Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Magian Company - Volume 3 - Chapter 4.2

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Mayumi hadn’t been informed that her trip to the United States had become the spark for a plot. She had been preparing with great anticipation for her first real trip abroad, albeit for work.

She had been excused from work since the day after she received the assignment to go on the business trip, so that she could concentrate on her preparations. At present, Mayumi was back at her parents' house in Tokyo coming from the company housing in Izu.

Not surprisingly, her plane ticket had already been arranged. She was scheduled to leave on Saturday, the 26th.

On the evening of the 19th, a week before the day she was set to leave for the USNA. Mayumi received an email from a close friend whom she hadn't seen in a while. While she thought of how long it had been, much to her surprise, in the email it was written that her friend would like to meet her at her home tomorrow afternoon.

It came out of the blue, but Mayumi thought it was a good opportunity. The business trip was planned to last a week, including the time it would take to travel to and from, but the destination would still be on the other side of the Pacific. The possibility of not being able to come back to Japan had never crossed Mayumi's mind, but it was still nice timing to catch up after a long time.

With that in mind, Mayumi sent a reply with her assent, without really thinking about what Mari's business was.

Then, on Sunday the 20th. Mari arrived at the Saegusa residence at noon after having accepted Mayumi's invitation of, "Since you're here, why don't we have a meal together?"

"Welcome, it's been a while, hasn't it."

She must have been glad to see her best friend. Mayumi greeted her at the front door in high spirits.

"That's right. We haven't seen each other since New Year's, so its been about half a year now."

Mari responded with a smile as she handed Mayumi a souvenir. But right after that, her expression suddenly dimmed.

"Uh… I'm really sorry about the graduation party."

Mayumi graduated from the Magic University and Mari from the National Defense

Academy in March of last year. A party in celebration was scheduled to be held at the end of March, but it was canceled because Mari wasn't able to make it due to her circumstances.

"Are you still hung up on that? It was because of your job, there wasn’t much you could do about it."

Unlike the graduates of other departments of the National Defense Academy, the graduates of the Special Warfare Studies course, which trains magician officers, don’t enter the Officer Candidate School. The reason for this was that there was a shortage in the overall number of magician officers, and they were expected to be immediately effective in the field.

However, the fact that they were magician officers doesn't mean that they weren’t required to learn what was taught at Officer Candidate School. In order to bridge the gap between the institution and reality, magician officers were effectively compelled to undergo an "induction program" at their assigned posting, which begins before they’re even officially commissioned.

Even so, usually after the graduation ceremony, one would have three days to a week or so of free time, but Mari had been assigned to the Independent Magic-Equipped Regiment, and her preliminary training was scheduled to start the day after her graduation from the National Defense Academy. That was the reason why Mari was unable to attend Mayumi's graduation party.

"Now, come on in. The table is already set."

With Mayumi beckoning her in, Mari took off her shoes at the entrance.

On that note, she was led to the dining room for guests. Although Mayumi said that everything was set, there was only cutlery on the table. Perhaps she prepared a multi-course menu, even though it was lunch.

Rather than saying that she was half-convinced of this, she was more than 60% “doubtful,” but still Mari's guess was correct. As soon as they sat down at the table, a servant brought out the hors d'oeuvres.

"You know, it's still daytime."

"That's fine. It has been so long since we've seen each other at all. Let's take our time and enjoy the meal."

Mari didn't feel disheartened at the situation, but she felt bad for the cook and the servants of the Saegusa residence who will have to especially spend so much of the day working. She thought, "In this case it would have been better if we'd just chosen to meet up outside and book a restaurant." However, the business that brought her here today was something that shouldn’t be overheard. The ordinary restaurant where they would have been able to have such a conversation wasn't one that Mari could afford.

At least I get to be treated to a delicious meal. Mari thought so and decided to leave the work talk for after the meal.

After a full-blown lunch that even included dessert, Mayumi and Mari had a cup of hot black tea laid out in front of them. It was still June, but it had been raining since this morning and the temperature still hadn't risen much. Thus, a hot cup of black tea wasn’t particularly hard to handle.

"…Mayumi. I have something serious to discuss with you."

"What's wrong, all of a sudden?"

Mayumi stared in wonder as Mari returned her teacup to the table and straightened her posture.

Mari took the reaction as her consent and stood up.

"Saegusa-san. On the occasion of your trip to the United States, I have been given orders to escort you. It may seem unnecessary, but I would greatly appreciate it if you would allow me to accompany you."

"Eh? An escort?"

Mayumi darted her eyes around in bewilderment.

Mari stood upright in attention, awaiting her answer.

"Well, I have a few things I'd like to ask you, so could you sit down first?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Mari sat down facing Mayumi, with her "countenance" having changed from that of a friend to a soldier.

"…And if you could, I'd like you to talk to me like normal."

But for Mayumi, it felt too abnormal to see Mari acting so formally.

"…Alright."

They have known each other for so long. Realizing that Mayumi would get upset if she didn't do as she asked, Mari changed her tone and attitude back to normal.

"I can't tell you everything, but I'll try to answer as much as I can."

"Of course, I'm fine with what you can answer. I'm not going to be so unreasonable as to ask you to spill any confidential stuff."

With that, Mayumi took a drink of her black tea to calm her nerves.

"…Well, first of all, why would I be getting an escort at all? I'm just a civilian with no particular social status or anything."

Mayumi started off by asking the fundamental question.

"It's because you're a high-level magician, Mayumi."

Mari's answer was simple and clear.

"Even if, for all intents and purposes, you didn't have any political or financial standing, the mere fact that you're a high-level magician makes you enough of a target for criminal syndicates or espionage organizations."

"I'm not the only high-level magician around. If you were to provide every single one an escort, wouldn't you soon run out of manpower?"

"The domestic and foreign environments differ in their own ways. Except for some exceptions like the mass exchange program four years ago, there hasn't been a case of a civilian magician leaving the country in the last few decades."

"…In other words, you're saying that because I'm breaking convention and going abroad, I now have to have an escort?"

"Aside from the wording, well, that's pretty much it."

Mayumi's expression dimmed as Mari nodded. Even though she had expected some sort of obstruction from the military or the government with her trip to the United States, she never expected that this would cause trouble for someone from the military, causing them to go out of their way, beyond their normal duties.

"…As for the National Defense Forces."

Mayumi muttered in a muffled voice.

"Hmm?"

Coming out slurred, Mari couldn't quite make out the words being said.

When asked back, Mayumi restated the line she stopped in mid-sentence.

"As for the military, wouldn't it have been easier for you to try to stop my trip to the United States?"

"That wouldn't happen."

Mari denied it in a firm tone.

"There are no laws that restrict magicians from traveling out of the country. Imposing self-restraint is against the principles of constitutionalism. Deviation from the Rule of Law is the biggest taboo that the military of a democratic country must not infringe upon."

Mari then stated even more firmly.

That display of her's was met with a look of admiration and praise from Mayumi.

"That's amazing! Well done, Mari. You’ve only been officially enlisted for two months, and you already have the mindset of an exemplary soldier."

Mayumi openly praised Mari without reservations.

She probably couldn't bear the sparkling eyes being directed at her anymore.

"…Not really, I was just parroting what my superior said to me."

Disconcerted, Mari confessed.

"Is that so? That was still pretty admirable, though. What a nice place you found to work at."

Even with the truth revealed, Mayumi's positive impression remained unchanged.

"Mari. I'll leave my escorting to you, please take care of me. If that was the kind of judgment your superior made, I think I can trust him."

Thus, even the matter of the escort turned to a positive light.

"I see. It really helps me if you're willing to accept it."

Seeing Mayumi's change of heart, Mari's expression filled with relief.