Kyouko had been sent by the Yotsuba family to work with Tatsuya soon after the Magian Company had been established last month. In a way, she was the first formal employee of the company. 

She didn't have a specific title in relation to the company's administration, but she was effectively Tatsuya's assistant in handling the administrative side of Magian Company. And it was Fujibayashi who told Ryousuke to set up the website. 

"All right." 

Ryousuke thought about Mayumi's suggestion for a moment and then nodded. 





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