Friday, February 8th, 5:57 P.M. As instructed by Katsuto, Tatsuya had come to the front gate of the Magic University.
Tatsuya had returned home and then used public transportation to get there; he had gone out wearing an easy-to-move-in half coat over his tailored jacket. This made Tatsuya look even older than he did wearing his Magic Sigh school uniform. It was well-established in society that Magic University students looked more mature than their regular university counterparts. However, when they were dressed up like this, they looked even more mature than usual.
"Tatsuya-kun."
It was just 5 minutes past the agreed meeting time when Tatsuya was called out to by Mayumi as she came out of the school gate. She was casually dressed, wearing a duffle coat with a knee-length skirt and long boots over a pair of thick tights. Coupled together with how she was carrying her light tote bag with her shoulder, she carried the aura of a university student… If he mentioned this to her though, she would definitely get angry. Standing side by side in their respective outfits, he definitely would be seen as the upperclassman.
"Sorry, have you been waiting long?"
"It was within the margin of error. Don't worry about it."
Mayumi had been out of breath when she asked her question, and Tatsuya responded to her rather frankly.
However, Mayumi seemed quite miffed by his answer.
"Jeez… You're supposed to say ‘It's fine, I just got here too.'"
It seemed like Mayumi had expected to have some kind of casual dialogue with Tatsuya. Unfortunately, he didn't grasp the meaning behind her answer, but Tatsuya didn't hesitate to try and fulfill her request.
"I just got here, too."
However, this still didn't seem to satisfy Mayumi, and she gazed at Tatsuya with unamused eyes.
"By the way, wasn't Juumonji-senpai supposed to be with you?"
Without faltering or panicking, Tatsuya continued the conversation as though nothing was wrong.
Mayumi breathed out a seemingly deliberate sigh.
"…Juumonji-kun has gone ahead to a place where we can talk. I know where it is so just follow me."
Whether she was satisfied or had simply given up was unknown, but Mayumi prompted Tatsuya and then began walking.
Tatsuya immediately walked to her right side and kept pace.
Mayumi had already swapped the tote bag hanging from her right shoulder over to her left shoulder.
She had raised her right hand towards him several times, as if trying to invite Tatsuya, but in the end they simply continued walking without entwining their arms or holding hands.
Mayumi took Tatsuya to a spot which was about a 10-minute walk from the Magic University; it was a regular house that looked stylish at first glance. The only conspicuous aspect of the house was a terrace attached to the roof with a single round table and four chairs.
However, when they went inside, the first floor was revealed to be an empty, small-scale restaurant. Had Katsuto simply reserved the restaurant so that there would be no sign out front, or perhaps this restaurant didn't serve guests without an introduction from an existing customer?
"You can't enter this store without an introduction, which keeps out the riffraff. Also, Juumonji-kun has made many reservations here in the past, so we don't need to worry about the eyes and ears of other guests."
As if reading Tatsuya's thoughts, Mayumi provided an answer to his internal question. It seemed that he was correct on both points.
Leaving the building's external appearance aside, the first floor was a restaurant, so perhaps it was just common sense that Tatsuya kept his shoes on. As Mayumi walked with him, the heels of her boots clicked rhythmically on the floor.
"Sorry we kept you waiting, Juumonji-kun."
"It's fine, I just got here, too."
Tatsuya admired Katsuto's response, delivering the exact line that Mayumi had wanted to hear, but didn't voice his praise. How did he know that was the answer she had been looking for? These two had probably met many times prior to this.
"Sit, if you would."
Without speaking a word of what he had just been thinking about, Tatsuya obeyed Katsuto's suggestion and sat in front of him with a nonchalant look on his face.
Mayumi sat diagonally across from Katsuto; that's to say she sat next to Tatsuya. He didn't think it meant anything, which honestly was only natural as they both entered together side-by-side. It only made sense to sit like this. At least, that was Tatsuya's reasoning process.
Tatsuya's memories of being summoned by Mari and their conversation were still fresh in his mind. He would be lying if he said he was totally unaware that Mayumi liked him. However, to answer the question of whether he could see Mayumi like that, it was "No".
Tatsuya had come to terms with Miyuki's feelings, and had become her fiancé. However, that didn't mean he really accepted Miyuki's feelings.
For him, Miyuki was still his little sister.
Even now, he held no real romantic feelings for her.
Even if he had already decided on how to respond to Miyuki's feelings, his heart still wasn't in the same place.
In terms of romance, Miyuki alone was the absolute limit of Tatsuya's capacity. If he troubled himself with Mayumi, it would become an obstacle to his work. For that reason, Tatsuya had already decided to not even think about having that sort of relationship with Mayumi.
On that topic, the way Mayumi had been conducting herself till now had honestly been a big help for Tatsuya.
Based on how Mari had described things, there was no mistaking the fact she had really riled up Mayumi. Even if he didn't think about the reasons behind it, when he was given a harsh talking to by her, he couldn't help but become aware of it. When it came to inspiring others with agitation, it was much more effective if you hadn't known the other for very long. Tatsuya knew that deliberately winding others up wasn't just a technique for sensual affairs, but also for coercion and placation.
Still, the psychological mechanisms involved were very similar.
With this in mind, Tatsuya had exercised caution, but fortunately, Mayumi had not shown any clear signs of having been affected in such a way. Tatsuya still had no clue as to what she was thinking about, but she couldn't tell what Tatsuya was thinking of, either. They were in the same boat.
"I know this is sudden, but have you learned anything new?"
In response to Katsuto's seemingly impatient question, Tatsuya and Mayumi looked at each other.
As a result of their eye contact, Mayumi spoke first.
"Unfortunately, we don't have any clues that stand out at the moment.
We know that the terrorists came to Japan from America by sea, and based on our estimations, it seems likely that they arrived on land in Yokosuka. However, these are nothing but guesses."
"On our end, we've received some info from the USNA."
Mayumi was surprised at Tatsuya's words and Katsuto displayed a hint of surprise.
"From America? Just who do you have helping you out?"
High-level magicians attempting to leave the country were strictly controlled.
With that in mind, it was rather difficult for magicians to construct an overseas information network without being attached to a government agency. Among the Ten Master Clans, only the Mitsuya Family was an exception, due to their ability to obtain information while conducting transactions with weapons dealers. Mayumi and Katsuto had no recollection of the Yotsuba Family having overseas information sources.
"Well, it's complicated."
"…Sounds like it's something we shouldn't ask about. Sorry."
Realizing Tatsuya had deliberately been ambiguous, Mayumi lowered her head in embarrassment. Even if Tatsuya wasn't her equal as a member of the Ten Master Clans, attempting to pry into someone else's secrets was not praiseworthy behavior.
Tatsuya responded to Mayumi's apology with a short "No problem"
without any further mention.
"According to the data, our terrorist mastermind is a magician named Gu Jie, formerly from Dahan. His English name is "Jiedo Heigu."
Externally, he appears to be in his 50s, with black skin and white hair.
Unfortunately, this data's authenticity cannot be verified."
Maya had also authorized the sharing of info related to Gu Jie with Katsuto and company. Tatsuya hadn't sought her permission to share this information, rather, she had directed him to do so. This would let the Saegusa Family start investigating him as well.
"There may be no proof, but considering our current state with no leads, it's useful information. Saegusa."
"Yes. We can use this information to pick out suspicious foreigners who have entered the country in the past two weeks."
Mayumi caught Katsuto's gaze and nodded.
"However, it is possible that they secretly entered the country."
"That's most likely the case. Even so, when someone makes movements like this, they always leave traces behind. If we narrow our investigation to the region between Yokosuka and Hakone, I expect we'll be able to find some clues. We can also get the local police to assist us as well."
The Chiba Family wielded the most sway over the police. At one point in time, it was commonly said that the Chiba Family accounted for around half of the people seeking to become magic policemen, especially riot squad members. However, in terms of the investigative branch of the Kant? region, the Saegusa Family reigned supreme.
Though all of that was irrelevant, as this was a massive incident. Even if they weren't ordered by a third party, it was only common sense that the police would be frantically searching for the culprit. They would be chomping at the bit for even the most trivial of clues.
And for Katsuto, that was something he understood without needing an explanation.
"I see. Then I'll trust you to take steps in that direction, Saegusa. As for you Shiba, please continue gathering clues."
"Alright, that sounds good."
"Understood."
The three of them looked at each other in unison and nodded.
"Any proposals from you two? If you have anything you'd like to ask, as well."
Tatsuya and Mayumi had no particular response to Katsuto's inquiry.
Katsuto nodded.
"What do you two feel like eating? If you've got an appetite, I can have them prepare something for you right away."
He posed this question to the two of them.
"Sorry, I'll be eating dinner at home."
Tatsuya turned him down on his offer first.
"…I'll pass for now as well. Maybe I'll let you treat me tomorrow."
Mayumi said so in an apologetic tone as she snuck a glance at Tatsuya.
"Okay, then. Then, you don't mind meeting again at this time tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
"Understood. If something comes up, then I will let you know."
Tatsuya supposed that "something" meant that Katsuto might be working late into the night on the investigation. Perhaps he knew something, or perhaps he was holding back some details about his personal life, Tatsuya didn't press Katsuto for the details.
"Umm. I've got another business meeting after this. Shiba, do you mind taking Saegusa home?
Katsuto said so suddenly, although it wasn't likely that he meant for Tatsuya to go as a substitute for himself.
"H-huh!? No really, I'm fine."
Mayumi refused Katsuto's suggestion with a flustered face. If you were looking from the Magic University, this restaurant was on the opposite side of the train station. If they were to walk together now they might be seen by university acquaintances and become the subject of rumors.
"It's already getting dark outside. I'm not doubting Saegusa's ability to protect herself, but we don't know where the terrorists could be hiding.
There's a possibility you might be targeted, so I can't permit a woman to walk home alone.
However, with the possibility that they might become targets for terrorists pointed out, it was hard to muster a counterargument. For this reason, Mayumi felt that her obstinate refusal just because of Tatsuya was all the more embarrassing.
"Saegusa-senpai. I'll take you home."
Katsuto had given Mayumi no way out, and Tatsuya's words cemented the result.
"…Alright then, if you would. I'll see you tomorrow Juumonji-kun."
"Yeah. Be careful going home."
Katsuto sent them off with those words, and Mayumi and Tatsuya departed from the restaurant together.
It was about 10 minutes from the restaurant to the Magic University.
Then, another 10 minutes from the University to the Cabinet Station.
The sky was completely dark, with no moonlight or starlight to speak of.
But, thanks to the streetlights, they didn't have to worry about not being able to see where they were walking. Still, visibility was severely limited when compared to this afternoon, so Mayumi's pace naturally became slower.
This kind of darkness was no obstacle for Tatsuya. He didn't take off and leave Mayumi behind, or start dragging her by the hand in a hurry, nothing like that. He simply matched her pace and walked alongside her.
There was nothing but silence between the two. Tatsuya had nothing to break the ice, and he understood that Mayumi was uncomfortable walking next to him.
"Ah…"
Just like that, they had come to the front of the University, and Mayumi suddenly raised her voice.
"It's snowing…"
Mayumi had stopped, looking up into the sky. As though her voice had been the signal, snowflakes were now fluttering down from the night sky, twinkling faintly in the city lights.
From a holder inside his coat, Tatsuya took out a thinly folded umbrella as well as the umbrella's separated handle. Due to improvements in raw materials, this umbrella was so thin that it could be kept inside a coat without becoming a nuisance; the shaft for the umbrella was so slim that it was difficult to hold by itself, which meant that when you opened it, you had to attach a handle to it. (Many such folding umbrellas featured switches on the handle that opened the umbrella.) Tatsuya opened his umbrella and looked next to him; Mayumi was still staring up at the sky as the snow fell.
"Saegusa-senpai, you should probably get out your umbrella."
Mayumi turned at the sound of Tatsuya's voice and gave him a mischievous smile.
"…You didn't bring an umbrella?"
Mayumi shifted her eyes back and forth while still smiling.
Tatsuya had to consciously stop himself from sighing. In a modern era in which weather reports had become highly accurate, he didn't think that there were people who ignored the precipitation forecasts.
"Did you not check the weather forecast before you left today, or something…?"
"I was in a hurry this morning…"
Mayumi was wearing a grin as though she were bonking her own head for her carelessness.
Tatsuya held out his own umbrella to her.
"Please use it."
"Ah, err, I'm fine really."
Mayumi had become flustered and couldn't answer naturally.
"It's just snow, not rain, and it's not even coming down that hard, so…"
"Yes. It's not coming down hard, which means that I'll be fine without an umbrella. Please use it, senpai."
"Umm, but…"
"If by some chance I end up letting you catch a cold, I'll be on the receiving end of a punch from Juumonji-senpai."
Mayumi let a chuckle slip at Tatsuya's seriousness as he offered her the umbrella.
"I don't think Juumonji-kun would resort to that sort of violence, but…"
Mayumi said so as she reached out to take the umbrella, but she didn't just take it from Tatsuya, she met his right hand with her left hand. She stayed just like that, with her body so close to Tatsuya that their shoulders could touch.
"Well, shall we go in together?"
An oncoming car passed Tatsuya on his left side. The sidewalk was wide enough so there was no danger. But for just an instant, the car's headlights lit up Mayumi's happy face, and made it stand out.
Her smile was like that of an innocent child.
"…Understood."
Still smiling, Mayumi released her left hand from Tatsuya's right hand.
Tatsuya leaned his umbrella to the right, in Mayumi's direction.
Tatsuya took Mayumi as far as he could on his personal scooter. He originally intended to drop her off at her house, but when Mayumi had offered "Wanna come to my house? My family won't mind" with no warning or coercion in her voice, Tatsuya was left with no option but to quickly change plans.
As Tatsuya returned home, Miyuki was waiting for him in the entrance as usual. When she helped Tatsuya out of his half-coat, she caught the faintest hint of Mayumi's perfume which caused her to raise her eyebrows—but she said nothing. She didn't even pout or make a joke about it.
Ever since New Year's, she had become timid around Tatsuya.
She hadn't willfully changed her behavior, but there was no way she could simply continue acting as just Tatsuya's little sister.
Even when she was just merely Tatsuya's little sister, she never wanted to be disliked by him.
As his little sister, she had no sense of overhanging crisis. Now that things had changed between them, it came out in full force.
What if Tatsuya disliked her? The mere thought made her chest hurt.
What would happen if she got jealous or mad at him and caused him to get angry, or if she pushed him too far? The images that assaulted her mind made her blood run ice-cold.
If she were his little sister, even if she were disliked, she was still family.
The bond between brother and sister couldn't be cut.
But an engagement could be called off if one side came to dislike the other.
She'd lose her status as his fiancée, which she had worked hard to achieve. That was a nightmare that Miyuki couldn't bear. It wouldn't simply be "difficult to bear", she knew that she wouldn't be able to deal with it. She thought she'd never be able to get him back again, so she couldn't let him go. If she were abandoned by Tatsuya, Miyuki truly believed that she wouldn't be able to go on living.
"Did anything happen while I was out?"
Tatsuya had been facing away from her while having his coat taken off, and he now faced Miyuki to ask her a question.
"A message from Hayama came. I think we should talk about it over dinner, would that be alright?"
Miyuki responded with a smile that completely concealed her internal unease.
Minami joined them for a dinner for three, and Miyuki explained the contents of the phone call from Hayama to Tatsuya.
"Kamakura?"
"Yes. In the Imperial Mausoleum area of Nishigaoka in Kamakura, there is a hideout that Zhou Gongjin bought under a fake name. It's suspected that Gu Jie is hiding there."
"So they know that much already…"
He was curious about how they had identified this specific location.
More importantly, if they knew this much, then why weren't they moving to arrest him?
"Onii-sama, is there something you're unsure about?"
Miyuki questioned him, reading the subtle change in Tatsuya's facial expression.
"Ah, no, just planning out how to handle this."
Tatsuya couldn't just reveal his doubts. If he told Miyuki, it would sound like he was blaming her for not confirming the situation thoroughly.
Tatsuya himself didn't feel that way, but Miyuki would no doubt assume he meant it like that.
Tatsuya had realized that Miyuki had become terribly nervous, to the point that her facial expression was changing in response to every word he said. He was wondering that his little sister could possibly be so afraid of. However, there was nothing he could do to assuage her at the moment. He still couldn't whisper the words she wanted to hear into her ear.
"Let's consult Hayama-san about their battle plan for this later."
With that, Tatsuya brought the discussion to a close.
At about the same time, Gu Jie had been preparing to leave his hideout in Kamakura.
He had been using Hli?skjálf and happened to intercept a transmission regarding the Hakone Incident, and that the mastermind was hiding in Kamakura. The actual address obtained in the intercepted data was incorrect, but it was still in the general area. If he lingered any longer, he would definitely be caught with no hope of escaping. Gu Jie knew that his time was short, but he had no intent of blowing himself out of desperation.
He was unaware his location was going to be compromised through his use of Hli?skjálf. Gu Jie had been careful to omit his position in outgoing transmissions and queries, so he felt intense unease regarding the capabilities of his enemies. If he didn't know how they operated, it was impossible to prepare countermeasures.
If he limited his search to Kuroba Mitsugu's outgoing transmissions, it was possible he could find some past data mentioning the location. But if his search terms were too specific, it might become obvious that Gu Jie himself was a Hli?skjálf operator.
No. Gu Jie thought it over again. Even if he was detected by another operator through Hli?skjálf, it was irrelevant. He knew he had little time left regardless, and if someone in charge of intelligence control noticed an unknown operator in the system, it would be a little damaging for the Yotsuba.
But he had no time to do that at the moment. His first priority was escaping without being noticed. This hideout had been prepared in advance so that his traces would be erased to the utmost degree, and to increase the tracking difficulty, he also had minimal luggage. Gu Jie stepped out onto the snowy night road, and used his five senses on top of his extrasensory awareness to conduct a full sweep of his surroundings.
Nobody else was around.
"I'll be leaving the greeting of our guests to you."
Gu Jie left those orders to his newly-created doll and headed to his next hideout.
USA West Coast, local time, February 8th, 07:00 A.M. Raymond Clark wolfed down his breakfast, put on his Hli?skjálf terminal, and started investigating the terrorist incident that had occurred in Hakone, Japan.
Although he was "investigating", he already knew the "truth of the incident" from the start—well actually, he knew it from the preparatory stages of the incident. What Raymond really wanted to know about was the "hero" who had led the incident to its resolution.
If there were no incidents, there were no heroes.
For that precise reason, he had given no information about how the incident could have been stopped preemptively.
There was no fun in chasing off the bad guy and ending the incident without a grand finale.
That's why, when the investigation reached a dead end, he had supported the "hero" by providing and controlling information. Dropping hints on how to resolve the incident just before the bad guy got away somehow made him feel like a big shot. This was Raymond's favorite game to play.
Raymond looked over the previous day's events and knit his eyebrows.
The present investigation was not proceeding in a direction that suited his tastes. The perpetrator had obtained info from Hli?skjálf and was using that to evade detection from the "hero's" side. This seemed like foul play to Raymond.
Of course, he understood that Jiedo Heigu had used Hli?skjálf to stop the Yotsuba from determining his exact location. As a result, it was unknown whether he had managed to escape from his hideout successfully or not. However, the fact itself that Heigu had accessed Hli?skjálf to obtain data he shouldn't know about was intolerable for Raymond.
Raymond had thought of Hli?skjálf as a tool for use by the "scenario-writer" and the "director" of the story. It had been a "behind-the-scenes"
tool used for constructing the stage, and if someone in the play gained access, it would create an imbalance of information between the actors and cause his play to fall apart. This was a rule violation that he absolutely could not tolerate as a spectator, nor as a "staff" member.
As long as Heigu remained the villain, it wasn't an issue if he used Hli?skjálf. But Heigu had stepped up onto the stage like this, which meant that Raymond could not allow him to continue using Hli?skjálf as a tool to disrupt the play.
True to the name that Raymond used, "Seven Sages" there were seven Hli?skjálf operators. However, among the seven operators, Raymond was the only person who used that name. Raymond, the singular ‘Seven Sages', decided that he'd submit a request to Hli?skjálf's administrator that only he knew about to have Heigu's account deleted.
Saturday, February 9th, before dawn.
With more than two hours before the sun would rise, Tatsuya set out in the pitch black darkness on his motorcycle, and headed for Kamakura.
Zooming around on his favorite motorcycle, before 5 A.M., he was traversing the hilly western area of Kamakura, then arrived at the villa district where Gu Jie was hiding.
There stood a shadow that was too tall for a woman and too short for a man, wearing big sunglasses despite the sun not having risen yet, a large cap pulled down over their eyes, and a scarf wrapped all the way up to the nose.
As a result of all this outerwear, it was difficult to discern whether it was actually male or female. But for Tatsuya, he didn't care about the gender.
He took his right glove off and stuck it deep in his coat pocket, and with his left hand took out his information terminal, showing her the screen.
Mirroring Tatsuya, the woman exposed her right hand to the chilly air and took out her own terminal.
At the same time, both of them used their index fingers to press on the opposite person's information terminal.
The built-in finger scanners activated and the terminals read their fingerprints.
The two nodded at each other simultaneously and put away their terminals, putting their gloves back on.
"Lead the way, if you will."
"This way."
With a nod to Tatsuya, Yoshimi took the lead and began walking.
Tatsuya left his bike behind and followed behind her.
Yoshimi stopped in front of one of the villas. There were no human presences in the vicinity, but she knew it was surrounded by a Yotsuba Family task force. This method of concealment was totally different than what a Kuroba Family combatant would use. She couldn't put her finger on it, but it was certainly a member of a different family. She didn't sense the "existence" of Tsukuba Yuuka or Shibata Katsushige, so that meant that it was either a Mashiba Family, Shiiba Family, Mugura Family, or a Shizuka Family member.
Well, that didn't matter right now. She would clear up her doubts from last night right here and now.
The family that had located this hidden villa was the Kuroba Family.
However, due to some circumstances, the duty of sieging it had fallen to another Branch Family.
Gu Jie was said to use corpse manipulation magic. This wasn't done by controlling an implanted Spirit Being; it was a technique that directly controlled the body after death.
Mental Interference Magic had no effect on mindless corpses, and because corpses felt no pain, Kuroba Mitsugu's subordinates' specialty, "Poisoned Bees", was useless. Thus, it was only logical that the Kuroba Family would be excluded at the combat stage of the plan.
The single Kuroba Family member included in the operation, Yoshimi, had found what she thought to be a clue when she was chasing someone.
"This, right? The house number looks wrong to me."
"Wrong number."
Under her muffler, Yoshimi grumbled restlessly. Her lack of words had been deliberate; she had been told to leave as few traces behind as possible. She did not know if that was part of her preparation as a spy, or if it was simply a taboo imposed upon those instructed in special magic's. Tatsuya wasn't particularly well-acquainted with her so he didn't pay it any mind.
Tatsuya drew his Trident and directed his Elemental Sight towards the inside of the hideout.
There were three human-shaped beings.
Not corpses. Living humans.
However, they were not just mere humans——
"All hands, heat resistant, anti-magic defenses!"
shouted Tatsuya as he pulled the trigger on his handgun-shaped CAD.
The Magic Sequence targeting Tatsuya and Yoshimi dispersed.
At the same moment, the hideout burst into flames.
Tatsuya activated the cast for "Leap" and flew backward a large distance.
Without a moment's hesitation, he spoke in a strong tone to Yoshimi, who had leaped further back than him.
"Gu Jie isn't here. What's inside are three ‘Generators'."
Their ambush had been performed on three reinforced Magicians called "Generators." This meant that their plan had been somehow leaked.
However, Tatsuya and Yoshimi did not waste time with doubts about the operation or questioning the means by which the information was leaked.
"Leave the corpses intact, please."
This was the only request that Yoshimi made of Tatsuya. If the corpses were hit with Mist Dispersion, she wouldn't be able to get even the slightest clue about the magic involved.
At the same time, that didn't mean they had to be left alive. Which meant a drastic decrease in the difficulty of the battle. It was a happy request for Tatsuya, who made very few exceptions for murderers.
"Stay back. I'll handle this myself."
With a nod, Yoshimi jumped back even further. At the same moment the Branch Families gradually stopped their advance.
Something from within the blazing hideout was emitting magic. It was an "Ignition" Sequence. There had been no expansion of the Activation Sequence.
(Similar to a psychic, was it a generator specialized in a particular ability?)
As Tatsuya guessed at the true identity of the enemy, his allies stealthily moved towards the bushes and houses to analyze the "Ignition" Magic Sequence.
No matter how unpopular this time of the morning was, just this incident was enough to bring out the firefighters. Although there were plenty of unoccupied villas, there could be no mistake about the neighbors popping their heads out to look at the unfolding scene.
It took almost no time at all.
Tatsuya aimed his silver CAD Trident at the blazing house and activated Mist Dispersion.
He couldn't safely put the fire out using his "Decomposition."
Even if he decomposed the house, the flammable materials would all be exposed at once and result in an explosive blaze. Perhaps he could use the fire's combustion to use up all the oxygen to put it out, but if something went wrong it would create a shockwave that would inflict great damage on the nearby houses. In case of an oxygen shortage, it would probably end badly for Tatsuya as well.
So, he didn't target the whole house. The target of his decomposition was the pillar holding up the roof.
The blazing hideout collapsed in on itself as though it were being squashed.
The house had been reduced to rubble, and the flames suddenly vanished.
That wasn't surprising. It was fairly normal for magicians who excelled at fire-creation magic to also be proficient in fire-extinguishing magic as well. Whoever was emitting the ignition magic from inside the burning house had probably been wearing fireproof equipment, but even with that, it would have been impossible for them to remain in direct contact with the radial and convection heat of the flames for a long period of time.
Three human shadows pushed aside the rubble and stood.
The fireproof-armor-clad generators faced Tatsuya and fired "Ignition"
at him all at once.
The Magic Sequences coiling around Tatsuya were projected in his field of vision.
Faster than the Magic Sequence could display its effectiveness, Tatsuya released Psions to counteract them.
The compression had been insufficient, but the combat-activated Psions acted in the same manner as Gram Demolition and easily blew away the Magic Sequences. It was a raw display of just how many Psions Tatsuya held.
Without so much as a pose, Tatsuya fired his Trident, which incorporated three consecutive Decomposition magic's.
The Event Interference "space" that the Generators had expanded crumbled away.
The information-reinforced armor that the Generators wore to protect themselves was blown away.
And finally, a round hole was opened in each of the Generator's chests.
The blood trickling from the holes had no force behind it.
And then Tatsuya pulled the trigger a second time.
The three generators, having had their hearts blown away, collapsed facing upward.
With his CAD still raised, Tatsuya drew closer to the rubble, stopping just one step away from it.
Yoshimi came running up behind Tatsuya, who was still looking down at the corpses. Her movements were graceful and swift, despite her seemingly unwieldy clothing that did not suit her real size.
Not just Yoshimi, either; the branch families who had concealed themselves slowly came out of their hiding spots.
The wailing of a faraway fire engine grew closer. The fire had already been extinguished. But that didn't mean that the fire engine would suddenly do a U-turn. They had to handle the removal of the rubble, as well.
Going past Tatsuya, Yoshimi stepped over the rubble, which had not only been extinguished but had all the heat removed from it, drawing closer to the corpses. The other squad members also gathered to guard over the remaining corpses.
Lingering over the now-prone Generators was a faint twinkling of Psion light.
The activation of a delayed-activation Magic Sequence. The key for its activation was most likely the death of the Sequence's target.
Tatsuya immediately raised the CAD in his right hand.
The heartless Generators sprung to their feet and immediately assaulted anyone in range. Yoshimi was one of the targets.
——A technique that converted corpses into puppets, Necromancy.
Yoshimi reflexively attempted to retreat backwards but her foot caught on the rubble and she tumbled over.
Evasion-type magic would not make it in time.
Tatsuya pointed the CAD at the corpse assaulting Yoshimi and squeezed the trigger.
——Gram Demolition, the magic that erases the information body itself.
The Psion light within the Generators dispersed and vanished.
The three Generators fell over onto the rubble once more, their arms still raised up overhead.
The puppets had been returned to corpses once more.
"Thank you… very much."
As she looked back, Yoshimi's facial expression could not be seen under her sunglasses and muffler, but her shaky voice was a mix of relief and gratitude.
"It should be safe now."
Yoshimi nodded at Tatsuya, then turned to the squad members and ordered them to take the corpses away.
Tatsuya left Yoshimi and the others to do their work, then found his favorite scooter and left the area.
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