Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 05 - Summer Holiday Chapter Read online

  Magic and magicians

  Magician

  Shorthand for [Magic Skills Expert]. A generic term for persons capable of using practical-level magic. Whether the magic used is Modern Magic or Ancient Magic, all are [Magic Skills Experts]. However users of Ancient Magic prefer traditional terms like [Sorcerer], [Medium], [Ascetic], or [Ninja] when introducing themselves. It is said that 1 in 1000 teenagers have magical talent and this becomes 1 in 10000 for adults after power loss due to stresses during growth phases, but this is entirely for [practical-level magic]; persons possessing [combat-level magic] are even rarer.

  Magic Sequence

  Information bodies meant to temporarily manipulate phenomenon-related information. These are constructed from a magician's stock psions. Phenomenon-related information are also psion information bodies, so magic sequences alter them like what computer viruses do. The [World] has the recovery strength to maintain temporal continuity, hence a magic sequence's effectiveness is only temporary. Given that fact, if sufficiently prolonged magic-induced [alteration] is kept up, it can be [established] as [reality] to the [World]. Magical therapy exploits this principle.

  Output processes of magic sequences

  Outputting magic sequences obey the following processes.

  One receives the activation sequence from a CAD. This is called [activation sequence loading].

  Variables are added to the activation sequence, then both are sent to the magic calculation zone.

  The magic sequence is constructed from the activation sequence and the variables. This is automatically executed in the magic calculation zone, a black box process even to magicians themselves.

  The constructed magic sequences are forwarded through the [Route] (it serves as the bottom layer of the conscious and the top layer of the unconscious), and outputted from the [Gate] (the threshold that exists in both conscious and unconscious mind) on to the [Idea].

  The magic sequences being outputted to the [Idea] alter the Eidos at the specified coordinates, and so rewrite it.

  In each magic system and magic process, completing these five processes in 0.5 second is the benchmark for a [practical-level] magician.

  Magic systems

  Traditional magic classifies the techniques by applying symbolic elements to the phenomenon being activated. Model classifications include the major four elements ([earth], [water], [fire], [air]), the five rings ([sky] is added to the major four elements), and the wu xing ([wood], [fire], [earth], [metal], [water]). There are even cases when elements such as [light], [dark], [void], [nothingness], [divine], [lunar], [lightning], [mountain], and [valley] were added. Modern magic, with its roots from ESP research, are classified not from the perceived property but from its functionality.

  Namely,

  (Acceleration and Gravitation) (Movement and Oscillation)

  (Convergence and Dispersion) (Absorption and Emission)

  The above-mentioned is the four-system, eight-type magic taxonomic schema.

  Of course it is known that there are always exceptions, magics that cannot be classified under modern magic's four-system eight-type schema. So for example, since the four-system eight-type is focused on functionality, ESP (aka parapsychology, extra-sensory perception) is classified as [Perception magic], separate from the the four-system eight type magics; in this division parapsycholgic approaches are still strong. In terms of scholastic research, the magic systems are finely classified; still [rewriting information that are attached to reality and reflecting those alterations back to reality] is magic's only truth, and this applies to both classified and unclassified magics.

  Magic processes

  In modern magic the term "magic processes" carry two meanings: one, the very processes to activate magic, and two, the combined singular and multiple magic processing for the purpose of performing the target alterations to reality. For the latter meaning, taking for example magic to relocate an egg from the kitchen to the table, the required processes would be acceleration, movement, acceleration, then movement. Movement magic rewrites an object's velocity and linear coordinates, and omitting the acceleration processes means an increase in acceleration that ignores a target object's inertia (this means one shattered egg). Omitting the movement processing and using only acceleration and deceleration processes means the egg will follow a parabolic trajectory, and this requires extremely fine deceleration control. Even with repeated deceleration processing, using movement magic to zero out the velocity is far easier. With these four processes, it becomes the magic of [relocating an egg from the kitchen to the table]. Prevailing view says civilian-use magics requires more processing stages than military-use magics.

  Magic evaluation standards (magic strength)

  Magic throughput (how fast one can construct psion information bodies), magic capacity (how big one can construct psion information bodies), and interference strength (how strong one's magic sequences can rewrite the Eidos). These three together define magic strength. Other main factors like stock psion capacity (limits how many times one can activate magic) or multi-variable processing capability (influences the degrees of freedom for magic) are not counted towards magic strength. Magicians are controlled through a licensing system, and it is the norm for them to be assessed from A-rank to E-rank.

  Magic calculation zone

  The mental zone when magic sequences are constructed. The wellspring for the ability called magic. It exists in a magician's unconscious mind, and while magicians are normally aware and make use of it they cannot sense the actual processes that are being performed there. The magic calculation zone is said to be a sealed black box even among magicians.

  Summer Break

  "Want to go to the sea?"

  The one who had asked those words all of a sudden was Shizuku.

  "By the sea, you mean the beach?"

  Modern TV phone systems, as a standard, can take up to 10 calls simultaneously. As Miyuki used that system to talk with Shizuku and Honoka and engage in idle chatter, Shizuku gave a brief affirmative 'yes'. That answer was a bit short, but even so it seemed to ring a bell with her friend since primary school, Honoka.

  "Ah, could you mean?"

  "Yes, that."

  But for Miyuki, who had only known them for around four months, this conversation was altogether on a different level.

  "Could you mean...... what?"

  At that, both Honoka and Shizuku realized that they had left Miyuki behind, albeit too late. They shared a glance. That being said, on Miyuki's display she could only see them looking aside. Honoka was then the first to direct her eyes back to Miyuki.

  "Well you see, Shizuku's family has a resort in Ogasawara."

  "Eh? Shizuku, your family owns a private beach?"

  "Yeah......"

  At Miyuki's question. Shizuku answered briefly again, although this time with a slightly embarrassed expression.

  Recently, having a villa in the uninhabited island of Ogasawara had become fashionable among the rich, though this had been reproached by ignorant critics misunderstanding intellectual expression as 'arrogantly willful destruction of nature."

  These uninhabited islands, where the resorts are, were mostly once populated islands, but had been abandoned due to the rough conditions. As these villas were zero emission (energy sources came from sunlight, so if you include energetics they weren't truly zero emission but still), they were not destructive to nature but rather unashamed valid uses of land. Of course, Miyuki wasn't blaming Shizuku('s family) for anything. It was just that even among those households considered wealthy, only a handful possessed v
illas with their own private beach. That was probably something Shizuku also understood, but even in the case of unjustified criticism she would probably retain a manner of general common sense and feel a subconscious degree of guilt.

  "My father said to 'please invite your friends'. It seems he really wants to meet Miyuki and Tatsuya-san."

  At Shizuku's words calibrated to change the mood (this being again something the one who had not known them very long didn't catch), Honoka mumbled something.

  "So your father will be there as well this year......"

  Her expression seemed to be recalling something, most likely memories of a previous vacation she had been on with Shizuku's father. Perhaps at the very villa they were talking about.

  "Don't worry. He'll only be around for a short while. It seems he has a pile of work, and he'll probably just be able to spare a few short hours."

  Honoka's somewhat apprehensive face softened in relief at Shizuku's words. Miyuki felt curiosity at just what could have happened, but she didn't lose sight of priorities.

  "I don't mind, but...... what time?"

  "It hasn't been decided yet. We had been thinking whenever it's convenient for Tatsuya-san."

  At Miyuki's expression saying 'I need to ask Onii-sama', Shizuku understood perfectly well her answer.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  "......is what we were talking about."

  Tatsuya heard of the matter during breakfast the next morning.

  At first Tatsuya had considered asking 'did you guys talk about that all the way until midnight?', but of course what came out of his mouth was different altogether.

  "The only ones attending will be Shizuku, Honoka, and ourselves?"

  "Shizuku said she also wants to invite Erika, Mizuki, Saijou-kun, and Yoshida-kun."

  At that Miyuki hesitated slightly,

  "But they're not as familiar with them as us, so they wondered if we could be the ones to invite them."

  She probably didn't want to say anything which would bring inconvenience to her brother. Of course, Miyuki didn't intend to make Tatsuya do anything and was going to contact them herself, but.

  "I got it. Then, I'll contact Leo and Mikihiko. For dates, let's see......"

  Conversely, Tatsuya also didn't want to impose on his sister, resulting in a pre-established harmony.

  Taking a sip of coffee, Tatsuya went over the schedule in his head.

  "......I'm free next week Friday to Sunday. Every other day is pretty busy."

  Summer break for magic high schools runs until the end of August. (For most science and literary high schools it's mid August, while for most PE and arts high schools it's mid September.)

  Tatsuya's summer break last year and the year before last had been mostly taken up by training with the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion.

  (In addition to that last year had been studying — namely, tutoring Miyuki.)

  This year the first half had been taken up by the Nine Schools Competition, so things were extra tight. Developments involving the soon to be released next month 'dedicated magic flight device' were also in motion.

  This year as well, there was no 'break' in his summer break.

  "So that's next Friday to Sunday, three days and two nights. I'll contact Shizuku."

  Which was why Miyuki was so fired up about not missing this opportunity. To her it was a little disappointing that she wouldn't be spending time alone with just her brother, but giving him time to refresh took priority over any of her own desires.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  It seemed Shizuku really had been leaving her plans open for Tatsuya, as she immediately nodded upon receiving Miyuki's call. Honoka was contacted by Shizuku, Erika and Mizuki by Miyuki, Leo and Mikihiko by Tatsuya, and whether the fact that everyone was free was a coincidence or not Tatsuya took with a grain of salt.

  And on the day of travel he had looked on in blank amazement. He had been forced to accompany the ladies out shopping, a very attention grabbing event in the swimsuit section of a large department store; Tatsuya later relegated this memory to a distant drawer in the depths of his mind and welded it shut, hence there was no recollection of that particular event here.

  For some reason, the specified meeting place was not the airport but the Hayama marina.

  "Wooow...... that sure is a nice boat."

  This time (unlike during the Nine Schools Competition) Erika's short pants weren't out of place, so she looked up at the gleaming white hull even as she showed off her sleek shapely legs, her eyes shining.

  "Doesn't Erika's family have a cruiser as well?"

  As Shizuku questioned her with a slightly embarrassed face (Tatsuya had become quite adept at reading her expressions), Erika shook her head with a wry smile.

  "We do have a ship, but it can't really be called a 'cruiser'...... Heck, I don't want to call it that.

  They normally turn the stabilizer off too, so it's the worst ride ever."

  "......don't tell me, for training?"

  "Yep."

  "You guys really are quite thorough......"

  Next to Miyuki's murmur and amazed expression, Mizuki was at a loss as to what kind of face to make, so she just smiled ambiguously.

  On the other hand,

  "A Fleming propulsion system is it...... there aren't any air ducts, so the power doesn't come from gas turbines. Is it powered by photocatalytic hydrogen plants and fuel cells?"

  Engrossed as he was in the boyish(?) interest of mechanics, Tatsuya muttered to himself as he observed the propulsion in detail.

  "There're also hydrogen storage tanks onboard just in case."

  An unexpected answer came. (It wasn't that the answer itself was unexpected, but rather the fact that an answer came at all.) Looking up, the 'captain' of the ship was there.

  With a Greek hat pulled low over his face and dressed in a jacket with decorative buttons, he was politely munching on a pipe.

  He simply lacked that stout look slightly.

  Obesity as a lifestyle disease had been eradicated 20 years earlier thanks to drug treatment, but if cosplaying a captain a bit more girth is desirable.

  As Tatsuya thought so with a puzzled face, the 'captain' extended a handshake. By the way, the pipe he held in his left hand really was a classic pipe. —If you looked closely enough, you'd see it was empty.

  "You're Shiba Tatsuya-kun, aren't you? I am Kitayama Ushio, Shizuku's father."

  He wasn't quite able to contain his confusion at this franker-than-expected personality, but Tatsuya had far more social experience than most high school students. Rather than succumbing to embarrassment, he returned the greeting flawlessly.

  "It's good to meet you, I am Shiba Tatsuya. I have heard much about you. Along with my sister, we are pleased to make your acquaintance."

  "It's good to meet you too."

  Taking Shizuku's father's proffered hand, Tatsuya intended to squeeze lightly so as to not violate etiquette, but Ushio heartily grabbed Tatsuya's hand.

  His grip was unexpectedly firm. Still, compared to Kazama and Yanagi, his hands were more accustomed to desk work. What caught Tatsuya was not the force of his hand but the power in the gaze he directed at him. Those hard-bitten eyes appraised you without making you feel uncomfortable, took the lead, strove with similar luminaries; the eyes of a leader.

  "......not just a smart-ass good only for his brains. Not just a techie with superficial excellent techniques either.

  Appearance truly seems superbly dependable."

  His murmur would normally be inaudible. As even Tatsuya had to consciously concentrate, that volume of voice was more than quiet enough for consideration. But even if it had been uttered in a normal volume, Tatsuya would not have considered it discourteous. Kitayama Ushio possessed the majesty to honestly appraise the value of the one in front of him.

  —But.

  "Yes, it seems Shizuku's eyes weren't mistaken. While my daughter, she really does have it together."

  At this sudden doting parent rem
ark, Tatsuya ostensibly kept his expression neutral while sighing "so this is the great 'Kitayama Ushio' huh......" in his mind.

  When he had said that he had heard of him earlier, that had not been mere politeness.

  It's now normal to use a business name rather than your real name in the management of a company to protect your privacy. His own father does not use his name of 'Shiba Tatsurou' but rather the name 'Shiibara Tatsurou'[1] in his capacity as head of development at FLT.

  He had only heard from Shizuku that her father managed a business in passing, but after being told his business name, he had been quite surprised that he was such a bigshot.

  He had married late (marrying a magician had involved numerous issues and although those were overcome, it had taken years) so he really should have been over 50 or so, but this frank, or rather excessively light air, didn't seem to make him any more than 40.

  "—Miyuki!"

  Giving notice with a glance, Tatsuya called his sister over.

  Miyuki came over at a trot, immediately assessed the situation, and bowed gracefully to Shizuku's father.

  "Pleased to meet you, I am Shiba Miyuki. Thank you so much for inviting us over."

  "Thank you for your kind words, milady. I am Kitayama Ushio. Such a lovely greeting from such a beautiful maiden is an unhoped honor both for me and my ship."

  At his placing his hand on his chest and giving a deep bow, Miyuki also with a playful smile curtsied in the Western manner.

  Being faced with a beauty of Miyuki's stature and bearing, it couldn't be helped that even Ushio's jaw slackened a bit.

  "Ah, father. I don't think you said any such thing when you met me?"

  "Dad, it's undignified so please close your mouth."