Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 30 - Rescue - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

July 18, 15:00 Japanese time and July 17 19:00 local time. The port of the Pearl & Hermes military base, located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, included a USNA Navy transport ship.

This event in itself wasn't something special and deserving of special mention. There was nothing strange about the fact that a crowd of armed soldiers came ashore from this ship. Here, after all, there was a supply base for the Navy of the USNA. Of course, when landing on shore for rest, soldiers took personal weapons with them.

Unusual in this situation was that the faces of these soldiers were very tense, as if they were landing on enemy territory. Hiding their steps and breathing, they headed not to the main building of the base, but to another ship in the port.

Their goal was the fully submersible transport vessel, “Coral,” moored in the port. That same ship Minoru and Minami embarked from Yokosuka port. And remained there until now.

There were no windows in the “Coral's” cabins. Unlike civilian passenger ships, the design of warships usually involves a small number of windows, because they are a weak point. The “Coral” can actually be considered a submarine, and its interior is completely isolated from the external environment. Therefore, Minami, sitting in the cabin allotted to her, didn't even know that sunset would soon be outside.

Light and sound were blocked, but there was something that was still transmitted through this isolation. She felt by a sixth sense that she was approaching a kind of "foul smelling atmosphere."

She convinced herself that the "smell of gunpowder" at a military base is normal. But she still had a bad feeling.

The doorbell rang faintly in the cabin. Minami walked quickly to the airtight door and unlocked it.

They pulled the door out in to the corridor.

“May I come in?”

As expected, Minoru came.

“Yes, please.“

Minami took a step back and invited Minoru in to the cabin.

Minoru squeezed into Minami's cabin through a slightly ajar door and locked it behind him.

“Something strange is happening outside. A detachment of several dozen soldiers is coming towards this ship.“

Minami nodded back. Minoru’s words reminded her of what she was just thinking, and her thoughts switched from “this can't be” to “as I thought.”

“Raymond and Lieutenant Spica also don't understand the situation. I don’t think that the American military will fire weapons at each other, but I think that it’s better for you and I to stick together.“

Minami nodded once more, now with a much more intense face than before.

She didn't think that it was wrong. On the contrary, she agreed with the idea that "it is better to stick together."

During the attack on Miyakijima, on the transport ship, “Midway,” there was an attack squad consisting of more than 20 Parasites, and on the “Coral,” there were only three Parasites among the crew and passengers: Minoru, Raymond and Spica. The crew was selected by order from the Pentagon's Anti-Japan hardliner faction. They were ordered to support only one group of Parasites, showing a hostile attitude towards Japan.

But for military bureaucrats who have a physiological and religious hatred of the Parasites, there is no difference between the terms "cooperate with the Parasites" and

"obey the Parasites." The Coral crew in this case were not crew members who were

“fellow American soldiers”, but referred to as, “minions of the demons devouring our Motherland”.

It’s impossible to even direct weapons at “compatriots”, but they won't hesitate when it comes to shooting at “demon minions.” Especially, if this was an order coming from their commander. These were the psychological states and such thoughts now among the soldiers who were ordered to attack the Coral.

The Coral was designed for underwater movement, but during mooring at a port, about a quarter of its hull protrudes above sea level. However, unlike conventional submarines, it has a large hatch for loading or unloading cargo. That meant, there was no such inconvenience where only one person could enter or leave inherent in other submarines.

More than 60 soldiers approached the cargo hatch, silently made a huge hole in it, and then surged into the ship.

The Coral's crew was shocked by this outrage.

The crew numbers about 120 people. This is almost double that of the soldiers coming on board. Although they had a numerical superiority, the attacking and defending sides were very different in terms of readiness. The Coral's crew were helpless in the face of a surprise attack, and were killed one by one.

The principle for reproduction of parasites was unknown. Last winter, the Parasites were unable to increase the number of their counterparts, neither in America nor in Japan. However, this year, according to currently available data, more than 50 people became Parasites not as a result of the experiment with a micro black hole, but as a result of the so-called secondary infection - by coming into contact with existing Parasites.

The Coral's crew spent about three days in a closed environment with the Parasites.

They were shot only because there were suspicions that they were "infected." Since the principle of "infection" is unknown, it is likely that all crew members were converted to Parasites. The parasites can't be "cured," therefore, in order to prevent the spread of

"infection," "patients" should be "disposed of".... Such were the arguments of one radical conservative faction from the Ministry of Defense of the USNA.

However, in the case when it is necessary to "get rid of” the entire crew completely, the option with the least risk will be if the ship is sunk by explosives from the outside, and not board it with soldiers. The crew is not unarmed, so possible losses in the assault squad as a result of a counterattack, can't be ignored.

Such an opinion was expressed shortly before the start of this surprise attack. If it was possible to execute "divine justice" without any sacrifice, then you wouldn't have to come up with something like that, and you wouldn't have to choose the method of this

"divine justice".

The option to destroy the ship was rejected, as there was no certainty that this would kill the Parasites. Even if we talk about ordinary magicians, it isn't known whether the sinking of the ship on which they are on will kill them. And in the case of Parasites -

demons - they may not be destroyed, even if they die.

Therefore, the assault squad was ordered to shoot everyone with "silver-crystal bullets."

The name "silver-crystal bullets" didn't mean that they were made of "silver crystal."

These bullets were made of a sharpened crystal core coated with pure .999 silver with the addition of a tiny fraction of nickel. It was an anti-demonic weapon used mainly by Protestant exorcists, who were active in the former USA.

Unlike Catholics, Protestants traditionally didn't have magical combat organizations.

However, the need for exorcists existed all over the world even before the era when the existence of magic was revealed. In the former United States, one Protestant organization took advantage of the lack of traditions of local exorcists and created a anti-demonic weapon from the culture-optimized firearm.

Unfortunately, the attitude of the exorcists towards the Stars is not very friendly, because the Stars often take for themselves promising young magicians, with whom the organizations of exorcists have already laid their eyes on. The Stars were unable to get these bullets for Lina during the first Parasite incident. However, this time, for the sake of eradicating the Parasites that are eating away at the Stars from within, the exorcist organizations agreed to cooperate with the conservative faction.

However, it wasn't yet known whether silver-crystal bullets were effective against Parasites.

The entire detachment defended three men in black robes walking in the back. One of them was middle-aged, and the other two were young. Palatines hung on their neck with crosses embroidered on them, and in their left hands each of them held a large cross 60 centimeters high. These were the same "exorcists" - magicians of ancient magic, regular army priests and pastors.

They were not high-level exorcists and didn't possess high magical attack power. But their task wasn't to kill the Parasites with magic. To fulfill the task entrusted to them, these three exorcists began to pray, raising the crosses in front of them.

Vibrations from the explosion that blew a hole in the cargo hatch reached Minami's cabin.

Minoru's eyes rounded at first, but then immediately slightly closed them. Then he frowned, still remaining with his eyes half closed.

“Blocked...?“

Opening his eyes, Minoru saw Minami watching him with a restless look.

Minoru was puzzled for a moment whether he should explain to Minami the current unusual situation they were in, and came to the conclusion that if he didn't say anything, it would cause more concern.

“... The mental connection with Raymond and Lieutenant Spica doesn't work.”

“Blocked?“

Minoru has not yet explained to Minami the details of the Parasite's abilities. She didn't know about the difference between telepathy and the mental connection of the Parasites, therefore, she wasn't particularly surprised that something interfered with the "common thoughts" of the Parasites. Her train of thought was that if the activation of magic could be impeded by “Hindrances,” then mental communication could also be interrupted by something.

However, the divided thoughts of Parasites and telepathy differ fundamentally. Each Parasite has an individual consciousness, but at the same time they all share one common consciousness. The mental communication of Parasites is like a dialogue with oneself, if you look at it from the point of view that all this happens inside one single consciousness. Even if somewhere between separate consciousnesses some kind of blocking mental waves are emitted, this should not interfere with communication between fellow parasites. This would be possible only if it is possible to intervene immediately in the entire consciousness shared by all Parasites. In a single consciousness, covering all representatives of the species "Parasite".

If it turns out that it is still possible to do this, it will mean that it is also quite possible to interfere with the magical abilities of the Parasites themselves and reduce their strength.

“Minami-san, don't leave me.”

Minoru stood in front of the door, with his back towards Minami.

Seeing that Minoru was unusually tense, Minami responded with a short "okay." The strong tension was also visible on her face.

No sound was heard from the other side through the completely soundproofed walls.

Outside, only a depressing atmosphere was transmitted inside, from which the tension gradually increased.

Minoru wasn't only guarding the door. He also tried to get in touch with Raymond and Spica, and at the same time he tried to use "Elemental Sight" to find out what was going on. However, using the Eyes of the Spirits, he could only read vague information.

"A certain spell is being used here that impedes the mental processes of the Parasites...

and indeed any non-human creatures...?"

This was probably the work of magicians of ancient magic, specializing in the expulsion of all non-human beings hostile to people, such as evil spirits and ghosts. In the current situation, when their mental connection isn't working, only such an option came to his mind.

His magic and “Elemental Sight” were not completely sealed. He was able to understand that there were executions outside, and was able to read information that three magicians prevented his magic.

"... Do you need to deal with them first?"

Minoru asked himself. Even if they simply block magic, it means that they interfere with Minoru's consciousness, in other words, with himself. This is an obvious act of aggression.

“You won’t take my life. But don’t worry, I won’t take yours either,”

Minoru mentally told himself to Minoru and decided to strike back.

In a blurred field of vision, he aimed his "sight" at the magicians of ancient magic preventing him from using magic.

It didn’t turn out as smoothly as he wanted. To overcome the anti-demonic blocking spell, Minoru had to concentrate his mind as much as he had never done before.

Because of this, his attention deviated from his surroundings. Distracted by a counterattack at a long distance, he didn't notice what was happening very close by.

To attack, Minoru chose the magic, “Spark.” It was the simplest spell from the magic of the release system, which he knew best. Usually a small amount of air is ionized using this magic, however, Minoru forcibly displaced electrons not from the air, but from the clothes of the enemy magicians.

Created at zero distance, an electrical discharge spread across the skin of the enemy magicians.

The success of neutralizing enemies with electric discharge was confirmed by Minoru by the disappearance of interference in his mind.

Having regained clarity of consciousness, Minoru looked around with “Elemental Sight”

to find out what was happening around him.

"...!"

“Minoru-sama!“

He realized this at about the same moment that Minami's warning reached his ears.

The door of the cabin, which, in theory, was locked, swung open. It had a simple non-magnetic lock with a metal deadbolt. That is why this hermetically sealed door was almost impossible to open from the outside. The assumption that the bolt was shifted by psychokinesis came to mind only later, when the situation was resolved.

But now, six gun barrels were pointed at Minoru and Minami. Minoru activated “Spark”

with the power of thought. But this didn't happen at the same time that Minoru recognized the soldiers. Even Parasites must follow a system called "magic" and cannot use it unknowingly. Constructing a sequence of magic is a process that occurs in the field of the subconscious, but the user must be aware of the magic that he is using.

Parasites don't only need CAD's, but also activation sequences, but even they from the time from recognition of the enemy to activation of magic is not zero.

After Minoru recognized the soldiers with weapons, it took him half a second to decide to use the magic, “Spark.”

During this time, the soldiers have already managed to pull the trigger.

Bullets flew through ionized air.

Six soldiers fell to the floor, struck by electric shock.

And the bullets fired from six barrels...

They were stopped by an anti-object shield deployed by Minami.

There is an opinion that there is nothing easier and faster than thought, but a person’s reaction can sometimes be even faster than thinking. Exactly at the very moment when the enemies tried to enter the cabin, hardened by the rigorous training of a combat magician, Minami reflexively pressed the desired combination of buttons on her CAD

and activated the barrier magic.

The bullets lost their kinetic energy and fell to the floor.

Minami collapsed exhaustively to her knees.

“Minami-san! Are you okay!?“

Instead of Minami's barrier, which lost its effectiveness, Minoru built a powerful anti-object, heat-resistant and electromagnetic-resistant shield. Even light didn't penetrate inside this shield, so Minoru created a light source in the form of a weak plasma, which shone, but didn't burn. Minoru dropped to one knee next to Minami and held her shoulder with his hand for support.

At first he reached out to shake her shoulder, but at the last moment he thought better of it.

Minami's smile appeared on her face, distorted by pain.

“I'm fine.“

Minami's intermittent voice said that she, on the contrary, was far from okay.

“Everything... happened... too... suddenly. I... just... didn't... manage... to adjust... the...

power.“

“Enough! Say nothing more!“

Minoru unconsciously hugged Minami with both hands.

His face was as pale as Minami's.

Minoru once again remembered that using magic shortens Minami's lifespan.

He abducted her precisely for this reason.

He didn't want Minami to die, so he abandoned his humanity himself and suggested that Minami do the same.

And despite all this...

Due to his carelessness...

He admitted that Minami had to use magic.

Now he wasn't interested in the attacks of the newly arrived enemies, nor in Raymond's mental connection. He rejected all this and hugged Minami tightly.

The battle ended after 20 minutes.

After Minoru neutralized the exorcists, this allowed Zoe Spica to demonstrate her true fighting abilities. And she, after all, belonged to the class of the First stellar magnitude -

the highest in "Stars," the strongest division of magicians in the USNA. She alone neutralized almost half of the assault squad.

When the fanatical commander was killed, the remaining half of the enemies lost their desire to continue the battle. The Coral's crew also didn't begin to avenge their dead comrades, and accepted the surrender of the enemy, so in the end the battle didn't end with the total destruction of one of the parties.

However.

Minoru and Minami received help only an hour after the end of the battle.

“... Minoru. How is your girlfriend?“

“The pain has passed, and she is sleeping peacefully. The medicine she was given seems to be working.“

Immediately after the battle was over, the ban on disembarking for the Coral's crew on shore was lifted. Minoru was also allowed to get off the ship, and Minami was transferred to the medical center of the base. Minoru spent some time near Minami, and now sat on the pier and looked at the evening sea.

“I see...“

Raymond said only that, and could not pick up the following words.

“... It's my fault.“

Minoru sat with his arms around his knees and his head bowed.

“I should not have allowed her to use magic...”

“No... it's not your fault. Who would have thought that at an American base, American soldiers would attack each other... that is impossible to predict.“

“Lieutenant Spica has already apologized for this.”

"We will do everything in our power to cure Minami-san, who suffered from the internal conflict of our country," she said.

Minoru's face showed a faint, self-deprecating smile.

“But, to my knowledge, I only know that there is only one way to cure her...“

“So...!“

Raymond raised his voice.

“In such a situation, it's time to stop being so indecisive! Minoru, you can do it!“

Minoru raised his head and looked into the eyes of Raymond standing next to him.

Raymond involuntarily tensed, and his breath caught.

In Minoru's eyes, he saw a feeling of helplessness bordering on despair.

“I won't force her. Until she herself desires, she won't be the same as us.“

“But after all... just you...!“

“I promised. That I won't force her.“

Minoru mumbled in a voice like that of an old man who had lost the desire to continue living.

Raymond could only stand silently, not knowing how to answer.

July 18, 20:55.

Leaving Miyuki at home, and Lina with her as a guard, Tatsuya alone visited the Kyuuchouji Temple.

But, he didn't suddenly rush in there without an invitation. Tatsuya had already been there today at 10 a.m. and asked Yakumo to arrange a meeting with Toudou Aoba. The two fought against one another seriously almost a week ago, but in the end they parted as if nothing had happened. At about noon, Yakumo called Tatsuya at home and said that the meeting was scheduled for 9 pm today.

Yakumo's apprentice led Tatsuya to the far side room. He waited there for about five minutes. Exactly at 9 pm Yakumo brought Toudou Aoba, and he took the main place*.

[They say "at the head of the table", but the Japanese are sitting on the floor, and the

"main place" is about the same, only without a table...]

“I sincerely apologize for inviting you today.”

“Forget the greetings.”

“Yotsuba Tatsuya, raise your head.”

Tatsuya obediently raised his bowed head. Despite the middle of summer, Toudou wore a high-quality suit similar to the one he had in their previous meeting.

“It seems like today you want to ask me for something. Don't be shy, speak.”

“Thank you, I will take advantage of your proposal and immediately get down to business. My question is also related to your Excellency's obligation to be a deterrent.

Could you arrange for me the possibility of using military force legally, even if I leave the 101 Independent Magic Equipped Battalion and lose the status of Special Officer?”

Truly unashamed, Tatsuya immediately voiced his request to Toudou.

Toudou didn't get angry, but, on the contrary, grinned with interest.

“And I thought the question would be about Wyatt Curtis’s request.”

“It seems to me that it would be better if the head of the family talks to you on this issue, and not me.”

“Hmm...“

Toudou was still looking at Tatsuya with a grin.

“Yes, she did consult me. And with regards to the matter of requesting cooperation from Asha Chandrasekhar, too.“

“So you are already in the know?”

Tatsuya countered Toudou's provocation with an indifferent face.

“Good.“

Toudou again didn't consider Tatsuya's behavior a problem.

“If your power can't be used freely, then this will weaken our country's defense.“

Toudou nodded and crossed his arms over his chest.

“My authority in the modern world doesn't manifest itself so openly. It will be difficult for me to officially grant such special privileges to one person. However...“

Toudou removed his hands from his chest.

“... I can arrange that after something has actually happened, you won't be accused of a crime.”

“May I ask you this?”

“You can.“

Tatsuya bowed low, his forehead touching the tatami.

“But why are you at odds with Saeki?”

Toudou asked in a teasing tone, looking down at Tatsuya's back.

“Her Excellency Saeki doesn't seem to like the fact that our family is sheltering Angelina Kudou Shields.”

Rising, Tatsuya answered.

“You're sheltering Angie Sirius, not the Yotsuba family.”

“I am...“

At that moment, Tatsuya again used the universal self instead of the formal one.

“... I think she will no longer be Angie Sirius.”

“Wow.“

“Huh.“

Not only Toudou, but even Yakumo, who was silent before that, gave a voice.

“Not “I hope,” but “I think”...?”

Grinning, Yakumo asked Tatsuya.

“Yes. It will be so regardless of my intentions.“

“Ha ha. I hope it will be so.“

Yakumo was still laughing, but Toudou had regained his serious face.

“After Kudou’s death, Saeki was left with an unpleasant emotional aftertaste. This probably has also affected her.“

An expression flashed across Tatsuya's face, showing that this was a surprise to him. He suggested that Saeki was only calculating in terms of diplomatic gain, but it seemed like digging a lot deeper in this case.

“However, breaking the relationship between you and Saeki will be beneficial for our country. Your power should not be placed under the control of just one military officer.“

Tatsuya didn't know how to react to this, so he decided to just make a polite, light bow.

“I understand the situation.“

It seems that Toudou didn't care about the reaction.

“As I said earlier, you can leave a question for me about your right to be a participant in the hostilities. And you will protect our country in the right way at the moment when you decide that you are the one who needs to.“

“As you order.”

Tatsuya bowed his forehead to the floor again.

From above, Toudou's words were heard again.

“You can accept Wyatt Curtis’s offer. Politicians and bureaucrats won't like this, but the release of Benjamin Loews from prison is well suited to demonstrate your strength to everyone. However, the complete destruction of Midway Prison is ruled out. Exceeding the dose of a drug turns it into a poison.“

Obviously, Toudou kept in mind the need for military containment of the USNA army.

Almost certainly, he was very unhappy with the attack on Miyakijima.

Thinking about this, Tatsuya, who continued to sit forehead on the floor, replied:

“I understand you.“

“During the rescue of Sakurai Minami, you don’t have to think about the damage that you will inflict on the American army until it is very big. The complete erasure of the Pearl & Hermes base from the face of the earth, nevertheless, will be unnecessary, but I do not mind the damage caused by the sinking of one or two aircraft carriers.“

“I would like to finish everything as quietly and peacefully as possible.“

“That will do too. But I have one condition.... you can raise your head.“

“What?”

Tatsuya said and straightened up slowly.

Toudou wasn't impatient, but immediately voiced his condition.

“Don't bring Kudou Minoru back to the country.”

“Do you mean that I should not kill him?”

That evening, Tatsuya heard from Yakumo that Toudou and his "colleagues" are prone to allergic reactions to all inhuman evil spirits. Hearing about that "condition," he expected that he would be required to destroy the Parasites.

“That is unnecessary. What is happening in America must be settled by the Americans.“

“I understand you.“

Tatsuya realized that for Toudou it was enough that demonic creatures simply didn't exist in Japan.

Minoru's abilities were also very valuable, but for Tatsuya, returning Minami was a higher priority. And he couldn't go against the conditions set by Toudou.

“I will also arrange for you to leave the country. You don’t want to worry about any tedious accusations of secretly leaving the country?“

“... Thank you.“

Tatsuya didn't expect Toudou to show such zeal for cooperation.

If he leaves the self-defense forces, then there really is a chance that he will be much more severely blamed for illegal actions that had previously been turned a blind eye.

And his current business is primarily a secret exit from the country. But Tatsuya was ready for such an inevitable risk.

“Yakumo.“

Toudou called out to Yakumo and turned to him.

“Tatsuya-kun, here you go.”

Yakumo moved closer to Tatsuya and took a flat dark blue bundle from his pocket.

Having received this bundle in his hands, Tatsuya with a glance asked Yakumo whether it could be opened.

“You can open and see.“

said Toudou.

“Okay.“

Inside the bundle of dark blue silk was an official passport with a seal authorizing exit from the country.

The reason for leaving indicated in the passport was cooperation with the USNA in the field of technology. That is, Tatsuya allegedly temporarily went to the USNA as a technical specialist in magical engineering.

Tatsuya could not hide his surprise. Seeing his face, Toudou and Yakumo smiled with satisfaction.

“That was suggested by Yakumo. You can take this as an apology for the fact that he recently interfered with you.“

“Although I disturbed you not at my discretion... Well, that was, what it was.“

Regardless of the interference and apology for him, regardless of the details of this act and its reasons, for Tatsuya it was definitely a useful thing.

Tatsuya politely bowed in gratitude for the help.