Maidens of Cygnus - Volume 4 - Chapter 3.1

Chapter 3 – Raising the Curtain on the Nine Schools Competition

4th of August. The 2099 edition of the Nine Schools Competition has begun. From today until the 7th will be the first half of the main competition, from the 8th until the 11th will be the newcomers competition, and from the 12th on will be the second half of the main competition, with the 11-day long fierce competition drawing to a close on the 14th.

The events on the first day are the Pairs events for Ice Pillars Break and Rower and Gunners. It will be the qualifying round for Ice Pillars Break, but the rankings for Rower and Gunner will be decided in a single day.

Also, Rower and Gunner is split, with the morning being for the boys and the afternoon for both girls and boys. On the other hand, boys and girls matches are held in parallel in Ice Pillars Break.

Nobody close to Alisa’s group, either senpai close to them personally or club senpai, will participate in today’s events. That is why it took all the more time to decide where they should go support.

The four — Alisa, Mei, Hiyori and Koharu — were at a loss when they heard a voice saying “Let’s go watch together” coming from Aki, who was accompanied by Chika.

“...Umm, you’re Kitahata-senpai, aren’t you?”

Mei reservedly asked. Once Hiyori and Koharu heard that, they made an expression of surprise that read ‘Eh?’.

Today’s Chika is in lady mode, with a long straight wig.

“Yes, that is correct. Is it really that hard to see?”

Chika put her hands against her face and made an expression like she was stumped. At the same time, the corners of her mouth were slightly turned up, looking mischievous.

“You know that, don’t you? In that state, you’re a different person.”

Aki added herself into the conversation with an exasperated voice. Alisa felt déjà vu from this scene.

Hiyori and Koharu nodded several times to Aki’s comeback.

“Eh, is that really true?”

Chika appeared displeased with that. She turned a cranky glance — which was still sexy — towards Hiyori and Koharu.

“That aside, senpai. Is there something you need?”

Not that Alisa thought Chika was going to lose her temper, but Alisa asked that to attract the attention of both senpai.

“It’s not a request. We came to invite you to watch the matches with us.”

“An invitation?”

“You seemed somewhat lost, you see.”

It was surprising to Alisa that she could see that. At the same time, Alisa was impressed that her senior was paying such close attention.

“Thank you very much. Please let us go with you.”

None of the other three were dissatisfied with Alisa’s response.

Aki brought the first years to the Women’s Ice Pillars Break venue.

They didn’t even need to ask why. It’s because Chika is the team member for Solo Ice Pillars Break.

The close quarters combat in Magic Arts and the powerful magic required for Pillars break don’t seem to have much in common between them. Nevertheless, one shouldn’t conclude that means Aki isn’t suited for Pillars Break. Unlike psychics, magicians can use more than one or two abilities.

What kind of magic will Chika use, she will know when she watches the qualifying round for solo scheduled for tomorrow. In the meantime, Alisa decided to cheer in the Pairs matches.

“As I thought, this event really packs a punch.”

In the middle of a resounding roar, Koharu said, looking like she’s having fun and having an excited expression. Certainly, clusters of ice of nearly two tons falling over and being smashed does have impact. But Alisa couldn’t find it fun.

Magic of epic strength flew about, and flashy destructions were being played out right in front of her eyes. That spectacle seemed to lay bare the violent side of magic, so Alisa felt it was a little unpleasant.

Perhaps Alisa doesn’t like the way magicians are right now. She likely can’t get rid of the antipathy toward the role as fighters for the military and public order, putting aside response to disasters. That is probably the origin of her distaste for offensive magic.

Even so, not showing at all in front of her friends and senpai that she was uncomfortable, Alisa continued to cheer until the end.

Most likely not due to her efforts, the First High pair advanced to the final league safely.

◇ ◇ ◇

“... and with that, we were with Kitahata-senpai until evening.”

“I see. The President was in that form the entire time, right?”

“She was. Mei didn’t get used to it at all.”

“Sounds like you’ve gotten used to her, Asha.”

Hearing Marika’s voice coming through the speakers of the terminal she’s using to make the video call, Alisa laughed while replying “Well, I guess”.

Through the phone call with Marika, Alisa felt the mental fatigue of forcing herself to keep a calm face being healed.

By the way, Hiyori is taking a bath right now. Alisa was fully immersed in this time just for the two of them.

“Tomorrow’s my Club President’s match, isn’t it? I’m going there to support her.”

“You are? But you said you weren’t coming for the qualification rounds.”

“That was the plan, but the teachers are providing a minibus for those who are interested.”

“There... weren’t talks of them doing that, right?”

In the portable terminals small screen, Marika nodded and said “Yeah”.

“I was practicing Magic Arts at school in the afternoon today when I was suddenly told about it. So that students like me and those who couldn’t book a hotel could go support at the venue, they said.”

“So it’s a full day trip?”

“Yeah. That’s why doing it every day would be too much, but I’ll go see the Club President’s and the Committee Chief’s matches. And of course, yours too, Asha.”

Chika’s matches in the qualifying round are tomorrow, the 2nd day, and the final league is on the ninth day.

The Committee Chief’s, that is, Aki’s matches are on the 4th, and Alisa’s are on the 6th.

Marika is planning to make the trip between Tokyo and the foot of Mount Fuji approximately every other day.

“Seriously, it would be fine for you to stay...”

Alisa was worried about her getting tired just from going back and forth.

“Ahaha. It’s probably tough on the teacher that is driving, but I’m just riding so I’ll be fine.”

Not just the highway, almost all the roads from the school in Hachioji to this venue are covered by a control system, which makes automatic driving possible. That said, as long as students are on board, they can’t just leave everything to a machine. As a result, the teacher sitting at the driver’s seat will be appropriately cautious.

Like Marika said, it will be tough for the teacher in charge of guiding them. ‘So there is a teacher who will assume responsibility properly...’, Alisa thought.

“Anyway, that’s why. Asha, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I’ll be happy to see you.”

“Me too.”

The call was disconnected.

Hiyori came out of the bathroom as if she had estimated the timing perfectly, turned to Alisa and asked “Did something good happen?”, slightly curious.

◇ ◇ ◇

Each school uses a restaurant with three partitions for breakfast and dinner at the allotted times. Which means that it was decided that meals are had in three shifts, three schools at once.

“—Ichika! Are you feeling good now?”

On the morning of the second day, Ichika, who had had her meals in her room as an exception until then, showed up at the restaurant accompanied by Mei.

The one who ran up to Ichika was a class 1-B classmate who she is close with. Alisa didn’t wedge into the conversation, but she joined the crowd of people surrounding her.

“Yeah, I’m okay now.”

Ichika replied to her classmate with a smile.

To Alisa, it seemed like she was forcing herself to smile.

Among the three partitions of the restaurant, there is one that uses long tables, giving it the atmosphere of a ‘cafeteria’, but today’s breakfast’s assigned spot was buffet-style, where the food is placed close to a wall and each person brings what they want to a table of four.

Ten of the first-year girls participating in the newcomers competition were there, as well as two technicians. Exact number to split into three tables. Alisa surrounded a table with Mei, Koharu and Hiyori, the usual group of 4 people. Mei looked worried about Ichika, who is in the same room, but in the end she joined Alisa’s group.

It wasn’t only Mei who was concerned about Ichika. When a student of the same year spends two days in bed, there is no way there would be people who aren’t concerned.

“I hope Ichika-san is okay.”

Koharu whispered while glancing at the people in Ichika’s table.

“It appears even in other schools there’s a lot of people not feeling well... It would be good if nothing major happens.”

She then added.

“Eh, is that true?”

Hiyori asked in surprise. Alisa was also surprised by that.

“Yeah, I heard someone was carried into the emergency room...”

“That’s an exaggeration, Koharu.”

Mei stopped eating to reprove Koharu.

“You know about this too, Mei?”

Despite thinking it was a little imprudent, Alisa couldn’t contain her curiosity.

“It’s true that there was someone who didn’t feel well after their Rowgun matches and was examined in the emergency room. A Second High member. I heard about it from the Student Council President so there are no doubts about that.”

“...Second High, weren’t they ranked third?”

Hiyori placed a question. Second High placed third in women’s Pairs Rower and Gunner. First High, unfortunately, came fourth and didn’t score points.

“Like I said, she felt bad after the matches. Maybe she overdid it and used power above her limits.”

“Eh!? Was it Overheat...?”

Alisa’s face went completely pale.

“No, no. I heard it wasn’t anything that serious.”

Mei was slightly flustered and strongly denied it.

“Most importantly, she walked into the emergency room on her own two feet.”

“So it really wasn’t that significant. I’m glad...”

Alisa put her hand to her chest in relief.

But Mei didn’t say anything back.

“Mei-san?”

Koharu made apparent that Mei’s behavior was suspicious.

After Mei hesitated for several seconds,

“It’s just, that girl went home.”

She straightforwardly told them the details of the matter. 

“The matches she was participating in ended, so isn’t it fine for her to go home?”

Hiyori said, like it was something not to be concerned with.

But those words felt slightly forced.

◇ ◇ ◇

Marika arrived 30 minutes before the start of the first match, at 8:30.

“Asha, I’m here!”

“Mina, so early!?“

It takes two hours to come here from First High in Hachioji using a self-driving car. She must have left home before 6 o’clock.

Marika, with a radiant smile, joined hands with Alisa and they looked into each other’s eyes.

“Oh, Marika.”

From behind Alisa’s back, a gentle voice referred to Marika by her name.

“Ah, President. Good morning.”

“Did you come cheer for me?”

Marika straightened her posture and greeted Chika, wearing her straight long wig, who delightedly smiled.

“It’s just qualifiers today. You could have come just for the finals.”

“It’s because the teachers are offering us a car.”

“Really? I’m happy you came.”

If this is interpreted objectively, both seem to have no doubts that Chika will qualify, but neither Chika nor Marika felt this was inappropriate.

“Who was so kind to drive you here?”

“It was Kitou-sensei.”

“I see... I will have to express my gratitude to him later.”

Chika tilted her head slightly and smiled elegantly.

“It’s just qualifiers, but if my cute kouhai is her to support, I suppose I’ll try a little harder. Do look forward to it.”

“Yes. I’ll be rooting for you.”

Chika left, as Marika watched, in an elegant, yet haughty manner.

Because of the mood that could make her see a background with an abundance of lilies blooming, Alisa couldn’t find the right timing to join the conversation until it ended.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Akane-san, I saw Tookami-san from First High a bit ago.”

Inside the Third High tent, the one to inform Akane of that was a student of the same year and a distant relative of hers, Hiiro Hiromi.

“Eh, really? This early?”

“Yes, she was with Juumonji-san. Also, she was talking with a girl from First High who looked like a senior. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they seemed somewhat enthusiastic.”

Akane tilted her head due to Hiromi’s remarks.

“I heard that girl wasn’t selected as a representative, though...”

“Come to think of it, I heard there is a First High girl who is confined to her bed.”

A girl in the same year heard this conversation and interjected.

“Eh, is that real? A first-year like us?”

Akane quickly turned around and asked that girl.

“I-I don’t know that much...”

Pressured by Akane’s menacing attitude, the girl replied with a stutter.

“It probably is, right?”

This comment came from a third-year girl.

“When I looked yesterday, all the First High girls in the main competition were gathered.”

Akane replied back with “Is that so?” to the upperclasswoman, and continued to ponder.

“I’ve also heard that after the girl from Second High who went back home, a boy from Eighth High withdrew this morning... Don’t you think there’s something weird about this year’s Nine Schools Competition?”

While she said it was strange, she didn’t look too amazed by it. This upperclasswoman had an expression of someone who has an idea of what is different from usual.

“Was Tookami-san called to replace this first-year who isn’t feeling well?”

Hiromi said to Akane.

“Maybe so.”

Akane, still unable to arrange her thoughts, gave another perfunctory response in her absent-mindedness.

“A replacement, huh? First High is close so they can call for replacements right away.”

“Isn’t that unfair?”

A commotion resembling the chirps of little birds followed. They were agreeing with the criticism that it was ‘unfair’.

While listening to that, Akane once again sunk into thought. What she was thinking about is which event Marika will participate in and whether she will compete against her. Akane had already concluded by herself that Marika was going to appear in the newcomers competition as a substitute.

◇ ◇ ◇

Ice Pillars Break is said to be the flashiest event at the Nine Schools Competition, in the sense that the power of the magic used is enormous. The breadth of tactics is also wide, so it doesn’t come to a mere contest of strength. Though it, in the aspect of being a good show, doesn’t reach the likes of Monolith Code and Mirage Bat, it is ranked as a favorite among specialists attracted to overall magic power.

In addition, there was one more thing that attracted people to the women’s division.

The costumes.

In this event, competitors stand on a pedestal without moving. They compete with nothing other than magic skills.

Put another way, there is no advantage or disadvantage no matter the kind of outfit you wear. This year’s Nine Schools Competition will be the 14th edition of the tournament, with one cancellation in-between. From around the 5th edition ten years ago the women’s costumes started becoming freer, and by the 8th edition it had assumed the appearance of an outfit competition rather than a fashion show. — Side note, the 8th edition happened in 2092, the same year as the Okinawa Incident and the Invasion of Sado, the second of which happened on the last day of the tournament (the tournament concluded without the last day being done). The following year, due to voluntary restraint, the women’s costumes also became slightly more reserved, but in 2094, maybe as recoil from that, they got increasingly freer.

This trend did not change on the year following the cancelled edition, last year, when the tournament resumed. A variety of outfits will likely be seen this year as well. Among the spectators, there are people who turn up in anticipation of it.

Indeed, from the first round, a show that did not betray those expectations unfolded.

And then came the third match. The first match of the third group in the qualifying league.

It is finally Chika’s turn. She won the Pairs version of this event last year and this year she is considered the favorite to win.

Making an appearance on top of the tall pedestal that overlooks the 24 ice pillars on the opponent’s side, Chika was dressed in a kimono, a hakama and a breastplate. It was not necessary to notice the bow on her left hand and the archer’s glove on her right to understand it was an archery outfit. The kimono was not a dogi, it was a normal kimono, though with short sleeves. Combined with her straight long hair — needless to say, it’s a wig — she exuded the atmosphere of a refined yet gallant female samurai.

That bow was not a cosplay prop.

The moment the match started, Chika aimed at the opponent’s ice pillars, pulled the string of the bow with no arrow and acted as if she launched an arrow.

And at almost the same time, the sound of the bow was drown out by a thundering roar.

A sound produced by the smashing of an ice pillar on the opponent’s front row.

The ice pillar was not completely destroyed. Its surface was merely gouged out.

But even so, 20% of its entire volume was shaved off. Furthermore, that ice pillar was shaking a lot.

Chika quickly drew her bow again.

Her opponent tried to stop the ice pillar from shaking with magic.

But right after she activated her magic, that same ice pillar was once again attacked.

The impact on the ice pillar hollowed it out deeper, in proportion to how tightly it was fixed in place.

She drew the bow three more times. Despite being a longbow, it fires as quick as a short bow.

The first ice pillar was smashed up, leaving only its base.

“...Is that Weight-Type Magic?”

Alisa asked Aki, who is watching the match with her.

“Yeah, that’s right. The action of drawing the bow and taking aim is what generates directional pressure.”

Alisa tilted her head after hearing Aki’s explanation.

“Instead of making a repulsive force act on the object, she’s generating the repulsive force itself? Similar to ‘Invisible Bullet’?”

“It looks similar, but it’s a different magic.”

Aki shook her head at Alisa’s question.

“Do you know the difference between ordinary Weight-Type Magic and ‘Invisible Bullet’?”

“Ordinary Weight-Type Magic changes the object into ‘a state where pressure is being applied’, while ‘Invisible Bullet’ is a magic that applies pressure on the surface of the object, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. You’ve been studying hard, huh?”

“I am obliged.”

Perhaps because she was interested in the nature of the magic Chika is using, Alisa’s tone was perfunctory.

“Isn’t Asha amazing!”

On the other hand, Marika, who was listening to the conversation between Alisa and Aki, was very happy, more than if it were about herself.

“But the magic Chika is using doesn’t interfere with the object nor does it act upon the object. In a sense, it is similar to Juumonji-san’s magic, right?”

Aki turned her eyes to Alisa, as if asking ‘Do you understand?’.

“I see... So that’s the kind of magic it is.”

Alisa understood immediately.

“Eh, what does that mean?”

Marika didn’t understand and asked to Mei who is sitting next to her.

Mei, who was focused on watching the match, turned her eyes to Marika without moving her face, then returned her gaze to the match right away.

“Kitahata-senpai’s magic is an area magic, it targets a space.” 

But she did not ignore Marika’s question.

“She’s generating a repulsive force in the space in front of the ice pillar.”

“In the space? Isn’t that hard to aim?”

Marika’s ‘Reactive Armor’ and Alisa’s ‘Phalanx’ and ‘Pelta’ are all barrier magics. But Marika cannot copy Alisa’s.

If just the shape was enough, Marika could generate a shield shaped like a dome similar to ‘Phalanx’, but even imitating the shape of ‘Pelta’ is impossible for Marika right now.

This is because it is difficult to activate magic that requires specifying exact coordinates in space with no marks. In a situation where a barrier is built around your own body, your body becomes the base. Even when laying out a dome-shaped shield, the point of reference that becomes the center is yourself. But aiming in a space with no specific marks is hard. Marika knew that from personal experience.

“I wonder if that’s why she’s using a bow.”

Mei was also thinking about that.

“I believe she’s reinforcing her aim with a mental image of the arrow hitting... No, isn’t she making an image of an arrow sticking out from the target, and then taking aim at that image?”

With Alisa and Marika in between, Mei’s voice didn’t reach Aki. As a result, she couldn’t verify her answer with Aki.

“Hmm...”

But Marika wasn’t concerned with the right answer. For her, Mei’s explanation was satisfactory right now.

Chika safely won the match in the end, and Marika asked Alisa to go with her to congratulate Chika.

Chika removed her wig to wipe off her sweat. When she did that, her manliness is pushed to the front and she looked more like a warrior than a young lady.

“President, congratulations.”

“Hey. Thanks for the support, man.”

Her way of speaking also changed to that of a young man.

Her duties as a kouhai finished for the moment, Marika recalled what she was curious about.

Marika waited for Chika to respond to Alisa who was praising her for her overwhelming victory, and then asked whether Mei’s conjecture was correct or not.

“—Wow, impressive. Right on the money.”

Chika gave Mei’s conjecture a gold star with a radiant smile.

“President, you can reach longer distances too, right?”

But with the following words from Marika, that smile turned sour.

“Nah, I can’t use that magic.”

Chika said, still smiling bitterly.

The mood wasn’t one where she could ask what she meant with that.

In the venue of the Nine Schools Competition, mobile shops are doing business selling light meals. There isn’t as much variety as the road leading up to a shrine or the carts at a festival, but it’s enough to stave off the hunger and there are enough kinds of desserts to keep dissatisfaction away.

Mei and Koharu returned to the tents for the representatives set up for each school to use, while Alisa and Marika sat on a bench equipped with a parasol placed on the venue and happily ate soft ice cream.

They ordered different flavors and fed each other. Alisa let out a disharmonious shriek “Hyaah!”, and the reason for that was Marika licking off some ice cream that was drooping down her finger.

“Hey Asha. What do you think was the meaning of what the President said before?”

Marika made Alisa angry for licking her finger and, partly with the purpose of changing the conversation, brought up the topic of Chika’s suggestive remark.

“This is just a guess, but maybe Kitahata-senpai can’t use that magic unless she puts on a wig and enters ‘lady mode’. Like some kind of self-suggestion.”

“Ah, that sounds like it could be right.”

Marika was fully convinced with Alisa’s guess.

“Though I couldn’t ask her about it in detail, since I feel it’s likely there are some kind of family circumstances involved.”

“There is no need to make sure. I don’t particularly need to know the truth at any cost.”

Alisa furrowed her brows and Marika replied with a clear tone, and then resumed the attack on the soft ice cream.