Chapter 8
There was a big change in the situation surrounding Tatsuya on Thursday.
At the Center for the Development of Magic for the Indo-Persian Union, Hyderabad University, located in the former South India, the leading figure of this university in the field of magic engineering, known as the designer of the Strategic Class Magic "Agni Downburst", the female scientist Asha Chandrasekhar was holding a press conference.
"... For these reasons, we do not support the USNA’s project for the development of Venus, but we do support the Japanese fusion reactor project."
Dr. Chandrasekhar announced that they supported Tatsuya’s Project ESCAPES instead of Project Dione. Until this moment, the Indo-Persian Federation had not revealed their stance on Project Dione.
Despite the fact that it was not an official message from the government, and only a press conference held by one scientist, the rejection of Project Dione was a big surprise for the rest of the country.
Moreover, the reason for this rejection was that they wanted to support the building of an energy plant, which was not a national project yet but only a simple private business project, which was announced by a young Japanese.
Tatsuya’s Project ESCAPES attracted the attention of the whole world before its official name was even defined.
"...That is, you say that the Turkish Government believes that USNA should not force other countries to participate in their space exploration project?"
The day after the press conference of Dr. Asha Chandrasekhar, the TV
channel opposing the USNA televised an interview to the whole world.
An interview with Ali Shaheen, the Turkish "Apostle".
This interview was shown all day on the television networks of North America and western Europe.
"This is not the government's opinion. It is my personal opinion that the use of magic for peaceful purposes should be decided by the individual and not be forced upon them."
In this interview Shaheen expressed his negative opinion about Project Dione.
"For example, recently in Japan, an innovative project was announced that used the Stellar Furnace."
"Do you mean the project that Dr. Chandrasekhar from the Indo-Persian Union also mentioned yesterday?"
"Yes. I don't know if you know or not, but the fusion reactor using Gravitational Control will solve one of the Three Great Puzzles of Weight Systematic Magic. The young man named Shiba Tatsuya does not only use this project to achieve his goals, but also tries to achieve peaceful use of magic."
"This is a rather ambitious project."
"Yes, I think so too. I wonder if a trend of peaceful use of magic will spread around the world? I believe that Project Dione is a wonderful project, but I think they should refrain from behavior that can limit other potential possibilities."
Since Ali Shaheen's speech was not as intrusive as the press conference of Dr. Chandrasekhar, it was seen more by the people from America and Europe.
"I know what Shaheen is up to."
An Official State recognized Strategic Class Magician of the New Soviet Union, one of the "Thirteen apostles", Lieutenant General Leonid Kondrachenko appeared on the screen and squeezed his lips with strong aversion.
"...This boy wants to prevent further cooperation between our country and America."
Ali Shaheen is 30 years old. For Kondratenko, who is already over 70, he was undoubtedly a "boy".
"That's why Shaheen wants to stop Project Dione, by showing his negative impression of it. This is because our country has cooperated with America for this project. And this boy wants to ruin it."
"...Is it possible that Shaheen acts spurred Japan on?" Igor asked. His own investigation has not revealed any influence of Shaheen on Japan, nor any latent connection between them in this case. But Igor thought that Kondrachenko, who was in the same position as Shaheen, could know some circumstances that he did not know himself.
"No." Kondrachenko clearly defined his answer. "If someone that wasn’t in Turkey came into contact with Shaheen, I would have known about it. This time, he came up with this idea himself."
"Wasn't it a convenient time to do that?"
"After you, the doctor, announced your cooperation with Project Dione, Shaheen had some time to look for things that could prevent this project.
If our country and America unite efforts, it will be the worst nightmare for him."
"So, the reason that he announced this was Shiba Tatsuya’s project of a plant with a Stellar Furnace?"
"Right. For Shaheen, this was like finding a well in the wilderness. And he jumped with glee."
"But he did not immediately understand whether it was possible to drink the water from this well. This explains the delay of a few days before he took action."
"The decision to use Shiba Tatsuya’s project took a maximum of 2-3
days. After that he was preparing his interview, and came to an agreement with the American TV companies. That's how it really happened."
Igor did not object to the assumption made by Kondrachenko. Albeit with minor differences, he thought about the same.
"By the way, doctor. What do you intend to do? I don't think we can rely on Edward Clark anymore."
"Really..."
He also agreed with Kondrachenko. Igor came to this conclusion when Edward Clark had failed in the act of trying to use the international public opinion.
"I'm going back to Vladivostok right now. This time I'm going to take
'Player' *."
[The author uses the Russian word "Player" in the original text. Why this is, is discussed next.]
"Does that mean?"
"Yes. We can no longer overlook that Strategic Class Magic, which at any time can bear its fangs towards our country."
"Oh... I pray for your success."
When Igor said he was taking "Player". The eyes of Kondrachenko, knowing the meaning of these words, shone.
On Saturday, it started to rain around noon.
However, in Miyuki’s head it was sunny. After returning home from school, her next destination was the villa in Izu, where Tatsuya lived.
She got permission from Tatsuya to come for a sleepover.
Minami was heavily strained by the blissful behavior of her mistress.
Instead of the mistress, who lacked a sense of caution, it was natural to watch the environment with caution for her sense of duty. And for some reason, from the moment they left the house, they were constantly haunted by some kind of unpleasant premonition.
Minami told herself that she was thinking about it too much. Moderate stress is good for a bodyguard, but if it exceeds a certain level, the effect will be reversed. Besides, where they're going, there's Tatsuya.
With him nearby, Miyuki’s safety will be guaranteed. Minami’s power will not be needed...
No matter what Minami told herself, her anxiety did not disappear. But she could not understand the cause for concern.
They reached Izu before sunset, but the surrounding area was completely dark because of the rain and fog.
It was a terrible situation when the naked eye could not see further than 10 meters, but the automated driving system and the high-precision positioning system helped even in such adverse conditions. But sitting in the driver seat was Hanabishi Hyougo, who could probably still drive well even under these circumstances.
The car with Miyuki and Minami arrived at Tatsuya’s villa without almost any delay.
"Hanabishi-san, good job."
Tatsuya, who came out to meet them under an umbrella, first of all thanked Hyougo who came out of the car.
"Thanks."
On the answering Hyougo’s face one could barely discern the curved smile, that appeared, perhaps, because of the feeling that someone stole some of his work. Guilty of stealing the work of Hyougo, Tatsuya did not care that he was getting wet himself, he opened the back door and positioned the umbrella so that Miyuki would not get wet. It was Minami, who got down from the front passenger seat, and ahead of Hyogo, walked around the car.
"Miyuki, you're here. Minami too, good work."
"Onii-sama, I'm sorry about the intrusion."
Oblivious to the look of Hyougo, Miyuki opened her umbrella and elegantly greeted Tatsuya. Minami silently bowed to Tatsuya and went to help Hyougo carry luggage from the car. However, out of the building soon came a self-propelled trolley with a roof, and took even the work of these two.
"Miyuki, Minami, get inside first."
Tatsuya sent two girls inside, and he spoke to Hyougo.
"Hanabishi-san, did you want to tell me something?"
"No, I'm not assigned to give you anything today. Just take care of Miyuki-sama."
"Does that mean there's no traffic anywhere?"
"It does, if we are talking about the situation inside the country."
Tatsuya slightly frowned his eyebrows from Hyougo’s manner of speech, clearly having a hidden meaning.
"So there is movement in other countries?"
"I dare to assume that Tatsuya-sama has already heard about the press conference of Dr. Chandrasekhar and about Shaheen's interview."
"Yes, I know."
The conversation prolonged the time standing in the rain, but neither Tatsuya nor Hyougo was bothered about it.
"However, there was no response from the USNA or the New Soviet Union."
"Do you mean that this is quite unnatural?"
"As you say."
"I got it... I will just have to be on guard and be on the lookout."
"We will try to continue to collect information."
Hanabishi Hyougo had his own information route associated with his practice in the British PMCs. At the moment, Tatsuya was not in touch with the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion, so Hyougo was his most reliable acquaintance through which he could explore the activities of other countries.
"I am in your care."
"As you wish. In that case, I'm saying goodbye to you for today."
Hyougo politely bowed, dried his clothes soaked from the rain with magic, and sat down on the driver's seat.
When Tatsuya returned inside the villa, a number of cups of hot coffee were already on the table in the living room. To the deep discontent of Minami, Pixie prepared them.
Instead of changing, Miyuki and Minami quickly drank their coffee to get warm, then left to change clothes.
They went "together" because Minami expressed her intentions of taking care of Miyuki.
Returning to the living room, Miyuki was dressed in a comfortable integral dress in the form of the letter T. Along with the mysterious elegance created by Miyuki’s appearance, the feeling of grace of a high-ranking priestess was also present.
Minami was in a cardigan and skirt. Although it was not her usual
"dress + apron", but even so she looked like she was wearing a skirt like apron. That's how she created her image.
"Miyuki, and Minami, too, sit down. I want to hear what happened during the time I was gone."
Having said that, Tatsuya in advance wanted to prevent the start of a rivalry between Pixie and Minami for the kitchen. Minami did not become mischievous, she also wanted a little rest. Because she's not a robot that does not fatigue.
"Let me think... Maybe we should talk about Wednesday."
Minami sat, not showing any discontent on her face (in other words, in reality she was unhappy with it). Miyuki, sitting next to her and opposite to Tatsuya, mentally smiled bitterly and began the story.
"Tomitsuka-kun came to the School Council room and asked when Onii-sama plans to visit the school next time."
Miyuki called Tatsuya "Onii-sama" like the other day and spoke with no more hesitation or embarrassment.
"And you couldn't answer him."
Tatsuya did not pay attention to the use of "Onii-sama", and showed no sign of doubt in the sudden request of Tomitsuka.
"I told him that. But then he wanted to meet Onii-sama, and asked where this villa is located."
"Were there any urgent matters?"
But having heard that he did not just want to wait at school, and was even prepared to go to him, Tatsuya, as expected, showed interest.
"Yes. Tomitsuka-kun seems to want to try to convince Onii-sama."
"What does he want to convince me of? Why?"
Tatsuya asked both "what" and "why". When he heard about his conviction, he quickly guessed that it was about Project Dione. But Tatsuya could not understand why Tomitsuka decided to take such excessive actions. Maybe because of the connection between them as classmates?
Answering Tatsuya’s question, Miyuki explained the development of events from the very beginning in detail. The explanation of the circumstances in which Minami was also involved, sometimes by inserting explanations, took some time.
"...So that's how it was? I even feel sorry for him."
Tatsuya indifferently expressed his impression of Tomitsuka, having finished listening to the story to the end.
"Even Minami was concerned about him."
For Minami, he, on the contrary, cared more.
"No, nothing like that, thank you for your concern."
Though Minami responded instantly, she could not conceal her embarrassment. Her behavior seems to have been that she didn't expect Tatsuya to be worried about her.
"In direct combat, Tomitsuka is a strong opponent. Although you were saved by his simplicity, but you're very lucky that it ended without injury. You shouldn't have been so reckless."
From the words "You were saved by his simplicity" Minami made a barely noticeable frown. She felt uncomfortable when she was reminded again that she had been subjected to the bad thoughts from a representative of the opposite sex. But in the end, realizing that this voice carries a real concern, Minami was again confused.
"Yes... Thank you very much."
Miyuki looked at these two with a little scary smile.
Immediately upon arrival in Vladivostok, the data on the location of Shiba Tatsuya was received from an officer of the Foreign Intelligence service.
"He is staying at a villa in Izu with his fiancée...?"
His staying away from localities was convenient. Of course, it would be better for him to be alone, but there is nothing to be done. Igor heard that the bride, who is his cousin, is also a mighty magician, but he was sure of his magic. All the more so now that this time he had brought his external terminal "Igrok" *, which amplifies his magic power.
[Previously described as "Player"]
Igor was a man born from artificial insemination, which in the old way was called a "baby from a test tube".
It was not through gene manipulation, but through the production of countless fertilized eggs, and among them was he was chosen as the most successful specimen.
And he was officially recognized by the New Soviet Union as a Strategic Class Magician Igor Andreivitch Bezobrazzoff.
Of course, there were attempts to biochemically copy his fertilized egg, and as a result clones were created, which can be called his "younger sisters" *. They were expected to become the same as Igor, Strategic Class Magicians. And in fact, seven clones mastered the Strategic Class Magic "Tuman Bomba".
[They don't seem to be exact clones for some reason, having a different gender]
However, the clones who received the middle name "Andreevna" had health problems. None of them could live normally outside of a sterile room.
And in terms of Magic power, they, unfortunately, were greatly inferior to Igor. Although they could actually activate "Tuman Bomba", but in terms of range and activation speed they were not fit for real battles.
But even if they were not used separately, they were useful as external terminals to help Igor.
They were clones, similar to the original, Igor. Therefore, it was not difficult for him to synchronize his Magic Calculation Area with them.
In order for the mind to be intact, which is the basis, and not to receive damage, Andreevna were deprived of their "ego", and were living machines, "Players", used only to activate the magic of the
"conductor" Igor. He directs the way the players "Play" magic. This was the role of the clones, called "Andreevna", and how they were forced to live.
[The author conveys the meaning, using a mixture of Russian, English and Japanese words. The translation was not very explanatory, so I will explain: the word "player"
means "player of an musical instrument", and "Play" magic, means how to perform it in the form of music. These are all expressions, and in fact nobody plays anything, but just conjures.]
Every time Igor uses one of them, their minds are broken down. But Igor does it without hesitation.
He could have had such a fate. But for a winner in a survival competition, acting like a loser is unnatural. Though he was created, Igor couldn’t choose any other path in life than being one of the leading scientist of the New Soviet Union. Even now, things remain unchanged and he has no choice but to use Igrok.
He entrusted his assistant with the final adjustments to the large CAD
that was being towed by a military train on the New Siberian Railroad.
The movement of each of the "Thirteen apostles", the magicians of Strategic Class, have a huge impact on the world’s military balance, and has always been in the spotlight of other countries. Igor of the New Soviet Union, whose movement had been very difficult to trace, was now quite easy to see, so among the thirteen apostles he was given special attention. The thirteen apostles remained thirteen, because after the announcement of the death of Liu Yunde, Liu Li lei took his place.
And for Japan, in particular, Igor was a Strategic Class Magician from an unfriendly country with which they share common borders. So he was considered a direct threat.
Moreover, the attacks carried out in April in the coastal waters of Sado Island and in the Soya Strait were assumed to have been performed by the magic of Igor’s "Tuman Bomba".
Monitoring his actions and his continued behavior was a crucial issue in Japan's National Defense.
Saturday evening, June 8th.
Responsible for the 1-0-1 Brigade, Lieutenant General Saeki Hiromi received important news through her private channel, and not through the official army channels.
The news said that Igor together with his personal train moved to the Far East.
"Although it says the 'Far East', the Russian seaside region is quite large... He's probably in Vladivostok. And yet, what is this personal train...?"
There was such information that to activate Tuman Bomb you need to use a huge CAD the size of a truck or train wagon. According to this unverified information, there was such a theory that Igor moves through the territory of the New Soviet Union on his personal train with an attached wagon-CAD, thus meaning that he could be using Tuman Bomba.
If this information is correct, the range of Tuman Bomb is not as large as that of Material burst which can be used from anywhere on Earth.
For magic, in fact, the physical distance does not matter.
But to overcome the real "distance", a deep understanding of magic and strong self-confidence is required. And also we can say that you need willpower to deny "erroneous common sense".
If Igor is inferior to Tatsuya in this aspect then that means it might be necessary for him to approach his target to use Tuman Bomba.
At the same time, it also means that once Igor has moved on a personal train to the Far East, it means that he could be using Tuman Bomba near Japan.
Japan itself could also be his goal.
This time it was impossible to deny direct guidance to the lands of Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Hokkaido.
"...In the current circumstances, there is a high probability of the target being 'him'."
Saeki thought he should be warned. However, as a result of thinking about it for a minute, she decided to leave it as it is.
More precisely, she decided to keep on observing. Saeki took the intercom device and dialed a short number.
"...Lieutenant Colonel Kazama, it's me. Sorry for the late call, but urgently come to my office."
Tension after the events in the Soya Strait have already gone, and now was a relatively peaceful time. Although it was quite late, Kazama still appeared quite quickly.
(If it is Kazama, he should be able to observe what happens while understanding "him".)
(If it goes smoothly, we can find Igor using "him".) So Saeki thought when thinking about the most profitable outcome.
With Miyuki at the villa, Tatsuya suspended his research and became her partner for this time.
Not out of a sense of duty, but because Tatsuya himself wanted to talk to Miyuki, and spend time with her.
Perhaps it was due to the mental reconfiguration, conducted by his mother Miya. If all emotions were limited to just one emotion, then the result was that it would likely heighten the remaining emotion.
However, Tatsuya believed that this was not a problem.
If his feelings were not manipulated…
If he had his own free will, he could envy his almost perfect little sister, he could shun Miyuki, he could even hate her.
When the older brother is inferior in talent, usually in most cases they are jealous of the younger sister and hate her.
Therefore Tatsuya thought that it would be better, like now, that he had no such feelings for Miyuki.
...But it also had a limit.
After they dined and took a bath (this time they took baths separately), Miyuki requested that both of them to sleep together, but Tatsuya, as expected, could not agree.
"Miyuki... Sleeping in the same bed is a bit..."
Naturally under the word sleep it was meant to sleep, without any erotic subtext.
She seems to have prepared for this in advance. Miyuki "begged" just to sleep on the same bed. It was like a little kid begging a parent to sleep together.
"We can't...?"
Tatsuya felt dizzy. He felt ashamed that he could not say "impossible"
right now.
"...The other day, I slept in a Japanese-style futon. I think the best compromise would be if we lay in separate futons in the same room."
"That'll do. Thank you very much, Onii-sama!"
Miyuki joyfully waved her hands in front of her, in quite a good mood.
Nothing can be done, Tatsuya sighed mentally.
Igor took the place of the operator of the big CAD "Argan", in which there were two "Igroks" placed in sterile capsules, Anna Andreevna and Veronica Andreevna.
"Argan" was just a common name. The meaning of the word was the same as the word "organ". Igor commands them like a "pipe organ".
One government official who saw this CAD that occupies an entire vehicle said it looks just like a “pipe organ” and the name stuck.
[The author may have read about the Maskovskij dialect somewhere, where the "o"
is pronounced as "a". I don't know how else to explain this writing.]
They were similar only in size and shape, with pipes protruding from the sides and from behind.
"Players" are stuck inside the capsules and the "conductor" closes them in while sitting in a luxurious chair.
Igrok actually has seven capsules in total. But not all of them are necessary. To only activate Tuman Bomba, Igor alone is enough.
Igrok is a subsidiary and safety device, and for this scale of an operation two people were more than enough.
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