The Girls Who Summon The Star

by Gondraturu

Hello this is Gondra. I want to share Fan Translation of The Girls Who Summon The Star LN Version which is bonus if you buy BD Mahouka Movie. Lastly I want feedback if there are gramaticals error because this work only MTL translation with minor edit and if there is complain from a reader about copyright I will delete this work and never publish in another media forever

Chapter [1] Relics of the Great War

A small island is floating in the sea 350 kilometers southeast of Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands.

The name of the island is Minamitateshima.

It is a narrow and long volcanic island that stretches from northeast to southwest, and there is originally only a small amount of flat land in the northwest of the island.

In the 2030s, when the world went into an era of war, a defense naval base was established on this uninhabited island. The enemy

built a port where large ships could anchor by attaching artificial ground to the lava field, and floating a mega float with a 1,000-meter-class runway offshore.

The island was renamed "Minamitateshima" when a naval base was established. It's called 'Southern shield protecting Honshu'.

A defense fortification based mainly on missiles on the southeast rock wall, and a supply base using volcanic geothermal energy as an energy source on the artificial ground in the northwest.

Minamitateshima became an important base for the defense naval forces in the waters of the Ogasarawara Islands.

Even after the end of the Great War, there is no change in the fact that this island is an important base for the defense naval forces.

Although it is slightly reduced in size,

Its importance as a supply base in the Western Pacific to the National Defense Navy has not diminished in the slightest.

In addition, recently, a shopping mall for tourists is being operated with the surplus production capacity of the supply factory expanded during Great War, and its reputation as a tourist destination is

increasing.

March 26, 2096 AD. Soon it will be sunset.

Today, many ships enter and exit the Minamitateshima Naval Port.

Battleships are not the only ships that use ports. Civilian transport ships and probes entrusted by the military are also supplied from this port.

Even now, one resource surveying vessel is carrying a large cylindrical machine with a gantry crane. The machine whose purpose is unknown from the outside

The reason no one looks at me with strange eyes is probably because this is inside a military facility. Another advantage of this port is that there is no useless search.

The ship, which appears to have been a refurbished missile destroyer during the Great War, has many flat surfaces and has a stealth shape. The Fleming launcher

still remains at the forefront, but an important VLS (missile vertical launch system that doubles as a missile depot) has been turned into a cargo space and storage space for observation machines.

—At least from the outside.

Cylindrical machines were housed in this warehouse.

The crew is already on board, but no one is coming and going.

Was loading this large machine the last job?

As soon as the crane left, the resource probe set sail.

The fuselage of the ship heading east with its back to the evening sun had the words "Daikoku" written on it.

3 hours from Minamitateshima, 160 kilometers east of the island on high seas.

Inside the Daikoku, scientists and engineers in white coats are fighting the instrument panel.

This figure shows that the purpose of Daikoku's voyage is not to explore resources.

Anyone who knows what kind of device they are operating will know that this ship is not a resource probe in the first place.

The cylindrical machine installed in the warehouse is 10 meters in diameter and 10 meters in height.

The name is 『Keito』.

There are 12 cylindrical hatches at the bottom of a large machine bearing the name of one of the elements, a vicious star, from which a chair descends to the floor.

Of these, a girl with nine legs wearing a dress without decorations like a hospital uniform—which might be more accurate to describe it as a gwandugi—is a girl.

It sits as if buried in a sheet.

[Gwanduui (貫頭衣): A piece of fabric made by folding a piece of cloth in two, kneeling in the middle, and putting hair on it. -Translator's Note]

"Lagrange 2 [Two] space telescope, complete data link with HiAMDAL. Target identified. Aimed, locked."

Space Telescope HiAMDAL stands for" Highly Advanced Mechanism for Destructive Asteroid Lookout" .

It is an astronomical observation system designed for early detection of small celestial bodies that are likely to collide with the Earth.

The Japanese government also financed the construction of HiAMDAL, and the National Defense Forces have access to this data.

Even with an astronomical observation system, the

field of view is 180 degrees from the Earth facing the opposite side of the sun, but within that range, you can observe arbitrary airspace without changing hardware settings.

'Aim' can be fixed.

"Data combination. Aiming data correction complete."

The monitor on the other console displays the status of the genealogy and the vital data of the girl sitting on the seat.

"Movable final check."

Another researcher says As the saying goes, a cylindrical machine is a large CAD. It's not even the type of CAD that a Magician rides and manipulates, but

puts a Magician inside to learn magic. Output power. fabricated. is the type

"Format, all ok."

"Essence, combination complete."

"Variable, combination complete."

"Sion activity, above the threshold."

"Each vital index, all within acceptable range."

The last person to monitor the girl's vital data was nine. From person to person. fatal

Number 1 to 9 Report it all.

""Watatsumi" series, Psion Wave, synchronization start."

The old scientist who watched each member's work from the highest point said so in a tone familiar with orders.

Psion light emanated from the girls' bodies.

Although the light is invisible to the naked eye, it is clearly reflected on the monitor the scientist is looking at.

Even with their own eyes, they could see how the 『Keito』 reacted to that Psion light.

"Psion Wave, the tuning level rises. 3, 4, 5, the required level is reached."

Before and after the voices reading the data displayed on the monitor, the seats the girls were sitting on, including empty chairs, were sucked into the system.

"Psion automatic inhalation."

The hatch in the hole that swallowed the girl closes. The girl's figure was obscured by a thick metal wall.

"Securing Psions for Mobile Output."

The researcher turns to the old scientist.

"Initiate start-up output."

The old scientist did so without nodding his head.

After sucking in the girl's Psion, the Keito vomits a movement ceremony.

Tangled up the surface of the pedigree and rotated in a circle shape several times, the sigil created nine replicas from the inside

and eroded them into a coffin that adorned the girl .

There are no ships following the Daikoku floating on the Pacific Ocean.

But there was a shadow approaching from the sea, even though nothing was following it from above.

full 150 meters. A nuclear-powered submarine slightly smaller than the Daikoku.

The loading of nuclear reactors as weapons in this era is expressly prohibited by international treaties. In fact, on surface ships, including aircraft carriers,

There is no nuclear reactor onboard.

But this is not because each country is faithful to the treaty. Since the reactor is easily shut down by fission arrest magic, it is

only used for submarines whose material is not easily detected.

A submarine without any indication of affiliation approaches Daikoku, which is anchored in the sea.

However, the submarine crew did not realize that there was an figure who following the submarine.

"Moveable reading, running smoothly."

Atomic Probe— No, it doesn't have to suit your camouflage anymore. Experimental ship "Daikoku" inside the ship's maneuverable output and

Mobile forced reading of girls continues.

compulsion.

All of their faces, locked in the tree, were empty.

They are not in a state where they can actively read maneuvers and construct magic formulas.

"Moveable reading, up to 90 percent complete."

But that wasn't a problem for most researchers and the old scientist who supervised them.

They were made for this. it will

So far, the experiment is proceeding smoothly.

At that fact, the old scientist looked satisfied.

"Final safety release."

As if to be wary of his own negligence, the old scientist straightened up his expression and gave orders to his subordinates.

"Meteorite Fall, activated."

"Final safety release."

The researcher sitting in the highest seat with the old scientist repeats the old scientist's instructions.

"Finished bootable read."

The starting expression printed on the genealogy disappears. All of the cloned maneuvers were absorbed into the girls in the tree.

"Meteorite Fall, activated."

With those words, the researcher pressed the red-painted button on the console.

The nine girls, who had been vigilant, trembled loudly all at once.

The remaining Don Psion light spreads toward the sky.

No change has been observed yet, but the magic has certainly been activated.

Magic activation was observed even in the sea. To be precise, it was observed by a Magician aboard a submarine that was tracking Daikoku.

Submarines increase their speed and float. It is clearly a move to capture Daikoku. It wasn't an attack, it was meant to be captured.

What he was aiming for was obviously the magic he had just experimented with.

The submarine crew focused their consciousness on Daikoku. In other words, it was completely sold out. Even a Magician, who is a sensor,

can do it. If he had paid attention, maybe the seal could have been found.

Even if I realized it at this stage, it would have been too late.

Inyoung, who flew near the sea level without wings or propulsion, rose at a steep angle.

what the man was wearing,

It is clear that this is a combat uniform with a built-in flight unit made with the same concept as the flight suit combat suit that the Japanese military first put into combat five months ago.

The man in the flying suit immediately changed direction in mid-air and plunged into the sea with a hasty descent.

An armed device resembling a Japanese sword in a man's hand.

The man swung his weapon device once as soon as he passed the side of the submarine.

The submarine exploded and broke. No, it was cut off.

A sharp cut cut about 10 meters in front of the reactor containment vessel.

The gun programmed in the device's CAD, the intermolecular binding force reversal method "Molecular Divider" activation method.

"Molecular Divider" developed by William Sirius, former commander of the USNA Magician unit "Stars", is a

domain magic that apparently reverses the charge sign of electrons .

The electrons have a positive charge in this magic activation area, which is developed in the form of a thin plate that can be mistaken for a plane.

As a result, the electromagnetic attraction is reversed into a repulsive force.

Considering the intermolecular bond and the intermolecular bond constituting the molecule, they are connected by the attractive force acting between the positive and negative charges.

Molecular bonds are released and vaporized in the thin region where this attractive force is transformed into a repulsive force. Not only are they scattered,

Molecules repel each other and scatter out of the area.

As the razor-thin area moves, the material on the orbital surface is vaporized. The phenomenon appeared to be as if the material was cut in two with a magic blade.

By extending this magic sword by several tens of meters, the man in flight suit cut through the nuclear submarine without damaging the reactor containment vessel.

The man who turned in the sea flew away from Daikoku.

Eventually, waves split along his path.

The size of the giant submarine that appeared in the sea was twice the atomic weight of a man.

The man who lands on the deck raises the visor of the helmet.

The face that appeared is Stars' Number Two Benjamin Canopus.

Canopus looked at the fading column of excess Psion light from beyond the horizon, and confirmed with his magical sense a phenomenon beyond that even light had not yet reached.

"That's a relic from the Great War era..."

Chapter [2] This Is an Order From the Chief of Staff.

Direct flight from Haneda to Albuquerque.

The girl smiled involuntarily at the nostalgic scenery seen from the window of the plane that had entered the landing state.

Her name is Angelina Kudo Shields. Another name is Angelina Sirius.

He is the commander-in-chief of Stars, a Magician unit directly under the USNA Army's staff headquarters, and one of the '13 Apostles', a nationally recognized strategic class Magician. Affiliated countries.

It is said that it has a value comparable to that of a strategic-class weapon. Recognized, he is one of only 13 Magicians in the world.

Considering its meaning and position, it is unthinkable to return from a foreign country on a private plane. Before

that, she, who would not have been able to

leave the country except for unit-level military activities , boarded an airplane from Japan with a face like an ordinary civilian.

For a reason that is complex and serious, objectively serious but simple.

She was sent to Japan as a secret agent to kidnap or annihilate the newly observed Strategic Class Magician.

The Magician was observed and observed on October 31st last year. Due to the destruction of the entire naval base of the Great Asia Combined Fleet trying to invade Japan.

It was not discovered. As of the present time, that is, March 27, 2096, its identity has not yet been determined.

All I know is that there are people who use unknown strategic class magic. And when looking at the target and timing of the strategic-class magic used,

the Magician was probably a..ma.do . It was only assumed that he lived in Japan.

'It was a really big deal, but... … After seeing it, it's a good memory.'

Angelina, commonly known as Lina, murmured in her heart.

in a strong tone.

as if you were talking to yourself.

If you don't think so, your mission after returning home will be hindered. you must have been so concerned

It is sometimes necessary to turn our eyes away from the facts. Forgetting is a gift from God that enables people to move on to the future.

Man is an animal that cannot but regret.

There are people in the world who declare that 'they have no regrets', but

they are either turning their eyes away from their own minds, or else they are simply strong.

Regret leads to reflection, which leads to improvement and growth.

But sometimes a person is stuck with regret and unable to move forward.

So, sometimes it is necessary to forget the regret, put the fact that caused the regret out of sight, and forcefully remove the shackles.

In training before enlisting in Stars, Lina was taught that way by her instructor.

'… … Miyuki didn't win! I was beaten up by Tatsuya!'

Lina hurriedly shook her head as a questionable laughter seemed to come out of her mouth.

'This and that, it's all over! Because I came back like this, it's a good memory!'

Lina spoke to herself again, strongly, in her heart.

'… … High school was quite fun. It's not that bad things have happened since I got to know him.'

Lina's lips draw a smile.

That smile wasn't something he was conscious of.

In the Albuquerque airport lobby, a Stars crew was waiting for Lina's arrival.

Her name is Sylvia Mercury First. Code names other than 'Sylvia' and 'First' are Stars planetary Magicians.

It indicates that 'Mercury' is number one. The rank is rank. Age is 25. It can be seen from the fact that she received the code of 'First' while still young, but

she is a female sergeant who is highly regarded for her abilities within Stars.

She served as Lina's assistant in Japan on an undercover mission. Because of that relationship, she is in a place where Lina herself is not present.

He assumed a position like the commander-in-chief. —Whether to consider this as good luck or lamenting it as bad luck, it is not yet possible to make a decision at this stage.

Sylvia has been looking at her watch several times since before to see if her flight was late. The sighs were repeated the same number of times, but

this was not the only cause of the delayed arrival.

The arrival of the aircraft carrying Lina is barely marked. But after this, you have to keep waiting. No matter how fast airport work is,

It takes a lot of time because many people and luggage move.

But now that I know that it has arrived, I feel more comfortable waiting in the emotional part. However, in inverse proportion to this, the

time to deliver a difficult-to-speak task was definitely approaching, and the feeling became heavier. Especially since Sylvia herself considers Lina to be pitiful.

A crowd swarmed from inside the arrivals doorway, and Sylvia's eyes finally caught sight of a gleaming blonde.

A refreshing blonde that does not lose to real blondes. There are very few people in America who have this hair color.

It seems that Lina also noticed Sylvia. He waved his hand with a smile as he pushed the cart loaded with a large amount of luggage.

"Sylvi. Did you come to meet me?"

The cart that was being pushed with great momentum stopped quickly, and Lina spoke to Sylvia with a smile on her face.

Sylvia turned her gaze fixed on the cart to Lina, and gave a salute despite both being casual.

It's not wrong, but I don't think it's very appropriate. As evidence of that, you can feel the glances peeking around you.

Lina already has an eye-catching look. Sylvia knows it's not good to draw attention, but the strange, strange thing in Lina's cart

. He seemed to have lost his mind when he saw the water.

"Have you been there, Commander-in-Chief?"

However, taking care not to allow third parties to listen to this line was possible naturally, without conscious awareness, even though I saluted without knowing it.

But that's it.

"I'm not on a mission right now, so please call me Lina."

Without caring about Sylvia's heart, nor did she care about the people around her at all, Lina said so with a pure smile.

Really, this kid... … . Sylvia wanted to tie her hair up, but given her position and circumstances, she couldn't do that.

"Come on, I bought a bunch of presents."

Lina doesn't mind the stress that corrodes Sylvia. "If we interpret it favorably," he is excited because he has barely returned to Japan.

"Come on, this!"

He takes out a fan from the mountain of gifts and unfolds it towards Sylvia.

On the fan, it is written in hiragana that it is wonderful [あっぱレ, abbare]. That is the dazzling [天晴, Abare] sense and attitude.

"No, actually..."

The reason Sylvia's expression hardened wasn't just the contents of the order to be delivered. However, Lina's travels eased Sylvia's guilt.

Sylvia thought that thanks to this, she would be able to do the job she was forced to take on without any specifications.

She took the ticket out of her arms.

"This is an order from the Chief of Staff, Commander-in-Chief. Please go to Honolulu."

Lina, who tilted her head and looked at Sylvia's hand, blinked once.

"Yeah!? I just came back!"

Looking up at Sylvia's face as if leaning back, she screamed in surprise.

People pay attention to what's going on.

Perhaps she felt it was too dangerous, Lina covered her mouth and looked around.

It's a very suspicious behavior, so it lacks a serious feeling. Onlookers who paid attention to Lina glanced away from the over-action girl they liked

.

"What the hell is your mission!?"

People's grown-ups. I didn't care, Lina lowered her voice and questioned Sylvia. -More suspicious.

Sylvia decided to end the play quickly, so as not to attract any more attention.

"Well? For more information, please receive notice from the command over there."

"At least give me a little rest!"

"I wondered if I could get some rest in Honolulu..."

Lina's argument was correct, but Sylvia did not deal with it properly, only returning an appropriate answer.

The American, who doesn't know Japan well, pulled out a suitcase from a misleading gift, turned around, and

Sylvia signaled with her hand.

Four soldiers disguised as airport staff stand by the wall and approach.

But Lina did not realize them.

"You don't know how that's going to happen!"

Pointing at Sylvia with a folded fan, she resists.

Sylvia took the debt out of Lena's hands and gave her a ticket instead.

"uh?"

I couldn't believe that Sylvia would do something like this forcibly, and Lina's consciousness couldn't keep up with the development.

"I'm sorry, Lina."

Sylvia makes eye contact with Lina, and apologizes in the tone of an older friend rather than a subordinate.

"Sylvia...? Huh?"

Being stabbed, Lina's resistance stops.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, soldiers dressed as airport staff surround Lina from the left and right. One of them also carried Lina's suitcase.

"Sylvi!? Wait a minute! Wait..."

Buried by a man of good physique, Lina is taken to the departure gate.

Sylvie saw this off with a smile, but suddenly remembered and unfolded the fan that Lina took out.

"Good luck."

A fan with the words 'Excellent' written in hiragana is fluttering and fluttering.

"Ah, thank you for the gift."

Silvi's refreshing smile, middle, big, and cute. There was a sense of achievement that I had completed my task. A collection of Magicians with the best fighting power in the USNA

It was a hot potato that none of the Stars planetary members would take on. Even calling it an 'important mission' would not be an exaggeration.

Of course, such a thing was not known to Lina.

"Sylvi, this savvy bastard—!"

This was the cry of Lina's sincere heart.

Chapter [3] Vacation Together

Ogasawara Islands, Mukojima Islands and Nakodo Islands. Here is a villa with a private beach in the Kitayama family.

Shizuku, the eldest daughter of the Kitayama family, came to this villa with her classmates from the First High School affiliated with the National University of Magic during spring break.

On that white sandy beach, the former first-year class E members, except for Tatsuya, are playing in swimsuits.

At the end of the 21st century, the rule of the cold days of wearing less revealing clothes in public is still in existence at the end of the 21st century, but this is a public custom and

does not apply in private. Summer resorts are full of young men and women who seem to compete for exposure, and in the

sea or swimming pool , you can often see separates and bikinis.

After all, this is a private beach. There's no one else who doesn't know about it. It's not just Erika, who has the guts, because she's always open.

The shy and shy Mizuki is also wearing an unexpectedly daring swimsuit. No, only the important ones are covered.

Because of that, there was one man who couldn't find a place to put his eyes.

However, it seems that even a boy who is shy while playing to a certain extent got used to it safely.

Erika, Mizuki, Leo, and Mikihiko are now immersed in watermelon slicing. The challenger is Mizuki.

The other three are talking to Mizuki, who is blindfolded and staggering with a bat.

"Shibata-san, it's a little more right, right!"

"Ah yes!"

Take two or three steps to the right as if responding to Mikihiko's desperate cheer.

"You've gone too far, turn left a little bit!"

"Yes! That, so..."

Blindfolded at Leo's voice, he hurried to the left.

"What are you talking about, it's straight forward!"

"Hey, this one?"

Since Erika's grinning expression cannot be seen, Mizuki proceeds straight forward like an idiot.

"Shibata-san, that one..."

"There!"

"Ah!"

Mikihiko's restraint was buried by Erika's cry, and the bat Mizuki wielded hit the sand in vain.

"Erika, what the hell are you lying about?"

Mikihiko rebukes Erika in a harsh voice.

"This is also a mystery."

But Erika has a calm expression.

Erika approached Mizuki, who was bewildered by the argument between herself and Mikihiko.

"But what's the point of breaking a watermelon with a bat? It's hard to eat because it's broken. Isn't it better to cut it plainly than that?"

Leo, squatting next to the watermelon, mentioned a simple question.

"It's rude to complain about watermelon breaking because it's a traditional beach game."

First of all, although Erika answered sincerely,

"But isn't it hard to eat? I think it's a bit unfair to treat food like that."

"You're picky about men..."

It looks like it got boring soon.

Or maybe he approached Mizuki with that in mind from the beginning.

Erika pulled the bat out of Mizuki's hand.

And before Mizuki lost his balance and collapsed, he gently pushed it towards Mikihiko.

"What are you doing!"

Mikihiko shouts as she hugs Mizuki who staggers with a cute scream.

With a mischievous smile on Mikihiko's blushing face and Mizuki who hastily removed the blindfold, Erika raised her bat.

"Uh, hey!?"

Leo is nervous and looks up at Erika.

The bat she lifted was emitting psionic light that was clearly visible even in the dazzling sunlight.

"No complaints about this!"

"Wow!?"

Using that line as a substitute for cheer, Erika slammed her bat at the watermelon.

The bat actually stopped just before making contact with the watermelon.

Leo was frightened and leaned forward, and four flashes of light appeared in front of him.

What Erika was holding in her hand was a white wooden bat, which stood still. But Leo clearly saw the steel flash.

Watermelon cut into eight slices.

That reveals a smooth cross-section.

"Erika-chan is amazing!"

"Huh, how about it? It's neat, isn't it?"

It seems that he didn't like the compliments from Mizuki, who was excited by clapping his hands.

"Is it true...?"

Leo is just stupid.

"It's a lie... Cutting a real thing with Psion light is against the logic of magic..."

Mikihiko's muttered words from a position one step away from the three of them were erased by the sound of the waves and did not reach anyone's ears.

The villa building is higher than the private beach.

On a wooden deck overlooking the sea, sandy beach and pier, Tatsuya and Miyuki were made by Kurosawa, the housekeeper of the Kitayama family.

I was enjoying the tropical tea.

"It's delicious, brother."

Miyuki lifted her lips, which were fresher than the bright red fruits of the tropics, from the straw, and gave Tatsuya a shy smile.

"Yeah, that's right."

Tatsuya immediately agreed. When Miyuki turned her head, Tatsuya's gaze was already on Miyuki.

was watching silently.

Miyuki thought so. I didn't like it at all. It's rather happy to see Tatsuya looking at it.

—My older brother is looking at me.

Upon receiving Tatsuya's gaze, Miyuki's heart gradually increased.

You can now ask questions that have been hesitant in anticipation and anxiety. enough to feel that way.

"Brother……."

Tatsuya looked into Miyuki's eyes with a 'huh?'

"Hey… how are you?"

Miyuki's eyes wander as if avoiding Tatsuya's gaze, whether it's shameful or not.

"Hey... a new swimsuit. Last time we went shopping together, my brother-in-law picked me out... Does it fit well...?"

"It suits you very well. As expected."

Without hesitation, Tatsuya answered with a gentle smile.

"-Thank you!"

Miyuki turns her body to the side, covering her suddenly hot cheeks with both hands.

She felt a sense of ecstasy and bliss throughout her body.

"Miss Shizuku and Ms. Honoka. Your share is ready."

Kurosawa calls Shizuku and Honoka.

The two men who leaned out from the wooden deck railing and looked at the beach returned to the table.

"Creating that watermelon looks so much fun."

As she sat down, Honoka spoke in an excited voice. It was the first time she had seen watermelon breaking. As Leo said

Playing with watermelon slicing has decreased because of 'treating food indiscriminately'.

"Erika cut it perfectly!"

"Did you cut it?"

Tatsuya, who was listening to Honoka's words with a smile, raised a question. He sensed a momentary increase in the Psion Pulse.

However, that would not be accompanied by a ideological change called 'cutting off'.

"Isn't Mizuki a challenge?"

Miyuki seems to be concerned about other parts. But neither Tatsuya nor Miyuki got Honoka's answer.

"Yeah! It's delicious. It's delicious, Shizuku!"

Honoka's consciousness completely tilted towards the drink she ate.

Miyuki smiles slightly.

"I can only imagine."

The part that made her smile was Honoka, who acted innocently in front of her, and Erika's reckless attitude, which was evident on the sandy beach.

"Right."

Tatsuya put his question aside, and answered Miyuki with a smile.

You can study magic when you are alone.

That's what I thought.

After talking about the drinks Kurosawa had made, and chattering without thinking about drinks and food, Shizuku

straightened up in a daring swimsuit .

"Thank you, Tatsuya-san, Miyuki."

"Why all of a sudden?"

Tatsuya, who had only listened thoroughly without interrupting the women's conversation, put the glass in his hand back on the table and asked.

"It's just like your brother said. What's happening all of a sudden, Shizuku?"

Miyuki also followed Tatsuya, placing the glass, leaning slightly toward Shizuku and asking.

"It was sudden."

"You mean you invited me to the villa?"

Shizuku nodded at Miyuki's question.

"Thanks to you, we were able to come on vacation together during spring break. Rather, I'm grateful. Is Shizuku any better than that?"

Tatsuya answered with a smile to reassure Shizuku, and then gave a slightly considerate expression.

"You're just returning to Japan, aren't you doing something about the housework? Going to say hello or a party."

Miyuki supplemented Tatsuya's question.

Shizuku gave a tired expression.

"When I go back to Tokyo, I'm there every day."

"I'm going to hang out with the party for a while, so before that, Shizukune's father told me to take a break."

This time, Honoka supplements Shizuku's answer.

Then the sound of the engine of the jet plane was heard.

The four of them look up at the sky at once.

"Brother, what is that?"

To Miyuki who is wary and asks,

"It's rare. It's a flying boat of the National Defense Forces."

Tatsuya answered with a tone that literally 'rare', without being wary.

On the sandy beach, Mizuki looked a little scared, and Leo and Erika and Mikihiko, who were eating watermelon, looked up at the flying boat with a grim expression.

What the flying boat brought was a letter.

This is the order given to Tatsuya. The flying boat is waiting at the pier,

Probably because the purpose is not just to deliver orders, but to take Tatsuya back home.

Tatsuya read the order printed on the paper in the room. Confidentiality is revealed in that it is paper, not communication or electronic media.

He looked at Tatsuya, who was scanning the text, as if he was worried about Miyuki, who was allowed to sit there alone.

"Brother."

When she opens her eyes from the paper, Miyuki speaks to Tatsuya with an expression on her face that can't hide her anxiety.

"This is an order for the military to appear."

Tatsuya didn't even smile to relieve Miyuki's worries, and answered honestly with a firm expression on his face.

"Miyuki, release my seal."

And in a voice that could tell it was not a joke, he delivered the terms of the order to Miyuki.

"Yes!? But..."

"This is an order to show up with Material Burst enabled. It says that you also obtained your aunt's consent."

Without letting Miyuki say it all, Tatsuya showed Miyuki the paper he had just said.

"—I see. If your aunt said it was okay, I'd be happy."

As he said, Miyuki was not only convinced, but also happy.

Tatsuya becomes free. That was a joy for Miyuki. The fact that he is the shackle that binds Tatsuya

It was an anguish tormenting herself, and as long as Tatsuya's seal is lifted, she can escape from that fact.

Tatsuya kneels in front of Miyuki.

Miyuki swept up the hair that had touched her forehead with one hand and bent down slightly.

The reason Miyuki's eyes turned red was because of excitement other than the joy of freeing Tatsuya.

Not only his face but also his neck were slightly red, but with his eyes closed, Tatsuya couldn't even see his swollen breasts approaching.

Miyuki's lips touched Tatsuya's forehead.

In the next moment, a stream of dazzling Psion light overflowed from Tatsuya.

His original power sealed, some of it.

The seemingly endless amount of Psion reserves and the power of event interference reaching even to the root of matter.

Shiba Tatsuya regained his integrity and got up.

Chapter [4] Army Strategic Class Magician

The base of the 101st Brigade of the National Defense Army to which Tatsuya belongs as "Special Lieutenant of Oguro Ryuya" is located in Tsuchiura, west of Sukamigaura.

But today, he was called to the National Defense Army Hyakuri Base in the northeast of Kasumigaura.

Here is the Aerospace Defense Command.

At the same time as the air defense command in the metropolitan area, it has been deployed throughout Japan and its territorial waters.

By receiving data from observation facilities, observers, and observation ships in near real time,

The department that orders necessary actions.

In the flying boat, Tatsuya changed into the uniform of the 101st Brigade Independent Magician Battalion and stopped in front of one of the air defense headquarters.

The door is opened by a signal generated from the dog tag and three-dimensional face authentication. Tatsuya just walked inside and saluted in front of the desk.

"Be at ease."

Tatsuya takes a 'rest' posture at the voice of Army Major Kazama Harunobu, who is sitting behind the desk, and the commander of the Independent Magic Guard Battalion.

"It's a bit early, though."

At the same time Kazama said that, Army Captain Shigeru Sanada, who was standing diagonally behind him, operated the remote control in his hand.

I lowered the screen on the wall.

A model map of the orbit from the solar system to Saturn was displayed on the screen that the three looked up at, and a glowing dot was displayed halfway between the orbits of Earth and Mars.

"An unnatural orbital change of the asteroid has been observed in the region approximately halfway between the orbits of Mars and Earth."

I immediately realized that the 'asteroid' Kazama was referring to was the glowing dot marked on the model map.

"You mean something unnatural?"

"They said the orbit suddenly curved inward."

The point marked in the direction of Earth's orbit suddenly turns inward. It changed its orbit and overlapped the point where the disk corresponding to the Earth had advanced about 45 degrees.

"This increases the likelihood that the asteroid will collide with Earth."

Tatsuya turned back to Kazama from the screen.

"What is the probability of a collision with Earth?"

"We're calculating that probability is over 90 percent at this point."

It was Sanada who answered that question.

"You mean it's almost definitely going down?"

Kazama nodded at Tatsuya's words.

"Yes. Asteroid 2095GE9, code name 『Zeek』, has a diameter of 120 meters at its longest point and 80 meters at its shortest point."

Since the symbol representing the small celestial body is still a tentative name, the orbit may not have been confirmed. In spite of the unexpected orbit, external interference

I can't say for sure that the trajectory is wrong. But such a sudden change of orbit, even if it were on course to collide with the Earth.

It is natural to think that there was some kind of interference.

And unless transcendental intervention of the will is assumed, among the technologies of modern mankind, if such interference is possible, the name of magic is

there is only technology

"The scale of destruction by the atmospheric impact of 『Ziek』 is expected to be comparable to or greater than that of the 『Tunguska Explosion』 in June 1908."

An aerial explosion of a meteorite occurred in June 1908 over the upper Podkamennaya Tunguska River downstream of the Yenisei River in Siberia.

Its power is estimated to be comparable to 5 megatons if replaced with TNT gunpowder.

That's more than 300 times the amount of explosives dropped on Hiroshima.

Kazama moved in front of the screen.

The screen changes to a map centered on the South China Sea.

"Unfortunately, the area most likely to cause an aerial explosion is over the South China Sea."

The expected fall trajectory of the meteorite and the extent of damage caused by the explosion are displayed.

There are three predictions of the trajectory of the fall. calculated trajectory. If this is the most southerly biased case. And the most northerly case.

"If it bends toward Japan, it will cause huge damage to the Kyushu region. We cannot let this happen."

"Yes."

Tatsuya responded with words.

It's definitely not something that can be left to chance.

Kazama gave Tatsuya a sharp gaze.

"Therefore, I order Special Lieutenant Oguro. Use Material Burst to destroy Zeke."

Tatsuya, who was called the Oguro Special Commissioner, responded to Kazama with a salute.

Tatsuya, wearing a combat suit and holding a CAD Third Eye in the form of a large rifle, stood inside the large hemispherical screen.

It is a space that is usually used for sniper simulation, but now the screen has a real-time--to be precise, there is a time lag where the light hits.

An image of asteroid 2095GE9 from about three minutes ago is shown.

Even if it is an image, it is a simple point, and this is nothing more than amplification of reflected light by image processing.

However, just being connected to the light at this moment was enough for Tatsuya to confirm its existence in the level of information.

"Ready to trigger Material Burst."

At Kazama's voice, Tatsuya raised the Third Eye's 'muzzle' towards the asteroid point.

In his 'vision', the 'appearance' of an asteroid between the sun, the moon, and the light of three planets is imaged in real, time and time.

It took about 1 second for Tatsuya to reply "Ready" after the activation preparation command.

"Mass Energy Conversion Magic Material Burst, activated."

"Material Burst, activated."

With that only preparation time, the destructive power comparable to that of an antimatter bomb was released.

The video can only be viewed three minutes in the future.

At this moment, only Tatsuya knows what happened to asteroid 2095GE9.

Of the asteroids, approximately 2 tons of rock on Earth's side has been lost from this world.

All that mass is converted into energy.

Converting mass into energy reminds us of great annihilation, but to be precise, leptons or hadrons with mass are

It is a phenomenon that converts into massless photons. The mass of matter is converted into energy of light, and the wave of light acts on the other mass.

It's not just photons that are created by great annihilation, some become neutrinos.

Since neutrinos rarely interact with other matter,

their mass is not observed as energy.

However, Tatsuya's Material Burst converts mass directly into energy. remove the mass, and in its place

A space 'where there is as much energy as mass' appears. Matter that touches this expanded space shakes tremendously and

undergoes various changes such as acceleration, burning, melting, evaporation, collapse, and explosion.

When the surface layer was replaced with TNT gunpowder, the asteroid exposed to 40 gigatons of heat melted in an instant and was shattered by the pressure that evaporated and turned into gas.

In the area exposed to the universe, active spearmind and annihilation occurred, but it was not enough to overwhelm the brilliance of the light, moonlight, and stars.

The building was located in a corner of the Ogasawara Islands, Minamitateshima Naval Base.

The name is 『Southern Islands Factory』.

Externally, it is a fire extinguisher supply factory, but in fact, it is a strategic-class magic research facility that uses a controller Magician.

In the past, before the Great War, the same magic as the United States, which was still in the USA at that time, was studied at that facility, and this was discontinued because there was no prospect for practical use

.

The research data must have been neglected, but in fact, it was hidden in the Chichijima secret warehouse along with the control body manufacturing procedure.

Immediately after the end of the Great War

The Defense Naval Forces unearthed this material and revived the research solely for themselves—without reporting it to the Unified Army Headquarters.

Overlooking the large CAD tree, the control section features the ability to collect and analyze data from space observation facilities, including the space telescope Heimdall.

Researchers were using this to investigate the state of 2095GE9, the asteroid they had just targeted.

"Confirmed detonation of asteroid 2095GE9."

The researcher, who was staring at the console monitor, gave medicine to Kanemaru, the general manager of the elderly. 3. min.

Report the latest information of the former.

"The Army's Strategic Class Magician, did you intervene too?"

Kanemaru, who was looking up at the dome-shaped screen on the ceiling, answered in a tone like a self-talk.

"Based on the nature and destructive power of its magic, it is assumed that Warden Kanemaru's original purpose is to respond to meteorite disasters.

It looks like it was right."

Without saying a word, only nodding his head to the other researcher's father, Kanemaru looked down at the multi-story laboratory through the window.

Nine Coordinators are waiting on the tree.

Even if I said that, I was just lying on the seat blankly.

"Unfortunately, we didn't get enough validation data, but there's no need to deal with the 2095GE9 here."

The reason why the Coordinator is on standby is to get the asteroid out of the Earth's collision course if the Army's Strategic Class Magician doesn't intervene.

They also do not think that it is necessary to cause enormous damage to the land for the sake of research.

But to tell the truth, they don't yet have the technology to reliably control the asteroid's orbit. At the present stage, the experiment

It can only attract small bodies.

The experiment conducted this time predicted and executed the intervention of the Strategic Class Magician who caused 'Scorching Halloween' from the beginning, Kanemaru said.

It was just some kind of hypocrisy.

Of course, Kanemaru was unaware of this.

The feeling of believing that it is natural for others to act according to their own thoughts

is evident in every corner of the arrogant tone.

"The following is an out-of-orbit test. The target is the USNA's decommissioned military satellite, Seventh Plague."

A large military satellite model map is displayed on the monitor.

"The day after tomorrow, is it already tomorrow? The test will be conducted from 19:00 on March 30th."

Researchers are buzzing. It's not surprising, it's 'finally', 'just now'.

"The time has finally come."

A female researcher right next to Kanemaru raises her voice with anticipation.

"Yeah. If this experiment is successful, the Meteorite Fall will be able to be used not only as a means of attack, but also as a means of defense.

As a countermeasure against satellite orbital weapons, this magic has great significance. It has a higher strategic value than the army's strategic level magic that can only attack on a large scale.

The defense and the upper naval forces will have no choice but to acknowledge our research."

These days, the Naval Staff continues to urge Kanemaru to get results quickly. The cause is the 'scorching Halloween' that occurred at the end of October last year.

Seeing that the army had achieved great results with strategic level magic, the upper naval divisions were anxious to complete the 'naval strategic level magic'.

The reason why the navy tried to use the research data found in the secret warehouse of Chichijima was only among themselves,

It was to end the responsibility within the army if the facts were discovered. When the USNA is held accountable, the

Naval Staff is sacrificing in order to avoid the responsibility of the Japanese government.

But over time, they do this research. I was mistaken for something. Research to strengthen the Japanese military power has

suddenly turned into a means to increase the naval power of speech.

Users of Strategic Class Magic 『Abyss』 are private, private, organizational. belonging to the Ten Master Clans.

It became clear that the Strategic Class Magician who burned the Great Asia Alliance Fleet belonged to the Army.

Already, the navy is losing consecutive defeats these days. The naval power was simply taken away from Okinawa, and the enemy easily landed on Sado Island in Hokkaido.

The mobilization of the anti-Great Asia Fleet was delayed.

Currently, we do not see the bitterness of the naval budget reduction, but rather, there is a growing voice that we must increase the number of ships to strengthen the defense of the sea area.

But you shouldn't be reassured by this. The naval leadership

was caught up in the impatience that if they did not have the same secret means as the army, their speaking power would be relatively low.

Kanemaru was the only one who received a direct recommendation from the Chief of Staff, but his subordinate researchers directly felt that there was such a move.

They each have ambitions. Even if Kanemaru monopolizes the honor of leaving a name in the history of research,

it is enough to satisfy the need for approval that the state and the world recognize the experiment in which he was involved . Few people objected to Kanemaru's words.

That is not to say that no one raised it.

"Wait, Warden!"

A female researcher stood up and protested from a seat on a coordinator monitor placed on a pedestal floor, more than one floor lower.

"They haven't recovered from the damage from the last test. As usual, they should rest for at least a week!"

Kanemaru looked down at the woman with an annoyed gaze.

"Mr. Morinaga. What is the rationale for saying that it takes a week for the magic of the Watatsumi series to recover? I can't remember such data."

"……that's……."

"Do you think that a scientist should understand the situation with objective data rather than subjective impressions?"

A female researcher called Morinaga was speechless and bowed her head, but she did not back down and immediately raised her head.

"...it's not their only problem. A departure test requires reversing the maneuvering direction.

We are already pushing ahead with the experiment in a state that is less than the number of people originally planned. You have to take a little more time and proceed carefully."

"Can't you make it on time?"

Kanemaru turned his head to the side and asked the researcher on the same floor.

"No, until tomorrow!"

The researcher took it lightly, as if competing with Morinaga.

"Okay. Then, the next experiment will start at 10:00 on March 30th, and there will be no changes. Needless to say, make sure you do your best to change the setting of 『Generation』."

Saying that, Kanemaru left the lab as if 'the story is over'.

Morinaga looked up at the control section where Kanemaru was missing, with an angry expression.

Chapter [5] Password Mail ?

A researcher with medical qualifications takes on the role of adjusting the physical condition of each girl in the control body.

The researchers are divided into two attitudes.

On the one hand, the majority believe that the progress of the experiment should be prioritized over the health of the control body.

On the other hand, a minority group who believes that the control body is still a girl, and that they must do everything they can to keep their health in check.

Of course, it was the mindset that the minority group prioritized the adjustment of the coordination body so that the experiment could be carried out for a long time. - Until yesterday.

Morinaga is a researcher belonging to a minority, but he did not feel that the experiment should be stopped.

Even if the coordination body is broken.

But the girl in front of you is real. Seeing it break, she changed her mind.

There are three minority researchers. They are now gathering in the girl's room, which she named "Mia".

Nominal cooperation for the treatment of severely consumed children.

This room is being monitored on a regular basis, but the

camera and microphone, which are monitoring devices, are all turned off because it does not stress Mia, who has become weak and sensitive .

"Are you sure the monitoring device is blocked?"

Still, I can't shake the anxiety. Morinaga asked Researcher Furuta, who was in charge of Mia.

"No problem. I checked it five times in different ways, and above all, Mia is in a stable state."

The fact that Mia is stressed when the monitoring device is activated is an excuse, but it is not a lie. The adjustment body 'Watatsumi series' is

optimized for Meteorite Falls, but that doesn't mean it can't use other magic. He

has a high aptitude for movement magic and

perceptual magic, which are closely related to Meteorite Fall, and Mia was particularly good at perceptual magic.

"Yes……."

"Now that I'm relieved, let's go to the main drug. Is the condition of Kokoa that bad?"

Kokoa is the name given to the girl Morinaga is in charge of. It was originally used for this experiment. The controller had only a serial number attached to it.

However, for the reason that sparse serial numbers are inconvenient, for the nine remaining in the final experimental stage, the numbers 1 to 9 indicate the order.

named

Serial number 6 is Hitotsu [一亞, number 10 is Futatsu [二亞, 14 is Mia [三亞, 15 is Shia [fourteen, 17 is Ittsu [five two, 18 is Mutsu [六亞] ,

19 is Natsu [七亞, 21 is Yatsu [八亞, 22 is Kokoa [九亞].

In addition, serial numbers 1 to 4 are prototypes, and they die immediately after being released from the artificial womb. 5 to 16 were used in the first experiment 15 years ago, but

Only four survived, and the four were preserved in artificial hibernation for the next experiment. The

institute manufactured 17-24 based on the data of these four people, and the four The second experiment was prepared with 12 people including them, but

20, 23, and 24 died in the stage of adjusting the synchronization with the genealogy.

The reason that the way Mia, Shia, and Kokoa read the names of the three people is different from the other six is that these three people in charge

Because I am a minority researcher here.

They did not hide that they were in a different position from the person in charge, Kanemaru.

When Furuta asks about Kokoa's condition, Morinaga thought to be cool in her own way, but her expression darkened enough to make her worried when viewed from the side.

"The self-disappearance is going on. Maybe it won't stand up to the next experiment."

"...does that mean you're going to die?"

A researcher named Ezaki, who is in charge of Shia, asked with a frown.

"No, but it will lose its active intention and become a living doll that can neither eat nor defecate unless ordered..."

"The 20th squad is unstable, but they have high abilities... they have to do something."

Furuta murmured in a tone mixed with anguish.

"But with Mia in this state, can't even Furuta-san be able to leave?"

Ezaki pointed out in a dark voice as she looked at Mia lying helplessly on the bed.

"It is…but."

"I have an idea."

Morinaga looked at Ezaki's words as if hanging on.

"As you may know, our Shia is a problem child."

Ezaki twisted his lips with a look that looked too bitter to be dismissed as a bitter smile.

"Rebellious and unstable in temper, it frequently causes poltergeists."

In contrast to Mia, Shia has a high aptitude for mobile magic, but because of her high aptitude, she quickly runs out of control.

The runaway of mobile magic, this lab refers to it as 'poltergeist'.

"Yes……."

Even Morinaga knew that fact. So, Shia is taking medication to stabilize her mind, and that the drug is consuming Shia's body.

"I will talk to Shia in the morning and raise a poltergeist with intent to attack the Enemy. The attention of the guard will be focused on Shia. In the

meantime, disguise yourself as a cargo to the mall and let Kokoa escape."

There are three collaborators among those who bring in daily necessities from outside.

With the help of that collaborator, it

is quite possible to put Kokoa in souvenirs that are manufactured with the surplus production capacity of the supply factories and shipped to shopping malls.

"But yes, Morinaga!"

If you make such a commotion the day before the experiment, your drug dose will be higher than usual. Morinaga had no intention of sacrificing Shia for Kokoa.

"It's okay. I take care of Shia's body with all my power. Besides, there is a cure for drugs, but there is no cure for the mind.

I can't even think about which one is more urgent."

"… … … … ."

"But let's say we're escaping to the mall, then what?"

Instead of Morinaga, who is speechless, Furuta raises the issue.

"Mr. Morinaga."

Ezaki spoke to Morinaga without answering Furuta directly.

"Can I get help from Saegusa?"

Ezaki knows that Morinaga taught Saegusa's second son at the Magic University before coming here.

"To Saegusa-kun… But I was just an ordinary lecturer, and he left the university before graduating."

"Still, it's not completely left. With Saegusa's help, not only Kokoa, but Shia, Mia, and all the other children.

You may be saved."

Morinaga was very hesitant. To be honest, she had a hard time dealing with her disciple Saegusa Kojiro. Do you think your emotions are out of line?

Anyway, he was a young man who didn't move as expected. Although the class attitude was serious and the report was submitted diligently,

Morinaga, who had low interpersonal skills in the first place , could not be confident that he had a human interaction.

However, if we can get the cooperation of Saegusa, a particularly powerful clan among the Ten Four Clans of Morinaga,

I thought that the possibility of helping the Watatsumi series would increase.

Finally, she decided to ask Saegusa Kojiro for help.

But the world was not that easy.

"Did you get rejected? It must be like that."

Saegusa Kojiro did not ignore the encrypted mail sent by Morinaga. sent a reply right away.

However, the content was a harsh reply, 'I can't help you because I'm busy right now'.

When you think about it, it made sense. If you help Morinaga, you turn the navy into an enemy. Against that great risk, nothing comes back.

They could keep the cause of the Ten Master Clans of securing the rights of a Magician, but enough to believe that it would be worth doing.

Morinaga was not innocent.

A serious sigh escapes Morinaga's mouth. If you think about it soberly, you would have known that the chances of being rejected are overwhelmingly high.

He realized that he had depended on Saegusa.

There is no point in escaping from the laboratory if you do not consider the following procedure after escaping to the mall. Rather, it will only worsen Kokoa's position.

Shia's sacrifice is meaningless. I have to tell Ezaki to stop the escape plan... … . Thinking so, Morinaga got up slowly.

The incoming lamp glows in the constraint of sight.

The thing that shines is Morinaga's personal terminal.

She stood up and grabbed the phone.

mail sender,

"Huh? Saegusa-kun?"

Saegusa Kojiro who just sent an email refusing this request.

Morinaga had a feeling and opened the body of the decrypted e-mail.

"...a brother?"

What was written in that e-mail was the fact that Kojiro's younger sister Mayumi was in Ogasawara, and Mayumi's e-mail address.

It was her private encryption key.

"Are you going to rely on Mayumi-san?"

It wasn't written so clearly in Kojiro's e-mail.

But Morinaga interpreted it as such.

That possibility flashed in my mind.

Using the key Kojiro had taught her, she hurriedly wrote the cipher text and sent it to Mayumi.

Mayumi Saegusa and Mari Watanabe.

The two, who had just graduated from the First High School affiliated with the National University of Magic, were on a graduation trip to Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands.

Magicians with combat-level abilities are practically restricted from leaving, including those who are still at the talent stage.

The government guarantees 'freedom of movement', but in fact, it is not allowed to go abroad for various reasons.

The two of them gave up on overseas travel from the beginning. Not only the two of them, but also the graduates of Magic High School

practically do not have the option of 'travel abroad for graduation' . Okinawa, Ogasawara, and northern Hokkaido are popular graduation destinations for magic high school students.

The fact that it is a popular destination means that there is a high possibility of meeting local graduates of the same school or acquaintances of other schools. It wasn't that I hated it, but

Mayumi and Mari wanted to spend a leisurely time alone if possible. So, the two dared to choose a date a little far from the graduation ceremony.

Perhaps the result of that thought was correct, until now, I have never met a classmate in first high or a graduate from another school.

Mayumi was planning to spend the rest of the day at Chichijima Hotel.

However, on March 29, she was forced to wake up early without even thinking about it.

What woke her up was the ringing of her mobile phone at her bedside. Normally I would turn off the sound and put it back on the bed.

The ringing tone had been set up for an emergency call.

"What the hell is it? It's not like you're going home right now..."

Get up from a lying position and look at the screen while sweeping your head. The sensual curves of the chest were seen through the gap between the hem of the yukata, but

fortunately (?) there is no one here to get excited about it.

"...Uh, is this a password mail?"

Mayumi got up hurriedly and took out a notebook-type terminal from her bag.

Although it is an ultra-thin mobile weighing less than 400 grams,

Performance doesn't match desktops.

The mobile terminal that received the encrypted mail and the note terminal are connected by wire—not connected wirelessly, in order to minimize the risk of eavesdropping—the

mail is transferred to the notebook terminal and decrypted.

The mail wasn't that long.

As she read, Mayumi's expression became increasingly harsh.

Mayumi operates the remote control to open the curtains.

The morning sunlight enters the room and hits Mari's face.

"Ugh...!"

Mari, grimacing in displeasure, slowly gets up from the bed.

Mayumi took a cup of coffee and went back to the notebook terminal.

"Mayumi... Anyway, isn't it too early?"

"It's already mid-sky."

Passing through Mari's complaints mercilessly,

"Look at this rather than that."

Show the note terminal screen to Mari.

"What is it, what the hell..."

Mayumi came out of bed with a still sleepy face and held out a cup of coffee while Mayumi was drinking.

"write……."

Mari noticed that Mayumi was full when she reached out, but she drank without showing any sign of concern and frowned.

"It's good to be refreshed? What do you think of this other than that?"

As Mayumi urges, Mari looks at the display.

"This……."

Mari's expression turned completely awake, and she muttered in a low voice.

"…who is this Morinaga who is this?"

After reading the email, Mari asked Mayumi with a frowned expression.

"You are my second brother's college teacher. He is a very good researcher, and he seems to be at the Naval Research Institute now. For a short period of time,

he even served as my tutor."

"Can I trust you?"

"He's a very sincere person. As a researcher, there are some things that are a little off, but... at least he didn't seem like someone who would lie about something like this."

Mari thought for a few seconds.

"Then is this also true?"

"Yeah, maybe. So, Mari, what do you think?"

Without turning away from Mayumi's gaze, Mari replied slowly, as if savoring her words.

"I'm not against your thoughts."

Mayumi let out a small laugh.

"It seems like you're assuming that I'll cooperate with her request."

"is not it?"

"No, that's right."

Mayumi nodded her head while maintaining a smile.

And after erasing his smile, he looks at Mari with a serious expression on his face.

"Then is Mari all right? Even if I cause trouble with the Navy."

"If this is true, I don't want to pretend I don't know."

Mari answered with the same serious expression as Mayumi.

"Besides, there's a part where there's a cleavage over there, so I can't see that it's going to be a problem."

"Actually, I don't think so. I wonder if there will be more trouble because there's a part that's clenched."

"Well, yes. But I don't intend to fight head-on."

"You're stupid. That's natural."

Mayumi returned a look of disbelief to Mari who smiled softly.

"That's right. I ruined my graduation trip."

Mari says with a belligerent smile.

Without saying 'not thinking that way', Mayumi typed in a reply to Morinaga.

Chapter [6] Because It's Okay

"Wow..."

At the entrance to the shopping mall, Honoka let out a sound without realizing it.

I had no friends who thought it was a fuss.

The fusion of Provence and Adalusian vibes in a good way, or in a bad way, where the stores were forced to connect, the scene was

like a movie set. Architecture experts may frown upon seeing it, but the eyes of non-professionals were full of colorful and splendid feelings.

"It's a nicer place than the picture shows."

"Yes."

Shizuku responds to Honoka's words. No one seems to have a different opinion.

Honoka and Shizuku enters the mall, followed by Miyuki, Erika, Mizuki, Mikihiko, and Leo.

"Is this your first time, Shizuku?"

"Huh."

When Mizuki asked, Shizuku nodded. Beside him, Erika speaks to Miyuki with a mischievous smile.

"Miyuki, I'm sorry that Tatsuya-kun isn't here."

"Yeah, but it's unavoidable."

Only Erika could say something like this to Miyuki. Besides, it's possible that it's Miyuki that you can easily pass it on right away.

The shopping mall is full of triangle patterns.

Since it is "Minamita.te.shi.ma.", it seems that the vertical line was used as a symbol.

It's a pun, but strangely, it suited the street with a Mediterranean feel. Also, a pennant designed with a zebra

The fact that the zebra and white tiger dolls were filled in various stores was probably in line with the pun.

[A pun in the sense that even if you change the Chinese character for Tateshima [盾島] to Standing Island [立島, it still reads Tateshima.

The seven of them

looked through the mall from start to finish

while shopping for children—to be more precise, five girls were having fun, and two boys were just following them . Another tourist saw Miyuki wearing a hat once, and I stopped talking without realizing it, and

there was also the happening that the store was full of people, but my friends just thought, 'Is it again?'.

When you exit the mall, there is a square, and a high fence stands at the end of the artificial ground. The narrow sea—more than that, beyond the gap in the artificial ground

A wall consisting of a naval base warehouse is visible.

"Is that the center of the naval base over there? The two young boys who were in our house must have been assigned over there since last summer... I don't think they can recognize it."

Erika murmured to herself as she looked at the walls of the food warehouse painted in the same vertical stripes.

"I can't see the inside because the food warehouse is stretched out. Are you a student of Chiba Dojo?"

"Yeah. It's rare for us to go into the navy from our house, so it left an impression on me."

Of course, it was not that he was unaware of his companion, so when Miyuki asked, Erika answered immediately.

Leo and Mikihiko were looking at the naval base right in front of the fence, a little far from the women's gathering.

"It's like the base and the mall are side by side, it doesn't look like the artificial ground is connected."

At Leo's words, Mikihiko laughed involuntarily.

"Haha, that's right. This is also a military facility, but it is a civilian facility that uses the surplus production capacity of the supply base and

In the true sense of the word, we can't have facilities that are bases together."

Leo frowned and snorted. I don't care about Mikihiko's laughter. It's a bit more serious.

"Leo, why are you doing this? Does it smell suspiciously?"

Noticing this, Mikihiko turned her gaze back to the base with a slightly anxious expression.

"No, it's not like that… It's strangely itchy in the back, so it doesn't calm down."

Leo looked at the base with suspicious eyes.

A chill passes through Mikihiko's back. He turned his gaze to the direction Leo was looking to grasp the identity of that feeling.

But all you can see is the wall of the food warehouse.

"Yoshida-kun, Leo-kun, would you like to have lunch?"

In that situation, Mizuki spoke up.

"Oh, finally. Tired of waiting."

Leo fell off the fence without any regrets.

"Oh, Leo, wait a minute!"

Embracing a slightly misunderstood feeling that he had been betrayed, Mikihiko followed Leo.

There was a great commotion inside the Southern Islands Works.

The researcher looks at the running guards and medical staff with an anxious expression.

"It seems that 『No. 4』 has caused a commotion again."

"Did you wake up again?"

such a conversation

"They said the room was in a state like a bomb was installed."

"The bed that had been stationary was also completely overturned."

"Really... it's because he's superior to anyone else in terms of strength, 『No. 4』."

conversation like this.

"The experiment is tomorrow… I want you to stop doing it now."

"Is it okay if at least one person disappears?"

"It can't be. The output of 『No. 4』 is competing for 1st and 2nd place among the remaining 9 people."

"That's annoying."

Conversations like this spread all over the lab.

In the "No. 4" they were talking about, in Shia's room, more than 10 security guards with anesthetic guns or electric guns were gathered.

"Please, don't use guns!"

Researcher Ezaki, holding the guard from behind, squeezes his voice and appeals.

In the center of the room, Shia, whose eyes are out of focus, stands blankly.

While the guard's attention was focused on Shia, the door to the room at the far end of the hallway quietly opened.

I opened the door that was supposed to be locked and came out, wearing a dress without decorations like the clothes worn during the examination, no, wearing a robe.

She was a girl who looked exactly like Shia, wearing laceless leather shoes.

That girl, Kokoa, ran along the route Morinaga said without looking left or right.

The clock hands pointed to noon. The Minamitateshima shopping mall was also crowded with tourists entering the restaurant.

In the crowd, Mayumi ran while panting.

"Mayumi!"

Hearing her name, Mayumi stopped.

"Mari, did you find it?"

"No, not yet."

"Yes……."

In response to Mari's answer, Mayumi bit her lip with a blurred face.

"Mayumi, can't you find it with your 『Multiscope』?"

"That's the magic to see if there's something in that place, not the magic to find out who doesn't know where they are...

Really! Why are there so many people!"

In response to Mari's question, Mayumi shook her head and expressed some anger.

Mari sighed without swearing at Mayumi.

Because she felt the same way.

"Because it's lunchtime, it's even more… that we have no choice but to diligently look for it."

Mayumi breathes a sigh similar to Mari.

"At least if I was at the promised place..."

"Of course, even in that secret lab, people must be moving to take them back. It would be unreasonable to stand still and wait."

What they are looking for is a girl who must have escaped from the Naval Research Institute. Recalling that Mari's words put the girl in danger,

Mayumi energized herself.

"If you're being chased, you should find it even faster."

"That's right. I'll look over there."

"Then I'll go this way."

The two nodded their heads with renewed enthusiasm.

The atmosphere inside the Southern Archipelago of the Naval Secret Research Institute was incomparable to what it had just been before.

"Director. I've found the person who helped the escape of 『No. 9』. A person who works for an outside company that entrusted the supply of consumables and the removal of waste."

Kanemaru stared at the captain of the guard with a cold gaze.

"So, do you have any clues about Kokoa's whereabouts?"

"No, well, he committed suicide by poison just before we were arrested."

"Suicide?"

"Yes. We're still investigating, but we're speculating that the person may have something to do with the USNA."

Kanemaru's eyes widen.

"You mean the Watatsumi series has been taken over by the USNA!?"

Kanemaru didn't utter such a loud voice, but the quiet force made the guard captain take a half step back without realizing it.

But in the next moment, Kanemaru regained his composure.

"No, I can't get out of this island so easily. How far did you find out Kokoa's whereabouts?"

"We even found out that it was mixed with an unmanned transport vehicle that moved products to the shopping mall. But what's next..."

"Unknown, yes."

Kanemaru muttered in a tone that didn't matter.

"What are the results of Researcher Morinaga's newspaper?"

"It has not been proven to be related to breakouts."

"Isn't sure yet... he didn't kill him, did he?"

"It doesn't even matter."

The captain shook his head hurriedly.

"I'm putting my subordinates up and locking them in."

"is it."

Kanemaru let out a small sigh.

"Have you already commissioned a search for shopping malls and airports?"

"We have already dispatched a search force centered on the military police."

"Is all that is left to do is wait for the result… well done."

At Kanemaru's words, the captain of the guard saluted and left the room.

"Even if I found it, I can't use it right away. I'll have to give an instruction to change the settings so that I can experiment with eight people..."

The captain didn't listen to Kanemaru's words to himself.

It was midday when the restaurant was crowded, but Miyuki managed to secure a table that could seat all seven people safely.

Female Jin Plus Mikihiko has already finished eating and is eating drinks and desserts. Only Leo was still eating, but

no one cared about it , including Leo himself.

"By the way, Mizuki. Have you already received the new uniform?"

"No, not yet. After April 2nd, at least the day before class starts, notices have arrived."

To Erika's question, Mizuki answered with a face that was a little shy but couldn't hide her joy.

Mizuki wasn't shy about being a second-class student and didn't want to become a first-year student, but passing the selection test for the newly established magical engineering department

I was honestly happy. However, Erika was hesitant to express her joy because she was still a second-year student in the new semester.

Of course, that's Mizuki's overthinking.

More than Mizuki, Erika doesn't care at all whether it's a 1st or 2nd student.

"Hmm, Tatsuya-kun?"

Even here, Erika nodded her head lightly and then asked Miyuki a question in a calm tone instead of Tatsuya, who was not present.

"Yeah. That's what I heard too."

Erika nodded her head with a sense of that.

"Mizuki and Tatsuya-kun are also magicians from the new semester. Congrats on escaping the 2nd course, are you here? Well, in the case of Tatsuya-kun

, it was strange from the beginning that

Tatsuya-kun was a 2nd student."

There, Erika turned her meaningful gaze to Mikihiko.

"Miki is also a first-year student from next month. It's going to be lonely."

"Well, by the way, has Yoshida-kun already received a new uniform?"

Perhaps he felt a premonition that he was tormenting Miki, Hi.Co., Mizuki intervened in a bewildered tone.

"Ah, yes. The day after the closing ceremony. My design is different from Tatsuyana and Shibata-san, so I think it must have come so soon."

The reason Mikihiko responded quickly was to prevent Erika from interfering.

"Hey, Miki. You've officially become 『Bloom』, what are your impressions?"

But it seems like it was a pointless effort.

"Stop it. I don't think about Bloom or Weed or anything like that. Besides, I'm like Shibata-san.

I didn't even apply for a test."

As if Mikihiko was uncomfortable, she looked away from Erika.

After turning his gaze, Leo, who had finished eating at some point, frowned and was thinking about something.

"Leo... why?"

Leo turned his gaze out the window and drew Mikihiko's gaze.

"The atmosphere outside, isn't it bloody somewhere? Those running around, no matter how you look at it, they're not ordinary humans."

"A security guard... no, is it a military police?"

As Leo and Mikihiko said, there were people in plain clothes, like soldiers who had not been seen before, scattered all over the mall.

"Is there anyone who has escaped from the base?"

"Then you would have been properly dressed. It's strange that it's plain clothes."

Erika questioned Mikihiko's common-sense guess.

"Isn't it possible to say that they were considerate of tourists?"

"No. If that's the case, it would be easier to show that "they aren't suspicious." They usually do

n't sneak around like that."

Despite Miyuki's objection, Erika shook her head.

"Yes."

Miyuki didn't really object to it, but immediately affirmed Erika's point.

"Are you moving secretly?"

Leo's question meant 'is that obviously suspicious?'

"Even though it is said to be open to civilians, this is also within the base for now. There is no reason not to wear a military uniform if it is a natural task such as searching for defectors."

Erika dismissed Leo's doubts and glanced at his friends.

"I think something dangerous has happened. You better go back to the villa."

"...that's right. It's a little earlier than planned, but shall we go back?"

To Erika's tense voice, Miyuki responded that way.

They all got up at once, as if the timing had been measured.

They came directly from Nakodojima to Minamitatejima by the Kitayama family's tiltrotor.

Tilt rotors are also quite popular these days, and this sea airfield also has a VTOL port, not a heliport for private planes.

The seven Miyuki returned to the VTOL port where their private plane was parked on unmanned electric commuters.

The tiltrotor had a ladder down with no radio signal.

"I think it might be a lack of caution..."

After this, suspicious people can break in at will. The content Mikihiko muttered without knowing it represented everyone's opinion.

Shizuku enters the plane with an angry expression.

She headed to the cockpit, not the cabin.

After Shizuku, Honoka got on the plane and headed to the cabin, and from the cockpit said, 'Wow! Oh, lady? You're back pretty quickly.'

I heard a voice.

"...I was sleeping."

Shizuku, who had exchanged a word or two with the pilot, returned to the room with an absurd expression.

"Date-san, your skills are good, but..."

"Ahaha..."

Honoka couldn't think of any other way to respond than to the sound of empty laughter.

After Shizuku and Honoka, Miyuki and Erika enter the room in that order.

Miyuki sat on the seat as it was, but Erika frowned slightly at the entrance to the room and stopped.

Mikihiko, who was behind Erika, looks at her with a puzzled expression.

Erika sat down next to Miyuki as if nothing had happened.

Finally, Leo gets on the plane and presses the switch next to the doorway.

The ladder goes up and the door goes down.

Then the sound of an approaching military car.

I heard the tire scraping of a crude open-top car, and stopped next to the plane.

"The private jet over there! Check the cabin! Down the ladder!"

The marine in the passenger seat shouts with a high-pitched voice.

Honoka and Mizuki gave a slightly frightened expression, and Mikihiko made a nervous expression.

Miyuki gave her an annoyed look, and sighed as if Shizuku was annoyed.

And Erika opened her eyes and said, 'Those guys... … ' he muttered and got up from the seat.

Next to the hatch, Leo operates the switch with an expression of 'I can't help it'.

Leo is pushed aside in front of the hatch where the ladder goes down, and Erika stands up.

"What's going on?"

With her hand on her waist and a high-pressure expression, 'I'm not feeling well', Erika was beaten by a marine.

The marine made a puzzled expression at the unexpected reaction, but immediately opened his eyes wide.

"Ugh!? Miss Erika!?"

The two marines get out of the car in a hurry.

In contrast to the timid Marine, Erika stepped forward with an overbearing attitude, and her tone became harsh.

"What are you guys doing to this plane? I think I heard they're investigating the cabin."

"Well, the truth is… it seems that a special patient escaped from the hospital in the base…"

In response, Erika deliberately frowned exaggeratedly.

"You think you did?"

Erika's sharp gaze falls on the two marines.

"Oh, yes. That's what we heard."

"I'm not on this plane."

Erika's answer was indescribable.

"No, but… it might be time to investigate."

"You said you weren't here."

Erika didn't let the Marines talk to the end.

"If that's not the case... you mean you can't believe what I'm saying!?"

He puts life into his voice and moves around.

"No! Excuse me!"

A marine trembled as if struck by lightning, straightened his posture and bowed his head.

Even before the Minister of the Navy

It was such a tension that it wouldn't harden up to this point.

"Uh, hey?"

The other hesitates, wondering if it's okay to step back like this.

"Okay, let's go!"

But the Marine, who bowed his head at Erika, dragged his partner into the car and hurriedly started the car.

Erika snorted once and went back to the seat without seeing the car leave.

Leo closes the hatch again with a look as if he's about to whistle at any moment.

"Erika. Are you the child those soldiers mentioned earlier?"

Miyuki smiled and spoke to Erika who was sitting next to her.

"Yeah, that's right. I don't think I forgot my face."

At Erika's satisfied expression, Miyuki's smile deepened.

The tiltrotor takes off.

Moving to level flight, Miyuki turned her head toward Erika.

"By the way, Erika, why are you covering that child?"

Saying so, he glanced back slightly.

"You noticed."

When Erika smiled, Miyuki smiled broadly as well.

Erika stood up.

Without even paying attention to Mikihiko and Mizuki's 'Why is that?', Erika went ahead and stood in front of the bathroom behind the room.

"You can come out now."

Erika spoke kindly towards the bathroom.

"Come out. It's okay."

With a gentler voice, one more time with a tone that seems to appease a small child.

The bathroom door slides open.

What came out was a small girl with long hair wearing a simple dress and hiding her face.

Honoka said, 'Oh... … ' He muttered a little.

The room is full of surprises.

The girl's appearance was unexpected, but Erika and Miyuki were the same.

The girl clinging to the door is obviously terrified.

Erika, the first to realize this, smiled kindly at the girl.

On an unmanned electric commuter, Mayumi and Mari parked at the VTOL port and returned to Saegusa's private car.

It was coincidentally the same type of aircraft as that of the Kitayama family.

Perhaps recognizing Mayumi's appearance, the hatch opened and a ladder descended.

The two people on board were seen off by a female pilot.

"Have you been there, miss?"

"I'm here, Takeuchi-san."

Mayumi answered Takeuchi, a female pilot who politely greeted her,

"Is the "guest" here?"

That's exactly what I asked.

"The "guest" you spoke of did not appear.

"Yes……."

Mayumi's shoulders drooped at Takeuchi's answer.

"Two base marines came in instead."

Is it because Takeuchi had a bitter expression on his face because he cared for Mayumi, or was it because the arrogant attitude of the marines was unpleasant.

"It was in the name of looking for a patient who escaped from the hospital, but it must have come to find the magical girl you were talking about. After

giving a brief tour of the plane, I convinced myself and went back."

"Yeah... I'll look for it as well. I'd say I was lucky that I didn't have any trouble with the Navy."

Hearing the words that Mayumi was telling herself, Mari intervened.

"But where the hell did that girl named "Kokoa" go? It seems that she wasn't at the planned reunion after all... isn't she already caught?"

"Even now, people like a search party are roaming the terminal building, so I think they haven't been caught yet…"

The words Mayumi gave to Mari, who tilted her head, lacked confidence.

"I'm afraid I'm alone, so I want to find you right away..."

"Lady, I have a guess."

"Uh, what?"

Mayumi looks at Takeuchi.

Takeuchi's expression didn't seem like he was simply saying a word of comfort.

A light of hope lit up in Mayumi's eyes.

"Until now, this plane-like aircraft was parked about a hundred meters and closer to the terminal building.

If you are not good at identifying aircraft, I think you may have boarded the wrong plane

."

Takeuchi's opinion was very likely even Mayumi thought.

"Can you check where that plane is!?"

"I don't think it will be easy. This is an airport managed by the military… It will take a while, but maybe."

"It's okay though! Please!"

Mayumi shouts with a feeling of catching even straw.

"All right."

Takeuchi said goodbye and went back to the cockpit to inspect today's departure and arrival data via the control tower.

Chapter [7] I Want You to Help

Tatsuya just happened in the room allotted to him among the villas of Nakodojima. Used.

I checked whether there was anything wrong with the moveable suit.

'I didn't know you could do a long-distance flight test close to a thousand kilometers... …

.'

Tatsuya complains in his heart that people are harsh. Using the unsealed state as an opportunity, from Hyakuri Base to here

It was ordered to fly back in an unarmed suit.

Since the transport plane flew next to each other to collect data,

there would have been no danger of being in distress even if all strength was exhausted, but it was quite difficult for Tatsuya as well.

'But at this distance, something seems to work.'

Although he was dissatisfied with the reckless instructions, Tatsuya himself had a harvest. According to his realization, at twice this distance, or about 2,000 kilometers,

he was confident that he could fly and break through without any hindrance to his combat actions. —Thanks to his enormous amount of Psion,

Although he was not mistaken that it did not apply to ordinary soldiers.

'After all, is it the most urgent task to raise the anti-detection performance during flight?'

The moveable suit is designed so that it does not interfere with the wearer's movements. To the last, it is 'clothes', and the wearer's form is a human.

However, there is no problem when floating, but there is a problem that air resistance increases as the flight speed increases.

Currently, a gravity-controlled field is deployed to move the air surrounding the wearer together to reduce resistance and reduce noise. When flying at high speed, it flies

in a state of being enveloped in a cocoon of air.

However, there is a risk of being easily detected by other Magicians or Psion sensors because the magic exposure increases as the gravity control field is expanded.

This problem has been pointed out before,

so it is going through trial and error, such as studying the shape of the suit or reducing the gravity control field to a minimum, but it cannot be said that it has been successful so far.

As he roughly checked his moveable suit, Tatsuya noticed the sound of an approaching propeller.

A plane carrying Miyuki is approaching.

Thinking it was earlier than planned, Tatsuya got up to see him off.

The tiltrotor lands on a large heliport next to the villa.

Miyuki, who climbed down the ladder holding the long skirt with both hands so as not to get tangled, ran towards Tatsuya as soon as her feet touched the ground.

"Brother, you're back."

Sending a plump voice and a smile to Tatsuya.

"I came about an hour ago."

Tatsuya also returned a smile of love to Miyuki.

"Miyuki, didn't you come back a little earlier than planned?"

Saying that, Tatsuya turned to the plane.

At that moment, Erika was coming down, holding the little girl's hand.

"Ah, Tatsuya-san!"

Honoka, who came out sooner than Tatsuya had said something, spoke from the top of the ladder.

"You're back. Good job."

It was Erika who said this.

"Yes."

Tatsuya nodded at Erika's words,

"So, what about that kid?"

I asked, looking at the little girl who was trying to hide behind her.

Eight of them and a polite girl are sitting in the living room of the villa.

Even Erika hasn't asked who she is yet.

We came together to know this.

To the left and right of the girl are Erika and Honoka. Tatsuya is the other side of the girl.

Miyuki next to Tatsuya.

In Heliport, she was afraid of Tatsuya's gaze, but now she seems to be preoccupied with juice and cookies.

Because of the randomly grown bangs, it was hard to see his expression, but rather than wanting to eat it, he seemed curious.

At Honoka's suggestion, the girl, who carefully put her mouth on the straw, drank the juice with nothing.

Holding an empty cup, the girl turns her head left and right. It is a movement that seems to have raised the question, 'What is this?'

However, when Tatsuya and the girl's eyes met, the

girl clinged to Erika with a clearly terrified attitude.

Erika strokes the girl's hair, carefully removes the cup from her hand, places it on the table, and talks to her, being careful not to panic any more.

"So... what's your name?"

"Kokoa, yes."

Stuttering Kokoa reveals her name. Because of his clumsy words, he looked like an elementary school student or even a lower grader, but his voice itself was not that young.

"Kokoa in katakana? How old are you?"

"The number 9 is written in Asian Chinese characters. I am 14 years old."

Mostly, the girls showed a surprised expression.

"14 years old?"

Shizuku sheds words involuntarily.

"...I thought you were a little younger."

Mizuki expresses her honest opinion.

But their sentiments were not enough.

Kokoa's height is about 10 years old. I must be less than a 10-year-old average.

Mizuki wanted to say that she thought she was young because of her small body, and it was because everyone was surprised.

―The reason why they are 'mostly girls' is because Leo and Mikihiko didn't know the average physique of women.

Tatsuya didn't show his surprise simply because he remembered the data of the boys and girls who were involved in the sabotage operation.

Swallowing the surprise somehow, Erika resumed the question.

"Kokoa ran away from the naval base, right?"

Kokoa nodded for a moment, but then shook her head.

"Base, lab."

"Did you run away from the lab in the base? Do you know which lab it is?"

"Magic Lab, yes."

In response to Kokoa's answer, Honoka said in a voice that was surprising.

"Huh? Kokoa-chan, are you a Magician?"

"Magician?"

Kokoa tilts her head. She obviously didn't know the meaning of the word 'Magician'.

Conversely, Honoka and Shizuku, Leo and Mikihiko, and Erika and Mizuki (wearing Kokoa) looked at each other with expressions of 'What's going on?'

"A Magician is someone who can use magic. Isn't Kokoa-chan a Magician?"

The first person to escape out of embarrassment and ask was Miyuki.

"They called us the 'Watatsumi series,' huh."

In response to Miyuki's words, Kokoa tilted her head and replied:

"……Brother."

Miyuki looked up at Tatsuya with a depressed expression.

"Yeah. It must be a coordinator."

Tatsuya, who nodded, also had a gloomy expression on his face.

Leo flinched at Tatsuya's words of 'control body'.

A dark atmosphere fills the living room.

It seems that only Kokoa, the focal point of this atmosphere, did not understand the meaning of 'coordinator'.

"…Kokoa-chan, is this delicious?"

Honoka, having a change of heart, offers Kokoa a cookie.

Kokoa sniffed the cookie in a wild little animal-like motion, and took a careful bite.

Suddenly, Kokoa's face lit up. She shoved the cookie into the bowl without thinking.

Honoka, who was looking at Kokoa with a slightly sad expression in her smile, made up her mind and stopped. He continued to listen.

"...So what did Kokoa-chan do in the lab?"

"Sometimes, I went inside a big machine, huh."

"A big machine?"

Honoka tilted her head, and Tatsuya intervened to explain.

"Probably a large CAD. When using a large CAD, it

is not uncommon for the Magician to describe all elements including the variable part in a mobile manner, and the Magician simply creates a magic formula according to the output activation formula.

I guess you didn't know it existed."

Mikihiko frowned, expressing displeasure.

"...well, it's like a Magician is a mechanical part."

Tatsuya did not deny Mikihiko's feelings.

"A Magician doesn't need a doctor. Rather, it's more convenient to not have one. A lot of people in the past thought that way, and they don't exist now. -Probably

, in the future."

"...that's pessimistic, Tatsuya."

A tone that sounds like a tree somehow.

It was Leo, not Tatsuya, who answered Mikihiko's words.

"A controller is a Magician manufactured as a weapon. That is, it was produced as a part of a military system. What Mikihiko and Tatsuya said

is not very surprising."

"Leo."

Erika called out Leo's name in a low voice.

"……sorry."

Understanding what she didn't say- 'Be careful because it's in front of you', Leo

lowered his head with an apologetic

expression .

"Why did Kokoa leave the lab? It's because she didn't know what she was doing. It wasn't because she hated it, was it?"

To change the heavy atmosphere even a little, Erika asks Kokoa in a light tone.

"I told you to run away, yo."

Perhaps Kokoa herself did not realize the deterioration of the atmosphere, she answered in the same tone as before.

"Who?"

"Mr. Morinaga. Doctor, woman, yes."

"doctor?"

Honoka looked into Kokoa's face as if their eyes met.

"Are you referring to the person who took care of Kokoa-chan?"

Kokoa nods her head.

"Why did that person tell Kokoa-chan to run away, do you know why?"

At Honoka's question, Kokoa thought a little.

Perhaps Kokoa doesn't give a clear reason, and it seems to be thinking about something that might be related

.

"...If you keep experimenting like this, you'll lose your ego and become a doll. That's what I said, huh."

The answer Kokoa drew from memory was this.

However, Erika did not understand the meaning of Morinaga's words to Kokoa. Even Honoka didn't seem to understand.

"...Lost your self? Tatsuya-kun, is that possible?"

In the end, Erika gave up on guessing on her own and asked Tatsuya to interpret it.

"I can't say no."

First of all, Tatsuya answered Erika like that,

"Kokoa."

I spoke to Kokoa to confirm the uncertainties.

However, as soon as Tatsuya glanced at Kokoa, she clings to Erika with a frightened expression on her face. even if you ask me

It was clear that he was not in a state where he could answer.

Honoka was taken aback by this.

"Hey, hey, Tatsuya-san! Kokoa-chan had a bad intention..."

"Yeah, that's right. To a small child, a big man is scary..."

Mizuki hurriedly added, too.

In fact, it wasn't just men who were afraid, but it was scary because the guards at the institute emerged from the military atmosphere Tatsuya wore.

There was a part where he was afraid of Tatsuya himself.

"No, I'm sorry. Don't mind either of them."

Tatsuya erased his bewildered expression and turned his gaze to Miyuki.

"Ask if Kokoa was alone in accessing the large CAD."

Although he did not know the reason, he accepted the fact that he was afraid of him anyway, and Tatsuya decided to resolve the question through Miyuki.

Miyuki immediately recognized Tatsuya's intentions. She looked at Kokoa, hiding her embarrassment with a sociable smile.

"Kokoa-chan. Is it only Kokoa-chan who got into that "big machine"?"

Kokoa was still clinging to Erika, but she looked at Miyuki clearly and shook her head.

"We, yes."

"Do you mean the Watatsumi series by being us?"

"Do you mean the Watatsumi series including Kokoa-chan?"

Miyuki repeats Tatsuya's question with a gentle expression.

"Yes. Nine people, this one."

"The coordination body is nine people..."

Could it be that Tatsuya frowned because he judged that the situation was more serious than expected?

"How did you feel after coming out of that "big machine"?

That question was part of Miyuki's own doubts.

But maybe Tatsuya also wanted to ask that question, so he stared at Kokoa quietly and waited for an answer.

"Feeling?"

"Yes. May I ask how Kokoa-chan felt?"

With her eyes wide open, Miyuki asked Kokoa again in an easy-to-understand expression.

"It felt like it was floating and melting, huh."

"What do you think is melting?"

"I, in us."

There is not much sign of feeling a sense of crisis for Kokoa.

"Is there a symptom of self-lost awareness..."

But Tatsuya mumbled that in the tone of seriousness itself.

"I can't!"

"Eww!"

Honoka raises her voice, and Mizuki covers her mouth.

Erika and Mikihiko also have a harsh gaze, and a wrinkle is formed between their foreheads.

"We build a large-scale magic formula by forcibly connecting the magic calculation areas of several Magicians. There are rumors that such research was conducted during the war.

Perhaps he revived that research."

It is usually impossible for several Magicians to work together to cast one magic. Even if the same magic is executed at the same time,

The magic of the strongest magician only overlaid with other magic.

Among archaic magic, there is a magic ritual technique in which multiple casters build one large-scale magic. The magic formula is divided into parts, and

the Magician participating in the ritual takes charge of each part, and connects them to form a single magic formula.

However, the technology studied during the war is different from this, where one Magician takes the initiative and uses the magic calculation area of another Magician as an

external magic calculation device to build a giant magic formula.

Because it is used not as an external storage device but as an arithmetic device, the mind of the one used during the construction of the magic formula is the same as the one being used.

In addition to receiving unilateral access, the frequently-used side also receives the used-side access.

At Tatsuya's commentary, Mikihiko spit out in an angry voice, "It's awful."

"If you do that, there's no way the caster's mind will be safe."

"I see. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to have reached the stage of irreversibility..."

Feeling Tatsuya's gaze, Kokoa tightened her grip on Erika's clothes.

It is proof that subjective feelings such as likes and dislikes still remain.

"Kokoa, what do you want to do from now on?"

"Kokoa-chan. Is there anything you want us to do?"

Miyuki immediately changes Tatsuya's question.

Kokoa looked up not only at Miyuki, but also at the face of Erika she was attached to.

"I want you to help me... yo."

Erika took Kokoa's gaze straight, and gently stroked her hair,

"Don't worry. I'm not going to throw you out here. I'll definitely help you until the end."

promised in a strong tone.

"Not that."

But Kokoa shook her head at those words.

"I want you to help us, yo."

"We are..."

I couldn't understand the true meaning of Kokoa, and I couldn't answer right away this time.

Tatsuya offered a helping hand to Erika.

"You mean you want the other eight people to escape from the lab too?"

While burying her face in Erika's clothes and running away from Tatsuya's gaze, Kokoa was definitely looking towards Tatsuya.

nodded.

Tatsuya looked around at the people around him.

Honoka and Mizuki looked at Tatsuya with a pleading gaze.

Leo crosses his arms and closes his eyes, and Mikihiko stares at her interlaced hands.

Erika was waiting for Tatsuya's words with a sharp gaze and Miyuki with a straight gaze.

"If you help the Coordinator escape from the Secret Naval Research Lab, there may be a dispute with the Navy. No, it's highly likely."

Tatsuya drew out a prediction based strictly on reality.

"...but I want to do something anyway!"

The first to answer that was Honoka.

"If Honoka does it, so do I."

Shizuku immediately followed after him.

"If your resolve is tested, you can't back down any further."

Erika smiled proudly,

"I vote for helping too."

Leo smiles with a similar expression.

Mikihiko raised her head and made a determined expression.

"I don't mind fighting the navy. But I cannot agree to putting Shibata-san, Kitayama-san or Mitsui-san in danger."

"Hey, you mean I don't care?"

The reason Miyuki said it as if he was making fun of Mikihiko was probably because he gave him too much strength just by looking at it.

"Huh!?"

The effect was straightforward. A sense of sadness disappeared from Mikihiko's expression, which was extremely anxious about what to answer.

"...Of course it is. Miyuki's side is much stronger."

Could it be because of Erika's resemblance to someone else that she couldn't stand it without making useless noises in such a situation?

"Erika. Is there anything you want to say?"

While Miyuki smiled softly, she looked at Erika with a dangerous smile.

Outward Honey, Inner Heart —It is a misuse in the dictionary meaning.

[Outward-looking Bodhisattva, inner-minded Yaksha: Outward appearance is like a merciful Bodhisattva, but on the inside, it is like a vicious yaksha. -Translator's Note]

"No, there is nothing."

Erika took off her shimichi. That's blatantly.

Perhaps this is the correct answer.

Mikihiko is just afraid.

Miyuki turned her head to Mikihiko and smiled slightly.

"It's a joke."

"Ah, haha, that's right..."

Mikihiko, who had lost the strength of her shoulders, spoke to Mizuki with a gentle smile.

"Yoshida-kun, I'm fine, so please help Kokoa-chan."

"Shibata-san... Yeah, I get it."

Mikihiko nodded vigorously. Unlike before, his heart is full of energy.

Miyuki changed her expression and looked at Tatsuya.

"Brother. I also want to be Kokoa-chan's strength."

That's a serious tone. In her sister's mind, a face similar to the woman she had in mind came to mind.

Even without verbal explanation, Tatsuya understood this only from Miyuki's gaze.

—Summer of 2092. The person who died in Okinawa.

—A woman who was like an older sister to her, who had no family at the time.

—She was also a coordinator.

—The environment you are in is completely different from Kokoa.

—But her tragedy and the fate that devours Kokoa are essentially the same.

Tatsuya felt that way.

He looked at the faces of his friends again.

I looked at my sister's expression again.

Anxiety was visible.

But there was no hesitation.

And even though Kokoa was frightened by Tatsuya's gaze, she didn't look away and waited for his answer.

"Okay. Do something."

Tatsuya's heart had already been decided.

Chapter [8] a Threat to the World

A sea located 1400 kilometers east of the Ogasawara Islands.

With the setting sun set on its back, a huge submarine floated through the waves.

USNA submarine "New Mexico". Considering the function and measure of the submarine, it might be more appropriate to describe it as a giant nuclear submarine.

A VTOL fighter approaches injured New Mexico.

The inner water jacket at the upper rear of New Mexico opens to the left and right.

VTOL landed on the armored deck that appeared below it.

The flight attendant runs out and hangs a ladder in the two-seater cockpit.

A female officer came down from the back seat, completely shielded with an armored suit and full-face helmet.

She was greeted with a salute by a brave male officer with the rank of captain and major.

A female officer in armor approached the two and responded with a salute.

The major turns and enters the vessel.

A female officer followed.

Guided by the male officer, the female officer entered the briefing room.

The height difference between the two people standing side by side was strangely larger than before.

A female officer takes off her helmet.

Shiny golden hair falls out of the helmet.

The girl shakes her head and flips her hair back with her hands.

Yes. The bare face hidden in the helmet was a beautiful teenage girl.

Her name is Angelina Kudo Shields.

Nickname is Lina.

In the military, Angie Sirius, commander-in-chief of Stars, a Magician unit directly under the USNA Staff Headquarters.

Major Canopus and his doctor who guided her all the way here. Two men salute to Lina.

Lina thanked the three of them and said, 'Please be comfortable.'

Lina is the commander-in-chief of the Stars, but the Stars are divided into 12 units, and they have the actual command under her.

There are 12 commanders.

Benjamin Canopus. Ralph Hardy Mirfak. Ralph Algol.

Facing the 1st Captain and the two planetary crew members who are his subordinates, Lina opened her mouth.

"I am delivering the order of the Chief of Staff. It is to

completely destroy the Magic Research Institute in the Japanese military's Minamitateshima Naval Base, including research materials and experimental equipment ."

"The Chief of Staff has determined that magic that threatens the nation is being studied."

Canopus hit back in a 'rest' position and didn't budge.

"Oh my God, it is."

Lina bluntly corrected Canopus' words.

"The code name for the magic being developed by the magic lab is 『Meteorite Fall』. It attracts huge masses around the earth,

It's a strategic-class magic that makes you fall."

There was no one here who could not understand the threat of Meteorite Falls with this explanation alone. The faces of the three of them hardened.

"The fall depends on the mass, but it is an extremely dangerous magic that can destroy not only a city but also an entire country."

However, when I spoke about the danger again, the sense of crisis grew stronger.

For example, if a meteorite with a diameter of 1 kilometer falls on Earth, the energy released depends on the density of the material that makes up the meteorite.

Converted to TNT gunpowder, it is estimated to be about 10 to 25 gigaton. It is

powerful enough not only to destroy a nation, but also to destroy the world's civilizations and ecosystems . And there are quite a few small bodies in the solar system with a diameter of about 1 kilometer.

I was so nervous that the screw might have come off, and I asked permission to ask a question, saying 'Chief of the Army' with a smirk.

Lina urged the back words with her eyes.

"I told you to completely destroy the research data, but does the total destruction include the speed of the researcher's brain?"

Receiving Algol's question, Lina's face hardened more than usual.

"...the order is to completely destroy it, including research materials. I haven't heard of any further details."

Lina lowered the tone of her voice and answered in a business-like tone.

Hearing this, Algol let out a pleasant laugh tinged with madness.

"You mean you're going to leave it up to the on-site judgment?"

"Ralph."

Faster than Lina could open her mouth, Canopus' stern voice interrupted.

"The on-site judgment is made by my superior or the commander-in-chief."

"I know, Captain. I'm not arrogant."

Algol was dissatisfied, but he quietly retreated.

"...Okay. Then let's plan a plan."

Lina slightly relaxed her expression and changed the topic to the specific plan of the operation.

A symbolized map of the sea area around Minamitateshima is displayed on the wall screen.

"Operation starts 27 hours after the present time. Using the assault boat, I and Hardy will start digging. Specifically, Minamitateshima.

Destroy the defensive positions on the east coast with my own magic. Hardy won this. Meanwhile, Ben and Ralph landed in a thrust chute from the northeast of the island.

Enter the lab. Destroy the data and equipment, then destroy the lab."

Lina stopped talking here. Mirfak opened her eyes and looked like she was about to ask something, but she continued to explain.

"However, if the operation becomes difficult, you can withdraw. As a second step, I will blow up the base with a heavy metal burst. Any

questions?"

"Captain, did you authorize the use of strategic level magic?"

Mirfak asks in amazement. He didn't listen to Lina's words, 'my magic', until the second stage, but in the stage of attacking the defensive positions.

I understood that it was a Strategic Class Magic Heavy Metal Burst.

"That's why the Chief of Staff takes the identified threat seriously."

Lina affirmed his interpretation.

"But I think the heavy metal burst will be circumstantial evidence that the Commander-in-Chief was involved with just traces of use."

"It doesn't matter anyway. Or rather, it's to show the will of our country."

Canopus answered Mirfak's question with an unwavering gaze and a firm tone.

"Our country does not allow a new generation of strategic-class magic that will become a threat to the world. Japanese soldiers must understand this."

"That's it."

In fact, Lina herself had doubts about the use of Heavy Metal Burst, but perhaps thanks to Canopus' words, hesitation disappeared from her words.

"Fortunately, Minamitateshima has received reports that the entire island is a military installation and that civilians are evicting after sunset. The

casualties will be kept to a minimum."

Canopus frowned for a moment. He knew that the explanation Lina had received was a lie. If the second phase of the operation is executed,

many civilians will be involved.

However, Lina did not realize the subtle change in Canopus' expression.

"Then, please prepare yourself for the operation."

Canopus didn't say anything to Lina and saluted with his men. If the operation is carried out in the first phase, there will be no futile damage.

He convinced himself so.

Chapter [9] I Didn't Say It Lightly

The villa of the Kitayama family has a separate large bath. The windows are large and, at first glance, you might think that there are no walls, but it is well isolated from the outside.

The girls took the Kokoa into the bath. You can see the sunset on the beach through the window, but you can't see the inside from the outside.

Since it is a private bathroom, everyone is naked because they are not wearing bathrobes. Some people were shy at first, but

No one shows any signs of that today.

There were times when I was noticing other people's styles without me knowing because everything was exposed beyond the swimsuit.

—Well, most of them have a part that says 'other people's rice cakes look big', so for example, Shizuku was discouraged by seeing Mizuki and Honoka's breasts, but

Mizuki, who became the object of envy , looked at Erika and Miyuki's waist and sighed.

In this respect, Honoka, who does not need to envy others, was diligently caring for Kokoa.

Right now, she is winding up Kokoa's hair.

Actually, Erika herself wants to take care of Kokoa, so she meddles next to her. Honoka

pours the shampoo he squeezed from the Kokoa's hair, which he is rinsing out . This created a foamy acid in Kokoa's head.

"Really, so is Erika."

"Ahahahaha."

"Ahaha, not really. Ah, really..., you've become full of bubbles."

"Don't you think it'll be much cleaner that way?"

"It can't be..."

The bubble must have flowed Seeing Kokoa shut her eyes tightly, Honoka hurriedly washed off the shampoo.

"Honoka, what was the bubble you just had, right?"

Kokoa asked Honoka, who was wiping around her eyes and preparing her conditioner.

"Shampoo."

Honoka answered almost reflexively,

"Huh? Kokoa-chan, don't you know shampoo?"

I later realized that the question was odd.

The Kokoa had neither hair nor body dirty. It would have been nice if it was rather clean. However, it cannot be said that it was carefully cared for.

It seemed like a rough wash-only treat, but it was clear that he had been washing his hair regularly.

Maybe he didn't wash his hair with soap!? Honoka felt a fear-like emotion.

"I don't know, yo. It's the first time I've seen a tank of warm water, yo."

However, the truth that came out of Kokoa's mouth was beyond Honoka's understanding.

"A tank of warm water?"

"...Kokoa, haven't you ever been in the bathtub?"

The person who reached the answer the fastest was Erika.

"Yeah. I was always submerged in a disinfectant bath, yo."

There was not a single negative emotion in Kokoa's voice, such as lamentation, sadness, or jealousy.

Because it's natural for Kokoa.

Honoka understood this and bowed her head with a depressed expression.

Erika turned her head and clasped her hands.

Shizuku came up from the water and placed a hand on Honoka's shoulder.

Honoka raised her head vigorously.

There was a smile on her face.

"Then I'll have to enjoy the bath as much as I haven't been able to go in."

Honoka went behind Kokoa's back.

"For a girl, the bathroom is not just a place to wash, but a place to prepare to be pretty."

Honoka ruffles Kokoa's hair, revealing her entire face, including her forehead.

"Yeah. Let's tidy up our hair in this charm."

"Good idea."

Shizuku, who sat in the chair Honoka was sitting on, looked at Honoka and Kokoa and agreed.

"I'll ask Kurosawa-san to cut it."

"Huh."

Honoka nodded in response to Shizuku in a lively voice.

"Kokoa-chan, I'm going to make it completely shiny today!"

Honoka smiled softly and met Kokoa's eyes through the mirror.

While the girls were bathing, Tatsuya, Leo, and Mikihiko were in the billiard room. At first, Leo and Mikihiko entered Tatsuya's room.

Tatsuya, who had attacked, but didn't want to show the room—specifically, a warrior suit— came here with the two of them.

Leo and Mikihiko didn't go to Tatsuya's room to play, and Tatsuya had no intention of playing billiards either.

However, Leo was unexpectedly fond of such a game, so Tatsuya and Mikihiko were also holding the cue at his suggestion.

The rule is three-person rotation. An instant rule that competes with the sum of points earned before dinner. But none of the three were obsessed with winning.

Leo also seems to enjoy hitting the ball itself, the point of aiming for a difficult ball, and the exaggeration of anger when he misses the ball.

It seems to be a simple pose.

"Are both the Magic Association and the Army negotiating in advance... Tatsuya, are you going to go alone?"

Mikihiko, who could not put the ball in and took turns, asks Tatsuya.

"Yes."

"It's important to go through the process, especially if you're going to have a fight."

Following Tatsuya who nodded, Leo intervened while gazing at the ball in a position of holding the cue.

"Tatsuya, can't you just go alone?"

The target bounced off the ball with a light sound is sucked into the pocket.

"Because we don't have the means to fly."

Leo, looking at the arrangement of the balls, put himself on the pool table and grabbed the cue.

"It is, but..."

Mikihiko blurted out his words and admitted, then changed his mind and gave Tatsuya a worried look.

"By the way, Tatsuya. Are you really okay with that?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's an unarmed suit… Even if it's a direct distance, it's close to a thousand kilometers, isn't it?"

"That's fine. I've already tested it."

When he said that, the reason Mikihiko had a persuasive expression was because he knew that the experiment had just been successful a few hours ago.

Leo, who emptied his pocket, looked at Tatsuya without pretending to be very angry.

"You said you're back with that today. How many hours did it take? How much faster is that?"

"The speed of sound cannot be overtaken. The detailed data beyond this is confidential."

Leo and Mikihiko sighed with a mixture of half absurdity and half admiration.

"So what can we do?"

"There is nothing other than to be prepared. The navy may move, and there may be nothing."

Tatsuya answered Mikihiko without going to the billiard table.

"Yeah. I don't even know if the Navy has noticed our involvement or not."

"That's what it means. God, it's almost time. Let's go to the restaurant."

"I do."

"Yes."

After Leo, Tatsuya and Mikihiko went to the restaurant to wash their hands.

The win or loss of the billiards was not mentioned by all three.

"Huh? Did you come a little early?"

As soon as I entered the restaurant, Leo said in amazement.

Miyuki and Shizuku are laying the tableware on the table, and Mizuki is setting the glass.

"Are you all preparing together? Kurosawa-san?"

Mikihiko looked left and right looking for the elegant housekeeper of the Kitayama family.

"I asked you to do something important."

Shizuku's voice in reply was slightly excited. Unfortunately, Mikihiko was

unable to assert that the subtle difference was not her misunderstanding .

"much?"

Leo asks Shizuku like a parrot is talking.

Tatsuya helped Miyuki prepare, but Leo and Mikihiko are focused on 'important things', so it doesn't seem like the right time.

"Huh, actually..."

Whether the appearance was warm, or whether he was expecting a 'surprise' to occur after this, Mizuki smiled lightly and tried to intervene.

But at the sound of the door opening, Mizuki's words were interrupted. Not only Mizuki, but everyone's attention was drawn to it.

"Oh…….""what.""Oh oh."

Each expresses surprise.

Standing beyond the open door was Kokoa, with her bangs cut, her hair trimmed, and in a colorful summer dress.

The hem of the dress fluttered as Kokoa moved as if embarrassed.

"It suits you very well, Kokoa-chan."

Mizuki's eyes turn into hearts. Of course, it's a metaphorical expression, but Mizuki looked at Kokoa with that much bewildered expression.

Honoka, who followed Kokoa, rejoices as if it were her own work.

"Kurosawa-san, get on with it."

Shizuku clenched his right hand and raised his thumb. It's an attitude that doesn't suit her at all, but it must have been that impressive.

"thank you."

Of course, Kurosawa, a mature housekeeper, didn't say anything to her about her posture.

"The size of the clothes is just right. I'm glad. Shall we have dinner then?"

"All right."

Kurosawa entered the kitchen once.

Perhaps he thought he was finally freed, Kokoa relaxed his shoulders a little.

And I look around the room as if I remembered something.

"Kokoa-chan, why are you doing this?"

Honoka, who was right behind him, realizing this, asks Kokoa.

"Where is Mayumi Saegusa, right?"

Kokoa's answer was completely unexpected, and Honoka didn't understand what he was hearing for a moment.

"Saegusa Mayumi-san, is that Saegusa-senpai?"

Erika asked with a question,

"You're not here. Is there something you want to see Saegusa-senpai?"

Miyuki, who had finished the dishes, approached and asked Kokoa.

"Morinaga-san said, "Get help from Mayumi Saegusa-san," yo."

"Of Saegusa-senpai?"

Miyuki tilts her head lightly. Not knowing that Mayumi was in Ogasawara, it was a natural reaction.

But to Kokoa, Miyuki's reaction was unexpected.

"Isn't that plane Mayumi-san's?"

I asked with a look with my eyes wide open,

"...but it was just like the picture, yo."

Disappointed, he bowed his head.

"...and it turns out that there was another tiltrotor of the same type parked at the airfield."

"Say that sooner!"

Seeing Kokoa's disappointment, Erika said something unreasonable to Leo.

"Don't say nonsense!"

"What? Do you have any complaints?"

It was Leo who retaliated without losing, but as Erika called out and glared at him, he avoided any further objections. -It would be a wise choice.

"In other words, the plane that Leo-kun saw was Saegusa-senpai's private jet?"

As if to appease Erika, Mizuki intervenes.

"Probably so. I think it might be a graduation trip. Magicians can't travel abroad, so I've

heard that there are many cases of trips to Okinawa or Ogasawara ."

In addition, Mikihiko intervened after Mizuki, and the argument between Erika and Leo was put to an end.

"Then Kokoa-chan mistaken our plane for Saegusa-senpai's and boarded it?"

However, the problem that Kokoa had someone else to ask for help in the first place was still unresolved.

"Honoka. There is no need to hesitate."

Shizuku offered a helping hand to Honoka who was bewildered at the perfect time.

"Yeah... that's right. It's not because Morinaga-san asked for it. It's because we decided we wanted to save Kokoa-chan."

"That's right."

It wasn't only Honoka and Shizuku who nodded.

Mizuki and Erika, Leo and Mikihiko looked at each other and confirmed their resolve.

But the reason Miyuki looked up at Tatsuya's face was for a different reason.

"Brother. If Kokoa-chan was going to escape by Saegusa-chan's plane, then the seniors who got mixed up would also be worried

.

"That's right. It'd be better if the message didn't contain any hints of Kokoa. Miyuki, please."

"Okay, brother."

At that time, Kurosawa brought food.

The paella was nice and fresh.

"Everyone, please take a seat."

"Oh, it will be delicious-!"

Leo cheered when he saw the paella he held with both hands rather than Kurosawa's words.

After eating, Leo and Mikihiko went to the bathroom.

Tatsuya refused by saying, 'I'll go after I get some fresh air', and sat down on a chair on the balcony, looking at the sea at night.

At that time, Miyuki, who must have been happily chatting with the girls, came out of the living room.

Miyuki didn't immediately approach Tatsuya, but stopped and looked at Tatsuya's back.

Tatsuya realized that Miyuki wasn't approaching, but he didn't bother to speak.

Eventually, Miyuki shook off his hesitation and spoke to Tatsuya.

"Brother... can I excuse you for a moment?"

"It's fine. Please sit here."

Tatsuya pulled the chair next to him and suggested it to Miyuki.

Miyuki, who was sitting next to Tatsuya, hesitated about what to say before making a new sound.

"Ah, then, how do I seal it?"

Tatsuya's seal of power has been released since the call of the Hyakuri Base.

"Leave it like this until this case is resolved."

"Okay. There..."

"I'll go to the Magic Association and the Kasumigaura base tomorrow."

Realizing that Miyuki is having a hard time saying something, Tatsuya starts a conversation.

"Yes……."

Miyuki unconsciously turns her gaze to the living room.

Tatsuya also turned his gaze to Kokoa, who was chatting happily.

"...isn't it unavoidable to collide with the navy?"

Miyuki's gaze at Kokoa shook with anxiety.

"Is it reckless to help Kokoa-chan?"

"You're sympathetic, but you didn't say it lightly, did you?"

Tatsuya asked that question without thinking at all.

"that's……."

The memory of a woman, Sakurai Honami, revived in Miyuki's mind.

A person who has been with my mother since childhood as a 'guardian'.

A woman who loved Miyuki like a kind older sister.

The memory of the last day I spent with her is painted in my mind.

I remember playing around and applying sunscreen to every corner of my body.

Memories of pushing me on the back while receiving unwilling party guidance.

The memory of blocking the bullets of the rebel soldiers at the base where they evacuated.

And because of his foolishness— the memory of dying to help his brother.

"—It's just as you said."

Miyuki is also aware that she is looking at Kokoa with Honami. Still, with a good attitude

Not saying that he wanted to help Kokoa, Miyuki assured Tatsuya that he couldn't betray himself and what he had decided.

"I couldn't let that child go either."

Tatsuya also recalls the events that took place in August 2092. On that Okinawan summer day when Honami died right before his eyes.

"I know that I was not sober because of my excessive sympathy for the Coordinator, but..."

Miyuki placed her palms lightly on the back of Tatsuya's hands that were on her knees.

"...and it wouldn't be a bad thing for my brother either."

"……Yes."

Miyuki nodded with kind eyes, and Tatsuya looked at the night sky beyond the horizon.

"…Kokoane has something to worry about."

His eyes are looking at the night sea and the night sky, but his consciousness is directed towards the Minamitateshima Naval Base.

"What kind of experiment is the Navy doing? Using a huge CAD that accommodates humans inside, they created a valuable control body of nine people.

A magic experiment that is being carried out in secret while being used and thrown away."

Tatsuya's eyes held a sharp light.

"You can't let it go. It's almost like an unfounded intuition, but that's how it feels."

Tatsuya's voice was sucked into the night sky.

Chapter [10] Magician Protection

-I'll be back in the afternoon, so get ready to go back.

After finishing breakfast early, Tatsuya left those words and went to Kasumigaura base.

But even if Tatsuya didn't say it again, everyone was vaguely guessing that he would return to Tokyo today. The women

packed their bags last night to simplify

getting ready to go back , and the men had less luggage in the first place. With Kurosawa's help, everything was roughly packed up around 9:30.

What are you going to do until Tatsuya returns? It became a story like that, and in the end, like a high school student with a lot of energy, in the end, it became a story of playing on the beach.

Of course with Kokoa. No, this might be the main one.

I started the beach ball pass by drawing a circle including Kokoa.

It was only passing and receiving with the ball, but the atmosphere unexpectedly heated up. The beach was filled with bright laughter.

Kokoa was the one I was most seriously focused on. Maybe it was his first time playing with a ball, so he couldn't figure it out at all, and he was wandering around.

It looked like he was out of breath, but the Kokoa looked genuinely happy.

Perhaps he was influenced by Kokoa's hard work, and the other seven also returned to play with their children, but there is also a difference in enthusiasm.

Miyuki retired after 30 minutes and evacuated under the parasol.

By the way, Shizuku and Mizuki are also under the parasol. Two men and Kokoa, Erika, and Honoka are actively playing under the sun.

It was after 10:30 when Miyuki received Mayumi's call, some time after taking a break.

"This is Saegusa. Miyuki-san?"

Mayumi's voice over the phone is the same as usual. However, Miyuki intuitively recognized that Mayumi was somehow nervous.

"Yes, Shiba. Thank you for the troublesome phone call."

"No, I'm sorry that I saw the message late.

So I'm going to get right into the topic, aren't you in charge of Mia ?"

"I'm in charge of Shia. I also wanted to discuss this."

"Ah, too?"

The voice that answered brightly sounded like it was going to get worse at any moment.

It

was a voice that seemed to have been squeezed out of the breath he had been breathing in .

"Excuse me for a moment, is that okay? I think it will be in an hour or so."

"Wait a minute."

Miyuki asks Shizuku if she's okay. Shizuku just nodded without saying "It's okay".

"It's fine. Do you know the place?"

"Yeah, it's okay."

"I'm sorry to bother you."

"do not mind. It's the way back anyway."

"Yes, I'll be waiting for you."

Hanging up the phone, Miyuki got up.

Miyuki told Erika to stop playing ball because Mayumi is coming.

Tatsuya, wearing a large cylindrical bag, is walking from the airfield inside the base to the flying boat to be boarded.

Captain Sanada is waiting in front of the jet.

When Tatsuya salutes, Sanada bows in return. Tatsuya was the first to speak.

"Captain Sanada, thank you for preparing the covert combat suit."

Being conscious of the feel of his bare bag, Tatsuya lightly lowered his head.

"No, it's a good opportunity for us to get experimental data too."

Sanada replied with a friendly smile.

"But, how did the Magic Association proceed successfully?"

With that smile, Sanada asks in a gentle tone.

"I just reported the facts. It is up to the association to decide what to do next."

Sanada's smile changed somehow insidious.

"From the point of view of the Magic Association, which advocates for the protection of Magicians, it cannot be ignored. Rather, they will move actively. The

National Defense Forces have violated the rule of not using Magicians under the age of 18 for military service except in emergencies . From the association's point of view,

They think it's a great opportunity to create debt ."

Hearing Sanada's words, Tatsuya smiled mischievously.

"I'm 16 years old."

"That's it, this is this."

Sanada dismissed Tatsuya's remarks with a shrill tone.

"Oh, that's right. I almost forgot an important matter. Special Commissioner, please take this with you."

Sanada handed Tatsuya two CAD storage.

Both were for Tatsuya's favorite pistol type CAD "Silver Horn".

"This is the story of "Deep" and "Beta." I don't know "Deep", but "Beta" is unfinished, so I can't stand it in practice."

Deep is "Deep Mist Dispersion", Beta is "Beta Trident", or more precisely, "Beta Decay Dispersion Trident".

Both are unfinished techniques that belong to decomposition magic, and especially the beta one is a failure that cannot be used in actual battle. Tatsuya, who developed this magic,

I already know everything.

Beta Trident is in the unlocked state, and even Tatsuya with a magic calculation area specialized in decomposition magic requires 5 seconds to read mobile and 5 seconds to

build magic, a total of 10 seconds in preparation time. Even the load on the magic calculation area is too large,

Another added bonus is that you cannot use any other magic for a while after activation. It is more important to stand to the end as a winner than to defeat the enemy.

In the eyes of Tatsuya, it can only be called a defective product.

"Even if you don't use it in battle, there may be other ways to use it. If you have the opportunity, I would like you to use the beta.

Think of it as a rental for Covert."

But Sanada has a different view. If it's the price of borrowing 『Covert』, which is being developed for purposes other than missions,

Even Tatsuya couldn't refuse without hesitation.

"All right."

Tatsuya took the two storage pieces with his left hand.

"Then, please be careful."

"Okay. I'll never know about Captain-sama's involvement."

This time, Tatsuya did two things at this base.

One is to borrow equipment necessary for the operation.

And the other is to be tolerated by the destruction of all facilities and materials related to large-scale magic being developed by the Navy.

Tatsuya has no intention of forgiving the existence of magic on the premise of using and discarding the Magician. Whatever kind of magic it is, erase it from this world.

This is the conclusion I came to after thinking about it last night.

If, however, it became known that the Army was involved in this sabotage, serious confrontation within the Defense Forces would arise.

It was an absolute condition to hide the involvement of the Independent Magician Battalion .

Tatsuya and Sanada exchanged salutes once again and parted.

The Tokyo Magic Association's headquarters and the Yokohama Magic Association's Kanto branch have dedicated meeting rooms for the member of Ten Master Clan. It is

a room that can accommodate meetings and TV conferences . It is mainly used as a television conference room because it is difficult for the heads of the Ten Master Clan to gather in one place other than the regular meetings.

On March 30, 2096, in the room of the Kanto branch, a televised meeting of the head of the Ten Master Clan was suddenly held. The

reason that everyone gathered in front of the camera despite the reckless schedule of being convened an hour before the event is because they understand the urgency of the agenda.

"...The above is the content of the accusation submitted to the Magic Association by Prince Tatsuya Shiba of 1st High School."

Jumonji acting as the head of the family, and Jumonji Katsuto personally came to the Kanto branch alone to set up the television conference system. So he took the lead role.

『Is it a large-scale magic that puts in 9 coordinators at the same time... … . Is it strategic level magic?"

Hearing Katsuto's explanation, Makoto Kudo, the oldest, mutters in a tone of 'I can't believe it'.

『Even if it's not a strategic class magic, it must be a magic with a power comparable to this. Otherwise, there is no way the navy

can conduct secret research until it clearly breaks the rules of the military ."

Mitsuya Ken's conjecture was drawn almost automatically from the information provided, and there was no objection.

"Isn't the problem more about breaking the rules of the military than the power of magic?"

The voices in favor of Mai Futatsugi's words grow louder. Kudou Makoto and Mitsuya Gen did not particularly object.

"This time, the National Defense Force has violated the rules to protect the human rights of Magicians, but if we leave it alone, it will lead to a situation where we question the significance of the existence of the Ten Master Clan

.

"

As Koichi Saegusa spoke as if he was waiting, Atsuko Mutsuzuka asked the truth.

"It is a coincidence, but the eldest daughter has traveled to Chichijima and is staying.

Could you please send your daughter to the

Minamitateshima base as a proxy for the Magic Association to find out the truth ? If Tatsuya Shiba's accusation is true,

I want to protect that corporal girl from our family."

"Do you remember that your daughter is still 18 years old?"

Immediately after Koichi had said all that, Yotsuba Maya intervened.

"Yes, Mayumi is 18 years old, but what's the matter?"

"Being under 18 is a rule of the National Defense Forces. Legally, I am still a minor."

In the past, the age of underage was lowered to 18 once, but rose again to 20 in the 2070s.

This is a reflection on the mass mobilization of young soldiers due to the lowering of the adult age in the 20 Years War, and this is a trend worldwide.

Another extreme example is that the age of majority, which fell to 16 during the war, rose to 20 at a time after the war.

"If it's Prince Jumonji who is acting as the head of the household, I

wonder if it's okay to send an underage daughter to a military base that may be plotting a plot ."

At Maya's words, I could see him nodding his head on the screen quite a bit.

『Besides, I think you should decide what to do with the rescued body girl after understanding their condition.

I think it is hasty to decide now."

"Is it okay for a moment?"

Its and Isami dared to ask permission to speak.

"I think Yotsuba-kun's point is reasonable.

But on the other hand, as Saegusa said, I

think it is an agenda that must be dealt with immediately ."

"It is certainly true . Then it is a matter of who will go."

In the words of Raizo Yatsushiro,

"Then, I."

Katsuto answered.

"I think I'll be the fastest in this position."

"Yes. If it's Jumonji-don, it's no problem at all if you leave it to me."

First of all, Maya expresses her support.

"i See. If it's Jumonji-

dono ." "I think you can leave it to me too."

"Even if it were to exclude the work of the Magic Association, the Jumonji Prince in the branch would be the most suitable."

There was no objection.

Chapter [11] Uninvited Guests

When Miyuki, who was playing in their swimsuits, finished showering and dressing up, a sound of propellers was heard from the sky.

Even so, no one is upset. The time is on schedule, the plane's approach was captured by the villa radar a little while ago,

and a landing permit was delivered through Kurosawa. Miyuki and Shizuku met him, and the other members waited in the living room.

Mayumi enters the living room with Mari.

While everyone was waking up, Mayumi immediately found Kokoa.

Kokoa was not afraid of Mayumi's gaze. I just looked up at Mayumi's face quietly.

Mayumi came right in front of Kokoa, bent her knees, and met her gaze.

"Are you Watatsumi Kokoa-chan?"

Mayumi spoke in a soft voice that was slightly similar to the 'voice that hid the nature'.

"Watatsumi series production number 22, individual name Kokoa, yes. Are you Mayumi Saegusa?"

The reason Kokoa's answering voice is a little firmer than usual, is because it's a line written in her head beforehand.

Kokoa was going to meet Mayumi yesterday.

And I was going to introduce myself like this.

"Yeah, that's right. I'm sorry I couldn't help you yesterday."

When Mayumi apologized, Kokoa immediately shook her head.

"So… thank you."

Seeing her shaking so hard, Mayumi felt even more sorry.

"Hey, what's your relationship like?"

Mizuki, who was watching Mayumi and Kokoa's conversation from the side, cautiously asked what everyone was concerned about.

Mayumi got up and looked at Mizuki.

"My brother's teacher, Mr. Morinaga, is participating in a secret navy magic experiment by accident. It seems that he was in charge of managing Kokoa-chan's physical condition, but

he couldn't stand the harsh treatment , so he asked me to protect her."

"It was like that..."

Mizuki nodded at Mayumi's answer.

There was no voice demanding further explanation.

"Then, shall I go to Tokyo with my sister?"

Mayumi makes eye contact with Kokoa again and asks. But Kokoa didn't answer that question.

"Miss Shizuku, this is an emergency."

Everyone's attention is drawn to Kurosawa, who came in with an urgent voice. Mayumi and Kokoa themselves put aside their answers,

After this, I listen to what Kurosawa has to say.

"A helicopter that has not sent a flight plan is approaching this villa. Also, two small high-speed boats are also approaching this villa.

It would be better to evacuate to the basement."

There was tension on everyone's faces.

In front of Shizukune Villa, the coast is a small cove.

A small boat enters the bay entrance.

The ship had no flag, no mark, no name, no affiliation. But anyone in the know would

know that it 's a Navy small high-speed boat.

"Lieutenant Takeda, are you really okay?"

The flight attendants don't wear badges or rank badges at all. However, the man who called the young man in black clothes and black glasses 'so-called' is

wearing a field uniform and carrying a rifle.

"What do you mean, boss?"

The lieutenant, wearing black glasses, fixed his gaze on the villa inside the bay and asked only with his voice.

"Don't you even know the so-called. That villa belongs to the head of the Hokuzan Group."

"I know. If the Hokuzan group leaves, the supply of the National Defense Force will not be established."

"Then, suddenly, some hard-line means..."

The second lieutenant turned his eyes, hidden by his sunglasses, toward his boss.

"Sir, you seem to have misunderstood the strategy. Don't suddenly attack the villa. First, ask for the extradition of the "patient" through negotiations

.

"But there is no confirmation that the "patient" is hiding in that villa."

"Yesterday, that villa and the owner's private jet left Minamitateshima after the escape of 『Patient』. Reason enough to search for it."

The second lieutenant turns to the villa. It is the attitude of refusing to answer more questions than this.

The boss realized that persuasion was pointless.

"—Warning the approaching vessel. This shore is private land. We do not allow you to land.

Landing is illegal. Please leave immediately. …

… It's no use, miss. There is no response either."

Kurosawa, who was talking wirelessly in the communication room of the villa, turned around and shook his head. I've been testing various frequencies for a while.

As long as the opponent's communicator isn't broken, you won't be able to hear it. It's an unspoken expression that you don't want to listen to what this person has to say.

I'll have to interpret

"I'll go to the marina. Miki, may I ask you to escort me just in case?"

The first to say this was Erika.

"That's fine... it's not good to be a bullet catcher by yourself."

"Then I'll go too."

Leo picked up a long-sleeved parka in response to Mikihiko's concerns and suggested so. His arm was already equipped with a tossie-type CAD.

"Don't get in the way."

"Because you know."

Leo lightly brushed away Erika's sarcasm.

Mari spoke to Erika, who was about to leave.

"If anything happens, I'll help you right away."

"I don't need it. I'd rather deal with another intruder than that."

Erika responded coldly and went out to the porch next to the marina.

"Then I'll wait on the balcony."

Mikihiko refused—I said it politely because Mayumi, Mari, and Miyuki were there—and headed to the balcony.

"What shall we do?"

Miyuki asks Mayumi.

"Miyuki-san, stay by Kokoa-chan's side. I'll be watching the plane. It won't happen anyway, but if the plane is destroyed,

you won't be able to escape from here."

"Okay. Please leave Kokoa-chan alone."

While Miyuki was talking to Mayumi, Shizuku spoke to Honoka and Mizuki.

"Honoka, Mizuki, go to the basement too."

Mizuki answered 'yes' first.

"……Yes. Kokoa-chan, let's go."

At Honoka's words, Kokoa nodded.

Here's 'You're the only one going to a safe place... … ' No one was crying.

The basement that Kurosawa led to was a shelter.

At first glance, it looks like an underground warehouse in a villa, but the entrance is an air lock with a double door, so it is perfect for toxic gas countermeasures. The walls are also quite thick.

"Kurosawa-san, the situation outside."

"All right."

As Kurosawa manipulated the console, one side of the wall reflected the outside of the villa. This is a reproduction of the scenery looking at the beach and the marina from the second floor window.

"Shizuku, can you see the heliport?"

"Kurosawa-san, please."

"Yes."

In response to Miyuki's request, this time the situation of the heliport was reflected on the wall next to it. Two tiltrotors of the same type are parked side by side, and

there are no other heliports in the sky yet.

"If this is the case, I think I can target it with magic here when I'm still in the car."

The whisper that Miyuki shed was probably a monologue. Even Mizuki, who was dealing with Kokoa from a distance, with a low voice,

Shizuku, who was discussing something with Kurosawa, must have not listened.

Honoka, who happened to be next to Miyuki, heard the whisper and thought it was reliable.

But at the same time, only for Miyuki

A quiet fighting spirit that could not be completely entrusted rose.

When Erika arrived at the dock, the small boat was just about to dock.

only one pretend The other is floating in a position that blocks access to the bay.

"I don't think today will go as well as yesterday."

Leo, in a low voice, pointed out that the marine who came in yesterday was a former professional at Erika Dojo.

"I thought it wouldn't work from the beginning."

There is no pretentiousness in Erika's answer.

However, even Erika could not keep her composure about the actions taken by the crew of the small boat that had stopped.

A landed soldier stands as if encircling the two men in the front and rear of the ship, and points an automatic rifle there.

"I have no intention of harming you."

Alone, a young man in black clothes and black glasses, not wearing a field uniform and not carrying an automatic rifle,

said so to Erika and Leo in a calm voice .

Both the young man and the soldier look cold now, but that doesn't mean he won't pull the trigger. Erika and Leo both

refrained from making useless noises and looked at how their opponents would come out.

"Actually, a special patient escaped from Minamitateshima Hospital.

Can you hand it over to me?"

"Special patient, I mean... … ."

Erika mumbles with a half-smiling voice. It's ridiculous that the Navy intends to push it as a 'special patient' to the end.

The eyebrows of the black glasses tremble slightly.

"There are no patients here."

Leo, who thought this man's unexpectedly low boiling point, answered in a loud voice as if to erase Erika's muttering.

Of course, this does not mean that Erika's attitude as an idiot didn't exist, but first, the explosion of the young man with black glasses, Lieutenant Takeda.

There was a procrastination effect.

It had no real meaning.

"Even if you say that, this is also certain information given to you by an informant. We will search for it."

At the signal of Takeda's words, the four men who were aiming their guns from the ship came up to the pier.

The moment when the aim of four of the six muzzles was shaken.

"Panzer!"

Leo exclaimed. It is a voice command that simply activates the CAD, and it is a cry that has no magical effect on its own.

The soldiers paused for a moment.

Erika pulled out the telescopic pole hanging behind her waist. It is a light stick whose strength has been strengthened in a very short time due to the enchanting auxiliary engraving effect.

Shoots guns at the two of them. The impact caused the soldier to drop his rifle without realizing it.

The trigger of the gun towards Erika is pulled. Leo intervenes in that line. He didn't have to wear long sleeves and long pants in this southern sea

to avoid the sun. The magically enhanced clothing becomes armor and deflects bullets.

"Leo!"

"Oh!"

Erika only called Leo's name, but Leo didn't need detailed explanations.

Erika and Leo jump at the same time.

Suddenly, a snake made of water lifts its neck from the sea level.

Mikihiko's old-fashioned magic 『Mizuorochi』. Modern magic ignores the process of mimicking inanimate objects as a waste of energy and time,

but classical magic emphasizes the effect of strengthening the direction of power by giving it a shape.

Reproduce the movement of a snake by mimicking the shape of a snake.

Like this.

A large seawater snake crawled under the feet of Leo and Erika who jumped.

The marines didn't just stop their feet, but also broke their legs due to the impact that wrapped around their feet.

The only exception was Lieutenant Takeda, who remained on the ship.

Erika and Leo land on the dock after the giant snake has passed. The two tried to get on the small boat as it was.

However, seeing the maneuvering ceremony unfolding from Lieutenant Takeda's wrist, Leo stepped forward in front of Erika.

A huge flash of light strikes the two of them.

This is Lieutenant Takeda's magic.

The pistol bullets aim at Leo's body, which covers his face with both arms.

The bullet does not pass through Leo's enhancement magic and is crushed and falls into the dock.

Erika runs out from behind Leo.

It was almost the same time that Erika got on the small boat and Lieutenant Takeda escaped onto the sea.

The sound of helicopter rotors approaching overhead.

The helicopter, which lowered altitude to aid Lieutenant Takeda's escape, diverted the machine gun's muzzle to a small boat docked at the dock.

Erika runs back to the marina, and Leo wraps her around again.

It wasn't Mikihiko's lightning bolt, Mayumi's ice bomb, or Miyuki's cold that attacked the helicopter that was ready to fire, but a flood of flickering lights.

A technique that steals the opponent's field of vision with a pattern of light with a hypnotic effect. Instead of limiting the effect of the brainwashing magic "Evil Eye" to "putting the opponent to sleep"

The magic that increased the range and made it possible to control multiple simultaneously, 『Hipno Eye』. The shooter lost consciousness due to Honoka's forced sleep magic.

The pilot lost the control stick and the helicopter slowly fell into the sea.

Another small boat stopped in the sea picks up Lieutenant Takeda, who has run over the sea level, and rushes towards the sandy beach.

No matter how much I look at it, I can't see the ability to run on land, but I wonder if there's a Magician on board that allows me to go back to the sea once I get on the sand.

There was no chance to see what they were going to do next when they went up to the sandy beach.

A large wave engulfed the small boat before reaching the sandy beach.

Not a natural wave. This is Shizuku's magic.

Vibration-based magic not only controls the frequency, but also interferes with the amplitude, wavelength, and propagation speed.

Needless to say, the height of the wavelength is twice the amplitude. Shizuku's specialty is the defensive range of vibration-based magic.

Eight soldiers run towards the sea level from the bottom of the capsized ship. I don't swim because I'm injured, but I run through the sea.

They wear protective dry suits over a tactical vest and airtight helmets.

However, this is not a diving device that assumes that the boat will tip over. Helmets and dry suits are reinforced combat equipment. They see their allies destroyed

It wasn't that I was in a hurry to put on diving gear, but from the beginning, I was planning to launch a gas attack if the first team failed.

Magic has an overwhelming advantage in person-to-person combat. A Magician's superiority is not absolute, but in a normal fighting style, the superiority is not reversed.

One of those unusual battle methods is a gas attack. The use of poison gas is now banned by international treaties even at the end of the 21st century.

However, the planned regulations to allow the use of non-lethal chemicals for the purpose of maintaining domestic security were also in place.

However, if you are dealing with a Magician with a gas weapon, surprise is a prerequisite.

When you realize that you have to use immediate-acting gas, you already lose resistance.

When this condition is met, a gas weapon is a valid method for a Magician. There is no victory for them at this point in time when they have no choice but to attack head-on.

Soldiers running on the sandy beach at a speed like flat ground, or even faster. It is not a power machine attached to the foot to assist with muscle strength.

it's your own strength The chance of receiving a biochemical enhancement device is not zero, but it is probably possible with pure training alone.

It was Mari who stood in their way.

The soldiers blocked exposure to the outside air.

It was in a very good condition for Mari to use in a way.

Mari leaps from the balcony to the sandy beach.

The guns of the soldiers are aimed at her.

But it was impossible to aim at Mari, who swayed irregularly in the air.

Before her feet touched the sand, her magic was unleashed.

Eight soldiers kneel down at the same time, grabbing their necks. There are people who struggle to take off their helmets in a hurry, but they can't come up with enough strength.

Mari's magic MID field. Proceeding magic that changes the distribution of gas in a narrow space, such as inside a gas mask or helmet.

It is a magic that increases the nitrogen concentration as it approaches the human face, and increases the oxygen concentration as it moves away from the human face.

If this is a non-hermetic gas mask, the inside of the mask will be filled with nitrogen, but if it is a hermetic helmet, the inside of the mask will be filled with nitrogen.

It can create parts with low oxygen concentration and parts with high oxygen concentration. As a result, the bomber is supplying oxygen, but it does not touch the nose or mouth of the wearer, so

it suffers from a sudden oxygen deficiency, and loses combat power due to a decrease in muscle strength or clouding of consciousness.

There was only one person, a soldier who had a pistol pointed at Mari. But Mari quickly closed the gap as if sliding down a sandy beach

, and struck the gun with the washing-length stick she held in her hand.

Mari clears the MID field. As the soldier struggles to find oxygen, Mari's rods flutter one after another.

A weak current is generated by setting a magical action point at the striking point of the rod.

Instead of firing an electric current, it amplifies the biological current.

In an instant, Mari incapacitated the eight soldiers in a form with minimal aftereffects.

Mari took a deep breath and turned around, feeling the presence of magic.

And immediately took the strength off the shoulder.

"I'll put it in debt."

"...Yeah, let it go."

From the tip of his gaze, he saw Erika, who had run from the dock to here in an instant with her acceleration magic, striking down Lieutenant Takeda with a pole.

"It was not my turn to go out."

Mayumi greeted Miyuki returning to the living room from the basement with a smile.

"I didn't even have a turn to go out."

In response to the same smile, Miyuki turned around.

Honoka and Shizuku looked somewhat elated.

Then Erika and Mari returned. Leo and Mikihiko are monitoring the fallen soldier.

Only Lieutenant Takeda Mari held a gun and arrested them.

The one in her hand is Takeda's own pistol.

Lieutenant Takeda was completely wet, lost his sunglasses, and was holding his right shoulder with his left hand. It was hit with Erika's baton.

It seemed that the mind to do it completely disappeared.

However, as soon as he saw the Kokoa clinging to Mizuki as if he was hiding behind Honoka, he opened his eyes and took a pose as if he was about to rush.

As soon as Mari pointed the gun at her, she calmed down, but her open eyes did not change.

"--Do you know what they did?"

Lieutenant Takeda asks Mayumi in an angry voice.

"What did we do?"

The one who questioned him was Miyuki, who was next to Mayumi, looking towards Shizuku.

When Miyuki turned and met his eyes, the second lieutenant was clearly frightened. The reason he didn't keep his mouth shut is probably because his will barely wins.

"Don't let go! Isn't that how you're protecting the fugitives of the military!"

"Fugitive? Who are you talking about? Is it Kokoa-chan?"

"Yes!"

"You didn't escape from the hospital, but from the military?"

An agitation appeared on the lieutenant's face. He seemed to have realized that he had made a mistake because he was so angry.

"I heard that Kokoa-chan is 14 years old. Do you know the military rules regarding the protection of underage Magicians?"

The lieutenant did not answer Miyuki's question. He now understands that even making excuses will only put him at a disadvantage.

"Ah, I see that."

"Mage under the age of 18 should not be used for military service except in urgent cases. Mayumi, have you forgotten?"

"I just couldn't remember it right away. But if it's an active duty officer, there's no way I can forget it, right?"

"It's the opponent you've been chasing. There's no way you'll ever forget it."

As if to listen, Lieutenant Takeda did not respond when Mayumi and Mari talked.

"Is it silent?"

Erika goes in front of the second lieutenant and stares at him.

Lieutenant Takeda bowed his head and avoided Erika's gaze.

"Would you like a newspaper?"

Erika asks Miyuki in a tone that doesn't seem entirely joking.

"Why are you asking me?"

Miyuki smiles and asks.

Erika hurriedly turned her head.

"Apart from the newspapers, I want to make sure how much the Navy knows about our involvement..."

Mari faces Mayumi.

An embarrassment of not knowing what to do filled the room.

Chapter [12] Because I Promised

-It's a miserable landscape.

Standing at the pier, Tatsuya thought so.

The approximate situation was seen and grasped from the sky. But looking at it from the same point of view, the tragedy was even more conspicuous.

A small boat anchored around the pier.

There is absolutely no problem with this one.

However, the small boat capsized near the entrance to the coast, the helicopter that crash-landed at sea level, and the sandy beach with rough footprints

clearly indicated that a precarious situation had occurred.

'Nothing in particular happened to Miyuki, so that's just reassuring.'

If something happens to Miyuki, Tatsuya knows immediately. No, don't wait until 'what happened'.

If Miyuki's life is in danger, Tatsuya will do everything he can to rule it out. No matter how far away they were, it was possible for Tatsuya.

In addition, if Miyuki uses some strong magic, Tatsuya can detect it.

'Is it because Miyuki didn't take care of me...

… .'

Thinking that far, Tatsuya realized that Miyuki didn't have to use magic. Perhaps against the National Defense Force and the Magic Association

Miyuki must have thought that she didn't want to interfere with herself during negotiations.

The thought of 'I'm too shy' and the thought of 'I'm a tall sister' flashed in Tatsuya's head at the same time.

footsteps are coming

When he turned his head, Tatsuya was smiling naturally, even without being conscious of his expression.

Miyuki made a light footstep and approached the wharf at regular footsteps.

Standing in front of Tatsuya, he raised his arms and legs, standing proudly and saying hello.

"Welcome, brother."

Raising her head, Miyuki smiled softly.

"I've been."

After saluting Miyuki, Tatsuya saluted the flying boat that had started to take off, and turned to Miyuki again.

"Is Saegusa-senpai was here?"

A tiltrotor identical to that of the Kitayama family's private jet parked at the heliport. It wasn't difficult to guess that it was a Saegusa plane.

"Yes. And..."

Miyuki's expression darkened a little.

"An uninvited guest."

"It's still there ?

"Yes……."

When Tatsuya asked, feeling surprised, Miyuki nodded her head with a puzzled expression.

"Okay. There are things I want to ask Saegusa-senpai, so let's listen to them inside the villa."

Tatsuya walks towards the villa.

Miyuki answered 'yes' and walked side by side in a street where they could easily put their arms around each other.

Everyone, including Kokoa, Kurosawa, and the pilots of the two planes, gathers in the villa entrance lobby. Tatsuya frowned lightly,

It's because I'm going to tell a story that I don't want to tell at all. But I couldn't force him to leave.

"So what happened?"

First, check the situation.

It was Mayumi who gave herself an explanation. Besides, Miyuki and Mikihiko supplemented it, and Tatsuya's side for the details.

Kurosawa and Erika asked a question.

Tatsuya felt that it could not be said that he had grasped the overall situation of the attack from that.

"Where are the raiders now?"

"I pitched a tent on the sandy beach under the balcony and tied it up and buried it."

"Buried?"

It's natural that Tatsuya asked Mikihiko's explanation without realizing it.

"With the exception of the head, the rest is under the sand."

"Isn't it humane because it's not the time of high tide? He also created a shade to avoid harm."

Leo and Erika, who had kept their mouths shut until then, said something triumphant.

There was no way to ascertain who the mastermind of 'Ask' was.

"If you do that, you won't have to keep a sentry, right?"

Erika winks.

"...well, how are you?"

Tatsuya answered dryly. I couldn't seal the Magician up enough to ask, but it must have been a surveillance camera or something.

"Did you do the newspaper?"

"For now. But I didn't say anything."

Mari answers Tatsuya's question.

"Didn't you use confession?"

"You can't have such a thing."

"If it's a senior, can't you make it right away?"

"...Tatsuya-kun. What do you think of me?"

Of course, Tatsuya didn't answer honestly what he thought.

"Can you make sleeping pills?"

"It's a sleeping pill, if it's a scent that induces sleep, you can make it with your own perfume..."

When she suddenly changed the direction of the question, Mari answered honestly.

"Then please now."

"……What?"

Mari asked, showing caution when she came now.

"First, we deal with those people."

"Are you going to kill me?"

"no."

To Erika who casually asked an ugly question, Tatsuya immediately answered 'No'.

Well, Erika must have been joking.

"What are you going to do?"

"I put it on a boat and let it flow."

Tatsuya immediately answered Miyuki's question.

"There must be a ship they were on. One has capsized, but the one that is anchored in the wharf is ready for use right now. We put everything on that side, put it on

autopilot, and send it out to sea. If we get rid of the helicopters, at least we won't be questioned, because the

Navy doesn't want to let people know that they attacked civilians."

Tatsuya asserted that the assailant's affiliation was the navy, as if for sure, but there was no question or objection. He called Kokoa a 'military fugitive'.

Though he looked inside, he did not bite his prey, but it was clear that he was a navy official.

"It's about destroying evidence. But what about helicopters and small boats?"

"Would you mind leaving that to me?"

To Mari's question, Tatsuya avoided a specific answer. Mari didn't seem to be convinced by that, but exploring the craft of other Magicians didn't make sense.

It is a violation of manners. I didn't ask in detail.

"Leo, Mikihiko, help me."

"Oh."

"Huh."

"Elder."

"Okay. I'll cooperate."

"The others wait in the living room."

Saying that, Tatsuya went out from the front door with Mari, Leo, and Mikihiko.

It was about 20 minutes later when the four of you returned. The reason I finished it so quickly was because I used magic.

Tatsuya didn't tell me the details of what he did, and neither Miyuki nor Mayumi nor anyone else asked.

Everyone's interest was focused on what to do from now on.

Everyone is gathered inside the room except Kurosawa and the two pilots.

Everyone's eyes turned to Tatsuya.

"Saegusa-senpai."

The first person Tatsuya spoke to was Mayumi.

"why?"

"Can you take everyone other than me, not just Kokoa, to Tokyo on your senior's plane?"

"Everyone except Tatsuya-kun?"

Mayumi opens her eyes wide and asks a question.

Mayumi is S.S.R. even if Tatsuya doesn't say it. I was thinking of going to Tokyo with Kokoa. Morinaga was the one who asked for Kokoa's protection.

They crossed paths unexpectedly along the way, and I am aware that they caused a nuisance to Miyuki and especially Shizuku.

Still, as the final enemy. I didn't want to give up my role of getting Kokoa to a safe place.

However, Tatsuya requested that Mayumi protect not only Kokoa, but also Miyuki, Shizuku, and other juniors involved in this case.

Not understanding why this was happening, Mayumi couldn't answer right away.

"Yes. And Shizuku."

Without explaining the details to Mayumi, Tatsuya gave a brief reply and turned to Shizuku.

"why?"

Shizuku was equally perplexed. Her words didn't feel like she was asking Tatsuya something, but just a reflex response.

"Can I borrow the Kitayama family's plane for a while?"

"...what are you going to use it for?"

Not knowing Tatsuya's intentions, Shizuku asked with a puzzled expression.

"For home use. Originally, I was planning to borrow a suitable aircraft from the naval base, but if I borrowed it, it would take more trouble."

Hearing Tatsuya's answer, Mayumi showed caution.

"Tatsuya-kun, what are you planning to do?"

"Because there are eight more children in the same situation as Kokoa."

Tatsuya's words were meant to explain the facts, but what he was trying to say was clear.

"Are you going to save those children?"

Still, Mayumi asked like that just in case.

Staring at Tatsuya with a strict gaze.

"Because I promised Kokoa."

In Tatsuya's voice, there was no wretched determination, no resolute will, or the feeling of being intoxicated by that kind of heroism.

just to keep the promise

There was a sense of responsibility.

It was a lot harder and worse than the heroic euphoria.

"Are you alone?"

Mari asks in an absurd voice. There must be no other way to express this feeling other than absurdity.

"Yeah, what."

Tatsuya's answer was simple. I felt like I was asking something out of the ordinary.

Mayumi stared at Tatsuya silently.

Tatsuya didn't even look into Mayumi's eyes.

"……Okay."

"Mayumi?"

Mari hurriedly tries to stop Mayumi, who was convinced and accepted Tatsuya's proposal.

Mari also understands that it is difficult to change Tatsuya's will.

However, they are not involved in rescuing Kokoa's comrades, Mari. I did not understand.

What Mari wanted to say, Mayumi knew immediately.

"…Mari, what we're asking you to do is take Kokoa-chan to Tokyo.

Of course, Mari was dissatisfied with this answer.

"Am I going to get in the way?"

"No. Unlike Tatsuya, you have different responsibilities."

Mayumi made eye contact with Mari from the front.

"What we were asked to do is to take Kokoa-chan and run away safely. You must have just realized that this is by no means an easy quest."

"..."

"The Navy has been aiming a gun at us before ascertaining Kokoa-chan's whereabouts. They won't hesitate to aim at a weapon with a higher pressure. Running

away with Kokoa-chan is not something you can do. I don't have time to do it."

"...Kokoa trusted us and ran away here. On the other hand, Kokoa's comrades are still out of our reach

. Is that what Mayumi said when we first have to take care of the Kokoa here?"

"that's right."

"……Okay."

When Tatsuya heard the conversation between Mayumi and Mari, she felt, 'I can't stand it'. He had nothing more to add.

"Tatsuya-san."

When Shizuku called, Tatsuya turned around.

"I know."

"Shizuku?"

It was Honoka who was surprised by that statement and raised an objection.

"Honoka, we're going to get in the way."

However, Shizuku's brief words suppressed Honoka's momentum.

"……that's."

"Tatsuya-san is not only concerned with the safety of Kokoa, you know?"

Honoka nodded. A few seconds later, Honoka raised her head and looked at Tatsuya with a persuasive expression.

"...I see. Tatsuya-san knows a lot better than us, how dangerous what will happen in the future. Besides, Kokoa-chan is also worried,

Let's go together."

"I will also follow Tatsuya-san's instructions. In return, please take care of Kokoa-chan's friend."

Following Honoka, Mizuki said that to Tatsuya.

But unfortunately, Tatsuya's friends weren't the only ones who listened well like Shizuku, Honokana, and Mizuki.

"I'm not out of the way."

Erika spoke provocative words to Tatsuya.

"Besides, there are eight Kokoa colleagues. I think it would be difficult to bring them alone."

And give a plausible reason.

"I'm sure you'll need help."

For this reason, Leo took the piggyback ride.

"I'll stay, too. It'll be fine if I leave the Kokoa to the seniors. The only ones who need help now are the eight others who are locked up in the base lab."

"The risks are similar to or higher than those of the Yokohama Incident."

Tatsuya warned in a low voice that created a sense of crisis, but there was a sense of abandonment in his expression.

"You passed safely that time."

Leo is the sequel. answer in a tone

Tatsuya sighed.

"Oh my gosh… I thought you wouldn't obey me quietly."

What appeared on his face was not 'the same as giving up', it was the abandonment itself.

"of course."

"It's not my intention, but I sympathize."

Erika and Leo both have a happy expression on their faces.

Tatsuya sighed again.

Miyuki, who is near him, approaches.

The words that came out of her mouth were not words of comfort to her brother.

"Brother, if you use the Shizukune plane on your way back, don't you need someone to protect that plane?"

"No, no one will come to steal it, even if you try to protect it."

Tatsuya's voice was reminiscent of Caesar's lines in Shakespeare's plays.

That is, 'even you'.

"It's unknown. It's not that ships don't sail at all in the surrounding waters. Shizukune doesn't own all of this island

either."

"Of course I'm going to lock it."

Tatsuya's objection was somewhat insincere.

"Your brother will know that no lock is perfect. Besides, if the navy attacks again, the lock won't help.

Should n't we be landing right away? ."

On the other hand, Miyuki's voice had heat.

"I don't know if that's the case."

Tatsuya is already preparing the white flag.

"So, I'll watch the plane and watch it."

Perhaps noticing this, Miyuki proudly declared victory.

"Wait."

The reason Mikihiko rushed in was because Tatsuya, an isolated member of the staff, looked pitiful—

"If you need someone to watch, I'll stay. I can't leave a girl alone."

―It wasn't that, it was just that I was nervous about being left alone.

In fact, it was a headwind for Tatsuya and an arcane shot for Miyuki.

"Then Yoshida-kun. Would you like to protect us together? Brother, would this be okay?"

Miyuki faces Tatsuya with her hands outstretched and faces them in front of her chest, smiling without a cloud.

"...I see. It's better than acting alone. Mikihiko, I'm sorry that you seem to be involved, but please take care of me."

Tatsuya finally lifted the white flag.

Meanwhile, Mikihiko was attacked by Erika.

"Miki, you shouldn't have strange feelings just because you and Miyuki are alone. If something happens, Mizuki will be sad."

"No such thing as a strange mind!"

Mikihiko was easily caught by Erika's provocation. Mikihiko, who has known Erika for a long time, knows that if you get angry here, you will lose.

As you probably know, the realization of Mizuki's anxious gaze was the cause of his defeat.

"Even if you have a strange heart, it's Miki who sees you in pain."

"Why is it that I'm suffering a war disaster!"

When he fell for the provocation in a beautiful way, Erika responded as if he was treating him like an idiot.

"There's no way Miki can beat Miyuki."

But this was a hasty statement.

"Hey, Erika. What the hell does that mean?"

Erika's face, who hurriedly turned around, had a large 'Oops' written on it.

"So, this is..."

"Do you remember hearing a similar line yesterday?"

In front of Miyuki's smile, Erika's face turned blue, and a cold sweat runs down her temple.

Putting aside this chaotic situation, Shizuku suddenly looked at Tatsuya with a puzzled expression on her face.

"By the way, Tatsuya-san, what are you going to do as a pilot?"

"I control."

Perhaps because it was a natural thing for Tatsuya, he answered honestly without thinking deeply.

"That's dangerous!"

"Yes, Tatsuya-kun! Tatsuya-kun doesn't have a pilot's license yet!"

In the end, it provoked a fierce counterattack between Mari and Mayumi.

"I don't think there is any license verification on this wallpaper."

Tatsuya shrugged and resisted.

"What are you going to do when you land!?"

However, Mayumi's gaze continues to be strict. As if she was quite excited, it seems that Mari's 'No, it's not okay if you

don't get caught' didn't seem to reach Mayumi's ears at all.

"I'm going to land at the base, so no problem."

"I can't accept it!"

Could it be that unlicensed flight cannot be accepted, or that landing on a military base cannot be accepted? Maybe Mayumi herself doesn't know.

Mayumi, who only shouted the conclusion, was in a state of 'I have no intention of listening'.

"Tatsuya-san, I'll leave the pilot in my house. It's okay. He's a former Air Force pilot."

To overcome the situation, Shizuku came up with a countermeasure.

Tatsuya said, 'But... … ' he said, looking unwilling. I used to be in the Air Force, but now I'm a civilian. Considering the possibility of getting involved in the battle,

I cannot simply accept it.

"Anyway, you can't fly without a license! If you don't do what Kitayama-san said, I'll pretend you didn't hear everything you just said!"

"……All right."

However, at Mayumi's eyes wide open, Tatsuya had no choice but to raise the white flag again.

Whether he read the atmosphere or not, Leo, who avoided being caught in the typhoon, hit his left hand with his right fist. The dry sound of 'chin' caught

everyone's attention.

"This looks like it's going to be a great spring break."

Leo's expression, with a wild smile, didn't feel like 'this is true' no matter how much he looked at it.

"You're talking nonsense."

Saying that, Erika also had a warlike smile.

"Please, please don't go crazy."

The expression on Tatsuya's face, who had nailed it like that, was engraved with the feeling of 'this is true'.

Chapter [13] I'm Serious.

Seeing off Mayumi, Mari, Honoka, Shizuku, Mizuki, and Saegusa's private jet carrying Kokoa and Kurosawa to take off.

Tatsuya, Miyuki, Erika, Leo, and Mikihiko headed straight for the pier.

A small cruiser is moored at the marina.

Even though it is small, it is

a faithful structure with two private rooms, including a separate toilet, kitchen, and shower for men and women, in addition to the main cabin where everyone lives together

. Of course, it is different from the naval small boat.

Kurosawa had taken it out of a dock made using a cave that had originally existed on the coastal cliff inside the premises before departure.

With the cruiser in front of her, Miyuki asked Erika what she had always been interested in.

"Erika, what is that?"

The long, slender package that Erika held in her hand. When Miyuki saw it, nothing could come to mind except the sword.

"The downsizing version of Orochimaru "Mizuchimaru" that Tatsuya-kun adjusted the other day. I secretly asked Shizuku to carry it."

Erika's answer was as expected.

There was not a single piece of guilt on her face as she triumphantly held the sword package.

Even though it was an uninhabited island and had no houses other than a villa, it did not change the fact that it was in Japan. not extraterritorial Even if it is a domestic movement of a private

plane, cargo inspection is performed at the

airport. If found, it would have caused a great inconvenience to Shizuku.

However, since it has become a situation that actually requires a sword, it cannot be blamed.

"Good preparation."

"Because you never know what's going to happen."

When the two of them exchanged dry conversations, they just arrived in front of the cruiser.

Leo, Erika, and Tatsuya board the ship in that order.

Tatsuya looked at Miyuki and Mikihiko and said, "Then please take care of the plane."

"Yeah, just leave it to me."

"Yes. Please be careful."

The two of them saw off and the cruiser left the pier.

Holding the key, Tatsuya confirmed that Erika and Leo entered the cabin, and Miyuki and Mikihiko returned to the villa. I took out my favorite CAD.

Turn your back and reach out with your CAD in hand.

The villa had already disappeared beyond the horizon, but in his 'eyes', the Antarctic-style building, the artificial sandy beach, and the 'form' of the coast spread out in front of him were all 'seen'.

Form and color, appearance and substance.

Check that information.

Tatsuya pulls the CAD trigger.

In the next moment, the small boat and helicopter left behind by the naval assault force disappeared from the shore.

Saegusa's private jet made its way north through the Pacific—which unfortunately could not be said.

Three fighter jets flew at the point where the land was no longer visible below, just past Kitanoshima, the northern tip of the Mukojima Islands.

The plane on which Mayumi was riding came close to the machine gun range.

The fighter overtakes the private plane, speeds up and backs up again. It's a sign that you can shoot down at any time.

This is a propeller aircraft that cannot achieve subsonic speeds. Over there is a jet fighter with supersonic cruise capability.

This is unarmed. The other side is probably armed with live ammunition.

If you think about it normally, it's a situation from which you can't escape.

While Honokana Shizuku and Mizuki couldn't hide their tension and fear—there was no sign of fear from Kokoa.

Probably because she didn't know the meaning of the word aiming with a weapon—, Mayumi got up from her seat and headed for the cockpit.

"Land on —. Repeat. JA85942. Follow the guidance of this aircraft and land on Minamitateshima."

The cockpit radio was receiving a landing advisory from a naval fighter. Not even the nearest airport, but the Minamitateshima base.

are specifying For reference, JA85942 is the aircraft number of Mayumi's private jet. As the aircraft registration number increases, the number

changed from four to five. The 80,000 number also indicates that it is classified as a turboprop rather than a tiltrotor or helicopter category.

Pilot Takeuchi, sitting in the cockpit, immediately noticed Mayumi entering the room. she looks over her shoulder

'Girl, what should I do?' I asked Mayumi.

Mayumi didn't hesitate.

"Please ignore it."

In a normal voice, he instructs Takeuchi.

Takeuchi didn't touch the autopilot's steering wheel, perhaps expecting this answer, without showing a look of surprise.

『JA85942, follow our instructions!』

Even the fighter pilot must have noticed that he had no intention of going back. A much higher-pressure voice came from the radio's speaker than before.

In addition, two of the three fighters overtook Mayumi's plane from the left and right, turning and crossing one after another.

It is clear that we cannot send more than this.

"I can't help it."

Mayumi mumbled in a calm voice.

"Takeuchi-san, lend me the radio."

Takeuchi handed the spare headset to Mayumi.

Mayumi wears it on her head and adjusts the position of the microphone.

Takeuchi controlled the radio to connect Mayumi's headset to the handset function.

Takeuchi nods to Mayumi with the meaning of 'preparation OK'.

Mayumi answered Takeuchi with a wink, 'I understand'.

"This is JA85942. I'm really sorry, but I can't follow the instructions. We don't have enough fuel to go back to Minamitateshima from here."

And in a voice that quietly hid his nature, he spoke to the fighter pilot.

"Do not be ridiculous! Minamitateshima is closer than going back to Haneda!"

Perhaps the artificially created gentle tone was offensive to the planting, and an angry roar could be heard from the communicator.

Although no one was watching, Mayumi closed her eyes and shook her shoulders, pretending to be surprised.

"Unfortunately, we didn't set up extra fuel costs... so we won't be able to return to Tokyo."

Mayumi again refused the navy's request with an apologetic voice.

『JA85942, I recommend it again. Follow our instructions."

The fighter pilot gives orders in a strong tone. Is it because his voice is shaking because of anger? Clearly, Mayumi's answer was in a

tone of sarcasm, with nothing to say, even if

she felt that she was being treated like an idiot .

At least it was clear that his opponent had lost his composure, but Mayumi was not afraid.

"So we're running out of fuel."

Breathing sounds were heard from the communicator.

The fighters flying side by side make a big turn and stick directly behind the private plane.

The fighter suddenly fired a machine gun.

The bullets passed at an angle directly over the car.

A scream was heard from the cabin.

"JA85942, this is a warning. Then hit it We are sincere."

A voice, strangely lacking into intonation, is heard from the speaker. The fighter pilot seemed to be on the verge of losing his mind.

Honoka and his group were not the only ones who were surprised by the explosion of firing at unarmed civilian planes, which were neither intrusion of airspace nor anything.

"Hey! I was told not to shoot down! What do you think!?」

The flight leader rebukes the pilot who fired.

The order not to shoot down was not because they thought they were civilians.

It doesn't mean that they avoid turning the Ten Four and Saegusa as enemies. The name of the owner of the JA85942 is a corporation under Saegusa, and in

fact, the Navy did not know that Saegusa was aboard the plane.

Of course, there is a premise that, in common sense, shooting down a civilian plane is out of the question. However, the fact that he clearly stated the obvious command to 'do not shoot down'

This is because there is a high probability that this plane is carrying a valuable aircraft, and one more

reason is that the unit that went to the

Mukojima Islands in search of the aircraft may be trapped inside the JA85942.

"It is a threat. I have no intention of shooting down seriously."

The pilot of the aircraft that fired the fire answered the leader's question in this way, but there was still life in his voice.

Their communication took place on a close channel, so Mayumi did not hear the conversation.

"It's difficult..."

The tone of answering the correspondence was calm, but Mayumi's eyes lit up with anger at the tyranny of the military.

Mayumi closed her eyelids. This is to block the visual information seen with the naked eye, and

to focus the consciousness on the field of vision seen through the remote vision-based ability " Multiscope".

The plane he's on, the three fighters, and the sea. It captures the positional relationship negatively.

Mayumi opens her eyelids. The CAD was manipulated by targeting the sea level.

Strictly speaking, the order is reversed.

Construct the magic formula by inserting the activation formula printed out from CAD.

There are three targets at sea level.

Put the coordinate image in the form of a variable.

In the next moment, massive hailstones rose upside down from the sea towards the sky.

Against the law, upside down towards the sky.

A horde of ice attacks the fighter flying directly above.

A startled scream comes from the communicator.

The radar indicates that one aircraft has departed from the pursuit formation. Mayumi smiled slightly. It must have been the wrong place.

A while ago, magic was the only way to check, but even the latest weapons are surprisingly weak—I thought.

"It's just a threat. Then pierce it."

Mayumi spoke to the fighter through the line that was still connected.

"I'm serious."

in a polite tone. in a cold tone.

Of the remaining two, one was in a hurry and the other was reversed with the feeling of leaving reluctantly.

Mayumi, who was preparing to attack the second wave, breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed her shoulders.

Mari gave a thumbs up to Mayumi who returned the headset to Takeuchi and returned to the cabin. Mayumi, feeling a little too excited,

smiled bitterly as if embarrassed.

Honoka, Shizuku, and Mizukie Kurosawa have an expression of 'for once, feel safe'.

Only Kokoa had an anxious expression.

Mayumi tried to talk to Kokoa that there was no need to worry anymore.

But it was faster for Kokoa to talk to Mayumi.

"Hey… are you okay, yo?"

Mayumi bowed her body and made eye contact with Kokoa and smiled.

"It's okay, Kokoa-chan. Since it was an ordinary fighter, twice that number is no problem."

In fact, I was confident that I would shoot it down even if it was five times that number, but Mayumi cut down on it so as not to scare Kokoa. answered.

"Is it okay to attack the military fighters, huh?"

Still, Kokoa's anxiety did not go away. Her concerns were not only about the direct threat to combat power.

That Kokoa wasn't as young as she thought, Mayumi felt like she was rediscovering herself.

"…It's okay. To tell the truth, this older sister's house is quite famous."

Perhaps in order to hide that she was agitated by the unexpected fact, Mayumi confidently assured her in an acting tone.

But that wasn't appropriate.

It wasn't something to say to a girl who didn't know jokes and doubts, cut off from the world like Kokoa.

"Dark World Don? Fixer?"

Kokoa opens her eyes wide and mutters.

Immediately Mari exploded.

Honoka contorted his face and held back his laughter.

"Kokoa-chan, why do you know that!?"

Mayumi put her hands on her face and shouted in a pose like a famous painting.

Chapter [14] Operation Commenced

A small cruiser was moored at the Minamitateshima private port. The designation of the mooring dock and the collection of fees were all automatic, so

no one was particularly careful. This is because the watchdog's eyes are focused on the departing ship.

Despite the fact that there was a man on

board that was planning to destroy a naval base .

Tatsuya, one of the saboteurs, told the other two, Erika and Leo, to wait on the ship for a while.

"Uh, why!?"

Of course, Erika was dissatisfied. He didn't say it, but Leo had a similar expression.

"Because you can't infiltrate the base with that outfit. Bring a costume for disguise."

But when I told him why he couldn't object, he had no choice but to admit it.

"...I can't help it. Tatsuya, please do it quickly."

Even so, only Leo admitted it, and Erika turned her head with a pouty expression.

"Yeah. Come back as soon as possible."

That doesn't mean that Tatsuya can't please him. He left without looking back, mingling with the crowds of the mall at sunset.

The western sky is dyed red, and the control tower casts a long shadow over the sea.

Meanwhile, from Haneda to Minamitateshima Airport

A small business jet has landed.

Minamitateshima Airfield is a mega float for both military and civilian aircraft. The same runway is used, but the entrance to the airport is

divided for military and tourist use . A rough, open-top vehicle from the military gate approached the landing small plane.

A large young man in a suit appeared in a small jet trap.

A navy soldier disembarks from an open-top vehicle and greets the young man with a salute.

"This is Katsuto Jumonji. I have been dispatched from the Magic Association."

Katsuto placed his hand on his chest and answered the salutes of the sergeant and privates.

"I heard about it. I'll guide you to the headquarters."

The first-class marine loaded Katsuto's suitcase into the car, and the sergeant opened the back seat door.

At the entrance of the headquarters building, the receptionist was changed from a sergeant to a second lieutenant. The first officer moves the luggage, and the second lieutenant, the guide, takes Katsuto to the reception room.

guided

The second lieutenant, who was about to leave the room, did not sit on the sofa with authority, and Katsuto called out, "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, what's going on?"

"When can I meet the commander?"

The lieutenant's expression did not distort at Katsuto's hasty question.

"The commander said that he would like to invite Jumonji-san to dinner. The start of the meeting is scheduled for 19:30, so could

you please wait ?"

The current time was just past 17:00. I had no intention of staying long in Minamitateshima on the Katsutoro Line.

"I visited as a messenger of the Magic Association. If I could get a convincing answer to the petition submitted to the Association,

I don't think I'll disturb you right now."

"Of course, I will answer all questions without hiding anything."

At least superficially, there is nothing suspicious about the lieutenant's attitude.

"However, Jumonji-san is also one of the most important figures in preventing the invasion of the enemy during the Yokohama Incident. It

is not only the Commander-in-Chief who wants to hear the saga of that time ."

So, would you mind giving me a little time, the second lieutenant asked politely.

Katsuto thought that it would be difficult to proceed smoothly with the investigation if this was left out.

"...I see. I will attend."

"Thanks for your consent. If you wish, I will guide you inside the base."

Is this the appeal of 'there is nothing to hide'?

"...No, I'll be waiting here."

To be honest, he was quite hesitant, but Katsuto decided to wait in the drawing room.

You can't go around the entire base in an hour.

In the end, it was because I thought that it would be the result of seeing only the places the other person wanted to show and creating a preconceived notion.

"Is that so. If you have a business, please use the terminal at the table. I will see you right away, so please feel free to call me for any purpose."

The second lieutenant withdrew with the expression that 'there is no other meaning in particular'.

"thank you."

"Then excuse me."

Seeing off the saluting lieutenant as a light greeting, Katsuto sat down on the sofa.

Tatsuya returned to the cruiser after the sun had set and the sky was completely black.

He was carrying a backpack with a helmet in each hand. The helmet is marked with 'MP' in a striking white paint.

"The two of you, please change into this."

The two of them stared at the letter 'MP' written on the helmet rather than the backpack in front of them without saying a word for a moment.

"...Tatsuya, how did you get this?"

"Do you want to hear it?"

To Leo's question, Tatsuya answered in a voice saying it didn't matter,

"please?"

As if to double check, he added.

"…No, you don't have to listen. I don't want to hear it."

Erika said so with a trembling expression on her body, and holding the backpack in front of her—the two backpacks

Obviously the helmet size was different—I went into the private room.

"...I'll be crowned too."

"is it."

Tatsuya took the cylindrical bag he had brought from the Mukodojima villa and entered the remaining private room.

Leo, who remained in the main cabin, took out the contents of his backpack and changed his clothes.

'How did you really get this? … .'

Erika, wearing an MP (Military Police) women's uniform in her underwear, shook her head from side to side vigorously to

erase the questions that ran through her head .

I have no idea how No matter how much facilities are attached to the base, there is no way to sell military uniforms used for active duty.

No matter how you look at it, these clean clothes were brought from the place where the people who wear them change, that is, the MP headquarters.

It is possible that the clothes were borrowed from a cleaning facility, but since the helmet is included, the location of the procurement other than the MP headquarters of this base is nonsense.

Since there is no way to cause a commotion before infiltrating the base in earnest, Tatsuya must have stolen this uniform without anyone seeing it.

At the National Guard base, that is.

'stop!'

Erika shook her head more vigorously than before.

—If it goes on like this, the identity of the man that he kept in his memory is, Tatsuya

—Isn't it foolish to add to your worries?

Erika said so to herself.

In order not to think about things you don't want to think about, it's good to change what you think about. If it's insignificant or irrelevant, it's even easier to forget.

"By the way… what are you thinking, this design?"

At the same time, there was something else in front of Erika's eyes.

"Shorts and knee-length boots... you can see all the thighs. No matter how much you think about it, it's a design that emphasizes appearance...?"

Arteries on the inside of the thigh—Arterial damage leads to massive bleeding, most often fatal. So, when designing combat clothes, the thighs should be originally

protected with thick fabric. Since it's all revealed, it can't be called a practical design.

The National Defense Force also has a uniform for advertising, and it has a reputation for being pretty sexy for female soldiers, and pretty flashy for female officers.

Skirts are sometimes adopted as uniforms for radio soldiers and rear support soldiers, but that is not a prerequisite for combat.

The job of the MP (military police) is to crack down on soldiers who violate the rules.

Having to subdue a resisting soldier with a gun or knife is

no exception, even if the opponent is a woman.

"I'm sure it's not a hobby of a military police officer..."

Erika had been complaining sincerely at some point.

But she knows the need for disguise. It's also impossible to insist on going stealing other military uniforms from now on.

You can't keep wearing only panties and bras. I was going to change my mind, but I was forced to break my heartfelt dissatisfaction,

Erika is changed into military uniform.

"Wait?"

Erika, who came out of the private room wearing long-sleeved military jacket and shorts and knee-length boots,

stood tall when she saw Tatsuya coming out of the other room at the same time.

Leo, who had already changed his clothes--the men's military uniform was a realistic design unlike the women's-- His eyes widened and he was shocked.

"...Tatsuya-kun?"

It must be Tatsuya. Erika didn't see Tatsuya entering the private room, but there was only one door in the main cabin.

There were no signs of anyone coming and going on the cruiser.

Black gloves with a cloak with a black hood.

The design of the face part was similar to that of a no-nonsense suit, but it was cleaner than that of a no-nonsense suit.

Black helmet face mask opened.

The person who appeared under him was undoubtedly Tatsuya.

"You look like you're all dressed up properly."

Not knowing what she had heard, Erika was perplexed for a moment. But I realized that it was about the MP uniform.

"Yeah, there wasn't anything I didn't know… But Tatsuya-kun, what the hell…?"

I was afraid to ask, but

"It's a small secret weapon."

Tatsuya answered so gently that he lost his breath.

Excluding names and descriptions of performance neatly.

The reason why Erika didn't show her natural curiosity was because she intuitively understood that this was the military's secret equipment.

The name of this armor suit is the Covert Warrior Suit. It is one of the prototypes made for the purpose of improving the anti-detection performance of the combative suit.

Even if the shape of the unsuitable suit is good, it cannot be said that the air resistance is low. The form made with priority not to interfere with the wearer's movement,

As it is, when flying at high speed, both shoulders receive particularly large air resistance.

As a countermeasure, air resistance is reduced by expanding the gravity control field when flying at high speed and moving the air around the wearer at the same time.

However, if this happens, a magic force field will be used in addition to the suit, and the anti-magic detection performance will deteriorate.

The outward features of the Covert Warrior suit are a helmet and a cloak with a hood fastened over the shoulders. This cloak covers the whole body when an electric current flows through it,

It solidifies into a foam with low air resistance based on a streamlined shape.

Create a hollow structure from both sides of the face across the shoulders

Draw a gentle curve from the crown of the head to the outside of both shoulders, and wrap the body with both arms together with the left and right in front of you.

It removes the slight curves of the body from the head to the feet.

When moving at high speed, this form reduces air resistance and increases the anti-magic detection performance by reducing the area of effect of gravity control magic into the cloak.

is a design idea.

In addition, this cloak not only detects anti-magic, but also absorbs electromagnetic waves and sound waves, further enhancing the stealth of the suit.

However, after adding the cloak, important movements are greatly hindered, and above all, visibility is poor with the hood.

Like Tatsuya, there was a flaw in that it could only be used by Magicians who could fight without relying on ordinary vision.

But in other words, Tatsuya can use the covert combat suit. Since the new combat suit, which is more undetectable, is unfinished,

He decided that it was the most optimal for this operation, and he borrowed it from Sanada.

"Erika, Leo, take out the information terminal."

Tatsuya asked Erika and Leo in a rather strong tone.

The two of them came to their senses and hurriedly took out their information terminals.

"I found the location of the lab. I'll send you the map from now on. ...Did you get it?"

Erika and Leo select the data that has just arrived at their terminal. A map of Minamitateshima was displayed, and one point was automatically zoomed up.

"Yeah, I got it."

"My side came too."

Tatsuya nodded his eyes in response to the two of them.

"The name of the institute seems to be the Southern Islands Factory. I will infiltrate first and bring Kokoa's comrades.

The two of you lead them all the way to this ship."

As soon as Tatsuya had given all the instructions, without waiting for an answer, he closed his face mask, flapped his cloak, and went out of the cabin.

Erika hurriedly followed after him.

But when she ran to the deck, Tatsuya was already flying in the night sky.

"Hey wait! Are you going to get ahead by yourself, you spunky bastard!"

Erika shouts toward the distant black shadow.

Of course, Tatsuya didn't wait.

A huge submarine has surfaced off the eastern coast of Minamitateshima. Viewed from the eastern coastal defense positions, the

sea is several kilometers beyond the horizon , but it is barely within Japanese territorial waters.

It's a pretty daring act, but there's nothing wrong with surfacing. Rather, it is legal—

not right—to float and navigate within the territorial waters of other countries . This international rule is the same as in the previous century.

However, it is a prerequisite to satisfy the conditions of peaceful navigation, 'no harmless passage'.

Launches from amphibious assault craft that presuppose the transfer of combatants to land are not considered 'harmless'.

Of course, even the submarine side is well aware of such a rudimentary theory. The action of the USNA giant nuclear submarine "New Mexico" was swift.

The retractable upper pressure-resistant shell in front of the hull is opened, and the amphibious assault craft launches by itself from the deck. immediately close the exterior,

New Mexico again submerged below sea level.

In that short amount of time, this communication went between the assault boat, the submarine and the person on the deck.

"New Mexico, are there no civilians on the island?"

Lena, who came out of the sea with an assault boat, asks the command room in New Mexico.

The face hidden behind the helmet of the flying armor suit "Thrust Suit" is a pretty girl with blonde hair, not like a soldier, and her hair is crimson.

She changed into a beauty officer with a strict face with golden eyes.

She changed from 『Angelina Kudo Shields』 to 『Angie Sirius』.

Even if it is a transformation, it does not mean that the body has changed. Turn what you see into magic. What is different from disguise and intestines

is that it changes not only facial features,

hair and eye color, but also height, and that the change extends not only to the physical appearance but also to the information level.

In response to Angie Sirius , the Commander-in-Chief of the Stars, the staff in the command room is follow the order from Joint Chief Staff. 'The appearance of civilians is not confirmed,' he gave a

false answer.

"It's as planned."

Hearing Lina's words from the deck, Canopus clouded his face under the helmet of the thrust suit.

He knew it was still time for civilians on Minamitateshima . However, unless it is stated that the civilians have already been evacuated, Lina don't understand the operation.

I have no choice but to follow orders.

And I worry a lot about having civilians involved, and I feel depressed.

-That's not a problem a 16-year-old girl has to bear.

—A dirty adult like them should carry it on their back.

Canopus thought so, from the very beginning.

I kept my mouth shut.

『Then the operation begins!』

"Yes, ma'am."

In response to Lina's command along with her subordinate Algol, Canopus activated flying magic.

Two men in thrust suits escaped from the closing gap in the inner pressure of New Mexico and flew towards the night sky.

[14] Operation commenced

The Minamitateshima base command room was suddenly enveloped in a chaotic atmosphere. Gradually, it was the time of the dinner party that Katsuto had foretold,

The situation did not happen at the time.

A floating warning device installed in the sea sent a video of a giant submarine approaching from periscope depth. It is not optically filmed

, but CG synthesized from sonar and electric detector observation data, but it is certain that a submarine of unknown nationality has invaded the territorial waters.

No, strictly speaking, it is not an unknown nationality. Even with strict information control,

it is actually impossible to completely hide the existence of such a huge ship . The command room tactical computer had an 80 percent chance that it was the USNA nuclear submarine New Mexico.

It is said that open secrets are not secrets.

But when it comes to internationally banned weapons, unless there is solid evidence

An open secret is not true. It

was an 'open secret' among military officials that the USNA, the New Soviet Union, or the Great Asia Alliance had submarines equipped with fissile engines banned by multinational treaties .

The reason the command room staff panicked is not because the opponent is a nuclear submarine. The huge submarine of the USNA, supposedly an ally,

They did not accept the fact that they had invaded the territorial sea. —Submergence does not constitute harmless passage.

"Your ship has invaded our territorial waters. Get up immediately and reveal the name of the ship and the warship! Repeat. Submarine of unknown affiliation, rise immediately!"

After calling about five times, the news agency looked at the commander with a grim expression.

"No, Commander! Not responding to communications."

"Don't make a fuss."

In contrast, the commander was calm. - On the surface.

"Defense ground, anti-submarine missile maneuver."

The fire control staff turned around with a shocked expression.

"Isn't it sinking!?"

There were two surprises.

The surprise of sinking the ships of the allies.

I wonder if they would sink a submarine equipped with a fission engine at the risk of being contaminated with radioactive material.

"First of all, it's a threat. Slow shot, get ready to aim."

"Yes!"

Rather than being relieved by the answer, the fire control staff hurriedly entered the command into the rocket launcher, as if afraid of changing the commander's mind.

A remote-controlled defensive position built on artificial ground on the cliffs on the east coast of Minamitateshima.

The ranks of rocket launchers soared on that steel land.

No, is it appropriate to say that it protruded rather than soared? The defensive positions were quickly prepared to launch anti-submarine missiles.

"Check the launch of the rocket launcher. I will send you the satellite image."

The image was captured by the USNA's low orbit satellite. And the video is barely recognizable in the defensive positions,

It was sent to a stationary assault craft at a distance enough to hide on the horizon.

The Minamitateshima base detected New Mexico below sea level, but did not realize that the assault boat was above sea level.

Although there is a size difference, it is unnatural.

Actually, there is wealth. Because force worked.

The one who is piloting the assault boat that Lina, who has become Angie Sirius, is Lieutenant Ralph Hardy of the 1st Stars Division, Mirfak.

My co-workers are Arab-Americans who call me 'Hardy'.

Mirfak's class is second-class. Compared to the first-class operators, his combat power is somewhat lower, but he has a magical ability to fill that gap.

Mirfak is a realm magic user who builds a barrier that neutralizes electromagnetic waves and sound waves used by detection devices.

Usually, the purpose of a magic barrier is to block an object or energy. For matter, the loss of kinetic energy and the change of direction of motion.

Neutralization, reflection, and scattering of energy. Mirfak's specialty, anti-detection magic, belongs to energy neutralization.

His magical speciality is that it neutralizes the remaining energy in all bands and vocal ranges that have been practically used militarily.

Neutralizes electromagnetic waves or sound waves that do not exist inside the barrier at the barrier surface. Even so, it cannot neutralize strong energies such as electron or sonic cannons.

It's just neutralizing the weak waves used in mechanical detection.

However, by combining a barrier that neutralizes external detection waves and a barrier that blocks internal sound waves and infrared radiation, mechanical detection

can be avoided to a high degree . The reason Mirfak was chosen as the person to be with Lina in this operation was because she appreciated this skill.

The hatch above Lina's head opens. The seat moved backwards in accordance with the rising motion, and the floor under the feet rises.

Lina, who was lifted up, protruded her upper body from the assault boat hatch and aimed a rifle-type maneuvering aid.

It is a specialized CAD with the ability to extract data from the tactical information network to assist with remote aiming.

"Check the video."

The defensive position hidden on the horizon is displayed on Lina's helmet and her visor through CAD.

"Aim, central rocket launcher."

When Lina asks for identification, she instructs herself what to aim for. The cross gauge floating on the visor is aligned with the launcher in the center of the defensive position.

The coordinate data of the launcher and Lina observed by the reconnaissance satellite is converted into mobile coordinate data and

transmitted from New Mexico via the assault boat to CAD.

"Movable deployment."

Lina pulls the trigger of the rifle form CAD. A maneuvering expression that added the target's coordinate data was developed and flowed into Lina's body.

"Heavy Metal Burst, Activate!"

Lina sends out a magic formula with a will that has become clear through her vocalizations built up 'outside'.

Strategic Class Magic Heavy Metal Burst has been activated.

The central rocket launcher completely disappeared with a massive discharge.

All non-nuclear electrons were forcibly separated from the atomic nucleus by magic.

A circular ring was formed that horizontally encircled the plasma cloud, where lightning flashed strongly.

Electrons that are forcibly excluded from the plasma cluster are fixed in a circle shape.

Luminescence is

generated by recombination with the ionization of air molecules that collide with a high-speed rotating electron current . An electron ring under the influence of magic cannot recombine and only electrons remain.

At the next instant, the positively charged plasma, which has lost electrons, is compressed up and down against the repulsive force.

A disk of atomic nucleus surrounded by rings of electrons.

It was strengthened by an electronic repulsion force and spread horizontally with a fierce force of several hundred kilometers per second.

Atomic nuclei collide with electron rings.

Although instantaneous recombination occurs

, it is ionized again with the kinetic energy of anions and the potential energy caused by the forced separation of electrons . As energy is released from this repetition, the ring radius of the plasma changes due to the overwhelming mass difference between the nucleus and electrons.

expands rapidly

Rocket launchers burn, missiles detonate, artificial ground melts, and lava fields are cut.

Plasma overflowing into the sea burns the sea level.

The surface of the rock turns into red-burned volcanic ash, and the plasma runs down the slope behind the defensive position.

Clouds created from the burning ash and plasma spread over Minamitateshima over the ridge. in the hot and dark clouds

Lightning rushes in all directions. It was a sight that seemed to mark the end.

The Minamitateshima command room went into a panic.

"The East Coast Fortress Control Lost! It's believed to have been completely destroyed!"

"All radars have been paralyzed by electromagnetic interference!"

"Communication with the reconnaissance drone has also been cut off!"

The commander didn't understand what was going on either. But he barely maintained himself with the pride of a chief executive.

"Is there anything wrong with the electronic devices other than radar and communication devices?"

"Yes! The electronics, including the tactical computer, are working fine!"

"Isn't this an attack by an EMP weapon...?"

The first thing the commander was concerned about was whether or not high-power electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons were used to disable electronic devices.

I have never heard of a high-power EMP weapon that does not use nuclear weapons being put into practical use. However, if it is a theoretically possible weapon,

it cannot be denied that it was secretly put into practical use in a certain country.

However, at least it was not subjected to an attack that neutralized the tactical computer or fire control system. Air discharges that incapacitate radar and communications equipment

It must be judged as a by-product of the destruction of the defensive positions. The commander thought so.

"Enemy. Did you find out the means of attacking this eastern coastal position?"

The commander decided to forget the speculation that the submarines invading territorial waters belonged to the allies.

Destroyed part of the base.

There was no doubt that he was no longer an enemy .

"It is not an attack by a flying object, such as a missile or flaming launcher."

Staff who had been monitoring the submarine until just before the electromagnetic disturbance occurred, answered the commander's question.

"Is this a charged particle cannon? …No, it's absurd."

The commander denied his own thoughts.

Regardless of whether or not the charged particle cannon has been put to practical use, the submarine is beyond the horizon.

To hit a target by howitzing charged particles is absurd with modern technology.

"Is that so, is it magic……?

The commander's murmuring stopped there.

What came to his mind was the name of a famous strategic class magic.

There is no practical use.

At least not known.

Because it has superior destructive power among strategic-class magic, It was treated as an unused deterrent.

that. The thought of using it exceeded his allowance.

The heavy metal burst's explosion shook the drawing room where Katsuto was located.

The windows make a noise and the lights flicker irregularly.

"This……."

Katsuto woke up startled by the sudden shaking—there was no reaction.

He just sat on the sofa and looked away.

Turn your head and look to the side.

Beyond the wall he looked at. Beyond that was a defensive position on the east coast.

"This magic, maybe?"

An incredibly powerful, intense wave that even Katsuto felt for the first time.

No— Katsuto changed his mind.

Not the first time.

Second.

On the day of the Yokohama Incident, an ideological change that interfered with the fundamentals of the world occurred on the southern sea beyond the direction in which the invasion force's ships fled.

It is a wave that shakes the world comparable to that day.

Katsuto got up and went to the window.

Lightning strikes, looking up at the sky covered with dark clouds.

"—It must be."

Doubt in Katsuto's mind turned into certainty.

He manipulated the terminal on the table to call the guide.

A loud laughter echoed through the air.

"Woohyahyyah. This is what the Commander-in-Chief did so splendidly again."

Ralph Algol, floating in the air in a thrust suit for the USNA Army's flying armored suit, roars loudly at the scene unfolding below.

Ralph Algol is a star-star member of the 1st Stars squad. The class is 2 star. Mirfak with the same first name in the same unit

While he specializes in ranged combat, Algol is a combat Magician specializing in close-range combat.

"Ralph, don't laugh out loud."

The 1st Captain of the Stars, that is, Algol's direct superior, Canopus, scolded him with a grimace. This composition is a common

occurrence , and Algol stopped laughing for a moment, but he doesn't seem very apologetic. It didn't come out in a voice, but her face was still smiling.

"But what can we do, Captain? That's why we won't be able to enter for a while."

The island is now completely covered by hot clouds flashing with lightning—not to mention 'thick clouds' by mistake.

On the east coast where the defensive positions were located, the red light emitted by the rocks that have returned to the lava as they heated up can be seen faintly.

The northwest side of the ridge is covered with floating ash, possibly due to the plasma wind flowing there, so the base lights are not visible.

"...certainly. How much heat and electromagnetic waves the thrust suit can withstand... it seems better to wait for a while."

Regrettably, Canopus had no choice but to acknowledge Algol's words.

When Heavy Metal Burst's explosion occurred, Tatsuya was approaching the laboratory through the shade of the building and the Southern Islands factory.

At the sudden explosion, Tatsuya stopped in the shade without realizing it and looked at the sky to the southeast.

'Just the magic is Heavy Metal Burst... … !?'

Don't say it carelessly. But even Tatsuya was surprised to the point that he stopped and said a monologue in his heart.

'Is Lina coming?'

'What the hell is the Stars doing on this island... … ?'

It wasn't difficult to guess the answer.

Currently, the

only thing of interest to the USNA's Chief of Staff on Minamitateshima is the large-scale magic involving Kokoa .

I hope you don't intend to destroy this base.

No USNA would come in to destroy allied bases.

Then stealth operation.

Massive magical data extortion.

Is Heavy Metal Burst a Bucket?

'By the way, I still don't know how to do it properly... … .'

Obviously too much for a bucket.

Tatsuya smiled bitterly and ran out of the shade of the building. For now, the perimeter of the base is towards the USNA forces.

Tatsuya decided to take

advantage of this opportunity .

He quickly ran to the front of the Southern Islands factory, and aimed at the wall with a pistol-shaped CAD.

Part of the wall became sand, and a hole was drilled for people to pass through.

Tatsuya infiltrated the southern islands through the hole.

There is no need to engage the Stars.

They bring out Kokoa's comrades before they arrive.

The judgment itself was not wrong.

But, fundamentally, Tatsuya misread Stars's target number.

Explosions caused by heavy metal bursts and the black clouds covering the island were clearly visible from the shopping mall as well.

The tourist screamed at the sudden explosion, saw the lightning bolt in the blackened air, and hurriedly ran away.

A 'volcanic eruption' is heard everywhere.

"differentiation!?"

Seeing the binge drinking and the rising smoke, Erika thought the same at first.

"No, something is different."

However, after hearing Leo's words, who was staring at the sky from the side, Erika also changed her mind that it was strange for an eruption.

-Of course, I didn't put that into words.

"I don't know what it is, but this is a chance."

Instead, Erika said so to Leo.

While alarms are sounding all over the island, tourists are rushing towards the port or airport at once.

Guard soldiers are desperately guiding tourists to avoid any casualties in the panic.

Now, it is possible to pass through the gate that divides the military area and the tourist area with almost no check. Erika thought so.

Needless to say, Leo seems to have understood Erika's thoughts.

Leo, who ran against the flow of tourists, quickly caught up with Erika.

As we approached the gate, the number of tourists decreased and the speed of running increased.

But when the number of people decreases, it stands out that much.

A real military policeman who ran from the gate called the two of them.

"You guys, haven't you heard the order to evacuate civilians?"

Erika grabbed Mizuchimaru's sack in her hand as she spoke suddenly.

Before Erika made the hasty act of defeating the military police with that, Leo took an upright position towards the military police and said:

"I have been ordered to help the researcher evacuate!"

He shouted a lie, gave a mocking salute, and then ran again.

The salute was accidentally plausible, and the military police were thrown into great confusion.

"What? Uh, hey!"

Even within the base, only a part of the upper floors know about the internal circumstances of the Southern Islands Factory. But it sounds like you're doing something important,

Many soldiers belonging to the base know this.

This gendarmerie was also known by rumors.

Because I did not know the actual situation, I could not judge the validity of the order to 'help the researcher's evacuation'.

It cannot be said that it is a nonsensical order to evacuate researchers before tourists.

Rather, I thought it was reasonable.

In the end, the deterrence of the military police became nothing but words.

Erika and Leo simply passed through the gate without a sentry.

Chapter [15] If You Wish

Tatsuya, who broke into the Southern Islands warehouse, discovered a huge remnant of magic.

It seems that the large-scale magic that Kokoa was participating in was executed almost at the same time as Heavy Metal Burst was activated.

The heavy metal burst's wave was so strong that its presence was erased. —Tatsuya explained why he did not detect the execution of the magic experiment.

so guessed

It was interesting what kind of magic it was, but Tatsuya decided to prioritize the search for Morinaga. Even if he hid alone into the lab,

Kokoa's comrades were wary and thought they wouldn't follow. On the other hand, if Morinaga, who broke Kokoa, is together,

it will be possible to gain some level of trust.

The question is, where is Morinaga now? No matter how much Tatsuya it is

, it is difficult to identify a person I have never met from among the many people . If you read each person's 'information', you'll find it someday, but in this case, it's left to luck.

You may find it soon, or you may be the last one. It is not the search method of choice during illegal infiltration.

'If you think about it normally, it must be locked up somewhere.'

It is said that Morinaga took care of the Kokoa. They are the first to be suspected of being involved in the Kokoa breakout. I hope he wasn't executed suddenly.

'Then it's not a laboratory.'

It turned out that the place where large-scale magic was experimented with. I don't know the way, but I know the distance and direction.

Tatsuya proceeded away from the laboratory.

Mikihiko was struggling with the communication room console at the villa of Mukodojima Kitayama.

"Finally, the electromagnetic interference is getting weaker..."

It was about 5 minutes after I looked at the communication system to investigate the situation in detail after receiving the sudden information that an alert had been issued from Minamitateshima.

As Mikihiko said, it was barely able to properly collect voices.

The one he is tuning on is the radio from the Minamitateshima base. Although not originally accessible to civilians,

This is the villa of the Kitayama family deeply connected with the National Defense Forces.

In

order to reduce the risk of being attacked by real pirate ships or agents from other countries disguised as pirates , there is a system that can waterproof military radios to find out information about their appearance first.

The video is not yet available. The voice is also not stable and cuts off frequently.

However

, Miyuki and Mikihiko clearly heard the word "submarine of unknown affiliation" from the noise mixed in .

"...Didn't you hear that an unknown submarine appeared right now?"

"I heard that too."

The two check each other what they have heard.

At the risk of damaging the eardrum, Mikihiko put her ear to the receiver whose volume was not stable.

"...it seems that the defensive positions on the east coast were burned by an attack from a submarine. An evacuation warning was issued to civilians."

Mikihiko sometimes frowned, and with a serious expression, patiently conveyed to Miyuki what he had heard.

When Miyuki heard this, a picture of a summer day came to mind.

Summer 4 years ago. The memories of the days when Okinawa was invaded by the Great Asia Allied Forces.

At that time, Miyuki was on a trip to Okinawa with her family.

mother, who was still alive.

When he came to Okinawa, he was not yet a family, but when he left, he became an irreplaceable and precious family.

And a woman who was like a family and followed her like an older sister.

She smiled happily as she applied sunscreen to Miyuki's face.

She was the one who kindly treated Miyuki as she was about to have an unwilling party.

She accompanies her on a voyage for her mother, who was confined to her home.

Yes.

At that time, a submarine attacked.

That was the harbinger of the invasion, which forced her to part... … .

"Yoshida-kun, I'm going to help my brother."

Miyuki, who returned to reality from the flashing memories passing through her head, showed a firm determination on her beautiful face and

suggested that to Mikihiko .

"Uh huh!? It's dangerous!?"

Mikihiko was startled and unknowingly got up and shouted.

"I know it's dangerous."

Not only the horses, but Miyuki knows again and again that it is dangerous.

Maybe more than Mikihiko.

No wonder she nearly died in Okinawa that summer.

Still, her determination and will did not change.

"I understand that Yoshida-kun isn't trying to stop me because he's scared. But now, my brother needs our strength."

Very serious eyes.

"...Okay. Let's go together."

At this time, he was literally captivated by Mikihiko and Miyuki's eyes.

After making the preparations quickly—the main preparations were CAD or housewife preparations— Miyuki and Mikihiko got into the tiltrotor parked in the heliport.

"Guests!? What are you up to?"

The situation surprised the pilot, Date.

"Date-san, please go to Minamitateshima immediately."

Miyuki's request was clear and there was no room for misunderstanding.

"Minamitateshima, you mean?"

But Date had no choice but to ask.

"Yes."

"The island has now been issued an evacuation warning...?"

Date euphemistically refused.

"Yeah, so I'm going to help."

Miyuki didn't realize this. No, I was just ignoring it.

"No, but that's too dangerous..."

Date, apparently, tried to change Miyuki's intentions somehow with an expression of 'annoying'.

"Mr. Date."

However, due to Miyuki's quiet spirit, Date's objection was blocked.

"Please. Take me to Minamitateshima."

Miyuki's eyes pierced Date from the front.

"Oh, I see."

Seeing the will to not back down in that gaze, Date gave in.

Moving to the second basement floor, Tatsuya detected two guards standing in front of the door.

I had already seen how many soldiers were circling the hallway. However,

this is the first time since breaking into this facility that I have seen soldiers guarding the door despite the presence of surveillance cameras .

I wasn't sure Morinaga was being held there.

But it's worth checking out. Tatsuya thought so and put it into action.

As soon as he turned the hallway and saw the guards, Tatsuya activated partial disassembly magic.

A decomposition magic that makes small holes in the body. The two guards lost consciousness and collapsed in a body-piercing pain that melted skin, muscles, bones and nerves.

Tatsuya disassembled the door guarded by the guards.

Beyond the door that has turned to sand is a woman in a white robe.

The female researcher looked at the strange appearance of the covert combat suit with a look of surprise and horror, but still firmly asked 'who are you?'

Tatsuya did not answer the question.

Lift the CAD towards the ceiling.

The surveillance device turned to sand.

"Do you know a girl named Kokoa?"

After excluding the possibility that a third party could hear the conversation, Tatsuya asked.

"Do you know Kokoa!? Is that child, is that child safe!?"

The female researcher, forgetting that she was ignoring her words, rushed to Tatsuya and asked.

"It's okay. Are you Morinaga-san?"

Tatsuya answered with a cold voice rather than a cold one.

"Yes… that's right. Are you a Saegusa person?"

"It's like that."

I came here because of Mayumi's connection, so it's not wrong to say 'it's like that'. Tatsuya made a logic he couldn't believe himself.

I lied naturally.

"thank God……."

Hearing Tatsuya's answer, Morinaga was relieved. It is

natural to feel more reassured that the person who asked for help came to help than that someone completely unrelated came to help . Tatsuya had no intention of doing that, but lying was also a means.

"Did you catch me breaking out of Kokoa?"

Tatsuya asked Morinaga as he looked around the room with the sole purpose of confinement, in which the walls and floor were covered with cushions, the only purpose of which was to commit suicide . I thought it was a passive treatment for the main culprit who encouraged the escape of the Coordinating Body.

"No. Kokoa ran away and was accused of negligence, and is currently awaiting a verdict. Probably fiddling around here."

Morinaga pointed to his temple with a self-helpful expression. Maybe it's brainwashing

Even after understanding this, Tatsuya was not angry. I just thought, 'Well, that would make sense'.

"We received a request from Kokoa to rescue eight other people. If we cooperate, we will also help you escape."

"Are you going to save those kids!? Please! It's okay for us to leave them alone. Please!"

Morinaga's reaction was far more passionate than Tatsuya's expected.

Tatsuya did not sympathize with that appearance, but on the contrary, his heart became cold.

"If you're so worried, why did you do such an experiment?"

Tatsuya's gaze at Morinaga was unbelievably cold.

"I know that the forced connection of the mind won't give you the right results."

Morinaga didn't know what kind of expression Tatsuya was making because he was blocked by a helmet.

But I knew that he despised himself for his voice and atmosphere.

"...just as you say."

She could not deny Tatsuya's condemnation.

There were no words to defend himself.

"We were arrogant. No, we were nervous. The strategic level magic that the Army put in to annihilate the Great Asia Alliance fleet...

Witnessing the result of 『Scorching Halloween』, the Navy was able to unleash a power equal to or greater than that of its magic. We wanted to put our strategic class magic into practical use.

Perhaps to fight for power with the army...and we thought that it was possible if we were."

Just confessing your sins and rebuking yourself.

"But that's our fault!"

Morinaga suddenly spoke strongly.

"They are victims! If it's to save them, I don't care what it takes! So!"

Tatsuya was not moved by Morinaga's petition.

Finding the 'the children' Morinaga refers to--the coordination body 'Watatsumi series' is a route that has already been set for Tatsuya.

He simply reflected that he had answered questions that were emotionally meaningless.

"Where are the remaining eight?"

After Morinaga appealed, Tatsuya just asked about it.

Morinaga's eyes twinkled with hope.

"I'll guide you!"

Tatsuya nodded and cleared the way for Morinaga to go first.

Katsuto guided the first officer who had brought him to this building, and half-forced him to visit the command room.

"It is an emergency, so I will omit greetings."

The commander sat on the seat and turned his head toward Katsuto.

"So, what is an urgent matter?"

In response, Katsuto did not complain.

Rather, I appreciated in my heart that I did not waste time with socializing.

"The explosion that just occurred on the southeast coast of the island was magical. It's highly speculated to be a heavy metal burst."

There was agitation among the staff who were within range of Katsuto's voice.

Heavy Metal Burst. A magic that can be said to be the pronoun of the USNA nationally recognized strategic class Magician, Angie Sirius.

The use of Heavy Metal Burst means that it was attacked by USNA forces.

"Is that so?"

The commander's agitation was small. In his voice, there was not the surprise of 'it's nonsense', but the abandonment of 'I wish it wasn't so'.

"It's a bucket."

Katsuto took out the main drug without saying anything to comfort him.

"I think the real purpose is to infiltrate high-level Magicians into this base and carry out sabotage operations."

The commander didn't ask, 'For what purpose?'

With this, Katsuto realized that the base was hiding something that could be a target for USNA forces.

That it probably had something to do with the petition submitted to the Magic Association.

What it was, Katsuto didn't ask in detail.

"I can be of strength."

Instead, Katsuto suggested that to the commander.

"...are you going to help me with the repulsion?"

"As long as it doesn't get in the way."

"It's a hindrance, I can't stand it. Please lend me your strength."

"Okay. Can I borrow your combat uniform?"

"of course."

After answering that, the commander instructed the first officer who was waiting outside the command room to guide Katsuto.

"What are Kokoa's colleagues doing now?"

"They are experimenting now."

Morinaga, taking a brisk pace, answered Tatsuya's question while breathing heavily.

Tatsuya nodded in his mind, 'Is that so?', and asked what was still on his mind.

"What kind of magic were you developing? What is a large-scale magic that needs to connect nine coordinators?"

"We call them 『Meteorite Falls』, 『Meteor Bombs』. It is a magic that manipulates the orbit of a star and makes it fall to Earth."

"Asteroid? 2095GE9 two days ago! Is that yours!"

Tatsuya said harshly without realizing it.

2095GE9 Knowing the predicted damage from the fall, I couldn't stand still.

"Yeah...why is that?"

However, Morinaga doesn't seem to have any realization that he is being reprimanded.

Another question came to mind before I was conscious of it.

"I wonder… are you a Strategic Class Magician of 『Scorching Halloween』!?"

"No, it's wrong."

If you don't answer, it's considered positive.

Thinking like that, Tatsuya briefly denied it.

"...I guess so. There's no way I can't let my beloved Strategic Class Magician do such a dangerous thing."

Fortunately, Morinaga was able to persuade him on his own.

"It would be better not to use the elevator. This is it."

She opened the door to the emergency stairway in the middle of the passage.

Unlike the usual image of a researcher, Morinaga had quite a bit of stamina.

It seemed to be surprisingly good even

though I walked up half the stairs that would have been about the fifth floor of an ordinary building . If this is the case, there may be room for questions and answers. Tatsuya thought so and asked Morinaga a new question.

"Even if it were magic that made small objects fall, it would be impossible to precisely control the meteorite. Even if the effects of other celestial bodies were limited,

humans still don't know how many celestial bodies there are in the solar system. The altitude that causes an aerial explosion It also changes into one meteorite component."

"Yeah, that's it. We thought that just dropping the meteorite wasn't enough to convince the upper

ranks of the military. Today's experiment is designed for that."

It was difficult to climb while talking, so Morinaga's breathing became a little rough.

"What we are doing now is an out-of-orbit experiment. By reversing the direction of the meteorite fall magic method, artificial satellites that pose a threat now or in the future can be tested.

It is an experiment that removes the satellite from orbit and excludes it to the other side of the universe."

Tatsuya continued the conversation regardless of Morinaga's condition.

"Right. That's if space junk happens to do the utility value higher than a satellite destroyed'll strongly appeal even as the gunman government.

However, if the satellite and the other country is used, it may be referred to a military satellites violated the Outer Space Treaty multiple And that's annoying, because

most satellites are designed to burn out in the atmosphere.

Is there a satellite that's perfect for this?"

"This target."

Morinaga's speech was interrupted, was it because he hesitated to speak, or was it simply because it was difficult to breathe?

"This is the USNA's decommissioned military satellite 『Sevens Plague』."

"what!?"

Tatsuya stopped without realizing it.

Realizing this, Morinaga also stopped and looked around.

"Is the officer in charge here sane? That military satellite is carrying 60 tons of depleted uranium bombs. If the escape test fails and it falls backwards,

The environmental pollution is unfathomable.

Even if that doesn't happen, 30 anti-surface missiles built-in with a trajectory change shock

If "Hell of Fire" is launched, in the worst case, World War II will recur."

The Seventh Plague, a strategic military satellite. 'The Seventh Disaster'. This name comes from the Old Testament and the Book of Exodus.

The 'ten plagues' that Yahweh gave to Egypt in response to Moses' prayer. The seventh of these, the hail plague. According to the Bible, lightning, fire and hail fell upon

Egypt.

The strategic military satellite, Seventh Plague, is simply a launch pad for ground-attack missiles. 1 kilogram per foot

A missile "Hell of Fire" containing 20 depleted uranium bombs is dropped from an altitude of 400 km. The missile maintains its kinetic energy.

It explodes in mid-air and scatters depleted uranium bombs at speeds exceeding 10 kilometers per second in a radius of 1 kilometer.

Seeing its power, it was expected that it would replace nuclear weapons, but it was judged that the cost of launching it was too high, so only one was completed and deployment was stopped.

practically abolished.

With 2,000 feet in a radius of 1 km, the destruction density is too low. However, if the scope of scattering of depleted uranium bombs is narrowed

, its value as a strategic weapon will decrease. Originally conceived, it was a

weapon that intermittently fired Hell of Fire with two Seventh Plague to steal the opponent's will to continue fighting. However, in terms of weapons, even if it is a defective product, one satellite has 60,000 rounds,

When 60 tons of depleted uranium bombs are scattered on the ground, direct damage from heat and shock and

Extreme damage to the living environment is expected due to biochemical toxicity. Seventh Plague is

a nuisance in satellite orbit , which the USNA is also struggling to dispose of .

So, if the escape experiment is successful, the Meteorite Falls will be highly regarded as they wished.

On the other hand, if the experiment fails and the Seventh Plague falls, the whole world does not end up blaming Japan.

In the worst case, as Tatsuya said, World War 4 will happen.

"...There are no mistakes in 『Hell of Fire』. I heard that the missile's safety system is perfect."

Morinaga first tried to make excuses. He turned his gaze away from Tatsuya.

Tatsuya's face could not be seen through the helmet, but

Morinaga couldn't look him in the face.

"There is no perfect system in this world. Moreover, even without the threat of depleted uranium bombs, if a giant satellite with a size of 140 meters falls,

the impact alone will destroy it within a radius of several hundred kilometers from the point of fall."

Morinaga went up the emergency stairs again without saying a word.

Tatsuya quietly followed behind him.

Unfortunately, Tatsuya's ominous premonition turned out to be true.

As soon as the thick door of the emergency stairway was opened, the alarm and roaring roar struck Tatsuya's ears.

Morinaga, who had forgotten the previous argument and faced Tatsuya, hurriedly ran to the control section. A roar that was not clearly audible in the hallway

It was clearly heard in Morinaga's ears.

"No way, something's wrong!"

"There is no problem with observation! 『Seventh Plague』, it will fall!"

"Why did this happen!?"

"Isn't the setting perfect!?"

"You also participated in the setting check!"

Morinaga, who was supposed to be in custody, showed up, but no one paid any attention.

No one in the room had that kind of room.

Morinaga herself did not realize that unnaturalness.

"no way……."

With a pale face, she looked for the general manager of the place.

He was standing by the center console as usual.

"Director! What the hell is this!"

"...is Morinaga-san?"

Kanemaru was not surprised to see Morinaga's appearance. He didn't even get angry, saying, 'How did you get out of being locked up?'

Kanemaru looked younger than his actual age. Confidence and ambition gave energy to his appearance.

But now he looked older than his actual age.

His voice sounded like a tired old man.

"Chief, what happened!?"

Even in Morinaga's head, the disagreement between her and Kanemaru and the fact that Kanemaru had imprisoned him until recently

disappeared completely.

"I'm sure it wasn't a failure...!?"

Kanemaru looked away from Morinaga and lowered his gaze to the small monitor in his hand.

"...Seventh Plague falls within 24 hours."

Morinaga's eyes widened.

"…So, didn't I say! You should take a break for at least a week!"

Morinaga pointed at the guidance outside the window with a hysterikal gesture.

"The genealogy was originally for 12 people! It was too much to do an experiment that was supposed to be done with 12 people with 8 people!"

"There were no flaws in the preparation of the experiment. The experiment was perfect."

Kanemaru's voice was in opposition to Morinaga's condemnation, but it sounded like a self-talk.

"This data will be of great help to our next success."

"Do not be ridiculous!"

Morinaga's denunciation erased the sound of shifting responsibility.

"There is no next time! Stop it now!"

The eyes of the control section are focused on two people.

After a brief silence, Kanemaru muttered blankly.

"The unexpected result was due to an unexpected explosion."

The voice grew more and more angry.

"The magic formula was out of order due to the effect of a large-scale magic attack on the defense. The failure of the experiment was due to a rude intruder."

"You can't go wrong with that!"

Morinaga's screams no longer reached Kanemaru.

"I'm not bad. I'm not bad. I..."

Until then, Tatsuya had not been silently listening to the two of them arguing. He pushed the researcher away and manipulated the console to grasp the situation diligently.

But there was also the point that he couldn't listen to Kanemaru's excuses.

Kanemaru's excuse is also valid. The magic formula exists only in the Magician's interior and in Eidos, which is the subject of ideological change.

In this case, since the target of the change is in satellite orbit at an altitude of 400 km, Minamitateshima is the target.

It's hard to say it was influenced by Heavy Metal Burst.

On the other hand, the maneuvering expression develops in the space around the CAD. If a large amount of surplus ions is emitted from nearby,

It's likely enough.

However, in this case, stopping the bootable read solves the problem. There is no way that the maneuver was not monitored in such a large experiment.

If the maneuvering behavior was disturbed by the influence of the heavy metal burst, and this caused the maneuvering to be disrupted, the maneuver monitoring was not sufficient.

In other words, the preparation for the experiment was clumsy.

Kanemaru's excuse is illogical. There is no way the scientist who led the development of strategic-class magic could not understand this.

It was painful to hear excuses that I did not believe in myself.

Tatsuya aimed the CAD at the transparent shield dividing the control section and operation area.

The next moment, the shield turned to sand and disappeared.

Tatsuya looked at Kanemaru.

"The experiment is over. There's no need to lock him up now."

Tatsuya ran down from the unshielded window to the floor ten meters below.

Morinaga turned her back on Kanemaru with a sane expression on her face.

She recalled her original purpose and ran down the stairs to the floor with the monitor seats.

The alarm grew louder.

The other researcher who had been silently listening to Kanemaru and Morinaga's argument either was sane or lost consciousness, and hurriedly ran away from the control section.

"Guard! Intruder, come quickly! My lineage..."

In contrast, the Kanemaru hangs from the center console.

Tatsuya came down to the floor where the guidance was installed, and pointed the CAD at the operator. The fact that he is in charge of opening and closing the hatch hatch has

already been investigated through the terminal above.

The CAD that aimed at the operator's forehead was the Silver Horn Custom "Tride".

"What, are you a cosplayer!?"

The operator, the target of Trident, showed a rather pleasant reaction.

"He's a no-brainer."

Saying that in an absurd voice, Tatsuya turned around and punched holes in the shoulders of the guards who aimed their guns at him with decomposition magic.

The guard let out a silent scream and collapsed, revealing his whites.

"It's not a gun."

Saying that, the Trident, which had an appearance resembling a large automatic pistol, was pointed at the operator again.

"I can drill a hole in your head as you can see."

The operator screamed 'Hick'.

"Release the Magician in the large CAD right now."

"Aaaaah, yes!"

The operator man was very hesitant and operated the console.

Meanwhile, Tatsuya incapacitated the guards who rushed to the floor one after another. A sheet wrapped around eight girls as if they were restrained

When it came down to the floor and stopped, Tatsuya knocked down all the guards.

The girl closest to Tatsuya sat limp and kept her eyes closed.

"Shia! Calm down, Shia!"

Behind the male researcher calling out the girl's name, Morinaga, who has just come down, looks into the girl's face with a worried expression.

Tatsuya stood in front of the girl and covered her forehead with her right hand. As a test, he poured a colorless psion flow that had no properties into the girl.

If self-disappearance is in progress, there is nothing Tatsuya can do about it, but if it's just that she has lost consciousness due to exhaustion of her mental energy

This will restore consciousness.

Then the girl flinched and trembled, then slowly opened her eyes.

Tatsuya removed his hand from the girl's forehead.

The blind girl's eyes gradually became focused.

"who……?"

With a soft voice, the girl— Shia asks.

"I've been asked by Kokoa."

"……Kokoa!?"

Shia's tone suddenly became clear. There was also a strong light in her eyes.

"What… did you ask for?"

"I want you to be saved."

"Is it possible?"

Shia asks in a provocative voice. That voice was challenging, and even though I had wished for it but it didn't come true, I continued to pray, and in

the end, I felt the pain of not being able to reveal what I wanted.

"If you wish for it."

The reason Tatsuya spoke with such an arrogant expression might be because she wanted her to be honest.

At the last moment, that person also made a wish.

She is a coordinator like Shia and Kokoa. The person I followed like my older sister, Sakurai Honami.

Summer 4 years ago.

While protecting Tatsuya when the Great Asia Alliance was bombarded, a huge burden was placed on the area of magic calculation, she said, only after her life was exhausted.

—I have never had the freedom to choose a way of life.

—I was able to choose where I would die.

—I am not as a tool made by people.

-I can die as a human being.

"So, will you let me die like this?"

At that time, he simply nodded his head at her wish. —Now, Tatsuya is resentful of this.

At that time, he was her true self. It was only recently that Tatsuya barely realized that he was unaware of his wish.

—Until now, there was no freedom to choose a way of life.

Obviously, that must have been her sincerity.

Honami probably wanted to live as a human rather than die as a human.

So, Tatsuya wanted to ask.

Unlike the person who had no choice but to beg for death,

wish to live.

"please."

Shia got up with her staggering legs and clinged to Tatsuya.

Staring straight at Tatsuya with a burning gaze,

"Save me."

Shia clearly stated her wish.

"That wish has certainly been granted."

Tatsuya nodded strongly at Shia's wish.

Chapter [16] Delete

It was not only Shia who wished to escape.

Her sisters also chose to run away.

Needless to say, Tatsuya did not refuse.

Since he promised to help 'you guys', that is, the 'Watatsumi series', of course, it was inevitable.

Tatsuya worked with Morinaga to guide eight girls to the exit. Instead of using the emergency stairs to go, go down to the basement.

Headed to the cargo ship entrance. This is because a researcher named Ezaki, who is in charge of Shia, said that 'that is closer'.

While Tatsuya was running in the lead, two Military Police officers approached in front of him.

"Tatsuya-kun!""Tatsuya!"

"Erika, Leo."

Tatsuya raised his hand in response to the two who called out his name at the same time.

When Tatsuya stopped, Morinaga and Shia also stopped.

Erika and Leo did not stop and approached Tatsuya.

"I'm glad I joined."

To Erika's words, Tatsuya replied, 'Yes'.

Erika looked behind Tatsuya.

"Are these children Kokoa's companions?"

Tatsuya nodded again.

"Yes. This child is Shia."

Tatsuya turned his gaze to Shia, who was at the forefront of the Watatsumi series,

"And she is Mr. Morinaga."

Next, he turned to Morinaga.

"Hmm..."

"Is this this person?"

"Erika, Leo, take care of them."

The two of them looked as if they were valuing Morinaga, but when Tatsuya suddenly said that, they turned around with bewildered expressions.

"Please, what about Tatsuya—"

"brother."

Leo was about to ask a question about what he was going to do. Interrupting those words, Shia calls out to Tatsuya in an angry tone.

"Why?"

Tatsuya looks at Shia.

"Are you going to leave us alone?"

Shia looked at Tatsuya with a crying expression.

Tatsuya did not turn away from Shia's gaze.

"If you leave the lab's data, you can't say you've truly saved it."

A look of embarrassment appears on Shia's face.

"Another you is just created."

But in the next words, Shia understood what Tatsuya was trying to say.

"……Okay."

"If that's the case, accept it."

Leo also nodded to Tatsuya with a persuasive expression.

"Tatsuya-kun, just leave it to me."

Erika smiles confidently at Tatsuya. It's not just arrogance, it's an expression of her determination.

"Set sail first. I'll go later."

Tatsuya wasn't particularly worried about entrusting them to the two of them.

Tatsuya returned to the genealogy laboratory control section again.

"Is it still there?"

There was only one person left, Kanemaru.

"What are you here for?"

The helpless Kanemaru asks.

Tatsuya took out a card-type record storage that the Defense Forces use in common with the army, the navy, and the air from the pocket in the suit.

"Put the trajectory data of Seventh Plague here."

"refuse."

Rather than Tatsuya's request, Kanemaru refused the command in a flat tone.

"Why do I have to do that?"

Perhaps his mental state was paralyzed, and Kanemaru's voice was mixed with even ridicule.

The reasons were different, but Tatsuya was equally uninterested in the other person.

"I'll tell you, I can extract the data without your help. Keeping you alive just saves time."

Kanemaru took the card as if it were a frivolous thing.

Insert the card into the slot on the center console and operate the keyboard.

While Kanemaru fetched the trajectory data, Tatsuya didn't just sit there waiting for his work.

Tatsuya headed to the console where he could look down on the orbit.

Cube-type storage, which is larger than a card, was removed from the belt pocket and installed.

Tatsuya's fingers move with great speed on the console.

The genealogy data, except for the Coordinator, was transferred to the cube.

Tatsuya operated another switch.

The dome-shaped ceiling opens. It was the exit used when the family tree was put into the laboratory, but Tatsuya had no intention of stealing this large CAD.

When the dome was open, Kanemaru's exhalation with a 'whoosh' could be heard in Tatsuya's ears.

"Is it over?"

Tatsuya retrieved the cube and asked Kanemaru.

"Yes."

Kanemaru answered Tatsuya's question in a simple way.

Tatsuya pushed Kanemaru and operated the console to access the card that was still in the slot.

The storage contents were displayed on the large screen, and it was confirmed that the trajectory data was entered.

Tatsuya took out the card-type storage and put it in the inner pocket—the pocket itself is a card slot—and turned off the current switch.

The lights went out on all monitors, not just the lamps on the console.

Tatsuya approached the window and pulled out the CAD "Trident".

Aim at the tree below with that 'muzzle'.

Until then, Kanemaru, who had no interest in what Tatsuya was doing, was impatient with his actions.

"Hey, what are you doing...!?"

"Clear data."

Tatsuya, who put his hand on Trident's trigger, gave him strength.

"stop……."

Tatsuya didn't listen to Kanemaru's words to stop.

"Delete."

The decomposition magic "Unsan Muso (Mist Dispersion)" was activated for the large CAD system.

The outline and substance of the gigantic machine, which was 10 meters in diameter and 10 meters in height, disappeared in an instant.

Metals, resins, semiconductors, and all the materials that make up the hierarchy are decomposed not at the molecular level but at the element level.

Carbon, hydrogen, silicon, iron, copper, and many other elements became molecules of a single substance (a substance composed of single elements) or chemical reactions occurred

to form compounds, becoming gases and dispersed in the air.

There, of course, there is a rapid increase in body mass.

The pressure in the laboratory exploded.

A gust of wind blows violently.

An unfixed chair collapsed, and not only the furniture on the table, but also the human- Kanemaru flew to the wall.

In the storm he had caused, Tatsuya stood alone, flapping his black cloak.

The suppressed air escaped through the ceiling outlet that Tatsuya had previously opened.

The storm stops.

Without seeing Kanemaru bleeding from his head, Tatsuya escaped from the messy laboratory.

Chapter [17] Mission Complete ?

Leo arrived at the straight ramp leading to the entrance of the cargo ship and heard gunshots and explosions. noticed that

"Erika."

Leo spoke to Erika.

Erika nodded her head with a grim expression and waved her hand to tell those following her to stop.

Erika herself and Leo also stopped.

"You felt it too, huh?"

Apparently, Erika detected the presence, not the sound.

"Yeah. It's getting closer."

Leo resumed his advance with a cautious step.

Erika also walked right next to him.

The two stopped right in front of the exit and peered out of the wall.

Open-top vehicles and armored vehicles are littered with rubble, and blood-stained corpses are scattered here and there.

Gunshots and explosions are constantly heard.

Fire and black smoke, screams and blood erupted.

Two people run through the naval soldiers fighting with guns, one after another, knocking down their opponents.

The two are clearly approaching this building.

Erika and Leo nodded to each other with firm expressions on their faces.

As the two of them tried to respond, they heard footsteps running from behind as if to break their momentum.

Leo did not take his eyes off the enemy, and Erika looked back.

Shia ran out of the ramp.

"No! Come back!"

Morinaga narrowly caught up before she could run out of the building.

Erika turns her gaze away.

Just then, an enemy appeared in front of the ship's entrance.

Using the armored car as a barricade, a soldier who aimed an assault rifle could not pull the trigger, and, let alone fix the target,

was attacked by a knife.

Obviously normal. But, I did. only. This is an impossible speed for the human body.

Either fortified with drugs or mechanically assisted.

Or accelerated by magic.

It was clear to Erika at a glance.

The enemy pierced the naval officer's chest with a knife.

Morinaga hugs Shia from behind. She uses her own arms to block Shia's eyes from seeing killing people.

Throwing a dead soldier, the enemy turns to Erika and Leo.

The enemy clad in armor—Ralph Algol's face was hidden by the smoke visor of his helmet.

However, Erika and Leo also knew that the Algol was mechanically distorted.

Algol was smiling as if it was fun to kill people.

They are reveling in their new prey.

"Hyahhahahaha...! New opponent... Military Police?"

A new opponent, Benjamin Canopus, appeared next to Algol with a sword curved like a Japanese sword.

Not only Shia, but all the girls from the Watatsumi series came up from the ramp.

Erika moved to the position to wrap them around.

Leo took a step forward.

"It's not a matchless suit... you guys, what the hell are you doing!"

Neither Algol nor Canopus answered Leo's question.

Canopus' attention was not on Leo or Erika, but on Cyane.

"Those children... Ralph, those girls are Meteorite Fall Operators!"

He grinned and grinned under his helmet.

"Hey… Does that mean we can just kill them all?"

"I don't like it, but I can't help it."

Canopus answers in a gloomy tone in contrast to Algol, whose voice has been raised with excitement.

"Kyahahahahaha."

Algol laughed again in a high-pitched voice.

"great!"

There was no feeling of guilt about killing a little girl yet with that laughter. Not even hesitation is seen.

"You're spewing very nasty things."

Instead of blocking Shia's front, Erika slowly moved to the side.

Erika's specialty is speed. If you hide your allies behind you, your movements are limited and you cannot demonstrate your original strength.

Instead of becoming a shield, he wields his sword to defeat the enemy. It was a move for that.

"Everyone, step back. Morinaga-san, please."

"Guys, this way!"

The Watatsumi series steps back a few meters.

Leo, who saw this with a sideways glance, took a step forward and stepped forward, standing between Algol and the Watatsumi series.

It is a posture to save them by using their own body as a shield.

Erika and Leo, it's not a question of which one is right and which one is brave.

That was their way.

"Kyaha, don't be in such a hurry."

Algol wasn't talking to Leo.

His words are more like self-talk from drunkenness.

Algol was obsessed with fighting—killing.

"Well, this one can't be too relaxed, either."

Hear from side to side, straight, then in reverse, and then play with the knife as if it were a street gang in a movie.

In contrast, Erika draws her sword in a no-frills motion.

An armed device "Mizuchimaru" that put CAD into overthrow.

Move the left hand holding the sheath to Mizuchimaru's bag.

She doesn't care at all about the sheath that fell with a light sound.

Erika's consciousness is centered on Canopus, who holds an arming device in one hand according to her movements.

Speaking of Leo.

He wasn't wary of Canopus at all.

From the moment Erika raised the tip of her sword toward Canopus, she decided that her enemy was Algol.

"I'm not someone you can do while watching…"

Leo's left arm is surrounded by surplus Psion light. I was trying to inject ions for mobile output into the CAD, but I put too much 'power' into it.

It's not just the arm. Flames of Psion light splattered all over Leo's body. Under the influence of the rising fighting spirit,

Psion is overflowing beyond the controllable limits .

"Hey..."

Algol looks at Leo with an interesting gaze.

Algol's face is engulfed in madness and joy (狂喜), not madness.

Until just before, Leo was just a prey for Algol. It was just a toy for him to hunt.

But Leo, of course, had no intention of being content with fighting well.

He pulls out his limits to defeat Algol.

"Siegfried!"

He swings his left arm vigorously and shouts a voice command high.

A movement expression is output from the CAD, and it is absorbed by Leo's arm.

Using the body as a passageway, the maneuver moves to the magic calculation area.

The magic to bring out Leo's limits was formed based on the maneuvering ceremony, and the physical indestructible magic "Siegfried" was activated.

The light of Psion covers Leo's body.

Instead of running wildly on the surface of the body, it maintains its magical structure evenly and densely.

Siegfried, the immortal hero of an old German legend. This magic, named after him, is not mounted on the body, but 'hardens' one's own body.

It gives the caster a body like Siegfried, who became immortal with dragon blood, which neither sword nor bullets work through.

Hardening magic is not magic that hardens objects. It is a magic that keeps the relative positions of the parts that make up the body within a narrow range.

For example, 'Puncher' fixes the relative positions of the molecules that make up the things it wears on the body as at the time of magic activation. When 'Pancher' is used for clothes,

the spacing and curves of each thread constituting the fabric are fixed, so there is no hole even when stabbed or cut, and it does not break even when struck or crushed

. However, if the joints are fixed in the same way, the operator cannot move, so the movable parts must be designated in advance.

On the other hand, the effect of 'Siegfried' is that 'the relative positions of the molecules that make up the body are not changed by external influences'.

Instead of fixing the relative position of the molecules at the time of magic activation, always Fix the position.

The skin and muscles that stretch and contract, the bones that change position according to the posture, and the joints that bend, cannot be deformed or changed further.

That's the magic effect.

That is to say, it is to maintain the physical "information", and it is a magic that cancels changes caused by external forces. Injuries caused by stabs, amputations, blows, and pressures

It is not subject to material change by acid or alkali. As long as it does not penetrate the skin and muscle tissue, it is not affected by heat or electromagnetic waves.

That's this body disintegration magic Siegfried.

Seeing the activation of Leo's magic, Algol immediately developed a maneuvering ceremony.

Touch the ring on your index finger with the thumb of your left hand. That's the CAD switch. Right index finger to ring finger, left index finger to ring finger.

Specialized CAD with a total of eight switches.

Algol's magic that was activated in an instant after unfolding the maneuvering ceremony in an instant is the self-acceleration technique. Algol narrowed the distance of 10 meters in the blink of an eye

and approached Leo.

While digging deep, stab the knife towards the heart.

Algol's stab, which would have been pierced by a normal human's reflexes, was prevented by Leo's right arm.

sparks splatter

It is the surplus Psion light generated by Siegfried's activation in order to negate the physical impact focused on one point.

Under the helmet of Algol, she opened her eyes wide and twisted her lips as if she was genuinely happy.

Algol's knife flashed.

Leo's arms deflect it. There are some cut marks on the sleeves of his military uniform, but not a drop of blood flows.

At the same time as blocking Algol's horizontal swing attack, Leo strikes a straight left hand.

Algol's body moved back a few meters faster than Leo's punching speed.

self-acceleration. But if it was triggered after seeing Leo's punch, it would have been too late.

However, it was not too late because Algol did not use any magic other than his own acceleration. The self-acceleration technique also

focuses only on movement using the feet,

and the knife is operated only with physical abilities. In this way, I secured an extra space in the magic calculation area and kept it in a state while constructing the magic formula.

hold for a short time

A technology for reducing processing time that is activated and approached in a different direction from flash cast.

Algol used the technique of magic melee combat, which is the specialty of this Stars member .

Algol raises his head from a stooped posture.

"Uhhhhhhhhh...!"

Raising the helmet smoke shield, revealing his bare face, his cheeks glow high.

"I think you can have fun with this guy!"

Leo frowned.

"This psycho bastard!"

While shouting with genuine disgust, this time he ran towards Leo.

"Ralph, you idiot!"

It was Canopus who stuck his tongue out.

While glaring at Erika, Algol's foolish behavior for revealing his bare face caught his attention for a moment.

For Erika, that moment was enough.

After piercing Canopus' gap, Erika quickly closed the gap.

Beyond the wielded blade was Canopus' neck.

It literally wields a fatal blow without hesitation. Canopus barely received the heated attack with the body of the sword he held in both hands.

The shock delivered to Canopus' hand was so light that it was heartbreaking.

Erika's sword swings. The first blow wasn't paint. The moment you thought you'd get it, don't release your hand, just relax

Using the recoil the sword collided with, the sword was pulled and connected to the next blow.

Without the expected pressure, Canopus' movement stopped for a moment.

In preparation for Erika's swing, which was slashing at an angle, Canopus raised his sword at the most dangerous time.

There was no sound of the sword hitting.

Just before the swords collided, Erika stopped the attack and retreated gently.

"Hey…, why did you stop attacking?"

Canopus asks curiously.

"It's because I feel that something is dangerous to bump into that sword."

Erika raises both ends of her lips and smiles.

I didn't see anything on Canopus's sword.

But Erika felt it. If you attack like this, your sword will be damaged.

That intuition was right, Erika realized by seeing Canopus' reaction.

This time, he swung his sword towards Erika from the Canopus side.

Erika hit the middle of the sword and resisted the slash.

Canopus forcibly returns the sword.

horizontal cut.

Without hitting the sword again, Erika swept up the sword and passed the slash.

The attack with all his strength misses, and Canopus' upper body shakes.

Erika swings her sword towards Canopus' left arm.

A blow that cannot be avoided with a movement that can rescue the human body.

Canopus avoided it by retreating in a collapsed position without moving his feet.

Evasion by movement magic that was activated in an instant.

The memory of fighting a Magician revived in Erika's mind.

With her eyes wide open, she retreated and pointed her sword again.

"That movement is the same as Lina... You guys are the Stars of the USNA Magicians Unit!"

"That's right, is it the Chiba family's female swordsman who was in the commander-in-chief's report?"

Erika and Canopus exchange proud smiles.

The two rushed to cut each other at the same time.

The fighting style between Erika and Canopus is superficially very similar, at least in terms of ground-to-foot combat.

Erika cuts through the gap in an instant with self-acceleration magic.

Canopus escaped out of the gap in an instant with movement magic.

The deceleration is almost a whistle.

The sword technique is a few steps higher than Erika.

But in magic, power, and skill, Canopus is far superior.

As Erika had intuited, if Canopus and the sword faced each other, Erika's sword was cut unilaterally.

By the intermolecular coupling reversal magic "Molecular Divider" deployed in Canopus's weapon device, its blade.

Molecular dividers are domain magic that finds and reverses the charge sign of an electron. In the actuation region, the electrons have a positive charge,

and as a result , the electromagnetic attraction between the positively charged particles is reversed as a repulsive force.

Intermolecular bonds and bonds between atoms constituting molecules are also bound by attraction between positive and negative charges.

In the region where the attractive force is changed to the repulsive force, the molecular bonds are released and become a gas. Not only that, the molecules repel due to the repulsive force

Vaporized molecules bounce out of the area.

Molecular dividers operate by inserting a thin plate-shaped actuation region into a solid.

Therefore, the substance that received this magic is

It looks like it is being divided by a sword.

Canopus is now fixing the trigger area of the molecular divider relative to the tip of the weapon device's sword. If Erika

confronts Canopus with a sword, it will be like putting the sword into the Molecular Divider activation area, and her sword will become a gas and cut off.

Unlike other cutting magic, 『High-Frequency Blade』 or 『Pressure Slash』, the Molecular Divider has no visible change in the blade of the sword.

In addition, Canopus' magic skill level is high, so surplus psions do not occur to the extent that they can be discerned. So, Erika

See the magic on the sword. I couldn't, and it was only that I felt that there was a trap.

I don't know for sure, so I have to be more careful.

As a result, Erika was unable to attack Canopus despite the technically superior sword fight.

Meanwhile, Leo and Algol were also unable to give each other final blows.

Algol's knife pierced Leo's defense several times since before and stabbed him in the chest or side. One time, it touched my cheek properly.

But not a drop of Leo's blood flowed.

Not a single piece of skin was torn.

The physical destruction magic Siegfried deflected all attacks.

Algol, on the other hand, never allowed Leo a clean hit. He is not ashamed of the name of a Stars second class operator with his magical fighting skills.

was the owner

"Hah ha ha ha."

"Noisy!"

"Hey, hey, hey, hey."

"Because it's noisy!"

Even if you have a personality problem.

Undoubtedly, Leo also has a first-class aptitude for close combat. In addition to his physique, muscular strength, and simple motor skills,

he also has a rich fighting sense .

But he still lacks experience. He wasn't trained to be harsh enough to cover a young girl. When the battle is long

Inevitably, the inexperienced part is exposed.

The balance between Leo and Algol was suddenly broken.

"Sheesh!"

Leo screamed involuntarily.

Algol's knife cut the part where the CAD body of the protector that covered the front part of Leo's left arm was hidden.

It is only when it becomes difficult to break with reinforcement magic that the CAD-built protector can catch the enemy's attack.

Siegfried is a magic that hardens the body. It is not a technique to harden what is attached to the body.

Leo forgot it and blocked it as usual.

A huge failure caused by a lack of experience.

The CAD stops functioning and the continuous mobile feed ceases. If Leo had activated Siegfried with a loop cast, the

battle would not have been hindered. Loop cast is a technique in which the same magic is continuously activated by copying the activation formula in the final stage of constructing the magic formula.

However, Leo learned Siegfried with the old technique of sequential unfolding, a combination of mobile reading and magical construction.

When the mobile supply stops, the magic build stops.

There is a limit to how long magic can remain in effect.

The effect of Siegfried, who was protecting Leo's body, was cut off.

"My victory!"

He put the knife to his waist and stabbed it towards Leo.

It wasn't something that could be avoided.

Leo was determined to sacrifice one arm.

Block the knife with your left arm and knock down the opponent with your right arm.

At that moment, I took that pose.

Algol disappeared from Leo's eyes.

It's not Algol's self-acceleration magic.

It flew off because of the transparent wall that came from the side.

Algol was caught on the wall and collided with the wreckage of an armored personnel carrier.

It gets stuck in a transparent wall and an armored car door, is nailed for a while, then falls to the ground.

Algol, with his hands and feet drooping like a broken doll, seemed completely unconscious.

Leo turns his gaze in the direction the 'wall' flew in.

It's not just Leo. Erika and Canopus also clenched their swords in the presence of strong magic, and looked back at a distance.

Standing there stood Katsuto wearing a military armored combat uniform.

"Jumonji-senpai!?"

It wasn't just Erika and Leo who were surprised.

"Katsuto Jumonji!? At some point…!"

Canopus is astonished to see Katsuto, who was clearly not there before.

However, those murmurs did not reach Katsuto's ears.

He glanced at Erika and Leo.

"Saijo, Chiba. What are you guys doing here?"

Seeing the Military Police uniforms they are wearing, Katsuto opens his eyes sharply.

"What's that outfit?"

Leo just opened and closed his mouth, and no words came out of his mouth, let alone an excuse.

Erika seemed to be similar, saying, 'This is him,' with a smirk and hastily hid her arm holding the device behind her back.

He tried to avoid Katsuto's gaze.

It was such a big gap.

Canopus didn't miss the opportunity and tried to cut Erika.

Erika, who was looking at Katsuto, detected it with just her sight and threw her body to the left.

Swinging Mizuchimaru in a collapsed posture, he aimed at the center of Canopus' sword, trying to avoid the slash.

As intended, Erika's attack captured the side of Canopus' armed device.

At the same time, Mizuchimaru broke. - No, it was cut off.

At this time, Canopus deployed a molecular divider in the center of the sword. Not being able to see the molecular divider, Erika fell into the Canopus trap.

Canopus' slash slashes through Erika's hair.

He had only cut the string that tied the black Erika's hair.

The trajectory was slightly deflected due to the impact it collided with the cut Mizuchimaru.

However, Erika was not in a position to avoid the next attack with her hands and knees on the ground.

Knowing that the chance of blocking Canopus' slash was low, he lifted Mizuchimaru, who had lost half of the blade's blade, above his head.

But Canopus' pursuit didn't come.

Erika raised her head and saw Canopus approaching Katsuto with flying speed.

Katsuto looked at Canopus' approach calmly.

The sword of Canopus descends towards Katsuto.

A few dozen centimeters above the black Katsuto's head, scattering sparks of Psion light stopped.

Canopus pulls his sword and retreats himself.

Canopus takes an arm position.

A sword that cannot be seen with the naked eye extends from the blade of the sword towards the sky.

The molecular divider fixed to the tip of the sword was re-formed to twice the length of the sword.

Canopus' weapon device is in the form of a Japanese sword. Perhaps the ride itself was used as an arming device.

So that black is curved. The activation area of the Molecular Divider, which doubles its shape, does not completely overlap the sword. The closer you get to the tip of the sword, the more

the invisible sword sticks out slightly more than the real sword. As with the gap, this slight discrepancy fascinates the enemy it confronts.

If the opponent tries to take the sword.

Canopus swings his sword horizontally.

A Molecular Divider attacks Katsuto after cutting down a wrecked armored vehicle or an undestroyed military vehicle.

The steel blade does not touch. But the magic day is definitely next to Katsuto.

reached

A few tens of centimeters to the left of Katsuto was blocked by a transparent wall.

The defensive phalanx that Katsuto is currently developing is a dome that blocks all directions.

Visual tricks are meaningless.

Molecular dividers and phalanxes fire psionic sparks.

As if the actual sword was blocked by the actual shield, both the molecular divider and the phalanx interfere with the spatial properties.

Because it's realm magic.

Magic is to temporarily overwrite the information attached to the target, Eidos. It does not directly generate thoughts.

Since there is no direct interaction, there is no direct interaction between Magicians except for a few exceptions. With the exception of a few counter magic,

magic cannot interfere with magic. Counter magic such as dismantling and dismantling can only erase the opponent's magic

, and cannot move like a real object, such as countering or blocking the opponent's magic .

Then why did the phalanx appear to block the molecular divider?

Molecular dividers are magic that gives a confined space the property of reversing the apparent charge sign of electrons. It

cuts the solid by moving the transformed space in sync with the physical movement.

On the other hand, phalanx is a magic that gives various properties to space in the form of a barrier. When opposing the enemy's magic, it blocks the Eidos overwrite.

『Data Fortification』, 『Zone Interference』, which fills the space with one's own thought-interference power so that no one can overwrite Eidos,

Magic that overwrites the nature of space, such as the "Psion Wall" that prevents the intrusion of the enemy's Psion, does not work.

However, the phalanx also develops barriers against tangible objects and physical energy at the same time. This kind of magic is the ability of objects and energy to

The spatial properties of the boundary are modified so that intrusion is not possible.

Molecular Divider and Phalanx are magics that change the nature of space, and the two magics are incompatible in the same space.

The realm of the molecular divider cannot be extended beyond the phalanx barrier unless it loses its dominance over space. Among

the realm magic, the specificity of the molecular divider that moves the realm that has undergone the change of thought created the scene of 'blocking the attack'.

Katsuto's phalanx didn't stop Canopus' Molecular Divider.

The Molecular Divider has taken control of the space and destroyed several of Katsuto's walls.

But in an instant, the next barrier was formed and the molecular dividers were pushed back.

No matter how many times the canopy goes down, the same thing will happen over and over again.

Canopus' attack is temporarily interrupted.

At that moment, an object-impermeable barrier jumps out one after the other from the dome-shaped barrier that protects Katsuto and attacks Canopus.

Offensive phalanx. A magic that crushes the enemy by constantly applying pressure with dozens of anti-objective barriers.

Canopus cut down all the anti-objective barriers that Katsuto shot with a molecular divider.

Canopus takes a big step back and positions himself to fight again.

"Is this the phalanx of Jumonji Katsuto...?"

He adjusts his rough breathing and mumbles like a self-talk.

"Is that magic the Stars' Molecular Divider?"

On the other hand, Katsuto's words were clear and he was asking Canopus.

"What's the Stars doing to the Japanese base?"

Canopus doesn't answer. can't answer

he got nervous

Molecular dividers in heavy metal bursts.

The fact that the Japanese military found out what they belonged to was something they had predicted and prepared for to some extent.

However, I thought that if I couldn't find any solid evidence, I would just kill all the people I knew.

The solution does not change even in this situation.

But considering the difficulty of defeating Katsuto Jumonji, completing the mission, and then retreating before a head-on collision with the Japanese forces.

I couldn't help but be nervous.

Staring at Katsuto with a terrifyingly preoccupied expression, Canopus reconstructed the molecular divider.

Katsuto slowly raises his right hand toward Canopus.

Leo was holding his breath and watching the two of them collide.

His consciousness was stolen by Katsuto and Canopus.

Is this negligence also due to lack of experience?

He hasn't given Algol a final blow yet. I haven't checked to see if it's really out of combat.

Algol stood up behind Leo.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Deploy self-acceleration magic with bizarre sounds.

Thanks to that voice and presence, Leo barely realized Algol's resurrection.

When he turned around, Algol's sword was already in front of him.

A small back blocking Leo's view as he quickly took a pose.

Erika blocked Algol's front.

Erika, who ran at great speed, cut the bone with Mizuchimaru, who lost nearly half of the blade.

Algol stops the body with self-acceleration stop and inertia neutralization magic, and turns to avoid Erika's slash. I couldn't reach him as I lost one of the only three days.

smirk crookedly

"Hyun-."

But his madness stopped against his will.

The expression 'I can't believe it' comes to mind on Algol's face.

With his eyes wide open, Algol leaned forward.

Erika's sword, which was making up her mind, had as many psion blades as the lost one if you looked closely.

Taking a half step back, Erika relaxed her posture.

"—hidden secret sword, Kirikage."

Erika muttered while swinging her sword as if she was wiping off blood, and at the same time the Sion blade disappeared.

Chiba-ryu's hidden swordsmanship Oh's "Kirikage".

A non-substance blade made by hardening Psion, a non-systematic magic that blocks the Psion information superimposed on the opponent's body.

The 'Psion information body superimposed on the body' that is the target of the attack is not the physical Eidos. Formed naturally by superimposing on the body in the material world

it's like a remnant. Although it is not strongly connected with the reality like Eidos, advanced martial arts masters can control the body by moving this 'afterimage' first.

Conversely, they read the movement of the opponent in advance by looking at the movement of the 'afterimage' that moves before the body.

Kirikage is a technique that uses this principle in reverse to cut through the 'shadow', causing loss of physical control.

It is a magical swordsmanship created by Erika's father, inspired by the legend of Ice Hikitada (Ice Ikosai) , the founder of Kageryu.

The

only means of attacking information bodies directly among the Chiba-style swordsmanship .

This winter, when she first engaged the parasite main body, Erika had no effective means of attack against an intangible enemy.

Then she had no choice but to run away.

Thanks to the memory of that humiliation, Erika was able to learn this hidden misconception in just one month. The head of the Chiba family

Although it is a secret sword that can only be used by her father, Joichiro Chiba, Erika is not taught by her father and only depends on the secret book.

I learned the Kirikage by self-study.

"Ralph!?"

Canopus, who happened to see the moment Algol fell, was astonished in his helmet.

Although there is no physical force in psions,

It is not uncommon to use non-systematic magic that inflicts damage to the opponent with a Psion Wave or Psion type. For example, the

hallucinogenic magic that gives the illusion of being attacked and knocks down the opponent with the pain of hallucinations is a relatively common magic.

As it is not so rare as a means of attack, Stars's battle Magicians receive resistance training against non-systematic magic.

And generally, the higher the magic skill, the higher the resistance to non-systematic magic. Algol, a star-star operator, was knocked down by a non-systematic magical blow.

Even if it is unexpected, there is a degree.

"Have I been too shallow?" Canopus thought bitterly. In the report, Lina highly evaluated the fighting power of the 'Female Swordsman of Chiba'.

He didn't even want to be distracted.

However, if they were really careful, they would have attacked additionally when they cut Erika's sword and at least took away her fighting power.

In the end, Canopus rebuked himself for underestimating it.

But regret it later. The most important thing to avoid in this operation is not to leave any material evidence that the USNA was involved.

If Algol gets arrested by the Japanese, that would be the worst. Canopus decided so.

Holding the weapon device in both hands with one hand, Canopus crafted a mobile magic. Hit the ground with your empty left hand.

It reinforces the image with that action and activates a magic that throws a ball of air.

Dust and ashes dance, obscuring your vision like a smoke screen.

Katsuto immediately protected himself, Erika, Leo, the Watatsumi series, and the researcher with the objective shield.

sight is clear

Canopus and Algol have already disappeared.

Canopus must have retreated with Algol.

However, the concealment of the physical evidence was not perfect.

His knife was rolling where Algol had fallen.

Lina, who was waiting in the assault boat that floated on the sea, received an unexpected report from New Mexico.

"I'm sorry, Commander-in-Chief. I am failed."

The sender was Canopus, who returned to New Mexico.

"Ben, you!?"

Operationally, the possibility that Canopus could not achieve its mission was considered. But in reality, Canopus failed his mission.

It was something that Lina had never thought of.

"…No, I see."

But remembering her position, Lina somehow suppressed the agitation.

"I will move the operation to phase two."

Lina cut off communication and spoke to Mirfak.

"Hardy, is the satellite targeting system restored?"

"It's still incomplete."

CAD's hyper-horizontal aiming (a system aimed beyond the horizon) used in heavy metal bursts relies on real-time data from low-orbit satellites.

It cannot be used in situations where communication with the satellite is poor.

"All right."

However, there is already a manual on how to respond to such a case. Thanks to that, Lina did not panic.

"Then I'll go up to the sky and aim directly."

Lina activated her flying magic, exited the assault boat hatch and climbed straight up.

After escaping the Southern Islands factory, Tatsuya went to the northeastern slope near the volcanic peak in the west, the highest point on Minamitateshima.

Tatsuya's purpose is to recognize Seventh Plague as an elemental site. To destroy the satellite before it brings catastrophe to Earth.

Unfortunately, the data obtained from the Southern Islands depot was not specific enough to lead to the satellite's Eidos.

Tatsuya's Elemental site

isn't perfect either. As much as the relationship with oneself is low, informational information is goes away. As information becomes distant, it becomes difficult to recognize information.

Tatsuya has not yet received any direct profit or loss through the Seventh Plague.

There is no way an unmanned military satellite could

send hostility, favor, or curiosity to the individual named Tatsuya . There is no function to hold such feelings in the first place. In fact

, there was no way the weapon that had given up on its operation was preparing to attack Tatsuya as a target . A satellite drop is not a threat to Tatsuya, but in the world.

Threat, threat, enemy. thing. Fire and ha..

In order to reduce the informational distance from Seventh Plague, we have to approach from Tatsuya's side. To this end, there are currently two effective measures that can be taken.

You can see Seventh Plague with your own eyes, or figure out the current location around you.

'According to the orbital data obtained from the laboratory, Seventh Plague will reach the northeast horizon in a short time... … .'

It would be nice to be able to see directly with the telephoto function of the suit, and even if that is impossible, for example, if

Seventh Plague appears after looking at the orbit indicated by the data as an elemental site, you will be able to access the satellite's Eidos.

Tatsuya inserted the storage cartridge received from Sanada into his favorite CAD Trident.

The recorded maneuver was "Beta Trident".

It is hard to say that Sanada predicted this situation, but it is thanks to him that he was able to deal with Seventh Plague as a result.

Destroying a satellite with mist dispersion does not change the result of scattering depleted uranium.

Destroying it with a material burst is the same. No, the results are even worse.

Depleted uranium evaporated due to high heat becomes particles and mixes in the atmosphere, and

eventually diffuses widely into the sea or land.

That's not the only thing. In a vacuum, or very high-altitude sky, where the atmosphere is thin, the impact of the explosion spreads far beyond Earth's vicinity.

It may reach the ionosphere as well as the Van Allen belt. A hole in the upper atmosphere is punctured by the impact of the explosion, and harmful cosmic rays

It may be the result of a massive pouring of water on the surface. Even without depleted uranium, material bursts cannot be used in the upper atmosphere.

'… … In order to completely prevent the environmental pollution that accompanies the destruction of Seventh Plague, we

have no choice but to make the neutrons

harmless with "Beta Trident", which causes the beta decay of neutrons all at once .'

Beta Trident. Official name 『Beta Decay Dispersion Trident』.

This magic consists of three consecutive types of magic, just like Tatsuya's specialty, the triple decomposition magic "Trident".

The first stage is magic that breaks down matter into atoms.

The second stage is a magic that decomposes the atomic nucleus into protons and neutrons. It only uncouples the nucleons, and has no effect of forcibly splitting the nucleons.

The protons repel each other due to their electromagnetic repulsion, but the third phase begins before quantum diffusion begins.

The third stage is a magic that causes neutrons to beta decay (negative beta decay). Separate electrons and neutrons from neutrons.

As a result, the neutron turns into a proton.

The first stage of atomic decomposition and the second stage of nuclear decomposition are over in an instant, but the third stage of beta decay magic has a set duration,

and the transformation effect is maintained until this time elapses. While the magic effect is maintained, protons cannot capture electrons separated from neutrons, and

most electrons diffuse with the protons in the form of plasma.

Matter subjected to beta trident loses neutrons and becomes a plasma cloud of protons and electrons. After the magical effect is broken, by quantum capture

Even if some of the protons and electrons are transformed into neutrons, the probability of being reconstituted into the original material, in this case uranium, is close to zero.

Beta trident can detoxify depleted uranium by this principle.

Beta Trident is a decomposition magic that penetrates close to the source of matter, and it

is one of the element transformation magic that is said to be impossible in modern magic if you look at the results . Using this magic is a huge burden even for Tatsuya, who has a particularly high aptitude for decomposition magic.

The time required to activate the magic and the load applied to the magic calculation area are not always the same, but it is not easy to see.

Tatsuya, who can be activated in less than 1 second with a Material Burst , takes 5 seconds to read the activation formula when the Beta Trident is activated, 5 seconds to build the activation type, and 10 seconds in total, so

you can imagine how heavy the burden is. Shall I go

It is difficult for Tatsuya, an expert in decomposition magic, to repeat it twice in a short period of time. Beta Trident activation is a one-shot match.

So, you must be more aware of the Eidos of the ideological change target than usual.

I look up at the sky, but I can't see the stars.

Black clouds still cover the island's sky. As it spread little by little, the thickness decreased

As the range widened, visibility was much worse than after the explosion.

However, even if the black clouds have spread, the night sky is still barely visible near the horizon. Tatsuya

recalled the trajectory data of Seventh Plague obtained from the research institute through the helmet visor, and viewed the planned trajectory as an 'eye', an elemental site that recognizes human eyes and information bodies.

However, even when it was time to appear from the northeast horizon, Seventh Plague was not reflected in Tatsuya's eyes. I couldn't even catch the 'eyes'.

'Seventh Plague doesn't exist on the scheduled trajectory!?'

Tatsuya's forehead is wrinkled.

'Why did the orbit change?'

While he was rechecking the predicted orbit data, the ash that formed spread through the sky and reached the horizon. As it diffused, it was thinned out, so

it wasn't entirely impossible to see satellites through the ash. However, even limited to low orbits of less than 400 kilometers in altitude,

quite a few satellites orbit the Earth. It was not realistic to check them one by one.

'… … But I have no choice but to do it.'

The problem is time, but if you don't do anything, you won't get any results.

Tatsuya said that to himself and looked up at the sky again.

At that moment, he felt a magical presence from the southeast, in the opposite direction to where he was looking.

'what?'

hurriedly look back

A small seal is floating in the sky overcast with volcanic ash, lower than the black clouds.

"Is that… Lina?"

Tatsuya muttered aloud without realizing it.

Lina stopped in mid-air and displayed an image of the rifle-type CAD accessory telescope on the helmet visor.

The fortifications she burned are still burning red, and the slopes of the hills are burning.

The heat shakes the field of vision, but

it's not to the point that it's not going to interfere with the fixation of the target .

Unlike live bullet attacks, Heavy Metal Burst's aiming recognizes what the target is and that's definitely. There. Recognizing that there

is, that was enough.

"Take a site."

The explosive that Lina chose was a large armored car parked right next to a warehouse in the Southern Islands. Since it is much smaller than the rocket launcher just before, its power will be reduced, but it will be

enough to blow up the building next to it.

"Movable deployment."

Cover your field of vision with the scope image and pull the trigger.

The reason I say things that don't need to be said is because she's been honest and foolish with what she learned during her time as a member of the ranks.

However, regardless of the lack of flexibility, his magic skills are outstanding among the Stars, worthy of Sirius' title and commander-in-chief.

She built up the intricate magic formula of Heavy Metal Bursts in seconds.

Lina is still only looking at the image zoomed in with the telescope. So, only the target armored car and a

narrow range around the Southern Islands warehouse near it came into view. There was still no sight of tourists evacuating from the shopping mall side.

The warehouses dividing the base area and the tourist area were insufficient to contain the heavy metal burst's high-temperature plasma.

"Heavy Metal Burst, activated."

Lina shot a magic that involved a large number of civilians.

'What a pointless thing to do when you have no time like this! Are you planning to burn the whole island!'

While swearing at Lina in her heart, Tatsuya

exchanged the "Beta Trident" -exclusive activation cartridge for a cartridge that recorded the activation expression of "Deep Mist Dispersion" along with the activation method of other disassembly magic .

'Erikana Leo and Kokoa's colleagues still have tourists on the island!'

Tatsuya chose Deep Mist Dispersion and turned the CAD Trident towards the armored car that Lina was aiming for.

At the tip of his gaze, the heavy metals that make up the armored car were interrupted by magic.

Tatsuya pulled the trigger of the trident.

It reads the unfolded maneuvering formula, constructs a magic formula in an instant, and projects it towards the modified Eidos of the armored car.

Decomposition Magic Deep Mist Dispersion.

This spell does not impose as much burden as the Beta Trident. It is difficult to deal with like a normal decomposition magic, for example, Mist Dispersion, but

if you use it, it can be activated normally.

He judged that this magic was a failure because it can only be used in very special cases. There are only nine types of movable type in specialized CAD.

can be set If you want to use more than ten types of magic, you need to share the storage that records the movement, just like Tatsuya did.

There are nine types of interchangeable storage that can be recorded. Tatsuya

didn't think it was practical to use one of the nine types of magic with no way to use it .

However, for the purpose of negating Lina's Heavy Metal Burst, it had a decisive effect.

The armored vehicle turns into plasma.

But in the next moment, the plasma spread out of control of the magic.

The heavy metal burst was blown away due to the 'absence of a defined target'.

Deep Mist Dispersion is the second stage of the Beta Trident as an independent magic.

The effect is the decomposition of the atomic nucleus. bonding between nucleons

cut

The essence of heavy metal burst

is a procedure that turns heavy metal into plasma, removes electrons from all atomic nuclei, and scatters heavy metal atomic nuclei in the horizontal direction . Fixing electrons in the form of a ring is only a means to accelerate the nucleus of an atom.

By accelerating the scattering of atomic nuclei, the Heavy Metal Burst gains enough destructive power.

Deep mist dispersion decomposes the atomic nucleus into protons and neutrons.

Since the process of forcibly detaching the

nucleons is not involved, the nucleons recombine immediately, but nucleons that escape from a close distance called 'strong interaction' in that short time are not subject to binding.

The nucleons decomposed by deep mist dispersion are few. reconstituted into atomic nuclei.

This magic does not cause a change in mass. There is no force that strongly interferes with the mass world. Even if the nucleons combine,

the energy of nuclear fusion is not released, only the nucleons are briefly separated and then reunited. As a result. Elemental transformation only takes place, and

you have no control over which element will appear newly. Therefore, it has no value as elemental transformation magic. It has only experimental value,

It has neither practical value nor practical value. Unless your opponent is Heavy Metal Burst.

The target of a heavy metal burst is electrons and heavy metal nuclei.

In the stage where the atomic nucleus is decomposed, there is no target to apply the magic to.

That was the reason that Lina's magic caused the error.

Immediately after activating Heavy Metal Burst, Lina noticed that her magic had been blown away.

Lina, who had been floating with flying magic, collapsed her posture without realizing it.

A little later, a warning message appeared on the helmet visor.

"Huh? Huh? The definition of Heavy Metal Burst is gone, so it's forced to end!? The plasma... is it lost?"

Lina muttered with an adult voice and a voice that made her feel a little childish.

Angie Sirius. that came out of his mouth. Lina regained her sanity.

The realization that he was Angie Sirius awakened his sense of responsibility.

Lina pointed at the CAD again.

"The target is… huh!?"

But once again, he was engulfed in agitation.

The research institute to be destroyed disappears in smoke before her eyes.

Neither explosion nor collapse.

Not combustion, but dissipation.

she didn't know

That there is Tatsuya in Minamitateshima.

That's not the only thing. Lina never saw Tatsuya's Mist Dispersion in the true sense of the word.

The mist dispersion that Tatsuya showed to Lina was to disassemble a knife or a small part of her body.

The sight of erasing a large structure comparable to that of a seven-story building in an instant was not shown.

"What happened… did it happen?"

Lina just muttered blankly.

'Change aiming to underground structures.'

After confirming the complete destruction of the ground part of the southern islands, Tatsuya changed the aim of the Mist Dispersion to the basement of the laboratory.

If even a part of the Southern Islands yard remains, there is a possibility that Lina will cause another riot.

But beyond that, Tatsuya had no intention of leaving the laboratory underground from the beginning. Until recently,

I was thinking of dealing with Seventh Plague first, and then removing the underground structure. The order was reversed, the above-ground part was unplanned, but the destruction of the underground part was planned.

There is a control body manufacturing facility in the basement of the Southern Islands Factory.

that. There is no Meteorite Fall data left in research. However, data from the Watatsumi series will not

disappear unless the control facility is destroyed .

As long as the adjustment data remains, the same thing must be repeated.

It may not be meaningful to just remove the data from the Southern Islands Factory.

No, the backup is more likely to be stored elsewhere.

Still, I had no intention of leaving the seeds of tragedy right before my eyes.

With the elemental sight, all the information of the underground structure can be grasped.

Pull the trigger of the CAD, read the activation formula, and construct the magic formula. There, Tatsuya entered the 'information' in the basement of the Southern Islands as a magic target.

'Mist Dispersion, activated.'

Tatsuya activated the decomposition magic mist dispersion.

The smoke of dirt and dust spread rapidly again.

After the smoke had dissipated, there was a hole in the shape of a building when viewed from above.

Tatsuya looked up at the sky to the southeast.

It looks like Lina has frozen in the air, but she won't do anything stupid any more.

A plane was seen flying over it.

As I tilted my consciousness, I noticed who was riding.

'Miyuki, don't leave that to me.'

Tatsuya murmured in his mind, and changed Deep's storage cartridge to beta.

The research center to be destroyed has disappeared.

Lina stared blankly at it.

I couldn't comprehend what the hell was going on.

She didn't even know if the paranormal she was seeing was magic or not.

If Lina thinks soberly, she must have figured out that it is a phenomenon caused by magic that breaks down solids into molecules. She herself turns the object into a plasma

Changing magic is his specialty. If a solid can be transformed into a plasma by magic, it is not particularly surprising if there is a magic that decomposes into molecules, that is, gasification.

The cause of Lina's accidental stoppage was, above all, the shock that her means of emergency, the heavy metal burst, was broken.

In the beginning, modern magic is characterized by being effective in a short period of time, so there is a change of thought in the middle. It is rare for a procedure to be invalidated.

In modern magic, basically, the opponent's magic is to defend, not to eliminate it.

Countermeasures such as

neutralizing the activated magic with a powerful thought-interference force or removing it from the target's Eidos with a high-pressure psion flow are still the most popular.

In order to interfere with the completion of magic, you need speed and skills that are several steps faster than your opponent.

Lina had never even thought about being

nullified the moment her special magic took effect .

While she was suspended in mid-air, the Southern Islands public building was completely destroyed. There was a

hole in the site where the part of the underground structure had been cut cleanly.

Seeing this, Lina came to her senses.

Objectively, the time she was idle was extremely short. The annihilation of Factory in the Southern Islands

was completed in a very short time.

"Is this, mission complete? Can I look at it like that...?"

Lina asks herself.

The research center, the target of destruction, was completely destroyed by someone other than himself. Even if you try to perform the mission, the object no longer exists.

Lina fell into the assault boat while harboring an unhappy heart.

Katsuto set aside his investigation into Erika and Leo and headed to the private port with the Watatsumi series girl.

The original purpose of Katsuto's visit to Minamitateshima was to inspect report about underage magician abused by the National Defense Forces.

Actually, I was very concerned about what Erika had done, but Shia's priority was higher.

The small jet he was riding in was parked at the sea airport, but did not go there. The plane was supplied and maintained by the military.

If I took the girls who had escaped there, it would have been a commotion. Katsuto had no intention of arguing with the National Defense Forces.

The incident occurred when she reached the gate that protected the girl and divided the military area from the tourist area.

At the end, an intense magical presence occurred.

It was the same thing I felt right before the explosion on the southeast coast.

'Heavy Metal Burst!?'

Katsuto was extremely nervous and tried to deploy an anti-objective and heat-resistant barrier with maximum output.

Even if it was a heavy metal burst, Katsuto thought that he couldn't stop it.

But at the same time, he was not conceited with absolute certainty. The explosion just had enough power.

However, Katsuto's defense magic was not executed.

The magic that was supposed to be a heavy metal burst ended without activation.

Precise magical presence intervening as if overlapping along the way.

The magic is amazingly drawing. It was light, but it was certain that the magic stopped Heavy Metal Burst (tentative name) from the

circumstances.

A magic that exerts a great effect while preventing you from feeling your presence.

Katsuto remembered seeing this.

On the day Yokohama was attacked last year, it was Tatsuya's magic that destroyed the large truck that charged into the international conference hall.

'Shiba, are you here too?'

Katsuto felt the urge to check this out.

But, realizing the girl's gaze at her stopped, she suppressed her urge.

For now, it was most important to evacuate them to a safe place.

He moved back to the civilian port.

Chapter [18] It Is Possible to Do This

Heavy Metal Burst's explosion also disrupted the operation of friendly New Mexico.

"Reconnaissance satellite communications restored!"

The communication condition, which had been very bad due to electromagnetic interference, was restored to a practical level when the Southern Islands factory disappeared and Lina returned to the assault boat.

"Put the image on the monitor!"

The black clouds covering the island also spread and became lighter. The discharge in the clouds also subsided. Optical observation by visible light is still unreasonable, but

observation by microwaves using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has been improved to a level that can be reconstructed into images.

After seeing the video of the target research center disappearing and a large hole in the ground, moans could be heard from all over the command room. From

Canopus' mouth, who was standing next to the captain and looking at the main monitor, he said, 'Hmm... … ' came a faint voice.

As the captain was about to give the next order, the news agency said as if to break the momentum.

"Captain, I have a call from Fleet Command!"

The captain had an angry expression on his face, but he did not show unreasonable anger.

"Read."

"Yes. Sevens Plague, the military satellite."

The fact that the carrier's voice was increasingly recalled was not because the captain's strict gaze was concerned.

"Have you confirmed that it has entered the trajectory?"

"What's next!"

The captain rebuked the astonished news agency in a voice expressing his impatience.

"Oh, yes! The expected drop point is 27 degrees north latitude plus minus 5 degrees north latitude, 420 degrees plus minus 5 degrees east longitude... ...that's the sea area!"

The command room was quiet. In the stillness, the sound of someone swallowing their breath could be heard quite clearly.

"So what's the command's order!?"

The captain broke the brief silence.

"The fleet deployed in the western Pacific will return to the base in Hawaii within 48 hours!"

"Sheesh, you're being reckless!"

The captain clicked his tongue involuntarily.

It is more than 6,000 kilometers from its present location to Hawaii. Returning within 48 hours

requires an average speed of close to 70 knots . Even New Mexico boasting the fastest back knot in the sea is breathtaking.

To tell the truth, this 48-hour limit itself is impossible for Command to do against New Mexico. didn't. It was set by inverting the numbers.

What would the captain think if he found out that the probation was actually up to 24 hours?

The commander's instructions were swift, knowing that he had been instructed to do something reckless.

"Give the assault boat a return order! Launch as soon as it accepts Major Sirius' assault boat!"

"Aye, sir!"

While the crew was hurriedly preparing for the launch, Canopus glared at the footage of the remains of a warehouse in the Southern Islands. In the enlarged hole, a

faintly human-like thing could be seen.

"Captain."

After confirming this, Canopus spoke with a serious voice to the captain who had given all the necessary orders to launch.

"What's going on?"

The captain looks at Canopus. The reason why he didn't respond roughly because he was busy was because there were many parts that he couldn't downplay his status as Stars Number Two, but

more than that, he realized that something annoying had happened with Canopus' voice.

"I ask for permission to use the ground-attack missile."

As expected of the captain, Canopus' request was not to be taken lightly.

Perhaps because of the topography, the black clouds caused by the explosion of the defensive positions were relatively light in the east of Minamitateshima. To some extent relatively, though.

The tiltrotor carrying Miyuki and Mikihiko bypassed the northern part of the island and approached it from the east side of the molten defensive position.

Should I say that I'm glad I came after Lina returned to the assault boat? Even if I knew that, for Date who was controlling it,

It certainly wouldn't have been comforting.

"Can you come a little closer?"

At Miyuki's request, Date shook his head hastily.

"It's still burning! It's red! More than that!"

The defensive fortress has become lava and emits red light and high heat. The reason Date left the National Defense Force in the first

place was because he knew he was very cowardly compared to other pilots . Even if it was a request from a thrifty beautiful girl, to fly right on the lava was something that Date

could never agree to.

Miyuki, who had chosen to speak to somehow persuade Date, suddenly realized that something other than the sea level at night was reflected on the end of the monitor.

"What's going on?"

Miyuki suddenly stares at the monitor, and Mikihiko asks in a curious voice.

"Yoshida-kun, please take a look here."

"This is... a submarine!?"

Seeing the spot Miyuki was pointing at, Mikihiko also noticed the floating submarine.

"Does that seem the same to Yoshida-kun?"

Miyuki responded that way to Mikihiko's words,

"Please stop here."

She ordered Date to do so.

Date immediately changed the plane from low-speed turns to hovering.

He did not go against Miyuki's words. I had no desire to resist.

It was a reason like an appendix to convince himself that he did not need to approach any more than this.

Miyuki leaves the cockpit and goes to the elevator hatch.

Mikihiko hurriedly follows after him.

"Are you planning on jumping off!?"

Mikihiko asks Miyuki standing in front of the hatch in a bewildered voice.

"Yes."

Miyuki nodded without hesitation and operated the on/off switch.

The hatch opens and the trap hangs in the air with nowhere to go.

The ground, which is still burning red, comes directly into view.

The heat turns into a strong wind and enters the cabin.

Unknowingly, Mikihiko covers her face with her arms.

However, Miyuki calmly stood right in front of the trap while her hair was fluttering due to the craze.

Even in the sight of salt-heat hell, he is not shaken in the slightest.

Miyuki manipulated the CAD with her naturally hanging left hand,

and swung her right hand horizontally from left to right at shoulder height with one beat .

Like a queen ordering noisy citizens to be quiet.

The effect was immediate.

It was absolute.

As he swung his right hand once, the burning earth became white and frozen.

Not only the shallowly dug ground, but also the rear slope that had been burned by the fire was painted over halfway with white.

Wide-area cooling magic Niffleheim.

All the heat succumbed in front of Miyuki,

An army of ice kneels beneath her eyes.

"It's amazing... such a wide range, in an instant..."

Mikihiko's voice was trembling with tremors.

A look of surprise and horror appeared on his face, even more pronounced than when he saw the burning scene.

Miyuki didn't care at all about Mikihiko's reaction.

"Then, excuse me first."

Without looking back at Mikihiko behind him, he spoke to him, then ran lightly and then went down.

It didn't fall, it went down.

With only a slight wiggle of her hair, she descended from the sky to the ground without the skirt overturning.

Mikihiko, mesmerized by the scene like a page from a myth, barely came to his senses when Miyuki's figure became invisible due to the darkness.

"Date-san, please close the hatch!"

With that in mind, he ran out of the hatch and followed Miyuki and Mikihiko went down.

"What are you planning to aim for?"

The captain frowned at Canopus, who had promised to use land missiles, asks.

"Would you like to enlarge the monitor?"

"Enlarge the monitor image."

With a puzzled expression on Canopus' words, the captain ordered so.

A zoom-up of the empty space formed in the southern islands where empty windows existed.

The crude image was calibrated by a computer and displayed on the monitor in a form that could tell that it was a human at the bottom of the hole.

"Is that?"

"That's right."

Canopus nodded his head darkly.

He really didn't want to do this. He is a member of the military, but his opponent is a non-combatant. It was against Canopus

' caution to blow up an opponent who did not even resist from a distance .

"Given the timing, it is assumed that the fall of Seventh Plague was caused by a large-scale magical runaway that was tested in that lab."

"what?"

"Such dangerous magical data must be destroyed without leaving a trace."

But this is necessary. He convinced himself so.

"I get it."

The captain nodded his head with a determined expression on his face.

Unlike from the end of the previous century to the beginning of this century, the hurdles of the exercise of military force have been lowered in the present world experiencing the Great War.

Still, to launch a missile at the base of a country that is an ally, it was necessary to prepare in its own way.

"Missile launcher, ready for number one!"

"Aye, aye, sir!"

No one objected to the captain's orders.

When Mikihiko arrived, Miyuki was standing on the edge of a cliff, a remnant of a frozen fortification.

Her gaze is directed over the horizon with a submarine spotted by an airplane monitor.

'Your brother said that any Magician has the ability to see Eidos, but... … It's impossible like your brother.

Of course, but… … .'

Her consciousness, smiling, was in the information world.

Superimposed on the real scene, a huge shadow with sharp outlines appeared below the horizon. Although the detailed information of the shadow was not known,

It could be confirmed that there was a 'substance' different from seawater or air.

'Still, if you're blocking movement, this is enough... … .'

The magic that Miyuki wants to use is not to interfere with object structure information, But the temperature itself

Where to apply the magic to the newly needed information.

It is only the coordinates of the information dimension.

If there is only that, the altered natural phenomenon achieves her purpose of 'encloses the enemy'.

"Freeze."

Miyuki said in a quiet and clear tone.

The crew of the New Mexico crew was wounded and shocked that the hull, which had been swaying leisurely to the waves, was suddenly immobilized.

"What's going on?"

The captain calls for a report in a calm voice. In any case, there wasn't even the slightest agitation in his expression.

"...Ice!"

However, there was more fear than agitation on the face of the crew who answered the captain.

This is a low-latitude region belonging to a subtropical climate, and it is no longer winter.

It was

hard to believe that there was ice large enough to shock the ship .

"This ship is stuck in an iceberg, no, drift ice... a huge ice floe!"

But the surprise attack on the giant nuclear submarine New Mexico was not that simple.

"what!?"

The mask of composure was removed from the captain's face.

In the midst of answering the question like that, the sound of pressure on the ship grew louder and louder.

"The missile launcher doesn't open! It looks like the main ship's outer shell is also covered in ice!"

The firearms staff shouts in an urgent voice.

"Anyone is fine, so go out and check the situation and come!"

"Aye, sir!"

The crew closest to the command room door gets up and goes out to the bridge.

The sound of something creaking was also heard from the command room.

"What's going on this time?"

"It looks like the outer hull is under pressure from ice!"

The voice that answered was like a scream.

The crew, who had gone out to the bridge, returned to the command room where everyone had lost their words.

"No, Captain! The hatch won't open!"

"What the hell happened..."

The captain groans.

There were even voices praying to God among the command room staff.

Meanwhile, Canopus was engulfed in a sense of dismay with the captain and crew.

'What an incredibly powerful magic... … . It's comparable to the Leviathan in scale... … ?'

A power-class magic Leviathan useful in the sea used by two of the three nationally recognized strategic-class magicians of the USNA, except for Lina.

Canopus couldn't contain his trembling at the anti-magic comparable to this.

The ice floe that covered the sea spread to the immediate vicinity of the assault boat on which Lina was riding.

Detecting the abnormality, Lina stepped out of the hatch.

"This……?"

An icefield stretches out to the end of the line of sight in the direction New Mexico is waiting.

"……"

Lina was speechless and looked at the scene.

"Captain Commander!?"

When Mirfak called, Lina regained her sanity.

"Hardy, I'm going to rescue New Mexico. You must contain the Magician in the defensive fortifications on the east coast of Minamitateshima!"

With her back lifted from the seat and looking into the ship, Lina gives orders to Mirfak.

"Is this the enemy's defensive position? But the Commander-in-Chief didn't burn it there."

"The Magician who caused this anomaly must be there! Don't even think about defeating it. Keeping it in check is enough!"

Lina repeated the order while recalling the name of the 'magic who caused an abnormal situation' in her head.

"all right!"

Mirfak nodded and Lina went out of the assault boat.

Remove the mask of Sirius Angie from the helmet.

His height has decreased, his shoulders have become narrower, his hair hidden in a visor is colored gold, and his eyes are dyed blue.

From a dignified beauty to a pretty girl full of cuteness.

Lina released the camouflage magic parade and returned to Angelina from 'Angie'.

From my experience, I can't stand against her magic while allocating my power to something else. because you know

Activates flying magic.

Lina headed for New Mexico, horizontally.

fell..

A vast expanse of frozen sea level.

The icefield reached a radius of one kilometer centered in New Mexico.

'It's possible to do this... … Maybe Miyuki!?'

Thinking 'maybe' in her mind, Lina was convinced that this was Miyuki's magic from the moment she saw the ice floe.

I saw New Mexico dyed white. it's not fog It was covered in white cloudy ice.

Lina got off near the bridge.

However, she hurried a little at this disgrace.

Flight magic was cut off with incomplete deceleration.

And the soles of the shoes of the thrust suit couldn't hold onto the ice well.

"Wow!?"

the feet slip

"Ah, ah, woah, woah..."

As she nearly fell, Lina worked hard to prepare herself.

After somehow stabilizing her posture, she glanced left and right.

"...awesome."

Maybe the reason I coughed while nobody was watching was because I was quite embarrassed to have been stabbed in the buttocks.

"New Mexico, can you hear me? This is Major Sirius."

Lina communicated with the command room by voicing 'Angie' through the transformation function of the helmet, not magic.

"Captain, this is Canopus."

Canopus directly answered her call. The other crew members couldn't afford it.

"I'm going to melt the ice from now on. It will take a little while to control the temperature so it doesn't affect the hull, but once you can move it,

Please dive immediately. If you keep getting injured, you become a target of the enemy's magic."

The reason it took a while for the answer to come back was probably because I had consulted with the captain.

"All right. Please, Commander-in-Chief."

"Let 's begin."

Lina cut off communication and quickly pressed her thrust suit right arm in three places.

When wearing a thrust suit, a CAD is used for magic other than flying magic. But in case you lose your CAD

A general-purpose CAD is inserted into the suit itself, and the switch is hidden in this part.

Lina rushed out and left the storage of the specialized CAD that recorded the necessary magic in the assault boat.

Eliminating miscellaneous thoughts, such as things that almost fell over or forgotten objects, from my head, Lina concentrated her conscious and unconscious mind on constructing magic.

What is activated is the magic that turns air molecules into high-temperature plasma—.

"Muspelsheim!"

Lina orders the magic to be activated by herself.

A spark of air discharge splattered over a wider area than the large body of New Mexico.

With the exception of the buffer zone several tens of centimeters from Lina's body, the air molecules turn into plasma.

When the forcibly separated electrons return to their original atoms, they release thermal energy equal to the displaced potential energy. By the heat released and the

continuing magic, the electrons are separated again, and the same process repeats.

The magic that creates a space covered with high-temperature plasma like this is Muspelsheim.

The ice that covered New Mexico is melting little by little.

The molten ice becomes water vapor, and heat is transferred outside the Muspelsheim effect range.

The injured New Mexico, pushed by the ice, slowly returns to its original position.

Gradually, when the conditions for the termination of Muspelsheim—removing all the ice that came into contact with New Mexico—was about to be completed, Lina's ears rang out.

Suddenly, a human voice was heard.

It is not the voice through the communicator.

"...can you hear me, Lina?"

"This voice, Tatsuya!?"

Reflexively covering her mouth over her helmet, Lina was relieved that communication had been cut off.

"Yes."

Tatsuya's voice echoed strangely through the helmet.

The way he delivered his voice was the same principle as the magic of Sylvia Mercury First, who supported Lina in Japan.

Manipulates the air near Lina's ears with vibration magic. Because it is executed with the weak magic power of the artificial magic calculation area, the place where the voice is formed

It was not consistent and it felt strangely resonating inside the helmet, but there is no problem in hearing it.

On the other hand, the principle that Tatsuya understood Lina's words was because she recognized her voice as information through the elemental site.

This was not particularly difficult because Lina used Muspelsheim to specify where she was.

"Lina, do you know about the abandoned military satellite Seventh Plague?"

"What, all of a sudden. That's what it is."

Lina's response to Tatsuya's sudden question was as normal as an ordinary girl.

"It's falling to Earth."

But after hearing that answer, I couldn't be normal anymore.

"What!? Seventh Plague!?"

Astonished, Lina asked.

Tatsuya answered in a calm tone.

"Yeah. USNA forces must already be aware of the fall."

"Wait a minute!"

Lina hastily turned on the communication function.

"Ben, I want to ask you something. Seventh Plague... Yes, really!?"

Lina is shocked.

Tatsuya's voice suddenly cut off.

"Captain?"

Lina barely came to her senses at Canopus' questionable voice. At the same time, she

realized that Tatsuya wouldn't talk to her while the communications were still connected to New Mexico .

"Ben, I'm sorry! I'm going to cut off communication for a while."

"It looks like you've confirmed it."

As Lina had guessed, as soon as communication was cut off, Tatsuya spoke again.

Miyuki and Mikihiko simultaneously noticed a knife flying over the horizon.

"Dancing Blade" thrown by Mirfak.

This magic is often used as a throwing tool in close combat. However, Mirfak uses Dancing Blade to attack enemies outside of her line of sight.

It is used habitually as a means of long-distance attack.

His dagger contains explosives. It scatters knife fragments with an explosion to kill the enemy, that's how Mirfak's dancing Blade is used.

Neither Miyuki nor Mikihiko knew how dangerous the knife was. But neither took the threat lightly.

"Just leave it to me."

Mikihiko takes a step forward.

He spread out the CAD collected in the shape of a fan with his left hand, and held a single dankaku with the index and middle fingers of his right hand.

[Tanzaku [短冊: A small piece of paper used to write letters cut into rectangles]

A hybrid surgical aid of housewife and CAD.

The activation formula is output from the CAD body connected by a cord to the fan of the danaku, and the activation type is built on the danaku.

"Go, Umino Yamata!"

[Yamata [八岐: Abbreviation for Yamata no Orochi. A large eight-headed snake from Japanese mythology. Also called Orochi.]

Mikihiko put her index and middle fingers together and swung her outstretched right hand forward.

Eight columns of water 3 meters in diameter rose from the sea level he pointed to.

Eight pillars of water swung like a large snake and attacked the approaching knife.

A high-level variation of the old-fashioned magic "Mizuorochi""Umino Yamata".

Reproduce the movement of a snake by giving it the shape of a snake.

A dagger filled with explosives collides with a column of water and explodes.

Eight jaws swallowed both the explosion and the blade fragments.

A large snake is submerged in the sea.

Miyuki smiled, operating the CAD with her left hand, and extended her right hand toward the horizon.

A new ice floe spreads.

No one could see Mirfak, who escaped in a desperate form from an assault boat trapped in ice.

Lina was so absorbed in her conversation with Tatsuya that she did not realize neither the explosion of Dancing Blade nor the crisis of Mirfak.

"So, Tatsuya. What the hell are you doing? I'll tell you, it's not our fault that Seventh Plague falls."

Tatsuya laughed at Lina's words, but didn't even transmit that laughter with magic.

"It doesn't matter who's responsible now."

Yes, now was not the time to question the subject of responsibility.

"Lina, I have the means to completely harm the Seventh Plague."

The question is how to avoid the Seventh Plague fall and the catastrophe that it entails.

"It's absurd... No, even if you destroy that, you'll just be bombarding the ground with fertile uranium bombs. Even if you're lucky enough to get out of a densely populated area, you

won't be able to prevent environmental pollution."

Lina answered with a gloomy voice. Her flirtatious attitude was an escapism.

"Including that, it can be made harmless."

Desperate, Lina took a deep breath at Tatsuya's words.

But if everything can be harmed, why did Tatsuya dare to talk to Lina?

"But there's a little problem. I need your cooperation."

"uh?"

Lina with her eyes wide open and questioned. But I was immediately angry.

"Why me!?"

Lina, who reflexively struggled,

"The reason that detoxification is difficult is that your heavy metal burst makes optical observation difficult."

Tatsuya's ruthless point of view pierced through.

"……what should I do?"

With an expression of genuine resentment, Lina squeezes out her voice of injustice.

"Come to the fortification you destroyed. I'll explain in detail there."

Tatsuya's voice suddenly cut off there.

"Miyuki."

Tatsuya spoke to Miyuki, who defeated Mirfak.

"Brother!"

Miyuki responds with a voice that is unparalleled in joy to her brother's voice whispering in her ear. Her reaction was really in stark contrast to Lina.

"I want you to lend me your strength. I'll go there from now on. Lina is also going that way, so please don't attack me."

Miyuki was surprised at Tatsuya's words.

"Is Lina coming?"

Mikihiko couldn't hear Tatsuya's words. The word "may Lina and the 'Miki's Miyuki Hiko is' huh?' And later a beat

coughed a surprised voice.

"…you are borrowing not only us, but Lina's power as well."

Miyuki's voice had a slight, hoarse feeling.

But hiding it

"Okay. I'll be waiting for you, brother."

Miyuki greeted the invisible Tatsuya politely and said that he would get to know him well.

Chapter [19] Thank You

Tatsuya and Lina immediately appeared on the trail of the defensive positions.

Arrival was earlier on Tatsuya's side.

Lina, who appeared late, must have been startled by Tatsuya's strange attire

.

Tatsuya opened the face guard, and, ignoring Lina's attitude, briefly explained what was going on. He

hid the matter about the Meteorite Fall and

told the three of them that the decommissioned strategic military satellite, Seventh Plague, would fall within 24 hours and that the damage was predicted.

"Within 24 hours...!?"

The most surprising thing from Tatsuya's explanation was Lina, who must have been familiar with Seventh Plague. She said to

Tatsuya in the visor , 'Really... … ?'

"Actually, it will be a little faster."

"Your brother stopped it... No, it's neutralizing it."

Lina, who had a stiff expression on her face, didn't even care, and Miyuki asked Tatsuya with a look of trust.

"I think so. But for some unforeseen reason, I can't aim that satellite from the ground. That's why, Lina."

When Tatsuya looked at her, Lina turned her face like a child away.

"what."

Tatsuya continued the conversation without paying any attention to it.

"First of all, I want you to move me to an altitude of 140 kilometers. That too in less than 10 minutes."

The condition of less than 10 minutes

is the result of considering the time it takes

for the satellite to circle the Earth once and arrive at an aimable position over this island, and the time until it convinces Lina to

actually fly into space.

"It's 140 kilometers at an altitude, so it's already the same as Uza!"

Lina shouts in surprise. Her words make sense in some sense.

where is the universe One of those standards is called the Karman line. Its height is one hundred kilometers above sea level. By this standard, an

altitude of 140 kilometers is definitely space.

"Isn't it enough to go up to the stratosphere to avoid the effects of suspended matter?"

Tatsuya shook his head at Lina's suggestion, who took the questionable form.

"The magic I'm going to use from now on doesn't mean you can shoot multiple times. With my magic power, it's a one-shot match. So, I want to aim for it as clearly as possible."

What Tatsuya said wasn't a lie, but there were parts he didn't say.

At an altitude of about 140 km, the atmospheric plasma caused by the sudden formation is not so intense.

However, if the altitude is lower than that, there is a possibility that accurate aiming becomes difficult due to the emission of the plasma.

Besides, if the altitude has already gone down like that, there is nothing

we can do anymore, but we do not assume that case and somehow deal with the Seventh Plague before the aim is misguided with the plasma flame.

Tatsuya's request had such a meaning as 'Bae Su-jin'.

"Is that not possible?"

He provoked Lina, who was hesitant in consideration of Tatsuya, with a sarcastic tone.

"It's possible! I'll fully meet your requirements, including load reduction by inertia control!"

Lina gets angry and counters the order.

"…But no matter how much I try, I can't help you come back."

But then she added in a worried voice.

It might be disrespectful to Lina, who cares about her after all, but Tatsuya had no intention of relying on her that much.

"I want to ask Miyuki for that. Miyuki, I'm going to run out of magic power and fall. Can you accept it?"

Tatsuya looked at Miyuki.

"Leave it to me, brother. Even if I change everything for sure."

Miyuki looked into Tatsuya's eyes, and there was a fever close to madness.

"I will bring my brother here safely with my magic."

Miyuki's eyes didn't move at all.

It was her sincerity, not even the slightest bit, not even the slightest bit of a lie, that she would definitely do it even if she changed everything about her.

"Please, Miyuki."

"Yes!"

When Tatsuya and Miyuki exchanged glances like lovers, especially Miyuki, Lina shrugged with an expression of boredom.

Needless to say, neither Tatsuya nor Miyuki dealt with him.

"Tatsuya, what should I do?"

"Get out of the way. And... pray for success."

Tatsuya answered with a joking smile.

"Okay."

Mikihiko replied with a bitter smile.

"I will pray with all my heart, brother."

Immediately, Miyuki jumped on board.

And he looks at Lina meaningfully.

"Heh, huh! I can't help it, so I'll pray a little too!"

Lina rolled her eyes, ignoring Miyuki and Tatsuya, and spoke in a shrill tone.

Lina's eyes were slightly red.

The center of the fortification vestiges that have melted and have been slightly dug and now covered with thin ice.

"Are you ready?"

Lina, who has changed the storage cartridge for a rifle-type CAD, asks Tatsuya.

Tatsuya answered, firmly fixing the CAD with the storage of the Beta Trident to the waist holster.

"Anytime is fine."

"OK."

At Tatsuya's words, Lina pointed at the CAD.

"I'll start."

Lina pulled the CAD trigger.

While Miyuki and Mikihiko looked at each other with tense expressions, the construction of magic to send Tatsuya into space began.

"five."

A vertical cylinder of light appeared around Tatsuya.

No, this is a barrel rather than a pillar.

"four."

Acceleration, neutralization of inertia, minimal air resistance.

Several layers of overlapping magic form dozens of layers and manifest as gun barrels.

"three."

Gravity block works, and Tatsuya's body floats.

"two."

Tatsuya takes a stance in preparation for the impact of the launch.

"one."

The covert combat suit cloak hardened into a gentle curve, wrapped around Tatsuya's body, and changed into a streamlined flight form.

"Go!"

Lina's magic was activated.

While Miyuki stared intently, Tatsuya went on a journey into space.

Engulfed by a moving magical barrel, Tatsuya gradually accelerated upwards.

140 kilometers in 10 minutes. 14 kilometers per minute, or 14,000 meters per minute.

233 meters with average acceleration. The top speed exceeded the speed of sound near the surface, but in the high sky where the air is thin, comparing it to the speed of sound under 1 atmosphere

would be meaningless.

Through the clouds, from night to darkness.

into the dark universe.

Just 10 minutes later, Lina's magic stopped at 140 kilometers above the ground.

The magic barrel disappeared and Tatsuya went out into space.

The flight mode of the covert combat suit is canceled, and the cloak is released. He pulled the CAD out of his holster and held it out of his cloak.

Tatsuya rose relatively vertically when Minamitateshima was taken as a reference.

Detailed calculations will be omitted, but

Tatsuya's speed is much lower than the first cosmic speed required for the artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.

(A rough estimate is about 5 percent of the required speed).

There was little need to wait.

Seventh Plague appeared far west rather than towards the North Pole. The orbit of Seventh Plague, which is supposed to be a polar orbit, is greatly tilted.

'At the time of observation, the magic had not yet ended!'

I now understand why Tatsuya couldn't find Seventh Plague with the orbit data obtained from the Southern Islands factory.

Even after observation, the trajectory of Seventh Plague was bent under the influence of magic.

'It's like Minamitateshima is pulling you in.'

Tatsuya didn't know, but the currently unfinished Meteorite Fall has the property of attracting meteor-like objects when the caster activates the magic.

Considering the purpose of the experiment, this magic that failed was also successful if you think of it as the activation of an 'unfinished Meteorite Fall'.

The altitude of Seventh Plague drops sharply.

Tatsuya is still in the air much higher than where he is floating, but from his point of view

In the dark space, it seemed as if a warship was falling towards him.

The orbit was greatly tilted, and it probably fell toward Minamitateshima at the point of orbiting the Earth one more time. before that happens

There is a high possibility of an explosion in the sky over Japan.

'No way!'

Tatsuya stopped flying magic.

Pulled by gravity, it falls again.

No fear of falling. He put his magical powers, rituals and minds all at the heart of destroying Seventh Plague.

Holding the CAD again with both hands, he raises it towards the giant military satellite.

Pull the CAD trigger with the index finger of your right hand.

Start-up output started.

The start-up output and read, which would normally be instantaneous, consume 5 seconds and are barely finished.

'Beta Trident, Mobile Road.'

A structure comparable to a destroyer falls.

Now, if you looked at Tatsuya with the naked eye, you could clearly see that the huge body was falling little by little.

'Atomic decomposition, construction- complete.'

Tatsuya suppressed his impatience and poured more of his mind into building the magic formula.

'Hadron decomposition, construction- complete.'

Anguish appears on Tatsuya's face.

'Beta decay type, construction- complete.'

In the end, the launcher of the ground attack missile, Hell of Fire, was separated from Seventh Plague.

But seeing this, Tatsuya did not fret. He concentrated his mind on magic so much that he couldn't even afford to feel nervous.

on the target to activate the magic.

Put Seventh Plague's information in sight.

From the large panel to the single screw, it captures all the information.

"Beta Trident, activated."

The words came out in a voice without being aware of it.

Seventh Plague, Hell of Fire, and all the other parts that fell apart, swallowed everything that made up the military satellite and createdand was triggered by a huge magic formula.

The Seventh Plague and Hell of Fire's form disappeared in an instant.

All components of the strategic military satellite, both metal and resin, were broken down into molecules.

Atomic nuclei are decomposed into hadrons, and clouds with dense hadrons and leptons appear.

In a neutron, an atom and an anti-neutron are separated and turned into a proton.

spread has begun.

Explosive electrons and protons spread.

First, an electron with a light mass pushed Tatsuya.

Sparks splashing from the surface of the chute.

Watching the success, Tatsuya let go of consciousness.

Northern lights appeared over Minamitateshima.

By the electrons and protons produced by the beta trident, the high air became ions and the aurora was created.

Neither Miyuki nor Lina received an explanation for the Beta Trident.

Tatsuya didn't tell me what he was going to do.

However, they intuitively realized that the aurora that embroidered the night sky was proof that Tatsuya had succeeded.

"Looks like you've succeeded."

Lina pretended to be cool and muttered.

Mikihiko nodded at her words.

"It's amazing... Brother."

Miyuki looked up at the aurora and spread her hands toward the sky with an ecstatic smile.

Erika, Leo, Katsuto, and the Watatsumi series and Morinaga, who arrived at the private port, also looked up at the aurora.

The girls frankly rejoiced at the magnificent and beautiful sight they had never seen before.

The grown-ups stopped at the absurd sight.

And the Magician, a little older than the girl, looked at Aurora with surprise.

A very gigantic sign of magic that was transmitted from beyond the aurora to the ground.

It was so much that even Katsuto couldn't hide his trembling.

The strong presence of magic was also transmitted to the Canopus on board the New Mexico ship.

A tentative analysis of this strange aurora was displayed on the command room monitor.

"A lot of neutrons are beta decaying? Maybe Seventh Plague...?"

While the silence forced by astonishment reigned, Canopus' dazed voice filled the command room.

Tatsuya felt a wave of magic surrounding him gently and regained consciousness.

I realized that this was Miyuki's legacy.

It was only for a brief moment that I lost consciousness.

But it still fell a considerable distance.

It's still going down at a pretty high rate.

it's not falling

Miyuki is supporting herself. Tatsuya noticed that.

The suit's function was restored.

Unfortunately, magnetic flight is still unreasonable, but other than functions related to magic, for example, sensors are operating normally.

Even though the atmospheric concentration has already become quite thick, the helmet's external microphone has not been able to pick up the sound of breaking the wind at all.

Miyuki's magic wraps around Tatsuya like a soft cocoon.

Minamitateshima can be seen.

The island that floated into the sea grew bigger and bigger while Tatsuya watched, and he was able to visually see the traces of the defensive positions and Miyuki standing there.

Falling speed is slowed down.

Tatsuya's body rotates and his feet face the ground. He took a landing position.

Tatsuya returned to the ground in a posture of being hugged by Miyuki with her arms wide open.

"Brother!"

Miyuki clings to Tatsuya.

She looked up at Tatsuya with eyes full of tears.

"Welcome, bro... well done."

Tatsuya gently stroked Miyuki's hair in response to her words.

"Yeah. It's not a mission... but it's complete."

Miyuki hugged Tatsuya tightly.

Tatsuya gently wrapped his arms around Miyuki's back.

Chapter [20] Thank you

Shia and the others left Minamitateshima on a cruiser that Erika and Leo had taken. The steering was taken by Morinaga's colleague Ezaki.

Tatsuya, Miyuki, and Mikihiko left the island with a tiltrotor that landed on the trail of the defensive position. I don't know if it's boiling lava, but if it's frozen

Date looks good too.

The plane landed on Chichijima, not Mukodojima, and took the cruiser team to Yokohama. By the way, Tatsuya is a cruiser with no people.

After returning, changing clothes, and collecting plain clothes, he boarded the tiltrotor just before takeoff with an expression that nothing had happened.

Katsuto also returned to the headquarters building with a shivering expression on his face,

and returned to Tokyo without ostensibly after receiving harsh questions from the commander .

And on March 31st, the sun was just about to rise.

A small tiltrotor approached the rooftop of the Yokohama Bay Hills Tower, where the Eastern Branch of the Magic Association was located.

Honoka and Shizuku, Mizuki, and Kokoa looked up at that figure.

The tiltrotor has landed on the heliport.

With Morinaga's guidance, the girls from the Watatsumi series get off.

Shia is at the forefront of them.

Kokoa runs to Shia.

Kokoa was crying as she hugged her, and Shia was crying and hugged her tightly.

The temporary family meeting was held after lunch the next day.

This time, it was a TV conference and the only one who came to the Kanto branch of the Magic Association was Katsuto.

After Katsuto first reported on the full story of the incident, the agenda shifted to the treatment of the Watatsumi series.

Including the researcher who took care of them, they are first recruited by the Kitayama family. However, it

was judged that it was inappropriate to continue to maintain that state in the future .

"—Initially, Researcher Morinaga asked for help from our family. I think we want to take responsibility for Saegusa until the end."

It was Yotsuba Maya who implicitly objected to Saegusa Koichi's remarks.

"Saegusa-don's responsibility is great, but isn't the National Defense Force's surveillance around Tokyo strict?"

"It's okay. We also have enough power to avoid unwarranted interference by the National Defense Forces."

"I know that well, but I think it's better to avoid avoidable friction."

"then."

It was Ichijou Gouki who intervened in the midst of a fight between the two of them using horses as weapons.

"You mean Yotsuba-dono wants to take over the Watatsumi series?"

"Yes. My family has a lot of know-how in psychosomatic therapy.

When it comes to taking care of girls, I think our Yotsuba is the

right person. ""That's right. I don't think even our Yatsushiro can do it when it comes to coordination-related know-how, but in the mental body field, we're not as good as Yotsuba."

It was Raizo Yatsushiro who indirectly supported Maya.

"If it's a psychological treatment, isn't Kudo a specialty?"

"Yes. But this time, I want to leave it to Yotsuba-kun."

Kudou Makoto rejected Itsuwa Isami's recommendation. This is not because of lack of confidence or ambition, but because of an incident.

It was because there is not enough room for the current Kudo family, but the direction of the meeting was decided by Kudo Makoto's remarks.

Three limousines are parked in front of the front door of the Kitayama family.

The Watatsumi series girls come out from inside the mansion.

They boarded the limousine one after another.

Shia and Kokoa were left at the end.

Kokoa is crying while being hugged by Erika and Honoka.

Shia gives Leo an annoyed expression as he strokes Leo's hair until it gets messy.

Shia, who got out of Leo's hand, spoke to Kokoa, and the two went to the door of the limousine.

Kokoa and Shia turn around.

They saw Tatsuya and Miyuki behind the people who see them off.

Shia smiles with a slightly lively feeling.

Kokoa's lips move faintly.

Her voice did not reach Tatsuya's ears.

But Tatsuya understood what Kokoa was saying.

"thank you."

Kokoa certainly said so and smiled at Tatsuya.

[END]