"Yeah… But it's fine if I skip it. It's a lecture that's archived online. I’ll hear you out."

  Many students at the Magic University help their families with their work. Not necessarily housekeeping, but rather work as a magician. As a result, it was far from uncommon for a student to have circumstances that required them to miss lectures.

  45

  As a measure to assist such students, the Magic University had a number of lectures that were archived and available online for a limited period of time. Although it wasn’t an open lecture, it was available to students who had registered for the course and were available on wired terminals in the university.

  "Sorry about that. Now, come with me."

  "Alright."

  "Is this topic a secret to me?"

  Erika interjected from beside the nodding Mikihiko.

  "Let me see…"

  Tatsuya thought for a moment and immediately came to a conclusion.

  "Actually, I think this might have something to do with you too, Erika. Can you come with me too?"

  Erika nodded, with a light-hearted "Okay".

  With her and Mikihiko in tow, Tatsuya departed.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Tatsuya took the two of them to the circle room of the "Unidentified Magic Research Society."

  This was an inactive circle that Tatsuya had taken over to make it his base of activities at the Magic University. Currently, the members of the circle consist solely of people related to the Yotsuba Family who are loyal to Tatsuya, and the circle room has been remodeled with an emphasis on security. ──Without the permission of the university.

  In the room of the Unidentified Magic Research Society, which has become a kind of extraterritorial zone, Tatsuya told Mikihiko and Erika about the matter of the curse he had heard from Yakumo the night before. Even though he didn't mention the Senate by name, he did explain that the Army Intelligence Department, with a powerful person behind the scenes on their side, was the main culprit behind the situation and what their intentions were.

  "So, we're dealing with a 'Miyako-ochi' sorcerer, huh… That's tricky."

  46

  Mikihiko muttered to himself after listening to Tatsuya's explanation.

  "'Miyako-ochi'5, what's with that?"

  The word itself wasn't uncommon, but feeling that the meaning wasn't quite fitting for use in this context, Erika immediately asked Mikihiko.

  "Right… Hieizan has many different names."

  "I know. Like the Tendai-san or the Hokurei."

  "Yes. One of those aliases is 'Miyako Fuji'." That's where the name "Fallen of Miyako"

  comes from. That's why some Ancient Magicians call Hieizan practitioners who have fallen to heretic ways a 'Miyako-ochi'."

  "Just some of them?"

  "Yeah, I guess so. I wouldn't say it's a common name."

  Mikihiko nodded with a bitter smile on his face.

  "But I like it. I'll call it that from now on too."

  "Then I'll be using it as well."

  Not only Erika, but Tatsuya also jumped on the bandwagon, and decided that the enemy's code name would be "Miyako-ochi".

  Returning to the topic at hand.

  "If they’re going to use sorcery as a stand-in for keeping hostages, I think it's more likely that they will target women."

  "…Tatsuya are you saying that Shibata-san might be a target of the hex?"

  Mikihiko asked back in a low voice. Any trace of emotion had vanished from his face.

  "And Erika, I guess."

  Erika frowned at Tatsuya's answer. ──Even though she was a complete collateral being dragged into this situation, she limited herself to frowning instead of trying to blame Tatsuya.

  "Do you think we should be worried about Mitsui-san and the others?"

  Mikihiko asked, his face remaining impassive.

  5 The word literally means "capital runaway", where "capital" specifically refers to the former capital of Kyoto

  47

  "We can't say that there's no possibility of them becoming targets."

  Yakumo had said that Shizuku and Honoka wouldn’t be targeted to avoid offending the powerful and influential Kitayama Ushio, whose business circles had a strong influence on the world of politics, yet Tatsuya had a different opinion. He didn't think that the logic of someone who had gone astray of their path ── taking in the advantages and disadvantages into account before acting could be relied upon.

  "But it's probably less risky to happen than with Mizuki and Erika."

  But Tatsuya thought that the principle of "attacking the parts that are easy to attack to accomplish the goal" also holds true for sorcery. From a technical standpoint, someone with special eyes like Mizuki might be more difficult to inflict a curse upon than someone like Honoka or Shizuku, but considering the influence of the organization associated to them holds, Tatsuya agrees with Yakumo that things like political and financial power can’t be ignored. Nevertheless, the only difference was that he saw the possibility being low, but not zero.

  "…Alright."

  Mikihiko's expression had changed from a poker face to one filled with murderous intent.

  48

  49

  "I'll deal with Shibata-san and Erika on my end. Erika, can you stop by my place today on your way home?"

  "Uh, yeah. I can, I guess…"

  The quiet anger was intense enough to put pressure on Erika.

  "As for the sorcerer, I'll figure it out so Tatsuya, I'll leave the rest to you to take care of."

  "Alright."

  Mikihiko silently stood up and walked out of the circle room.

  Tatsuya didn’t make any effort to stop him.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  "Hey, Miki, wait up!"

  As Mikihiko exited the circle room of the Unidentified Magic Research Society, he was immediately called out to stop by Erika who was chasing after him.

  "I told you to wait!"

  And, by the second time, Mikihiko finally came to a stop.

  "What do you want!? And my name is Mikihiko!"

  Turning around, Mikihiko responded bluntly.

  Erika frowned, but didn't pick a fight.

  "…It's not Tatsuya-kun's fault, you know."

  "I know that much."

  Mikihiko's voice carried more frustration than anger.

  "Then what's wrong with you?"

  Erika asked, taking care not to sound provocative.

  "It’s because the Ancient Magician is a cowardly bastard who is choosing to curse an innocent woman even though she hasn’t done anything wrong. If he wants to get a concession out of Tatsuya, he should try cursing the man himself instead of targeting Shibata-san!"

  50

  Mikihiko's true feelings slipped out at the "targeting Shibata-san" part, but Erika didn't try so much as to point it out and get on his nerves.

  "I think that would be impossible, you know. I don't think there's anyone that would be able to mess with Tatsuya-kun."

  "That… I guess you're right."

  The harsh look was gone from Mikihiko's expression as he thought about what he would have done and came to terms with Erika's argument. Certainly, any attempt of a direct attack against Tatsuya was unthinkable in many ways. In fact, he didn't want to think about it.

  "If anything, since he gave us a warning beforehand, you should be able to protect Mizuki, Miki."

  "You have a point on that too."

  "Oh, right, and don't forget about me. I'm counting on you, Mikihiko-kun."

  Instead of calling him "Miki," Erika instead called him "Mikihiko-kun" in a sweet voice.

  Her voice carried a certain charm fitting for her age, which stirred Mikihiko's mind even though he was well aware that she was just joking.

  "You’re all talk at a time like this."

  The one who said this while looking away was…

  Mikihiko who was putting forth his best effort to appear tough.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  It was after Mikihiko and Erika left the circle room of the Unidentified Magic Research Society.

  Tatsuya didn't remain alone for long, soon enough a pair of students, a man and a woman, arrived in the room.

  "You wanted to see us, Tatsuya-san?"

  "Is there anything I can help you with?"

  At first glance, they appeared to be a pair of female students, but it was Fumiya and Ayako.

  "Sorry to call you on such short notice."

  51

  Tatsuya had called them via text after Mikihiko and Erika had left.

  "Not at all, the lecture was one I could skip."

  Once Fumiya eloquently said that,

  "And I'm sure you were already aware of that before you called us here, weren't you?"

  Ayako added in a lightly chiding tone. ──Even without looking at the mischievous grin on her face, it was clear that she deliberately made it sound like an accusation.

  But while the tone was half-hearted, the substance of the sentence was spot on. Tatsuya had memorized not only both of their course schedules, but also those of Miyuki and Lina.

  "That doesn't change the fact that I was pushing it when I asked. I'm grateful that you willingly agreed."

  "Naturally we did. I don't even need to think about which is more important, Tatsuya-san's call or a university lecture."

  "Fumiya… You sounded a bit too clingy, you know."

  As Fumiya answered full of pride, from beside him Ayako let a slightly malicious smile escape her lips.

  "I bet you wish you were a girl, don't you?"

  Ayako teased him with an undertone that clearly marked it as a joke. If her brother were to actually bring up the idea of a sex change, she'd undoubtedly be in a complete state of panic.

  "Isn't it quite the other way around? I think I'm able to do it because I am a man. Don't you think that men find clingy women to be too much trouble?"

  In the past, Fumiya would have only been able to turn red and yell out a rebuttal back, that wouldn't really amount to a rebuttal. However, the Fumiya of now was able to calmly counter his sister’s teasing.

  "Oh, so you admit you're clingy then."

  "It's better if the man is clingy than if they are too loose. You wouldn't put your faith in a man who's quite loose with his loyalties, would you?"

  "Anyway, that aside, Tatsuya-san. Could you tell us what business you have with us?"

  52

  Perhaps seeing the odds were stacked against her, Ayako decided to change the subject by asking Tatsuya the question.

  "Late last night, I received information from Master Kokonoe Yakumo. It seems that the Army Intelligence Department is planning to set up a hex on my friends with the support of one of the Senate’s Four Great Elders, Kashiwa Kazutaka."

  Tatsuya didn't panic or feel confused when he was suddenly asked to explain. In a calm tone of voice, he relayed what he needed to say.

  On the other hand, both of the people on the receiving end had trouble keeping their composure.

  "A hex!?"

  "Kashiwa-sama of the Senate you say!?"

  Ayako exclaimed, almost in a shriek.

  "I still don't have any proof to confirm, but I'll bet it's probably true. Also, Master also has no reason or need to tell a nasty lie of this nature."

  "That's certainly true…"

  Fumiya back-channeled with some agitation lingering in his voice.

  "But even if that's the case, why would Kashiwa-sama… Did he feel offended with the whole matter of Kurenai Anzu's capture?"

  Kurenai Anzu was the leader of the New Humanity Front, a magic supremacy extremist organization. Only two weeks had passed since she was captured and smuggled out of the mansion where she was being sheltered by Izayoi Shirabe who was working under Kashiwa Kazutaka.

  What intentions Kashiwa Kazutaka had in harboring Kurenai Anzu are unknown. But there's no doubt that by capturing her, it had smeared Kashiwa's reputation. However, considering what Fumiya and Ayako had learned from Tatsuya about people like Tatsuya himself and Toudou’s beneficiaries that were directly associated with people such as Kashiwa, Toudou Aoba and the other Four Great Elders of the Senate, it was hard to imagine such a powerful man, who ruled Japan "behind the scenes," would be so concerned about the well-being of a single criminal.

  However, neither Tatsuya, Fumiya, nor Ayako possessed any real idea of Kashiwa's character. Having a lot of amassed power and authority doesn’t always translate into 53

  having a lot of tolerance. There was no denying the possibility that Kashiwa's character holds an enormous importance on honor.

  "That's what I'm wondering too."

  Tatsuya nodded towards Ayako. Then he regarded them both at the same time.

  "So, I'd like to entrust the Kuroba Family with a job."

  "Not to us, but to the Kuroba Family?"

  Puzzled, Fumiya asked for a confirmation, to which Tatsuya noded and answered, "That's right".

  "That's because it’s a job of continuous surveillance. I can't just keep asking you two to skip university lectures."

  "What exactly would this work entail?"

  Fumiya gave him an "I don't mind" kind of expression, but before he could say anything Ayako inquired about the details.

  "Surveillance on Izayoi Shirabe. I wish I could do it myself, but I have my hands full with another matter right now."

  By his "another matter" Tatsuya was referring to the demonstration of Material Burst to both the government and the military. He has yet to share this with the two of them. But neither Fumiya nor Ayako asked him what the "other matter" was.

  "What should we be keeping a watch on Izayoi Shirabe for?"

  Instead, Fumiya asked a productive question related to the job in question.

  "Whether he will take part in the cursing or not. I think that will help us determine how committed Kashiwa Kazutaka is to this."

  After answering that, Tatsuya shared with them the details of the information Yakumo had mentioned to him.

  "…So the Intelligence Department asked for a sorcerer monk from Hieizan, right?"

  Fumiya took on a measured tone for the confirmation.

  "It seems that he’s not formally a Hieizan monk. He’s a so-called 'Fallen of Miyako.'

  Master called him a 'heretic monk,' and Mikihiko called him a 'Miyako-ochi'."

  Tatsuya affirmed in an indirect way.

  54

  "Regardless of what we'll be calling them, are you trying to say that the sorcerer monk that accepted the Intelligence Department's request doesn’t have anyone under Kashiwa-sama's command?"

  Fumiya seemed to have guessed Tatsuya's thoughts.

  "I want to make sure of that. In our previous task, we discovered that the Izayoi Family is quite proficient in sorcery."

  "So you think, Tatsuya-san, that if Kashiwa-sama is serious about retaliating against you, there’s no way that they wouldn’t use the pawns at his disposal, namely the Izayoi Family, considered to be the strongest among the Hundred Families, right?"

  Ayako put her guess into words and asked Tatsuya for a score.

  "That's what I believe."

  "In that case, I'll put together a team of people well-versed in Ancient Magic and have them in charge of the surveillance."

  Ayako looked pleased with the gold star Tatsuya gave her.

  "We'll accept Tatsuya-san's request."

  "We'll arrange a surveillance team as soon as possible."

  Fumiya followed Ayako, almost as if competing with his sister, and conveyed to Tatsuya their acceptance of the request.

  55

  Chapter 4

  [Internal Division]

  The proceedings of Mayumi and Ryosuke's trip to the United States weren’t universally met with negativity by everyone in the National Defense Forces. Even within the same army, they were split in their stance.

  Tuesday, June 15th. Approximately at the same time that the Intelligence Department learned of Mayumi's preparations to go to the United States, and held a confidential board meeting to deliberate on a sabotage plan. At the Independent Magic-Equipped Regiment at Narashino Base, movements that contrast with those discussed by the Intelligence Department were unfolding.

  Previously under the command of the 101st Brigade, the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion was reorganized and separated from the brigade to form an independent regiment, the Independent Magic-Equipped Regiment. At the time of its reorganization, the 1st Airborne Brigade lent out a portion of Narashino Base, but this year it was finally given its own headquarters within the same base.

  A newly appointed sergeant major was summoned to the commander's office of the Independent Magic-Equipped Regiment.

  The sergeant major's name was Watanabe Mari. After graduating from the National Defense Academy this year, she applied to join the same 1st Division Assault Infantry Unit ── reorganized because it exceeded the scope of a platoon ── also known as the

  "Battoutai," as her boyfriend Chiba Naotsugu, but unfortunately, she had been assigned to the Independent Magic-Equipped Regiment contrary to her wishes.

  Regardless, it was an all too common occurrence, not just in the military, to be assigned to a different department than the desired one. Moreover, for Mari who had just been appointed, she had been through enough physical and mental strain for the past two and a half months that she had no strength left to complain.

  Now, out of nowhere, she was suddenly summoned by none other than the regimental commander. Mari stood nervously, with her entire body tense in front of the desk, waiting for the commanding officer, Colonel Kazama, to speak.

  56

  "Sergeant Major Watanabe. I hope you have familiarized yourself with everything here. I think our regiment differs in many respects from the National Defense Academy and other units."

  "Yes. There's no problem, sir."

  "I see. Then I should apologize for asking you this after you’ve just become familiarized with everything here, but I'd like you to leave the unit to go on a mission for a while."

  "An independent mission, sir?"

  "That's right. Although it’s highly unusual to assign a newly assigned personnel to this sort of mission, I judged that the sergeant major would be a fitting choice."

  "I am honored, sir. I shall do everything in my power to carry out whatever mission is assigned to me."