Chapter 160

◊ ◊ ◊

In the end, Tatsuya's group investigation of Mt. Arashi ended with being questioned by the police.

Their wounds must have been too severe. The detective who handled them didn't seem to complicit things even under the name of Saegusa and Ichijou.

Moreover, the detective in charge seemed to be a little antagonistic towards the 10MC, he even purposely looked for their mistakes.

Detectives in charge of magic crimes were mostly magicians, but not all were Modern Magicians. In the eastern area, where Modern Magic influence was strong, the police force was also dominated by modern magicians. However, in an area like Kyoto, where there were a lot of Ancient Magicians, they also made up a considerable number of the force, sometimes even more than the modern police officers.

The detective that questioned them was an ancient magician from the Yin-Yang System. Although he was not related to the Buddhist sect, his strong antipathy towards the 10MC, without a doubt, was affecting the investigation. He kept insisting that they were excessive in their defence, it was quite a mentally exhaustive process. However, Mayumi and Masaki seemed to be able to handle this much, lest they would reach their boiling point and turned everything into a disaster.

Tatsuya had his hands full in suppressing Miyuki's outburst against the detective who doubted them and even told them that they used excessive force in their own defence.

When they were finally released from the police station, Tatsuya had a significantly lowered tension and returned to the hotel. Fujibayashi was waiting in the room. ——Masaki was going to the station with his bike to travel back to Kanazawa, he rode a long-distance train where he could mount his bike. Mayumi stayed back at the hotel, as she had already booked a room.

"Tatsuya-kun and Miyuki-san, both of you look somewhat tired."

After a light greeting, the first sentence that came out of Fujibayashi's mouth was this.

"We were detained by the police."

"The police? What on earth did you do?"

"We'll talk about that later. More importantly, how is Minoru's condition?"

Tatsuya asked so while sitting in front of Fujibayashi. Miyuki also sat beside her brother.

Minoru had slept. Judging from his sleeping face, seemed like he had calmed down.

"He slept after the medicine worked. He was suffering quite a bit until not long ago."

Fujibayashi answered with a clouded face. From her facial expression, it could be seen that it was not 'a little misfit of health'.

"...Hey, Tatsuya-kun. Can I ask you a favour?"

"What is it?"

Tatsuya returned the question to Fujibayashi.

She averted her eyes subtly, hesitating to answer the question.

Fujibayashi told the content of her 'favour', after the long hand of the clock had rotated a single round.

"It's about Minoru-kun's body."

Tatsuya listened to Fujibayashi in silence.

"This child, had undergone all sorts of medical check-ups and was declared healthy. Even from his nervous system to his immune system, there are any anomalies. Yet, why is he so susceptible to disease, even the doctors couldn't figure out the reason."

"Second Lieutenant, I don't have any medical knowledge, you know?"

"If that were my goal I would go see a hermit monk instead."

"Naturally. Then, what is it?"

"I… not only me, but all the researchers from the Fujibayashi Family have the same opinion of the source of Minoru's weak constitution, I suspect that the reason lies in the Psion-body."

The Psion body, was one of the various names for Eidos, which records physical information, it was a flesh-like existence. In theory, it should be called an ethereal body, however that conclusion has yet to be concluded.

The Psion body is backed by the body itself. Humans are trained to control their body movements regardless of Psion's through the nerve pulses which conduct the movement of the body. Furthermore, by controlling the information of the parts that were linked with the internal organs, it was possible to fix the visceral function, or even to strengthen them.

For magicians like Tatsuya, the idea of upsetting the Psion body that modulates the body was simply an impossibility.

"What would you like me to do?"

The Psion body can affect the body. It was a popular idea in the magic community. In fact, many researchers did some studies on this subject. The Fujibayashi Family's researchers would be one of them. Tatsuya had never thought that he would be asked to investigate the matter himself.

"I want you to take a look at Minoru-kun's Psion body with your Elemental Sight."

Tatsuya was flooded with unexpected feelings. Not only Tatsuya, but also Miyuki who had been sitting beside him in silence.

"As far as I know, Tatsuya-kun, you can analyse the Psion information body. However, it is entirely up to you to do it. I'm not asking you to cure Minoru-kun's constitution. I just want to know of the cause."

That was right on the spot. It was not unnatural for her to think so, as she knew of Tatsuya's power. However…

"Lieutenant Fujibayashi. Do you fully understand what it means to 'show' me that much information?"

Tatsuya's eyes read the information, 'what were you made from'.

From what materials, how did you come into existance.

What was the fundamental cause, which could result in such a condition.

His 'eye' can read the structural information, and analyse the cause and effect. The target of his 'eye' was the 'roots' of a human being called Kudou Minoru.

"Please. I will take full responsibility."

"I understand."

No one could take that kind of responsibility. Tatsuya knew this, and nodded.

Fujibayashi herself should have known about that. She promised to take the responsibility of something she couldn't bear. Tatsuya didn't understand why she would go that far. However, if it was only to see the current state of Minoru, there was no demerit for him. He had also been troubling Fujibayashi with a lot of things, so he planned to go along with her request at least that much.

He directed his 'eyes' to the sleeping Minoru. Since he was sleeping from the medicines effect, he shouldn't be able to resist the 'sight' which was directed at him. As Tatsuya thought, access to the Psion body of Minoru proceeded smoothly.

"Onii-sama."

Not even a single second had passed, when he was pulled back to reality by Miyuki's voice. Tatsuya was covered with sweat.

"I'm ok, don't worry."

After he said so, a smile bloomed on his sister's face.

Miyuki immediately showed a relieved expression, and headed to the bathroom with brisk steps.

She came back with a wet towel in her hand.

"I'll do it myself."

"No, Onii-sama. Please let me do it for you."

Without further argument, Tatsuya allowed Miyuki to wipe the sweat from his face.

"Tatsuya-kun… How was it?"

Fujibayashi asked him, after he finished wiping the sweat on his face.

Tatsuya figured out in that instance what the Fujibayashi, no, the Kudou Family had made a great deal of to create. He was able to see the roots of Minoru, and had gotten to know the secret of his birth.

However, even with an entire explanation, Tatsuya would only answer of what she asked.

"As you've said. I believe Minoru is healthy, his fragility is due to the abundance of his magic power. His body cannot tolerate the strong Psion pressure within him."

"In other words, his magic is simply too strong is that what's affecting his body?"

"The Psion body is the container of Psion's within the human body. The pressure concept is similar to the concept of gas pressure, where the amount of Psion's and the usage capacity are determined. In Minoru's case, his Psion's move about too violently even for a magician to handle."

"The pressure of the Psion's… Is damaging the Psion body?"

"Although it's a little hard to imagine, the Psion body consists of thin pipes with countless branches and turns, in the same shape as the human body. The pressure within these pipes is too overwhelming that it breaks parts of the pipes, which in turn give a feedback that damages the body."

Fujibayashi was about to scream. However, Tatsuya continued his words.

"I don't know if I should say that this is a fortunate one, the pipe of his Psion body was torn due to the Psion pressure. His Psion's have been very active and it actually is actively repairing the tear. The tear and the repair of the Psion body happens in a short cycle. I think that is the main cause of Minoru's weak constitution."

"It would not remain broken, right…?"

"I think, he has more power to repair those than the average magicians."

Fujibayashi showed an expression of relief on her face. However, her beauty was to be soon clouded in sorrow.

"But, I wonder what can we do?"

"The most direct way is to limit Psion activity, but it also means that will cause shackles to be put upon him as a magician. His family wouldn't want him to lower his magic capabilities. Then, the only choice is to strengthen his Psion body."

"How?"

"I don't know that much."

Fujibayashi hid her facial expression with a bow. She might not want to show the conflict that happened on the surface. If you think about Minoru first, to limit his magic power is the first solution. However, magic is Minoru's foothold, him being a good magician is a part of his identity.

Tatsuya did not think that Minoru would be happy to live in a healthy body at the price of his magic. Yet, it must have been hard for his family more than himself, to see him spending a quarter of his time in a hospital bed.

"…Thank you. It should be sufficient enough information. I'll try to consult with the experts later."

Fujibayashi said so with a bow.

Minoru woke up approximately 30 minutes later. By that time, Fujibayashi had regained full reign of her emotions. She worked hard in order not to show Minoru her horrible face.

"Minoru-kun, how do you feel?"

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

Minoru deeply bowed in response of his question. No, he was about to do so.

Before Tatsuya interrupted with his hand, and straightened Minoru to see his eyes.

"There is no need to lower your head. Even if you didn't neglect your health, your body has a weak constitution, right? It's not your fault. You can't take responsibility and lower your head for something you have no control over."

Tatsuya's voice was strong. But more soothing than comforting, with a chiding tone. He was scolding Minoru with 'you've felt too much guilt', and encouraged Minoru after.

"Sorry, no, thank you."

Minoru agreed with Tatsuya.

Tatsuya did not say anything this time.

"Then, Tatsuya-kun."

Fujibayashi asked him, 'can we hear about your case in the police that we dismissed earlier', before re-enacting 'welcome back~ Tatsuya-kun, Miyuki. Huh? Lieutenant Fujibayashi-san?"

"Lieutenant Fujibayashi? Ah, Tatsuya reached here first."

"We're back, Tatsuya. Well, Lieutenant Fujibayashi-san, long time no see."

Mikihiko's group who went to the Thesis Competition venue had come back. They were uniformly surprised that Fujibayashi had shown up.

"Today, I'm not here for a military mission. You can stop calling me lieutenant and call me Fujibayashi."

Fujibayashi smiled to see their surprise with an 'adult smile'. Erika was of the same sex, and Leo didn't really care about it. The only one person left, reacted like a normal youth. It might be very fortunate that Mizuki was not around.

Erika was sitting on the opposite side of the futon where Minoru slept. As compared to Miyuki who sat elegantly, Erika's siting pose was straight and neat, they had different flavours, but their figures were similar.

"Minoru-kun, how are you doing?"

"I-I'm alright now. Sorry to make you worry."

Erika was certainly a beauty, however, Minoru's face was objectively better. Yet everyone would be agitated at those friendly smiles that were cuter than his appropriate age. One thing, Erika spoke in a friendly manner, he had no experience with an overly-familiar girl in his surroundings.

"I see."

Seems like Erika also noticed the TPO, she did not make a joke out of Minoru's reaction.

Tatsuya repositioned himself to the center of the room. Miyuki followed her brother. Fujibayashi moved beside Minoru, Minami moved to Miyuki's side instead. Erika sat in front of Tatsuya, while Leo and Mikihiko sat down. Hence, everyone was seated in a circle.

"Let's exchange information from today's results."

"I'll start first."

Mikihiko agreed to start first.

"Even so, there is almost nothing to say. We didn't find any locations likely to be a hideout at all. There wasn't any feedback from the Shikigami either. Moreover, there are many police officers making rounds since yesterday. With that, even there is a threat of foreign spies, I doubt it will grow as big as last year."

"Thanks for touting your body, the safety of the Thesis Competition is assured."

"Touting my body, well, you can put it that way too."

Mikihiko's face did not falter, but Erika was pitching at Leo with their regular gig, 'that's your role', 'what did you say!', so nobody cared about them and left them alone.

"In other words, we have succeeded in searching for the foreign spies that targeted the Thesis Competition, since there were none."

"Yesterday's capture was enough of an achievement right. The police seemed to enter their hideout, we can leave the rest to the authorities. Originally, the investigation work is also a part of police work."

"Onii-sama, you don't have to say that so blatantly32."

At Miyuki's rebuttal, Tatsuya continued his report.

"We were attacked at the foot of Mt. Ogura."

"The foot of Mt. Ogura, isn't that in the Arashiyama district at Kameyama Park?"

Tatsuya nodded as an affirmation to Minoru, before continuing with his explanation.

"There were 13 assailants. 12 from the Buddhist sect, and one exiled Houjutsu user who was controlling them. All of them are in police custody."

"It's an obvious result with Tatsuya-kun, Miyuki and the heir of the Ichijou Family in the battle. They wouldn't win even with 10 times the numbers."

"They weren't that easy."

Tatsuya smiled wryly and suddenly remembered the earlier question.

32Miyuki was saying 'mi mo futa mo arimasen' which literaly: no body and no cover, meaning: too blatant

"Mikihiko, the attackers wielded a double-edge sword with snakes, or dragon fire wrapped around it. Do you know what kind of magic it was?"

Although he threw in a sudden question, Mikihiko reacted immediately. Still he only answered 10 seconds later.

"…That should be the 'Kurikara-ken'."

"The sword from Acala's33 possession?"

"Yes, it is a magic that borrows its power from the sword of Acala. The symbol of power that can annihilate 'magic'. When it faces Modern Magic, the sword will activate the Eidos and become a kind of counter-magic to destroy the overwritten Magic Sequence."

"Hee… To have such magic, Ancient Magic is quite powerful too, huh."

Mikihiko frowned at Erika, which was in response with 'Poro'. He felt her words were looking down on Ancient Magic. However, Erika wasn't insensitive enough not to realize that she was rude, even if she wanted to rephrase her words, it was too late.

"I'm amazed that they have magicians that can operate such a high level magic. Kurikara-ken is very difficult to maintain in nature, since the magicians themselves would be disabled in order to maintain the magic."

"What will happen if you force others to use it?"

"That's kind of impossible. The origin of magic activation is in the hands of the magician, it consist of a Kurikara-ken spell that can't be touched by others. The blade will automatically disable any magic that comes into contact with the flame, so there is a need to hold it with a little gap in the magician's hand. There isn't a magician capable of doing such a thing… Though, it's another story altogether if he forced others to wield it."

"After forcing them to use it, what would happen to the person?"

"Their hands would burn."

"Eehh!?"

Erika shouted out loud. Miyuki knitted her eyebrows down uncomfortably.

"Despite being formed with a magic, Kurikara-ken's flame is real. Given that fact, it's only natural if your hands burn after you wield it right? There was even a rumour that the sword was purposely thrown at the enemy to use, in order to burn their hands, however, that was not the Sword of Wisdom that was the Sword of Evil."

Tatsuya and Miyuki stared at each other secretly. They decided not to tell them the full story with that eye contact.

33Fudoumyouou: Acala

"I see, that was quite masterful."

"You're really something, Tatsuya, to be able to beat that kind of opponent unscathed."

"Thanks to Miyuki and Ichijou. Then, about what we'll do next."

"Eh? Aren't we going to check out the hotel today and return to Tokyo?"

As Erika said, they originally planned to check out in the evening and go back to Tokyo.

"Yes, you guys can go back to Tokyo first. I'm staying for another night. Tomorrow, I'm going to the police station in order to listen to the testimony of the captured assailants."

"I'm same with Onii-sama."

"Miyuki."

Tatsuya interrupted Miyuki's words in the middle.

"You're the student council president. It's not good for you to take a leave of absence for two days in a row."

Tatsuya was far more important to Miyuki than school, however, since she was ordered with a firm tone, she did not rebel.

"I understand."

"Then, I'll stay here! You always need an intermediary with the police."

"Erika, don't look for an excuse to skip the school."

"Skip school!? How could you!"

Tatsuya turned away from Erika to Mikihiko.

"Regardless to say, it's best for the Public Morals Committee Chief not to skip two days in a row either."

"If it's ok with Tatsuya."

"I must investigate something else a little bit more."

Mikihiko and Leo knew Tatsuya's 'stance'. Erika had figured out the details. Once he said this, they could only back down.

Miyuki and the others went to the station and Tatsuya returned to the hotel. It took quite some time to put Miyuki on the train, but somehow he managed to get her on a train to Tokyo. He was prepared to cancel his plan when he saw her with tearful eyes while saying 'Onii-sama, please take care' in his right hand's embrace, it seemed like he was thinking too much.

Minoru was supposed to go back home with Fujibayashi since his condition was stable. Minoru himself seemed to want to help with the investigation tomorrow, however he had his own share of absences. He agreed to return home after Fujibayashi, whom he regards as an older sister, had rebuked him strongly.

Fortunately, the hotel still had other empty rooms. Tatsuya moved to a single western-style room from a Japanese-style room, since it was too big for a single occupant. Soon after, Tatsuya met Mayumi at lounge.

"Tatsuya-kun, is it ok for you to skip school? Though I'm not qualified to say such a thing either."

"No, I have decided myself to first investigate further."

"Is that connected to… that work?"

There were other people in the lounge. She couldn't afford to expand the sound barrier field in a place such as this. Mayumi rephrased her words due to this circumstance.

"Yes, so you need not be worried, Senpai."

"Honestly, I appreciate that. I already feel that I've troubled you so much today."

Tatsuya changed the subject after shaking his head.

"Anyway, about tomorrow, Senpai, can you wait for me here again?"

"Here… do you mean at the hotel!?"

When Tatsuya nodded, Mayumi visibly repaired her mood.

"Was I really a hindrance? Well, I may not have been really useful today."

"No such thing."

Tatsuya shook his head and laughed.

"I have high regards for Senpai's ability."

Tatsuya said so while looking straight at Mayumi's eyes.

Mayumi diverted her eyes while blushing.

"Then when did you ask me to stay behind?"

"It's not because of the danger."

Mayumi probably thought that he would answer 'because it's dangerous'. She looked back at Tatsuya with an 'Eh?' expression.

"The situation was not so obvious today, but tomorrow will be a little rougher. I do not want to show such things to a girl. Especially a lady like Senpai."

Mayumi diverted her eyes from Tatsuya yet again.

"It's alright. Despite my looks, I'm used to this kind of thing."

Certainly, she even won over the 'man-eating tiger' in the battle field of Yokohama. She might be able to take the roughness, but the conversation had gone in an awkward direction.

"Even so, I don't want to let you see such things."

Tatsuya pressed again, unwilling to give up. Mayumi still looked away, and began to put her hands together and massaged her hands with her fingers.

"If that's the case, then I can't do anything."

By the time she said those words, she had completely turned away, Mayumi's body was trembling lightly even without her noticing it.

"…That was close."

Mayumi returned her gaze to Tatsuya. Her eyes were narrowed with hints of suspicion. "I was about to get caught in your hand."

Tatsuya opened his hands, and shook his head lamely at Mayumi who was glaring at him. "I was not deceiving you. I truly don't want a lady to see such a scene."

"Onee-san will not be fooled."

Mayumi still glared at Tatsuya. Tatsuya chose not to care about it.

He had no memory that he was ever trying to trick Mayumi, yet, apparently Mayumi had a strange belief.

It was unmistakably his true feelings, when he said that he didn't want to show a lady such a scene.

However, he couldn't afford to be glared at forever.

"…Very well. In exchange, please don't faint at anything you see, ok?" Tatsuya succumbed and Mayumi laughed happily for some reason. "I'm fine. Despite how I look, I'm still an adult."

Unreliable, Tatsuya thought so, but of course he wouldn't purposely say such thing from his mouth.

"Ah, thank goodness. You arrived safely."

"Miyuki was quite anxious since Onii-sama was not around."

"It's ok, I'm always looking after you. My 'eye' has never left you."

"That's right. I'm sorry."

"It's not something to apologize over. I'm the one who was supposed to say so because of this sudden change, I'll be surely back by tomorrow, so please be sure to lock the door and rest tonight."

"Dear, Onii-sama, I'm too old to be treated like a child."

"No matter how old you are, you will still be my sister."

"…I think that's what a father says to his daughter though."

"You don't want our father to say that to you right?"

"That's right. Then, I'll do as Onii-sama said, I will lock up carefully and rest well tonight. Onii- sama, good night."

"It's a little early, but, good night, Miyuki."

Soon after he finished calling Miyuki, the room door where Tatsuya was staying was knocked on. He went to the front door, and turned on the installed monitor. Mayumi was reflected in the screen."

"What happened? At this hour…"

Tatsuya opened the door, and Mayumi asked so. Even though it was still 8 P.M., it wasn't the time for a young women to be visiting a man who wasn't her lover.

At the very least, that was what Tatsuya thought, though apparently Mayumi had a different stance.

"Tatsuya-kun, you haven't had your meal right? Why don't we eat together?"

Certainly, Tatsuya had not had his meal, but he could easily do so in a public dining room. Although he had no intention to dine at the luxurious restaurant within the hotel.

"At the restaurant?"

"Yes, I reserved seats at the front desk just now, since he told me there were free seats. It's French cuisine."

Apparently, she had decided that he would escort her.

He had to be careful not to show a sullen expression.

"I understand. Could you wait at the lobby while I change?"

"It's fine as it is."

"I won't go if you insist on that."

Although Mayumi's dress was not so formal as a cocktail dress, the A-line black one piece with lace on top could be seen as glamorous attire. Moreover, she wore appropriate shoes and accessories to complement the dress, it was not an appearance you could afford to be wearing for daily activities.

Tatsuya closed the door with a strained smile.

"Wah! Tatsuya-kun, it suits you well."

"Not as much as you."

Tatsuya's words were based on the fact rather than humility. What he was wearing was a suit and tie that was prepared for emergency cases, to meet the minimum standard of the dress code.

"Then, let's sit down."

This restaurant had not been as formal as what Tatsuya expected. There was no waiter, only a waitress who guided them.

"Here you go."

Tatsuya pulled a chair out for Mayumi.

"Oh dear, thank you."

Mayumi sat in the chair and smiled over her shoulder.

Tatsuya sat on the opposite side, Mayumi opened her menu book to choose her course. It was a rare type, having been printed on paper.

"Tatsuya-kun, what will you have?"

"Let's see. I will go with this course."

"I see~. I think the À la carte is also good, but since this is my first time, it's safer to go by this course."

After their exchanges, the both of them ordered the same course for two.

There were no noteworthy events during the meal.

Since they weren't sure if they were being spied on. They couldn't talk about the incident.

When suddenly Mayumi complained 'it's inconvenient not to be able to use the sound barrier field', Tatsuya focused his eyes.

He found out that within the past two days. The people of Kyoto were unfriendly to magicians. Since the Magic Association HQ was placed here, Tatsuya thought, the locals would at least be neutral, however it was the exact opposite.

——Did something happen between the Association and the locals.

He ended up thinking about such thing. That was the reason he hid his CAD in his sleeve slightly above his wrist. Tatsuya thought that he should avoid acting like a magician here.

However Mayumi did not wear her CAD. He could only wonder about the reason, whether to avoid the hostility of the people in the surroundings, or simply because it didn't fit in with the style she wore today.

The eventful night started while he was enjoying a dessert with coffee. Mayumi saw this and asked him to accompany her to the bar.

"I don't need to say this after all this time, but I'm still a high school student."

"Well, nobody here thinks that you're a high school student. Since you aren't wearing your uniform, you don't look like one."

Mayumi's remark was without harmful intention. Nevertheless, Tatsuya received a slight shock.

Perhaps, due to that shock, Tatsuya was successfully forced to the front of the bar.

Once they got in, Mayumi closed the distance between her mouth and Tatsuya's ear.

"'Senpai' is prohibited here, so can you call me Mayumi?"

"…Why?"

Tatsuya replied a single tempo later. Even if he didn't show it, he was quite disturbed by Mayumi's pace.

"If you call me Senpai, they'd know that we're Senpai-kouhai from school right? I'll call you 'Tatsuya-san' too" He wondered if Mayumi wanted to do role-playing.

"It would be troublesome if they think you're a student."

With that reason, Mayumi pulled Tatsuya by the arm to the bar. It was a small size, counter-only shop.

There were only a pair of customer in the back who were a couple.

The bartender only glanced at the two who just came in, and continued to steer (lightly stir the cocktail that he was making).

Mayumi sat at the other side of the counter, followed by Tatsuya next to her.

"Master, can I get an Alexander. Tatsuya-san, what do you want?"

"One Summer Delight"

The well-toned bartender fixed his eyes at Tatsuya. He nodded soon after without saying anything, and took out a large cup in his hand.

After some observation, not only was his skin well-toned, his body was well-built and firm. Even though his behaviour was crisp, he made an impression that he had received some specialized combat training in the past. What did he do in the past... Tatsuya couldn't help but wonder.

"Why did you order a non-alcoholic beverage?"

Yet, Mayumi was intrigued by Tatsuya's order. The content of Summer Delight was lime juice syrup and carbonated water. It was indeed a non-alcoholic cocktail as she had said.

"Please forgive me, Mayumi Ojou-sama"

"Huh?"

"I must not dampen my response in the case of an emergency as your escort."

"Huh? Huh?"

Mayumi probably looking forward to enjoying being a pretend lover. However, as expected, it was contrary to Tatsuya's principles.

The bartender waved the shaker tenderly and poured out a brown- chestnut colored liquid into a transparent glass, before serving the beverage to Mayumi.

He spoke to Tatsuya instead of Mayumi.

"Customer, are you a bodyguard? You are young, yet you look considerably strong."

"I'm only an apprentice."

"You are very humble."

The bartender took out a new shaker, he poured in lime juice and red Grenadine syrup. After fully pouring the mixture into the glass, he added a small amount of sugar syrup.

With a nimble movement. He poured in the carbonated water into the glass and served the beverage to Tatsuya.

"Customer, with all due respect."

The bartender said so before asking Tatsuya.

The couple sitting at the other end of the counter were in their own world, and weren't listening to their conversation.

"Customers, are you not magicians?"

Tatsuya didn't show a surprised face.

"If you can figure that out, Master, you too are a magician right?"

The couple left their seat. The bartender sent the two a polite bow.

When the bartender was washing the dishes, he continued the conversation.

"It's an old story. I lost my power as magician due to an accident during training."

"I see. Pardon my rudeness."

The bartender shook his head in response to Tatsuya's apology.

"As I've said, it's an old story. Furthermore, I'm the one who started this conversation."

In that instance, Mayumi spoke with a stuffy voice.

"Master, give me a second one."

"Ojou-sama, would you slow down your pace a little..."

"I'm fine. Tatsuya-san who doesn't want to drink sake should just stay out of it."

Apparently, she didn't like that Tatsuya kept talking to the bartender. Or perhaps, she didn't like to be the escorted Ojou-sama.

"Pardon my rudeness."

The bartender lowered his head as he interpreted that it was his fault, he returned to washing the dishes while grinning.

However, Tatsuya had no intention in stopping the conversation with him despite the situation.

"Master, I have something that I'd like to ask."

Although the bartender asked him through an eye gesture, 'is it ok to leave her alone', Tatsuya never took Mayumi's mood into account.

"Is there any problem between the Magic Association and the local residents of Kyoto?"

"Why do you ask of such thing?"

"It might be my false impression, but the people in this city don't seem to have a good impression of magicians."

"Ah, you noticed that the Kyoto locals are not so friendly to magicians."

The bartender wiped his hands with a towel. He began to polish the glasses with his dry hands. Tatsuya observed the process, all of his products were not made by machines, and he thought that it really looked like a stage setting than a bar.

"There wasn't any big trouble in particular. There were stacks of minor misunderstandings. From outsider's point of view, it was a very common thing to say. However, since the other party was a magician, the people in this area had overreacted."

Tatsuya had an unsatisfied face. The bartender handed out a small dish with a single piece of chocolate.

"The lady over there, please help yourself."

"Thank you very much."

Tatsuya received the dish and placed it before Mayumi.

Mayumi grasped the one piece chocolate and put it in her mouth, while turning away, likely in a gesture of a 'hmph'.

Tatsuya smiled wryly at the bartender.

The bartender laughed through both his mouth and eyes, while continuing the conversation.

"It might be fuelled by the existence of the Magic Association HQ's. The locals might have felt that the magicians had taken over the city."

"Even though they weren't hijacking it, there were still magicians who lived here who were also residents of Kyoto, but."

"Although you've lost your magic, you understand us, but for non-magicians, magicians are a fearful existence. As humans who cannot use magic they wouldn't stand a chance against a magician. Furthermore, they don't know what magicians will do to them, whether to restrict them or to wound them, or worst, to kill them, I understand their anxiety of this."

The bartender cut in when Tatsuya was about to continue.

"There's no room for resisting, even with a gun. However, please consider the other end. For locals who aren't magicians, magicians are mysterious creatures with an invisible gun. Kyoto residents are not special, such things happens in every other city."

Mayumi left the bar, with a pretty strange step.

(That's why I told her that three cups was too much.)

Tatsuya complained in his heart, yet it was too late. He didn't know that the alcohol content in that cocktail was more than 20%.

"Senpai, it's your room, please get a hold of yourself."

"Yeah, thanks, Tatsuya-kun."

Mayumi felt like she could fall asleep at any moment. He had delivered her safely to her room, so Tatsuya's mission was supposed to be over, yet.

"Ugh."

After seeing Mayumi sit down and slurp in front of her room door, as expected, even he, couldn't say 'excuse me' and leave her here.

"Senpai, where do you keep your key?"

"Here…"

Mayumi shook the card key in her hand. And for some reason, she was about to put it in her chest, Tatsuya snatched the key immediately.

(…What in the world did she want me to do, this person.)

When he recalled the horror briskly, Tatsuya unlocked the door.

Fortunately, there wasn't any underwear scattered in the room like in a popular fiction setting.

"Saegusa-senpai, please sleep in the bed."

"Yea, I know…"

Tatsuya learnt one thing. Mayumi was the type to regress into an infant when she was drunk. Seems like he was surrounded by these type of people. It might still be better than crying and hugging, but it didn't change the fact that it was time-consuming to take care of.

Mayumi walked to her bed, Tatsuya supported her, since she was staggering.

Tatsuya led Mayumi to the bed side that way.

"Senpai, you've reached the bed. It's better to take off your clothes, lest your precious dress be crumpled"

"What do you want?"

"Help me undress."

Hearing the expected answer, Tatsuya's head began to earnestly ache.

◊ ◊ ◊

Monday, October 22nd. Tatsuya went to Mt. Arashi, Sagano again. It was the place where he was attacked by the traditionalists the day before.

Mayumi was sleeping in the hotel due to feeling sick. Needless to say, it's a hangover. Tatsuya thought that this is the only positive effect of last night's incident.

There were no signs of the police. At the very least, there was no one investigating yesterday's incident. Seems like the detective who hated the 10MC had no willingness to do a decent investigation on yesterday's review. Or perhaps, another emergency had arose. Either way, it was advantageous for Tatsuya not to pay any concern for being in the eyes of the police.

Tatsuya stood at the gate, he recalled the information that he had gotten yesterday. It was similar to a state of hibernation since he wasn't hurt yesterday, and there hadn't been a release of Psion waves to get in his way, the possibility of fainting due to recalling this information had been kept to a minimum, he opened the data of 'where they had come from'. The coordinates of the traditionalists' groups' hideout.

It would be unnecessarily conspicuous of him to stand still in the middle of the bamboo forest. Hence, Tatsuya went down the road while collating the map from his memory and the data from the information terminal.

The destination was easily found.

It was a mundanely big house. No, if it was this big, it probably couldn't be categorized as mundane.

At first glance, the rural atmosphere still existed, it was a building similar to those used as meeting places in towns and villages.

Tatsuya secretly scanned the building with Elemental Sight from the outside. It seemed that there hadn't been any hidden traps inside. Tatsuya went through the gate without hesitation.

Even after he entered the site, he didn't feel any sign of magic. However, it was not something that he could confirm just from scanning the outside.

He put his hand on the sliding door. Of course, it was locked. It was a double key, electronic and physical. Unfortunately for Tatsuya, he couldn't obtain either of them. He didn't have such a handy magic. Therefore, he decided to open the door by magic that he had on his hand.

The lock on the door was broken apart.

Tatsuya opened the door without hesitation and proceeded inside, the same way as when he passed through the gate. A wheel shaped weapon flew in soon after. The blade had a circular ring with eight spokes extending radially form the center. It was a Buddhist magic tool called Hourin34, which seemed to be used as a projectile weapon.

When Tatsuya dodged the Hourin, it stopped in the air before it went out to break through the door in the reverse direction. The Hourin came flying in from another direction, it carried out the same movement. After some observation, there was an extended thin thread of Psion's to guide the Hourin.

"Yoyo, huh?"

The movement was very similar to a yoyo. The rest was simple. Tatsuya dodged, now, the four Hourin, and broke down the yarn of Psion's.

The Hourin flew towards the door and broke through to outside.

There was agitation spilling out from the other side of the wall. Tatsuya decomposed the four threads, and closed the distance between him and the magician who was hiding in the optical camouflage in a single jump.

The transparent figure was shimmering, and was gripping a blade-like weapon in both hands. This was a magic tool of the Buddhist sect called Dokumeikine35. It was a reformed weapon, the same as the earlier 'Hourin yoyo'.

The Magic Sequence projected off from both ends of Doukumeiki was for lightning magic. It was projected, but had not completely overwritten the Eidos. Disregarding the magic that was about to be activated, Tatsuya used Flash Cast on his palm and slammed it at the opened chest of the shadow.

Due to the virtual waves that made vibrations inside solids, and also by active Aerial Mines. The tissues within the body vibrated violently from the point of contact with Tatsuya's palm. The vibrations spread to the upper body along with the fluids, and the man collapsed. The optical camouflage he used was solved, he had a similar appearance to yesterday's assailants.

Tatsuya ducked his body, while the invisible man approached him from behind——he had clarified that it was optical camouflage instead of transparent body tissues——hastened the steps. Rather than welcoming the opponent's large swing of his feet like Chinese Martial Arts, Tatsuya raised his foot to hook the opponent's foot.

The invisible man was wavering. His figure was flickering, there was a visual of a man's back.

He used his palm with vibration magic to strike him down. The second assailant laid on the floor.

"Even I know how the transparent spell works. Stop wasting my time and show up."

After Tatsuya's provocation, men within a wide range of ages came out from the shadows. There were 10 of them. Fortunately, there weren't any women. It wasn't as if Tatsuya would go easy on woman, but the aftertaste would be quite difficult to forget36.

"Why, the Marish*ten37 way doesn't work on him…"

It's because your magic is inexperienced, though Tatsuya didn't say this. Their skill level was low, Tatsuya was sure that it was the cause. If Yakumo used the same spell, even Tatsuya would have difficulty to finding his whereabouts.

"Bind and curse him!"

36yariniku: remembering a difficult thing after you do it (you won't forget)

One of the men shouted out the instruction. He didn't appear to be the oldest, but Tatsuya felt the strongest magic came from him. Tatsuya set that man who seemed to be the leader as a target.

Tatsuya stepped forward daringly to the center area. There wasn't any furniture or obstructions in the room, just like a Kendo dojo. 'So it was not a meeting place, but a dojo', Tatsuya suddenly thought of that out of nowhere.

The 10 magicians surrounded Tatsuya at regular intervals.

A regular decagon. Overlapping a pentagon with a 36° interval, or a staggered five-pointed star.

Tatsuya jumped, while five of the magicians threw a strap each from their hands.

Not towards Tatsuya, but towards each other diagonally.

After they threw the straps, they received another end of the strap from another person.

The five-pointed star made of a strap with five different colors was pitched.

Tatsuya observed it from above.

Most probably, the five-pointed stars was some sort of magic that pinches the target in the middle by multiplying pressure from five different directions.

However, Tatsuya had no plan to just stand in the center until they completed their magic.

The moment the straps were thrown, he flew directly above it.

Before he reached the ceiling, he kicked the air and headed to one of the vertices of the five- pointed star.

It was a move that was hardly used in a match. Yet, that scene caused the other party to be amazed, it was a peculiar war-specific skill.

He created a foothold for his foot, and accelerated through kicking the panel, he punched the magician's face with the total force of his body weight plus the acquired speed.

The magician fell down. The after effect momentum was usually worrisome, but Tatsuya didn't have time to worry about such things.

The five-pointed star formation collapsed. However, this was not the end of their effort.

Tatsuya graced a knee kick at the magician next to him before he landed on the floor.

The magic was only activated when he wanted to make a foothold. It was only possible since he made it with Flash Cast that had a fast activation speed.

The Buddhist sect of traditionalists who had gathered here had by no means weak psyches. Despite their emphasis on asceticism, they were first-class combatants. However, that was only in decent fights. They couldn't keep up with Tatsuya's acrobatic movements.

By the time they were able to respond to the surprise attack, only five of them remained.

Six eyes gazed upon him, while the other two magicians were behind him. One of the magicians behind him had activated a lightning magic.

Modern Magic couldn't generate electrical currents directly at the subject.

However, Ancient Magic talent could emit the shock from the magician towards a specific location.

This difference usually didn't matter so much, as the speed of lightning is 100,000 km/s. It was an impossible attack to dodge even for someone who noticed the lightning was coming.

Just before the lightning was fired, Tatsuya jumped sideways to interrupt the attack.

The magician who casted the lightning had lost sight of Tatsuya. However, it was too late to abort the magic. The lightning struck out from the Doukumeiki Blade and collided with his fellow's attack.

Due to this fact, those magicians were hesitating to use another magic.

The gap that was created, provided a sufficient time for Tatsuya.

By reflecting a force field, he could obtain a speed equal to self-accelerating magic by supporting his frame, Tatsuya knocked out the remaining traditionalists.

This traditionalist magician who served as the base's leader, awoke due to severe pain piercing his body.

He couldn't think well amidst the pain.

However, he couldn't stay unconsciousness due to the pain.

"Are you conscious now? If you understand my words, nod. I'll loosen the pain a little."

The pain lightened, and the man's consciousness steeped in, he shook his head hard.

As promised, the pain would be reduced a little.

His line of sight was hazy due to the severe pain, he regained a little clearer profile.

A young man.

The man had shaded his own face, to hide it.

The leader was trying to join his hands to form a magic.

At that instance, severe pain struck his consciousness.

"Don't do any unnecessary things. You only need to answer my questions."

The leader nodded hard, when the voice told him to obey.

The pain lowered again.

This time, to even allow him to think, yet his hazy sight was still intact.

"Zhou Gongjin was here right? The foreign magician who fled from Chinatown in Yokohama."

The leader didn't have any reason to lie, he nodded honestly.

"That man was here until Friday, the 12th. Am I right?"

The 12th, 12th… the leader was thinking hard as his head still wasn't working well. Then, he recalled that Zhou Gongjin was there until Friday, he shook his head vertically over and over.

"Where did Zhou Gongjin go?"

A new wave of pain struck him. Strangely, he could think clearer.

His eyes were still hazy and his limbs couldn't even lift a finger, yet his mouth could speak freely.

"He said he wanted to go to Uji. He said that there was a good hiding place nearby the tomb… I don't know if it was the truth or a lie…. I don't know."

"Your men have been used as a puppets by the Houjutsu users from the continent, did you give your consent to this?"

"I'm not… their teacher… I don't have any… position to instruct them."

"You are the leader right?"

"They were comrades… we're equals… we don't receive any orders from among us…"

"I understand. Good work."

Immediately, the greatest amount of severe pain passed through the leader's mind. His consciousness had broken, falling apart.

Tatsuya sent a mail to Fujibayashi, regarding the place of these unconscious traditionalist magicians. Finally, he asked her to pick up the traditionalists, he wondered if it was an unnecessary note. Even without the note, Fujibayashi would have arranged to collect them.

Tatsuya could weigh the credibility of the information that he elicited from the leader of this base. It was hard to believe the story that there hadn't existed anything like a chain of command in such a group. He didn't think it was possible to conduct a collective battle in conjunction only to a share a sense of purpose.

However, the information of the hiding place of Zhou Gongjin was consistent with the information Tatsuya obtained from the shaman at Kiyomizu Temple. He decided to believe this fact as both Buddhist monks and the shaman couldn't have possibly given him the same information just to mislead him, he didn't plan to doubt them that much. There wasn't a need for a clear division line for conjectures.

Tatsuya decided to report to Hayama that Zhou's hideout was likely to be around the tomb at Uji, as he needed to go back home today.

After finishing his work, he was greeted with ashamed, diverted eyes at the hotel. She didn't say 'terrible' or 'it's different from your promise' from her mouth, but she was blushing from her cheeks up to her eyes.

He had an idea of the cause of her embarrassment.

Last night, Tatsuya had received an unreasonable request from a young lady (Mayumi) to strip her from her dress. He stripped her quickly before it became troublesome, and shoved her into her bed with just her underwear. He went out of the room without a seconds glance at her.

Even Tatsuya thought that she had been quite wild last night. However, he also had his share. It was good enough that she wasn't (sexually) assaulted in that situation.——Of course, he didn't say such a thing out loud.

"By-by the way."

Up to here Mayumi who had been quite confident to stand beside him, suddenly entangled her tongue.

"Umm, that, I have something to say to Tatsuya-kun."

Tatsuya thought from his heart, 'I decline' or something along that line, while remaining silent. He could guess the topic while observing Mayumi's attitude.

"I…"

Despite knowing that they were alone in the room, Mayumi looked restlessly to her left and right, as if she was afraid to be heard, she closed the distance between his lips and Tatsuya's face.

"Why… did I sleep with only my underwear?"

Because you said you wanted to strip… But this was not the right way to say it, Tatsuya couldn't find a way to to say this phrase.

"Didn't you do that yourself? No matter how drunk you were, you should have enough discernment as to not remain in your dress while you go to bed right?"

Tatsuya took a step from Mayumi's lips which almost touched him, and answered so innocently.

"I wonder if a drunken human could think that much?"

"Who knows? Since we're talking about Senpai here, you should understand yourself better than me right?"

"Tatsuya-kun, I."

The perimeter of Mayumi's eyes reddened with shame, she faced Tatsuya for the first time since he was back.

"I can't hold my liquor much, but I'm the type who remembers everything."

Tatsuya wanted to flee that place at that very moment. Unfortunately for him, he understood that he couldn't do that in such situation as a man.

"…Though I feel that you didn't have to be that rough."

Certainly, he did shove Mayumi into the bed roughly.

However, could he be blamed because of that? He questioned himself when he recalled. Yet, to say 'you're the one who wanted to strip to your underwear' would be a king-cobra-grade boomerang.

Mayumi was still looking at Tatsuya shyly.

In this very awkward atmosphere, it was a mental labour intense mission to send Mayumi back to the nearest station in order to go home, while Tatsuya waited at the end.

◊ ◊ ◊

The moment Tatsuya opened the house's gate, the front door opened.

"Onii-sama, welcome back."

The one who greeted Tatsuya back was Miyuki, as usual.

"I'm home. Sorry for this time."

Miyuki couldn't hide the color of relief of worry from her face. Logically, it was impossible for Tatsuya to get hurt, but her worries were of a different aspect. Tatsuya said 'sorry' since he understood his 'crime'.

"No. As long as Onii-sama is safe, Miyuki is satisfied enough."

Miyuki shook her head at his apology.

Tatsuya immediately went into the house, and proceeded to the living room after taking off his shoes. His travel bag was taken by Minami, while he was sitting with Miyuki on the sofa.

There was no meaning in resisting. Rather than giving the service, he was probably receiving the service. He let his sister do as she liked quietly.

Miyuki sat beside Tatsuya joyfully while Tatsuya lifted the coffee cup. However, he suddenly put down the cup and the calmness disappeared. She repeatedly shifted her eyes from and to Tatsuya's face.

"It's alright. I have progressed well on the request of Oba-ue. At this stage, it should even satisfy even Oba-ue herself."

Miyuki must have wanted to hear about today's progress. Since he thought of that, Tatsuya gave her a rundown of today's events.

"No, It's because of Onii-sama after all."

However, it seemed like Miyuki had wanted to ask something different.

"Say it. What do you want to ask?"

Tatsuya encouraged38 her to speak, Miyuki seemed to hesitate for a while and finally shook her hesitation and asked her brother.

"Onii-sama, what causes Minoru-kun's weak constitution?"

In response to this unexpected surprise, Tatsuya failed to answer immediately.

"…As I said yesterday. Minoru's magical power is too strong for his body to contain it."

Miyuki's face was cloudy, while furrowing her eyebrows anxiously.

"That's his current situation right? Onii-sama, have you seen the cause?"

"Why are you interested in such a thing?"

"Your state from that time wasn't something Onii-sama would usually have had. I just wondered what had made you do so."

It was Tatsuya's blunder for being speechless. It was the same as confessing that 'there was something'.

"Onii-sama, please. If you have anything that you are worried about, please let Miyuki hear it. I want you to share your worries with me."

Miyuki worked very hard to stare at Tatsuya. He appreciated his sister's effort to lighten his heart from the depth of his heart.

"It's better for you not to know."

However, he was hesitating to tell Miyuki about the secret that he had gotten. ——By the way, Tatsuya didn't feel anything wrong about violating Minoru and the Kudou Family's privacy.

"Please. I don't want Onii-sama to suffer alone."

However, since Miyuki solicited a haunting teary look, Tatsuya could no longer keep the secret hidden.

"I understand. This is a pretty shocking story, so you have to hear it with strong heart."

Miyuki breathed in relief. To see that his sister was calm, Tatsuya proceeded to tell the secret.

38mizuwomukeru, literally: directs the water, meaning: to encourage other party to speak something that you're willing to entertain.

"Minoru and Fujibayashi-san are half-siblings."

Miyuki failed to show any reaction for a while.

She must have digested her brother's words when she covered her mouth with both of her hands.

"But! Fujibayashi-san's mother is Minoru-kun's father's real sister."

"Minoru was an experimental body. Probably through artificial insemination. Strictly speaking, it was not incest, but he is still a child born of two real siblings.

Miyuki's shocked face was intensified. It took her a considerable amount of time to regain her ability to speak.

"Then… Minoru-kun's constitution, was the harmful effect of incest?"

Tatsuya shook his head. However, he did not indicate a definite denial.

"I can't make any conclusion. The problem lies in the imbalance of the Psion body, which affects his physical body. It might be from the cause of mis-adjustments throughout the process."

Tatsuya sighed before continuing his words.

"However, it might be due to the close relationship between the genes being undeniable. Even during the research of magic, researchers have refrained themselves from using genes from parent and child or between siblings. There are still a lot of aspects of a Psion body, and also the spirit being affected, to be discovered."

The color had bereted from Miyuki's face.

She received a big shock, as if it were her own doing.