Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 26 - Invasion - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The morning of Sunday, June 23rd, 2097.

‘Angie Sirius’, Head Commander of the ‘Stars’, the magician force under direct supervision of the General Staff Headquarters, whose real name was Angelina Kudou Shields, was inside a small-sized VTOL.

Angelina, more commonly referred to as Lina, was accused of betrayal and dishonor by parasitized troops, and suffered an assassination attempt in the base headquarters. Having escaped to Japan with the help of General Staff Headquarters’ Captain Balance’s secret connections with the Yotsuba Family, she stayed in a house owned by the Kuroba, a branch family of the Yotsuba, until the day before yesterday, and stayed at Tatsuya’s and Miyuki’s apartment last night.

And now she is moving to a new hiding place. Approximately 90km above the sea south of the Boso Peninsula, approximately 50km east of Miyake Island, ‘Miyaki Island’ floated on the sea. The small island was referred to as ‘21st century’s new island’ because it was formed due to the activity of an underwater volcano in the first year of the 21st century. Though it is called small, its area has now grown to 8 square kilometers. It is about the same size as Kunitachi in Tokyo.

This island was Lina’s new hiding place.

The whole island of Miyaki Island is Yotsuba Family’s private property. More accurately, it is owned by a real estate company controlled by the Yotsuba Family, but this doesn’t change reality.

The island’s peculiar history reveals how the Yotsuba Family got their hands on this region.

Originally, there was a supply base for the National Defense Navy in Miyaki Island. But it was abandoned after repeated eruptions in the 2050s, and after World War 3, also known as the 20-year world war, ended, it became a secret prison for magicians regardless of whether they were military officers or civilians, the management of which was entrusted to the Yotsuba Family. Nobody but the Yotsuba Family was able to perfectly control magician criminals who hold powerful abilities.

The Yotsuba acquired the island to take over the function of the secret prison.

However, in January of 2093, after an eruption on the eastern side of the island - the side opposite to the prison - the relocation of the prison was considered, and in 2095 the new location was decided. In May of 2097, last month, the new secret prison was completed, and the prisoner relocation was also carried out.

Though the facilities for prisoners need renovation, buildings for supervisors are immediately habitable. Also, since the east side of the island was not used for the prison, the construction of magical experiment facility for project advanced. Although its construction just started in April, this is where the magic nuclear fusion reactor energy plant based on Tatsuya’s ESCAPES project was decided to be built.

Tatsuya and Miyuki were also riding together in the small VTOL. Though their primary goal was to guide and guard Lina, Tatsuya also came with the intent of inspecting the planned construction site for the plant.

It was decided at the end of last month that the implementation of the ESCAPES project will be done in Miyaki Island. Tatsuya has visited Miyaki Island several times and understands the topography and climate, but he has never examined it with the point of view of building something there. It was certainly indispensable to check once again if there were natural conditions that could harm his project.

“Tatsuya-sama, Miyuki-sama, Shields-sama, we will be landing soon.”

Hanabishi Hyougo, who was piloting the small VTOL, raised his voice towards Tatsuya’s group. This VTOL has capacity for 6 people excluding the pilot, and there is no division between the pilot’s seat and the passenger seats. Hyougo’s voice directly reached Tatsuya’s group just like in a car.

“It looks pretty spacious. The infrastructure looks surprisingly prepared.”

Lina, who is seeing the island for the first time, expresses her impressions as she observes.

“Well...It has changed a lot.”

Miyuki came here once before, but couldn’t hide her surprise at the complete transformation from the dreary appearance at the time.

“Miyuki, have you been on this island?”

“Yeah, a bit over four years ago.”

When she visited four years ago, there were only prison facilities in the coastal area on the west side, and the island was mostly dark rocks and sandy lava fields.

But in the Miyaki Island that now reached their eyes, there was an airfield with a short runway in the north of the island, a desalination facility right next to it, a geothermal powerplant on the foot of the mountain in its center, and no less than ten large buildings stood in a line on the eastern part.

Tatsuya was also hit with feelings of surprise, but he was surprised for a different reason than Miyuki.

(...Is that an Induction Stone refinery?)

(That way is a large-scale computing center...)

Within the group of buildings, Tatsuya found a building whose installations distinctly resembled FLT’s research laboratory.

And then he suddenly understood.

This island is being built to be Yotsuba Family’s new headquarters.

Tatsuya had not been informed by Maya about that plan.

The plant for the ESCAPES project will be built on Miyaki Island.

But this plan doesn’t exclude it as Yotsuba’s second headquarters.

While building an open experimental plant here, Maya and the Yotsuba Family are building a closed research right beside it. And it is also likely that from among the researchers gathered for the ESCAPES project, the ones that are particularly great should to join the Yotsuba Family. All this for the sake of advancing magic techniques to even higher heights.

The small VTOL landed in the helipad. The runway here is not long enough for large aircraft to take off and land, but even if it isn’t a VTOL or STOVL, it is possible for a small 50 passenger jet to perfectly take off or land. The Yotsuba’s seriousness can be seen on the development of Miyaki Island.

Just as expected, there are no railroads or monorails. The four of them were riding on a self-driving car - Hyougo was driving - prepared by one of the Yotsuba Family’s branch families, the Mashiba Family, who managed the magician prison, and headed towards the west side of the island.

They went around the volcano, that continued its small activity, and arrived at the residences for prison management staff. Along the way, like before, lava fields and beaches full of rocks continued both on the left and right sides.

It seems that the east side of the island, on the opposite side of the prison, was given more development importance. While all the prisoners had left, only about half of the management staff left the island. It was mainly guards who didn’t stay, they transferred to the new prison along with the prisoners.

The facility’s required management personnel remained in its entirety. The residences were maintained in a state where they could move in immediately.

“Hmm...so it’s a condominium rather than a hotel.”

Lina’s impressions leaked out after taking a look around the room she was guided to. To these impressions, Tatsuya and Miyuki had no objections.

“Food is already prepared in the fridge and stocker, and it doesn’t seem like clothes will be urgently needed.”

“...Oh well.”

Was Lina looking sensitive because she was getting mixed feelings from receiving help on clothes to wear from Tatsuya, who was a male? Similarly, Mirfak, a male subordinate, also told her something like that when she was escaping America. Therefore, her worry seemed needlessly severe.

“This management facility is equipped not just with residences, but also stores that sell household goods, practice rooms and even recreation rooms. How about seeing them too?”

The recommendation was made by Hyougo, who snatched a prison staff member to serve as a guide before anyone noticed it.

Tatsuya glanced at Lina to ask her about her intentions. Today’s inspection was to make sure that Miyaki Island’s prison’s facility can be used as Lina’s hiding spot. Lina was under the impression that she had no choice, but that was her misunderstanding. If Lina said ‘I don’t like it’, the Yotsuba Family would prepare the next hiding place. It’s just that the degree of security would be strictly inferior than in here.

“Can you show me around?”

Even here, Lina has misunderstood that she had no right to say ‘no’. Believing that it was an unavoidable ceremony, she looked towards Hyougo and replied.

“Hey...Is it really okay for me to live here?”

Those were Lina’s first words when she came back to her room after a lap around the facility.

“You seem to be pleased with it.”

Lina’s question was directed at Tatsuya, so he thought it would be strange if he didn’t answer. Right away, he returned the words that came to his mind.

“Seems like I’ll be punished if I say I’m not pleased with it.”

Lina’s voice revealed her exhaustion. Not physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion, she was tired of surprises.

The facilities she was shown were by no means extravagant.

However, there was no shortage.

In life, there is nothing that can perfectly predict inconvenience.

Same for this room. Even if she could not get out, it might more pleasant than Stars’ lodging house. This was far from the ‘uncomfortable life on the run’ Lina had imagined.

“Besides, was it fine to show me all those things...?”

Lina’s eyes shook in anxiety.

The destination of the guided tour where she was the guest was not just the prison facility. The research facility under construction was also included in the tour.

After going around the residences connected to the facility, Tatsuya, Miyuki and Lina headed to the eastern part of the island using a prison helicopter. Hyougo also piloted it. Rather than lack of trust in the people in the prison, Hyougo seems unwilling to give an outsider the role of Tatsuya’s ‘chauffeur’. Only two months have passed since Hyougo started to serve Tatsuya, but he found something that was worth giving his loyalty to.

The last place Hyougo, who had already settled into the role of Tatsuya’s loyal subject, guided them to was the Induction Stone refinery Tatsuya had his eyes on from inside the aircraft just before landing.

The Induction Stone is the heart of the CAD. Its standard manufacture process is well known. The CAD development techniques are military technology, not protected by patent but also not open to the public. But, since techniques were leaked to allied countries and due to spy battles, nowadays all the significance of keeping it a secret was lost.

Regardless, it is standard technology nonetheless. Although the Induction Stone can be manufactured by techniques that are, as a matter of fact, open to the public, they are unable to purify the Induction Stone efficiently.

The Induction Stone is the part that mutually converts Psion signal and electric signal. But just because they emit Psion signals from electric signals, doesn’t mean all Induction Stones convert Psion signals and electric signals in the same way. The performance changes depending on the design, and efficiency further changes due to the process’ finishing touches.

An Induction Stone may have high efficiency in conversion from Psion signal into electrical signal, but another Induction Stone refined in another processing line may have high efficiency at converting electric signals into Psion signals. Some stones excel in their ability to convert weak signals, and other stones excel in their ability to faithfully reproduce signals.

For example, Germany’s Rosen Magicraft, United Kingdom’s McGregor Wand, America’s Maximilian device, in this order, obtained high appraisal in their Induction Stone’s general abilities, but in terms of ability to reproduce the signal accurately, Japan’s FLT is the world leading company – the performance of Induction Stones manufactured by army and national research institutions is unknown.

The design of the Induction Stone is an important intellectual asset for both corporations and countries. Common knowledge in the magic industry dictated that it is impossible to show an Induction Stone refinery to an outsider. Lina’s words ‘all those things’ reflected this ‘common sense’.

“If you can understand it, won’t you think that getting too close is reckless?”

“...I wouldn’t make an imitation from the start; my conscience wouldn’t allow me to.”

To Tatsuya’s answer, Lina exposed her dissatisfaction. But her tone lacked strength.

She doesn’t know at this point how long she’ll remain hidden on this island.

If she needs to hide for an extended period of time, the tension and caution will surely fade away. If she didn’t understand the importance of that area, she may end up walking in carelessly and needlessly troubling the guards.

Lina could not deny the possibility.

“That’s right.”

Regarding Lina’s point as unimportant, Tatsuya turned towards Hyougo.

Given the signal, Hyougo handed Tatsuya the stylish envelope he had been carrying on his hand.

“Lina, this is the key to your room.”

“Th-Thank you...”

Lina opened the unsealed envelope and checked what was inside.

It was a golden smart card.

“With that card, you are free to use any of the facilities on the island, including food and shops. Though it is possible to reissue if you lose it, that requires a slightly troublesome identity check.”

“Understood. I will be careful.”

Knowing its importance, Lina grabbed the card with both hands.

“If anything happens, call us from the fixed terminal in the room. It’s fine if you don’t address it to me. It is also connected to Miyuki, Ayako, and the Yotsuba Family.”

“Okay.”

“Anything else you want to ask?”

“Nothing right now. I’ll call you if there’s something I don’t understand.”

“Please do.”

Tatsuya turned back towards Miyuki.

Miyuki, who was diagonally behind Tatsuya, came forth with a half step.

“Well then, Lina. Get some rest. We will come to see you again.”

“Yeah. Really, thank you for everything.”

Lina waved her tiny hand, looking a little embarrassed.

Miyuki smiled, and waved her hand lightly.

“Tatsuya-sama, there is something else I would like you to see.”

?

Said Hyougo, who was following Tatsuya as he headed towards the parking lot.

Today they didn’t have plans other than the inspection of the island. Tatsuya replied with ‘alright’ and asked Hyougo to guide him.

The place where Hyougo took Tatsuya and Miyuki was a garage beside the runway. There was only one short car painted in light blue parked.

“It’s an unusual design. Doesn’t look like a mid-engine layout...”

As Tatsuya said, the central part of the car’s body was the engine, but the engine was not installed there. In the case of hydrogen or ethanol engines there is a mid-engine layout, but in the case of an electric car, current designs arranged motors for the front and back wheels separately, or included a motor inside each wheel. And this self-driving vehicle clearly had the electric motor drive characteristics.

“This car is an ‘Air Car’.”

“...You mean a Flying-Type Magic vehicle?”

Tatsuya opened his eyes slightly. He was not hiding his surprise.

“It is indeed. Development itself started 2 years ago, at the same time as the bike with flight capabilities ‘Wingless’, and it finally reached its completion this past month after receiving some ideas from Tatsuya-sama.”

Certainly, in April of this year Tatsuya devised a new Flying-Type Magic scheme for high mass vehicles. However, he was so busy with various things that he handed in a rough plan as it was to the Head House and tucked it away in the corners of his consciousness.

He did not expect it to bear fruit. Tatsuya was hit with unexpected feelings.

“This body has already been registered for use on public roads, so it can be used every day.”

“Is it also able to drive from and to this island?”

“Of course, I will come immediately if you call.”

Though Hyougo replied with a meek expression, Tatsuya didn’t think he was being disrespectful from the start.

“Onii-sama, why don’t you try it out?”

Standing to his side, Miyuki recommended a test drive.

“No, let’s stop for today.”

Tatsuya shook his head, showing little hesitation on his face. However, he didn’t have zero interest in this ‘Air Car’.

“Let’s test it tomorrow.”

“Certainly. I will report this to the mechanic.”

Tatsuya disliked leaving Miyuki alone during a test drive. He decided to test the dual use land and air vehicle called ‘Air Car’ when Miyuki was at school.

Around the time Tatsuya visited Miyaki Island.

Despite being Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense were hit by a quite a bit of disturbance.

Japan received a confidential request from USNA through diplomatic routes.

A request for cooperation in the search for Major Angie Sirius, who cut communications.

The Japanese government protested against USNA’s lack of prior notice regarding the entrance of a high rank officer in the country. But if offered the rebuttal that the visit to Japan was not for military purposes, even if it is nothing but a transparent lie, they could no longer object.

The Japanese government promised USNA to search and protect Angie Sirius.

“While America’s demands are shameless, at the same time they seem quite natural. But why is the 101st Brigade being requested to deal with this?”

“Lieutenant Colonel Kazama, I too am tired of this. Can you stop pretending you don’t understand?”

“I apologize.”

Accepting Saeki’s rebuke, Kazama admirably tried to smooth things over.

However, just by moving his facial muscles, a sense of irony shined through his eyes.

As she said herself, mental fatigue spread on her face – in other words, with a tired expression, Saeki glared at Kazama.

But there were no further apologies from Kazama.

Saeki was the one who was running out of patience.

“I know that Major Sirius is being protected by the Yotsuba Family.”

“Did you hear Yotsuba’s report?”

“That was a warning rather than a report.”

“Angie Sirius is under our protection. Keep the National Defense Forces’ hands out...so they said.”

“It seems that’s the case.”

Saeki nodded with a bitter expression.

“Is Special Officer Ooguro involved, is that what Your Excellency is thinking?”

“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel. Same as you.”

Both Saeki and Kazama had a rough idea about what happened in the winter of last year regarding the interaction between Tatsuya, as ‘Special Officer Ooguro’, and Lina, as ‘Angie Sirius’.

USNA’s state-recognized Strategic-Class Magician ‘Angie Sirius’. The only reason why the Yotsuba Family would protect her is due to her relationship with Tatsuya. That was Kazama’s and Saeki’s reasoning. – Though their reasoning was incorrect, but it may be inevitable that they think so, since they do not know about the secret agreement between the Yotsuba Family and Colonel Balance.

“Are you going to request Special Officer Ooguro...No, Tatsuya to hand over Major Sirius?”

“Eventually she will be delivered to the USNA.”

Saeki’s answer was, formally, not an answer to Kazama’s question. However, Saeki’s intentions were fully transmitted.

Eventually. In other words, she won’t be delivered immediately.

They are planning to use Lina as a bargaining chip.

‘Sirius’ is a state-recognized Strategic-Class Magician. One of USNA’s trump cards.

It’s impossible that the US armed forces have Sirius as their only trump card, but a trump card that crosses over to the enemy’s side becomes a threat.

If their intent is to retrieve her – or dispose of her – there is the potential to draw out some small concessions.

“...Why did Sirius end up deserting?”

Strategic-Class Magicians are individuals who may become a threat to the country. It’s expected that they were being carefully controlled at least to the degree that they don’t possess spirit of rebellion.

Kazama’s question was quite natural.

“Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain detailed information.”

National Defense Forces have also released spies in America. They may be allies, but they are still targets of intelligence assessments. People who think that alliances are eternal/absolute are not qualified to be involved in military or political affairs.

But the counterintelligence side has that same awareness. As Japan is cautious of American spies, it is possible that America is even more cautious of Japan’s spy activity. Information regarding the state-recognized Strategic-Class Magician’s desertion must not be easy to get hold of.

“Isn’t it dangerous to interfere without knowing the circumstances?”

“That is why it’s best to ask the person herself.”

It’s best to secure Sirius’ personage and ask her questions directly. Saeki seems to think so.

Kazama felt his superior’s idea was vague and dangerous, but he could not explain his foundations.

“Then I will ask Tatsuya if I can meet with Sirius.”

“Why do you need to ask?”

Kazama was unable to understand what Saeki had just said.

Saeki gave an order without caring about Kazama’s confusion.

“Lieutenant Colonel Kazama. Give Special Officer Ooguro the order to hand over Major Angie Sirius.”

“How should we deal with Tatsuya’s refusal?”

“Tough measures are undesirable. Please just tell them that there is no room for misunderstanding, it is the will of the National Defense Forces that Sirius cannot be kept in the country.”

That is to say that even if governments or foreign forces try to take Sirius by force, the 101st Brigade will not lend Tatsuya help.

“Understood.”

Kazama didn’t believe Tatsuya expected to rely on them from the start.

He also understood the theory that foreign officers whose government did not admit defection cannot expect to be sheltered as genuine soldiers.

Kazama just didn’t think this was the correct answer.

Considerably late into the afternoon, Tatsuya and Miyuki arrived at Tokyo from Miyaki Island, stopped at their home for just a short while, and right away visited Minami’s hospital room.

On the way, passing by many people who seemed to be magicians, dispatched by the Juumonji Family on the outside of the hospital and the Yotsuba Family on the inside, Tatsuya pretended to not know any of them. It should be more effective to worry about guarding Minami first, but it seems they are giving priority to Minoru’s capture so as not to attract attention. Tatsuya did not intend to ruin the plan by being stingy.

“I want you to keep close watch on the front of the hospital room.”

Miyuki, though, felt dissatisfied to the point where she dropped such complaints.

Incidentally, when Tatsuya knocked on the room’s door, Miyuki’s dissatisfaction was completely withdrawn.

“Minami, do you mind if I enter?”

“Yes, feel free.” “Do not come in.” ”Is Miyuki-senpai there too!?”

Tatsuya and Miyuki exchanged glances.

The vocal trio delivered their replies, and they all were familiar voices.

Tatsuya opened the door in accordance with Minami’s consent.

Looking back from the side of the bed, identical faces had contrasting expressions.

Emphasizing her displeasure with a frown, Saegusa Kasumi.

Expressing her delight with a radiant smile, Saegusa Izumi.

The Saegusa twin sisters, their juniors at First High.

“Did Izumi-chan and Kasumi-chan come to pay Minami a visit?”

“Yes. Our classmate is hospitalized but even so I thought it was unpleasant to have nobody but guards.”

It was decided at the Master Clans Conference that Saegusa’s role was to intercept and capture Kudou Minoru. Neither Kasumi nor Izumi were appointed as Minami’s guards.

“I see, thank you.”

But Miyuki responded to Izumi with a smile.

It is not necessary to point it out in front of Minami. In addition to the roles assigned to the Saegusa Family, these two are visiting Minami as classmates. Thinking this, feelings of gratitude naturally gushed out from inside Miyuki’s ‘thank you’.

“Ah! I am unworthy of such honorable words...”

Izumi anxiously pressed her chest down and let her voice be overcome with emotion. It looked like pain rather than happiness. It was a dramatic act, but she was dead serious.

Tatsuya and Miyuki did not make fun of Izumi’s exaggerated gestures. They just looked at her charmingly. On the bed, Minami subtly turned her eyes away. It was only her older twin sister Kasumi who coldly stared at Izumi.

Tatsuya approached Minami, and Kasumi moved away by the same distance.

Miyuki followed Tatsuya, and Izumi gave her spot to Miyuki.

As a result, Tatsuya’s group and Kasumi’s group changed places.

“How are you, Minami?”

Stopping at the edge of the bed, Tatsuya asked. A stool was placed at the side of the bed, but there was only one so neither him nor Miyuki sat down.

“I’m recovering little by little.”

She did not say it clearly because she couldn’t be frank to Kasumi and Izumi about her medical condition.

Minami’s body is recovering its strength, as is obvious because she already doesn’t need the assistance of the support exoskeleton – a mounted power assistance tool for medical use. But her sensory disorder can’t be understood by just looking from the outside.

“That’s good...”

Upon hearing about the condition improvement from Minami’s mouth, Miyuki put her right hand on her chest and breathed in relief.

“Really.”

Tatsuya also loosened his mouth a little.

“It may not be necessary for me to tell you again, but don’t try to cure it sooner.”

“Yes.”

He couldn’t know her true feelings, but at least on the surface Minami didn’t look impatient.

“What does the doctor say?”

“Seems like I’ll be able to leave the hospital in about two weeks.”

To Miyuki’s question, Minami replied with a calm tone.

“Does that also include rehabilitation?”

“I haven’t heard that far.”

After 2 weeks, so she will be hospitalized for about a month total. Hearing Miyuki’s questions and Minami’s answers, Tatsuya thought about if he should take Pixie to help with Minami’s rehabilitation.

“Is that so? Ah, but if you need rehab at home, you don’t have to worry?”

There is no need to be impatient, he quickly added a few words to temporize Miyuki.

“We will help you as much as we can.”

“I’m sorry!”

Minami was now flustered.

Maybe this wasn’t the time for this, but just by hearing that Minami can be talked to like usual, Tatsuya felt her recovery here.

“I don’t want to decline, but...”

“But...”

Miyuki seemed a bit sad, increasing Minami’s embarrassment.

Then, an unexpected request came from Izumi.

“Miyuki-senpai. I would like to help with the rehabilitation after she is discharged, if you don’t mind.”

“Izumi-chan?”

“Yes. But only if I won’t be a bother.”

Doubting Izumi’s true intentions would be unjust. Tatsuya kept the straight man act to himself.

Izumi is sympathizing with Minami as her classmate, she shouldn’t be saying such things because of her desire to enter Miyuki’s home.

“Izumi...by no means are you thinking of using Sakurai-san as an excuse to get in the President’s house...right?”

However, Kasumi’s unrestrained question was a load off his mind.

“T-That is unthinkable! I did not think about such insolent things!”

Regrettably, agitation emerged in Izumi’s face and voice.

Kasumi gazed at Izumi with her eyes half closed.

Izumi did not look away from Kasumi’s face, but her eyes moved so that they didn’t meet the glance.

“...President. When Izumi intrudes in your house, I too will accompany her.”

To Kasumi’s remarks, Miyuki expressed a vague smile and answered only with ‘thank you, both of you’.

When the two of them left the hospital room, it looked like Izumi was being forcibly taken away by Kasumi.

The three people in Tatsuya’s group sent the twin sisters off, who expressed very similar smiles on their faces.

It’s shocking, but they didn’t hate it. Those smiling faces.

Among her classmates, they were neat and gentle beautiful girls. However, as much of a lovable character as she may be, Tatsuya’s group recognized that Izumi was a little out of sync.

Tatsuya brought a stool from the corner of the room and sat down.

Miyuki sat on the stool that was already placed on the side of the bed.

“But still, I’m thankful that they came to visit like that...”

Miyuki muttered, speaking to herself.

Tatsuya also completely agreed with that point.

For the Saegusa Family, Minami is no more than a decoy for the sake of capturing Minoru.

This is not something to be criticized. The Saegusa Family, and the Juumonji Family, were handling it as a result of a decision made during the Master Clans Conference. Naturally, the Saegusa have nothing to do with this matter.

Saegusa Kouichi thrust his own head by his own free will, due to his own motives. Regardless, for the Saegusa Family, Minami is a simple decoy. That was correct perception of their point of view.

“Those two, they may not be fit for this.”

Tatsuya did not clearly say what he meant by ‘this’. But not only Miyuki but also Minami were able to understand the words he omitted.

Neither Kasumi nor Izumi were suited for the Ten Master Clans. He is unsuited to speak of their older sister Mayumi who also may not be cut out for it, but she still prioritizes her position and duties. But Kasumi and Izumi give priority to honesty rather than their position and empathy rather than duty.

In a single word, it can be called ‘goodness’.

“I don’t think it’s bad. I’m a bit jealous.”

These words expressed by Miyuki were proof that she and Tatsuya were thinking the same thing.

“By the way, Minami.”

Tatsuya suddenly changed the topic.

“Yes, what is it?”

Minami was not flustered when she was suddenly called by her name.

“Has anything strange happened since then?”

“Do you mean if Minoru-sama got in touch?”

“Not just Minoru.”

“I haven’t seen any suspicious visitors.”

After Minami’s brief reply, she added ‘I don’t see anything while asleep’.

“It isn’t likely that Minoru gave up. Maybe he’s preparing something? For instance, things such as gathering subordinates...”

Looking at Tatsuya’s face, Miyuki felt a little anxious.

“That is a possibility.”

It’s been a week since the last attack. It is unthinkable that Minoru did nothing in the meantime.

Though there is no clear confirmation, Minoru has inherited Zhou Gongjin’s knowledge. This isn’t limited to magical knowledge.

Neither the Kudou Family nor any of the ‘Nine’ Families will betray the Master Clans Conference, so it is difficult to gather allies from there. However, it may be possible to collect minions from inside the spy network that Zhou Gongjin established.

“I may have to learn the parasite sealing technique from Oba-ue.”

Miyuki and Minami simultaneously trembled.

Hearing about the parasite sealing technique, Minami thought it would be used on Minoru.

But Miyuki was concerned about something else.

“Onii-sama...do you think Minoru-kun will increase the parasites? Like the vampire from last year’s winter?”

“I don’t think Minoru will attack people at random. But I think the number of people whose desire for power doesn’t end even if they cease to be human is not little. To that extend, it might not be difficult to locate them.”

Miyuki did not deny Tatsuya’s guess. The reason why neither Miyuki not Minami voiced any doubts wasn’t because they were Tatsuya’s words, but because the girls also had knowledge of such human weaknesses.

“Onii-sama, umm, I was just thinking...shouldn’t we warn Erika and the guys too?”

“...You’re right. I was thoughtless.”

Tatsuya bowed his head with a vacant expression.

The three of them, Erika, Leo, and Mikihiko, all met Minoru in last year’s fall.

Minoru can hide the parasites’ presence. Mikihiko might be able to recognize Minoru’s true colors, but there is a high possibility for Erika and Leo to be deceived.

To not assume the case where those three are used, it could certainly be said to be thoughtless.

“No, I also didn’t notice until just now...Should I tell them?”

“No, I’ll tell them. Tomorrow morning I have plans to test the Air Car, so wait in ‘Einebrise’ after school.”

“...Are you sure?”

Miyuki asked back to push her concern over whether there was a problem if the Master heard their conversation.

“There is no problem. The risk of being eavesdropped is lower than talking inside the school, and maybe we’ll be able to loan Master’s power.”

“Master’s...?”

Einebrise’s Master’s father was a capable intelligence salesman, and Tatsuya doesn’t clearly know if the Master himself also meddles in intelligence trade.

But Tatsuya was convinced that Master was honest. The scent Tatsuya picked up from Master was not the scent of the underworld, but Miyuki didn’t know this.

“No, I understand.”

Miyuki did not ask Tatsuya about Master’s identity. If it is something you must know, Tatsuya will tell you. Tatsuya did not explain, therefore it is unnecessary to know right now, such were her thoughts.

“Erika and the guys will wait for you are Einebrise...umm, Onii-sama? Is it okay if I bring Honoka, Shizuku and Mizuki too?”

“I don’t want to increase the number of people involved, but...not notifying them is also risky. I understand. Please tell everyone.”

“Of course!”

Tatsuya and Miyuki nodded together. Then, the two of them turned their faces towards Minami.

“...What is it?”

Tatsuya and Miyuki kept their mouths closed and turned their eyes towards themselves and Minami, feeling anxious rather than irritated, asked the question.

“It may not be obvious at this point in time but...”

It was Miyuki who replied to Minami’s question.

“Minami-chan, what do you think of Minoru-kun?”

“What...?”

Minami’s face was stained with embarrassment.

Her thoughts were temporarily paralyzed after the sudden question.

“Minoru-kun seems to kind of like Minami-chan, but…”

“Like...”

Her ability to think isn’t working normally, so Minami was unable to do anything but repeat things that were already said.

“Minami-chan, do you like Minoru-kun?”

“Me, like!?”

Minami’s voice sounded out of tune. Seems like the agitation reached such extremes that it called her consciousness back.

“Me like Minoru-sama, I’ve never thought about that!”

“That is, you just haven’t thought about it?”

Using her words as they were, Tatsuya rectified Minami’s misconception.

“Do you like or do you dislike, or do you have no interest, or is it simply that there is nothing to be aware of?”

“By no means are we asking just out of curiosity.”

“......”

Minami was unable to understand what Tatsuya and Miyuki wanted her to say.

She didn’t even understand if asking what they wanted her to say was fine.

“You don’t dislike him, but if you like Minoru-kun...”

“Minami, if you don’t make up your mind, you won’t be prepared.”

“Prepared...prepared to fight Minoru-sama?”

Minami herself was not conscious, but at that time she looked miserable.

“The fight is ours.”

In Tatsuya’s denial too, his tone was quite strong.

“I would like to end this without killing Minoru if possible. But I am not the only one engaging Minoru.”

Minami nodded slightly in silence.

Minami was not told that, not counting the Yotsuba Family, the Juumonji and the Saegusa families are on the watch for Minoru. However, Minami presumed that at least the Saegusa Family was participating in the strategy for the capture of Minoru.

She had heard Izumi use the word ‘guard’, and she was not raised in an environment where it can be thought that the twin’s visit was simply as classmates.

“Besides, Minoru is tough. Sweet ideas like capturing without killing may not be applicable.”

“I think it can’t be helped.”

“You can understand in your head. I don’t doubt it. But, what about your heart?”

“......”

Minami could not reply to Tatsuya’s question.

“This is what I meant by prepared. Minami, Minoru abandoned his humanity for the sake of helping you. But this is something he did on his own accord. He didn’t have your wishes in mind.”

“......”

“However, it won’t be easy to convince him. You know Minoru’s feelings.”

“...Yes.”

Minami hid her face and look downward, admitting Tatsuya’s words.

“Minami-chan, it’s normal for people to hesitate. There is no need to feel guilty.”

Miyuki grasped Minami’s hands.

“...Yes.”

Minami raised her head, and turned towards Miyuki with a weak smile.

“But, if Minami-chan has no special feelings for Minoru-kun, I want you to be prepared.”

“Prepared to not intrude even if he is to be killed in front of you.”

Tatsuya took over the crucial word.

Tatsuya did not let Miyuki say the word ‘kill’.

“In case I...say that I adore Minoru-sama...”

“We will consider other ways to end this without killing Minoru.”

Tatsuya cut her words, showing little hesitation.

“In that case, there is an increased probability of victims.”

Minami’s complexion changed.

“I apologize! I said something silly!”

“Minami-chan, calm down.”

As Minami staggered her waist over the bed, Miyuki supported her from her side.

Perhaps she should have sat on the bed to apologize. It seems she had not recovered enough to endure sudden movements.

“I don’t think your comment was silly. I also don’t immediately understand feelings I was not aware of before.”

“No!”                               

From between Miyuki’s arms, Minami looked up at Tatsuya with a strong will in her eyes.

“I do not have special feelings for Minoru-sama.”

It was obvious Minami did not think deeply, so she was saying it temporarily.

However, if it were to be pointed out right now, Minami would not admit it.

“Understood.”

Therefore, at Minami’s response, Tatsuya nodded.