Chapter 4
On the evening of August 11th, there was an event that could not be ignored, regarding the aftermath process of the Miyakijima incident.
High school students who happened to be on site at the time of the armed attack testified on a TV news program.
The cable TV station that they appeared on was not one of those dominated by traditional media. It is a channel operated by the multi-media company "Culture Communication Network", commonly known as "Cal Net". As a matter of fact, the owner and president of "Cal Net" is the father of Maki Owamura, a famous actress who had involvement with Tatsuya through Shippou Takuma last April.
And it goes without saying that the "high school students who happened to be there" are Erika, Leo, and Mikihiko. After clarifying that they are in fact Magic High School students and Tatsuya's friends, they talked about the attack on, and defense of, Miyakijima.
The repercussions of the program were large.
Some people saw it with colored glasses, because they were aspiring magicians and Tatsuya's friends, but many viewers viewed it as just high school students who witnessed the incident by chance.
It was Erika who spoke the most. Both Leo and Mikihiko hated to appear on TV in the first place, but Erika forced them to appear together because there would be strange misunderstandings if she appeared by herself.
To tell the truth, Erika herself had no intention of appearing on TV until the day before yesterday. Immediately after returning to Tokyo on the 6th, she received multiple requests for appearances from all over, but she refused all of them.
However, the day before yesterday, when she allowed a certain terrestrial TV station an interview under the condition that they did not reveal her face or name. She was persistently guided by the script of the TV station and felt a sense of crisis that "maybe the facts would be twisted".
They were allowed to stay that day on Miyakijima on the condition that they would be a third party witness. If nothing is done in this situation, it may develop into fake news that would be disadvantageous to Tatsuya. Contrary to appearances, Erika has a strong sense of duty, and was so worried that she decided to appear in the news, on the condition that it would be a live broadcast, since it had a low risk of the report being distorted.
A scenario that a certain TV station tried to make up was that Tatsuya was hiding a relationship with Erika from Miyuki. And he struggled not only with the New Soviet army but also with the American military to protect Erika. The phrase "strange misunderstanding" that she mentioned when dragging Leo and Mikihiko into this appearance was with this scenario in mind.
As mentioned before, there were voices that assumed that Tatsuya was defending a magician who attended the same high school, based on Erika and the others' behaviour. Although they were few in number, the voices were loud.
However, in terms of the "number" of voices, there were far more favorable ones. Many asked amusing things such as "Who is that beautiful girl?".
In this way, Erika made a brilliant debut during the interview, and along with it, completed the mission to become a true witness with Leo and Mikihiko… She felt that the main subject was changed, but as long as the original purpose was achieved, it seemed to be a trivial problem.
Monday, August 12th.
Tatsuya went to school by air car with Miyuki and Lina on board. Manual driving to school was originally prohibited, but he was specially allowed because of the pressing concern of the havoc it would cause if he used a public transport, and also given the fact he is currently on summer vacation.
He came to First High for the first time in a long time to meet his friends who had a hard time yesterday.
The first person he was looking for was in the cafe.
"Erika, thank you for your hard work yesterday. I'm grateful for your help."
"Really. On Tatsuya-sama’s behalf, thank you Erika"
Tatsuya and Miyuki thank Erika, who was absentmindedly holding her chin in her hands, for yesterday's TV appearance.
"You're welcome."
Erika replied with a dull smile and a rather tired voice.
"Erika, you don't seem to be very well, are you feeling sick?"
Lina was worried and asked.
"It's okay. I'm just a little tired… emotionally."
"Emotionally?"
Lina didn't seem to understand, but Tatsuya and Miyuki seemed to.
Even on the school grounds, where she is well known, there were 50% more eyes than usual on Erika. The stare of others outside First High must have been irritating for her.
"You probably should have stayed at home today."
"That's not the case."
Erika shook her head at the words of sympathy from Tatsuya.
"There aren't many days until the Inter-School Matches."
With that said, Erika stands up in a hurry.
"See you later."
Erika, hangs a bag with a change of clothes over her shoulder and leaves while waving her vacant hand.
"She is surprisingly diligent."
Lina muttered surprised, while watching Erika's back moving away.
The headquarters of the Kyoto branch of the Japanese Magic Association.
A branch heads meeting was held this day bringing together the president, branch managers, and the department heads.
"That boy is becoming excessively arrogant! If we do not take decisive action here, the authority of the Association will be damaged!"
Doumeki, the Kanto Branch manager, emphasised with a red face. It was he who asked for this conference.
The agenda is the application of punishment for Tatsuya.
"But the opponent is a magician of the Yotsuba family. Wouldn't it be ineffective?"
Even if it's called punishment, violent means are not allowed even in the magic association.
Expulsion from the association is the heaviest one. If you receive this punishment, you will not be able to use your license as a magician, so you will not be able to get a job that requires magic skills. The use of magic itself is not forbidden, so it doesn't matter if you can find a customer and work on your own without relying on a license. The same is true if you are hired by a personal connection.
In that respect, Tatsuya is a member of the Yotsuba family and does not need to hunt for a job from the start, and he doesn't need to rely on a license from the Magic Association as an engineer, soldier, or even a War asset.
Other than expulsion, even "non-application of mutual aid insurance" and "publication of his name as a delinquent magician" will not hinder him any more. Doumeki probably knows that too.
"The power of the Yotsuba family will not be permanent! Even if it doesn't affect him now, someday it will!"
Doumeki does not break his self-assured attitude. But, if viewed from a different angle it seemed like a bluff.
"Well, it is a fact that Shiba-kun disrespected the Magic Association. Doumeki, as branch manager, seems to have decided on a punishment resolution. What do you think, President? "
"Yeah… that's right."
Asked for her opinion, Japan's Magic Association president, Tomitsuka Hisui, spoke in a non-committal way.
Rationally it would be disadvantageous to become antagonists of the Yotsuba family interests.
However, on the emotional side, she has a strong desire to get revenge on Tatsuya, because of the painful events around the Dione Project.
"…Let's decide for the time being whether or not to apply a punishment on the person in question. We can discuss the specifics that would apply later."
"That's right."
"I understand."
"Agreed."
The unintentional implicit premise of punishment in her words made voices of support rise for Hitsui.
"Then, those who agree with the punishment raise their hands."
However, when they were about to make a decision, the emergency call buzzer sounded.
It is an internal line with strict rules, that it will not be used unless it is a case of genuine emergency. Suspending the vote, Hitsui pressed the response button.
"What is it?"
Hitsui doesn't hide her displeasure in her inquiry.
"This is an urgent call from the Minister of Defense."
The answer from the hands-free speaker is returned with a seemingly hurried voice.
"Urgent? I understand."
Hitsui responded to the message and told everyone in the conference room, "I'll leave my seat briefly."
Hitsui, who left the conference room to receive the call, returned in about five minutes.
"What kind of business did the Minister of Defense have?"
A question flies at Hitsui, who sits down with a serious expression.
"…The vote will be canceled and the matter closed."
"Why?"
Doumeki stands up in anger at the sudden closing declaration from Hitsui.
"…What was the matter with the minister?"
Another executive asked Hitsui nervously.
"The Minister of Defense said, 'The government recognizes that there was no problem with the actions taken by Tatsuya Shiba at this time.'"
The conference room is quiet.
"I heard that they want the Magic Association to act within the lines of this recognition."
There was a bang and a knock on the desk.
Kanto branch manager Doumeki is trembling with his hand down.
Looking at him with pity, the other members of the meeting stood up one after another.
"…Is that so. Thank you… Yes, I'd love to join you if I get the chance."
In a relaxed position, while holding a classic handset, Maya, who was receiving a voice-only call, laid down the handset with a graceful movement.
"Minister of Defense, madam?"
Hayama, who placed a teacup in front of Maya, asked on the pretense his hostess wanted to speak.
"It seems that he told the Magic Association about the government's evaluation of Tatsuya-san."
"Is that so? That's good."
"I think the government doesn't want to anger Tatsuya-san"
"They may be trying to understand Tatsuya-sama's contact with the United States. Since they don't know what the agreement was, they are more cautious that Tatsuya-sama and the Yotsuba family might leave Japan for the United States."
"They seem to be caught in a situation where 'if something looks suspicious, everything else will also look suspicious'."
With an evil expression, Maya can't hold back a laugh.
"I wonder if he hurriedly gave a warning to the Magic Association, because they were about to do something."
"Certainly."
"Well… this might be excessive help for Tatsuya-san."
"There are weaknesses in the world for the weak and also for the strong. While Tatsuya-sama is more mature than his age, he is still just eighteen years old. I think the elders should make up for the things he can't see, even if it would be considered excessive care."
Maya laughs. This time on both inside and outside.
"Mr. Hayama is the only person who talks about Tatsuya-san like that. If you find something that that child can't reach, please back him up."
"Certainly, I will, madam."
Hayama bowed his head in a reverent and honest manner.
After Miyuki and Lina parted with Erika, they went to the club activities headquarters, taking a different course of action from Tatsuya.
"…So it's not a problem for Erika to participate in the Inter-School Matches?"
"Yes, I got the consent of the other schools."
Igarashi confirms Miyuki's words.
"Actually, including ours, there are a total of five schools that said 'Then us too' and will let girls participate."
"Isn't that the majority?"
"Maybe it's natural, but I think girls also wanted to go to the Nine Schools Competition… Oh, I'm sorry."
Igarashi apologized because he remembered the widespread slander that Tatsuya was the reason the Nine Schools Competition was canceled. He thought that Miyuki might have misunderstood that he was blaming Tatsuya for the cancellation of the Nine Schools Competition.
"What for?"
However, it was an unfounded worry of Igarashi.
Even so, Miyuki had not forgotten the slander on Tatsuya regarding the cancellation of the Nine Schools Competition.
Tatsuya was initially exposed to this backbiting back in May.
So many things have happened since that she didn't care anymore.
Igarashi didn't understand that much, but for the time being, he was relieved to know that Miyuki wasn't angry and stroked his chest.
"Rather, Igarashi-kun."
"Yes. What is it!"
Called by his name shortly after he relaxed, Igarashi stretched his spine like a recruit being yelled at by a very strict sergeant.
Miyuki tilts her head in response to his excessive reaction.
"What will happen with the rules for female competitors?"
However, Miyuki, who thought it was not necessary to worry, asked about the advice given by Tatsuya on Saturday.
"Rules?"
Igarashi cannot understand the purpose of the question and asks back.
"When a female player participates in Monolith Code at college, she would be allowed to use a defensive armament device with programmed object shield magic. At least the protector should be given preferential treatment."
Miyuki conveyed the content pointed out by Tatsuya as an answer.
"Oh, that's right…"
From Igarashi's reaction, he seemed to know about the college rules.
"I will talk with other schools immediately."
Igarashi goes to the video conference system as said.
Miyuki and Lina looked at the huried figure, and then at each other. They went out of the club activities headquarters so as not to get in the way.
At the same time, Tatsuya went to the training forest behind the school building where the Monolith Code practice was being held.
Beyond his line of sight, Erika runs through a magical barrage at a speed that made her almost invisible.
Seemingly a reckless rush, yet Erika hasn't been hit by a single shot. She still has superb physical control. Tatsuya considered Erika to be the "fastest magician," and that impression remains to this day.
If you just want to compete for speed and acceleration, there will be many magicians in the world who are faster than Erika. However, Tatsuya's evaluation of her being outstanding, comes from the fact that she can control her body as she wishes while accelerating herself with magic, that is, she is mastering self-acceleration magic rather than being accelerated by magic.
Her brother Chiba Naotsugu also skillfully uses self-acceleration magic, but in a different version from Erika. The reason why Naotsugu is called "Illusion Blade" is because of his combat technique that finely switches between acceleration and stopping so that he cannot be aimed at by the enemy. Unlike Erika, he is manipulating the technique to the limit of human perception. So to speak, Naotsugu is an illusionist, and Erika is lightning-fast.
However, the present Erika who is dodging a rain of magic before her eyes, is able to shift in an instant. By mastering the technique of switching between acceleration, stopping, and acceleration, she is not letting her opponents in the mock combat aim.
Although it is like a lightning-flash, she can move freely. Although her illusionary step has not yet reached the level of Naotsugu, there was no doubt that Erika was steadily improving.
The students who practice with them are also top-class talented students though. So, Erika's breakthrough ended in a battle with the student who was guarding the monolith.
After all, it appeared that the rule against cutting someone directly was inconvenient for her.
"Erika, are you okay?"
Tatsuya called to Erika, ignoring the defender that was in a collapsed state, who was struck by Erika’s non-systematic magic and got the illusion of being cut and fell over on his back.
"It hurts… Huh, Tatsuya-kun? Aren't you with Miyuki?"
Tatsuya gave a wry smile at Erika's line. After all, there is the misconception that he and Miyuki are glued at the hips. To Tatsuya, that idea wasn't unpleasant.
"Miyuki went to the club activities headquarters to check the situation. Is there any injury?"
"Not to the bones. Only a bruise. Well, it hurts… but this is a daily occurrence."
The magic that struck Erika was one that applied direct pressure. It is called a "pressure lens", which, while targeting the whole body, applies a force to a focus point. Its effect is similar to a heavy local strike.
Erika was laughing with a normal face. But given the magical power Tatsuya saw, it must have been a terrible bruise.
"Is it the groin of the left leg that hurts?"
"Yeah, yes… I won't let you see it, okay?"
Erika laughs mischievously.
"You don't need to take off your clothes."
Tatsuya said so with a calm expression while holding his left hand toward Erika.
The silver bracelet attached to his wrist receives a thought signal from the fully thought-operated CAD "Silver Torus" pendant type controller and initiates an activation sequence in an instant.
The activated magic is "Regrowth". It looks like a complete cure and restoration, but its substance is a magic of rewinding a limited time. No, is it more accurate to describe it as a magic of "time-lapse modification"? Magic that replaces "the present that has been confirmed by being influenced by external influences in the past" with "the present from a point in the past that had not suffered external influences".
"Regrowth" acts on Erika.
The bruise on Erika's left leg, due to the external influence of a magical attack, disappeared as if it had never existed.
"…Thank you. It was bad, right?"
Erika knows of "Regrowth" and its price. The reason why she looked terribly apologetic, was because she imagined feeling the "compensation" that Tatsuya received on herself.
"I'm used to this degree."
Tatsuya said without pretending to be tough, and extended his right hand to Erika.
With the help of Tatsuya, Erika stands up.
"It seems there is no way to protect against magics with immediate effects."
"If it was a weak magic I could just use my fighting spirit2 to blaze through it."
"Using fighting spirit, you say… even though it is a mistake?"
Mikihiko, who walks up from his team to check Erika's state, speaks with an astonished voice.
"Because you are a student of the First High Magic High School, shouldn't you say, 'with the pressure of the emitted psions from my body?'"
"It's too long. 'fighting spirit' is quicker."
Erika replies in a light tone.
"I think that direct attacks can be mitigated to some extent with a protector, but you should also prepare counter magic."
In contrast, Tatsuya spoke seriously. His voice had a compelling force.
"Eh…? But I can't use counter-magic?"
Counter-magic is magic that neutralizes magic. "Data Fortification", "Zone Interference", also Tatsuya's "Gram Demolition" and "Gram Dispersion" are classified as counter magic.
"If it's a weak magic, you can blow it away with 'spirit', right? Then there is a possibility. That's right…"
Tatsuya puts one hand on his chin and thinks for a while. Somehow pressured by this appearance, Erika and Mikihiko waited silently for Tatsuya to open his mouth.
"Erika, couldn't you cut the magic sequence with a sword?"
"Huh?"
Erika’s face shows that she didn't understand what he said.
"The main body of magic is a magic sequence. If you can destroy the magic sequence, you can nullify the magic."
"…I know that much, but cutting the magic sequence… Where should I cut? The magic sequence isn't on the surface of the body, right?"
"Of course, it's an information dimension."
"How the heck then!?"
"It's the same as when you use magic. Erika, how do you target your body when you use self-acceleration magic? Are you drawing the magic sequence with your physical hands?"
"Of course, not. It is obviously with a mental image…"
While answering, Erika shouted, "Oh!".
"It's the same. Using your intuition to know the position of the enemy's magic, you can send a magic that is a Psion Sword with your "mind's hand3" and swing it like a blade."
"I see…"
"I will prepare an activation sequence for this blade that cuts magic sequences. Let me see… Wait for two hours. I will prepare a CAD prototype with the equipment I have with me."
"Two hours?"
"Ahaha…"
Mikihiko screams in disarray, and Erika leaks a dry laugh.
"Keep practicing until then."
Tatsuya turned to the school building without worrying about the reaction of the two.
Tatsuya returned to the Monolith Code practice area two hours later, as he had foretold. Behind him is Miyuki and Lina, and Leo, who they met on the way.
"Erika."
Tatsuya hands Erika a long and slender mobile terminal CAD. Erika frowned, probably because the form of the mobile device that occupied her hands didn't suit her fighting style.
"The magic for creating a Psion blade is perpetually active. Once activated, it will be continuously activated by loopcast until you end it."
Of course, Tatsuya couldn't have taken that much into consideration.
"Hmm… Then, is it okay to leave the CAD in my pocket?"
Tatsuya nods to Erika's question, which erases the wrinkles between her eyebrows.
"It will be a dual wield with a sword with substance and a blade without true form. It may be confusing at first, but I think it's not impossible for Erika to master it."
The corners of Erika’s mouth raised at Tatsuya's line of "not impossible".
"If you say that much, I can't help but be enthusiastic."
"…Even if the kitten is flattered he will climb the tree."
It was Leo who muttered.
"What did you say?"
"You misheard. What did you hear?"
Leo feigns ignorance to Erika's immediate reaction.
"Do you intend to play dumb? Kittens even… Han??"
Erika tries to continue her pursuit, but as she tries to repeat the words herself she stops at loss when she understands the discomforting words of the phrase.
"Then I'll watch from over there."
Leo turned his back to Erika while waving one hand and headed to the waiting area of the standing relief team.
"Let's move away as well"
"Yes, Tatsuya-sama."
"OK."
Miyuki and Lina nod to Tatsuya's words.
"Erika, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."
"Uh, yeah. Thank you."
Erika replied to Tatsuya, but still looked unconvinced.
"Hey, Tatsuya."
Lina speaks to Tatsuya in a whisper at a distance where Erika can't hear her.
"What did Leo say? Usually, its 'Pigs also climb trees if flattered', right?"
"Have you ever heard of a kitten climbing a tree getting stuck on a tall branch?"
"Oh, so he meant that?"
It was Miyuki who voiced her understanding.
"I think I've heard that. But what is it? Miyuki, don't just keep to yourself after understanding, tell me."
"In other words, Lina, like a kitten who climbs a tree without realizing how high he is, until he tries to go down. Saijou-kun warned that if she becomes overconfident in her ability, she will be hurt."
"Leo also said something embarrassing. I did ensure a good safety margin, but let's watch the game carefully so that Erika doesn't overdo it."
In response to Miyuki's line, Tatsuya muttered an advice to himself.
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