A mocking taunt. The words make Ryousuke hesitate to use [Reactive Armor].

  [Tokami, let's make a deal. Open that door there and I'll let these men go.]

  "Do you think I'll buy into that obvious lie!"

  [Nonsense. Witches don't lie. Unlike you, modern magicians, we value our words]

  Ryousuke isn't familiar with the intricacies of ancient magic. In fact, magic as a whole.

  He could only vaguely understand the meaning of her "valuing words" line. Therefore, it was not much help for him to judge her words to be any truthful.

  "…Just the door?"

  This question was a clear show of his uncertainty.

  [I'm not suggesting that you have to move aside for us to pass as well.]

  Laura assures him with clear-cut punctuation. Whether she meant it or lied, there are no doubts about her line.

  Ryousuke's heart was inclined towards accepting Laura's proposal.

  But then.

  "Sorry for the wait!"

  Along with the call, white chunks mingled with the falling rain in its path from the sky. It was too dark for Ryousuke to make out what they were.

  Four objects the size of golf balls. Four chunks of dry ice.

  The masses' trajectories aligned precisely with the faces of each of the manipulated security guards. Then, just short of collision, they were gone.

  Like puppets with severed strings, the guards surrounding Ryousuke now lay down on the ground.

  "Saegusa-san, what was that…?"

  132

  Ryousuke asks the owner of the voice, a raincoat-clad Mayumi. He couldn't make out how the guards collapsed.

  Surely it wasn't the impact with that white mass ─ chunk of dry ice. Ryousuke knows how a person falls over from a blow. They did not fall because of that. Besides, the objects never touched the guards in the first place. It became smoke once it got close to their faces and disappeared.

  "I'll tell you later."

  Answered Mayumi, holding back explanations, as she rushed to stand beside him in front of the emergence exit. She knew from experience not to reveal your hand in front of the enemy.

  Needless to say, the dry ice that fell from the sky was the result of Mayumi's magic.

  Her signature magic [Dry Meteor].

  It gathers the small amount of carbon dioxide that exists in the atmosphere into dry ice, and sublimates it in front of the target's face. The intake of a sudden, high concentration of carbon dioxide can easily lead to CO2 poisoning.

  Although the unconsciousness as a direct result of Dry Meteor is more heavily attributed to the hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) than to the carbon dioxide poisoning, both effects can be lethal in their own right.

  Of course, Mayumi makes the necessary adjustments in her magic so that this does not happen. So she did with this instance of [Dry Meteor] fired at the guards, decreasing its potency so that it would be guaranteed non-lethal.

  "More importantly, could you tell me the situation?"

  She inquired, and Ryousuke was also quick not to let his curiosity blind him of the situation.

  "As you can see, all but one of the guards in charge of the first floor have been taken by the enemy, but the control room is secure. There is no sign of intrusion on the second floor. And they ambushed me here."

  "So they are trying to get in through the emergency exit. Could the building's plants have leaked?"

  Information about the lab's emergency exit was not disclosed to public sources. Mayumi suspected that the reason the burglars were lying in ambush here was that information might have been leaked in some way.

  "She probably got it from one of the security guards who they took control of."

  133

  Ryousuke's theory disagreed with Mayumi's.

  "The person who was controlling the guard was Laura Simons. I'm sorry, but I can't tell where she's hiding."

  He couldn't elaborate further on that, and proceeded with unconcealed frustration in his voice.

  [But I can see you two, you know. Let's be done with this, get out of the way.'"

  Laura follows up on the conversation. Trying to solve her problems not only with her words, but also with a magic that disposes people of their will ─ not consciousness.

  "Hmm… Some sort of gas attack then."

  Unfortunately for Laura, her attempt with the magically conveyed "disarming scent" was blocked by the magic shield Mayumi had deployed.

  Learning from the hard experience of the attack by the New Humanity Front, Mayumi came with a previously deployed magic shield that selectively blocks gasses not contained in normal breathing air.

  A gust of wind sweeps in. Mayumi's downdraft magic, casted in parallel with her magic shield, blows away the "scent" sent by Laura along with the raindrops.

  "─Found you!"

  Shortly after Mayumi's mutter, the rainwater pooling on the road surface coalesces into icicles floating in the air. It is much easier to make ice bullets in an environment with water in abundance than it is to scrape up carbon dioxide into dry ice. Besides, carbon dioxide is soluble in water. Technically, the amount of carbon dioxide that reacts with the raindrops is negligible, but the notion that "carbon dioxide dissolves in water"

  nevertheless reduces the effectiveness of the magic.

  The reduced effect of the earlier [Dry Meteor] on the guards was convenient for its intended purpose. The target changed, and the situation changed, now ice will replace dry ice as a purely offensive tool.

  Hailstone barrage magic [Hail Storm].

  Ice crystals, each roughly one centimeter in diameter, fly up in a cluster.

  At a roadside zelkova tree reaching over 20 meters high.

  The hailstorm permeated its treetops.

  Like rain falling on water, the hail left ripples where it struck.

  134

  The haze that had assimilated with the black clouds in the night sky cleared.

  Two figures appeared, floating beyond the treetops.

  A man and a woman

  "Laura Simons!"

  Ryousuke exclaims at the sight of the woman.

  "So that's FAIR's sub-leader…"

  Ryousuke's exclamation tells Mayumi who the woman is.

  (But who is that man…?)

  A middle-aged man floats in the air, holding her beside him with an arm around Laura's waist. A first guess would put him as a member of FAIR under Laura's command. But to Mayumi's eyes, that didn't look to be the case.

  (What is this… Is this like the presence of a powerful person as they say…?) Laura certainly had an aura of eeriness about her as well. But to Mayumi's intuition, the man was much more threatening.

  "…I will deal with the guy. Saegusa you take Laura Simons."

  Ryousuke glares at the man, who releases his arms from around Laura's waist, she too untangles her hands from around the man's neck and moves away from him.

  "Oh, young lady, I wonder if you, not Tokami, will be able to accommodate me."

  Said Laura, casting a clear derisive undertone at Mayumi.

  "Oh my, I'm afraid I have no duty to welcome an uninvited guest. If I would, I'd rather have you leave."

  Mayumi was not so bellicose to bite in every opportunity of a dispute. Perhaps it was the condescension in Laura's attitude that did it for her, Mayumi was more than happy to oblige, and she responded in matching contempt for her counterpart.

  "…Let's hear your name, my lass. Feel honored that I may remember if I am so inclined."

  "I'm hardly the age of being called a lass. I wonder if I could say the same about you, you do certainly look good for a woman of your age.

  "Drop dead─"

  135

  A high-pitched, shrill "sound" that could neither be described as a song nor a prayer wrenched out of Laura's throat.

  "Witches" interfere with "human" phenomena. This includes skills to alter one's own body. The "sound" that Laura has just emitted was a contracted chanting skill that she and other witches have developed in recent years to compensate for the shortcomings of spell chanting, namely the time required to bring about an effect.

  Via modification of their own throats, they can vocalize multiple "sounds" at the same time. The compounded, superimposed phonemes form signs of magical value, fulfilling much of the same function as an activation sequence issued by a CAD.

  Reconstructing the essence of the sound she emitted into words, it says, "Descend from Heavenly Scorpion, O Messenger of Pluto. O exalted One, with whom wrath, lamentation, and resentment are written in fresh blood. Grant those who have wronged and shamed thy servant retribution by Thy Authority."

  The name of the magic is [Azrael], the angel of death. It brings about the paralysis of the heart of a single person within range of the "sound." A hex that interferes with "human"

  phenomena to induce a heart attack.

  Its name and incantation would probably be frowned upon by the followers of what Europeans call "paganism". It evidences the true wickedness "witches" possess in how willing they are to commit such sacrilege to others.

  "Too bad. Too late."

  But even with all her ingenuity, it still cannot keep up with the speed of modern magic.

  Mayumi simultaneously activated [Zone Interference] and [Data Fortification] at the same time as she whispered. Simultaneous activation of different types of magic is still a major focus at the still operational Third Research Institute. Same institute the Saegusa Family came from. Bearing the name "三枝" with the same "Saegusa" reading originally, they were transferred on to the Seventh Research Institute as a Number. The ease of the Saegusa's ability to quickly and smoothly invoke the two contrasting magics was due to the magical skills the family acquired from their time at the Third Institute.

  Even if it's magic from a "witch," the principle of action remains the same. It doesn't matter if it's a person or an employed information body who constructs the magic sequence, magic is still a "temporary overwriting of the Eidos." Be it witches' or any other, if the interference strength of [Zone Interference] and/or [Data Fortification] is superior, then the magic will fail.

  So was with Laura's [Azrael], which failed to surmount Mayumi's magic defense.

  136

  Mayumi launches another [Hail Storm] at Laura.

  Laura managed a large leap back of more than 10 meters to avoid it.

  But she could go no further. Behind her was the trunk of the zelkova tree.

  If she had fired ice pellets at that moment, Mayumi's victory would have been assured.

  She is known for her mastery of long-range precision magic marksmanship. She would never miss a shot at this distance.

  She opted, however, for dry ice bullets instead. Even if the hail missed vital points, it would still result in a bloodshed. She attempted to incapacitate Laura without spilling blood with [Dry Meteor].

  Modern magic excels in speed of activation. But the time it took to switch magics; the time it took to decide which magic, a window of opportunity Laura took to fight back.

  The product of this equation was enough for Laura to activate the slower ancient-style magic.

  Laura's body shook, dimmed, and assimilated into the bark of the zelkova tree. That is, but an effect brought about by magic to look as if so.

  A fact that Mayumi was quick to catch on to, resulting in no surprise. But she could not avoid feeling upset. Her own naivete allowed her victory to tumble out of her grasp, and the regret of this caused a stir in Mayumi's heart.

  She hurriedly looked for Laura. Mayumi also had a remote perception ability of her own, called [Multiscope]. Ability that allows its user to observe a given scene in real time from multiple viewpoints, unimpeded by physical obstacles. With this agility, she attempted to locate Laura.

  [Multiscope], however, is limited to seeing what would be visible in the presence of light, regardless of distance or obstructions. You could not use it to see what cannot be seen even with the presence of light.

  Less so with the magic that Laura is using, based on the same principle as Kimon Tonkou, in which, to any gaze directed at you is imprinted with the suggestion that "you cannot see" her. The stronger the intent is to see, the deeper one falls into the trap.

  Making this magic a terrible match for [Multiscope].

  Mayumi felt the walls of Data Fortification she had applied to herself being pecked at. It was the effect of an attempted magical attack.

  She doesn't feel like her walls are being breached just yet. But being pinned in the defensive is a recipe for failure. Mayumi was aware of this principle.

  137

  But she couldn't attack unless she could perceive her opponents. Indiscriminate wide area bombardment magic is not her forte. All she could do for the time being was to defend herself and wait for the right opportunity.

  Mayumi retreated until the back of her raincoat was against the wall of the lab, diverting the concentration of her [Zone Interference] in front of her, and adding three additional layers of [Data Fortification].

  The enemy Ryousuke's faced looked younger than his first impressions. From afar, he seemed to be somewhere in his late thirties to early forties, but now, face-to-face, he appears to be only around thirty years old.

  His physique reflected more of the younger alternative. Differences in physical fitness will result in different ways of fighting. Although the differences between that of a man in his thirties and one older than that are not so great of a miscalculation, Ryousuke chose to recompose himself.

  The man brings out a knife from inside a gray summer jacket he is wearing.

  "Lü Dongbin."

  Was the words the man muttered as he switched the knife into an overhand grip.

  Ryousuke didn't catch what it meant at first.

  "Your name."

  This next question, in English, helped him understand that it was the man's name. He didn't immediately connect it with an introduction due to his unfamiliarity with Chinese people's names.

  He never knew any Chinese when he was in Hokkaido or in Vancouver. The people in Vancouver of Han Chinese and Chinese descent usually use naturalized names.

  So naturally, Ryousuke had no idea that "Lü Dongbin" was a reading of "呂洞賓", the name of a legendary Xian.

  "Tookami Ryousuke."

  Ryousuke's concession to the request was inconsequential in his opinion. It was just his name. Unbeknownst to him, Ryousuke did not know that one's name was enough of a means of attack for some ancient -style magicians.

  Lü Dongbin was not very good at hexes using names. Deadly curses is actually more of a specialty of the IPU's "Saptarishi," whom "Bāxiān" is up against. But, knowing a person's name is a key that helps to locate him or her more easily. By giving his codename and 138

  asking Ryousuke's his name, Lü Dongbin was following his practice when it comes to melee combat.

  Seeing the knife ready with Lü Dongbin, Ryousuke adopts a stance with his fist raised in front of the right side of his body. Unfortunately, the extendable baton he ruined earlier was the only weapon he had prepared.

  Instead, he activates [Reactive Armor] at this stage, knowing from the sensation in his skin that Lü Dongbin is not someone he can let his guard down even for a moment.

  Ryousuke and Lü Dongbin glared at each other. Beside them, Laura and Mayumi were facing each other at a short distance.

  The exchange of verbal barbs turned into an exchange of magical attacks as Laura's hexes bounced off Mayumi and Mayumi's ice bullets pounded the pavement.

  That was the cue. Lü Dongbin closed the gap, knife drawn. The speed was alarming, but still not so fast to lose sight.

  The knife was held in the right hand, Ryousuke tried to swing it outward with his left hand.

  But Lü Dongbin retracted his hand just prior and Ryousuke sliced through the air.

  Lü Dongbin angled the withdrawn knife and thrust it out.

  A stab to the stomach.

  Ryousuke struck the inner side of Lü Dongbin's right forearm with his right palm, deflecting the thrust. He then stepped forward and thrust his right elbow into his opponent's chest.

  But there was no feedback. Lü Dongbin drew back his left leg and threw his body out, killing the impact of the elbow strike. Next he aimed his right hand with the knife at Ryousuke's neck.

  Ryousuke relaxed his right knee, rotating downwards to his left and catching Lü Dongbin's right hand with his left. He couldn't control the force while he was under [Reactive Armor], but he didn't care about it in this situation.

  He reached out to grasp the arm with the intention of crushing it, but he only caught the sleeve of the jacket. Holding onto it anyway, Ryousuke hurled Lü Dongbin over his body with his momentum.

  The sleeve ripped open, and Lü Dongbin was sent flying into the air. Regardless of him being thrown or throwing himself, he landed on the wet surface in a motion reminiscent of a cat.

  139

  Ryousuke raised up smoothly back on his feet as well without a moment's delay.

  Ryousuke and Lü Dongbin once again glared at each other.

  Laura's attacks hit Mayumi one after another. Meanwhile, Mayumi is unable to figure out Laura's position.

  (If this continues…)

  Mayumi was mentally cornered.

  Not that there was nothing she could do. Even if she couldn't figure out where Laura was hiding, she could still find a way to attack her.

  Just because wide area offensive magic is not Mayumi's forte, does not mean that she cannot use it.

  (…Damn! Again…)

  Laura's attacks are gradually increasing in strength. The intervals between attacks are growing, but this also indicates that the opponent is confident enough to take the time to prepare for the attack.

  Mayumi does not have any techniques to shield specifically against mental interference magic or hexes. She could only use heavy-handed tactics such as [Zone Interference]

  and [Data Fortification] to get the job done. It is, so to speak, a feat of strength. Since they are not very efficient in comparison, the wear and tear is very acute.

  The power of the enemy's magic is increasing, and she is getting exhausted. It's clear how it will end if things continue as they are now. And Mayumi couldn't just take that kind of outcome in stride.

  "Tookami-san, are you using that shield of yours?