[Now, we found out that Lü Dongbin is hiding in…]

  Switching to work mode, Ayako reports the results of their investigation.

  "…Nishi-Kawaguchi. Surprising, isn't it?"

  "…So, Nishi-Kawaguchi. Not surprising, I guess."

  Nishi-Kawaguchi, in the southern region of the formerly Saitama Prefecture. On hearing the name, Tatsuya muttered to himself.

  The invasion of the GAU forces five years ago has heightened the wariness of Chinese and ethnic Chinese in the Yokohama area. Chinatown is under intense scrutiny, and many of the stores and restaurants have not recovered their customer base.

  This trend persisted further across a wide swath, from Tsurumi to Yokosuka. In light of such circumstances, it was reasonable to expect GAU operatives to choose inland areas over those along the Tokyo Bay coast for their hideouts.

  [And, unfortunately, Laura Simons…]

  "You didn't find her?"

  It was easy to guess the rest of her phrase from the clipped tone in which Ayako was speaking.

  [Yes, you guessed it; it appears that they have gone their separate ways.]

  160

  The resigned note in Ayako's voice was less for the failure in locating Laura, and more for being seen through by Tatsuya.

  "As I told Fumiya, Lü Dongbin is the main concern right now. Keep an eye on him so we don't lose sight of him."

  [But of course, I assure you we'll be mindful of that.]

  "I'll be back there tomorrow."

  [We'll be gladly waiting for your arrival.]

  Tatsuya returned to the room from the balcony and called for Hyougo.

  Hyougo, who was already on his feet, answered, "You asked for me, sir?"

  "I'll suspend the search for tomorrow and will head back to Japan."

  "Understood, sir. What would you like to do with your baggage?"

  "Just leave it at the hotel, please."

  "It'll be taken care of, sir."

  With a nod to the bowing Hyougo, Tatsuya picks up the retro-looking phone receiver and dials an extension line to the adjacent room.

  [Tatsuya-sama, is there something I can do for you?]

  Miyuki picked up the line.

  "We need to talk about tomorrow. I'm sorry I'll have to ask that you bring Lina with you."

  With Miyuki's [As you wish], Tatsuya hung up the receiver.

  Nearly five minutes later, Miyuki and Lina came to the room.

  The reason why it took so long was immediately apparent. They evidently were fixing their makeup.

  Tatsuya was not about to blame the girls for just five minutes. He had them both sit down at a table and asked Hyougo for drinks.

  "We have info on Lü Dongbin's whereabouts. We'll suspend tomorrow's search."

  161

  Neither seemed surprised, the search for the Shambhala had been scheduled to be suspended.

  "Are you going back to Japan?"

  Miyuki was mostly asking for confirmation with that question.

  "I'll be landing at Miyakishima via Takachiho."

  As he answered, Hyougo set a cup of green tea in front of each of the three.

  "Hyougo-san."

  Tatsuya addressed him when the same was done distributing the tea.

  "Yes, Tatsuya-sama?"

  "Do you mind driving me to the vacant lot where we picked up the space suits the other day?"

  "Of course, as you wish."

  As always, Hyougo bowed reverently.

  "May I join you?"

  "You know that we're coming with you, don't you?"

  Those two, directing gazes with essentially the same message, asking to tag along; if it weren't for their different features, they might as well be sisters. Although today Miyuki is his fiancée and Lina is her best friend and escort, Tatsuya felt as if he now had two younger sisters. Even if he didn't have the intention of doing so, he found himself involuntarily nodding his head.

  "I was planning to invite you two along from the beginning."

  But in this case it was his intention. Serves him better to bring this topic up and done right away.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  11 P.M. local time. Tatsuya gazed up at the starlit sky in a vacant lot on the outskirts of Kagan, Uzbekistan. Behind him was a camper converted from a conventional station wagon.

  He was dressed in a skin-tight space suit. The suit that hugged his body closely gave less of an impression of a boiler suit or even a dry suit and more of a racing suit, or perhaps even the combat suit of the special squadron, with the fireproof hood over it.

  162

  The sound of the camper's rear gate opening drew Tatsuya's attention.

  Out came two figures wearing the same space suits as Tatsuya. It was clear from the outlined graceful curves of their bodies accentuated by the suits that they were women.

  Their faces are obscured by the opaque visor built into the hood. But who else could these two be, from their silhouettes alone, radiating an aura of beauty, but Miyuki and Lina.

  "Looks like there were no problems with size."

  Tatsuya speaks as they approach within conversational distance. Not that it makes any difference, since the hoods are completely airtight, and they communicate through the built-in communicator.

  [Say, it doesn't look weird, does it?]

  Miyuki's voice comes from close to his ear. It felt like she was whispering to him from a huddling distance.

  It didn't feel strange as it was Miyuki, but he thought it might be a bit strange with someone else.

  "Nothing wrong at all. All I can see is a fine astronaut."

  The word has the historical connotation of the astronauts who trained in America, but Tatsuya was referring to its general meaning.

  [What about me?]

  As he thought, hearing Lina's voice right next to his ear brought a weird feeling.

  "Of course you as well, Lina. I don't see anything wrong with it."

  Except for the voice part, he thought but left unspoken.

  EVA suits are a type of a space suit for the purpose of Extravehicular Activity as its name suggests. Given that manned exploration of other celestial bodies hasn't been conducted for over a century at this point, it wouldn't be wrong to describe them as a tool for spacewalking.

  At this point, it goes unsaid why Miyuki and Lina are wearing these space suits.

  "So this is how space feels…! It's almost like flight magic… No, not really. I don't know how to describe it…"

  Miyuki was so overcome that she lost her words.

  163

  "Hahaha! I'm in space! I've always wanted to come. It's so awesome! Ahahahaha!"

  As for Lina, she was in such an ecstatic state that it was almost hilarious.

  Tatsuya watches those two with a smile.

  Before their eyes is the Earth at night; behind is the large Orbital Residence. From above, below, and at the left and right are the stars suspended in the vastness of the cosmos.

  They were brought before Takachiho by the [Virtual Satellite Elevator].

  "Are you enjoying space?"

  They heard a voice from the communicator, making Miyuki and Lina look back behind them while Tatsuya was already facing the direction of the voice beforehand. With the lack of a foothold in space for them to turn their heels on, the flight magic device on their space suits allowed them to move as they pleased.

  "Minoru-kun!"

  "Minoru! Where's your space suit?

  Minoru was standing in space in his everyday clothes.

  "It's too much trouble to put one every time."

  They soon snapped out of their amazement.

  It was understandable that Minoru would shrug his shoulders at the thought. The girls could imagine themselves also becoming weary of wearing space suits like Minoru after living here for such a long period.

  They could simply make an anti-object plus anti-radiation shield with air inside to go outside, like Minoru. And the girls, much like him, also had the magical talent to do so effortlessly.

  "…I'm sure the view here outside is spectacular, but shouldn't you be getting inside soon?"

  Tatsuya, Miyuki, Lina, were now sitting with Minoru around a table in Takachiho's residential module.

  "Please enjoy."

  Minami placed a cup of coffee in front of each of the four of them. Miyuki and Lina's cups were topped with frothy milk.

  164

  "So you really can live here like it's down there…"

  Lina muttered musingly with amazement as she picked up her cup.

  The residence module on Takachiho is maintained at the same 1G as on Earth by the gravity magic stored in the Magistore onboard. The atmospheric pressure is also maintained at 1 atm. Inside, it is easy to forget that this is space.

  Minami placed a cup of coffee in front of each of the four of them. Miyuki and Lina's cups were topped with frothy milk.

  "So you really can live here like it's down there…"

  Lina muttered musingly with amazement as she picked up her cup.

  The residence module on Takachiho is maintained at the same 1G gravity as on Earth by the gravity magic stored in the Magistore onboard. The atmospheric pressure is also maintained at 1 atm. Inside, it is easy to forget that this is space.

  Miyuki had the same thought.

  They both knew that Tatsuya designed this facility for that purpose. Experiencing it firsthand, however, the environment has turned out to be more like the one on earth than they had expected.

  "I should apologize to you, Minoru, and to Minami, too, for bothering you at this hour."

  The two of them lived according to Japanese standard time; and it was almost 4:00 A.M.

  Even though he got their agreement in advance, it was still no doubt an inconvenient hour for a visit.

  "Please. We do not mind."

  Minami responded before Minoru could, in her same reverent manner as always.

  "In fact, we are rather glad you came. Especially Minami-san, I'd say she's been eagerly anticipating for you all to come."

  Minoru was quick to add.

  "Minoru-sama!?"

  To a voice of protest from a visibly blushing Minam. Clear that her reaction was based more in embarrassment than any sign of anger.

  Minoru stares fondly back at the reproachful glances from Minami. THe love-filled look only made Minami's face blush a deeper shade of red.

  Minami is the first to disengage and look away.

  165

  To a voice of protest from a visibly blushing Minami. Clear that her reaction was based more in embarrassment than any sign of anger.

  Minoru's gaze became even fonder, leading him to smile softly unconsciously.

  But this was about as far as he would be left with his composure.

  "…I see you two seem to be doing well. I'm happy for you both."

  Because Miyuki entered the conversation from the flank, now Minoru found himself in the same red-faced predicament as Minami.

  It was ten minutes later when the discussion resumed, or rather, finally got to the main topic.

  "We'll be getting off at Miyakishima on the next approach to Japan."

  "Understood. I'll adjust our orbit accordingly."

  Takachiho is capable of changing its orbit up to 30 degrees to either north or south within the same altitude. The orbit changes do not use the conventional thruster approach, it is instead used a magical approach based on the same principles as flight magic. Given the restorative force involved in magical event modification, it will automatically return to its original trajectory after a set amount of time.

  "I'll go see the enemy magician, Lü Dongbin, alone. Miyuki and Lina will wait for me in Miyakishima."

  Hearing this, Minoru gives Miyuki and Lina a "Are you sure about that?" look Miyuki made a tacit expression, as if to say "I don't agree, but I'm going to abide quietly", whereas Lina gave a weak smile with a "there's no helping" expression.

  "…How about this, Minoru and Minami, why don't you two also get down with us? Then it would be nice for Miyuki and Lina as well."

  Aware of the exchange of glances among the three, Tatsuya made an off-the-cuff suggestion.

  "Ah, yeah, that's right…"

  Minoru's eyes darted about.

  "…It's fine if I ask just Minami-san to keep them company, then?"

  Minoru thought for a moment and made that offer.

  166

  Tatsuya glances at Miyuki.

  "Tatsuya-sama, I'm sure Minoru-kun would feel uncomfortable being the only man around while you are away… Minami-chan, I wonder if you could spend some time with us until Tatsuya-sama's work is done."

  "I'd be happy to."

  Minami didn't panic when the conversation suddenly turned to her.

  "I don't see why Minoru shouldn't come too."

  Lina tries to overturn the table, but Minoru just chuckles slightly and shakes his head silently.

  The table transitioned to a ladies’ tea party.

  Tatsuya used the excuse of wanting to inspect the magic system and the Stellar Reactor as an excuse to leave, and Minoru followed him.

  Being only an inspection, it wasn't without substance.

  "─Good, it seems like being in space doesn't make it degrade any faster."

  "That's a relief to hear."

  Tatsuya carefully went through each of the Artificial Relic Magistores used in Takachiho.

  After inspecting all the artificial relics, Tatsuya proposed to Minoru to "take a break" at the information center, which was remodeled from the submarine's launch center.

  Minoru ordered his support parasite doll [Mr. Co] to bring them water without Minami noticing.

  Minoru accepted the two plastic cups brought by the neutral looking parasite doll and offered one to Tatsuya.

  "So this enemy now is one of those I fought in Tibet, right?"

  "It's a speculation, but I'm confident it is."

  Tatsuya answered with confidence while receiving the offered cup.

  "By the way, I'd like to hear your opinion on this."

  Then Tatsuya added, with an unusual look of "I've just come up with something" on his face.

  167

  "What is it?"

  "Those Daoshi you fought in Tibet, the ones who we think are the Bāxiān, they also used a technique to nullify magic, didn't they?"

  "Yeah. You want to hear about what I know about that technique?"

  "Yes. How do you think they neutralize it?"

  "At the very least I don't think it was Gram Demolition or Gram Dispersion."

  Minoru replied cautiously. This was because he, too, had not been able to come to a conclusion yet after much consideration about the magic nullification technique.

  "I see. I was thinking it could be neutralized by applying the principles of the 'Hex Reversal' technique, but what do you think?"

  "…May I ask how you came to that conclusion?"

  Minoru asked back, and Tatsuya shared with him the information Fujibayashi had gathered about Ryousuke's combat.

  "…So, right after the attack reached the opponent, the magic was nullified, did I get that right? Not at the same time?"

  "The opponent probably didn't take the bare fist. He would have been able to evade or at least use some technique to mitigate the damage. Besides, it's hard to imagine he didn't do any sort of physical conditioning to resist blows. I'm convinced that a single bare fist was not enough to break his ribs, but rather that the effect of the individual armor magic was still in play at the moment of impact."

  "I see… Are you trying to say that there was a slight time delay between the magic disappearing, and the damage was done in the split second before the magic lost its effects."

  "I think the damage coincided with the fist strike, resulting in the broken bones."

  "But didn't Tookami sense he broke a bone?"

  Minoru follows Tatsuya's example and calls Ryousuke by his surname, "Tookami".

  "In that case, any time lag would be just for a moment, right?"

  "I'm wondering, in that split second he could have created and released a psionic wave in the opposite phase."

  "…Now that you mention it, something came to mind."

  Minoru paused for a moment to think, then dug into his memory.

  168

  "When I reflected an enemy's attack with [Hex Reversal], he wasn't able to nullify the magic that was sent back to him."

  "Is there any particular reason for that?"

  "There is a technical limitation to ancient-style magic. It's impossible to reflect [Hex Reversal] with another [Hex Reversal]. Because if you did, the power of the art would increase endlessly."

  "─'The World does not allow for infinity' huh?"

  "Yes. That rule holds true for ancient magic as well."

  Tatsuya and Minoru looked at each other and nodded.

  "I think you are on the right track in assuming that their magic nullification technique is a counteracting effect applying the [Hex Reversal] method."

  Minoru verbalized the answer they both reached through eye contact.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  August 14th, 10:00 A.M.

  "Tatsuya-san, Miyuki-san, Lina-san, welcome back. It's been a while, Minami-san."

  Ayako received the four of them as they touched down at Miyakishima.

  "You came to pick us up?"

  "Yes. I'll be taking you to Lü Dongbin's hideout."

  She said with a smile to Tatsuya.

  Tatsuya, by contrast, looks at her apologetically.

  "I'm really sorry, but I'd like to take a break before I go. We were up most of last night. I know next to nothing about this opponent's hand. I need to be in the best shape."

  "Y-you are quite right. I completely understand, I will wait patiently for you."

  Ayako gained an uncomfortable look on her face as well.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  It was past 4 P.M. when Tatsuya boarded the small VTOL with Ayako.

  Until that time, Ayako spent her leisure time having tea with Minami, rather than waiting alone. Perhaps due to her parasitization, Minami didn't need as much sleep 169

  anymore. By her own account, her overall performance was more dependent on the cumulative magic use than the amount of time spent on sleep.

  "I'll be off, then."

  "Please take care."

  "Make sure to bring back some souvenirs."

  Said the always worried about his wellbeing, Miyuki, and later Lina, with not an ounce of seriousness. And there was Minami, who bowed without a word.