◇ ◇ ◇
It was 2 A.M. on the morning of the 24th when Mikihiko sensed that something was wrong.
(When even the trees and plants are asleep… Very traditional, just as promised.)
Naturally, Mikihiko, who at this hour was sitting in full attire in front of a gomadan cast on fire, probably could hardly blame others. Because it was at this hour that he anticipated the sorcery attack would take place.
Mikihiko's family ── the Yoshida Family, was often seen as adept in Shintoism from the perspective of magicians from outside. From their point of view, the image of Mikihiko sitting in front of a gomadan may seem a little far-fetched. Despite the Japanese tradition of Shinto-Buddhism syncretism, the gomaike was still a strictly Buddhist practice. The gomadan Mikihiko was sitting in front of clearly followed Esoteric Buddhist principles.
However, any discomfort derivative of such was mainly due to a mistaken notion of the Yoshida Family's magic. The Yoshida Family with a complete disregard for which religion, what sect, or, well, even if what religious basis, had voraciously amalgamated a wide variety of magic into a single consolidated magic system. Shintoism was nothing more than the one with the most relative density among them.
The same goes for this gomaike being used as the countermeasure against hex’s, it wasn’t something borrowed, it was part of the Yoshida Family magic.
(And sure enough, the targets are Shibata-san and Erika…)
Mizuki and Erika had been staying at Mikihiko's house for the past few days. Ever since Tatsuya's warning, they have been staying in the female dormitory reserved for pupils for protection. This was why he was able to detect the hex so readily.
(I'll not stand for this. I'll never forgive you for even trying to target Shibata-san.)
"Namaḥ samanta-buddhānāṃ agnaye svāhā"
The words chanted by Mikihiko were the mantra of Agni of the Celestial Fire .
"oṃ śrimali mamali mali śuśri svāhā"
Next, he chanted the mantra of Ucchusma, one of The Five Wisdom Kings in Tendai Esoteric Buddhism, which purges the impurity by means of purifying fire. He had chosen this anti-hex magic upon learning that the sorcerer was an Ancient Magician that follows the principles of the Tendai sect of Esoteric Buddhism.
No doubt a formally qualified Esoteric Buddhist monk would either scowl or scoff at the patchwork of an Art that it was. But Mikihiko and the Yoshida Family didn't care about that. They only cared about how effective it was, and respected the style.
The fire on the Gomadan flared with particular ferocity.
Without a moment’s delay, Mikihiko threw a small copper mirror with a charm inscribed on the back ── not a blue one ── into the flames.
"Kakemakumokashikoki Izanaginoohokami tsukushinohimukanotachibananowodonoahagiharani misonogiharahetamahishitokini…" And now, he was reciting the Norito .
The temperature of the gomadan was nowhere near the copper's melting point of 1,000° Celsius.
Nevertheless, the charm inscribed on the copper mirror, which was engulfed in the flames, disappeared in the blink of an eye.
And, at the same time, a sorcerer, tucked away in a shabby cottage on the outskirts of the Greater Tokyo Area, collapsed in a heap of cries of pain.
However, this person didn't really die, he just fainted.
◇ ◇ ◇
June 24th, at the National Magic University campus.
"Miyuki, Lina."
A voice called out from behind Miyuki and Lina as they walked to the student cafeteria after the end of their morning lecture.
"Oh, Erika."
As the two turned around, they saw Erika running up to them, giving them a brief wave.
"Are you having lunch now? Mind if I join you?"
"Yes, sure."
Although they hadn't had many chances to catch up recently, they had been friends since their first year of high school. Miyuki had no reason to refuse.
"I also don't mind at all."
Lina nodded, and the three of them headed to the cafeteria together.
The three of them sat around a table and exchanged some harmless chit-chat as they moved their chopsticks around.
"…By the way, Erika. Is there something you wanted to talk about?" And near the end of lunch, Lina asked Erika.
"Oh, you found out, huh?"
Erika gave a smile, as if to say "you got me there."
"I've set up a sound barrier."
Miyuki said, encouraging Erika to talk.
Erika wasn’t one to shy away from this much of a stage set up for her.
"Okay, I'll tell you. I need you to pass this on to Tatsuya-kun. Mizuki and I almost got cursed last night."
Miyuki and Lina gasped at the same time.
But, rather than being a reaction out of shock at the sudden bad news, the expressions on the faces of the two of them seemed to convey more of a "finally" or "It finally happened" aspect.
"Luckily, though, Miki noticed right away and nothing really happened anyway." Erika then added, slightly easing the two’s tension. "I see… So they ignored Tatsuya's warning. Those idiots." Lina muttered in a pitying tone.
"So you both knew about it."
Erika asked with a "I knew it" look on her face.
"I'll be sure to pass it on to Tatsuya-sama."
Instead of responding to Erika's question, Miyuki gave her word that she’d make sure to "pass it on."
"I'm sorry for this. We'll put a stop to it right away." And then added, with a far too serene expression.
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