Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 11 - Visitor Chapter (III) Page 11

  "Swiftly purchase the rights for the 3H-P94 on lend to the Magic University Affiliated First High. Money is no issue. Do this by any means possible."

  Maya saying "money is no issue" wasn’t surprising, but she rarely said directly "by any means possible".

  "If that is too difficult, find a way for the current owner to be unable to transfer ownership rights. In particular, do not allow the other families from the Ten Master Clans to get ahold of it. Do not be concerned about the price involved for this task."

  This was the first time in Aoki’s recollection that she even handed out specific instructions in the event of failure.

  "Understood."

  For an instant, Aoki wavered there, but that failed to extend to his voice as he bowed respectfully.

  As Aoki frantically left, Maya turned towards the waiting Hayama by her side and gave him a searching gaze.

  "……Don’t you have something to say?"

  Yet in the end, Maya was unable to pierce Hayama’s poker face and urged him to speak.

  "I know it is not my place……"

  He was still going to ask despite knowing this, so Hayama started speaking while bending at the waist. Though this just the customary phrase that observed decorum, that particular tone told Maya that this was not going to be a pleasant conversation.

  "Shouldn’t you be a little more prudent about using "Hlidskjalf"?"

  Even so, she couldn’t tell him to recant those words – or suggestion. The honest suggestion was just as bitter as she anticipated, but Maya failed to frown or become enraged.

  As the operator, Maya – along with the other 6 operators who also had access rights – knew that there was more than just mere benefits better than anyone.

  "—That is a product of pure science. Furthermore, at least when compared with magic, the risk of those black boxes is still lower."

  "Maya-sama, I wasn’t referring to that."

  Hayama decisively cut short the twisted counter argument that she herself knew rang hollow. Maya wore an expression indicating she wished to change the subject.

  "Furthermore, when it comes to black boxes, we don’t even know where the real Hlidskjalf is located. Just because it has not lied to us yet does not guarantee that will not happen in the future."

  Hayama’s opinion definitely had a point.

  Likewise, Maya was conscious of the danger even if he hadn’t pointed it out.

  "That’s true…… Hayama, let’s proceed with your idea. Recently, I have been too reliant on that ability to gather information."

  "It would be a shame to abandon such a useful function. This is only a foolish thought on my part, but if it’s Tatsuya-dono, he may be able to figure out where the real location of Hlidskjalf is. Once connected to the real one, complete dominance of Hlidskjalf may also be possible."

  Hayama’s words completely caught Maya by surprise. In order to fully comprehend his meaning, Maya contemplated this for a while before finally shaking her head.

  "It’s still too early."

  As to what exactly was too early, the answer left that to one’s imagination.

  Hayama bowed deeply before leaving Maya and quitting the room.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  "What a mess……"

  In response to the words that involuntarily slipped from Tatsuya’s mouth, Miyuki raised her head from where she was taking care of the dazed and fainting Honoka.

  "Now that you mention it…… That’s kind of true. Onii-sama, should we leave here for now?"

  Since the response was so natural, Tatsuya was practically on the verge of nodding.

  (……No, that’s actually OK.)

  If he continued to believe that it was natural for someone to grasp the situation that quickly, sooner or later he was due for a comeuppance. However, right now there were other things to worry about.

  There was that gigantic psychic blast from just now. That reaction was undoubtedly noticed throughout the Aoyama and Akasaka regions. Soon, unwanted guests would arrive in droves.

  The Parasites that had been struggling furiously a moment ago had now quieted down in exhaustion. Just in case, he had bound their wrists, but as to what practical purpose that served, even Tatsuya didn’t know. At least, so long as the vessel wasn’t destroyed, they weren’t able to flee the host’s physical flesh, but their opponent could still "self-destruct" as a last resort.

  (That’s true…… If only we had some sort of technique from Ancient Magic.)

  "Tatsuya-kun!"

  "Sorry we’re late!"

  Speak of the devil, scratch that, just as he thought about that person, their voice rang out. About time they arrived.

  Still, Tatsuya wasn’t going to scold them for being "slow" since they were also using their methods to search for the Parasites. It’s not like they were being lazy about it, so there was nothing to complain about.

  Indeed…… There was nothing to complain about even if they arrived at a time when all the violence had ended, Tatsuya mentally stressed to himself.

  "Um...... Tatsuya? Why do I get the feeling that your expression is a little terrifying?"

  "My attitude is just a little belligerent."

  "No, I don’t know about belligerence, but somehow I don’t feel that’s the reason……"

  After sweeping an eye over the strangely(?) petrified Mikihiko, Tatsuya began conversing with the extra individual who was not expected to appear.

  "Leo, so you came as well."

  "Ah, since I just recovered, might as well add me to the mix."

  "Don’t force yourself. Now, Erika……"

  "Hm? What’s up?"

  As he spoke to Erika, who was watching the captives with a solemn gaze, Tatsuya unexpectedly spoke in a calm voice.

  "Although we are forced to leave this area as soon as possible, can you prepare a way to transport these three?"

  Seeing that none of them made any heart pounding actions, Tatsuya relaxed a little and began talking about the things on his mind. Tatsuya casually glanced around him to find the two motorcycles that the three of them arrived on. –As to who sat with who, Tatsuya wasn’t able to see that.

  "Eh, why?"

  Reacting to Tatsuya’s words, Erika took on a perplexed expression.

  "What do you mean why, Erika?"

  Tatsuya wasn’t the one who said that. Unable to hide his agitated visage, Mikihiko quickly interrupted their talk.

  "Did you not feel that shockwave? After releasing such a ridiculous amount of magic, I doubt the ones arriving here will be normal policemen."

  "Though I really want to say that I’ve resigned myself to that from that start…… That would trouble Tatsuya-kun’s group."

  Besides a few looks snuck in between, this was the usual Erika. At the very least, neither Leo nor Mikihiko noticed anything different.

  "So, will it be OK if we cart them to the storage shed at Miki’s house?"

  The "storage shed" that Erika spoke of was obviously not a literal storage shed. It was not one of the Chiba Family’s facilities, but transported to a restrictive field operated by the Yoshida Family specifically designed to seal the Parasite.

  "Will that be alright, Mikihiko?"

  "Eh? Of course. Now that you mention it, that was our job all along."

  Our referred to Ancient Magic users.

  He probably meant sealing demons was the mission of the onmyoji (the Yoshida Family were of the Shinto sect and not actual onmyoji).

  "Then Miki and I along with Leo will take over here. Tatsuya-kun, you guys should get going first."

  "Why? During that time, I can wait here."

  "I’m just a tagalong!?"

  Ignoring Leo’s furious roar for the moment, Tatsuya asked in amazement.

  Erika seemed to have a hard time finding the right words.

  "Tatsuya, well, uh……"

  Tatsuya followed the stammering Mikihiko’s gaze.

  Ahead of him stood Pixie with a slightly ripped dress as well as Honoka’s figur
e with several large rents in her halfcoat.

  "……I’ll call the car."

  "I think that would be best."

  And thus, Tatsuya left the scene to Erika’s group.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  The siblings’ home was within the zone of automated control, but Honoka’s apartment was just outside the area for automatic vehicular control. After using the information terminal to summon the automatic car, there was no way to take Honoka home. In the end, the four of them got on the light rail at the station.

  Even with their rather shocking attire, thankfully they did not receive any undue attention in the city.

  At least, not any more than anticipated (when accompanied by Miyuki, being completely inconspicuous was frankly impossible).

  Tatsuya’s group got into a section with four seats on the train.

  "Um, Tatsuya-kun……"

  Since the act of boarding the train was so very natural, it wasn’t until after the train departed that Honoka had a question. Even if they were going in the same direction, they couldn’t get off halfway between stops……

  "I’ll take you home."

  Upon hearing him utter the words she earnestly wished him to say but was unable to ask him do so, even the multiple instances of Honoka trying to be polite were unable to hide her radiant expression.

  There was no way to alter seating arrangements in the cabin that the four of them sat in.

  Miyuki sat next to Tatsuya, with Honoka sitting directly across from him.

  Tatsuya glanced over at Pixie sitting diagonally across from him (for some reason, she was being treated as a customer rather than cargo), before turning his eyes back to Honoka since she had fallen quiet from the beginning.

  "…...Onii-sama, it’s probably about time to say something, otherwise I don’t think Honoka can hold it in any longer?"

  Seeing Honoka’s anxiety spike after Tatsuya looked at her, Miyuki spoke up from his side.

  "Ah, my apologies."

  Tatsuya appeared to be unaware. After being pushed into a tight spot by his sister, Tatsuya acknowledged his error with an apologetic look on his face.

  "Thank you for all of your hard work tonight, you three."

  The words of praise were only the icebreakers, and proof of this was that Pixie had been included within. Still, this may be because he took into consideration that Pixie had also contributed quite a bit, but given that Tatsuya didn’t differentiate between humans and robots, this sentence clearly wasn’t given too much thought.

  "So, Honoka. How should I put this……? Are you feeling a little strung out?"

  There was no need to say this, but the next line was obviously an inquiry. Though somewhat confused at the sudden question, Honoka still shook her head.

  "Really…… Pixie, if you are exhausted…… That phrase seems a little out of place. Do you notice any of the psions or energy reserves that make up your body being consumed?"

  ((Consumption is within naturally recoverable parameters, Master.))

  "I see……"

  "Onii-sama, is something lingering on your mind?"

  "Not to the point of lingering……"

  After shaking his head at his sister, Tatsuya once more looked towards Honoka.

  "Earlier, when Pixie released that powerful burst of psychokinesis…… Honoka, do you have any idea what happened?"

  "……No, what are you referring to?"

  Honoka’s eyes were filled with unease as she asked this.

  True, the inferences behind this line of questioning were anxiety inducing.

  That being said, of course Tatsuya had no intention of fanning the flames of uneasiness.

  "I would like you to calm down and listen to me carefully."

  The fact that this had descended to the point where an intentional icebreaker was required troubled Tatsuya himself to no end.

  "The instant Pixie released that burst of psychokinesis, psions were provided for Pixie from Honoka."

  "Eh?"

  Honoka’s jaw dropped at Tatsuya’s words.

  "……So Honoka was providing energy for Pixie?"

  "No, it didn’t feel like that."

  In a rare showing, the voice Tatsuya used to answer Miyuki’s question was not filled with confidence.

  "This is similar to the process where psions are inputted into the CAD in order to deploy the Activation Sequence. Might have been something like priming…… Or maybe even resonance."

  Honoka darted a fearful look at Pixie.

  Pixie – the 3H-P94 unit with a Parasite on board, paid little heed to that. That being said, there was no way to tell the real situation since there was no change in expression.

  A Magician transferred psions to a machine.

  This phenomenon itself was perfectly familiar to Tatsuya, no, to modern magic users as a whole. However, that was a phenomenon that occurred with machinery constructed according to the systems developed by magic engineering "to do it this way". That function was not installed on the 3H.

  Robots do not have powers beyond those granted to them by humans. By themselves, they were unable to learn new functions.

  This phenomenon…… Must have not have been caused by Pixie’s "mechanical body", but by her "real body" instead. Any other explanation was too outlandish.

  It was perfectly natural for Honoka to feel uneasy and afraid.

  "Mizuki did say this before…… That there is some sort of connection between Honoka and Pixie. Furthermore……"

  Suddenly, Tatsuya stopped speaking.

  Faced with her hesitant older brother wearing a bitter expression on his face, Miyuki responded with an alarmed look.

  As if needled by an unspoken question, Tatsuya’s face seemed to give up the struggle and continued speaking.

  "……Furthermore, the medium involved appears to be Honoka’s hair decorations."

  "Huh?"

  Honoka was wavering between surprise and fear earlier, but now she was entirely astounded.

  Astonishment was not restricted to her alone.

  Miyuki was also scrutinizing the rubber bands holding Honoka’s hair with great attention.

  "To be precise, it should be the crystal within. As to how this occurred, I have no idea……"

  Honoka caressed the crystals in her hair decorations with both hands.

  This was an unconscious reaction that didn’t have any ulterior motive involved.

  However, Tatsuya’s hypothesis was immediately proven by the ensuing reaction.

  On Pixie, in the middle of the torso area, a spiritual light emerged.

  The light was not blinding. From a visual perspective, the strength was about the same as a lantern.

  Still, given the suspicion about their mutual connection, this coincidence was a little too perfect.

  Tatsuya and Miyuki’s eyes both fell upon those hair decorations.

  Honoka covered her hair decorations with both of her hands.

  This was as if she was terrified that they would be taken away from her.

  "The cause can be set aside for now…… A method to control that needs to be found first."

  Tatsuya spoke in a tone that one used to comfort wary little animals.

  Wariness turned into surprise as Honoka returned his look.

  Tatsuya’s eyes drifted from Honoka to Pixie.

  "At any rate, bringing Pixie back looks to be the right idea."

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  The high school force led by Tatsuya and company were not the only ones active tonight. The Saegusa and Juumonji force were inactive since Tatsuya had neglected to inform Mayumi and Katsuto about this action, but the many people in the Chiba force were activated on Erika’s orders. In spite of this, the sole reason that Erika’s group was the only one to arrive was because they were the strongest unit of those mobilized tonight. Erika, Leo, Mikihiko. Though their individual assessment was not spectacular, their combat capabilities towered over their peers. This was not just restricted to high school students, but adults as
well. Even excluding techniques associated with weapons, their individual prowess was still in the top tier.

  However, since this was an independent action, they were stuck in a situation where they had to guard the bound Parasites while awaiting evacuation…… Except unwanted guests found them before their getaway vehicle arrived.

  "Hey, what are you guys doing!?"

  Two young men wearing police uniforms parked an automatic vehicle (equipped with a motor) near the streetlight before running over and shouting out a question.

  Seeing these two, Mikihiko revealed a harried expression and Leo pouted in irritation, whereas Erika remained silent but retaliated with a belligerent gaze.

  "What is this!? You guys should be high school students. What the heck is going on here!?"

  Seeing the two men lying on the ground with their wrists bound behind their backs, the taller one shouted shrilly. In truth, this was probably a policeman’s natural reaction upon finding citizens bound at night while lying on the ground.

  "No, that’s just……"

  Feeling that this was a legitimate question, Mikihiko was frantically looking for excuses.

  "Aren’t you guys the ones who should be saying who you are?"

  However, Erika’s riposte bulled right over that question.

  "What did you say!?"

  "Hey, Erika!"

  Faced with unexpected resistance, the men’s rage seemed to intensify while Mikihiko turned an "unbelievable" look at her.

  "Mikihiko."

  A hand reached out to grab his shoulder.

  When Mikihiko turned his head, he found Leo standing there with a highly entertained smile.

  "Didn’t you hear me? I will ask again. Who are you?"

  Erika snorted at the intimidating glares shooting out from beneath the police caps.

  "Don’t you know? There shouldn’t be any policemen in this area because such an order was given. That idiot older brother of mine can’t possibly slip up at this juncture."