Tatsuya did not come to Einebrise with the dual use land and air vehicle ‘Air Car’. Once the car that had come from Miyaki Island was placed in the garage of their apartment, he used public transportation until the station closest to First High. Of course, he also returned on an individual train.
In the Cabinet, Tatsuya and Miyuki had few words. From these two’s standpoint, they could not go without being vigilant for wiretaps, but that was not the main reason. Just before they had an important discussion at Einebrise, the direction of which made that tension stronger.
It is rare for them to return home without having a conversation, but even still they felt relaxed as they went home. Miyuki talked about what happened at school, Tatsuya mentioned his impressions on the Air Car to Miyuki, who started to beg to go for a drive, and the usual tone returned.
However, the harmonic atmosphere was destroyed by the phone’s ringing.
Not because of the phone itself, the contents.
“—Summarizing, if Angie Sirius asks for protection, I am required to hand her over to the National Defense Forces?”
“I would like you to not be so belligerent.”
In the Visiphone’s screen, Kazama moved his hand to pacify Tatsuya.
“I’m just saying that a private organization hiding Major Sirius, a soldier of the USNA, is not approved by the National Defense Forces.”
“That is natural. But why is the Lieutenant Colonel telling me something so obvious?”
“Tatsuya, I know you are protecting Major Sirius. We were informed by the Yotsuba Family.”
So it’s useless to play dumb...That’s what Kazama’s eyes were saying.
“Then please make the request at the Head House.”
But Tatsuya wasn’t perturbed. Without confirming nor denying Kazama’s words, nor nodding to the request.
At Tatsuya’s non-cooperative attitude, Kazama’s eyes became cold.
“Special Officer Ooguro.”
From the words Kazama issued, the friendly tone had disappeared.
“Even if you rise in status inside the Yotsuba Family, the contract between the Yotsuba Family and the National Defense Forces concerning you is still valid.”
Tatsuya silently stared back at Kazama inside the display.
“Except for your role as Shiba Miyuki’s guard, you must give priority to the orders of the National Defense Forces.”
“Lieutenant Colonel Kazama. I would like to stop the distortion of the contract between the Yotsuba Family and the National Defense Forces.”
“What?”
After Tatsuya’s voice, his expression disappeared.
“Except when it comes to guarding Miyuki, the Yotsuba Family recognizes the National Defense Forces’ right to give priority orders to Shiba Tatsuya. This is the contract between the Yotsuba Family and the National Defense Forces. There is no agreement that I have to obey the National Defense Forces.”
“Special Officer. Are you rebelling against the army?”
“That is also incorrect. The purpose of the position of Special Officer given to me is for the National Defense Forces to use me. The oath I made five years ago to come under command of the army in Okinawa was only for that one time.”
“...Tatsuya. The National Defense Forces won’t approve of a civilian sheltering Major Angie Sirius. I want you to understand this.”
“Lieutenant Colonel Kazama. I’m not sheltering Major Sirius or anything like it. If the Yotsuba Family says they are protecting Angie Sirius, please deliver the request to the Head House.”
Both Tatsuya and Kazama avoided a conclusive rupture at the end.
It was the result of mutually recognizing the other party’s utility value.
The building that became Tatsuya’s and Miyuki’s new home was built as Yotsuba Family’s Tokyo headquarters. Inside it there isn’t just residential spaces, there are also various facilities to fulfill its use as headquarters. The magic practice room in the basement was one of them.
There was nobody else in the practice room. There are reasons, like it being late in the evening, but Tatsuya also reserved the room, using the title of ‘Head’s son’ as an excuse – it doesn’t matter whether it is a fact or not.
Tatsuya told Miyuki and Minami that he planned to learn the parasite sealing magic from Maya. But despite intending to do so, he didn’t think he could handle the technique even if he was taught. Even if his position in the Yotsuba Family rose, the fact remains that he can’t handle magic other than ‘Decomposition’ and ‘Regrowth’.
But Tatsuya didn’t abandon his possibilities. He definitely can’t handle normal magic other than ‘Decomposition’ and ‘Regrowth’. His artificial Magic Calculation Area can only imitate low power magic.
But that is about the modern meaning of magic, talking about the magic that modifies phenomena. Traditionally, not just the magic that modifies phenomena but also the techniques that manipulate Psions themselves were considered magic. And if it’s techniques that manipulate Psions, even first-rate magicians can’t beat him. It could be said that he surpasses ‘first-rate’.
The parasite’s real body is a Pushion Information Body. Tatsuya does not have the ability to directly manipulate Pushions.
However, Psions coil around the location of the parasites’ real body, and they know that if they lose the Psion coating, their activity will cease. Moreover, it is said that Psions are particles that take the form of thoughts and intentions and at the same time connect the material body with the immaterial spirit, telling the body of the commands issued by the spirit, and conveying information gathered in the body to the spirit.
In other words, Psions have properties that interfere with the spirit, or Pushion Information Body.
Outer-Systemic Magic that interfere with the spirit are also invoked with Magic Sequences created with Psions. This also is proof that Psions have indirect interactions with Pushions.
Tatsuya was thinking whether he couldn’t seal or restrict parasites, a Pushion Information Body, using Non-Systematic Magic.
Just hitting the Psions flow will repel the parasites, though it can do damage, they won’t die. This is a known result from using Gram Demolition on parasites that slipped away from their assimilated body.
The Armor-Piercing Psion Bullet devised with the intent of dealing damage to a parasite assimilated by a human also could weaken the parasite, but it was not enough to make it cease activity.
(...I just can’t get a mental image.)
Chains, ropes, nets. He’s tried various items before, but he can’t depict them in his vision well. Somehow, nothing feels different.
(If I could practice using the real thing for a while, would it be different...)
As far as Tatsuya knows, the Yotsuba Family and the Kudou Family have genuine parasites. The Yotsuba Family has an individual that was sealed in First High’s practice forest, and the Kudou Family used theirs to nurture Parasidolls.
Although he can’t borrow it, there is the possibility they will let him use it for practice if he goes there.
But that too must be after he has some idea on how to manipulate the Psions well. If he goes there without a sure method, he’ll have visited for no reason. For the other people it will also be a waste of time.
(...I’ll try asking Master.)
Though reluctant to be indebted to Yakumo, he was not in a situation to say so. Tatsuya decided to visit Kyuuchouji.
Early morning on Tuesday, June 25th.
Tatsuya visited Yakumo’s temple for the first time in a while.
He didn’t get in contact in advance. So Tatsuya had no intention to complain even if Yakumo was absent.
However, an unexpected welcome awaited Tatsuya.
The apartment in Chofu and Kyuuchouji temple weren’t separated by that much. Though it was not a distance he couldn’t run, Tatsuya used the flying bike ‘Wingless’ in light of the current situation. What he’s wearing isn’t a normal biking outfit, it’s the Yotsuba-made flight uniform ‘Freed Suit’. After getting off his bike, he took off his helmet and carried it in his left hand. He didn’t bring the Specialized CAD he always does, but ‘Freed Suit’ has a fully thought-operated CAD incorporated.
Though he passed through the gate, the fight [8] – a brawl, rather – with the disciples did not occur.
There was no sign of people.
Tatsuya thought no problem could cause this absence, and as if it was a flag [9] , right after he considered this, he was getting attacked.
The presence of ‘things’ without entity.
Clear hostility was transmitted.
Before seeing through its identity, Tatsuya intercepted the Psion flow.
In a moment, a wild Psion stream increased up to the density of a Gram Demolition and knocked down the Information Body holding a Psion structure of about the same high-density.
(Independent Information Body...a familiar? Or a natural occurrence of ‘evil gods’?)
Rarely in this world, an independent Information Body whose structure is made of a large quantity of highly dense Psions can spontaneously generate, Tatsuya had heard so from an ancient practitioner who trained him at the Yotsuba House.
A normal independent Information Body has no power to interfere with phenomena by just preserving information, but if the amount of information and Psions it carries inside go past a certain amount, it will start to interfere with phenomena. Fearing calling them demons, the ancients called them gods, and based on them they devised magic that modifies phenomena using independent Information Bodies, calling it Spirit Magic or Summoning Magic. – The Ancient Magician who worked as Tatsuya’s teacher taught him so.
Tatsuya blew away the independent Information Body, but it turned around and attacked once again.
At this moment two things became clear.
This ‘spirit’ is a ‘wind’ independent Information Body.
And this ‘spirit’ is being controlled by human intention.
(Is this Master’s doing?)
But if that is the case, the hostility given to this Information Body is too serious. The offensive ability included in the independent Information Body is at a level that it leads to death if the attack is successful.
Aiming to eliminate the threat in front of him, Tatsuya tried to erase the ‘Wind Spirit’ with Gram Dispersion.
However, in the next instant, he cancelled the Magic Dissolution – Gram Dispersion without releasing it at the Information Body.
He didn’t stop because he concluded Yakumo was the caster.
Tatsuya replaced Gram Dispersion and used Non-Systematic Magic to release compressed Psions.
The compressed shape is a net. Though called so, it wasn’t reproduced into small meshes.
Like a thin extended Psion membrane wrapping the target with pressure, perhaps it is better to call it a wrapping cloth than a net. – Of course, huge wrapping cloths with a diameter of 3 meters don’t exist.
He stopped the meddling ‘Wind Spirit’ with a Psion ‘net’, pushed the package, and put on pressure from the outside. But immediately the ‘net’ was torn.
The Spirit escaped from its restraints and started to attack Tatsuya by transforming into a wind blade.
Tatsuya dodged it by jumping sideways.
Red blood dripped from Tatsuya’s left arm as he rolled and stood up from the sandy ground. A part close to the shoulder was ripped wide open.
His opponent is a transparent wind blade. Even though he tried to avoid it, he couldn’t do so perfectly. At any rate, this was obviously not the influence of practice. If what he was wearing wasn’t the bulletproof, impact resistant, anti-cutting ‘Freed Suit’, most of his arm might have been cut off.
But the suit was torn and stained in blood for just one second.
Not just the wounds, the damage to the suit and the drops of blood soaking the ground, all of it disappeared like an illusion. The effects of Tatsuya’s ‘Regrowth’ magic.
If this opponent was a living magician, surprise may have created an opportunity. But the ‘Wind Spirit’ did not falter and sent a new attack. Was it programmed to ‘continue to attack’ beforehand, or does the caster know Tatsuya’s skills?
The wind blade approaches once again.
Tatsuya pushed out and opened his right hand towards the independent Information Body. A Psion shield was formed in front of him.
Colliding with the high-density Psion shield stopped the forward movement of the ‘Wind Spirit’. The blade of high-pressure air maintained by the independent Information Body was decompressed as a blast that moved towards Tatsuya.
Mere wind cannot cut the Freed Suit.
Tatsuya tightly clenched his right hand.
Tatsuya’s Psions gathered around the ‘Wind Spirit’
The independent Information Body was compressed.
The cloud of Psions that spread enough to swallow a large passenger vehicle was now the size of a ball that fit in his palm.
A sphere of Psions similar to a crystal ball that cannot be seen by the naked eye. The ‘Wind Spirit’ is trapped inside it.
Tatsuya breathed out, making sure to not let the ‘Wind Spirit’ break out from the Psion sphere.
He looked and searched around his feet for the helmet he had thrown away when he first dodged.
It happened the moment his attention was lost.
Explosive expansion pressure came from inside the Psion ball he was holding.
Tatsuya threw the Psion sphere, that had become fixed on the palm of his right hand, above him. He dropped his right hand and used his left hand to push up vigorously.
Detonating itself, the ‘Wind Spirit’ destroyed the Psion sphere.
The shockwaves created by that clashed overhead with the Gram Demolition Tatsuya released from his left hand, spreading all over the grounds of the temple and the Psion ripples drew a countless number of concentric circles.
“Yo, that was unfortunate.”
?
Suddenly, the shadow of a person emerged from the uninhabited grounds. Clapping his hands and talking to him, it was the head monk of this temple, the famous ‘Ninjutsu User’, Kokonoe Yakumo.
“If you dedicated a bit more attention to the pressure you would have completed the Seal Gem [10] .”
“Master, good morning.”
“Ah, good morning, Tatsuya-kun.”
And he is the person Tatsuya had visited to request advice this morning.
“Anyway, Master, what is a Seal Gem?”
Exchanging morning greetings as if nothing had happened, Tatsuya asked to continue the conversation,
“The thing you tried to make just now.”
And Yakumo responded with a bitter smile on his face.
“You came to ask about a parasite sealing technique?”
“Did you know about Minoru already?”
“I also know about the new outbreak in America. This time seems more troublesome than before.”
“Impressive as always. And because of that...can you teach me the sealing technique?”
“Of course, I won’t teach.”
From Yakumo’s mouth came a kind of response that would make certain people explode in anger and respond ‘are you kidding me?’.
“Is that so.”
But Tatsuya took it as a natural thing.
Tatsuya calls Yakumo ‘Master’, but he is not a disciple of ‘Ninjutsu User’ Kokonoe Yakumo. Tatsuya joins in training only because of Yakumo’s good will. There is no right to be taught magic.
“I don’t even need to teach? That Seal Gem just now was well made. It doesn’t look like it’s your first time.”
And yet at the same time it wasn’t that he never taught him anything.
“Is Seal Gem that thing that trapped the independent Information Body inside and hardened as a sphere of Psions like the Armor-Piercing Psion Bullet?”
“I see, you applied the Armor-Piercing Psion Bullet technique.”
“Can that seal parasites?”
“It quarantined the Wind Sprite Protector from my technique. It should also work well enough for parasites.”
Protector [11] is an abbreviation of Protection Child. Its original meaning was divine spirit or fierce god [12] that served Mikkyou [13] monks and practitioners of Shugendou [14] , but more commonly, it is the word used for ‘familiar’ in the Mikkyou system of techniques. So to express what Yakumo said in other words, ‘you succeeded until the imprisonment step of the Wind Spirit that serves Yakumo’.
The condition that it depends on Yakumo’s mood remains, but his suggestions are close to giving instructions for the technique. Considering Tatsuya is not fulfilling the role of disciple, this is abnormally hospitable.
“You said earlier ‘if you dedicated more attention’, what was bad about it?”
“It was fine as it was, if you dedicated 10 hours of attention it would not have been broken by self-destruction.”
“So it’s good if more time is spent?”
“No, no, I don’t mean it like that. Did I say dedicated [15] ? Time is not required to prepare the Seal Gem.”
Tatsuya did not ask further. The relationship between Tatsuya and Yakumo has reached its 5th year. Tatsuya understood Yakumo’s personality to the point that he knew he wouldn’t give more hints.
“I understand. I will try to dedicate myself.”
“Try to practice with the second son of the Yoshida Family.”
With this extra, this morning’s harvest was enough, rather, it was more than expected.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login